Chakvetadze Lone Olympic Medalist of 3 to Reach Greco Semis

Saturday, May 8, 2021 - 15:11 By Ken Marantz

SOFIA, Bulgaria (May 8) --- Of the three Olympic medalists in action on Saturday, only Davit CHAKVETADZE (RUS) still has a chance to pick up more of the shiny hardware in Tokyo this summer.

Chakvetadze advanced to the semifinals at 87kg as the Greco-Roman competition got underway in the six Olympic weight classes at the final world Olympic qualifying tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Chakvetadze, the Rio 2016 Olympic champion at 85kg, will face Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) -- a fellow Georgian native who now competes for another nation -- for the ticket to Tokyo that will go to each semifinal winner in the night session at the spectator-less Arena Armeec Sport Hall.

Chakvetadze will also be looking to fill the lone remaining Olympic berth for Russia, joining Cuba as the only nations with six entrants in Greco. Over the past two days in Sofia, the European powerhouse completed its Olympic lineup in freestyle and women's wrestling.

Datunashvili, the newly minted European champion, spoiled Iran's bid to also have a full Greco lineup in Tokyo when he edged Asian gold medalist Naser ALIZADEH (IRI) 1-1 on last-point criteria.

"All of today's bouts were hard for me, but right now I am feeling good after winning the quarterfinal," Datunashvili said. "I have one more match and I am prepared to win it. Hard work, that's my secret."

In the other semifinal at 87kg, Kristoffer BERG (SWE) will face Ivan HUKLEK (CRO) after knocking off two-time former world champion Metehan BASAR (TUR) 3-2 by getting a takedown while going out of bounds with :58 left. Huklek advanced with a 9-0 technical fall over Petr NOVAK (CZE).

"I have been wrestling well but I am only getting started," Berg said. "Most important thing is still left and I can evaluate after that. I am trying to remain calm like I have been throughout the day."

Rio 2016 bronze medalist Rasul CHUNAYEV (AZE) saw his Tokyo Olympic hopes dashed when he came out on the short side of a 3-2 decision to Parviz NASIBOV (UKR), who made his go-ahead takedown late in the first period hold up for the victory.

Chunayev, a two-time world medalist, had barely survived a qualification round clash with Donior ISLAMOV (MDA), as his early 4-point headlock proved the difference in a 4-4 victory on criteria.

Nasibov will next face Shogo TAKAHASHI (JPN), who will attempt to give the Olympic host a third Greco spot. Takahashi, a 2019 Asian bronze medalist, is one of just two Asians to make it to the semifinals; Europeans filled all of the other berths, spread out over 20 countries.

"I want to emerge with a win using Japanese-style wrestling," said Takahashi, who defeated Aliaksandr LIAVONCHYK (BLR) 2-1 in the quarterfinals.

The other 67kg semifinal will pit three-time European bronze medalist Karen ASLANYAN (ARM) against Mamadassa SYLLA (FRA), after both ousted Asian opponents in the quarterfinals.

Aslyanyan defeated Asian bronze medalist Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ) 10-5, while Sylla held on for a 5-2 victory over Asian silver medalist Almat KEBISPAYEV (KAZ), a two-time world medalist who failed in a bid to appear at a third Olympics.

The third Olympic medalist to fall was Stig-Andre BERGE (NOR), and the Rio bronze medalist's exit at 60kg came early on with a 4-1 loss in the qualification round to Murad MAMMADOV (AZE).

Mammodov will also be no more than a spectator during the Olympics, as his tournament ended with a 2-1 loss in the quarterfinals to Hanjae CHUNG (KOR), an Asian bronze medalist at 63kg.

Chung's path to Tokyo will have to go through 2019 world U23 champion Armen MELIKYAN (ARM), who defeated European bronze medalist Razvan ARNAUT (ROU) 3-1.

Earlier, Arnaut chalked up a 3-1 win over Michal TRACZ (POL), who will have to wait three more years to follow in the footsteps of his uncle and coach, three-time Olympic medalist Jozef TRACZ.

Former world silver medalist Victor CIOBANU (MDA), making his third attempt at qualifying for the Olympics, moved closer when he advanced to the other 60kg semifinal with a display of big throws, routing Firuz MIRZORAJABOV (TJK) by 14-0 technical fall.

Ciobanu will face Dato CHKHARTISHVILI (GEO), a two-time European bronze medalist who edged Ivo ANGELOV (BUL) 2-1 in the quarterfinals.

The 77kg division was deprived of what would have been a fourth Olympic medalist, as 2012 Olympic champion and 2016 bronze medalist Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR) had to withdraw due to a pandemic-related issue.

There is no shortage of top-level wrestlers to fill the void, including Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE), the 2020 European champion at 82kg who got the bye left by Kim's absence and ran with it all the way to the semifinals with a pair of a technical falls.

Huseynov will face a formidable foe for the Olympic ticket in Viktor NEMES (SRB), who placed eighth at the Rio Games.

"I know him very well and I think he is a very good wrestler," Huseynov said. "But as they say, may the best wrestler win on the mat."

Nemes advanced with a 2-0 victory over Viktar SASUNOUSKI (BLR), with whom he was a co-bronze medalist at the 2018 World Championships.

"The journey has been long," Nemes said. "The World Championships in 2019 and there also I was a match away from qualifying for the Olympics. But I think now I am in good form."

Nemes said that he is focused on avoiding the mistakes that cost him at the European Olympic qualifer, where he placed third. And he has a score to settle.

"I wrestle the Azerbaijan guy and I want revenge a loss from the 2013 World Championships as he won. It's time for revenge and going to the Olympics with my twin brother," he said, referring to sibling Mate, who qualified for Tokyo at 67kg by placing third at the 2019 World Championships.

In the other 77kg semifinal, two-time world bronze medalist Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) will clash with 2017 world U23 champion Fatih CENGIZ (TUR).

Another native Georgian will get a chance to represent his adopted country at 97kg, where European silver medalist Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA) advanced to the semifinals by edging 2017 European champion Felix BALDAUF (NOR) 2-1. He will face Alex SZOKE (HUN), a 9-0 technical fall winner over Jesus GASCA (ESP).

Vilius LAURINAITIS (LTU) and Artur OMAROV (CZE) will battle in the other semifinal. Laurinaitis made it through with a nail-biting 4-4 win over veteran Melonin NOUMONVI (FRA), with his early 4-point arm throw giving him the edge on criteria.

The 38-year-old Noumonvi had been aiming to appear at a fourth career Olympics -- and that's after missing out on Rio 2016. The 2014 world champion made his Olympic debut at Athens 2004, and finished fifth at both Beijing 2008 and London 2012.

At 130kg, 2020 European champion Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU) will take on Rafal KRAJEWSKI (POL), while Matti KUOSMANEN (FIN) will face Mykola KUCHMII (UKR) in a battle of European bronze medalists from the past two years.

Alexuc Ciurariu eked past Asian silver medalist Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ) 1-1 before scoring a 10-1 technical fall over Arata SONODA (JPN) in the quarterfinals.

Day 3 Results

Greco-Roman

60kg (25 entries)

Semifinals
Dato CHKHARTISHVILI (GEO) vs Victor CIOBANU (MDA)
Armen MELIKYAN (ARM) vs Hanjae CHUNG (KOR)

Quarterfinals
Dato CHKHARTISHVILI (GEO) df. Ivo ANGELOV (BUL), 2-1
Victor CIOBANU (MDA) df. Firuz MIRZORAJABOV (TJK) by TF, 14-0, 1:58
Armen MELIKYAN (ARM) df. Razvan ARNAUT (ROU), 3-1
Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) df. Murad MAMMADOV (AZE), 2-1

67kg (26 entries)

Semifinals
Karen ASLANYAN (ARM) vs Mamadassa SYLLA (FRA)
Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) vs Shogo TAKAHASHI (JPN)

Quarterfinals
Karen ASLANYAN (ARM) df. Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ), 10-5
Mamadassa SYLLA (FRA) df. Almat KEBISPAYEV (KAZ), 5-2
Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) df. Rasul CHUNAYEV (AZE), 3-2
Shogo TAKAHASHI (JPN) df. Aliaksandr LIAVONCHYK (BLR), 2-1

77kg (30 entries)

Semifinals
Viktor NEMES (SRB) vs Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE)
Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) vs Fatih CENGIZ (TUR)

Quarterfinals
Viktor NEMES (SRB) df. Viktar SASUNOUSKI (BLR), 2-0
Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) df. Abd OUAKALI (ALG) by TF, 9-0, 2:39
Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) df. Bakuri GOGOLI (GEO), 6-2
Fatih CENGIZ (TUR) df. Paulius GALKINAS (LTU), 7-1

87kg (27 entries)

Semifinals
Davit CHAKVETADZE (RUS) vs Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB)
Ivan HUKLEK (CRO) vs Kristoffer BERG (SWE)

Quarterfinals
Davit CHAKVETADZE (RUS) df. Michael WAGNER (AUT), 6-0
Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) df. Naser ALIZADEH (IRI), 1-1
Ivan HUKLEK (CRO) df. Petr NOVAK (CZE) by TF, 9-0, 2:20
Kristoffer BERG (SWE) df. Metehan BASAR (TUR), 3-2

97kg (21 entries)

Semifinals
Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA) vs Alex SZOKE (HUN)
Vilius LAURINAITIS (LTU) vs Artur OMAROV (CZE)

Quarterfinals
Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA) df. Felix BALDAUF (NOR), 2-1
Alex SZOKE (HUN) df. Jesus GASCA (ESP) by TF, 9-0, 2:09
Vilius LAURINAITIS (LTU) df. Melonin NOUMONVI (FRA), 4-4
Artur OMAROV (CZE) df. Peter OEHLER (GER), 3-2

130kg (19 entries)

Semifinals
Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU) vs Rafal KRAJEWSKI (POL)
Matti KUOSMANEN (FIN) vs Mykola KUCHMII (UKR)

Quarterfinals
Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU) df. Arata SONODA (JPN) by TF, 10-1, 4:30
Rafal KRAJEWSKI (POL) df. Beka KANDELAKI (AZE) by Fall, 1:52 (4-4)
Matti KUOSMANEN (FIN) df. Radoslav GEORGIEV (BUL), 1-1
Mykola KUCHMII (UKR) df. Adam COON (USA), 6-3

#WrestlePontevedra

Onishi adds U20 world title to growing resume

Thursday, September 5, 2024 - 23:02 By Vinay Siwach

PONTEVEDRA, Spain (September 5) -- Three minutes and 33 seconds on the mat, 40-0 in four bouts and zero points conceded.

Sakura ONISHI (JPN) could not have asked for a better debut at the U20 level as she won the 59kg gold medal at the World Championships in Pontevedra, Spain on Thursday.

Ever since her heartbreaking loss in the U17 World Championships final in 2022, Onishi has not looked back and won the U17 and U20 World titles without giving up points. Her title run on Thursday saw her finish the 59kg final against Alexis JANIAK (USA) 10-0 in 43 seconds.

Not that her earlier bouts were any different.

The 18-year-old won her first bout against Elena KUROVA (AIN) 10-0 in a minute, defeated KOMAL (IND) in 34 seconds in the quarterfinals and humbled former U17 world champion Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE) 10-0 in a minute and 16 seconds.

"This was my first win in the U20 category," Onishi said. "I am grateful to my family, friends, and coaches and I wanted to give something back. So I'm honestly really happy that I was able to win.

"I was able to show what I had been practicing, and my challenge this time was to attack aggressively. I was able to accomplish that and win without conceding a point. I'm really satisfied with that."

Sakura ONISHI (JPN) used the leg lace as her go-to attack throughout the tournament. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Earlier this year, Onishi joined the Nippon Sports Science University, whose current and former wrestlers won a combined five gold medals at the recently concluded Paris Olympics. In the short period she has been there, Onishi has trained majorly with 53kg Olympic champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN).

"Akari really has nothing but positives for me," she said. "It's been a really short period of time since I entered NSSU, but during that time, I've been able to do various training sessions with them, and it's been an opportunity for me to become stronger."

Before coming to Spain, Onishi made a name for herself in Japan when she defeated two-time Olympic champion Risako KINJO (nee KAWAI) in the Meiji Cup in May. She won the gold medal and earned a playoff against Kinjo for the Non-Olympic World Championships next month.

Onishi led 5-0 at the break in the playoff but Kinjo scored two points going behind for a takedown and adding a 2-point exposure to cut the lead to 6-4. With :15 on the clock, Kinjo got in on a single and managed to lift up the leg and expose Onishi's back with eight seconds left, putting her ahead 6-6 on criteria. But Onishi squirmed back to her feet and with a mighty charge, went for a double-leg takedown that forced Kinjo out just as time expired. The referee gave her 1 for a stepout, but after an agonizing wait for the challenge review, it was nullified as Kinjo's foot was just centimeters from the edge when the clock hit all zeroes.

Sakura ONISHI (JPN) won the 59kg gold medal at the U20 World Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

While Onishi was disappointed to have not made it to her first senior worlds, she made her loss to Kinjo a driving force for future competitions.

"It was my first experience to wrestle the same person [Kinjo] twice in one day," she said. "I was really disappointed that I couldn't make it at the very end, but on the other hand, it gave me confidence, and I used that energy to reach even higher heights. My desire to win overwhelmingly next time."

The process to be at the next year's senior World Championships begins in December for Onishi. She will be part of the Emperor's Cup and Meiji Cup next year. She will try to win both and earn a spot on the senior team for the World Championships.

As far as the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics go, Onishi expressed her desire to be there. But for that, she will have to decide if she wants to cut to 57kg or jump to 62kg. In both weight classes, defending Olympic champions are waiting for her. Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) at 57kg and Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) at 62kg will be her biggest challenges.

"I haven't decided on my weight class yet, but I definitely want to compete at the Los Angeles Olympics," she said. "No matter what weight class I'm in, I'm determined to beat the current champion."

Yu ZHANG (CHN) celebrates after winning the 50kg final at the U20 World Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Onishi was the only gold medalist of the day for Japan. Haruna MORIKAWA (JPN) wrestled in the 50kg final against Yu ZHANG (CHN) but lost a close final in the last 10 seconds.

After winning two age-group Asian titles, Zhang dropped the U20 Asian final against Rinka OGAWA (JPN) in June. But she left nothing to chance in Pontevedra, pulling off a suplex in the final 10 seconds to beat Morikawa 7-6 and clinch her first gold medal at any World Championships.

Morikawa was the first to get on board as Zhang spun on her back to give two points to Morikawa. It became 4-2 for Morikawa at the break as Zhang got two points for a counter lift while Morikawa was awarded two for exposure as Zhang's hand opened after she finished the lift.

Zhang for the criteria on 4-4 as she scored a two-point exposure over Morikawa, who answered with an underhook to slam Zhang on the mat and score two points. She had 26 seconds to defend her two-point lead but Zhang used a semi-duckunder to step behind Morikawa and lock her in her arms. She completed the throw for two points and a 6-6 criteria lead. Japan challenged the decision but it only added a point to Zhang's score for the lost challenge.

"I have performed well," Zhang said. "After finishing the tournament, I feel that I am still very happy."

Former U23 world champion Yumeka TANABE (JPN) has been the coach for China's U20 team and Zhang acknowledged her inputs for the match.

"I need to mention that I have a lot to learn from Tanabe," she said. "I hope that after this competition, I can improve myself, find out the problems, and solve them to reach an advanced level."

Zhang's twin sister Jin will wrestle for the 53kg gold medal against Calra JAUME SOLER (ESP), Spain's first-ever World Championships finalist in wrestling.

"I want to tell her that she can confidently and boldly perform to her level tomorrow," she said as advice to her sister Jin. "She can also win a gold medal."

Jyoti BERWAL (IND) celebrates after winning the 76kg gold medal at the U20 World Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

India and the United States also crowned champions to remain in the race to win the team title on Friday.

Jyoti BERWAL (IND) won the 76kg gold medal after beating Mariia ORLEVYCH (UKR), 5-0, in the 76kg final. This is the second year in a row that India has won the gold medal in the heaviest weight class.

Berwal won the first point when Orlevych was put on the activity clock and she failed to score. The Indian then added a stepout to lead 2-0. Orlevych was called for passivity in the second period as well and she failed to score giving Berwal another point. A few bad attempts from Orlevych ended in Berwal capitalizing and scoring a two-point takedown to stretch the lead to 5-0.

The gold medal is India's fifth in Women's Wrestling at the U20 World Championships, an impressive number for a country that got its first U20 world champion in Women's Wrestling in 2022.

Berwal, a former 72kg silver medalist at the U23 World Championships, now faces the tough challenge of making it to the senior team. But for that, she will have to win against 2023 U20 world champion Priya MALIK (IND), U23 world champion and Paris Olympian REETIKA (IND) and other up-and-coming youngsters.

"I am satisfied with my wrestling," Berwal said. "Now that I have decided to the Olympic weight class 76kg, there is no turning back and back myself to prove it."

For the United States, Cristelle RODRIGUEZ (USA) took less than a minute to pin Khaliun BYAMBASUREN (MGL) and win the 55kg gold medal for her country.

Byambasuren was trying to get Rodriguez uncomfortable but the American tossed her on the mat and held her back to secure a fall in the final. This was the second fall of the tournament for Rodriguez who won her four bouts without conceding a point.

At 68kg, U20 European champion Alina SHEVCHENKO (AIN) handed Ayse ERKAN (TUR) a 12-2 defeat in the final.

RESULTS

50kg
GOLD: Yu ZHANG (CHN) df. Haruna MORIKAWA (JPN), 7-6

BRONZE: Svenja JUNGO (SUI) df. Laura GANIKYZY (KAZ), 7-4
BRONZE: Aida KERYMOVA (UKR) df. MUSKAN (IND), via fall

55kg
GOLD: Cristelle RODRIGUEZ (USA) df. Khaliun BYAMBASUREN (MGL), via fall

BRONZE: Nargiz SAMADOVA (AZE) df. Karina HONDA (JPN), via fall (8-7)
BRONZE: Tuba DEMIR (TUR) df. Ekaterina CHIKANOVA (AIN), 12-2

59kg
GOLD: Sakura ONISHI (JPN) df. Alexis JANIAK (USA), 10-0

BRONZE: Anna TIELIEGINA (LTU) df. Uladzislava KUDZIN (AIN), via fall
BRONZE: KOMAL (IND) df. Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE), 6-1

68kg
GOLD: Alina SHEVCHENKO (AIN) df. Ayse ERKAN (TUR), via fall (12-2)

BRONZE: Karolina DOMASZUK (POL) df. Emilija JAKOVLJEVIC (SRB), via fall (7-0)
BRONZE: SRISHTI (IND) df. Viktoryia RADZKOVA (AIN), 7-0

76kg
GOLD: Jyoti BERWAL (IND) df. Mariia ORLEVYCH (UKR), 5-0

BRONZE: Naomi SIMON (USA) df. Chisato YOSHIDA (JPN), 9-0
BRONZE: Elmira YASIN (TUR) df. Tuvshinjargal TARAV (MGL), 8-2

Semifinals

53kg
GOLD: Carla JAUME SOLER (ESP) vs. Jin ZHANG (CHN)

SF 1: Carla JAUME SOLER (ESP) df. JYOTI (IND), 4-3
SF 2: Jin ZHANG (CHN) df. Nethmi AHINSA (SRI), via fall

57kg
GOLD: Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) vs. Bertha ROJAS (MEX)

SF 1: Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) df. Gerda TEREK (HUN), 10-0
SF 2: Bertha ROJAS (MEX) df. Alina FILIPOVYCH (UKR), 8-4

62kg
GOLD: NITIKA (IND) vs. Iryna BONDAR (UKR)

SF 1: NITIKA (IND) df. Nagisa ITO (JPN), 7-3
SF 2: Iryna BONDAR (UKR) df. Melanie JIMENEZ (MEX), 4-3

65kg
GOLD: Nana IKEHATA (JPN) vs. Beyza AKKUS (TUR)

SF 1: Nana IKEHATA (JPN) df. Zaixue RUI (CHN), 10-0
SF 2: Beyza AKKUS (TUR) df. Margarita SALNAZARIAN (AIN), 10-0

72kg
GOLD: Jasmine ROBINSON (USA) vs. Yuqi LIU (CHN)

SF 1: Jasmine ROBINSON (USA) df. Noemi OSVATH NAGY (HUN), via fall
SF 2: Yuqi LIU (CHN) df. Elvira ERSSON (SWE), 10-0

Chakvetadze Lone Olympic Medalist of 3 to Reach Greco Semis

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Onishi adds U20 world title to growing resume