#WrestleSofia

Jalolov adds U20 World title to impressive resume

Tuesday, August 16, 2022 - 20:19 By Vinay Siwach

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SOFIA, Bulgaria (August 16) -- The last time Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) was in Sofia, he went home as a world champion. Three years later, he returned to the Bulgarian capital to win his second age-group world title.

The '19 U17 world champion ran through the field at 65kg at the U20 World Championships and set up a final against returning silver medalist Ziraddin BAYRAMOV (AZE). While he would have liked to wrestle full six minutes, Bayramov pulled out of the final due to a shoulder injury when Jalolov was leading 5-1 in the final.

With the win and his exploits at the senior level this year, Jalolov has ascertained that he belongs to the stage and can give Uzbekistan the freestyle star it is searching for.

In Ufa, Jalolov suffered an opening round to finish 10th while Bayramov lost to Shamil MAMMEDOV (RWF) in the final.

However, both looked in solid form in Sofia with Bayramov defeating U23 and U20 Asian champion Sujeet KALKAL (IND) in the semifinal.

But in the final, Jalolov proved too much for Bayramov who was called passive early before scoring a stepout. Jalolov then got on a single and scored a takedown. Trying to cover the deficit, Bayramov shot a double but hit his shoulder on Jalolov's leg and abandoned the attack. He then tapped for medical attention when Jalolov hit the counter.

The Azerbaijan corner decided to pull out of the final, giving Jalolov the win. A disappointed Bayramov cursed his luck for finishing with a second straight silver medal at the U20 Worlds. 

This year, Jalolov has won bronze medals at the Istanbul and Almaty ranking events apart from the bronze at the U20 Asians. The Youth Olympic gold medalist will now hope to transition the age-group success at the senior level in what is one of the deepest weight classes in the world.

Benjamin KUETER (USA)Benjamin KUETER (USA) won the 97kg U20 world title in Sofia. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

USA wins 2 golds

In other finals on Tuesday, the USA won two gold medals while Iran and Azerbaijan won one each as five world champions were crowned.

18-year-old Benjamin KUETER (USA) emerged as the world champion at 97kg after securing a fall over '21 U17 world champion Rifat GIDAK (TUR) in the final. 

Gidak got the hold over Kueter and scored an exposure using a seatbelt throw but Kueter quickly got out of it to score two of his own and then used a move that he learned wrestling folkstyle in the US.

"It started a little crazy but I hit this gut and felt the momentum coming along," Kueter said. "I got on top and the move I did was actually a folkstyle move which we do in the States. It's hard for foreigners as they don't get that feeling."

Gidak tried locking the hands to stop Kueter from getting the rolls but the American ultimately used an arm bar to pin the Turkey wrestler.

The Iowa City native, who is also an All-American in American football, explained that Gidak was stronger in defense.

"He was in a strong position," Kueter said. "He stopped me from going to one side but all I had to do was go the other way. I could hear coach Green yelling go around, go around and that was it."

Jore VOLK (USA)Jore VOLK (USA) beat U20 Asian champion Merey BAZARBAYEV (KAZ), 3-2, to win the 57kg gold. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Jore VOLK (USA) was the other world champion for the USA as he beat U20 Asian champion Merey BAZARBAYEV (KAZ), 3-2, in a close 57kg final.

In a final of two halves, Volk took to Bazarbayev with continuous attacks and managed to circle behind Bazarbayev. He tried scoring a takedown but ended up dragging the Kazakhstan wrestler for a point. He did get the takedown in another sequence just before the break to lead 3-0.

"I was confident in my defense and even if I gave up points in the second period, I knew I will get one of my own," Volk said.

He did exactly that and forced Bazarbayev to attack. Volk was called passive and penalized for a singlet pull but with some classic underhook defense, the USA wrestler managed to win the title.

Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE)Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE) celebrates after winning the 70kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

The USA could have crowned three champions but Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE) beat Mitchell MESENBRINK (USA), 13-7, in a slugfest that saw him play out a tactical game in the final.

He began with a big two and two and tried to secure the fall but Mesenbrink managed to roll over and survive. He gave up a gut wrench before getting the reversal. Heybatov went into the break with a 7-1 lead.

The second period began with Mesenbrink scoring two stepouts but gave up a takedown as well. He scored one of his own and a stepout to cut the lead to 9-6. But Heybatov kept coming back and scoring takedowns to ultimately win 13-7.

Sobhan YARI (IRI)Sobhan YARI (IRI) won the only gold for Iran on Tuesday. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

At 79kg, Sobhan YARI (IRI) gave Iran a gold medal as he beat Mushegh MKRTCHYAN (ARM), 5-0, in the final.

The first period was a slow affair as both wrestlers were happy to not engage in scrambles. Yari led 1-0 at the break after getting a point for Mkrtchyan's passivity. A minute into the second period, he scored a takedown before another passivity point and stepout helped him secure the win with ease.

Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI)Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) defeated Nicholas FELDMAN (USA), 11-1, in the 125kg semifinal. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Iran leads ahead

With Yari's gold and three more wrestlers winning their respective semifinals on Tuesday, Iran took control of the team title race by moving past the USA at the top spot.

In a strong show on Tuesday's semifinals, Armin HABIBZADEH (IRI), Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) and Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) reached the gold medal bouts.

Returning 86kg world champion Firouzpour reached the final at 92kg after handing Adlan VISKHANOV (FRA) an 10-0 loss in the semifinal. The Asian champion was not scored upon in his three bouts on Tuesday and he will hope to keep a clean record in the final against Andro MARGISHVILI (GEO) who reached the final beating Sergey SARGSYAN (ARM), 4-3.

'21 U17 world champion Masoumi also dominated his competition and reached the final with ease after beating Nicholas FELDMAN (USA), 11-1 in the semifinal. His pressure wrestling was once again on display, scoring stepouts at will against the USA wrestler.

Masoumi will have to beat U20 Asia silver medalist Mahendra GAIKWAD (IND) to win the title. Gaikwad defeated Namoz ABDURASHIDOV (UZB), 6-0 in the other semifinal.

Habibzadeh will like to add a world title to his continental one at 61kg after he defeated Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA), 3-0, to reach the final. A point for passivity and a takedown was all the action in the bout.

But former U17 world bronze medalist Yuto NISHIUCHI (JPN) will be a tough match for him as the Japanese star looks to add a gold medal to his bronze from the 2019 Worlds in Sofia. In a high-scoring semifinal, Nishiuchi scored a 16-8 win over Mohit KUMAR (IND).

Both wrestlers had four-point moves in the first period which saw 16 points being scored with Nishiuchi leading 10-6. He added a takedown and gut in the second period before Kumar scored exposure. But Nishiuchi managed to win comfortably.

Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE)Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) outscored his opponents 38-2 on Tuesday. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

The other finalist for Japan came at 74kg as Ryunosuke KAMIYA (JPN) set up the gold medal bout against U20 European champion and returning silver medalist Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE).

Kamiya wrestled '21 U17 world champion Sagar JAGLAN (IND) in the semifinal and displayed strong defense to win 9-2. Jaglan got hold of Kamiya's leg and tried to score a takedown when the Japan wrestler tripped him for four points. A double for another four-pointer all but sealed the match for Kamiya, avenging his 4-0 loss to Jaglan from the 2019 U15 Asian Championships.

Gadzhiev will be hoping to win the U20 world title after finishing second to Erfan ELAHI (IRI) last year at 70kg. Elahi lost 10-4 to Jaglan earlier in the day.

Overall, the U23 European champion outscored his opponents 38-2 including the 5-2 semifinal win over Luka CHKHITUNIDZE (GEO).

Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA)Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA), red, is hoping to upgrade his 2021 silver to gold in Sofia. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Another returning silver medalist hoping to win the title is Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) as he reached the 86kg final against Bennett BERGE (USA).

Magamadov was stopped by Firouzpour last year but the France wrestler looks determined to win the gold this year. He defeated Sabuhi AMIRASLANOV (AZE), 11-2, in the semifinal. But his biggest win came in the quarterfinal when he leg laced Aref RANJBARI (IRI) to win in just over a minute.

Wednesday he will face Berge in the final who defeated Ismail KUCUKSOLAK (TUR), 9-7, after being 5-0 down. Kucuksolak scored a four-pointer and a point for Berge's passivity but as the Turkey wrestler got tired, Berge scored five stepouts in the second period to make it 5-5 before adding two takedowns to make it 9-5. A consolation takedown gave Kucuksolak two points.

Apart from the freestyle medal bouts on Wednesday, women's wrestling begins at the U20 World Championships with 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg and 76kg wrestlers going on the mat.

PodiumThe four medalists at 65kg in Sofia. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

RESULTS

57kg:
GOLD: Jore VOLK (USA) df. Merey BAZARBAYEV (KAZ), 3-2 

BRONZE: Ahmad JAVAN (IRI) df. Luka GVINJILIA (GEO), 11-0
BRONZE: Abhishek DHAKA (IND) df. Heorhii KAZANZHY (UKR), 8-5

65kg
GOLD: Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) df.  Ziraddin BAYRAMOV (AZE), via injury (5-1)

BRONZE: Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) df. Robert CORNELLA (USA), 6-6
BRONZE: Sujeet KALKAL (IND) df. Mykyta ZUBAL (UKR), 12-1

70kg
GOLD: Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE) df. Mitchell MESENBRINK (USA), 13-7

BRONZE: Hossein AGHAEI (IRI) df. Hayk PAPIKYAN (ARM), 5-2 
BRONZE: Mulaym YADAV (IND) df. Gigi KURKHULI (GEO), 12-2

79kg
GOLD: Sobhan YARI (IRI) df. Mushegh MKRTCHYAN (ARM), 5-0

BRONZE: Otari ADEISHVILI (GEO) df. Bekir OVEC (TUR), 10-4
BRONZE: Mukhammad ABDULLAEV (KGZ) df. Soslan TIGIYEV (AZE), 18-10

97kg
GOLD: Benjamin KUETER (USA) df. Rifat GIDAK (TUR), via fall

BRONZE: NIRAJ (IND) df. Luka KHUTCHUA (GEO), 18-10
BRONZE: Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) df. David MCHEDLIDZE (UKR), 5-1

dg

Semifinals

61kg
GOLD: Armin HABIBZADEH (IRI) vs. Yuto NISHIUCHI (JPN)

SF 1: Armin HABIBZADEH (IRI) df. Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA), 3-0
SF 2: Yuto NISHIUCHI (JPN) df. Mohit KUMAR (IND), 16-8

74kg
GOLD: Ryunosuke KAMIYA (JPN) vs. Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE)

SF 1: Ryunosuke KAMIYA (JPN) df. Sagar JAGLAN (IND), 9-2
SF 2: Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) df. Luka CHKHITUNIDZE (GEO), 5-2

86kg
GOLD: Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) vs Bennett BERGE (USA)

SF 1: Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) df. Sabuhi AMIRASLANOV (AZE), 11-2
SF 2: Bennett BERGE (USA) df. Ismail KUCUKSOLAK (TUR), 9-7

92kg
GOLD: Andro MARGISHVILI (GEO) vs. Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI)

SF 1: Andro MARGISHVILI (GEO) df. Sergey SARGSYAN (ARM), 4-3
SF 2: Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) df. Adlan VISKHANOV (FRA), 10-0

125kg
GOLD: Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) vs. Mahendra GAIKWAD (IND)

SF 1: Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) df. Nicholas FELDMAN (USA), 11-1
SF 2: Mahendra GAIKWAD (IND) df. Namoz ABDURASHIDOV (UZB), 6-0

#JapanWrestling

Incoming OSU prospect Sakamoto wins 1st All-Japan title

Sunday, December 22, 2024 - 14:13 By Ken Marantz

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Rin SAKAMOTO works to turn Daito KATSUME after scoring the lone takedown of the freestyle 57kg final. (Photo: Takeo YABUKI / JWF)

TOKYO (December 22) -- Aside from occasional moves that are ineffective in freestyle, Rin SAKAMOTO was able to make enough of a transition back from American folkstyle to capture his first senior national title in his homeland.

Sakamoto, who has taken the rare path among Japanese wrestlers of heading overseas for college, defeated Daito KATSUME 4-0 in the freestyle 57kg final at the Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships on Sunday in Tokyo.

"I've been practicing in America up to now and only doing folkstyle," Sakamoto said. "It was tough adjusting back to freestyle. I couldn't do my wrestling, so I'm not very satisfied."

The final day of the four-day tournament, which is serving as the first of two domestic qualifiers for next year's World Championships, also saw world 55kg champion Moe KIYOOKA make an early move down to the Olympic weight of 53kg, where she picked up a third straight title.

Rin SAKAMOTORin SAKAMOTO became the first U.S.-based wrestler to win an All-Japan title since 1995 with a victory at freestyle 57kg. (Photo: Takeo YABUKI / JWF)

The 19-year-old Sakamoto, a two-time Inter-High champion at Tokyo's Jiyugaoka Gakuen High School, has been training for the past fourth months at U.S. powerhouse Oklahoma State University, where next month he will officially enroll and be eligible to compete in matches for the Cowboys, who are now coached by former Olympic champion David Taylor.

Sakamoto is hoping to follow in the footsteps of legendary two-time Olympic champion Yojiro UETAKE, who won three NCAA titles from 1964-66 at Oklahoma State. More recently, Sanshiro ABE won an NCAA title at Penn State in 1996, and was the last U.S.-based wrestler to win the All-Japan, in 1995.

"I think it fits my style of wrestling," Sakamoto said of American folkstyle, which puts more emphasis on control, particularly in its version of par terre or when exposing the opponent's back. "I've always liked the American style. If I make the adjustment, either style is alright for me."

The first sign of difference between the two styles came when Sakamoto stepped onto the mat wearing a headgear, an extremely rare sight in Japan. He explained that at OSU, "we have to wear a headgear all of the time, even in practice. So it's not to get me used to wearing one, but because I'm already used to it."

In his opening match, which he went on to win 15-6, he had been taken down and, instead of just lying flat and resisting being turned, he got up to his knees and grabbed the opponent's wrist -- in folkstyle, the wrestler on bottom must try to escape or reverse.

The referee on Sunday was having none of it, commanding he release the wrist. "I kept getting warned," he said. "I have to work harder to make the change."

He also twice used a counter lift in defending a takedown that put him to his own back, which gave his opponent 2 points before getting 2 for himself. In folkstyle, there would have been no points for his own exposure.

But takedowns and sprawling are pretty much universal, and his cat-like reflexes and natural speed carried him into the semifinals, where he forged out a 10-4 win over two-time Asian bronze medalist Rikuto ARAI.

The final against Katsume, who was hampered by a left knee injury that had him hobbling onto and off the mat, lacked the flamboyance of the first two matches, with Sakamoto limited to an activity point and a stepout in the first period, and a defensive takedown in the second.

"I left too much in the tank and did not dictate the match," Sakamoto lamented. "It became a really boring match."

The two were already acquainted, having split two matches while in high school. Katsume, now a sophomore at Yamanashi Gakuin University, beat Sakamoto 8-0 in the semifinals of the 2021 Inter-High championship, but a year later, Sakamoto gained revenge with a 6-2 victory in the final.

Sakamoto said he will return to the U.S. on January 11, two days before the new OSU semester starts in Stillwater, Oklahoma. From then, it will be full-time folkstyle in a wrestling room where he will face stiff competition to make the lineup at 125 pounds (56.7 kilograms).

"There are quite a few in the lighter weights, and I feel like I'm having to catch up in folkstyle," Sakamoto said. "I'm aiming for [the] Los Angeles [Olympics], but for the next two years, I'll focus on freestyle. One goal is to become a NCAA champion."

Sakamoto will, however, return to Japan in the spring for the Meiji Cup All-Japan Championships, the second of the two qualifiers for the World Championships. To help him make the adjustment back to freestyle, he will likely enter the JOC Junior Olympic Cup in April, an U20 tournament in which he placed third this year.

Sakamoto is not the only member of his family with an adventurous streak. Older sister Yu, the world U23 champion at 53kg, is currently a member of the Northern Michigan University team.

Moe KIYOOKA (JPN)Moe KIYOOKA defends against a takedown attempt in the women's 53kg final against Saki YUMIYA. (Photo: Takeo YABUKI / JWF)

Kiyooka gets early start in filling 53kg hole

Four years out from the Los Angeles Olympics, Japanese star and Paris Olympic champion Akari FUJINAMI made a not-so-unexpected announcement that she was moving up to 57kg, starting a scramble to fill the hole at 53kg that she left behind.

Perhaps no one was more affected by the news than Kiyooka, who took no time in staking her claim when she rolled to a 9-0 victory in the 53kg final over Saki YUMIYA on Sunday.

Kiyooka, the younger sister of Paris freestyle 65kg gold medalist Kotaro KIYOOKA, had won the All-Japan title at 55kg the past two years, and mulled over whether it was too early to begin the quest to make Los Angeles at 53kg.

"I considered entering at 55kg right up to the last moment," Kiyooka said. "But consulting with my coach, we decided that because I had won the gold at the World Championships at 55kg, I needed to start thinking about things related to the next Olympics, like cutting weight. It's important to become accustomed to doing that. So I set the goal of winning the title at 53kg here."

She knows she will have plenty of competition ahead, notwithstanding speculation that Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Yui SUSAKI might move up from 50kg to 53kg.

"Including the opponents here, there will be even more strong wrestlers," Kiyooka said. "I need to train to get better so I can be confident when I face them and come out on top."

Kiyooka never has to look far for motivation to seek Olympic glory. She was in Paris as a training partner for Ikuei University teammate Tsugumi SAKURAI, who went on to win the 57kg gold.

"I was glad I could help, but there was also the pain of not being in the Olympics," she said. "But seeing people so close to me succeed has shown me that it's not impossible, which has given me strong motivation."

One shortcoming of her wrestling that she addressed on Sunday was her tendency to be a slow starter. She came firing out in her opening match, winning 10-0.

"As I always say, I never move well in the first match," Kiyooka said. "To overcome that, I concentrated on the opening match. As the matches continued, I got used to it and the final was my most solid match of the day."

In the final, Kiyooka scored two takedowns in each period in outclassing Yumiya, a world U20 bronze medalist this year.

Sara NATAMI (JPN)Sara NATAMI became a three-time national champion by winning the women's 57kg title, her first at an Olympic weight. (Photo: Takeo YABUKI / JWF)

Natami catches up to younger sister with 57kg title

Sara NATAMI has quite a sibling rivalry going on, and Sunday she finally caught up to younger sister Ruka when it comes to competing in an Olympic weight class.

Natami, the 2023 world U23 champion, dominated Ichika ARAI 10-2 in the 57kg final to add to two previous All-Japan titles at 59kg.

"At the Meiji Cup [last June], my younger sister won this weight class," said Natami, who had to skip that tournament due to a knee injury. "I was determined to win the next one and that led to this win.

"I had never won [a national title] at an Olympic weight. My sister beat me to it, and that was frustrating. That was the feeling as I prepared for this."

Natami said the two, an alumni and current student at Shigakkan University, respectively, sometimes practice together, "but it ends up becoming a fight."

Natami's biggest win, however, came in the semifinals, when she stuck two-time reigning champion Sae NANJO for a fall that marked her first-ever victory over her fellow Shigakkan alum and avenged a loss in the same round last year.

"We've faced each other since elementary school and I had never beaten her," Natami said. "Beating Sae was among my goals."

Last year, Natami was leading 5-0 when Nanjo, a two-time world U23 champion, suddenly turned the tide and scored a fall in the final minute.

Kaito INABA (JPN)Kaito INABA celebrates after successfully defending his Greco 60kg title. (Photo: Takeo YABUKI / JWF)

In the other final of the day, Asian silver medalist Kaito INABA successfully defended his Greco 60kg title, scoring a victory by fall with the first scoring move of the final against Yu SHIOTANI.

Shiotani, a world 55kg bronze medalist in 2022, attempted a spinning arm throw that ended with him on his back and Inaba's arm wrapped around his throat. The mat referee was not in a position to see what might be construed as a choke hold and called the fall at 1:24.

Day 4 Results

Freestyle

57kg (24 entries)
GOLD -- Rin SAKAMOTO df. Daito KATSUME, 4-0
BRONZE -- Rikuto ARAI df. Isami TAKATA by TF, 10-0, 1:47
BRONZE -- Kento YUMIYA df. Taketo NINOMIYA, 9-7

Greco-Roman

60kg (14 entries)
GOLD -- Kaito INABA df. Yu SHIOTANI by Fall, 1:24 (3-0)
BRONZE -- Koto GOMI df. Kosei TAKESHITA by TF, 11-1, 4:02
BRONZE -- Keijiro SONE df. Yasuhito MORI, 5-3

Women's Wrestling

53kg (9 entries)
GOLD -- Moe KIYOOKA df. Saki YUMIYA, 9-0
BRONZE -- Haruna MORIKAWA df. Miwa MAGARA, 3-1
BRONZE -- Narumi NAKAMURA df. Mihoko TAKEUCHI, 7-5

57kg (9 entries)
GOLD -- Sara NATAMI df. Ichika ARAI, 10-2
BRONZE -- Ibuki TAMURA df. Iroha FUJIYAMA by Inj. Def., :01
BRONZE -- Sae NANJO df. Miuna KIMURA by Fall, 5:50 (7-4)