# Sato victory at Kokura Festival vindicates decision to miss TCL

*By Simon | November 21, 2024*

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![Screenshot](https://globalkeirin.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/satochamp.jpg)

## 󠀁[Sato victory at Kokura Festival vindicates decision to miss TCL](https://globalkeirin.com/2024/11/sato-victory-at-kokura/)󠁿

21 November 2024

World keirin champion Mina Sato 1 showed her class once again, leaving it late
to launch her attack in the final of the women’s competition at the Kokura
Keirin Festival.

But she timed it to perfection, passing her former Japanese national team
colleague Riyu Ohta 3 a few metres before the finish.

![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/tl-phuV-9DE/maxresdefault.jpg)

Ohta held on for second, but Ballerup finalist Fuko Umekawa 5 was last across
the line, having been boxed in as they entered the home straight.

Sato collected a cheque for 4,500,000 yen – roughly US$ 29,000.

It vindicates her
[decision](https://globalkeirin.com/2024/11/yamasaki-and-sato-opt-for-japanese-races-over-uci-track-champions-league/)
to opt out of the UCI’s Track Champions League, which gets underway this
Saturday in Paris.

She can now look ahead to defending her Girls Grand Prix title at the end of
December.

**Categories:** Original
**Tags:** japan