#JapanWrestling

Japan star Kawai announces birth of first child

Saturday, May 14, 2022 - 15:04 By Ken Marantz

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TOKYO (May 12)---Japanese star Risako KAWAI (JPN), who has not competed since winning a second straight Olympic title last summer in Tokyo, made a surprising announcement on Instagram that she had recently given birth to her first child.

The 27-year-old Kawai, a three-time world champion who won the Tokyo Olympic gold at 57kg, wrote that she had given birth to a girl on May 10. The baby's name and other details were not included.

Kawai expressed her gratitude to the doctors and medical staff who took her from pregnancy to childbirth and the many people who provided support, adding, "From now, everything I face will be an unknown to me, but I want to grow as a person along with my family."

Kawai's victory in Tokyo came a day after younger sister Yukako won the 62kg title, and the golden sister combination exponentially enhanced their national notoriety. The two became regular guests on talk shows and variety shows, milking the opportunity for all it was worth.

But neither has returned to competition since, and for Risako, the reason has become clear.

Just under a month after her Olympic triumph, Kawai announced on Aug. 27 that she had married Kiryu KINJO (JPN), a former wrestler with the Japan Self-Defense Forces. The two had been going together for five years, and she credited him with motivating her and helping her capture a second Olympic title.

The two are living in Fukui Prefecture, where Kinjo is now a teacher and wrestling coach at his alma mater of Tsuruga Kehi High School. They made no announcement of the pregnancy, and Kawai reportedly returned to her home in neighboring Ishikawa Prefecture to give birth, which is common in Japan.

Kawai, who won the 63kg gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics, had a tough road to winning again in Tokyo. By moving down to 57kg, it put her on a collision course with four-time Olympic champion Kaori ICHO (JPN).

The two went head-to-head four times during the qualifying process that drew world attention, with Kawai winning three times and eventually earning a place on Japan's team to the 2019 World Championships in Nur-Sultan, where she won her third straight world gold and clinched a berth at the Tokyo Olympics.

At a ceremony at the All-Japan Championships last December to honor Japan's Olympic medalists, Kawai expressed her intention to attempt to win a third Olympic title at the 2024 Paris Games.

"I will be 30 years old the year of the Paris [Olympics]," Kawai said at the time. "I'll probably have to put up with more injuries, so I will keep that in mind. I'm going to practice so I can be ready to come back any time. I want to set my goals while keeping tabs on my physical condition."

As expected, the recent birth has kept Kawai out of the upcoming All-Japan Invitational Championships in June, which in turn rules her out of this year's World Championships in Belgrade. Kawai's name was not on the list of entries released Friday by the Japan Wrestling Federation for the tournament, which is the second domestic qualifier for the worlds. 

Sankei Sports, citing an unnamed source, reported that Kawai will aim for the All-Japan Championships in December, which will be the first step in the qualifying process for the Paris Olympics. That tournament will serve as the first qualifier for 2023 World Championships, where the first berths for Paris 2024 will be awarded.

The sports daily said that Kawai's mother Hatsue--a two-time national champion during her wrestling days--will help in taking care of the baby, freeing up time for Risako to train.

Unlike in the past, motherhood is no longer a barrier keeping a woman from continuing their career in sports. Among top wrestlers, four-time Olympic medalist Mariya STADNIK (AZE) has a boy and girl, and Tokyo bronze medalist Vanessa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR) has a son. Adeline GRAY (USA), who won a sixth world title last year in Oslo, is expecting twins.

#WrestleHangzhou

Tazhudinov adds Asian Games title; Iran finishes with 3 golds

Saturday, October 7, 2023 - 11:39 By Vinay Siwach

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LIN'AN, Hangzhou, China (October 7) -- Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) has not been home to Dagestan yet. The world champion is on the road since winning the gold medal in Belgrade, traveling to Bahrain and now to Hangzhou, China for the Asian Games.

If his village Gergebil was planning for a welcome for his world title, it would now need to be a grand one as Tazhudinov added an Asian Games title on Sunday.

After beating Kyle SNYDER (USA) and Abdulrashid SADULAEV (AIN) in back-to-back matches at the World Championships, Tazhudinov had to travel to Bahrain. The much-awaited welcome in Dagestan was postponed with the Asian Games scheduled from October 4-7 in Hangzhou.

And since it's a once-in-a-four- years Games, Tazhudinov decided to give it a shot.

"This tournament is a bit different from others because it happens only once in four years," Tazhudinov said. "That’s why we didn’t take any rest. We didn’t fly to Dagestan. We went directly to Bahrain, rested a little bit, and started the preparations for the Asian Games. And won it."

If the World Championships saw a high-flying Tazhudinov, the Asian Games witnessed a Tazhudinov who was content with scoring points in a much-reserved manner.

Out of his four wins to the gold medal, only one was a fall while others were on points. He defeated Awusayiman HABILA (CHN) 7-3 in the opening bout, pinned Kanybek ABDULKHAIROV (KGZ) in the quarterfinals, and won 6-1 against Juhwan SEO (KOR) in the semifinals.

Wrestling Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) in the final, Tazhudinov put out his best performance with Goleij struggling to break the world champion's defense and giving up two takedowns in Tazhudinov's 6-1.

The 20-year-old had beaten Goleij at the Asian Championships semifinal as well but that victory was much closer as he won 13-8. Tazhudinov explained that wrestling at two tournaments in the space of two weeks made him tired which forced him to change the approach.

"I didn’t have enough time to recover after the World Championships that’s why the games went a bit tough for me," he said.

The gold medal made Tazhudinov the first wrestler from Bahrain to win a medal. Before Hangzhou, Bahrain had only entered wrestling at the Asian Games once, in 2018 when Adam BATIROV (BRN) finished seventh in Jakarta. Tazhudinov also credited his coach Shamil OMAROV for his contribution to the historic achievement.

"My coach is very experienced, he raised a two-time Olympic champion [Sadulaev]," he said. "I learn a lot from him, he supports us and he is always here with us."

For now, both Tazhudinov and Omarov will fly to Dagestan and plan for the next season.

"I haven’t been home yet in Dagestan. But I hope they will meet me there nicely," he said. "I don’t know yet about the next tournament. I just want to rest now."

Hassan YAZDANI (IRI)Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) defeated Deepak PUNIA in the 86kg gold medal bout. (Photo: UWW / Sachiko Hotaka)

Yazdani defends gold

Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) was easily the biggest attraction of the final day in wrestling as Iranian fans cheered every point he scored. And Yazdani was cheered on several occasions as he comfortably defended his 86kg gold medal at the Asian Games beating Deepak PUNIA 10-0, his fourth technical superiority win in four bouts in Hangzhou.

Wrestling two weeks after the World Championships in which he reached the final but suffered a fall against David TAYLOR (USA), Yazdani was once again in top form despite a heavily tapped right shoulder.

After a slow first period with Yazdani being the only active wrestler, the final finished in just 2:29 as Yazdani's gut wrenched Punia.

There were little celebrations from Yazdani as he continued to stress that only an Olympic gold medal would make him celebrate a victory.

"Paris Olympics!," Yazdani said to the waiting media in the mixed zone at the Lin'an Sports Culture and Exhibition Center.

Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI)Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) completed a 7-0 win over Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL). (Photo: UWW / Sachiko Hotaka)

World champion Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) won his first Asian Games gold medal by beating Asian champion Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) 7-0. His high-paced wrestling at this weight makes it extremely difficult for his opponents to remain in the contest.

"His conditioning is very high," Munkhtur said after the final. "The strength part is normal but it's his conditioning which keeps him going for six minutes."

Zare hardly broke a sweat and forced stepout in the final before getting two takedowns to finish the bout.

Zare reclaimed the 125kg world title from Taha AKGUL (TUR) after beating both Akgul and Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) in the semifinals and final in Belgrade.

Yones EMAMI (IRI)Yones EMAMI (IRI) became the Asian Games champion at 74kg. (Photo: UWW / Sachiko Hotaka)

At 74kg, Yones EMAMI (IRI) put away the disappointment of missing out on a medal at the World Championships with the 74kg gold in the Asian Games. Emami defeated Asian Championships silver medalist Kirin KINOSHITA (JPN) 9-0 in the final.

With Iran winning three gold medals on the final day, it emerged as the most successful country at the 19th Asian Games, winning five gold, four silver and one bronze medal. Japan finished second with five gold, three silver and four bronze medals.

In the bronze medal bouts, China and Uzbekistan won two each finish the competition on a high.

Defending champion at 74kg Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB) bounced back after losing to Emami in the semifinal. He pinned Perman HAMMADOV (TKM) to capture his third Asian Games medal.

Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ) beat Magomet EVLOEV (TJK), 4-2, in a tense bout to win the second 74kg bronze.

Javrail SHAPIEV (UZB) added the second bronze of the night to Uzbekistan's tally as he defeated Magomed SHARIPOV (BRN) 3-0. He was joined by Dovletmyrat ORAZGYLYJOV (TKM) on the podium after the Turkmen denied Bat Erdene BYAMBASUREN (MGL), 12-4.

At 97kg, Asian Championships silver medalist Awusayiman HABILA (CHN) managed to hold off Juhwan SEO (KOR) for a 2-1 victory to give the home country a bronze medal on the final day. The other bronze medal went to Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL) who used two big throws to beat Alisher YERGALI (KAZ), 8-1.

More glory was in store for China as BUHEEERDUN (CHN) managed to go past Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ), 5-2. Veteran Aiaal LAZAREV (KGZ) dished out a final-second gut-wrench to beat Khusanboy RAKHIMOV (UZB), 7-6. Lazarev trailed 6-3 but scored a takedown and turned Rakhimov just before the clock expired to win a hard-fought bronze.

Asian GamesThe 86kg medalists at the Asian Games. (Photo: UWW / Sachiko Hotaka)

RESULTS

74kg
GOLD: Yones EMAMI (IRI) df. Kirin KINOSHITA (JPN), 9-0

BRONZE: Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB) df. Perman HOMMADOV (TKM), via fall
BRONZE: Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ) df. Magomet EVLOEV (TJK), 4-2

86kg
GOLD: Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) df. Deepak PUNIA, 10-0

BRONZE: Javrail SHAPIEV (UZB) df. Magomed SHARIPOV (BRN), 3-0
BRONZE: Dovletmyrat ORAZGYLYJOV (TKM) df. Bat Erdene BYAMBASUREN (MGL), 12-4

97kg
GOLD: Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) df. Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI), 6-1

BRONZE: Awusayiman HABILA (CHN) df. Juhwan SEO (KOR), 2-1
BRONZE: Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL) df. Alisher YERGALI (KAZ), 8-1

125kg
GOLD: Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) df. Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL), 7-0

BRONZE: BUHEEERDUN (CHN) df. Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ), 5-2
BRONZE: Aiaal LAZAREV (KGZ) df. Khusanboy RAKHIMOV (UZB), 7-6