Greco-Roman stars maintain top spot in rankings

Monday, May 30, 2022 - 12:08 By Vinay Siwach

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY (May 28) -- No other style saw as many changes in rankings as Greco-Roman. With intense battles at the European and Asian Championships, wrestlers saw big movements in the rankings.

A few world champion lost their top spots while others consolidated their ranks as the senior World Championships approached in September. Only three more events are remaining in which wrestlers can obtain ranking points.

Here are the big changes in the Greco-Roman rankings after the four continental championships that were held over the last three months. The full rankings can be accessed at uww.org.

Ken MATSUI (JPN) won the 55kg title in Oslo. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

55kg
World champion in 2021 Ken MATSUI (JPN) still holds the top rank at 55kg with 43000 points. This despite him missing the Asian Championships after failing to win the Japan selection trials.

Bronze medalist at the same Worlds Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) added a European gold medal to take his tally to 39000 points and move past Emin SEFERSHAEV (RWF) who has now slipped to fourth with his 35000 points. The third spot is taken by Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) with 37000 points as he won a silver medal at the European Championships.

Ekrem OZTURK (TUR) and Norayr HAKHOYAN (ARM) had finished fifth at the '21 Worlds and each has 23000 points to be ranked fifth and sixth respectively.

Carrying over 16200 points from the Worlds, Sardarbek KONUSHBAEV (KGZ) takes the seventh spot

He finished 10th at both the World and European Championships which takes Fabian SCHMITT (GER) to the eighth position with 15400 points.

In a close race from there, Khorlan ZHAKANSHA (KAZ) takes the ninth spot with 15000 points, followed by Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ) who won the Istanbul Ranking event and a silver medal at the Asian Championships. He has 14400 points.

Max NOWRY (USA) won 5000 points for his Pan-Am title which helped him to 13500 points and 11th spot. Koriun SAHRADIAN (UKR) has 10600 points at 12th.

Asian champion Yu SHIOTANI (JPN) is 13th with 10000 points followed by Hyeokjin JEON (KOR) at 14th with 8800 points, and Adem UZUN (TUR) at 15th with 8000 points.

Victor CIOBANU (MDA) has 68000 points at the top at 60kg. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

60kg
Victor CIOBANU (MDA) finished at the Olympics and later won the World Championships to claim the top rank at 63kg. He has not competed in this weight class since but still remains the top wrestler with 68000 points. World silver and Asian champion Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) is a close second with 63200 points.

Olympic champion Luis ORTA (CUB) has slipped to third with 51000 points as he has not competed since winning the gold medal in Tokyo. Neither has Tokyo silver Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) as he is fourth with 41400 points.

Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) won bronze medals at the World and European Championships which have helped him climb to the fifth spot with 40500 points while another European bronze medalist Gevorg GHARIBYAN is sixth with 34500 points.

Bronze medalists in Tokyo Sergey EMELIN (RWF) and Sailike WALIHAN (CHN) have 34200 points each and are ranked seventh and eighth respectively. Stepan MARYANYAN (RWF) silver-medal run at the Worlds earned him the ninth spot with 31000 points before Maksim KAZHARSKI (BWF) finishes off the top-10 at the 10th spot with 25000 points.

Ayata SUZUKI (JPN) won a bronze at the Asian Championships to be ahead of Gyanender DAHIYA (IND) by 200 points as Suzuku has 24700 points to Dahiya's 24500 points.

At the 13th spot comes Lenur TEMIROV (UKR) with 23000 points as he had finished fifth at the Olympics followed by Mehrdad MARDANI (IRI) at 14th with 17000 points.

European champion Kerem KAMAL (TUR) breaks into the ranking at 15th as he has 16800 points.

Leri ABULADZE (GEO) is the top ranked wrestler at 63kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

63kg
He could not beat Meysam DALKHANI (IRI) in the World Championships final but Leri ABULADZE (GEO) has beaten the Iranian for the top spot. He now has 50000 points after winning the European title while Dalkhani has 45000 points.

Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE) finished fifth at the Worlds, and won a bronze in Istanbul and silver at the European Championships to accumulate 41200 points and reach the third spot in rankings.

World bronze medalist Kensuke SHIMIZU (JPN) was expected to improve his ranking at the Asian Championships but he finished eighth and got only 4000 points. He now has 35000 points to be ranked fourth.

Lenur TEMIROV (UKR) features in the rankings at 63kg as well as he won a bronze medal at the World Championships at this weight. He has 31000 points in the fifth spot. Erik TORBA (HUN) is ranked sixth with 25000 points which he got for his fifth-place finish at the Worlds.

Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) was seventh at the Worlds and has 18200 points at the seventh spot followed by Deniz MENEKSE (GER) at eighth with 17000 points, Mihai MIHUT (ROU) at ninth with 15500 points and Ahmet UYAR (TUR) at 10th with 14700 points.

Hrachya POGHOSYAN (ARM) missed out on the top-10 as he has 14600 points at 11th. Ibragim LABAZANOV (RWF) is 12th with 14300 points.

Victor CIOBANU (MDA) won a bronze medal at the Istanbul Ranking event at 63kg and finished eighth at the Euros to claim the 14th rank with 13400 points.

Gold medalist in Istanbul finished fifth at the Asian Championships Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) jumped to 14th as he now has 13000 points.

African champion Abdelkarim FERGAT (ALG) and Asian champion Tynar SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) have 10000 points each to be ranked 15th and 16th respectively.

Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) and Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO) are one and two in the 67kg rankings. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

67kg
An Olympic and World title in the same year had propelled Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) to the top spot at 67kg and he continues to maintain it with 98000 points. He has since not competed but it is mathematically not possible to remove him from the top.

Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO) finished fifth at the Olympics but later returned to win a bronze medal at the World Championships before finishing fifth at the European Championships. He is the closest to Geraei in terms of points as he has 66000 points in second place.

Parviz NASIBOV's (UKAR) silver medal at the Olympics is still good to keep him at the third spot with 43400 points while European champion Murat FIRAT (TUR) is close fourth with 40000 points.

Nazir ABDULLAEV (RWF) won a silver medal at the Worlds and is now fifth with 37000 points while junior and U23 world champion Hasrat JAFAROV trails him by 500 points at sixth with 36500 points. He finished fifth in Oslo and bronze at the Euros.

Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY) got 36200 points for his Tokyo bronze and he is eighth in the rankings while Almat KEBISPAYEV (KAZ) won bronze at Worlds for 31000 points and ninth spot. Morten THORESEN (NOR) is 600 points behind at the 10th spot.

Mateusz BERNATEK (POL) at 11th, Sebastian NAD (SRB) at 12th and Hansu RYU (KOR) at 13th are all within 1000 points of each other.

Artem SURKOV (RWF) with 25000 points takes the 14th spot while Witalis LAZOVSKI (GER) is 15th with 22400 points.

Kristupas SLEIVA (LTU) is the first Lithuanian to be top ranked in any style. (Photo: UWW / Tony Rotundo)

72kg
Lithuania's star Kristupas SLEIVA (LTU) continues to remain at the top with 48400 points after finishing fifth at the European Championships. He had won a bronze at the World Championships and finished second at the Istanbul event.

A close second is world champion Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) with 45000 points but he debuted at 77kg at the European Championships this year. Another world bronze medalist Gevorg SAHAKYAN (POL) takes the third spot with 38000 points. Silver medalist Sergei KUTUZOV (RWF) is fourth with 37000 points.

After failing to win a medal at the Worlds, Mohammadreza MOKHTARI (IRI) bounced back to win the Asian Championships and climb to the fifth spot with 35000 points.

Ulvu GANIZADE (AZE) won bronze at Euros after finishing seventh at the Worlds to be placed at sixth with 31980 points while fifth at Worlds Cengiz ARSLAN (TUR) is seventh with 28200 points.

The eighth, ninth and 10th spots are taken by Valentin PETIC (MDA) [21800 points], Mikko PELTOKANGAS (FIN) [21300 points] and Haavard JOERGENSEN (NOR) [18100 points].

Jiyul LEE (KOR) has racked up 15500 points to be placed 11th while Deyvid DIMITROV (BUL) is 12th with 14800 points. 1000 points below at 13th is Abylaikhan AMZEYEV (KAZ).

European champion Robert FRITSCH (HUN) debuts at 14th with 13000 points while silver to him Shmagi BOLKVADZE (GEO) comes in at 15th with 11000 points.

African champion Mohamed KHALIL (EGY) is at 17th with 10000 points.

Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) is the top ranked wrestler at 77kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

77kg
Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) failed to win the World or European Championships but his consistent performance to at least finish on the podium has earned him the top spot with 57900 points. His bronze at Euros has helped him move past Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI) who is second with 54000 points.

Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) returned to UWW competition after winning the silver at Tokyo with a title-winning performance at the Asian Championships to be ranked third with 51400 points while Tokyo champion Tamas LORINCZ (HUN) has slipped to fourth with 51000 points. World champion Roman VLASOV (RWF) is fifth with 45000 points.

Shohei YABIKU (JPN) and Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) won bronze medals in Tokyo and have 34200 points to be placed at sixth and seventh respectively. Viktor NEMES (SRB) is eighth with 31200 points while Roland SCHWARZ (GER) is just 200 points behind at ninth. Pan-Am champion Yosvanys PENA (CUB) had finished 10th at the Olympics and the two tournaments have given him 25300 points to be in the top-10.

Oslo fifth-placers Tsimur BERDYIEU (BWF) and Tamas LEVAI (HUN) are 11th and 12th respectively with 25000 points each while European silver medalist Yunus BASAR (TUR) is 13th with 24000 points, Kodai SAKURABA (JPN) is 14th with 23500 points and Karapet CHALYAN (ARM) is 15th with 23000 points.

Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) continues to maintain his top spot at 82kg since winning the world title last year. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

82kg
Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) and Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) were involved in a close race at the top after the former won the Worlds and silver to him Akbudak won the Istanbul event. But with Huseynov winning the European title while Akbudak winning bronze at the same event, the Azerbaijan wrestler has taken a lead with 65200 points to Akbudak's 56500 points.

Other wrestlers have not accumulated the same amount of points as World bronze medalists Adlan AKIEV (RWF) and Pejman POSHTAM (IRI) placing third and fourth with 31000 points each. Fifth in Oslo Alex KESSIDIS (SWE) and Laszlo SZABO (HUN) remain fifth and sixth with 25000 points each.

Ranet KALJOLA (EST) is seventh with 22800 points while Edgar BABAYAN (POL) comes in at number eigth with 18200 points.

Mihail BRADU (MDA) won a silver in Istanbul followed by a fifth-place in Budapest to be placed at ninth with 16400 points while Hannes WAGNER (GER) is 10th with 15500 points.

Tarek ABDESLAM (BUL) takes the 11th position with 14300 points while European silver medalist Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) is 12th with 13000 points.

Dias KALEN (KAZ) won silver at Asian Championships to be ranked at 13th with 11520 points while Tamas LEVAI (HUN) is just 20 points behind at 14th.

Four wrestlers have 10000 points each but African champion Abd OUAKALI (ALG) is 15th, Asian champion Rasoul GARMSIRI (IRI) is 16th and Pan-Am champion Daniel GOMEZ (MEX) at 17th.

No wrestler can replace Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) from the top at 87kg till the September World Championships. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

87kg
World champion Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) had developed such a big lead over his opponents in the rankings that despite missing out on gold medals in Istanbul and Budapest, he still takes the top spot with 92600 points. The second best is Olympic champion Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) with 51000 points.

The rankings don't change for the next four spots with Turpan BISULTANOV (DEN) claiming the seventh spot with 38000 points. He won the European title in Budapest after finishing fifth at the Worlds. Denis KUDLA (GER) is eight with 34200 points while Metehan BASAR (TUR) has some catching to do as he is ninth with 28700 points. Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ) takes the 10th spot with 28200 points.

Tokyo Olympian and African champion Bachir SID AZARA (ALG) moves up to 11th with 26200 points while Kristoffer BERG (SWE) moves to 12th with 25600 points. Istvan TAKACS (HUN) got 25000 points for his fifth-place finish in Oslo but he has slipped to 13th.

Pan-Am champion Daniel GREGORICH HECHAVARRIA (CUB) has moved past Tokyo fifth-placers Mohamed METWALLY (EGY) and Ivan HUKLEK (CRO). They have 23000 points each while the Cuban has 500 more points to be at 14th.

A close 17th is Islam ABBASOV (AZE) with 22900 points as he has two big wins over world champ Datunashvili.

Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) takes the top spot at 97kg with 79200 points. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

97kg
Tokyo bronze and world champion Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) continues to maintain his top spot with 79200 points while silver medalist Alex SZOKE (HUN) is second with 60000 points. Olympic champion Musa EVLOEV (RWF) comes in at the third spot with 51000 points.

Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) has medal-winning performances in Istanbul and Budapest after finishing fifth at the Olympics which has helped him to the fourth spot over bronze medalist in Oslo Tracy HANCOCK (USA). Savolainen has 47400 points, 200 more than Hancock. Kiril MILOV (BUL) won the European Championships and has climbed to the sixth spot as he now has 45500 points.

Silver medalist in Tokyo Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) has 41400 points and sits at the seventh spot ahead of Tadeusz MICHALIK (POL) who has 39213 points. Giorgi MELIA (GEO) is ninth with 31700 points while World bronze medalist Artur SARGSIAN (RWF) is 10th with 31000 points.

Vilius LAURINAITIS (LTU) takes the 11th spot with 27500 points while Mihail KAJAIA (SRB) comes in at 12th with 26620 points. Murat LOKIAYEV (AZE) is 13th with 26400 points while Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA) and Peter OEHLER (GER) have 25000 points each to be 14th and 15th respectively.

Top-ranked at 130kg Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO) has 20800 point lead over second rank. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

130kg
Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO) finished eighth at the European Championships but his silver at the Olympics and bronze at the Worlds have helped him to the top spot with a considerable lead. He has 76200 points even as European champion Riza KAYAALP (TUR) tries to catch up with 55400 points.

Yasmani ACOSTA (CHI) won bronze at the Pan-Ams and has climbed to third with 54500 points, moving ahead of Olympic champion Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) who has 51000 points at the fourth spot. World champion Aliakbar YOUSOFIAHMADCHALI (IRI) is fifth with 45000 points he got for his gold in Oslo.

Zurabi GEDEKHAURI (RWF) takes the sixth spot with 37000 points followed by Osman YILDIRIM (TUR) with 36000 points.

Beka KANDELAKI (AZE) has 34400 points at the eighth spot while Olympic bronze Sergei SEMENOV (RWF) is ninth with 34200 points. At 10th comes Mantas KNYSTAUTAS (LTU) who has 32000 points.

Oslo bronze medalist Oskar MARVIK (NOR) has slipped to 11th for his 31000 points while Muminjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) is 12th with 30900 points.

Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU) is 13th with 28000 points while Tokyo fifth-placer and U23 world champion Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) is 14th with 23000 points.

African champion Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY) takes the 15th spot with 18500 points.

#JapanWrestling

Fujinami Claims 57kg Title, Bonus Trip 'Home' for Asian Games

Sunday, May 24, 2026 - 15:49 By Ken Marantz

TOKYO (May 24) -- Not even an untimely knee injury, much less any opponent on the mat, was going to deter Paris Olympic champion Akari FUJINAMI from her next major objective.

Fujinami showed little effects of a knee injury suffered three weeks ago in capturing the women's 57kg title at the Meiji Cup All-Japan Invitational Championships on Sunday, stretching her amazing winning streak to 153 matches dating back to 2017 and her junior high school days.

With her 8-0 victory in the final over Sena NAGAMOTO on the final day of the four-day tournament at Tokyo's Komazawa Gym, Fujinami earned a ticket back home, so to speak -- a spot on Japan's team to this year's Asian Games, which will be near her Mie Prefecture hometown in neighboring Nagoya and Aichi Prefecture.

"The Asian Games will be in my home area of Nagoya, so I have strong feelings about it," Fujinami said. "I know the competition is going to be tough, but that only makes me look forward to it even more. I will go into it imagining the people from back home seeing me crowned as champion."

The Meiji Cup was serving as the second of two qualifiers, along with the Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships held in December, for not only the Asian Games, but also for the World Championships to follow three weeks later in late October.

Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) defeated Sena NAGAMOTO (JPN) in the 57kg final. (Photo: wrestling-spirits.jp / Takeo Yabuki)

Fujinami would not commit making the trip to Astana for the World Championships, where she could win a third world gold and first since moving up to 57kg after winning the 53kg gold at the Paris Olympics.

Another factor weighing on the Japanese wrestlers is that the World Championships is just two months before this year's Emperor's Cup, which will have increased importance as the starting point in the qualifying process for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

"I will consult with my coach. There is also the Emperor's Cup, and we will discuss it seriously and make a decision," said Fujinami, who has made no secret of her ultimate goal of an Olympic repeat and whose demeanor showed her leaning toward giving the worlds a pass.

Two days earlier, Paris Olympic champion Rei HIGUCHI passed on a chance to compete in a playoff for the world team spot at Freestyle 61kg because he is solely focused on a return to the Olympics at 57kg. For him, a shot at another world title has no bearing on his plans.

Meanwhile on Sunday, two-time former world champion Nonoka OZAKI fended off world 59kg champion Sakura ONISHI in a blockbuster women's 62kg final, then expressed her excitement over earning a ticket to both big events, as did fellow Paris Olympic bronze medalist Yui SUSAKI, who cruised to victory at women's 50kg.

Two Paris gold medalists -- Kotaro KIYOOKA at Freestyle 65kg and Nao KUSAKA at Greco-Roman 77kg -- also emerged victorious, with the former saying he will be going to both global competitions, but the latter stating definitively he will skip the World Championships.

Fujinami, who is still making the adjustment to the higher weight, won the world U23 gold at 57kg last October before capturing the Emperor's Cup title, although that included the biggest threat to her winning streak when she had to fight off her back in a 4-2 win in the final over Himeka TOKUHARA.

Her next big test was to have come at last month's Asian Championships in Bishkek, but she was forced to pull out due to an ankle injury. No sooner had that healed when she suffered a left knee injury in preparation for the Meiji Cup.

But, with the Asian Games in mind, as well as having new obligations and an increased fan base after gaining a corporate sponsorship upon her graduation from Nippon Sports Science University, she was determined to press on.

“I injured my knee three weeks ago," Fujinami said. "My ankle had finally healed and was I training for the Meiji Cup when I got injured, and at that time I could barely even walk. At that moment, I thought, ‘Why again, why now?’

"But for the first time, I pictured the faces of the people supporting me. If it were my old self, I probably would have just given up, but when those faces came to mind and I thought about what to do, the people around me helped. I came to realize that I am able to do wrestling thanks to various people.”

In Sunday's final, Fujinami relied solely on her unstoppable single-leg attack against Nagamoto, the Asian silver medalist at 59kg. She twice used it to gain a 2-point exposure when Nagamoto tried for counter lifts, and twice finished it off for proper takedowns.

Asked if she was concerned about her lack of ground points, Fujinami inferred she was working on it by saying, "Please look forward to [seeing me at] the Asian Games."

An expanded reportoire would seem essential in what Fujinami herself acknowledges is one of the stronger women's weight class.

"In the world, the level of the 57kg weight class is very high, and also in Asia," she said. "I expect very good wrestlers to be entered at the Asian Games, and I want to start preparing for that right away."

Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) managed a close 2-1 victory over Sakura ONISHI (JPN) at 62kg. (Photo: wrestling-spirits.jp)

Ozaki, who has had her fill of missing out on national team spots for major competitions, assured she won't miss the two coming up this year with a well-executed 2-1 victory over rising star Onishi in their highly anticipated 62kg final.

Ozaki scored a single-leg takedown in the first period, then limited Onishi to a stepout after she got in deep on a single leg of her own in the second.

"While I was thinking what I should do on the mat, I kept my heart strong until the end," Ozaki said.

The victory came a day after Ozaki defeated Paris Olympic champion Sakura MOTOKI in the semifinals, a repeat of her win in the Emperor's Cup final. That had avenged a loss to Motoki in last year's Meiji Cup final and subsequent playoff that kept Ozaki out of the 2025 World Championships.

"When it comes to Japanese opponents, we all pretty much know each other well, and it makes it more difficult to fight," Ozaki said. "We are all preparing for the Olympic qualifying.

"Separately from opponents from around the world, dealing with Japanese opponents, I have already experienced the Olympic qualifiers, so I understand very well how emotionally tough it can be, and I think various things can go out of sync."

Ozaki, the world champion at 62kg in 2022 and at 65kg in 2023, also has some unfinished business at the Asian Games, which Japan will be hosting for the first time in 30 years.

"First of all, I finished second at the last Asian Games [in 2023]," she said. "As for making the World Championships, last year I lost out in a playoff and didn't go. Now I have the chance to become a three-time world champion."

Yui SUSAKI (JPN) secured a fall over Rinka OGAWA (JPN) in the 50kg final on Sunday. (Photo: wrestling-spirits.jp / Takeo Yabuki)

Susaki, the Tokyo Olympic champion who had to settle for a bronze in Paris, let out an uncharacteristic roar after completing the Emperor's Cup-Meiji Cup double with a victory by fall over Rinka OGAWA in the 50kg final.

"I definitely wanted to win and make it to my first Asian Games and to my first World Championships in three years, and the moment I won, I was truly ecstatic," Susaki said.

Susaki opened with a pair of takedowns, but her chicken wing after the second one slipped off, allowing Ogawa to get behind to make it 4-1 at the break. Early in the second period, Ogawa slipped in an underhook, but Susaki deftly clamped down and blocked the opposite inner thigh to slam Ogawa to the mat. She completed the fall in 3:33.

"When she got the underhook, I thought she had the advantage, but I didn't panic, knowing I had a move for that situation," Susaki said. "I had confidence and was able to use a throw technique.

"It was just instinct. In my first match yesterday, I also used a throw for a fall. I think that I've become better at making the most of lone chances. I've included it in my practice, so I can use it any situation."

Susaki's domination bodes well in her quest to regain the Olympic gold in Los Angeles.

"At this tournament, the 50kg field had everyone who will be competing to go to the Los Angeles Olympics, so to win here is a big step forward," she said. "I was able to use a winning pattern that I practiced and won the title, so it was a very good tournament."

Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) won the 65kg gold medal at the Meiji Cup. (Photo: wrestling-spirits.jp / Takeo Yabuki)

Kiyooka, not to be outdone by his younger sister Moe, defeated longtime practice partner and fellow NSSU alum Kaisei TANABE 3-0 in a repeat of last year's 65kg final.

Kiyooka scored a first-period takedown, then added a stepout in the second period to beat Tanabe, with whom he participated -- and even faced -- during a stint in the German Bundesliga.

"It's been almost exactly a year since [Tanabe and I] met in this same final, and there are things we were both aware of about each other," Kiyooka said. "Last year he was injured and couldn't give his all. I went back and reviewed our matches, and I came up with a strategy. Looking back on what I actually did, I felt the main thing was that I was able to stay calm."

Last year, Kiyooka defeated a hampered Tanabe in a playoff for the world team spot after beating him in the final, in which Tanabe was injured. Kiyooka then lost in the final in Zagreb to Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI), whom he had beaten for the gold in Paris.

"Getting to the World Championships, it gives me a chance for revenge and to win my first world title, making it an important event," Kiyooka said.

"As for the Asian Games, it gives my family, those in my company and people who otherwise would not have the chance to see me compete overseas to see me up close. And just like at the Olympics, I hope to give them the best result possible."

On Saturday, Kiyooka's sister Moe won the women's 53kg title to clinch her national team place. She has already one-upped her in the world gold department, having won the 55kg title in 2024.

Nao KUSAKA (JPN) managed a 6-3 victory in the gold medal bout at 77kg. (Photo: wrestling-spirits.jp / Takeo Yabuki)

At Greco-Roman 77kg, Kusaka took issue with a mysterious penalty called against him and a phantom stepout that produced no point, but otherwise was untroubled in notching a 6-3 victory in the final over Isami HORIKITA, a repeat of the Emperor's Cup final.

Kusaka was leading 3-0 when his challenge of an apparent stepout that was not awarded a point was unsuccessful. He then added an indisputable stepout to lead 4-1 at the break. In the second period, he sandwiched two more stepouts around a 2-point penalty that he was at a loss to explain.

"I really don't know," he said, while imploring that he was not being critical of the referees. "The referee kept telling me, 'Head up, head up.' It's the first time I've ever been penalized in that situation."

What Kusaka made crystal clear was his decision to bypass the World Championships in favor of the Asian Games, saying he lacked motivation for the former. Like Kiyooka, he won a silver medal at last year's worlds in Zagreb.

"I don't have loads of motivation and like to channel it all into one thing," Kusaka said. "Winning the Asian Games title, that's my objective for this year."

Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) pinned Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) in the 74kg final. (Photo: wrestling-spirits.jp / Takeo Yabuki)

In a battle between reigning world champions, Yoshinosuke AOYAGI defeated Kota TAKAHASHI in the Freestyle 74kg final to earn a return trip to the World Championships.

Aoyagi, the world 70kg champion last year, was leading 7-0 when Takahashi launched a comeback late in the second period. He pulled to within 7-4, helped by a penalty point against Aoyagi for kicking and a fleeing point during a stepout.

But a desperation throw in the final seconds was stopped dead by Aoyagi, and Takahashi stayed motionless on the mat, allowing a fall to be called just before the buzzer.

At Greco-Roman 60kg, 2023 Asian Games silver medalist Ayata SUZUKI defeated reigning Meiji Cup champion Kaito INABA 3-3 in the final, then edged Emperor's Cup champion Koto GOMI 7-6 in the playoff for the national team.

Suzuki trailed 6-2 in the playoff when he hit a 4-point arm throw to go ahead on criteria, then added a stepout for good measure.

Day 4 Results

Freestyle

57kg
GOLD: Rikuto NAGAI df. Kento YUMIYA, 13-4

BRONZE: Isami TAKATA df. Yuta KIKUCHI, 8-2
BRONZE: Daito KATSUME df. Rin SAKAMOTO by Inj. Def.

World team playoff: Yamato OGAWA df. Nagai, 9-8

65kg
GOLD: Kotaro KIYOOKA df. Kaisei TANABE, 3-0

BRONZE: Kaiji OGINO df. Kaito MORIKAWA by Inj. Def., :02 (0-0)
BRONZE: Takara SUDA df. Shuya MIURA, 2-1

74kg
GOLD: Yoshinosuke AOYAGI df. Kota TAKAHASHI by Fall, 5:59, 11-4

BRONZE: Ryoya YAMASHITA df. Yujin TAKIZAWA, 2-0
BRONZE: Hikaru TAKATA df. Shingo ANDO, 6-1

Greco-Roman

60kg
GOLD: Ayata SUZUKI df. Kaito INABA, 3-3

BRONZE: Daijiro SONE df. Koto GOMI by Def.
BRONZE: Maito KAWANA df. Yu SHIOTANI, 8-1

World team playoff: Suzuki df. Gomi, 7-6

77kg
GOLD: Nao KUSAKA df. Isami HORIKITA, 6-3

BRONZE: Kodai SAKURABA df. Naoki KADODE, 3-2
BRONZE: Issei HONNA df. Ariya YOSHIDA, 12-9

87kg
GOLD: Taizo YOSHIDA df. So SAKABE, 5-4

BRONZE: Rondo KODAMA df. Takahiro INAMOTO by TS, 8-0, 2:24
BRONZE: Daisei ISOE df. Genki YAHAGI, 4-1

Women's Wrestling

50kg
GOLD: Yui SUSAKI df. Rinka OGAWA by Fall, 3:33 (8-1)

BRONZE: Umi ITO df. Minoriho YONEHARA by TS, 13-2, 5:59
BRONZE: Haruna MORIKAWA df. Miyu NAKAMURA, 7-0

57kg
GOLD: Akari FUJINAMI df. Sena NAGAMOTO, 8-0

BRONZE: Sara NATAMI df. Rin KINOSHITA by Fall, 1:30 (2-0)
BRONZE: Himeka TOKUHARA df. Sae NOGUCHI, 9-4

62kg
GOLD: Nonoka OZAKI df. Sakura ONISHI, 2-1

BRONZE: Sakura MOTOKI df. Yuzuka INAGAKI, 10-2

Greco-Roman stars maintain top spot in rankings

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Fujinami Claims 57kg Title, Bonus Trip 'Home' for Asian Games