Dosho Earns Shot at Olympic Repeat With Win in Japan Team Playoff

Monday, March 9, 2020 - 13:33 By Ken Marantz

TOKYO (March 8)—Having stuck it out through trying times since her triumph in Rio four years ago, Sara DOSHO (JPN) finally assured that she will be able to defend her Olympic crown at this summer's Tokyo Games.

Dosho edged world junior champion Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) 3-1 in a special playoff to fill the Olympic spot at 68kg that she herself secured for Japan by placing fifth at last year's World Championships in Nur-Sultan. Morikawa had forced the playoff by winning the All-Japan title last December, where she defeated Dosho 9-2 in the semifinals.

"I had a lot of injuries, but I was able to come back and be here today," Dosho said. "I want to be completely healthy for the Tokyo Olympics and wrestling at a high level. From the time I won in Rio, my aim was to win again in Tokyo. That has not changed. I'll do what I can to make that happen."

Meanwhile, Keisuke OTOGURO (JPN) will join younger brother Takuto on Japan's team at Tokyo 2020 after he chalked up a 5-2 victory over Mao OKUI (JPN) at freestyle 74kg in the other playoff held behind closed doors at the National Training Center in Tokyo. Okui had earned Japan's spot by finishing fifth at Nur-Sultan.

Dosho had been through a lot in recent years, most notably missing almost the entire 2018 season after suffering a shoulder injury at the Women's World Cup that required surgery and kept her from defending the world title she won in 2017.

While less dominant than before, Dosho managed to win the national tournaments that earned her a ticket to Nur-Sultan, but she lost in the quarterfinals to Tamyra MENSAH (USA) and the bronze-medal match to Anna SCHELL (GER).

Sara DOSHO (JPN) defeated Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) 3-1 and will represent Japan at the Olympic Games at 68kg. (Photo: ©JWF/Sachiko HOTAKA)

According to Japan federation criteria, any Japanese winning a medal in an Olympic weight in Nur-Sultan automatically filled the berth for Tokyo 2020. Fifth-place finishers could secure the spot by winning the ensuing All-Japan Championships, also referred to as the Emperor's Cup. A loss there set up a playoff with the Emperor's Cup champion for the Tokyo 2020 ticket.

Of the three fifth-place finishers, only Takuto Otoguro followed up with a victory at the Emperor's Cup. Dosho and Okui both went down to defeat, setting up the playoffs.

The wrestle-offs were originally scheduled for Feb. 1, but were postponed when both Keisuke Otoguro and Dosho suffered injuries.

Dosho, 25, said she injured her knee in January and did not restart full-fledged practice until mid-February, and she seemed to need every ounce of energy to hold off the 20-year-old Morikawa.

There was little action in the first period, with Dosho scoring the lone point from the activity clock. Dosho padded her lead early in the second, countering a single-leg attempt by Morikawa and working around behind for 2.

Sara DOSHO (JPN) gets coached by fellow Rio Olympic champions Eri TOSAKA (JPN) and Risako KAWAI (JPN) (Photo: ©JWF/Sachiko HOTAKA)

"My main weapon is my tackle, but in my head, I was hesitant to launch attacks," Dosho said. "The way the match went, it turned out to be a good thing. I can't say it went as a I planned because I didn't get any tackles, but I worked in practice on putting pressure on the opponent and using counters, and that went well."

Morikawa, who is coached at Nippon Sports Science University by four-time Olympic champion Kaori ICHO and 2008 Olympic silver medalist Kenichi YUMOTO, kept up the attack, and it nearly paid off. She launched a driving double-leg tackle that forced Dosho backward, but was only able to gain a 1-point stepout for the effort.

"If I moved in the first period like I did in the second, it might have changed the flow of the match," Morikawa said. "At first, I thought I could get her to use up her energy, but she ties up well and she's strong. I kept attacking, but my opponent's defense was stiff, and I couldn't finish it off. It's good to keep attacking, but if you don't get points, you won't do well overseas or in Japan."

Before her surprisingly one-sided loss at the Emperor's Cup, Dosho had faced Morikawa three times—all while Morikawa was still a high schooler—and won all three by technical falls. It was certainly a much-improved and matured version with whom she now had to contend.

"Up until recently, I would beat her by technical falls," Dosho said. "But she really got strong and made it a tough match."

As precautionary measures against the new coronavirus, only Japan federation officials and accompanying team personnel were allowed into the NTC wrestling room where the playoffs were held. Even family members were barred. The media had to watch a livestream of the matches via Twitter or Instagram in the pressroom of the nearby soccer stadium. The wrestlers were later brought in one by one for interviews.

Given the limitations, it was interesting to note that all four women's Olympic champions from Rio were involved in the playoff. In Dosho's corner were 48kg gold medalist Eri TOSAKA (JPN) and 63kg winner Risako KAWAI (JPN), who has qualified for Tokyo 2020 at 57kg by winning the world title. On the opposite side of the mat, Icho, the Rio gold medalist at 58kg, was supporting Morikawa.

Dosho, Tosaka and Kawai all have a connection as products of powerhouse Shigakkan University. Dosho said Tosaka's advice before the match was simple: "Have confidence, and don't let your opponent dictate the pace of the match."

Of the four Rio champions, only Kawai and Dosho will be able to attempt a golden repeat. Tosaka failed to make it to the qualifiers at 50kg, while Icho lost out to Kawai, who set up a clash of Olympic champions by moving down to 57kg.

"I feel I can finally relax," Dosho said. "I lost at the World Championships, then I lost at the Emperor's Cup. This would have been the end. I staked everything on this and came into today looking at it as a challenge."

Keisuke OTOGURO (JPN) celebrates after beating Mao OKUI (JPN), 5-2, in a special 74kg Olympic wrestle-off. (Photo: ©JWF/Sachiko HOTAKA)

Otoguro Makes Tokyo 2020 a Family Affair
Although the older of the two, Keisuke Otoguro has had to yield the spotlight to brother Takuto, who in 2018 became at 19 Japan's youngest-ever world freestyle champion by winning the 65kg title. Keisuke was also at those World Championships in Budapest, but was ousted in the first round at 70kg.

On Sunday, it was Keisuke's turn to shine, and he did it with help from his family—in this case, his father. While dad was not allowed to watch the match in person, he met with Otoguro before it and offered some advice that would pay off.

As with the women's match to follow, the clash between Otoguro and Okui—who are teammates at the Self-Defense Forces Training School—featured little action in the first period as both remained tentative, and the only scoring was an activity clock point awarded to Otoguro.

Okui, who was hampered by a severe knee injury suffered a month ago, went on the attack in the second period. But he was halted on a fireman's carry attempt, and Otoguro was able to spin behind for a takedown.

From the ground position, Otoguro recalled his father's words and, while pinning one of Okui's leg behind him, gained an arm and body lock that allowed him to lever him over for an eventual roll and a 5-0 lead.

"I thought I could turn him," Otoguro said. "Before the match, I met my father, who wasn't allowed into the match, at the entrance. He said to me that I would probably be able to use that move. Even though he just kind of mentioned it off hand, that was in my head as I fought. I got in that position and I was able to turn him.

"I might have used a different move and it might have changed the outcome of the match. I'm glad we had that chat."

Keisuke OTOGURO (JPN) stops a Mao OKUI (JPN) shot in the 74kg special wrestle-off. (Photo: ©JWF/Sachiko HOTAKA)

Okui closed the gap with a single-leg takedown in the final minute, but Otoguro held off later attempts to clinch the win.

The Otoguros will become the first brothers to compete at the same Olympics for Japan since Yumoto and his twin brother Shinichi made the squad for the 2012 London Olympics. Shinichi joined Kenichi as an Olympic medalist at those Games with a bronze at 55kg. Japan will also have a female sibling combination at Tokyo 2020 with Risako and Yukako Kawai.

"Since we were young, we've had a dream of winning the Olympics together," Otoguro said. "At this New Year's, we were reaffirmed our determination to go to the Olympics together, and next, that we will both win gold medals."

Otoguro, who had won national titles at 61kg in 2015 and 70kg in 2017, purposely moved up to 74kg last year in a bid to make the Olympics. It didn't go so well at first. In the second qualifying tournament for the 2019 World Championships, the All-Japan Invitational Championships (Meiji Cup), he lost in the first round. The unheralded Okui won that tournament and earned the ticket to Nur-Sultan, then pulled a surprise by making it to the semifinals and clinching the Olympic spot.

But Otoguro was not discouraged, and came back the following December to win the Emperor's Cup and set up the playoff with Okui.

"A year ago at this time, I didn't get the qualification at the Meiji Cup," Otoguro said. "I stayed calm, and I set my target to meet the standard at the Emperor's Cup. It worked out, and then I could go for the Tokyo Olympics."

Otoguro said it was awkward preparing for the big match in the same wrestling room as his opponent, even though the two had their own training regimens.

"We practice in the same place and our [dormitory] rooms are next to each other, so it made it difficult," Otoguro said. "But we were able to stay separate and keep our focus, as you need to do when everything is on the line. The coaches allowed us to put together a training schedule that best fits us. We prepared separately for this match in our own way."

Okui suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury that will likely require surgery, but said that was not the cause of his defeat. "I decided that I would wrestle, and I don't want to use that as an excuse," he said. "I thought I had to win however I can, but midway through, I panicked a bit and that led to this result. If I had stayed calmer..."

For his part, he wishes Otoguro well at the Olympics. "I want Keisuke to win the gold medal for us," he said.

Talking about calm, Otoguro said he is not the type to feel pressure and was quite relaxed before the match; Takuto, he said, was "more nervous that me" and was the one who couldn't sleep until 2 a.m.

"I suppose there was a lot of pressure, but I'm the type that doesn't feel it," Keisuke said. "When I woke up this morning, I felt, 'I have a match today, don't I?' After I arrived here, while I was warming up, I felt, 'Yeah, I have a match.' I wasn't feeling nervous."

Otoguro, however, said he started feeling nerves about 10 days ago, mostly because of all the attention he was receiving from those around him. He said it darkened the mood.

"Ten days ago, everyone was saying, 'good luck' and 'we're counting on you,'" Otoguro said. "It subconsciously put pressure on me. At one point, I lost my desire. I was like, who cares about wrestling? But I took some time off, and remembered all I had accomplished since I was little. The hunger came back."

#WrestleHangzhou

Japan seeks Asian Games dominance after 2018 debacle

Monday, October 2, 2023 - 08:06 By Vinay Siwach

HANGZHOU, China (October 2) — For the few unfamiliar ones, Japan’s dominance in women’s wrestling is unparalleled. The country has won the most world and Olympic medals in women’s wrestling. Out of the 24 gold medals in women’s wrestling ever awarded at the Olympics, Japan has won 15. No other country has more than two golds.

But here’s a mind-blowing fact for the sports nerds: Japan did not win a single gold medal in women’s wrestling at the 2018 Asian Games. World and Olympic champions faltered at different stages of the competition, and Japan had to return from Jakarta without gold.

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At the 19th edition of the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, Japan will hope to bounce back from that disaster. Women’s wrestling at the Asian Games will be held on October 5 and 6 at the Lin’an Sports Culture and Exhibition Center.

Apart from Japan, hosts China will hope to leave its mark at the continental level as it continues to rebuild its team after the Tokyo Olympics. The Asian Games will also mark the return of DPR Korea to wrestling for the first time since the 2019 World Military Games in Wuhan, China. The nation is known to produce some of the strongest wrestlers, especially in the lower-weight classes.

Japan can certainly think that the 2018 performance will not be repeated, as it is sending four world champions, including Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) who recently won her second world title in Belgrade. Fujinami is on a 127-match winning streak dating back to her junior high school days.

Joining her on the team are three-time world champion Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN), two-time world champ Nonoka OZAKI (JPN), 2021 world champion Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN), former U20 world champion and U23 world silver medalist Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN) and former U20 Asian champion Nodoka YAMAMOTO (JPN).

Fujinami will be the clear favorite at 53kg as the 19-year-old looks to add more and more senior medals to her cabinet. Already a phenom in Japan, Fujinami appeared on the international stage in 2021 and won the gold medal at the World Championships in Oslo. She was expected to participate in 2022 but withdrew due to an injury that kept her out for second half of last year. But she returned to win the Asian Championships this year and also the World Championships just 10 days ago.

The NSSU wrestler outscored her opponents 56-7 in Belgrade with only Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) scoring points on her. Yepez certainly gave the Japanese a scare as she raced to a 5-0 lead but Fujinami gathered her composure and made it 16-7 before securing the fall.

The lean-looking 53kg wrestler boasts immense strength, and her ability to reach for the far ankle during low-single attacks has troubled her opponents, including those in Japan. In June, after her loss to Fujinami in the Meiji Cup, Tokyo Olympic champion Mayu MUKAIDA (now SHIDOCHI) said that Fujinami’s long limbs are difficult to counter once she reaches for the leg attacks.

While winning the gold medal will be her top priority, Fujinami may finally have her longtime wish of wrestling a Chinese opponent completed. Tokyo silver medalist Qianyu PANG (CHN) will look to put behind the disappointment of the World Championships as she failed to win a medal after suffering a last-second loss to Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE).

Pang, who has been lacking her ‘A’ game since her return after Tokyo, is the Asian champion at 55kg and will look to repeat that performance, especially with the home crowd backing her. Her defense will also be put to the test if she manages to get a bout against Fujinami.

World Championships bronze medalist and two-time U20 world champion ANTIM (IND) will face another big test against both Fujinami and Pang. The Indian wrestled Fujinami in the Asian Championships final but lost 10-0. But her run in Belgrade, including a win over world champion Dominique PARRISH (USA), makes her favorite to reach the final at 53kg.

Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL) will lead the Mongolian challenge after moving up to 57kg for the World Championships as she failed to make the team at 53kg.

20-year-old Hyogyong CHOE (PRK) will be the surprise element for everyone, as she has not wrestled internationally before. Former U20 world silver medalist Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ) will look to earn a medal as well.

At 62kg, a fifth battle between Ozaki and Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) is likely to take place in Hangzhou, with the head-to-head record tied at 2-2.

Three-time world champion and Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Tynybekova has recovered from the injury that kept her out of form for the entire 2022 season, as she reclaimed her world title in Belgrade last week. Earlier in April, she beat Ozaki at the Asian Championships.

The first face-to-face between the two was in 2021 when Tynybekova eked out a 6-4 win in the first round of the World Championships. But Ozaki avenged that loss in the final of the 2022 Asian Championships as Tynybekova pulled out injured during a deadly leg-lace from Ozaki.

At the 2022 World Championships, Ozaki would once again get the better of Tynybekova and win the gold medal at 65kg. Tynybekova tied the head-to-head score at 2-2 as she defeated Ozaki 2-2 at the Asian Championships in Astana.

While the first three bouts saw a few scoring actions, Tynybekova shut down Ozaki completely in Astana and then used her experience to win on technical points.

Both won world titles in Belgrade as Ozaki was wrestling at 65kg after failing to make the Japan team at 62kg. With Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) winning the 62kg silver medal in Belgrade, Ozaki’s hopes of going to the Paris Olympics are all but over. Tynybekova, on the other hand, won't mind adding an Asian Games gold medal to her name before the Paris Games.

However, both Ozaki and Tynybekova won't take their meeting on the mat for granted as Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL) is waiting in the ranks. Sukhee is a 2014 world champion and added a silver medal at the 2015 edition. She will look to make a statement win in Hangzhou.

Another strong medal contender is world silver medalist Jia LONG (CHN), a Tokyo Olympian and Asian champion at 65kg. Long finished a lowly 19th at the World Championships after losing to Purvedorj 8-5 but with a strong home crowd backing her, Long will be keen on avenging that loss.

Former U20 world silver medalist and Tokyo Olympian Sonam MALIK (IND) will be a medal contender as well given she is fully fit and brings her top game. Since Tokyo, Malik has a bronze medal at the Asian Championships but failed to medal at the 2022 World Championships and the Bishkek Ranking Series in which she lost 5-3 to Long.

Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) won her third world title in Belgrade. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Newly crowned world champion Sakurai has the chance to add an Asian Games gold medal that will add to her dominance at 57kg in the world. After winning two world titles at this weight class, Sakurai is the favorite going into the Paris Olympics next year. Sakurai's single-leg attacks are a menace for her opponents and then she blocks out counterattacks, frustrating her opponents and forcing them to commit mistakes. At the Asian Games, she will be tested by Kexin HONG (CHN) who won the U23 Asian Championships and has two silver medals from the Ranking Series in 2023.

Insun JONG (PRK), who finished fifth at the 2014 Asian Games, will look to cause some trouble as she returns to the mat after four years. It will be interesting to see the changes, if any, in Jong’s style.

Three youngsters — Mansi AHLAWAT (IND), Emma TISSINA (KAZ) and Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB) — can leave Hangzhou with a medal at 57kg. 

Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) was the 50kg gold medalist at the 2023 Asian Championships. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

If there was no Yui SUSAKI (JPN), Yoshimoto would have ruled the 50kg weight class. However, Yoshimoto remains the second-best behind Susaki in Japan for now but will be the front-runner for the gold in Hangzhou. Yoshimoto, who lost a thriller to Susaki at the Meiji Cup in June, had won the Emperor’s Cup in 2021 (Susaki skipped the tournament) to confirm her ticket to the Asian Games. Pushing the internationally unbeaten Susaki has made Yoshimoto a feared opponent for others.

The two-time Asian champion should move into the final with ease despite former Asian Championships silver medalist Namuuntsetseg TSOGT OCHIR (MGL) entering. Yoshimoto defeated Tsogt Ochir via fall in the 2022 finals.

China is banking on Jiang ZHU (CHN) as she looks to win a medal at 50kg. Ziqi FENG (CHN) won a bronze medal at the World Championships but is not participating in the Asian Games which gives Zhu a chance to put her name among the medalists.

Zhu won a silver medal at the Zagreb Open Ranking Series, scoring a point on Susaki, the first in four years by an international opponent. Zhu won a bronze medal in Alexandria but finished fifth in Budapest.

Pooja GEHLOT (IND), Svetlana ANKICHEVA (KAZ), Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) possess the ability to win a medal but it will take some doing to stand on the podium.  Sonhyang KIM (PRK) is also a new face for international wrestling and it’s a wait-and-watch for what she has in her arsenal. 

Feng ZHOU (CHN) is the defending 68kg champion at the Asian Games. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

If there is one weight class in which China has the best chance to win a gold medal, it has to be 68kg. The defending champion Feng ZHOU (CHN) will be looking to add more silverware as she moves towards the descent of her long career. Zhou has been a permanent feature in the Chinese team and that experience will be handy as she tries to navigate the 68kg field. Among her strongest moves is the gut wrench as Zhou churns the turns with a strong grip.

But world silver medalist Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL), who had a dream run to the final in Belgrade before suffering a counter fall to lose in the gold medal bout, will keep a check on Zhou.

The two met in the final of the Bishkek Ranking Series and Zhou won 16-5. That gives Enkhsaikhan additional reason to punch above her weight. The Mongolian will carry the momentum from Belgrade where she won two bouts via fall, one via technical superiority and one via decision.

A storyline that continues to awe wrestling fans is the return of Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ). The 35-year-old will be at her third Asian Games, the first two being 2006 and 2010. She won the gold medal in 2010 but took a break from wrestling after finishing fifth at the 2012 World Championships. But she returned a decade later at the Bolat Turlykhanov Cup in 2022 and also won a bronze medal at the 2023 Asian Championships. She was eighth at the World Championships in Belgrade.

Former U20 world champion  Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN) will look to make a mark at the senior level with a medal at the Asian Games. RADHIKA can prove to be the dark horse of the weight class as he looks to build on her silver medal finish at the 2022 Asian Championships at 65kg.

Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) will look to improve her bronze from the 2018 Asian Games to gold. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Like at the world level, the 76kg weight class will be a highly contested weight class at the continental level. At the Asian Games, world silver medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) will be the favorite for the gold medal. But it is yet to be seen if she recovered from the knee injury suffered during the final of the World Championships.

The returning bronze medalist lost in 2018 but has improved significantly over the years. She won the Asian Championships in 2022 and has three silver medals in 2020, 2021 and 2023. The former U20 world champion also has wins over her opponents at the Asian Games including Juan WANG (CHN) and KIRAN.

But one of the biggest challenges for Medet Kyzy will be Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), the two-time Asian champion at 72kg making her debut at 76kg. She has two world medals at 72kg and won bronze this year. Bakbergenova’s ability to use big throws at crucial junctures in a match makes her extremely dangerous. However, adapting to the new weight class could be a challenge for her.

Juan WANG (CHN)  will have the pressure of keeping the gold with China as Qian ZHOU (CHN) won it in Jakarta. Wang has been competing at the international level for more than a decade with multiple medals at the Asian level. At the World Cup, she defeated the then world champion Yasemin ADAR (TUR) with ease.

Nodoka YAMAMOTO (JPN) too had a successful World Cup and can challenge the senior stars. The 2022 U20 Asian champion Yamamoto won the 2021 Emperor’s Cup in December 2021 to book her spot on the Japanese team for the Asian Games.

Dosho Earns Shot at Olympic Repeat With Win in Japan Team Playoff

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Japan seeks Asian Games dominance after 2018 debacle