India dominates Commonwealth Games with 3 golds

Friday, August 5, 2022 - 21:02 By Vinay Siwach

COVENTRY, England (August 8) -- When Bajrang PUNIA (IND) lost to David TREMBLAY (CAN) in the 2014 Commonwealth Games final, a 13-year-old Lachlan McNEIL (CAN) was in the crowd at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre in Glasgow.

While Tremblay managed to beat Punia, McNeil's attempt to repeat the feat eight years later in the Coventry Arena on Friday fell short as Punia, now a veteran of three Commonwealth Games, defended his 65kg gold medal with little trouble.

Punia and McNeil reached the 65kg gold medal bout by beating George RAMM (ENG) and Inayat ULLAH (PAK) with ease. With gold on the line, McNeil did put up a fight, scoring the only takedown against Punia in the competition, but it wasn't enough as the Tokyo bronze medalist won the bout 10-2.

That was one of the three gold medals India won on day one of wrestling at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Deepak PUNIA (IND) and Sakshi MALIK (IND) were also crowned first-time Commonwealth champions.

But it was Punia's gold that delighted the huge contingent of Indian fans at the arena.

"When you are wrestling at any tournament, you don't think about the difficulty of it," Punia said. "I wrestled thinking everyone is important and I want to be back to the level I was in 2018 and 2019."

Since winning the bronze in Tokyo, Punia has suffered two losses -- against Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) in the Asian Championships final and Abbos RAKHMANOV (UZB) at the Ranking Series in Almaty.

But with the World Championships just a month away, he would like to put behind the two losses and take confidence from the win in Birmingham.

"World Championships is the main goal," he said. "I have been preparing for that and now it's very close."

For McNeil, the Commonwealth Games were a learning experience as he tries to win a berth for Canada for the Paris Olympics.

"The sole purpose of coming here was to wrestle Bajrang," McNeil said. "He is a world-class wrestler and he proved it. But it's a great experience and I will carry it forward to the Olympics in Paris."

Deepak PUNIA (IND), gold medalist, with the three other medalists at 86kg in Coventry. (Photo: UWW / Helena Curtis)

Another Punia had a higher stake in the final. Not only was Deepak wrestling for gold, but he also had to beat Muhammad INAM (PAK), a wrestler who has never lost to an Indian at the Commonwealth Games.

The two-time champion kept Deepak quiet for a long time but was called passive in the first period. Deepak scored a stepout during the activity period to lead 2-0 at the break. A tiring Inam kept going for half-hearted attacks and Deepak managed to get another stepout.

He managed to keep Inam away until the clock expired, winning the gold at 86kg, 3-0.

Amarveer DHESI (CAN) won his first Commonwealth Games gold on Friday. (Photo: UWW / Helena Curtis)

The final freestyle gold medal went to Pan-Am champion Amarveer DHESI (CAN) who defeated another Pakistan wrestler in Zaman ANWAR in the final.

Anwar did score two points but Dhesi was class apart, winning the gold medal with a fall after leading 9-2.

In the semifinal, Dhesi was up against Mohit GREWAL (IND) and managed to get an easy 12-2 win and keep his promise of winning against India at the Commonwealth Games.

"An Indo-Canadian and Indian wrestling always makes things complex back home," Dhesi said. "But great to get the win and be on the top of the podium."

Dhesi will now try to repeat the feat at the World Championships in Belgrade.

"The weight class has some solid guys but my aim remains the same -- to reach the podium," he said.

Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR), red, defeated Linda MORAIS (CAN) to win the 68kg gold medal. (Photo: UWW / Helena Curtis)

Repeat for Oborududu, Adekuoroye

Olympic silver medalist Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) became a two-time Commonwealth Games champion after winning the 68kg gold medal in Coventry.

Wrestling former world champion at 59kg Linda MORAIS (CAN), Oborududu controlled the bout till the end and gave no chance to Morais to attack.

At one point the score was 3-1 and Morais fancied her chance of winning the gold with a takedown but Oborududu managed to score a go-behind in the final moments and win 5-1.

Blessing, who became the first-ever wrestler from Africa to reach an Olympic final in Tokyo, won gold in 2018 but has a silver from the 2010 edition and a bronze from 2014.

"For me, I was calm in the final," Oborududu said. "I wanted to control the final and not attack too much. I knew the match would be tough if I don't wrestle smart. I didn't need to panic and that's why I wrestled how I did."

Morais will also be at the World Championships at 68kg and will be hoping to avenge the loss.

"We thought it's a good opportunity to jump to 68kg and be part of the team," Morais said.

Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) defended her 57kg gold after beating Anshu MALIK (IND) in the final. (Photo: UWW / Helena Curtis)

Adekuoroye, who wrestled Pooja DHANDA (IND) in the 57kg final in Gold Coast, defeated world silver medalist Anshu MALIK (IND) in the final to defend her gold.

In their only meeting before Birmingham, Adekuoroye won via technical superiority over Malik. While the score was close on Friday, the result was Adekuoroye won the gold.

She got a double leg for a takedown to lead 2-0 and kept Malik off the hooks for the remaining time. As the break approached, Adekuoroye once again blasted a double and made the lead 4-0.

Malik continued her attacks and did get a takedown after Adekuoroye was penalized for a passivity point. But the takedown was a little too late as the Nigerian won 7-3 before breaking to her dance to celebrate the gold.

Sakshi MALIK (IND) Sakshi MALIK's (IND) move that helped her secure the fall over Ana GONZALEZ (CAN). (Photo: UWW / Helena Curtis)

The gold at 62kg was captured by Sakshi MALIK (IND) as she came from behind to beat U23 world champion Ana GONZALEZ (CAN) in the final.

Gonzalez jumped to a 4-0 lead at the break with two takedowns and Malik was struggling to find openings.

"I thought I could win and I was really confident," Gonzalez said. "But I had to be a little proactive in the second period and not let her wrestle her way."

Malik, trying to get her favorite double-leg attack, kept Gonzalez close to her and snapped which allowed Malik to grab Gonzalez leg. She turned it into an underhook and got the double. With Gonzalez falling on her back, Malik kept the pressure and secured the fall.

"I have a bronze medal at Commonwealth and silver so this time I just thought that I have to get the gold and I am happy to get it," Malik said.

RESULTS

Freestyle

65kg
GOLD: Bajrang PUNIA (IND) df. Lachlan McNEIL (CAN), 9-2

BRONZE: George RAMM (ENG) df. Lowe BINGHAM (NRU), 11-0
BRZONE: Inayat ULLAH (PAK) df. Ross CONNELLY (SCO), 10-0

86kg
GOLD: Deepak PUNIA (IND) df. Muhammad INAM (PAK), 3-0

BRONZE: Alexander MOORE (CAN) df. Matthew OXENHAM (NZL), 10-0
BRONZE: Jayden LAWRENCE (AUS) df. Edward LESSING (RSA), 12-11

125kg
GOLD: Amarveer DHESI (CAN) df. Zaman ANWAR (PAK), via fall

BRONZE: Mohit GREWAL (IND) df. Aaron JOHNSON (JAM), via fall
BRONZE: Mandhir KOONER (ENG) df. Kensley MARIE (MAU), via fall

Women's wrestling

57kg
GOLD: Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) df. Anshu MALIK (IND), 7-4

BRONZE: Hannah TAYLOR (CAN) df. Sophia AYIETA (KEN), via fall
BRONZE: Nethmi PORUTHOTAGE (SRI) df. Irene SYMEONIDIS (AUS), 10-0

62kg
GOLD: Sakshi MALIK (IND) df. Ana GODINEZ GONZALEZ (CAN), via fall

BRONZE:: Berthe ETANE (CMR) df. Kelsey BARNES (ENG), 9-4
BRONZE: Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR) df. Abbie FOUNTAIN (SCO), 10-0

68kg
GOLD: Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) df. Linda MORAIS (CAN), 5-1

BRONZE: Tayla FORD (NZL) df. Amylee AZA (MAU), via fall
BRONZE: Divya KAKRAN (IND) df. Tiger COCKER (TGA), via fall

#KoreaWrestling

Special referee at national meet part of Japanese efforts to get more women to become officials

Tuesday, January 16, 2024 - 20:32 By Ikuo Higuchi

(Editor's Note: The following appeared on the Japan Wrestling Federation website on Jan. 1. It has been translated and published by permission.)

With its connection to the Paris Olympics, this year's Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships drew a record field of 470 competitors. But history was also made regarding the third person on the mat. For the first time ever, a foreign referee was on the whistle, one specifically invited with the hope of producing long-term effects beyond the outcome of matches.

The Japan federation brought in Ji-Woo LEE, one of six Korean women holding international licenses, as part of its efforts to get more women interested in becoming referees. Lee is a holder of the UWW's highest Category IS License, which qualifies her to officiate at the Olympics and World Championships.

While Japan remains the dominant country in women’s wrestling, in the case of women referees, it can be regarded as “undeveloped.” Of Japan’s 19 international referees, only two are women, putting Japan far behind United World Wrestling’s objective of having equal numbers from both genders.

JPN1 Ji-Woo Lee holds the highest Category IS License. (photo by Japan Wrestling Federation)

"It was a big surprise, and wonderful," Lee said of being asked to officiate at the All-Japan Championships, which was held Dec. 21-24 in Tokyo and was serving as a qualifier for the Asian Olympic qualifying tournament in April. "It is really a joyful [moment] in my life. A big honor, also."

Lee said she was impressed by the large and enthusiastic crowd that packed into Yoyogi No. 2 Gym, saying it reminded her of the atmosphere at the big venues that stage the World Championships and European Championships.

JPN4 Lee faces Saori YOSHIDA at the 2004 Asian Championships in Tokyo. (photo by Takeo Yabuki / Japan Wrestling Federation)

Lee herself was no stranger to Japan. Long before she officiated at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, she came on numerous trips during her career as a wrestler to train at the well-known Oka Wrestling Dojo in the mountains of Niigata Prefecture. Wrestling at 55kg and competing under the name LEE Na-Lae, she faced three-time Olympic champion Saori YOSHIDA three times, in the final at the 2002 Asian Games, and at both the 2004 and 2005 Asian Championships. Lee was the lone Korean woman to appear at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

While she knows a little Japanese, she basically operates in her native Korean or English. As for communicating on the mat at the All-Japan, she said, "I used very simple words. 'Fingers.' 'Open.' Maybe after a foul, I say, 'Next time caution.' Or 'One more time, the match is finished.'" Having Olympic experience both as a wrestler and a referee has given her the confidence to dish out warnings as she sees fit and remain in control on the mat.

JPN2 Lee made her Olympic refereeing debut at the Tokyo Games in 2021. (Photo by Japan Wrestling Federation)

Handling the big matches

After retiring as a wrestler, Lee went to the 2012 London Olympics as a national team coach, then changed course and embarked on a new path to become a referee, while also earning a doctorate and becoming a professor at Yong-In University. She obtained the Category IS License just before the 2019 World Championships, and was among the officiating crew at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

It was Isao OKIYAMA, head of the Japan Federation's refereeing commission, who suggested inviting Lee to the All-Japan. Okiyama's thinking took a two-pronged approach. In the big matches with so much at stake, the federation would get a neutral official completely free of any suspicions -- justified or not -- about college affiliations and other links that are so strong in Japanese wrestling.

And, by having a female Category IS official at Japan's highest-level tournament, it would bring national attention on the existence of female referees and further motivate more women to want to become one.

JPN5 Lee was on the whistle when Nonoka OZAKI defeated Ami ISHII in a vital 68kg match with Olympic implications. (photo by Takeo Yabuki / Japan Wrestling Federation)

At this year's All-Japan, three matches in particular stood out, each with global implications: 1) the first-round match at women's 68kg in which Nonoka OZAKI defeated Ami ISHII, who had needed to win the title to fill the Paris Olympic berth she secured for Japan at the World Championships; 2) the freestyle 65kg semifinal between Tokyo Olympic champion Takuto OTOGURO and collegian Kotaro KIYOOKA, which Otoguro lost to end his chances of a repeat in Paris; and 3) the 68kg final between Ozaki and Miwa MORIKAWA, which Ozaki won to advance to a future playoff with Ishii for the Paris ticket.

Lee was the mat official for all three. Asked if she was nervous, she replied, "I'm never nervous. I know this championships is very important for Japan, also in the world because the champions [can go to the Olympic qualifier]. More than being nervous, I was concerned with doing my best to make fair and clear decisions."

She admits she did feel jittery at her first major tournament at the 2019 World Championships in Nur-Sultan (now Astana). She particularly recalled a bronze-medal match between Iranian and Azerbaijan wrestlers where it seemed the entire crowd turned against her. "I was very nervous. One time [I made a] mistake, just a warning, and everyone goes, 'Boooooo,'"she recalled with a laugh.

JPN4 Lee poses with the three Japanese female referees at the All-Japan Championships, from right, Mariko SHIMIZU, Airi FURUSATO and Honoka SAITO. (photo courtesy of Airi FURUSATO)

Getting more women involved

At the All-Japan, there were only three other women referees, Airi FURUSATO, Mariko SHIMIZU and Honoka SAITO, putting them well in the minority. Only Furusato and Haruka WATANABE, currently on maternity leave, hold international licenses, and neither is at the Category IS level.

Of the 393 referees registered domestically in Japan, just 19 are women, or 4.8%. The percentage is even lower for those with a Class A license, which is required for officiating at the All-Japan — just seven out of 197, or 3.6%.

In its Global Gender Gap Report released in June last year by the World Economic Forum, Japan ranked 125th out of 146 countries in terms of achieving gender equality. While Japan is on top in women's wrestling, when it comes to women referees, it unfortunately aligns with the gender gap ranking.

JPN6 World champion Akari FUJINAMI tries her hand as a referee at a men's collegiate event last May. ((photo by Ikuo Higuchi / Japan Wrestling Federation)

Among recent moves to cultivate women referees was having world champions Akari FUJINAMI and Yuka KAGAMI serve as referees at the men's East Japan Collegiate League last May. Officials hope that seeing the female stars filling such roles will appeal to more women to consider becoming referees.

Lee said she hopes to see more Japanese women entering the referee ranks and believes that with the right training and support, they can become as much as factor as their wrestling sisters. In fact, it was Japan's Osamu SAITO, a former member of the UWW Refereeing Commission, who encouraged and mentored her and to whom she credits her advancement.

"I am waiting for the day when I can work with Japanese women referees," Lee said. "We are professionals with skills. I support the development of women referees."

--Translation and editing by Ken Marantz

India dominates Commonwealth Games with 3 golds

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Special referee at national meet part of Japanese efforts to get more women to become officials