Host Japan Favored at Women's World Cup

Wednesday, March 14, 2018 - 17:45 By Ken Marantz

For world and Olympic champion Risako KAWAI, the upcoming Women's World Cup not only gives her a chance to help host Japan win a fourth consecutive title but share the experience with her sister Yukako KAWAI.

"I went to the world championships with my sister, but she didn't do well. This time, we want to do well together," Kawai said at a press conference last month to announce the Japanese team, which will be the prohibitive favorite in the tournament in Takasaki, about 100 kilometers northwest of Tokyo.

Risako, who won the Rio 2016 Olympic gold at 63kg and Paris 2017 world title at 60kg, captured her third straight Japan crown in the newly created 62kg class. Earlier, Yukako earned her first national title at 59kg, making the two the first sisters to win golds at the same Japan championships since Chiharu and Kaori ICHO in 2007.

Risako said she likes the rare chance to compete for a team in what is generally an individual sport.

"When you win as a team, you're twice as happy," she said. "If you lose, but the team wins, it helps make it easier to take. That's the appeal."

For a few on the Japan team, it will not only be a team event, but a family affair. In addition to the Kawais, there are two other pairs of sisters who will take the mat.

2018 Asian champion Saki IGARASHI. Photo by Max Rose-Fyne.

Newly crowned Asian champion Saki IGARASHI (55kg) made the team along with older sister Miho IGARASHI (50kg), while the upper weights include high school twins Naruha MATSUYUKI (72kg) and Yasuha MATSUYUKI (76kg).

While they will all likely see action sometime during the preliminary group stage, for the major matches, Japan will rely on its big guns that, along with Risako Kawai, include Paris 2017 champions Haruna OKUNO (53kg) and Sara DOSHO (68kg, also a Rio 2016 gold medalist), runner-up Mayu MUKAIDA (55kg) and bronze medalist Hiroe MINAGAWA (76kg).

Attesting to Japan's depth in the lightweights is the fact that world champion Yui SUSAKI did not make the team, as she lost in the semifinals at the national championships at 50kg to eventual winner Yuki IRIE. Only the top two finishers in each weight class made the cut.

Due to a scheduling quirk, it was just three months ago in Cheboksary, Russia, that Japan won its three straight World Cup and ninth out of 16 since the competition started in 2001. Japan captured the title despite sending a weaker team that just barely beat the United States in the group stage, then eked out a victory over China in the final.

"In Russia, we sent our No. 2 wrestlers and only barely beat China," Japan Wrestling Federation managing director Hideaki TOMIYAMA said. "This time, we are the home team. But now there are 10 weight classes, so we can't say what's going to happen."

This year, Japan was once again grouped with the United States, with Canada and Sweden filling out the other spots in Pool A. Pool B consists of China, Mongolia, Belarus and Romania.

Three-time world champion Adeline GRAY (USA).

According to preliminary reports, the United States, which won its lone title in 2003 in Tokyo, will field a strong team led by three-time world champion Adeline GRAY (76kg). Also on the team are Paris 2017 world silver medalist Alli RAGAN (57kg) and bronze medalist Becka LEATHERS (55kg), and two-time junior world champion Victoria ANTHONY (50kg).

U.S. national team coach Terry Steiner says that when the U.S. faces Japan in the competition is irrelevant, as winning the championship is the only consideration.

“Japan has been the team to beat," Steiner told the USA Wrestling website. "They have set the standard in the sport.

"We just need to be ready to compete....We are not going to Japan to be a part of the mix; we are going to Japan to come out of there with a World Cup title and be the best we can be. We have to focus on ourselves and what we need to do as we prepare ourselves to go in there with the best results possible.”

The Canadian team features Paris 2017 world bronze medalists Michelle FAZZARI (62kg) and Justina DI STASIO (76kg), who are also among five winners from the 2017 Pan American Championships on the squad.

2016 Olympic bronze medalist Jenny FRANSSON (SWE). Photo by Max Rose-Fyne.

Sweden, which was added to the field when Turkey withdrew, will be led by former world champion and Rio 2016 bronze medalist Jenny FRANSSON (72kg), but otherwise is expected to send a young team.

The other group is expected to be a shootout between China, which won the last of its six titles in 2013, and Mongolia, the third-place finisher in the past two World Cups.

At the recent Asian Championships in Bishkek, to which Japan sent a mainly second-string team, the Chinese women came away with five golds, one silver and a bronze. Four of those champions are slated to make the trip to Takasaki---PEI Xingru (57kg), RONG Ningning (59kg), ZHOU Feng (68kg) and ZHOU Qian (76kg).

SUN Yanan (CHN) competing against Yui SUSAKI (JPN) in the 2017 Women's World Cup.

Add to that group Rio 2016 bronze medalist SUN Yanan (50kg), Bishkek 2018 silver medalist LUO Xiaojuan and Paris 2017 bronze medalist HAN Yue (72kg), and you have quite a formidable lineup.

Mongolia, the runner-up to China when it hosted the event in 2013, will aim for a place in the final behind world champion Orkhon PUREVDORJ (62kg), who added the Asian gold in Bishkek, and Asian runner-up Tumentsetseg SHARKHUU (68kg).

Purevdorj holds the unique distinction of having handed a rare loss on four-time Olympic champion Kaori ICHO, a technical fall victory in the final at the 2016 Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix.

Belarus, making its first appearance since 2013, will field three world medalists, but it remains to be seen if the European side has the depth to overcome the Asians.

2017 world champion Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR).

Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (53kg) is well known to Japanese wrestling fans, as her miracle comeback for an 8-6 win in the final in Paris denied Japan's Mukaida a world title. Five years earlier, she stunned future Olympic and world champion Eri TOSAKA in the 48kg final.

Joining Kaladzinskaya will be Paris 2017 bronze medalist Irina KURACHKINA (55kg) and silver medalist Vasilisa MARZALIUK (76kg).

Romania, making its World Cup debut, features Paris 2017 silver medalist Alina VUC (50kg).

For Japan's Kawai, who has not lost an international match since 2015 (a loss in the world 63kg final to Mongolia's Battsegseg SORONZOBOLD, who is slated to wrestle at 57kg in Takasaki), the tournament is also serving as a stepping stone toward defense of her Olympic title at Tokyo 2020.

"It's my first World Cup with a new weight class [for me] and the new system for weigh-in," Kawai said. "Aiming to win our fourth title in a row, I want each one of us to feel the responsibility so that it becomes a building block toward the Tokyo Olympics."

SCHEDULE
Saturday, March 17 (Local Time)
9:00 am: Canada v. United States (Mat A) // Mongolia v. China (Mat B)
10:15 am: Japan v. Sweden (Mat A) // Belarus v. Romania (Mat B)
11:30 am: Sweden v. United States (Mat A) // Romania v. China (Mat B)
12:45 pm: Japan v. Canada (Mat A) // Belarus v. Mongolia (Mat B)
4:30 pm: Opening Ceremonies
5:00 pm: Sweden v. Canada (Mat A) // Romania v. Belarus (Mat B)
6:15 pm: Japan v. United States (Mat A) // Belarus v. China (Mat B)

Sunday, March 18 (Local Time)
9:00 am: Seventh Place Match
10:30 am: Fifth Place Match
1:00 pm: Bronze Medal Match
2:30 pm: Gold Medal Match

#WrestleHangzhou

Makhmudov, Sharshenbekov continue Kyrgyzstan's meteoric rise with Asian Games golds

Wednesday, October 4, 2023 - 17:56 By Vinay Siwach

LIN'AN, Hangzhou, China (October 4) -- At the 2018 Asian Games, Kyrgyzstan was expected to open its gold medal account from wrestling. Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ), the then Asian champion, was the hero of the wrestling-mad nation and in the 77kg final. However, he fell to Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI) in the 77kg final.

At the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou on Wednesday, Makhmudov did not disappoint. Although it was not Kyrgyzstan's first gold medal of the game, world champs Makhmudov and Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) ended the nation's long wait for a second gold medal in this edition of the Asian Games in which it won the first gold on September 24.

Both the Kyrgyzstan superstars were in action Wednesday in Lin'an Sports and Culture Exhibition Center in Hangzhou, China as wrestling got underway at the 19th Asian Games with four Greco-Roman weights.

Apart from Makhmudov and Sharshenbekov, Katsuaki ENDO (JPN) and Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) captured the remaining two gold medals. Berdimuratov's gold was Uzbekistan's fourth in the history of Asian Games history.

Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) defeated Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI) in the 77kg final to win the gold medal. (Photo: UWW / Sachiko Hotaka)

Wrestling against an Iranian wrestler in the final again, Makhmudov took a cautious approach and controlled the bout for six minutes against Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI).

The two-time world champion from Kyrgyzstan, who won his second world title just 10 days ago in Belgrade, struggled with some fatigue and discomfort in his knee during the day. But he managed to navigate his quarterfinal against Sophak KEO (CAM) with a fall and defeated Azat SADYKOV (KAZ) 9-0 in the semifinal.

Kaviyaninejad took out former Asian Games champion Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR) in his opening bout before winning his quarterfinal against Dilshod OMONGELDIYEV (UZB). A tough semifinal against Rui LIU (CHN) saw him hang on to a 1-1 win.

In the final Makhmudov, like the World Championships, did not try any flamboyant actions and was happy to give up par terre in the first period. Kaviyaninejad failed to turn his Kyrgyz opponent. When Makhmudov got the par terre advantage and the 1-1 criteria lead, Kaviyaninejad managed to defend as well.

Makhmudov defended his 1-1 criteria lead as the clock expired and he won his first-ever Asian Games gold medal. He had won the World Championships final with a 1-1 scoreline as well.

As usual, Makhmudov did not celebrate his gold medal beyond acknowledging the few Kyrgyzstan fans in the crowd. He would later say that he is not feeling any joy.

“Honestly, I have no emotions now,” Makhmudov said. “The only thing I really want is the gold medal in Paris. For now, I don't feel any happiness.”

Makhmudov suffered a 2-1 loss in the Tokyo Olympics final, finishing with a silver medal and falling short of becoming Kyrgyzstan's first-ever Olympic champion in any sport. Yet, Kyrgyzstan fell in love with the shark-singlet-wearing wrestler. Having already won the 2024 Paris Olympic quota for Kyrgyzstan, and being the first choice to go, Makhmudov is in no mood to finish second this time.

“I think I will do my best [till Paris],” he said. “We will discuss with the coaches and I will do ten out of ten.”

The 24-year-old also played down his knee injury, saying that the pain has reduced, but did express the difficulties of wrestling at two big events in two weeks.

“Definitely it was very difficult [to wrestle back-to-back events],” he said. “The hardest part was the weight cut and after the World Championships, it was difficult for me to recover.”

Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ), red, pins Ayata SUZUKI (JPN) in the 60kg final. (Photo: UWW / Sachiko Hotaka)

Sharshenbekov expressed similar views but that was after he also won the gold medal like Makhmudov which was perhaps the reason for the 60kg world champion struggling in his opening bout against Aslamjon AZIZOV (TJK). He gave up five points to the Tajik but won 8-5. He then moved past Asian silver medalist Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) 9-0 in a rematch of this year's Asian Championships final.

Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) was pinned by Sharshenbekov, 10 days after winning 9-0 in the World Championships quarterfinals.

From the other side of the bracket, Ayata SUZUKI (JPN) made it to the final with wins over Thanwa SUTDI (THA), Seung RI (PRK) and Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ).

Both came out flying and Sharshenbekov got the first big lift. He failed to make the most of it but scored two points. Suzuki landed on Sharsenbekov's chest to earn two points as well. He then showed intent and launched a four-pointer to lead 6-2.

Sharshenbekov replied with an underhook and held Suzuki's back to the mat, securing the fall. Suzuki challenged for a leg four but it was declared clean. The pin ended the bout in two minutes and 34 seconds.

“I the Japanese wrestler is very strong but he is a very comfortable opponent for me,” Sharshenbekov said.

Incidentally, Sharshenbekov defeated Olympic silver medalist Kenichito FUMITA (JPN) in the World Championships final in Belgrade after an equally stunning first period.

The turnaround from the World Championships to the Asian Games was a challenge for Sharshenbekov but he said he was prepared to win.

“I cut around eight kilograms for each competition,” Sharshenbekov said. “Every sport has its own difficulties and wrestling also. The process of cutting weight was incredibly challenging. However, right after the World Championships, I shifted my focus to the Asian Games. Despite all the hardships, I'm thrilled to have won the gold medal here. This is not the end of my journey. With God's guidance, I am planning to prepare for the Olympics and aim to bring home the gold medal for Kyrgyzstan."

Wrestling Fumita and Suzuki in the space of 10 days did break different sets of challenges for Sharshenbekov who said that he was up for both the Japanese wrestlers.

"Fumita is a great athlete who consistently ranks in the top five of the world," he said. "He is an exceptionally strong wrestler, which is why our coaches devised an effective strategy. I believe we showed good wrestling. Suzuki is also a talented wrestler. The match against him was far from easy, particularly considering that I had just competed in the World Championships."

Suzuki reflected on the final saying that he needs to work on the areas which made his lose even after leading 6-2.

“At the end, I made a misjudgment,” he said. “I knew the opponent [Sharshenbekov] is good in attacking from the side and I did well till 6-2. But I let him close the gap and win.”

Katsuaki ENDO (JPN), second from left, won the 67kg gold medal for Japan. (Photo: UWW / Sachiko Hotaka)

His Japan teammate Endo made sure he didn't slip up in the 67kg final, winning 4-3 against Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ).

“Since I was chosen for these Games, I was going to win,” Endo said. “To be honest, when I saw the draw, I thought I could win this.”

And the former U23 world champion began his confident run with a 9-0 win over Firuz MIRZORAJABOV (TJK) in the opening bout, won 5-1 against Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) in the quarterfinals and defeated Mahmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB), 6-1, to reach the final against Shermakhanbet who was on song as well, marking his return to a major competition in more than one year with a silver medal.

After opening with a 10-0 win over Nuttapong HINMEE (THA), Shermakhanbet was involved in a thriller against home favorite Lei LI (CHN). Taking a 10-7 lead with two four-point throws, Shermakhanbet gave up a stepout and Li scored a takedown to lead 10-10 on criteria but Kazakhstan challenged the call and it was called a slip and the score was reversed to 10-8 which gave Kazakhstan the win.

If that close bout was not enough, Shermakhanbet pinned Danial SOHRABI (IRI) after trailing 9-2 in the semifinals. While Sohrabi was trying to defend a turn from par terre by standing up, Shermakhanbet locked Sohrabi's right hand and strangled him for space, putting the Iranian back on the mat for the pin.

However, there was no such comeback in the final against Endo after trailing 4-1. Endo scored a correct throw from par terre to lead 3-0. Japan challenged, asking for four points but lost, giving one point to Shermakhanbet.

In the second period, Endo gave up a stepout and passivity point but still held a 4-3 lead, the final score of the gold-medal bout.

“I trained with very strong opponents in my club back home, I didn't feel he [Shermakhanbet] has the same power,” Endo said about the Kazakhstan wrestler.

Endo's immediate goal is to win the Emperor's Cup in December which will give him the opportunity to wrestle at the Asian Olympic Qualifier in April 2024 in Bishkek and earn a 2024 Paris Olympic quota for Japan at 67kg.

Shermakhanbet will also look to secure the Olympic quota for Kazakhstan but like Endo, he will have to win the right to compete in Bishkek.

"I only returned to the training process three months ago," Shermakhanbet said. "It is indeed very challenging to compete after a long pause. I need more time to get back in shape. At the beginning of the next year, we have our national championships, and we'll see how that goes."

Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB), blue, throws Naser ALIZADEH (IRI) during the 87kg final. (Photo: UWW / Sachiko Hotaka)

The first day of wrestling closed out as Berdimuratov avenged his 2022 Asian Championships loss to Naser ALIZADEH (IRI) with a 7-4 win. Berdimuratov led 7-0 at the break, thanks to penalty points against Alizadeh but gave up four including caution points. But he held on to win his first Asian Games gold and the fourth for Uzbekistan in Greco-Roman Asian Games history.

The gold has also kept Uzbekistan in the top five of the overall medals tally in Hangzhou as it has 16 gold medals on Wednesday.

Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB), second from left, along with the other medalist in 87kg, Naser ALIZADEH (IRI), left, Masato SUMI (JPN), right, and Sunil KUMAR, second from right. (Photo: UWW / Sachiko Hotaka)

RESULTS

Greco-Roman

60kg
GOLD: Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) df. Ayata SUZUKI (JPN), via fall (7-6)

BRONZE: Se ung RI (PRK) df. Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ), 2-1
BRONZE: Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) df. Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB), 5-4

67kg
GOLD: Katsuaki ENDO (JPN) df. Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ), 4-3

BRONZE: Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) df. Mahmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB), 1-1
BRONZE: Danial SOHRABI (IRI) df. Lei LI (CHN), 3-2

77kg
GOLD: Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) df. Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI), 1-1

BRONZE: Rui LIU (CHN) df. Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR), 5-3
BRONZE: Azat SADYKOV (KAZ) df. SOPHAK KEO (CAM), via inj. def.

87kg
GOLD: Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) df. Naser ALIZADEH (IRI), 7-4

BRONZE: Masato SUMI (JPN) df. Maksat SAILAU (KAZ), 9-1
BRONZE: Sunil KUMAR df. A. AZISBEKOV (KGZ), 2-1

Host Japan Favored at Women's World Cup

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Makhmudov, Sharshenbekov continue Kyrgyzstan's meteoric rise with Asian Games golds