Fujinami's pre-Paris prepping includes victory in rare clash with fellow world champ Sakurai

Sunday, January 21, 2024 - 12:45 By Ken Marantz

TOKYO (January 18) -- It wasn't exactly Rocky and Apollo Creed settling their score in a dank empty boxing gym. But on a winter morning in Tokyo, two reigning women world champions met in a rare clash that would have been a marquee match-up on a global stage but was seen only by a sparse crowd in a nondescript high school gym.

Akari FUJINAMI got the best of fellow world champion Tsugumi SAKURAI when they faced off not for individual glory, but for collegiate pride in the East Japan Women's Collegiate League, a team competition held on Jan. 14.

A crowd of 150 or so was on hand for the clash of titans at Kokugakuin High School in central Tokyo, almost solely teammates, coaches, referees and officials from the organizing Tokyo Wrestling Association. The only sign that something special was at hand were the 30-plus media members there to witness the historic event.

JPN1 Nippon Sport Science University's Akari FUJINAMI looks for an opening in her match with fellow world champion Tsugumi SAKURAI of Ikuei University in a collegiate team tournament in Tokyo on Jan. 14. (photo by Ikuo Higuchi / Japan Wrestling Federation)

Fujinami, the reigning world gold medalist at 53kg from Nippon Sports Science University, defeated three-time 57kg titlist Sakurai of Ikuei University 5-0 in a 59kg match as both continue their preparations for the Paris Olympics, where they will both be favorites to strike gold.

Fujinami and Sakurai have practiced together before at national team camps, most recently at the start of the new year, but had not met in an official match since their high school days.

"We have practiced together many times," Fujinami said. "I was nervous in the actual match and it had a different feel. I think things came out that I can work on going into Paris, and I hope the two of us can win gold medals in Paris."

The five-team competition (actually four, with Nihon University a no-show) paired squads of three in the 53kg, 59kg and over-59kg weight classes in a duel meet format. Fujinami's victory was not enough to prevent Sakurai's Ikuei from beating NSSU 2-1, with Paris hopeful Ami ISHII scoring the decisive victory. Ikuei went on to win the title.

Fujinami, however, won her two other matches on the day, running her current winning streak to 133 that dates back to her junior high school days and includes two world senior titles.

So what led such stars to risk injury in an Olympic year in a match that would normally only have occurred had a national team berth been at stake?

"For sure, there were various things I thought of, but I wanted to make some contribution to Nittaidai," Fujinami said, using the common term for NSSU. "I heard that Sakurai would be participating, and I knew Sakurai would be ready, so I wanted to do it. I thought it would be a match that will have a connection to Paris. I entered because I will do everything to get ready for Paris, and I did it for Nittaidai."

Sakurai, at 22, is two years older. The two had met three times previously, most recently in July 2019, when Fujinami won for the first time, notching a 7-4 victory in the final at the Inter High School Championships.

Before that, Sakurai scored technical falls in their first two matches, both in 2016, when Fujinami was still in junior high school. It would be in June the following year that Fujinami would lose 7-2 to Umi ITO in the 44kg final of the All-Japan Junior High School Championships---and has not lost since.

"The last time I faced [Sakurai] I was in my first year of high school, so some time has passed since then," Fujinami said. "Both of us have made progress, and both of us will be putting it all on the line in Paris, so we will practice together again with the aim of making us both better."

JPN2 Fujinami gets behind for a first-period takedown. Fujinami's father and coach calls out in the background on the left. (photo by Ikuo Higuchi / Japan Wrestling Federation)

In the match, Sakurai tried to use her strength advantage to tie up Fujinami's arms, which thwarted any attacks but led to a passivity point for Fujinami. At the end of the first period, Fujinami finally broke through with a classic single leg takedown to take a 3-0 lead into the second frame.

Neither wrestler could create a good opening in the second period. At one point, Fujinami shot and was temporarily knocked back off balance, but she quickly recovered, and she later squirmed out of an arm spin. With time running out, Sakurai attempted a last-ditch headlock, but Fujinami fought it off for a takedown at the buzzer.

"At this level, I knew it would be a match in which you couldn't let the chance get away if given even a little opening," Fujinami said. "She's an opponent with a strong defense."

JPN5 Hosei University's Narumi NAKAMURA scores a rare 2-point exposure on Fujinami. (photo by Ikuo Higuchi / Japan Wrestling Federation)

Not surprisingly, Fujinami had an easier time in her two other matches, winning by either fall or technical superiority. She did, however, give up a rare 2-point exposure to Hosei University's Narumi NAKAMURA, who normally wrestles at 57kg. Fujinami had scored a takedown and was trying for a turn when her opponent reached down and pulled up Fujinami's leg from the inside. But the action came at the edge and was limited to the exposure.

According to the Japan federation website, it was the 12th time in Japan history that two reigning world champions faced each other, dating back to 1965. The most recent occurred in 2019, when then-women's 55kg champion Mayu MUKAIDA (now SHIDOCHI) defeated 53kg counterpart Haruna OKUNO in a 53kg match at the All-Japan Invitational Championships.

In almost all of the previous cases, the clash of titans came about because of the funneling of top wrestlers into the fewer weight classes used for the Olympics. Champions in non-Olympic weights would shift into Olympic ones, creating marquee match-ups. None drew more attention than the epic battles between reigning Olympic champions Kaori ICHO and Risako KAWAI for the 57kg spot at the Tokyo Olympics.

What made the Fujinami-Sakurai encounter so unique was that it occurred in such an innocuous event. While NSSU and Ikuei have emerged as the collegiate powerhouses in women's wrestling, no major title nor individual glory was on the line, and both schools had an alternate on the roster.

"We're in an era now where the strong wrestlers want to face each other," said NSSU assistant coach and former Olympic medalist Chikara TANABE. "If you avoid each other, you won't get stronger. There was also the pride of representing their university. The tournament organizer thought they wouldn't face each other, but they wanted to do it."

JPN3 Sakurai attempts a last-ditch headlock, which Fujinami fights off for a late takedown. (photo by Ikuo Higuchi / Japan Wrestling Federation)

Fujinami agrees that facing tough domestic competition, even if it means risking injury -- she has often expressed indifference about the winning streak -- can only be a positive thing.

"I knew deep down that there was a big risk in the challenge itself, but I felt it was something I could not run away from," Fujinami said. "In the end, I won. Looking back on this competition, I will look for things to work on, all in preparation for Paris."

Sakurai concurred, saying, "I went in with the intention of winning, so there is some disappointment. But it is a good thing to to face a wrestler who is above me. Practicing with wrestlers like her at the national camp should help me in my bid to win at the Olympics. I'm glad that I participated in this."

Fujinami would not reveal what her actual weight was on the day, but 59kg marks the heaviest weight class in which she has ever competed. She had gone up to 55kg twice recently and won both times, at the national collegiate championships in 2022 and the Dan Kolov-Nikola Petrov international tournament in Bulgaria last year.

"I have to lose a lot to get down to 53, so I decided to go at 59," she said.

JPN6 Ikuei's Ami ISHII works for a takedown against Kanagawa's Makoto KOMADA. (photo by Ikuo Higuchi / Japan Wrestling Federation)

Ishii preps for playoff with wins

It might have been a small surprise to also see Ishii taking the mat as well, given that she is two weeks away from an all-or-nothing playoff for the women's 68kg spot in Paris coming up against Nonoka OZAKI.

Ishii had secured the 68kg berth by winning the fifth-place playoff in Belgrade, but because she did not medal, as per Japan federation criteria, she did not automatically fill it herself. A victory at the Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships in December would have clinched it, but she lost in the first round to Ozaki, who went on to win the title. Now the two will go at again in a playoff on Jan. 27.

"I went into the Emperor's Cup with the intention of winning, so I had already committed to entering this before that," Ishii said. "It is a good rehearsal to have a tension-filled match before the playoff."

Ishii all but assured Ikuei the championship when she defeated NSSU's Kokona TAKADA 11-0 in the over-59kg match, then later won again by technical superiority in Ikuei's victory over Kanagawa University. Ishii was selected as the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament.

The 21-year-old Ishii was a silver medalist at 68kg in her senior world debut in 2022. But last year in Belgrade, she lost 11-1 to eventual champion Buse TOSUN (TUR) in the semifinals, then lost a heartbreaking 8-8 decision in the bronze-medal match to Irina RINGACI (ROM). She bounced back to defeat Emma BRUNTIL (USA) 2-0 in the fifth-place playoff.

Ozaki, the 2022 world silver medalist at 62kg, failed to displace Sakura MOTOKI -- Ishii's teammate at Ikuei -- in that weight class, and as a sort of consolation, won the 65kg world title in Belgrade. She then bumped up another weight class at the Emperor's Cup in a last-chance bid to get to Paris.

JPN9 The nine Japanese who have already secured tickets to the Paris Olympics pose together after being introduced to the crowd on the final day of the All-Japan Championships in December. (photo by Takeo Yabuki / Japan Wrestling Federation)

Next stop, Bishkek

Next up for both Fujinami and Sakurai will be the Asian Championships on April 11-16 in the Kyrgyzstan capital of Bishkek, where they will look to solidify their UWW rankings and ensure high seeds at the Paris Olympics.

Both won golds at the Asian Games in China last October to follow up their triumphs the previous month at the World Championships. Fujinami will be aiming for her third straight Asian Championships title, while Sakurai will attempt to add to the title she won in 2022.

"We would be concerned if she didn't enter a tournament [before Paris]," said Fujinami's coach and father Shinichi. "At this point the biggest fear is injury. We have to prepare carefully and methodically for Paris."

The Asian Championships is expected to be the last opportunity for the world will get a glimpse of either wrestler before the Paris Olympics, although Shinichi said there is a slight possibility of his daughter appearing at the Ranking Series tournament in Budapest in June.

He noted that the Budapest has a two-kilogram weight allowance, but said at this point the Japan federation will not be dispatching wrestlers, meaning anyone who wants to go would have to do so as an individual.

Of the three other Japanese women who have already clinched tickets to Paris, Yui SUSAKI at 50kg and Sakura MOTOKI at 62kg have not publicly announced their intentions regarding Bishkek, while Yuka KAGAMI at 76kg said she will be there.

Kagami was an Asian champion in 2019 and silver medalist in 2022. Susaki and Motoki just finished competing at the Zagreb Open, where the former captured the gold while the latter lost in the semifinals to rival Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) and defaulted the bronze-medal match.

As for the four Japanese men who already have tickets to Paris, it appears only Nao KUSAKA at Greco 77kg will be competing in Bishkek, according to his coaches. Kusaka, who won a bronze in Zagreb, will also enter the Wladyslaw Pytlasinski Cup in Warsaw in June. Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Kenichiro FUMITA will bypass an attempt at a third career Asian title at Greco 60kg, but intends to travel to Warsaw in his lone tuneup for Paris.

In freestyle, neither Rei HIGUCHI at 57kg nor Daichi TAKATANI at 74kg will be going to Bishkek. Higuchi is expected to enter the Budapest Ranking Series event, as much to experience getting down to weight as anything else, while a source said that Takatani will head to Paris with only practice under his belt.

While Susaki was keeping her immediate plans under wraps, she recently made a surprisingly forthcoming -- and bold -- statement regarding her post-Paris future.

At the All-Japan Championships in December, Susaki and the other eight wrestlers who had already clinched berths in Paris did not compete, but were in attendance on the final day and were introduced to the crowd.

Later, Susaki met with the Japanese press and said that she is not only aiming to win a second straight Olympic title in Paris, but to also win golds at the Olympics after that in Los Angeles in 2028 and Brisbane in 2032.

Such a feat would equal that of Kaori ICHO, the only woman in Olympic history to win four consecutive golds in one event.

#wrestlebishkek, #WrestleParis

Rising star Sogabe survives scare to gain Paris 2024 ticket

Sunday, April 21, 2024 - 13:01 By Ken Marantz

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 21) -- For all the young wrestlers who wonder why they do so much bridging in practice, Kyotaro SOGABE (JPN) showed how it can all pay off in that future situation when the stakes are at their highest.

Sogabe, about to see his Olympic dream ended, fought tenaciously off his back before going on to defeat Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) 11-2 and earn a ticket to the Paris Olympics at Greco 67kg on the final day of the Asian Olympic Qualifier on Sunday in Bishkek.

"If I had lost by fall there, my life would have been over," said the 22-year-old Sogabe, the 2023 Asian silver medalist who has long been touted in Japan as a star of the future. "All I've ever thought deep in my heart is that I will definitely win the gold medal in Paris.

"I asked myself, 'Are you going to give up now?' and that really got me going. I was so strongly determined not to lose by fall that I was able to escape."

Iran became the first country to complete the full set of six Greco quotas when Amin KAVIYANI (IRI) and Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI) won their respective bouts at 77kg and 87kg, although neither victory came easy.

Also notably qualifying for Paris was Asia's "greybeard" Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB), the 39-year-old wonder who earned his third trip to the Olympics with a victory at 97kg.

Kazakhstan came away with three Paris berths, while Korea won two along with Iran. The DPR Korea, which was shut out in freestyle before winning three spots in women's wrestling, gained its first and only ticket in Greco.

Three countries saw bids for historic victories quashed, as Jordan and Saudi Arabia were left still waiting for their first-ever Olympians in wrestling, while Chinese Taipei remains without ever having a male wrestler make the Olympics.

Combined with the results from last year's World Championships in Belgrade, where five quotas per weight class were available, Kazakhstan now has four, Kyrgyzstan, Japan and China three each, Korea and Uzbekistan two apiece and the DPR Korea one. The last chance will be at the World Olympic Qualifier in Istanbul on May 9-12, where three final places will be up for grabs.

Kyotaro SOGABE (JPN) with the 'qualified athlete' ticket for Paris Olympics. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

For Japan's Sogabe, his victory made up for a controversial loss in the quarterfinals in Belgrade to Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI), which he lost 11-10 but had the crowd fully on his side as the Iranian waned in the final moments. It also made him determined to leave Bishkek with the ticket to Paris.

"The World Championships last year was devastating, and I have practiced every day with the determination to win the gold medal in Paris," said Sogabe, a 2022 world U23 bronze medalist. "Keeping that tough experience in my head, I worked on fixing things that weren't working well and was able to win here."

Asked about getting the chance to avenge the loss to Geraei in Paris, Sogabe expressed more concern with just winning the gold, regardless of who he faces.

"Today was really enjoyable, and I realized that in the end, having fun is the best way to do wrestling," he said. "I have to think about how I can become the strongest wrestler I can be so I can win at the Olympics. My goal is the gold medal, and I want to win it by being the strongest of all and in an enjoyable way."

Sogabe's victory came two days after Nippon Sports Science University teammate Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) earned his Paris ticket at freestyle 65kg. The two are both from the central island of Shikoku, and have been friendly rivals since their elementary school days.

"We are in the same class, and ever since we were young, I have not wanted to lose to him," Sogabe said. "'If I lose here, I'll be a step behind [Kotaro],' I thought. We are rivals, but we push each other and make each other better. I want us to win gold medals in Paris together."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Olympic Wrestling (@unitedworldwrestling)

Sogabe saw how quickly fortunes can turn in the sport in his clash with Asian Games silver medalist Sharmankhanbet, the 2021 Asian champion and a 2018 world bronze medalist.

Sogabe secured a body lock on Sharmankhanbet and slammed him down for four points -- only to have Sharmankhanbet roll Sogabe onto his back and secure a tight front headlock. A fall seemed imminent, but Sogabe's bridge kept his shoulders off the mat, and after a few tense seconds, he managed to extricate himself from the danger.

The Kazakh side made a seemingly dubious challenge for a suspected hand block of the leg, which was not only denied to give Sogabe a 5-2 lead but would work against them when an actual challenge situation arose later on and they could not contest it.

While his aggressiveness got him into trouble, Sogabe said he has no plans to change his style. "I have used attacking wrestling all this time, so I'm definitely not going to veer away from it," he said. "I will continue attacking right up to the very end."

In the second period, Sogabe drove Sharmankhanbet down for a takedown, although it looked like he may have stepped on his opponent's foot. But because the Kazakh side could not challenge, the points stood and Sogabe had a comfortable 7-2 lead. He stopped a desperation throw for 4 in the final seconds to make it officially a technical fall.

Among the crowd at Bishkek Arena were Sogabe's family and Nippon Sports Science University head coach Shingo MATSUMOTO, who flew in for the occasion. "For my whole family to come all this way, and coach Matsumoto here to support me, I'm really happy that I was able to get the job done," said Sogabe, who had to beat Asian Games champion and senior training partner Katsuaki ENDO (JPN) to earn the right to compete in Bishkek.

Sogabe's path to the final started with an 8-0 victory over 36-year-old Hansu RYU (KOR), a two-time Olympian and two-time former world champion, which may have marked a generational change in the weight class.

Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ) tries to pin HUSIYUETU (CHN) in 67kg semifinals. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

The other Paris berth at 67kg went to Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ), who thrilled the home crowd with a second-period surge that gave him a 9-1 victory over HUSIYUETU (CHN).

Leading 1-0 off a passivity point in the first period, Ismailov started the second by fighting off a throw for a takedown, then charged ahead with a reverse body lift for a 2-point exposure. China challenged the original takedown, only to see it not only affirmed, but Husiyuetu assessed a 2-point penalty for touching the leg while he was being sent to his back.

The penalty, while giving Ismailov a 7-1 lead, also put him on the top in par terre, and he turned Husiyuetu over to end the match at 3:58.

Amin KAVIYANI (IRI) celebrates after winning the Paris Olympic 77kg quota for Iran. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

At 77kg, Iran's Asian Games silver medalist Kaviyani was made to work hard for his Paris ticket, clinching a tense 6-5 victory over Rui LIU (CHN) by scoring the last of three consecutive stepouts with 49 seconds left.

Liu got off to a good start in his bid to avenge a 1-1 semifinal loss at last October's Asian Games in China when he completed a roll from par terre, and had a 2-point leg blocking penalty tacked on for a 5-0 lead. Kaviyani cut the gap with a counter takedown before the break.

"Everything was under control, but unfortunately I got a two-point warning," Kaviyani said. "In my opinion, there was no foot fault but it made the fight more difficult for me."

In the second period, Kaviyani received a passivity point but allowed Liu to pop out from par terre, leaving him trailing 5-3. But then the three-time Asian medalist launched his succession of stepouts to march to victory and a likely trip to Paris.

"At the Asian Games where the Chinese were the hosts, against the Chinese wrestler who is powerful, I won the match with a 1-1 score, but today I was able to get more technical points in this match," Kaviyani said. "I was under a bit of pressure and I had to get the best result. I’m thankful that I could get that result and the Olympic quota."

Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI) defeated Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) to win the 87kg quota for Iran. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

A short time later at 87kg, Mohmadipiani was also taken to the limit in securing Iran's sixth Olympic quota with a 3-2 victory over Asian Games champion Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB).

Berdimuratov was only able to gain a 1-point stepout from a throw attempt out of par terre in the first period, and that would make the difference when Mohmadpiani, the world silver medalist at 82kg, got 2 from a throw in the same situation in the second period.

"I’m thankful that I could get the Olympic quota one year after the World Championships, especially when I was able to go from 82kg to 87kg," Mohmadpiani said. "I feel really good that I could keep this weight and I hope I can defeat my opponents in the Olympics."

Looking toward Paris, Mohmadpiani added, "My plan for the Olympics is to fix my flaws and add some new techniques so I can wrestle some mistake-free matches in the Olympics and shine."

Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) celebrates after beating Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) to win the Paris 2024 quota. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At 97kg, the ageless Assakalov rumbled to another Olympics with a 3-1 victory over Tokyo Olympian Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ), who was his own worst enemy by committing a 2-point penalty for grabbing the singlet.

Assakalov, coming off a bronze-medal performance at the Asian Games, was put in par terre first, but was unable to add points against Dzhuzupbekov, a five-time Asian medalist and 2019 champion.

In the second period, Assakalov initiated a challenge to get Dzhuzupbekov tagged for grabbing the singlet that had gone unnoticed by the referee. The challenge worked, and Assakalov now had a 3-0 lead.

All he had to do was survive a stint on the bottom of par terre, which he did, and then used his vast experience to hold off Dzhuzupbekov while avoiding a passivity caution.

Assakalov, whose longevity is a testament to his love of the sport, has a long list of career achievements. He finished eighth at both the 2016 Rio and 2021 Tokyo Olympics, won a world silver in 2015 and bronze in 2017, and has eight Asian medals, including three golds.

It was singlet-grabbing that also proved the downfall for Ibrahim FALLATAH (KSA) in the other 97kg match, in which he lost 5-1 to Seungjun KIM (KOR) to fall short of becoming Saudi Arabia's first-ever wrestler in the Olympics.

Fallatah was hit with a 2-point penalty for grabbing the singlet in each period, while both wrestlers received a passivity point but were unable to score in par terre.

The loss by Sultan EID (JOR) to Haitao QIAN (CHN) in the other 87kg match was much more straightforward, as the Chinese held the upper hand throughout in a 7-0 victory in denying Jordan its first-ever Olympic wrestler.

Qian, a 2019 world bronze medalist at 82kg, was put in par terre in the first period and took advantage with a pair of gut wrenches for a 5-0 lead. In the second period, he used an underhook for a driving takedown to put the victory on ice.

Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) scores a match-winning takedown against Dowon LEE (KOR) at 77kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

In the other 77kg match, veteran four-time Asian medalist Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) seemed to be heading straight to defeat when his opponent Dowon LEE (KOR) suddenly crumbled late in their bout, giving Zhadrayev a 5-2 victory and a possible second trip to the Olympics.

Lee began brightly with a nice arm drag for a takedown that gave him a 2-0 lead at the break. And when he gave up a passivity point and was put on bottom, he kept a one-point lead by slipping out of a roll attempt for no points.

But with Zhadrayev viciously pressing ahead at the edge, Lee was holding out quite well until he suddenly ran out of gas and was crushed to the mat for a takedown with 30 seconds to go. Lee then limply went over for a 2-point exposure.

For the wrestlers at 60kg, the tournament provided a golden opportunity for an Olympic place, as Asian nations swept all five places in the weight class in Belgrade -- the only region to do so in any of the three styles.

Two-time world bronze medalist Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ) came out the winner in the opening match of the night session with a victory by fall over Jui Chi HUANG (TPE).

Sultangali got four points by driving Huang onto his back in defense of an awkward arm throw, then added a gut wrench and a throw that ended up being ruled a stepout. A challenge by the Chinese Taipei downgraded the original 4-pointer to two, leaving Sultangali with a 5-0 lead.

Sultangali, the 2021 Asian champion, went right back to work, sticking Huang with a textbook-perfect headlock throw and securing the fall at 2:28.

Huang was attempting to become Chinese Taipei's first-ever male wrestler to qualify for the Olympics. The nation has had just one wrestler in the Olympics, Wen-Ling CHEN (TPE), who appeared in women's 69kg at the 2016 Rio Games.

Se Ung RI (PRK) won the DPR Korea's first Greco-Roman quota for Paris Olympics at 60kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

In the other match at 60kg, Se Ung RI (PRK) scored a first-period takedown and held on for a 3-0 victory over Dahyun KIM (KOR), who was thrown off his feet twice in the match but somehow managed to keep the moves from scoring points.

Ri looked like he would take an early lead when he hit Kim with a hip throw, but the Korean cartwheeled out of it and landed on his feet for no points. When Ri received a passivity point and was put on top of par terre, he lifted Kim off the mat but was unable to get enough height for points.

Ri got on the scoreboard again with a nice duck-under takedown for a 3-0 lead at the break, and in the second period, he kept the pressure on to avoid giving Kim a chance in par terre.

Korea picked up its second victory of the night at 130kg, when Seungchan LEE (KOR) cruised to a 9-0 win over surprise semifinalist Sota OKUMURA (JPN). Lee gained a passivity point and proceeded to reel off four straight rolls to win in 1:36, the shortest bout of the night.

Okumura, who was looking to become the first Japanese heavyweight in Greco to make the Olympics since 1996, had never won a match in eight previous international tournaments before he rallied to defeat Tamurbek NASIMOV (UZB) 12-6 to move one step away from Paris. That had avenged a loss to Nasimov at the Asian Games.

Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ) hung on for a 7-7 victory over Roman KIM (KGZ) at 130kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Asian Games bronze medalist Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ) capped the tournament by fighting off fatigue and home favorite Roman KIM (KGZ) to eke out a 7-7 win in the other 130kg match.

The match between the three-time Asian medalists started with a bang, or a slap as it were. After scoring a stepout, Syzdykov was awarded two points when Kim lashed him with a sharp slap to the ear like the type seen more in sumo wrestling. Kim then spun behind for a takedown to cut Syzydkov's lead to 3-2 at the break.

Syzydkov padded the lead to 7-2 with a takedown and gut wrench, but after that, it was obvious he was running on fumes. Kim put the pressure on and scored a pair of stepouts, with a fleeing point tacked onto the second one to make it 7-5, before Syzydkov was assessed a 2-point penalty for inactivity.

Leading 7-7 on criteria, Syzydkov dropped to the mat at one point complaining of knee pain and received treatment much to the chagrin of the partisan crowd. But Kim had little left in the tank himself and was unable to muster enough energy for a final push.

Paris 2024 Qualification Matches

Greco-Roman

60kg
Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ) df. Jui Chi HUANG (TPE) by Fall, 2:28 (10-0)
Se Ung RI (PRK) df. Dahyun KIM (KOR), 3-0

67kg
Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ) df. HUSIYUETU (CHN) by TF, 9-1, 3:58
Kyotaro SOGABE (JPN) df. Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) by TF, 11-2, 6:00

77kg
Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) df. Dowon LEE (KOR), 5-2
Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI) df. Rui LIU (CHN), 6-5

87kg
Haitao QIAN (CHN) df. Sultan EID (JOR), 7-0
Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI) df. Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB), 3-2

97kg
Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) df. Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ), 3-1
Seungjun KIM (KOR) df. Ibrahim FALLATAH (KSA), 5-1

130kg
Seungchan LEE (KOR) df. Sota OKUMURA (JPN) by TF, 9-0, 1:36
Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ) df. Roman KIM (KGZ), 7-7

Fujinami's pre-Paris prepping includes victory in rare clash with fellow world champ Sakurai

Comments

Rising star Sogabe survives scare to gain Paris 2024 ticket