Armenia Earns Olympic Berths Through Rising Stars Tevanyan and Harutyunyan

Thursday, March 18, 2021 - 19:47 By Eric Olanowski

BUDAPEST, Hungary (March 18) --- It was an emotional day for Armenian wrestlers as rising stars Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) and Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) shined bright and secured their nation’s ticket to the Tokyo Olympic Games.

In total, 12 freestyle Olympic licenses were handed out through today’s European Olympic Games Qualifier at the BOK Sports Hall in the Hungarian capital city, with the top two wrestlers at each weight earning berths for their nations.

Coming into the weekend, arguably the biggest question hovering over the freestyle portion of the event was if Tevanyan could replicate his magical performance from December’s Individual World Cup where he stunned then-reigning world bronze medalist Ismail MSUSKAEV (HUN), 9-1, to win 65kg gold.

On Friday, the powerful Tevanyan reached the finals with four wins – three of which came against former world medalists. He started his day with an 11-0 technical superiority victory over world bronze medalist and Rio Olympian Vladimir DUBOV (BUL). Following a 7-5 win against Niurgun SKRIABIN (BLR), the Armenian ended Olympic champion Vladimer KHINCHEGASHVILI’s (GEO) day with a controlled 6-4 victory. Although the 22-year-old only won by two points, he shut down the world and Olympic champion for well over five minutes of the bout.

Then, Tevanyan reached the finals with his third consecutive two-point victory. He downed two-time world medalist and fellow Individual World Cup champion, Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL), 6-4, to punch Armenia’s ticket to the Games.

Tevanyan will take on three-time world champion Haji ALIYEV (AZE) in Friday night’s 65kg finals.

For a second straight Olympic cycle, Aliyev was responsible for qualifying Azerbaijan for the Olympic Games. In ’15, he claimed world gold and locked up Azerbaijan’s spot for the Rio Olympic Games.

The 29-year-old breezed to a 5-1 semifinal win over Maxim SACULTAN (MDA). He surrendered a step out point in the first, but from there, it was a one-sided bout. The Rio Olympic bronze medalist scored a pair of takedowns and a step out point to reach the finals, 5-1.

Arsen Haruyyunyan was the second Armenian youngster who sealed up an Olympic license on Thursday.

The wiry Harutyunyan thumped Andrii YATSENKO (UKR), 10-0, and reached the 57kg finals.

The 21-year-old led 1-0 after the first but used a nine-point second period to pick up the technical superiority victory. Harutyunyan, the ’19 European champion at 61kg, turned defense into offense twice in the second period – scoring a pair of counter-offensive takedowns, before thunderously slamming Yatsenko to his back for four addition points. He tacked on a step out point and claimed his spot in the finals with a 10-0 victory.

Haruyyunyan will meet Georgi VANGELOV (BUL) for 57kg gold on Friday night. Vangelov earned Bulgaria’s Olympic spot at 57kg with a near-flawless 9-1 semifinal performance against Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE).

The 27-year-old Bulgarian had a slender 1-0 advantage (inactivity) after the opening period but opened the widened the gap in the second period with two high crotch takedowns and pair of leg laces.

At 74kg, Khadzhimurad GADZHIYEV (AZE) joined Aliyev in securing Azerbaijan’s nod at the Olympic Games. The Azeri controlled the 74kg semifinals match against Maxim VASILIOGLO (ROU) and reached the finals, 7-0.

He’ll take on ’18 world runner-up Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) on Friday night for 74kg gold. The Georgian surrendered six point in the opening 30 seconds against Ali UMARPASHAEV (BUL). He gave up a takedown and two gut wrenches to start the match down 6-0, but surged back to pick up the first period fall via cradle and punch Georgia’s ticket to the Olympic Games.

Ali SHABANAU (BLR) finished a shot on Akhmed MAGAMAEV (BUL) in the 86kg semifinals. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Ali SHABANAU (BLR) had a spectacular 86kg semifinals performance against Akhmed MAGAMAEV (BUL) and locked up Belarus’ Olympic berth with a 6-0 victory. The four-time world medalist will meet Osman GOCEN (TUR) for 86kg gold.

Gocen blasted his way to the 86kg gold-medal bout and locked up Turkey’s place at the Tokyo Olympic Games with a 16-6 win over ’18 world silver medalist Boris MAKOEV (SVK). Coming into the semifinals, Gocen’s opponent hadn’t conceded a single point on the day, but that all changed as the Turkish wrestler lit up the scoreboard with 16 points.

In the 97kg semifinals, Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR) had no problem with Abraham CONYEDO (ITA), as the Belarusian dominated his way to an Olympic berth with a 9-0 shutout win.

The second Turkish wrestler who secured an Olympic license was European champion Suleyman KARADENIZ (TUR). He edged Erik THIELE (GER), 2-1, and will compete for gold on Friday night.

Gennadij CUDINOVIC (GER) shows respect to Jamaladdin MAGOMEDOV (AZE) after their 125kg semifinals match. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Gennadij CUDINOVIC (GER) gassed Jamaladdin MAGOMEDOV (AZE) in the 125kg match and rolled into the finals with what would have been a 15-6, but the Azeri was disqualified after giving up three cautions. The German trailed the former world runner-up 6-3 but used his high pace to wear down on the Azeri and scored 12 unanswered points.

The twelfth and final Olympic qualification placement went to Belarus, thanks to a last-second takedown by Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (BLR).

The match was filled with tension and drama and was fairly even, but Khramiankou trailed 4-2 with less than 10 seconds left in the closing period. The 24-year-old Belarusian spun behind and worked to get Sharipov’s knee to touch, but no points were awarded.

As time expired, the brick came in from Khramiankou’s corner, and after an intense review that left the big man on his hands and knees praying, the Belarusian was awarded the two-point takedown and the 4-4 criteria victory.

Khramiankou’s win stopped Russian from earning their sixth freestyle Olympic berth. The final opportunity they’ll have to qualify 125kg for Tokyo will be the World Olympic Qualifier in Bulgaria (May 6-9).

Wrestling returns on Friday morning at 11:00 (local time) with women’s wrestling. Follow all the action live on www.uww.org.

Semifinal Results
57kg
GOLD - Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) vs. Georgi VANGELOV (BUL)
SEMIFINAL - Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) df. Andrii YATSENKO (UKR), 10-0
SEMIFINAL - Georgi VANGELOV (BUL) df. Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE), 9-1

65kg
GOLD - Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) vs. Haji ALIYEV (AZE)
SEMIFINAL - Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) df. Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL), 4-2
SEMIFINAL - Haji ALIYEV (AZE) df. Maxim SACULTAN (MDA), 5-1

74kg
GOLD - Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) vs. Khadzhimurad GADZHIYEV (AZE)
SEMIFINAL - Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) df. Ali UMARPASHAEV (BUL), via fall
SEMIFINAL - Khadzhimurad GADZHIYEV (AZE) df. Maxim VASILIOGLO (ROU), 7-0

86kg
GOLD - Osman GOCEN (TUR) vs. Ali SHABANAU (BLR)
SEMIFINAL - Osman GOCEN (TUR) df. Boris MAKOEV (SVK), 16-6
SEMIFINAL - Ali SHABANAU (BLR) df. Akhmed MAGAMAEV (BUL), 6-0

97kg
GOLD - Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR) vs. Suleyman KARADENIZ (TUR)
SEMIFINAL - Suleyman KARADENIZ (TUR) df. Erik THIELE (GER), 2-1
SEMIFINAL - Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR) df. Abraham CONYEDO (ITA), 9-0

125kg
GOLD - Gennadij CUDINOVIC (GER) vs. Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (BLR)
SEMIFINAL - Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (BLR) df. Shamil SHARIPOV (RUS), 4-4
SEMIFINAL - Gennadij CUDINOVIC (GER) df. Jamaladdin MAGOMEDOV (AZE), 15-6

#JapanWrestling

Fujinami to move up to 57kg in quest for consecutive Olympic golds

Wednesday, November 27, 2024 - 12:12 By Ken Marantz

TOKYO (November 26) -- Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) won't be defending her Olympic gold at women's 53kg at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. That's bad news for anyone aiming to strike gold at 57kg.

Fujinami has announced that she will move up to the next Olympic weight class starting next year, the Japan federation website and Japan media widely recently reported.

Fujinami, who turned 21 on November 11, cited the difficulty of cutting weight for the decision, as well as the historic aspect that no woman wrestler has ever won a second straight Olympic gold after moving to a higher weight class.

"I have decided to move up to the 57kg weight class," Fujinami said after Sunday's East Japan Collegiate Women's League, a team tournament that marked her first competition since winning the gold at the Paris Olympics in August. "Considering my height and my normal weight, I think I can give my best performance at 57."

Fujinami competed at 59kg in the five-team league tournament (one school was a no-show), which was run in a round-robin, duel-meet format with only three weight classes -- 53kg, 59kg and 76kg.

She won both of her matches by fall, extending her current winning streak to 139 matches dating back to her junior high school days in September 2017.

The 1.64-meter Fujinami was actually wrestling near her natural weight, which she says is "about 61kg." But even against two opponents from higher weight classes -- Ikuei University's Ichika ARAI (JPN) was the 2023 world U20 silver medalist at 57kg -- her skills and speed were still overwhelming.

"It has been really hard to cut down to 53kg," Fujinami said. "I felt I lost muscle during the process. I feel I can give my best performance by going down three kilos from my natural weight."

Asked when she expects to make her full-fledged "debut" at the new weight, she replied in a text message, "It will be sometime next year. I haven't decided exactly when yet."

With a full schedule of post-Olympic TV appearances and local events curtailing her training, she has already ruled out appearing at next month's Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships.

It is likely she will compete at the Meiji Cup All-Japan Invitational Championships in the spring, as that tournament, along with the Emperor's Cup, will serve as qualifiers for the 2025 World Championships.

The move up to 57kg will likely put her on a collision course with the reigning Olympic champion, Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN). The two met last year at the East Japan Collegiate tournament, with Fujinami coming away with a 5-0 victory.

The challenge of possibly accomplishing a historic first appeals to Fujinami, who last year won her second career world title at 53kg in Belgrade.

"I heard that no [woman] has moved up a weight class and won another Olympic gold," Fujinami said. "It will difficult, but that's what makes it challenging. I hope I can become stronger at the next [Olympics] in Los Angeles."

Two Japanese women -- Saori YOSHIDA (JPN) and Kaori ICHO (JPN) -- have won an additional Olympic gold after going down a weight, but that was mainly because the number of weight classes was expanded from four to six, allowing them to compete more closely to their normal weight.

Among men, the legendary Aleksandr MEDVED (URS) won the freestyle 97kg gold in 1964, then triumphed again at 97+kg in 1968, while Levan TEDASHVILI (URS) won at freestyle 82kg in 1972 and 90kg in 1976. More recently, Abdulrashid SADULAEV claimed the freestyle 86kg gold in 2016, then won again at 97kg in 2021.

Fujinami said she doesn't expect to make any major alterations to her wrestling style at the heavier weight.

"I have no intention of making any big changes in my wrestling style," she said. "I will still try to keep the opponent from getting at my legs, and take the initiative to score points. Still, I can feel the extra weight of four kilos, so how I increase my weight could affect how I perform."

At this year's East Japan league tournament, Fujinami's Nippon Sport Science University was relegated to second by Ikuei University, which won 2-1 in their duel meet. Ikuei got victories from Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) and Ami ISHII (JPN), who both won gold medals at last month's Non-Olympic Weight Category World Championships.

Armenia Earns Olympic Berths Through Rising Stars Tevanyan and Harutyunyan

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Fujinami to move up to 57kg in quest for consecutive Olympic golds