Japan Freestyle Squad Gets Together for 1st National Team Camp in Six Months

Tuesday, October 6, 2020 - 15:05 By Ken Marantz

TOKYO -- Save for a short period when his university was completely shut down, former world champion Takuto OTOGURO has been able to keep up a regular practice routine during the global pandemic.

But finally getting to work out with his fellow national team members takes it to another level. It gets the juices flowing, and raises hopes that the day the wrestling world gets back on the mat for competition won't be far off.

"To be here with the national team gathered together makes me feel grateful again," Otoguro said. "I feel motivated looking toward the Olympics."

The Japan national freestyle team started its first training camp in six months on Oct. 1 at the Ajinomoto National Training Center in Tokyo, with 17 of the nation's best converging for the eight-day conclave being held under strict health protocols.

In principle, the top two placewinners at last year's national championships were invited -- a few were excused due to university or company commitments -- as Japan begins preparation for the tentatively scheduled World Championships in December, Asian Championships in February and the Asian Olympic qualifying tournament in March. Whether any or all of the tournaments will be held is still just speculation.

The freestylers, who last got together in March this year, had been scheduled to have a camp in mid-July, following the women and Greco-Roman squads. While the latter two had their camps, freestyle was left in the lurch when a sudden surge of coronavirus cases in Tokyo caused the Japan federation to cancel.

Takuto OTOGURO ties up former Olympic medalist and national team coach Shinichi YUMOTO. (photo by Sachiko Hotaka/JWF)

"So many times we make a schedule and it's canceled, make a schedule and it's canceled," said freestyle head coach Kenji INOUE. "Under these circumstances, it could not be helped."

Scheduling a national team camp is no easy matter. Wrestlers are scattered around the country, and must be released by their university or club teams. Also, the federation needs to get the green light from its medical commission.

"Even if we [in the federation] want to hold this, we cannot do it without the support and cooperation of many people," Inoue said. "And then when we have to cancel after all the planning, all we can do it apologize to them. This time, along with being grateful for their cooperation, we can repay them by having a camp without incident."

Rei HIGUCHI squares off with former Olympic gold medalist and national team coach Tatsuhiro YONEMITSU. (photo by Sachiko Hotaka/JWF)

Following strict protocols

As with the camps held in July, the freestylers face strict regulations over their movements in the "bubble" of the NTC complex. There are limits on how many can be in the weight room at any one time. In the dining room, they are urged to sit diagonally across from each other, not face to face. Contact with the outside world is limited to an occasional run to the local convenience store.

Upon entering the wrestling room, they have their temperature taken, and sanitize not only their hands, but the bottom of their wrestling shoes. Each wrestler has taken a PCR test for the coronavirus; all came up negative.

"The teams did what they could and each individual did what he could," Inoue said. "I don't know if other countries did the same, but there's no anxiety on our part."

Otoguro has been somewhat fortunate in that Yamanashi Prefecture, where he attends Yamanashi Gakuin University, has been largely spared the brunt of the pandemic. Through Oct. 3, the prefecture west of Tokyo had just 194 cases and six deaths, compared to Tokyo with 26,376 and 411, respectively. As a whole, Japan has had about 1,600 deaths.

Otoguro and older brother Keisuke are the only Japanese in freestyle who have secured berths at the Tokyo Olympics, which were postponed a year to 2021. Takuto, the 2018 world gold medalist, earned his place at 65kg by finishing fifth at last year's World Championships, while Keisuke filled the 74kg spot by winning a domestic playoff, having moved up from 70kg.

Keisuke Otoguro had a slightly better situation coming into camp as he is a member of the Self-Defense Force Physical Training School team, which offers a high level of competition and ordinarily operates within a bubble of its own.

For inspiration, he has to look no farther than the team coaches, three of whom have won Olympic medals. Not only that, but Inoue (bronze, Athens 2004), Tatsuhiro YONEMITSU (gold, London 2012) and Shinichi YUMOTO (bronze, London 2012) are also on the national team staff.

"I am learning from wrestlers with the great experience of having won Olympic medals," Otoguro said. "I think that can be a big advantage for me."

His brother and Rei HIGUCHI, the Rio 2016 silver medalist at 57kg who will try to earn a spot in Tokyo in that weight class at the Asian qualifier, both got to see first hand how the coaches have not lost much since their active days.

Takuto Otoguro had the weight advantage in sparring with Yumoto, who wrestled at 55kg in his prime. But Higuchi faced the opposite situation in squaring off with Yonemitsu, who certainly looks like he would quickly get up to speed if he ever decided to return to competition.

"I have so much I can learn," Higuchi said of facing the muscular Yonemitsu, who has added bulk to the frame that triumphed in London at 66kg. "Naturally, there is a bit of a size difference. I need to overcome that. I'm the type that hates to lose, so it was very tough to take. I don't consider that the situation is hopeless."

Still, he is grateful for being back on the national team, as it gives him the chance for such encounters.

"If I'm not here, I don't have a chance [to wrestle] with Yonemitsu or Yumoto. It's fun, but it's also frustrating. This week, I'll do what I can to beat them."

Keisuke OTOGURO works on a takedown. (photo by Sachiko Hotaka/JWF)

Tough decision ahead

Higuchi had originally tried to make the Olympic team at 65kg, but couldn't get past Otoguro. He then dropped down two weight classes to 57kg to challenge former world champion Yuki TAKAHASHI, and defeated him in the final of the Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships last December to earn a ticket to the Asian Olympic qualifier.

He hit a bump in the road when a cluster of infections broke out among the wrestlers at Nippon Sport Science University, his alma mater where he continues to train and serves as a graduate assistant. While it was not revealed whether Higuchi was among those infected, he said he made the best of the situation.

"Because of the coronavirus, the amount of practice was reduced," Higuchi said. "I went back home and had a lot of time off. I felt refreshed with a renewed sense of commitment. So it wasn't so bad."

Veteran Sosuke TAKATANI, a two-time Olympian and 2014 world silver medalist at 74kg who will try to make the Tokyo Games at 86kg, also had his training curtailed. But he is unperturbed about the long span between national team camps, which also saw the cancelation of all competition.

"I don't feel concerned at all," Takatani said. "Everyone in the country has to overcome this crisis. It's not a matter of, they did this or we couldn't do that. I'll just do what I can to get ready for the next competion."

What that competition will be is still up in the air, but even in the best-case scenario, Japan's top wrestlers will be forced to make a difficult decision.

The World Championships, normally held in September, have been scheduled for Dec. 12-20 in Belgrade. But that directly overlaps with the All-Japan Championships, which are slated for Dec. 17-20.

Normally, the team for the World Championships would be decided based on the results from the Emperor's Cup in December and the Meiji Cup All-Japan Invitational Championships in May or June. But the latter was canceled this year, and a Japan federation official said the winners at the Emperor's Cup will be given preference for places on the team to Belgrade. Some, however, may opt to stay in Japan for the Emperor's Cup, which will be their prerogative.

Takatani did not hesitate in saying he will opt for Belgrade. "My goal is to be No. 1 in the world, so if I'm given the chance, I want to definitely win the gold medal," he said, even though missing the Emperor's Cup would end his streak of nine consecutive national titles.

Both Takuto Otoguro and Higuchi said they are undecided at this point.

"I have to talk to my coach, I don't know now," said Otoguro, whose most recent competition was a gold-medal run at the Asian Championships in New Dehli in February. "Tokyo is the goal, that's the standard. Whatever tournament I enter before then, I'll aim to win the title."

Higuchi is playing it by ear as well, leaving it undecided at the moment but assuring he will be on the mat for one of them.

"It will depend on the timing of how I feel in terms of getting back my match sense," he said.

The women and Greco-Roman national teams will hold camps from Oct. 20 and 21, respectively.

#wrestlebishkek

Susaki Marks Post-Paris Reformation with Asian Gold

Thursday, April 9, 2026 - 18:51 By Ken Marantz

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 9) -- To hear Yui SUSAKI (JPN) speak of it, she is a new version of the wrestler who had stormed to every major title on offer before her unexpected and devastating downfall at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Having made serious changes to both her lifestyle and wrestling style in the ensuing years, she made a golden return in her first international competition since Paris.

Susaki made sure there would be no lapses or surprises when she defeated Son Hyang KIM (PRK) 6-0 in the women’s 50kg final at the Asian Championships on Thursday in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

“I’m genuinely happy, and I’m so glad to be back here and to have won,” Susaki said. “After Paris was over, I experienced various setbacks and I made various changes over the two years. The results of my new lifestyle in the two years since Paris and the daily practice I put in all came out in the four matches at these Asian Championships.”

In the four other women’s finals on the fourth day of competition, the host country had mixed results, as Olympic silver medalist Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) won the gold in a stacked 68kg division, while Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) stunned defending champion Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) at 76kg.

The powerful Japanese squad had three other finalists besides Susaki, but only got a title from teenager Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) at 55kg, while Mengyu XIE (CHN) triumphed at 59kg for her first Asian gold.

Yui SUSAKI (JPN) hits a leg-attack on Son Hyang KIM (PRK) during the 50kg final at the Asian Championships. (Photo: Untied World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Susaki had established herself as one of the new faces of the sport in the wake of the retirements of legends Saori YOSHIDA (JPN) and Kaori ICHO (JPN) with her triumph at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

That victory had made her the founding member of the “Golden Grand Slam” club for those who had won an Olympic gold as well as titles on all four levels of World Championships – senior, U23, U20 and U17.

But leading up to the defense of her Olympic title in Paris, she had shown chinks in the armor, first with some near-misses at the 2024 Asian Championships, which she still won but in less-than-convincing fashion.

It then all came crashing down at the Champs de Mars Arena, where she was dealt a stunning last-second loss by Vinesh PHOGAT (IND), marking her first-ever loss to a non-Japanese wrestler. Susaki ended up taking home a bronze, but that was small consolation.

After taking some time off, Susaki decided that some changes were in order, from altering her diet to make cutting weight easier to revising her match strategy.

“Along with Vinesh in Paris, I also learned much from my first-round match against the DPR Korean [Yong Ok HWANG] at the Asian Championships before Paris,” Susaki said, referring to an unusually difficult victory. “After that, I lost at the National Games [to Moe KIYOOKA], making it really a difficult two years.

“But thanks to those experiences, I have grown considerably. I definitely want to win the gold at the Los Angeles Olympics, and taking it one step at a time, I will take each title along the way.”

An emotional Yui SUSAKI (JPN) at the medal ceremony. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

The final at the Zhastyk Arena on Thursday, which brought her to tears on the medal podium, was a reunion of sorts. Susaki and Kim had faced each twice way back in 2017, first in the final at the Asian Championships and again in the semifinals of the World Championships. Susaki won both encounters.

Given her Paris experience, Susaki knew she could not underestimate Kim, and set up her moves deliberately and without anxiousness. She broke through with a go-behind takedown in the first period, then added a stepout for a 3-0 lead.

In the second period, Susaki got in deep on a tackle, but could only manage a stepout, then padded the lead with a snapdown takedown to make it 6-0. Down the stretch, she kept calm and on alert as Kim tied up, looking for an opportunity for a last-ditch throw that never came.

“It’s been nine years since I faced Kim Son Hyang, so it’s been quite awhile,” Susaki said. “She has achieved good results. I think I myself have changed and grown a lot over these past nine years.”

Susaki seemed unconcerned about a potential future encounter with the current world 50kg champion, Myong Gyong WON (PRK).

“The country and the opponent does not matter,” she said. “My objective is to assure I win by giving 100 percent.”

Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) won her second Asian title. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 68kg, Zhumanazarova spun behind for a first-period takedown and held on for a 2-1 victory over Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN), last year’s world and Asian champion at 65kg who has moved up to the Olympic weight.

The victory gave Zhumanazarova her second Asian gold, after previously winning in 2021, and fifth medal overall.

“This is my second gold medal at the Asian Championships, but it means just as much to me as the first one,” Zhumanazarova said. “I’m just as happy, because I’ve worked very hard for it and this is the result.”

Like Susaki and Kim, Zhumanazarova and Morikawa have a history that goes back some time. The two had met in the quarterfinals of the 2016 World Cadet (U17) Championships, where Morikawa won 4-0 en route to the silver medal. Zhumanazarova took a bronze.

Since then, they have both achieved varying levels of success. Zhumanazarova has two Olympic medals, including a bronze from Tokyo, and a world title from 2021. Morikawa has medals from five consecutive World Championships from 2021 to 2025, including two golds, and two Asian titles.

Morikawa needed to beat reigning world champion Ami ISHII (JPN) at the Japan national championships just to make the team to Bishkek.

Davaansan ENKH AMAR (MGL) defeated home favorite Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) in the 76kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

While the home crowd was still buzzing over Zhumanazarova’s win, compatriot Medet Kyzy was dealt a come-from-behind 4-2 loss by Enkh Amar in the 76kg final.

With no real attacks and lots of mutual pushing, Medet Kyzy had taken a 2-0 lead on an activity point in the first period and a face-shoving penalty in the second. After Enkh Amar received an activity point, the match finally started to heat up in the final minute.

Enkh Amar used a headlock to get Medet Kyzy off balance and slipped behind her with the two on their feet, then proceeded to march her over the edge for a stepout with :13 left. Medet Kyzy’s lack of a resistance led to a 1-point fleeing penalty to put the Mongolian ahead 3-2.

“I was very calm, and my coach also said to me to stay very calm, and that's why I made the correct decision at the last moment,” said Enkh Amar, the 2023 world silver medalist at 72kg.

As the clock ticked down, Medet Kyzy powered Enkh Amar to the edge and slammed her to the mat, sending the crowd into a frenzy. But the move failed to beat the clock, and an unsuccessful challenge made the final score 4-2.

Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN), red, turns Yuxuan LI (CHN) during the 55kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

In the 55kg final, Japan’s Uchida spotted Yuxuan LI (CHN) a six-point lead, only to storm back for a 10-6 victory that relegated the Chinese to a silver medal for the second straight year.

Li gained a takedown off a counter and proceeded with two gut wrenches. But on an attempt at a third, Uchida stepped over for a 2-point exposure.

Uchida’s next attack hit the mark for a single-leg takedown, to which she added two rolls of her own for an 8-6 lead. Uchida then sewed up the victory with a takedown for the lone points of the second period.

“Right away, I gave up a go-behind takedown and she rolled me, so I was really panicking,” Uchida said. “It made me uneasy that I couldn’t finish off my single-leg tackle, which is my specialty, and I gave up points off of it.

“But I have a variety of moves, and I know the hardships I went through to get here. I believed in myself and remembered to keep attacking to the end.”

Uchida said that when she noticed her opponent appeared to be running out of gas, she applied more pressure.

“I realized that my opponent was getting winded and even though it was tough for me, too, mentally I was feeling a bit at ease,” she said. “Even though I came back, it was still only a two-point difference. I made sure not to let up through the end.”

For the 19-year-old Uchida, a recent world U17 and U20 champion who had to settle for a bronze medal at last year’s World Championships in her first major senior-level tournament, the win in Bishkek had special meaning.

“I definitely wanted to win my first [major] senior tournament, but I lost convincingly at the World Championships in September,” Uchida said. “It was really tough to take, so I was really determined to win here.

“This is my last international tournament as a teenager, so I really wanted to finish with a win. Even if it was messy, I just wanted to be able to smile at the end.”

Mengyu XIE (CHN) won the 59kg gold medal with an 8-6 victory over Sena NAGAMOTO (JPN). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At 59kg, China’s Xie won her first Asian gold by surviving a fierce battle with Sena NAGAMOTO (JPN), hanging on for an 8-6 victory after holding a five-point lead in the second period.

“I know the opponent, the Japanese wrestler is very strong and tough,” Xie said. “I knew it would be a difficult final, but I didn't put too much burden on my shoulders. I just followed my mood and tactics and what the coach told me to do.”

Xie, a bronze medalist last year, struck first with a duck under for a takedown, but Nagamoto used a low single for a takedown in the final seconds of the first period to make it 2-2.

Xie broke the match open with a stepout and two takedowns to lead 7-2, but Nagamoto was not prepared to give up the fight. The 2023 world U23 silver medalist gained a 2-point exposure from a reverse headlock, which Xie slipped out of for a reversal.

Nagamoto picked up a late takedown, but Xie held on for the win.“I needed to be more careful to do all the actions because the opponent will try her best to attack,” Xie said. “But I cannot only think about defense, but also find a chance to do counterattack or attack.”

Xie, who also has a world 55kg bronze won in 2022, reveled in triumphing in her first trip to a major final.

“I never had this experience before,” she said. “It’s the first time in the final and I won gold the first time. So it’s like a dream.”

Returning champion at 68kg, Zelu LI (CHN) had to settle for a bronze medal in Bishkek. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

All 5 Chinese make medal podium

Zelu LI (CHN), dethroned as the 68kg champion by Zhumanazarova in the semifinals, was among a trio of Chinese who won bronze-medal matches to ensure that all five of the country’s wrestlers made it to the podium on Thursday.

Li, a 2025 world bronze medalist at 72kg, had little trouble rolling to a 10-0 victory in 1:25 against an overmatched Thi Linh DANG (VIE) to take home a 68kg bronze.

Li twice combined a takedown with two rolls – using an intriguing technique in which she locked Dang’s heel against the back of her leg in lieu of the more common lace lock.

In the other 68kg match, Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) picked up her second straight bronze and fifth Asian medal overall by ending what had been a close match with Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ) with a fall 47 seconds into the second period.

With the score tied 1-1, Enkhsaikhan powered the 37-year-old Shalygina straight to her back and secured the fall, denying the veteran another major medal in a vast collection that includes a bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

At 50kg, Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) denied Sri Lanka its first-ever Asian medal, scoring an activity point and a takedown off a barrel roll in the first period to edge Nipuni HEWA PEDIGE (SRI) 3-0. Hewa Pedige became the fourth wrestler overall and second woman from the island nation to make it to a bronze-medal match, and the fourth to come away empty-handed.

Olympic bronze medalist Ziqi FENG (CHN) earned her third career Asian medal by taking the other 50kg bronze with a quick 10-0 win over Maral TANGIRBERGENOVA (KAZ), scoring a takedown and four rolls in 1:16.

At 76kg, Wenji LI (CHN) secured China’s third bronze of the night, scoring a takedown and three stepouts in a 5-0 victory over Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE).

Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA (KAZ) became a five-time Asian bronze medalist – dating back to 2015 – when she defeated Eunju HWANG (KOR) 5-1 for the other 76kg bronze.

The 30-year-old Yerkebayeva scored a takedown in the first period and added another in the last 10 seconds of the match to clinch the victory.

The wildest match of the day came at 59kg, in which Ulmeken ESENBAEVA (UZB) squandered a nine-point lead to fall behind by three points, only to throw down Sezim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) and secure a fall with 23 seconds left.

Esenbaeva had a 4-point takedown as she raced to a 9-0 lead in the first period. But Zhumanazarova came to life, scoring a takedown and then piling up points in a scramble that included a 2-point penalty against Esebaeva for grabbing the head. When the dust was cleared on challenge, Zhumanazarova had a 12-9 lead at the break.

In the second period, Esenbaeva cut the gap with a backwards trip for a takedown. With time running out, she secured a headlock and took Zhumanazorova to her back for a 13-12 lead that became irrelevant when the fall was confirmed.

The other 59kg match has its share of drama as well, as NEHA (IND) rallied from a 4-1 deficit with second-period surge that gave her a 10-4 victory over two-time Asian medalist Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL).

Neha won her first Asian medal after moving up to 59kg, having finished second at the Zagreb Ranking Series at 57kg, the weight class in which she won a world U17 gold and U23 bronze in 2024.

That was India’s second bronze of the night, after Hansika LAMBA (IND) scored all of her points in the second period of a 6-1 victory over 2024 bronze medalist Aruuke KADYRBEK KYZY (KGZ) at 55kg.

Ariunzaya ODONCHIMEG (MGL) received the other 55kg bronze when Jeongbin OH (KOR) defaulted due to injury.

Day 4 Results

Women’s Wrestling

50kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Yui SUSAKI (JPN) df. Son Hyang KIM (PRK), 6-0

BRONZE: Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) df. Nipuni HEWA PEDIGE (SRI), 3-0
BRONZE: Ziqi FENG (CHN) df. Maral TANGIRBERGENOVA (KAZ) by TS, 10-0, 1:16

53kg (11 entries)
SF 1: Jin ZHANG (CHN) df. Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) by Fall, 2:33 (2-2)
SF2: MEENAKSHI (IND) df. Seoyoung PARK (KOR), 4-2

55kg (8 entries)
GOLD: Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) df. Yuxuan LI (CHN), 10-6

BRONZE: Ariunzaya ODONCHIMEG (MGL) df. Jeongbin OH (KOR) by Inj. Def.
BRONZE: Hansika LAMBA (IND) df. Aruuke KADYRBEK KYZY (KGZ), 6-1

57kg (11 entries)
SF 1: Kexin HONG (CHN) df. Youngjin KWON (KOR) by TS, 10-0, :30
SF2: Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) df. Sara NATAMI (JPN) by Fall, 3:20 (8-1)

59kg (8 entries)
GOLD: Mengyu XIE (CHN) df. Sena NAGAMOTO (JPN), 8-6

BRONZE: NEHA (IND) df. Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL), 10-4
BRONZE: Ulmeken ESENBAEVA (UZB) df. Sezim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) by Fall, 5:37 (13-12)

62kg (11 entries)
SF 1: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) df. Nigina SABIROVA (UZB) by Fall, 1:55 (8-0)
SF2: Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK) df. Tynys DUBEK (KAZ) by TS, 11-0, 3:20

65kg (9 entries)
SF 1: LILI (CHN) df. Firuza ESENBAEVA (UZB) by Fall, 2:09 (4-0)
SF2: Nana IKEHATA (JPN) df. Hanbit LEE (KOR), 4-0

68kg (10 entries)
GOLD: Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) df. Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN), 2-1

BRONZE: Zelu LI (CHN) df. Thi Linh DANG (VIE) by TS, 10-0, 1:25
BRONZE: Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) df. Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ) by Fall, 3:47 (3-1)

72kg (8 entries)
SF 1: Jia LONG (CHN) df. Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) by TS, 11-1, 4:31
SF2: Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN) df. HARSHITA (IND) by Fall, 5:59 (7-2)

76kg (9 entries)
GOLD: Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) df. Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) 4-2

BRONZE: Wenji LI (CHN) df. Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE), 5-0
BRONZE: Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA (KAZ) df. Eunju HWANG (KOR), 5-1

Japan Freestyle Squad Gets Together for 1st National Team Camp in Six Months

Comments

Susaki Marks Post-Paris Reformation with Asian Gold