Morikawa reigns at 68kg, all but shatters Kawai's Olympic quest

Friday, June 16, 2023 - 15:17 By Ken Marantz

TOKYO (June 16) -- When the dust settled on the battle royale that is the women's 68kg division of Japanese wrestling, it was Miwa MORIKAWA who emerged unscathed, while Yukako KAWAI's dream of a second straight Olympic gold was left in tatters.

Morikawa defeated Kawai in the final at the Meiji Cup All-Japan Championships on Friday, a victory in the second of Japan's domestic qualifiers for this year's World Championships that refortifies her own chances of ultimately making it to the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Morikawa preceded her 3-0 win over the Tokyo Olympic champion at 62kg by knocking off world silver medalist Ami ISHII 8-5 in the semifinals, which avenged a loss to her last December in the final at the Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships, the first of the world team qualifiers.

"A half-year ago I lost, and I came to get revenge at this tournament," said Morikawa, the reigning world 65kg champion who had moved up to the Olympic weight class. "I kept in mind that if I lost this time, there would be no Paris."

Winners at both the Emperor's Cup and Meiji Cup earn a place on Japan's team to the World Championships in September in Belgrade, where in the Olympic weight classes, a medal will also mean an automatic ticket to the Paris Olympics. If the winners are different, the two will face off in a playoff slated for July 1.

Morikawa's triumph puts her into a playoff with Ishii, who had beaten her 5-2 at the Emperor's Cup. "I am now back at the start line with Ishii. If I don't win again, it all means nothing," Morikawa said.

Among those booking tickets to Belgrade was world 59kg bronze medalist Sakura MOTOKI, who repeated her triumph at the Emperor's Cup in the equally stacked women's 62kg class by beating Yuzuka INAGAKI in the final.

Brothers Hayato and Takashi ISHIGURO will also be on the plane to Belgrade. Hayato won the freestyle 86kg crown by handing veteran Sohsuke TAKATANI his first loss to a Japanese wrestler in a decade, and elder sibling Takashi followed by triumphing at 97kg.

Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) Miwa MORIKAWA celebrates after beating Emperor's Cup champion Ami ISHII in the 68kg semifinal. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation / Takeo Yabuki)

The women's 68kg class got a little more crowded for the Meiji Cup when Kawai, the Tokyo Olympic champion at 62kg, made the surprising jump up to the next Olympic weight after falling to Motoki in the 62kg semifinals at the Emperor's Cup.

Kawai seemed to be managing the extra weight when she finished unbeaten in three matches in her round-robin Nordic group on Thursday -- including a 4-4 victory over Morikawa -- then advanced to the final earlier Friday with a 4-3 victory over the three-time world 72kg medalist Masako FURUICHI.

But the final played out differently, as Morikawa scored an activity point and a double-leg takedown in the first period, then held off Kawai's attacks for a 3-0 victory.

"I've faced her a few times and I had never beaten her," Morikawa said. "This time, I wanted revenge on everyone. I came in with a positive attitude."

Kawai occasionally broke down in tears as she reflected on her bold performance. "I lost, but I gave it my all," said Kawai, whose older sister and fellow Olympic champion Risako KINJO will begin her quest at 57kg on Saturday.

"It was my first time in this weight class. When I look back at how I had wanted to run away and quit, I think it's something that I made it this far."

Morikawa was motivated by her loss at the Emperor's Cup and the harsh love meted out by her coaches, who include four-time Olympic champion Kaori ICHO.

"After the final, [Icho] said, 'You fought well.' She never normally says that," Morikawa said. "At the Emperor's Cup, I didn't move like I usually do and the coaches were especially brutal in their comments. I realized that to win here, if I don't use my strengths, it would be a waste. I thought I have to give everything and be at my best to win, and I was able to do it."

Kawai still has a slim chance to get to Paris, but it is predicated on whoever goes to Belgrade not coming home with a medal. The odds would seem against her, as Japan's women won medals in four of the six Olympic weight classes at the 2019 World Championships that served as the first qualifier for the Tokyo Olympics.

Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) Sakura MOTOKI confirmed her spot at 62kg for the World Championships by winning the Meiji Cup. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation / Takeo Yabuki)

Motoki has been dreaming of going to the Olympics since she started wrestling as a toddler, hoping to emulate her father Yasutoshi, who competed at the 2000 Sydney Olympics at Greco 63kg.

"From when I started wrestling when I was little, I have been aiming at the Olympics," the 22- year-old Motoki said. "Everything my coach taught me when I was in elementary school, what my high school coach said, and my coach at Ikuei University, it all culminated in today's result."

Motoki also has some unfinished business at the World Championships, as she still feels the sting of settling for a bronze medal last year in Belgrade, where she was dealt a 7-5 loss in the semifinals by Anastasia NICHITA (MDA).

"Last year, I lost at the World Championships, but I learned a lot from it, and I am determined not to make the same mistakes again," she said.

Motoki scored a takedown followed by a two-point roll in each period to cruise to an 8-2 victory in the final against Yuzuka INAGAKI, who had pulled off a stunning upset of world champion Nonoka OZAKI in the semifinals.

Ozaki, who returned to the mat to take home a bronze medal, said that she will likely try to earn a ticket to the World Championships in a non-Olympic weight class.

According to Japan Wrestling Federation rules, any wrestler who finishes in the top two of an Olympic weight class but does not qualify in that division for Belgrade can opt to challenge for a place in a non-Olympic weight. Those playoffs will be held on July 17.

Hayato ISHIGURO handed Sohsuke TAKATANI his first domestic loss in a decade to win at 86kg. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation / Takeo Yabuki)

The Ishiguro brothers can be content with not having to concern themselves with the playoffs after both put on masterful performances to clinch their world places outright.

Hayato Ishiguro, coming off a bronze-medal finish at the Asian Championships in April, scored a takedown and a stepout in the first period, and that was enough to top Takatani 3-0 in the 86kg final.

The 34-year-old Takatani had won his 12th straight Emperor's Cup over four weight classes in December at 92kg but dropped to 86kg in an attempt to make a fourth career Olympics. The 2014 world silver medalist at 74kg, Takatani had not lost to a Japanese opponent since the National Games in October 2013.

"I had faced him several times but I had never beaten him," Ishiguro said. "I had beaten foreign wrestlers who had beaten him and that boosted my confidence, but I still never beat him. Finally, I have topped him, and that makes me feel a mix of relief and joy."

Ishiguro then watched as older sibling Takashi, an Asian bronze medalist in 2021, follow up with a 4-1 victory in the 97kg final over Taira SONODA. Like Hayato, Takashi scored all of his points in the first period, combining a takedown and gut wrench after giving up an activity point.

"I was focused on myself [during the tournament] and didn't see much of his matches, but my final was first so I was able to see his match," Hayato said. "When he won the title, I was happy because it means we can both compete at the World Championships."

In another final, 2022 Asian bronze medalist Katsuaki ENDO avenged a loss in the Emperor's Cup final to Kyotaro SOGABE, this year's Asian silver medalist, by scoring a two-point exposure in his second attempt at par terre for a 3-3 victory on last-point criteria in the Greco-Roman 67kg gold medal bout. The two will go at it again in the July 1 playoff.

Fujinami, Higuchi win away from worlds

The Olympic weight classes are being run over two days, and two of Japan's top medal hopes for Belgrade, but with eyes firmly on Paris, advanced to their respective finals.

Former world champion Akari FUJINAMI followed up her historic victory over Tokyo Olympic champion Mayu SHIDOCHI (formerly MUKAIDA) in the quarterfinals by advancing to the women's 53kg final on Saturday with a victory by fall over Karen SASAKI.

Her two victories stretched Fujinami's current winning streak to 121 matches in a row dating back to her junior high school days in 2017. While she says she has little interest in it, the Japanese media is quick to note she has surpassed the 119-match winning streak put together by three-time Olympic champion and fellow Mie Prefecture native Saori YOSHIDA from December 2001 to January 2008.

Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) Moe KIYOOKA overcame two-time world champion Haruna OKUNO in the 53kg semifinal. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation / Takeo Yabuki)

Fujinami's opponent in the final will be fellow 19-year-old Moe KIYOOKA, who gained one of the biggest scalps of her career by knocking off two-time former world champion Haruna OKUNO 4-2 in the other semifinal.

Kiyooka, who is one month and two days Fujinami's senior, has recently established herself as Japan's top wrestler at 55kg, winning both the world U20 and U23 golds and the Emperor's Cup in 2022. Her dropping down to 53kg for the Meiji Cup only added to an already stacked weight class.

Fujinami had moved halfway to Belgrade by beating Okuno in the final of the Emperor's Cup, where Okuno defeated Shidochi. Fujinami all but closed the door to Paris for Shidochi with her victory by fall on Friday in the first-ever meeting between the titans.

Looking ahead to the final, Fujinami commented, "If I don't win tomorrow, it means nothing," Fujinami said. "Winning in Paris is my ultimate goal."

Also moving closer to completing the Emperor's Cup-Meiji Cup double was Rei HIGUCHI, who is in his second Olympic cycle of trying to make up for his disappointing silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Higuchi, the 2022 world champion at freestyle 61kg, has returned to the Olympic weight class of 57kg and -- despite an everlasting struggle to make weight -- advanced to Saturday's final, where he will face Yudai FUJITA.

Higuchi chalked up a 10-5 semifinal victory over Toshihiro HASEGAWA, a 2021 world bronze medalist at 61kg who was the defending Meiji Cup champion.

"I really struggled with losing weight, and that's why I gave up five points in the semifinals," Higuchi said. "I'll focus on the task at hand in the final. I am thinking only of winning."

Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Shohei YABIKU kept his hopes alive of making it to Belgrade by advancing to the Greco 77kg final with a 5-1 victory over Minto MAEDA. He will face world U23 bronze medalist Nao KUSAKA.

Yabiku came up short at the Emperor's Cup after suffering a right knee injury 10 days before the competition. He has since had surgery, but his range of motion remains limited and he said he has to adjust his techniques.

A victory on Saturday would put Yabiku into a playoff with Emperor's Cup champion and two-time Asian bronze medalist Kodai SAKURABA, who was dealt a 5-1 loss in the quarterfinals by Maeda.

Day 2 Results

Freestyle

57kg (13 entries)
Semifinal -- Rei HIGUCHI df. Toshihiro HASEGAWA, 10-5
Semifinal -- Yudai FUJITA df. Yuto NISHIUCHI, 2-1

74kg (14 entries)
Semifinal -- Daichi TAKATANI df. Masaki SATO, 10-5
Semifinal -- Jintaro KINOSHITA df. Yuto MIWA, 2-1

86kg (12 entries)
GOLD -- Hayato ISHIGURO df. Sohsuke TAKATANI, 3-0

BRONZE -- Tatsuya SHIRAI df. Mao OKUI, 7-1
BRONZE -- Fumiya IGARASHI df. Yudai TAKAHASHI, 9-7

97kg (9 entries)
GOLD -- Takashi ISHIGURO df. Taira SONODA, 4-1

BRONZE -- Keivan YOSHIDA df. Hiroto NINOMIYA, 7-5
BRONZE -- Nariya MARUYAMA df. Hibiki ITO by Def.

125kg (4 entries)
GOLD -- Taiki YAMAMOTO (3-0)
SILVER-- Yuji FUKUI (2-1)
BRONZE -- Takuto YASUDA (1-2)

Key match: Taiki YAMAMOTO df. Yuji FUKUI, 2-1 in 3rd round

Greco-Roman

63kg (9 entries)
GOLD -- Ryuto IKEDA df. Chiezo MARUYAMA, 1-1

BRONZE -- Yamato HAGIWARA df. Komei SAWADA, 1-1
BRONZE -- Ryuta KOSHIBA df. Godai MITANI, 8-1

Semifinal -- Chiezo MARUYAMA df. Yamato HAGIWARA by TF, 10-2, 3:42
Semifinal -- Ryuto IKEDA df. Godai MITANI, 5-1

67kg (13 entries)
GOLD -- Katsuaki ENDO df. Kyotaro SOGABE, 3-3

BRONZE -- Ryoma HOJO df. Kensuke SHIMIZU by Def.
BRONZE -- Taishi NARIKUNI df. Yuji UEGAKI, 8-2

77kg (11 entries)
Semifinal -- Shohei YABIKU df. Minto MAEDA, 5-1
Semifinal -- Nao KUSAKA df. Tatsuya FUJII, 7-1

87kg (6 entries)
GOLD -- So SAKABE df. Masato SUMI, 1-1

BRONZE -- Kanta SHIOKAWA df. Daisei ISOE by Fall, 1:26 (4-0)

Semifinal -- Masato SUMI df. Daisei ISOE by TF, 8-0, 1:47
Semifinal -- So SAKABE df . Kanta SHIOKAWA, 5-1

97kg (8 entries)
Semifinal -- Yuta NARA df. Kyo KITAWAKI, TF, 8-0, 1;55
Semifinal -- Yuri NAKAZATO df. Masayuki AMANO, 5-0

130kg (6 entries)
GOLD -- Sota OKUMURA df. Shion OBATA, 1-1

BRONZE -- Koei YAMADA df. Naoto YAMAGUCHI, 2-0

Semifinal -- Sota OKUMURA df. Koei YAMADA by TF, 9-0, 1:59
Semifinal -- Shion OBATA df. Naoto YAMAGUCHI, 4-0

Women

53kg (12 entries)
Semifinal -- Akari FUJINAMI df. Karen SASAKI by Fall, 1:55 (6-1)
Semifinal -- Moe KIYOOKA df. Haruna OKUNO, 4-2

59kg (10 entries)
GOLD -- Sena NAGAMOTO df. Himeka TOKUHARA, 6-3

BRONZE -- Yui SAKANO df. Kanami YAMAUCHI by TF, 9-0, 4:32
BRONZE -- Miyu NAKANISHI df. Sakura YAMAJI, 8-0

Semifinal -- Sena NAGAMOTO df. Yui SAKANO, 6-2
Semifinal -- Himeka TOKUHARA df. Miyu NAKANISHI, 3-0

62kg (13 entries)
GOLD -- Sakura MOTOKI df. Yuzuka INAGAKI, 8-2

BRONZE -- Naomi RUIKE df. Ayana GEMPEI, 5-0
BRONZE -- Nonoka OZAKI df. Suzu SASAKI, TF, 10-0, 4:13

68kg (7 entries)
GOLD -- Miwa MORIKAWA df. Yukako KAWAI, 3-0

BRONZE -- Ami ISHII df. Masako FURUICHI, 5-3

Semifinal -- Miwa MORIKAWA df. Ami ISHII, 8-5
Semifinal -- Yukako KAWAI df. Masako FURUICHI, 4-3

#wrestlebishkek, #WrestleParis

Ageless Abdurakhmonov gains ticket to Paris 2024, third Olympics

Friday, April 19, 2024 - 17:09 By Ken Marantz

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 19) -- Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB) had to battle the altitude, the home crowd and a determined opponent. The Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist showed his 34-year-old body could still work its wonders.

Abdurakhmonov earned a ticket to his third straight Olympics with a masterful 6-0 victory over home favorite Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ) at 74kg as the freestyle quotas for Paris were decided at the Asian Olympic Qualifier on Friday in Bishkek.

"This win is not just mine," said Abdurakhmonov, who has two Asian golds and two world bronze medals from the last decade to his credit. "Wrestling is such a tough sport that it is not just you. You need the whole team, country to push you forward, to do better. I am very blessed to have these fans and friends, teammates, coaches and people at my home. So I am very excited."

Combined with a one-sided victory earlier at 57kg by Tokyo Olympian Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB), Uzbekistan was one of six nations that evenly split the 12 available tickets to Paris with two each and now has three Olympic places overall.

The others winning two quotas were Iran, host Kyrgyzstan, Japan, Kazakhstan and Mongolia.

Iran has now filled five of the six freestyle weight classes with just the World Olympic Qualifier in May remaining.

Bekzod ABDURAKHAMONOV (UZB) clashes with Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ) in the 74kg Paris qualification bout. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

In a clash between the bronze medalists at last October's Asian Games, Abdurakhmonov came out firing from the opening whistle to score a single-leg takedown which, despite lifting Toktomambekov full into the air and slamming him to the mat, was good only for two points. No matter, because Abdurakhmonov secured a high chest lock and easily rolled Toktomambekov for a 4-0 lead.

In the second period, Toktomambetov, who is 11 years Abdurakhmonov's junior, got in on a deep single, but Abdurakhmonov doesn't concede points easily. He initiated a counter scramble that ended with him on top for a takedown.

Despite how it appeared on the mat, the ever-moving Abdurakhmonov said he had trouble with his stamina. "I don't know what it is," he said. "I came here in very good shape but the altitude, the mountains are killing me a little bit. It's hard to wrestle here."

Even so, Abdurakhmonov managed to make both of his previous matches entertaining, as he won his opener against Magomet EVLOEV (TJK) 10-4 after surviving a cradle and near fall situation, then built up a 15-9 lead before securing a late fall over Feng LU (CHN).

In addition to the thin air, Abdurakhmonov also had to contend with facing an opponent wrestling on home soil.

"You have to [step it up]. When it's your hometown, even the walls help you. There was a lot of crowd cheering for him. But thank God I found a way to beat him."

Abdurakhmonov, who attended and competed at Clarion University in the United States and speaks fluent English, finished fifth at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where he famously beat Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) 11–1 but lost in the bronze-medal match to Jabrayil HASENOV (AZE). He made amends by taking home a bronze from Tokyo in 2021.

Among the more amazing aspects of Abdurakhmonov's colorful career is that his return to 74kg for the first time since the Tokyo Olympics included stops at weights as high as 86kg.

"I moved around a bit," he said. "I went up to 79kg and I was trying up to 86kg. I went to a couple of tournaments but 86kg guys are monsters. I feel better at 74kg. So I moved back down. We have an 86kg wrestler [Javrail SHAPIEV (UZB)] who is very good and qualified for the Olympics. So it's good we have one more weight qualified."

Yones EMAMI (IRI) defeated Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) to win the Paris quota at 74kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Iran's Asian Games champion Yones EMAMI (IRI) secured the other spot at 74kg, just as he did in 2021, but this time will be hoping that he gets to use it after cruising to a 10-0 rout of the 2021 Asian champion Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ).

In a clash between world 70kg medalists in 2019, Emami puts on a takedown clinic with three in the first period, then opens the second period with a stepout. He then scores two more points with a driving takedown, then immediately finishes off the match with a gut wrench at 3:49.

In 2021, Emami won the Asian qualifier in Almaty but was not on the team to Tokyo. He missed a chance to qualify this time at last year's World Championships in Belgrade, where he lost to eventual champion Zaurbek SIDAKOV (AIN) before falling to Hetik CABALOV (SRB) in the repechage.

Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) won Iran's fifth Freestyle quota for the Paris Olympics. (Photo: United World Wrestling.)

Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI), a two-time world U23 champion, gave Iran its fifth Paris berth with a 3-0 victory over Asian Games bronze medalist Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL) at 97kg, clinching the victory with a takedown in the second period while on the activity clock.

"Today's competition was very difficult because it was the Olympic quota and there was no place for mistakes," Azarpira said. "I could be better than this but I was careful because I wanted the Olympic quota. The selection for the Olympics for Iran was in this competition, so it was highly sensitive."

In his only other match before the qualifier, Azarpira ousted rising Japanese star Arash YOSHIDA (JPN), whose father is Iranian and runs the kids club where he got his start in the sport, in a bout that was close until the Iranian pulled away for a 9-1 win.

"I was wrestling Japan [Yoshida] for the first time," Azarpira said. "Yoshida is a very great opponent and it was a hard match. It was my first wrestling, my body hadn’t yet started and I wasn’t in the condition of the competition. But whatever the circumstances were, I had come to win and I was able to win."

Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ) scores the winning takedown to secure the Paris 2024 ticket for Kyrgyzstan. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

In the opening match of the night session, two-time world U23 bronze medalist Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ) electrified the crowd by pulling a ticket to Paris out of his hat, scoring a counter takedown with 14 seconds left to edge Munkh Erdene BATKHUYAG (MGL) 3-3 on criteria at 57kg.

Each wrestler had received an activity point that gave Almaz Uulu the lead on criteria. In the second period, Batkhuyag fought out of Almaz Uulu's deep double-leg shot to score a takedown with a minute left for a 3-1 lead.

Batkhuyag looked like he might run out the clock when he grabbed a single leg and hung on for dear life, but Almaz Uulu, the winner of this year's Yasar Dogu tournament in Turkey, broke the hold and spun behind for the victory.

Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) hits a fireman carry against AMAN (IND). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Abdullaev's overwhelming victory by fall over AMAN (IND) for the other 57kg berth could not have contrasted more with the preceding match.

Abdullaev, who finished seventh at the Tokyo Olympics, started things off with a low-single takedown, then tripled the lead with a slick 4-point fireman's carry. He then added a pair of 2-point exposures, the second of which gave him a 10-0 lead and would have ended the match had he not secured the fall at 2:17.

Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) celebrates after winning the 65kg Paris quota for Kyrgyzstan. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Former world 70kg silver medalist Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ), who is back at 65kg after three years, put together a controlled 5-3 win over Kwang Jin KIM (PRK) to win the Olympic qualifier for the second time in a row.

"Words can’t describe my emotions," Akmataliev said. "You saw the support I had. The stands were full of our fans, my friends and relatives and I had to win. Our main goal is not just the quota, but the Olympic gold."

Trailing 2-1 at the break, Akmataliev got a pair of stepouts in the second period, with the second coming with Kim on the activity clock. The two then exchanged stepouts and Akmataliev held on for the victory.

Akmataliev recorded an amazing comeback in the previous round when he overcame a six-point deficit in the second period in a 12-6 win over Tsogbadrakh TSEVEENSUREN (MGL). Now he will look to do better in Paris than he did in Tokyo, where he lost in the first round to Bajrang PUNIA (IND).

"This will be my second Olympics," he said. "In the first one, I lost to an experienced wrestler. This time we will take into account all of the mistakes and not repeat them and bring back an Olympic medal."

Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) qualified the 65kg weight class for Japan. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) picked up the other 65kg berth -- and the chance to keep the Olympic gold in Japanese hands -- with a comprehensive 11-0 victory over Shaohua YUAN (CHN).

Kiyooka used a low single to maximum effect to score two takedowns in the first period which, combined with an activity point, gave him a 5-0 lead. In the second, he landed a double-leg takedown, applied the lace lock and rolled twice to end the match in 4:29.

"I'm happy to clinch [the quota], but looking at my performance overall, it's filled with issues that need to be worked on," Kiyooka said. "My goal is the gold medal at the Paris Olympics. It's good that the issues came to light, but I can't give my performance full marks. I think it was about a 50 [out of 100]."

Kiyooka, who earned the right to represent Japan in Bishkek by knocking off Tokyo Olympic champion Takuto OTOGURO (JPN), had his toughest test in the first round when he held on for a 10-7 win over Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK).

Kiyooka is a recent graduate of Nippon Sports Science University, where among his training partners is 2016 Olympic silver medalist Rei HIGUCHI (JPN), who will be among the medal favorites in Paris at 57kg. He said that helped him against Yuan, who assumes a left-foot-forward stance.

"He uses a left-handed stance, well, my teammate Rei Higuchi also does that -- and honestly speaking, Higuchi is the best -- so it was no problem," Kiyooka said.

The 23-year-old Kiyooka, whose victory came six days after younger sister Moe won the women's 55kg gold at the Asian Championships in the same venue, came into the tournament with little international experience. He won the Kolov-Petrov tournament in Bulgaria in 2023, then finished ninth that year at the World U23.

"I've become more mentally strong," Kiyooka said. "The World U23 last year was a good experience for me. Today I watched videos of past matches and I was able to stay composed when I gave up points."

Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN), left, and Bat Erdene BYAMBASUREN (MGL) secured the Paris quota at 86kg for Japan and Mongolia respectively. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Japan's other win came at 86kg, where 2023 Asian bronze medalist Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN) spent all of 33 seconds on the mat the entire day booking his ticket to Paris.

That was all the time it took Ishiguro to score a takedown on Gwanuk KIM (KOR), then reel off four quick gut wrenches for a 10-0 win. Ishiguro did not have to wrestle in the afternoon session as he received a victory by default in his lone match.

Sources said that Deepak PUNIA (IND) was unable to wrestle because he was late to the weigh-in after his flight from Dubai was delayed. He was stuck in Dubai for two days because of flooding.

"In the first match, you're usually pretty tight," said Ishiguro, the 2018 world junior (U20) champion at 79kg and 2019 world U23 bronze medalist who is a product of the same Tokyo kids wrestling club that produced Otoguro. "So there was a bit of anxiety. But everyone around me encouraged me, and that lifted my mood."

Mongolia secured the other Paris ticket at 86kg, when Bat Erdene BYAMBASUREN (MGL) defeated Tokyo Olympian Zushen LIN (CHN) 1-1 on criteria, with both points scored on the activity clock in a dull match.

Three-time Asian medalist Alisher YERGALI (KAZ) earned a place for Kazakhstan in Paris and a possible second Olympics for himself at 97kg by edging Awusayiman HABILA (CHN) 3-2 at 97kg.

Yergali scored an activity point and stepout to take a 2-0 lead into the break. In the second period, Habila was on the clock again when he got in on a single-leg, but time ran out before the Chinese could finish the takedown, leaving Yergali ahead 3-2. It was a similar outcome to Yergali's 2-1 win over Habila in the first round at last year's World Championships.

Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) defeated Zhiwei DENG (CHN) to win the 125kg quota for Mongolia. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Two-time world medalist Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) made China 0-for-4 on the night when earned a ticket to a second straight Olympics at 125kg, while denying Zhiwei DENG (CHN) what would be his third trip by scoring an activity point in each period for a 2-0 win.

The match was a clash between the losers of the bronze-medal matches at the Tokyo Olympics and a rematch of Deng's 2-1 win in the first round at last year's World Championships.

"The match was hard," Munktur said. "At the World Championships, Deng beat me, but today I won so I am happy about it. I am going for the gold in Paris. Everything is possible. Why not?"

Tokyo Olympian Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ) capped the night with a second-period scoring spree to defeat Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) 7-3 in the other 125kg match.

Batirmurzaev, the 2021 Asian champion who finished third last year, received an activity point in the first period. In the second, he scored back-to-back 2-point counter lifts from a front body lock, then added a gut wrench for a 7-0 lead.

Sharipov, one of a handful of wrestlers who also competed at last week's Asian Championships -- where he won a bronze -- came back with a takedown and stepout, but it was too little, too late.

Paris 2024 Qualification Matches

57kg
Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ) df. Munkh Erdene BATKHUYAG (MGL) 3-3
Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) df. AMAN (IND) by Fall, 2:17 (10-0)

65kg
Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) df. Shaohua YUAN (CHN) by TF, 11-0, 4:29
Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) df. Kwang Jin KIM (PRK), 5-3

74kg
Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB) df. Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ), 6-0
Yones EMAMI (IRI) df. Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) by TF, 11-0, 3:49

86kg
Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN) df. Gwanuk KIM (KOR) by TF, 10-0, :33
Bat Erdene BYAMBASUREN (MGL) df. Zushen LIN (CHN), 1-1

97kg
Alisher YERGALI (KAZ) df. Awusayiman HABILA (CHN), 3-2
Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) df. Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL), 3-0

125kg
Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) df. Zhiwei DENG (CHN), 2-0
Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ) df. Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN), 7-3

Morikawa reigns at 68kg, all but shatters Kawai's Olympic quest

Comments

Ageless Abdurakhmonov gains ticket to Paris 2024, third Olympics