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Burroughs Survives Scares to Stay on Collision Course with Chamizo at 74kg

Friday, September 20, 2019 - 10:31 By Ken Marantz

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NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan (Sept. 20)---For four-time world champion Jordan BURROUGHS (USA), the result is all that matters. So it was no problem shrugging off the bullets that he dodged to remained on a collision course with rival Frank CHAMIZO (ITA).

Burroughs survived two close wins before beating Khadzhimurad GADZHIYEV (AZE) 8-1 to advance to the freestyle 74kg semifinals, where he will face reigning world champion Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS) in the night session on Day 7 of the World Championships.

“I don’t think anyone cares about the score, they just care about me getting my hand raised,” Burroughs said about posting his easiest win in the quarterfinals.

Earlier, Burroughs scored 3 late points to win 11-10 in a roller-coaster victory over Azamat NURYKAU (BLR) in his opening match in the second round. Then, he trailed 4-0 against Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN) before scoring a 4-point takedown and winning 6-4. 

“It’s like that sometimes,” said Burroughs, who won a bronze medal a year ago in Budapest. “Sometimes you win big, sometimes you survive. But I think the name of the game at this level is survive and advance, move on to the next round.”

By making the semifinals, Burroughs also clinched a berth for the United States at Tokyo 2020, where he will aim to regain the Olympic title he won at London 2012. The top six finishers in each of the Olympic weight class secure spots for their country at Tokyo 2020.

Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) locked up the United States' spot at 74kg after defeating Khadzhimurad GADZHIYEV (AZE) in the quarterfinals. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

“It’s good for our country, but it’s not really of any benefit to me,” Burroughs said. “I still have to wrestle at the Olympic trials to make the team. It’s a beautiful thing. One less tournament to worry about next year.”

Burroughs’ rival, two-time world champion Chamizo, advanced to the semifinals with a victory by fall over Asian champion Daniyar KAISANOV (KAZ). He will face Zelimkhan KHADIEV (FRA), who knocked off 2018 silver medalist Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) by fall in the second round.

Another showdown was looming at 125kg, where two-time reigning champion Geno PETRAIASHIVILI (GEO) and Taha AKGAL (TUR), winner of the three titles before that, both eased into the semifinals.

Petriashvili, who chalked up a pair of technical fall victories, will face Oleksandr KHOTSIANIVSKYI (UKR). Akgal, the Rio 2016 champion who beat Petriashvili at this year’s European Championships, will take on 2018 world silver medalist DENG Zhiwei (CHN)

 At the non-Olympic 7okg, 2017 world silver medalist Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL) scored a takedown with just over a minute to go to secure a 3-3 victory on criteria over last year’s runner-up, Adam BATIROV (BRN).

Gadzhiev will face 2018 world U23 silver medalist David BAEZ (RUS), while Asian champion Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) will take on Yones EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI), a bronze medalist in Xi’an, China, last April, in the semifinals. 

Defending champion J’den COX (USA) earned a place in the final our at 92kg against Irakli MTSITURI (GEO). The other semifinal pits 2018 bronze medalist and Asian champion Alireza KARAMIMACHIANI (IRI) against Alikhan ZHABRAILOV (RUS).

The repechage rounds in weight classes started the previous day provided high drama in themselves, particularly for Japan, as those emerging to gain spots in the bronze-medal matches in the night session also clinched a spot for their country at Tokyo 2020.

Takuto OTOGURO (JPN), the defending world champion, defeated three-time world champion Haji ALIYEV (AZE), 11-9, to reach the 65kg bronze-medal bout. (Photo: Kadira Caliskan)

Takuto OTOGURO (JPN), the defending champion who lost to Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (RUS) in the third round in a very tough lower bracket at 65kg, survived a battle royale with three-time world champion, Haji ALIYEV (AZE), withstanding two late caution penalties in forging out an 11-9 win.

Otoguro then secured the Tokyo 2020 spot for Japan by beating Haji ALI (BRN) 6-1. A victory in the third-place match over Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) would clinch the Olympic berth for himself, in accordance with Japan federation criteria.

Olympic and two-time world champion Sara DOSHO (JPN) also earned a shot at a bronze and a confirmed place at Tokyo 2020 when she won 2-2 on last-point criteria in her women’s 68kg repechage match over Blessing OBORODUDU (NGR). 

Yukako KAWAI (JPN), the 2018 silver medalist, followed suit with two victories at 62kg to move closer to joining older sister Risako, the champion at 57kg, on the Japanese Olympic team. 

With her sister and mother encouraging her from the stands, Kawai got a second-period takedown to clinch a 2-0 victory over Yuliia TKACH OSTAPCHUK (UKR) and make the third-place playoff.

“After I lost yesterday, my opponent advanced to the final, so my sister said I have been given another chance, and I have to think positively because it may not come again,” Kawai said. 

Meanwhile, Serbia was assured of its first-ever Olympian in freestyle when Steven MICIC (SRB) made one of the bronze-medal matches at 57kg. 

Micic is part of the group of U.S-born wrestlers with dual nationality who train at the University of Michigan in a program under the leadership of Russian legend Sergey BELAGLAZOV. 

Day 7 Pairings

Freestyle

57kg (34 entries)
Gold – Suleyman ATLI (TUR) vs Zavur UGUEV (RUS)
Bronze – Stevan MICIC (SER) vs Nurislam SANAYEV (KAZ)
Bronze – Reza ATRINAGHARCHI (IRI) vs Kumar RAVI (IND)

65kg (44 entries)
Gold – Daulet NIYAZBEKOV (KAZ) vs Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (RUS)
Bronze – Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) vs Bajrang PUNIA (IND)
Bronze – Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) vs Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN)

70kg (30 entries)
Semifinal – Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL) vs David BAEZ (RUS) 
Semifinal – Yones EMAMICHOGHAEI vs Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ)

74kg (39 entries)
Semifinal – Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) vs Zelimkhan KHADIEV (FRA) 
Semifinal – Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS) vs Jordan BURROUGHS (USA)

92kg (18 entries)
Semifinal – J’den COX (USA) vs Irakli MTSITURI (GEO) 
Semifinal – Alikhan ZHABRAILOV (RUS) vs Alireza KARAMIMACHIANI (IRI)

125kg (28 entries)
Semifinal – Geno PETRAIASHIVILI (GEO) vs Oleksandr KHOTSIANIVSKYI (UKR) 
Semifinal – Taha AKGAL (TUR) vs DENG Zhiwei (CHN)

Women’s Wrestling 

62kg (34 entries)
Gold – Taybe YUSEIN (BUL) vs Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ)
Bronze – Henna JOHANSSON (SWE) vs Marianna SASTIN (HUN)
Bronze – Yukako KAWAI (JPN) vs KIM Jong Sim (PRK)

68kg (32 entries)
Gold – Jenny FRANSSON (SWE) vs Tamyra MENSAH STOCK (USA)
Bronze – Battsetseg SORONZONBOLD (MGL) vs Alla CHERKASOVA (UKR)
Bronze – Sara DOSHO (JPN) vs Anna SCHELL (GER)

#JapanWrestling

Tokyo Olympic champ Otoguro calls it a career at 26

Sunday, April 6, 2025 - 14:27 By Ken Marantz

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TOKYO (April 6) -- Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Takuto OTOGURO (JPN), whose dynamic moves and fierce tenacity thrilled fans around the world, suddenly announced his retirement, bringing down the curtain on a short but glory-filled career also plagued by injuries.

"Some may be surprised by this sudden announcement, but I have decided to retire as a wrestler," the 26-year-old Otoguro wrote on Instagram on Friday that included an English translation. "I discovered wrestling and became obsessed with it, and [was] loved and supported so much that it was a happy wrestling life."

Otoguro, who still remains Japan's youngest-ever male world champion for the freestyle 65kg gold he won in 2018, said he feels no uneasiness about leaving the mat, while adding a cryptic message about how the sport lost some of its shine for him.

"I have no regrets, because I was able to play the wrestling I love until I started to hate it," Otoguro wrote.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Takuto Otoguro (@01096taku)

It seems that being unable to defend his Olympic title at the 2024 Paris Games likely swayed his decision. First, he was hampered by a lingering foot injury and failed to secure Japan's quota at 65kg at the 2023 World Championships. Then he lost out in the domestic qualifying process to eventual gold medalist Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN).

As it turned out, the 6-6 loss to Kiyooka in the semifinals at the All-Japan Championships in December 2023 would prove to be Otoguro's final match. There was no symbolic leaving of the shoes on the mat at the time.

In stepping away, Otoguro paid tribute to all those who helped him achieve his success, while expressing his gratitude for putting up with his self-acknowledged stubbornness.

"My family, coaches, trainers, fellow wrestlers, and everyone who supported me and cheered me on," Otoguro wrote. "I can't mention all of their names, but I think I was a crazy and difficult wrestler to deal with. Thank you for believing in me and supporting me."

Otoguro won gold and bronze medals in three appearances at the cadet (U17) worlds, but gained widespread global notoriety with his dazzling performance at the 2018 World Championships in Budapest.

Otoguro overcame an ankle injury to notch a 16-9 victory over Bajrang PUNIA (IND) in a wild, freewheeling final that was selected as UWW's Freestyle Match of the Year  -- overshadowing his 15-10 come-from-behind win in the semifinals over Akhmed CHAKAEV (RUS).  He was also chosen as the Breakout Performer of the Year.

That made him, at 19 years 10 months, Japan's youngest-ever male world gold medalist, breaking the previous record held by 1976 Olympic gold medalist Yuji TAKADA (JPN), his head coach at Yamanashi Gakuin University.

Otoguro, who won back-to-back titles at the Asian Championships in 2020 and 2021, hit the pinnacle of his career at the Tokyo Olympics. He defeated in succession Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN), avenging a loss in the bronze-medal match at the 2019 worlds; Gadshimurad RASHIDOV (ROC), the 2019 world champion; and Haji ALIEV (AZE), a 2016 Olympic bronze medalist and former world champion.

Otoguro started wrestling at age 4, following older brother Keisuke into the wrestling club coached by their father. He found success early, winning five straight national titles for his elementary school age group from second to sixth grades.

In a 2019 interview with The Japan News, Otoguro recalled the battles he and Keisuke had in their home, and how it laid the foundation for his future success.  "We would break windows, and open holes in the wall," he said, his soft-spoken, reserved nature contrasting with his aggressive style on the mat. "It would escalate from wrestling into fighting. It made us both better. It was the best way."

Otoguro opted to leave their home in Yamanashi Prefecture after elementary school to enroll in the JOC Elite Academy in Tokyo. He won the national junior high school title, then became the fourth wrestler in history to win the national Inter-High tournament for three consecutive years.

For university, Otoguro returned to his home prefecture to attend Yamanashi Gakuin, where his practice partners included 2017 world 57kg champion Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN) and world 70kg bronze medalist Yuji FUJINAMI (JPN), the older brother Paris women's gold medalist Akari FUJINAMI (JPN).

"Of course he works hard, but what I am most envious about him is his total preparation for matches," Takahashi was quoted as saying by The Japan News. "He knows no fear. He is really remarkable."

Early in his freshman year, Otoguro suffered his first major injury, a torn cruciate ligament in the knee, that kept him off the mat for about a year. But he came back in the fall of 2017 and, at that year's All-Japan, defeated 2016 Rio Olympics 57kg silver medalist Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) for the first of three national titles.

Upon graduation, Otoguro followed Keisuke again, this time to the Japan Self-Defense Forces' Physical Training School team. He has not indicated what he plans to do in the future.

"To everyone who loved my wrestling: I feel a little lonely, but this is farewell as a wrestler. I hope that the wrestling world moves in a positive direction in the future."