End of the year freestyle rankings

Friday, November 11, 2022 - 11:18 By Eric Olanowski & Vinay Siwach

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (November 11) -- The final set of rankings for the freestyle wrestlers is out. With more than six ranking events and two championships, wrestlers had the opportunity to finish in the top three and collect the prize money.

The wrestlers managed to claim the points from the four Ranking Series events, continental championships and the World Championships. Two Games were also included in the Rankings Series but a total of only four events were counted for awarding the points.

Here are the rankings after the 2022 season.

Thomas GILMAN (USA) claimed the top spot at 57kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

57kg
1. Thomas GILMAN (USA) - $5000
2. Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) - $3000
3. Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL) - $2000

Thomas GILMAN (USA) earned the top billing at 57kg after medaling in three point-earning events. He won the Pan-American Championships and the Zouhaier Sghaier Ranking Series event before closing the season with a runner-up finish at the World Championships. Altogether, the Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist was 10-1 on the season.

Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) grabbed gold in Belgrade and collected 45,000 Ranking Series points, which was good enough to catapult him to the No. 2 spot in the 57kg rankings. With his win over Gilman in the 57kg world finals, the 29-year-old Albanian made history for his country, becoming the first wrestler to win a world title.

Abakarov’s gold in Belgrade also earned a berth on the All-World team for the 2022 Freestyle World Cup, which will take place in Coralville, Iowa, USA, December 10-11.

Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL) finished the season tied with Abakarov with 45,000, but due to the Albanian’s higher placement at the World Championships, the Mongolian ended up in the third position in the 57kg rankings. His 2022 body of work included fifth-place finishes at the Asian Championships and Yasar Dogu Ranking Series event, before finishing the season with a bronze medal at the 2022 World Championships.

Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) won the world title and the top spot at 61kg. (Photo: UWW /Kadir Caliskan)

61kg
1. Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) - $5000
2. Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) - $3000
3. Suleyman ATLI (TUR) - $2000

Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) went 8-0 during his 2022 season and finished the year as the 61kg’s top guy. He won four matches in each of his outings and submitted to the podium at the Asian Championships and World Championships.

Armenian youngster Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) rounds out the year ranked second in the world at 61kg after collecting European gold and a world bronze.

Harutyunyan had his handed raised in 11 of the 12 bouts he competed in this season, and only fell to eventual world champion Higuchi in the world quarterfinals. Despite it not counting towards his senior-level point total, the 23-year-old native of Masis, Armenia, won his second consecutive U23 world title.

Suleyman ATLI (TUR) ended the year ranked third in the world at 61kg with 39,120 points. He was a runner-up at the European Championships and a bronze-medal finisher at the Zouhaier Sghaier Ranking Series. Although he didn’t win a medal, he did finish in the top ten of the World Championships and Yasar Dogu Ranking Series event.

Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) won the Asian and world titles to leapfrong his opponents for the number one rank at 65kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

65kg
1. Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) - $5000
2. Bajrang BAJRANG (IND). - $3000
3. Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) - $2000

Belgrade world champion Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) topped the rankings at 65kg after snagging golds at the Continental and World Championships. During his 2022 campaign, the 20-year-old Iranian youngster beat Tokyo Olympic medalists Haji ALIYEV (AZE) and Bajrang BAJRANG (IND).

Amouzad took out Bajrang, a Tokyo bronze medal winner, to win the Asian title. Then, he cruised to a 9-2 win over three-time world champion and two-time Olympic medalist Aliyev in the world semifinals.

Bajrang edged Hungary’s Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) by 200 points for the No. 2 spot at 65kg.

Bajrang earned a silver medal at the Asian Championships and bronze medals at the Bolt Turlykhanov Cup and World Championships and finished the season with 44,200 points.

Muszukajev won the European Championships and took home a bronze from the World Championships, completing the year with 44,000 points.

Sebastian RIVERIA (PUR) also had 44,000 points but he did not win a medal at the World Championships while Muszukajev did to finish ahead of Riveria.

Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) finished with 57720 points to claim the top rank at 70kg. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

70kg
1. Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) - $5000
2. Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) - $3000
3. Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN) - $2000

At 70kg, 2,720 points were the difference between the first and third-ranked wrestlers.

Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) edged Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) and Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN) for the top spot with three medals in point-based events. He won European gold in Hungary and finished with bronze medals at the World Championships and Yasar Dogu Ranking Series events.

Akmataliev laid it on the line at a pair of Ranking Series events, and the Asian and World Championships. He medaled in three of those events, finishing with gold, silver and bronze at the Bolat Turlykhanov Cup, Asian Championships and World Championships, respectively. He fell short of the top spot by 2,200 points – which could have happened with a mere 10th place or better finish at a Ranking Series event.

Despite winning Asian and world gold, Narikuni fell 2,720 points -- equivalent to a ninth-place finish at a Ranking Series event -- short of claiming the top spot at the weight.

Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) and Kyle DAKE (USA) finished 1-2 respectively at 74kg. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

74kg
1. Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) - $5000
2. Kyle DAKE (USA) - $3000
3. Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) - $2000

Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) grabbed the No. 1 spot in the world rankings after winning 15 consecutive matches before falling in the world finals to No. 2 Kyle DAKE (USA).

Salkazanov won his second consecutive European title and grabbed Ranking Series titles at the Matteo Pellicone and the Bolat Turlykhanov Cup. He competed in two more competitions than his American foe and outscored him by 13,000 points.

This season, Dake competed at the World and Pan-American Championships and won gold at both events. It was his fourth consecutive gold-medal finish at the World Championships and second title-winning effort at the Pan-Am C’ships. He finished the season with 58,000 ranking points, which was 11,000 points ahead of the third-ranked wrestler.

Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) rounded out the season ranked No. 3 in the world after a trio of top ten finished. He started the season with a gold-medal win at the Yasar Dogu, then finished in fifth and eighth place at the World and European Championships, respectively.

Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) remained untouched at the top spot at 79kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

79kg
1. Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) - $5000
2. Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (KGZ) - $3000
3. Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) - $2000

There was no one challenging Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) for the top spot at 79kg and he never gave anyone a chance as well. In Belgrade, Burroughs won a record sixth world title. He finished at the top of the rankings with 63000 points with 45000 points coming from the gold in Belgrade. Apart from that, he won the Yasar Dogu event at the beginning of the year for 13000 points before the Pan-Am gold awarded him 5000 points.

The second spot sees a surprise as Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (KGZ) jumped from 14th to second. He has 51700 points with 31000 points coming from the bronze medal at the World Championships. He was also a bronze medalist at the Yasar Dogu for 10200 points. Another bronze at the Asian Championships awarded him 6500 points. He decided to participate in the Bolat Turlykhanov Cup as well and finished fifth for 4000 points.

But his participation in various events helped him finish better than World Championships silver medalist Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) who has 45000 points. The silver in Belgrade was worth 37000 points and the other 8000 points were won at the Zouhaier Sghaier event as he finished that with a gold medal.

Boris MAKOEV (SVK) outclassed other acclaimed wrestlers at 86kg and won the top spot. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

86kg
1. Boris MAKOEV (SVK) - $5000
2. Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) - $3000
3. David TAYLOR (USA) - $2000

There was little separating the top two at 86kg but Boris MAKOEV (SVK) clinched the top spot with 100 points more than Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ). Makoev finished with 49100 points thanks to his participation in four events. He began with a ninth-place finish at the European Championships for 6500 points before winning silver at Bolat Turlykhanov Cup and bronze at Matteo Pellicone. The two medals were worth a combined 11600 points. He finished the season with a bronze medal at the World Championships for 31000 points.

Dauletbekov also participated in four events with Asian Championships being his first. He won gold at 86kg for 10000 points before adding 4000 points for a fifth-place finish at the Bolat Turlykhanov Cup, perhaps the most crucial tournament in hindsight.

The Kazakhstan wrestler did win the Zouhaier Sghaier event but the gold was worth only 4000 points for him. He matched Makoev for the bronze at the World Championships but failed to overtake him for the top rank.

The third spot was claimed by world champion David TAYLOR (USA) who finished with 45000 points, all of which came from the gold he won in Belgrade.

Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) also finished with 45000 points but in fourth place as Taylor won gold in Belgrade while Yazdani won silver.

Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) finished with 53000 points in 2022. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

92kg
1. Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) - $5000
2. Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) - $3000
3. Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) - $2000

World champion Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) was the clear favorite to finish at the first spot and he did that by winning the gold medal in Belgrade at 92kg. He got 45000 points for the win and 8000 points more from the gold he won at the Bolat Turlykhanov Cup for a total of 53000 points.

Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) made a big jump from the 11th spot to the second by winning a bronze medal at the World Championships. With 49700 points, the made sure he was clear of the other bronze medalist Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE). In the three events he participated in for points, Maisuradze won bronze at the European Championships for 6500 points, the same as Nurmagomedov who also won a bronze.

At the Matteo Pellicone, the two met in the final that was won by Nurmagomedov who got 8000 points while Maisuradze got 6400 points. Both then went on to win the bronze medals at the Worlds.

Maisuradze's 5800 points more than Nurmagomedov came from the Yasar Dogu event in which he finished ninth.

Kyle SNYDER (USA) and Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK) were in the world finals and finished number one and two in the rankings. (Photo: UWW / Kostandin Andonov)

97kg
1. Kyle SNYDER (USA) - $5000
2. Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK) - $3000
3. Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) - $2000

The world finalists Kyle SNYDER (USA) and Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK) were in a close battle for the top spot and the former clinched it with 500 points more than Tsakulov.

Snyder won the Pan-Am gold medal for 10000 points before winning the Zouhaier Sghaier gold and World gold for 8000 points and 45000 points respectively to finish with 63000 points.

Tsakulov began with a bronze medal at the European Championships for 6500 points before winning two rankings series -- Bolat Turlykhanov and Matteo Pellicone -- for 8000 points and 11000 points respectively. His silver at World Championships was worth only 37000 points as he fell short of Snyder's tally.

Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) claimed the third spot with 47520 points which he accumulated by winning the European Championships for 10000 points, finishing seventh at Matteo Pellicone for 6520 points and winning bronze at World Championships for 31000 points.

Taha AKGUL (TUR) claimed the world gold and the first rank at 125kg. (Photo: UWW / Kostandin Andonov)

125kg
1. Taha AKGUL (TUR) - $5000
2. Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) - $3000
3. Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) - $2000

Taha AKGUL (TUR) and Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) exchanged the top two spots for a long time but the former raced ahead after winning the European and World Championships. The two gold medals were worth 55000 points and he also won the gold at Yasar Dogu for 13000 points, taking his total to 63000 points.

Petriashvili won silver at the European Championships for 8000 points but won the Matteo Pellicone and Zouhaier Sghaier rankings events, for 8000 points each. With 24000 points, gold at World Championships would have taken him to the top but he finished with bronze and 31000 points to settle for the second spot with 55000 points.

The third spot went to Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) who stunned Petriashvili to reach the World Championships final at 125kg. He reach the final at Yasar Dogu and got 11400 points. A bronze medal at the Bolat Turlykhanov Cup added 5200 points more to his account. With 37000 points from the World Championships, he finished with 53600 points and the third spot.

Meiji Cup

Motoki emerges at next potential star by filling Japan's opening at women's 59kg

Thursday, June 16, 2022 - 14:44 By Ken Marantz

TOKYO (June 16)--After the 2021 world silver medalist retired, Sara NATAMI stepped up and appeared to fill Japan's hole at women's 59kg by winning the gold at the Asian Championships in April. Just two months later, she's out, and a potential new star has emerged for the preeminent powerhouse.

Sakura MOTOKI, who had only recently returned after undergoing knee surgery just under a year ago, demolished Natami in the final of the Meiji Cup All-Japan Invitational Championships on Thursday, then returned to the mat to beat her again for a spot on Japan's team to this year's World Championships.

"Coming up to this, I had an injury, I couldn't enter the All-Japan Championships, I had tournaments canceled by the coronavirus," Motoki said. "So many things happened, but because of the support of so many people, I was able to make it this point, so I'm really happy."

The 20-year-old Motoki, a 2017 world U17 champion whose father competed in Greco-Roman at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, put on a takedown exhibition in storming to a 10-3 victory over Natami in the final on the opening day of the four-day tournament at Tokyo's Komasawa Gym.

Natami put up a stiff defense to thwart Motoki's attacks in the world team playoff, but that kept her from making any offensive overtures of her own and the aggressive Motoki won 2-1 with all of the points scored on the activity clock.

The tournament is the second of the two domestic qualifiers for this year's World Championships, along with the Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships that were held last December. Winners of both tournaments earn an automatic ticket to Belgrade; if the champions are different, the two meet in a playoff at the end of that day's action.

JPN Sakura MOTOKI attempts a takedown in the women's 59kg world team playoff with Sara NATAMI. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / Japan Wrestling Federation)

The wrestle-off at 59kg between Motoki and Emperor's Cup champion Natami was one of three in the eight weight classes in action on Thursday.

Motoki's Ikuei University teammate Ami ISHII will be joining her on the flight to Belgrade after winning the title and playoff at 68kg--and after first beating world silver medalist Rin MIYAJI in the semifinals. Miyaji was competing for the first time since the 2021 World Championships, where she suffered a severe knee injury in the final.

Natami had won six consecutive tournaments dating back to the Japan Women's Open in October 2019 and was fresh off her triumph at the Asian Championships in Ulaanbaatar. She won her first two matches by technical falls, but was no match for the aggressive Motoki, who prepped for the tournament by winning the U20 title at the Junior Queens Cup in April--her first tournament in 10 months.

Motoki said she felt rusty in her first two matches--a fall and a 4-0 victory--but made the necessary adjustments for the final.

"My movement in the quarterfinal and semifinal was as bad as it gets, so before the final, I talked with coach [Yoshimaro] YANAGAWA and we looked at what to fix," she said. "In the final, I was able to do what I have always worked on in practice, so that was good."

Motoki used the time away from the mat to watch videos of some of the sport's top stars. She said that among those whose techniques she studied were compatriots Akari FUJINAMI and Rei HIGUCHI, as well as former world champion and constant blur of action Haji ALIEV (AZE).

"When I couldn't wrestle, I used that time to watch many videos of wrestlers with excellent technique," said Motoki, who executed a textbook-perfect duck under against Natami. "It made me think of what was the ideal type of wrestling I want to do. When I came back, I felt I was physically better than before I was injured, and I had had better techique and was a better wrestler."

While all conversations in Japan eventually shift to which Olympic weight class a wrestler will move into, Motoki is content for now to stay in the non-Olympic weight, albeit with eyes on the 2024 Paris Olympics.

"At this point, I don't have the confidence to compete in an Olympic weight class," Motoki said. "To win the title here, then win the title at the World Championships, will give me confidence, and then I'll decide if I want to go up or down."

Motoki, who started wrestling at age 3 in Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo, and attended powerful Saitama Sakae High School, said her parents encouraged her during the depressing times of her injury, and that her father Yasutoshi, who placed ninth at Greco 63kg at Sydney 2000, is always offering wise advice.

"He said to not make excuses for not doing things," Motoki said. "Like 'Today, I'm wrestling poorly, so I'll stop practicing.' He would always tell me, don't look for a reason to avoid doing something."

Japan got a silver medal at 59kg at the 2021 World Championships from Akie HANAI, who has since retired.

JPN 2 Ami ISHII celebrates her victory in the world team playoff at women's 68kg. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / Japan Wrestling Federation)

At 68kg, Ishii, the 2020 Klippan Lady Open champion at 65kg, scored a first-period takedown in the final and held on for a 2-1 victory over Emperor's Cup champion Naruha MATSUYUKI. The playoff was a virtual repeat, with Ishii again winning 2-1 with a first-period takedown.

Ikuei University, which was only founded in 2018, could place a third member on the team to Belgrade if Tsugumi SAKURAI, the world 55kg champion, can win the title at 57kg on Friday.

Earlier Thursday, Miyaji fell victim to her own sloppiness and lost 9-6 to Ishii in the semifinals. She came back to win the bronze-medal match by fall over Kumi KOBAYASHI.

"I won the third-place match, but I practiced with the goal of winning the championship, so it's disappointing to finish third," said Miyaji, a junior at Nippon Sports Science University where she is coached by Olympic legend Kaori ICHO.

Miyaji had caught the world's attention at last year's World Championships in Nur-Sultan when she posted a stunning victory by fall over Tokyo Olympic champion Tamyra STOCK MENSAH (USA). But in the final against Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ), she had her knee violently twisted outward--some wonder why the match wasn't stopped with Miyaji's knee in an obviously dangerous position--and lost by fall.

"I feel like there is a gap between the results I have achieved and my actual ability," Miyaji said. "At the World Championships, I defeated the Olympic champion and finished second, but to lose here, it's like I've lost everything I gained at the World Championships.

"The way it is now, with this result I can't say out loud that I'm going to the Olympics. I'm going to have to train like mad for the next five months," she said, referring to this December's Emperor's Cup, which will start the qualifying process for Paris 2024.

Miyaji, who returned to the mat in April and started live sparring in practice the following month, said she still has some lingering pain, but did not want to use that as an excuse for her performance.

"There is still some pain. But I don't think there are many wrestlers who are 100 percent at a tournament. Everyone has injuries here or there. I want to be able to win even with an injury."

In the other women's weight class in action, Yuka KAGAMI, a former world U17 and U20 champion who won a silver medal in April at the Asian Championships, will get her first shot at a senior world title after defeating Yasuha MATSUYUKI 4-0 in the final.

Kagami, who won her second Emperor's Cup title in December, avoided a playoff for the world team spot when she scored a takedown and gut wrench in the first period, then held off Matsuyuki--Naruha's twin sister--the rest of the way for the victory.

Yudai TAKAHASHI earned his second trip to the World Championships at freestyle 79kg. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / Japan Wrestling Federation)

Takahashi gains final shot at 79kg

In freestyle, NSSU's Yudai TAKAHASHI will make the World Championships his final tournament at 79kg after defeating Yajuro YAMASAKI 3-1 in the final to complete the Emperor's Cup-Meiji Cup double.

Takahashi scored the decisive takedown with 1:20 left in the second period to defeat Yamasaki, who had moved down from 86kg--the Olympic weight class that Takahashi said he will move up to upon returning from Belgrade.

"I went into this deciding it would be my last [national] tournament at this weight class," said Takahashi, who won a bronze medal at the Asian Championships. "I'm glad I could end on a good note."

Takahashi has long been Japan's top hope for success in the middleweights after making his first World Championships team as a high schooler in 2019. He lost his opening match, but the Asian medal has boosted his confidence.

"I finished third at the Asian Championships, but I lost a match that I could have won, so it's a tournament with some regrets," Takahashi said. "At the World Championships, I'll use what works best for me as much as possible to get a medal."

With Olympic champion Takuto OTOGURO still on hiatus, defending champion and Asian bronze medalist Kaiki YAMAGUCHI filled the void at 65kg, earning a ticket to Belgrade with a 4-3 victory in the final over Ryoma ANRAKU.

Trailing in the second period, Yamaguchi scored a shrug-by takedown just seconds after receiving a second activity point and held on to complete the Emperor's Cup-Meiji Cup double.

It will be Yamaguchi's third trip to the World Championships, where he previously placed 17th in 2019 and 11th in 2021.

In Greco, Asian bronze medalist Takahiro TSURUDA lost 3-3 in the 97kg final to Yuri NAKAZATO, but rebounded to beat him 3-1 in the world team playoff. Tsuruda, last year's Meiji Cup champion at 87kg, scored a 2-point throw from par terre for the decisive points.

Nakazato knocked off five-time defending champion Yuta NARA in the semifinals, building up an 8-1 lead before securing a late fall.

Arata SONODA remained the nation's dominant heavyweight, winning his eighth straight title at 130kg with an 8-0 technical fall in 2:11 over Marin NISHIMURA. That earned Sonoda his seventh trip to the World Championships--where he is still looking for his first victory on the top global stage.

At 63kg, Ryuto IKEDA defeated Chiezo MARUYAMA 5-1 in the final to secure a place on the world team, as Emperor's Cup champion Kensuke SHIMIZU has moved up a weight class.

Day 1 Results

Freestyle

65kg (8 entries)
Final - Kaiki YAMAGUCHI df. Ryoma ANRAKU, 4-3

3rd Place - Kotaro KIYOOKA df. Shinnosuke SUWAMA by TF, 17-6, 3:50

79kg (12 entries)
Final - Yudai TAKAHASHI df. Yajuro YAMASAKI, 3-1
3rd Place - Takahiro MURAYAMA df. Takato UCHIDA, 8-7

Greco-Roman

63kg (12 entries)
Final - Ryuto IKEDA df. Chiezo MARUYAMA, 5-1

3rd Place - Ryota KOSHIBA df. Yuki YOSHINAGA, 10-5

97kg (10 entries)
Final - Yuri NAKAZATO df. Takahiro TSURUDA, 3-3
3rd Place - Yuta NARA df. Masayuki AMANO by TF, 8-0, 4:17

World team playoff - Takahiro TSURUDA df. Yuri NAKAZATO, 3-1

130kg (7 entries)
Final - Arata SONODA df. Marin NISHIMURA by TF, 8-0, 2:11
3rd Place - Shion OBATA df. Yuma MIYAUCHI by TF, 8-0, :38

Women's Wrestling

59kg (10 entries)
Final - Sakura MOTOKI df. Sara NATAMI, 10-3
3rd Place - Himeka TOKUHARA df. Yumeka TANABE, 3-1

World team playoff - Sakura MOTOKI df. Sara NATAMI, 2-1

68kg (4 entries)
Final - Ami ISHII df. Naruha MATSUYUKI, 2-1
3rd Place - Rin MIYAJI df. Kumi KOBAYASHI by Fall, 2:21 (12-1)

World team playoff - Ami ISHII df. Naruha MATSUYUKI, 2-1

76kg (4 entries)
Final - Yuka KAGAMI df. Yasuha MATSUYUKI, 4-0
3rd Place - Nodoka YAMAMOTO df. Mizuki NAGASHIMA, 2-0

End of the year freestyle rankings

Comments

Motoki emerges at next potential star by filling Japan's opening at women's 59kg