Japan Wrestling

Narikuni Finally Joins Former Kids Club Teammates as National Champion

Thursday, December 16, 2021 - 16:23 By Ken Marantz

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TOKYO, Japan (December 16) -- Above the bandage covering the two stitches he received on the top of his head, Taishi NARIKUNI now finally wears the metaphorical crown of national champion that had already been won by so many of his former kids wrestling club teammates.

"It took a long time, and I went through a lot," said Narikuni, after winning the freestyle 70kg title on Thursday at the Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships, the first of two domestic qualifiers for next year's World Championships in Belgrade.

Narikuni, who had to overcome a blip in his career caused by a combination of bad luck and his own carelessness, defeated Hikaru TAKATA 7-3 in the final as champions were crowned in eight weight classes across all three styles on the opening day of the four-day tournament at Tokyo's Komazawa Gym.

Narikuni's victory coincided with that at 97kg by Takashi ISHIGURO, who got his start in the sport alongside Narikuni at the Tokyo-based Gold Kids club run by Narikuni's mother -- a two-time former world champion. Ishiguro picked up his second national title.

In other action, former world cadet and junior champion Yuka KAGAMI reestablished herself as the nation's premier women's heavyweight by defending her 76kg crown, while MASATO SUMI avenged a loss in last year's final at Greco 87kg to take his fifth career gold medal.

Although the daily infection rate is well down in Tokyo, the tournament is being run under strict coronavirus protocols, with no spectators or family allowed, and entries limited to a maximum of 12 per weight class. Each division is completed in one day, and there is no repechage and only one bronze-medal match.

For unannounced reasons, none of Japan's medalists from the Tokyo Olympics are taking part, although 11 of the nation's 12 medalists from the World Championships in Oslo are in attendance.

Taishi Narikuni(From left to right) Taishi Narikuni, Takashi Ishiguro, Hayato Ishiguro and Narikuni's mother, Akiko (sitting). (Photo: Tateo Yabuki / Japan Wrestling Federation)

The 24-year-old Narikuni was a high-flying national collegiate champion when his career took a dark twist in 2017. He was slapped with a two-year doping ban after a doctor mistakenly prescribed a cold medication containing a banned substance.

Although the ban ended, he did not return to competition in earnest until last May at the Meiji Cup All-Japan Invitational Championships, which is the second domestic qualifier for the World Championships. He placed third there, giving him a boost of confidence that he could still be competitive at a high level.

Perhaps a bit too much confidence, as Narikuni declared at the time a lofty goal of winning world golds in both freestyle and Greco, akin to making him the "Shohei Ohtani of wrestling," a reference to the Japanese baseball star known for his ability to be both a pitcher and slugger.

Narikuni takes a somewhat unique stance when it comes to training---he barely wrestles. Currently, when he is not at his part-time job at a karaoke parlor, he's a coach at Gold Kids, where he mentors youngsters in tumbling and apparatus as well as wrestling.

Since the Meiji Cup, his workouts consisted solely of weight training, running and light sparring with the kids. He did not participate in live wrestling until 10 days before the Emperor's Cup, including sessions with his pal Ishiguro, who was also a junior high school classmate.

"We practiced together from about a week ago," Narikuni said. "It really rubbed off on me."

Even with the big weight difference between the two, "It was a great workout. It's because of that that I won."

Narikuni said he never feels he has lost any sharpness by lack of live wrestling.

"I've been doing it since I was little," he said. "It's ingrained in my body. And also, I coach kids, and I roll around with them. So my body remembers the moves."

Those moves were first developed in the club started by his mother, who won world titles in 1990 and 1991 under her maiden Akiko IIJIMA. Among the notable alumni of the club are Tokyo Olympic champion Takuto OTOGURO, world bronze medalist Toshihiro HASEGAWA, and Ishiguro's younger brother Hayato, a 2018 world junior champion who last year won his first national title at 86kg.

"It was frustrating, I mean, really," Narikuni said of watching those he grew up having such success. "Even Hayato won a title. Other kids I was with at Gold, they're all winning championships, going to the Olympics. To be honest, I felt I was left behind."

For now, Narikuni is catching up and is halfway to getting to the World Championships, although he said he still has a ways to go before he can have success there. In the final, Narikuni saw a 5-1 lead against Takata trimmed to two points by giving up a takedown with a minute to go, although a late takedown off a counter gave him the 7-3 win.

"In terms of execution, I give it a zero," Narikuni said. "I'm happy that it's my first title, but honestly speaking, with this performance I can't beat the world, so the joy is honestly not there."

Narikuni ended the match in actual pain. In the final seconds, he suffered a gash when his head collided with Takata's teeth, and he needed two stitches from the tournament doctor before his post-match press conference.

Asked what he needs to be a world-beater, the Tokyo native replied, "Everything, the mental side, the physical side. I'm really not there."

IshiguroTakashi Ishiguro won the gold at 97kg. (Photo: Tateo Yabuki / Japan Wrestling Federation)

Takashi Ishiguro, who won his first national title at 92kg in 2017, picked up his second by overwhelming national collegiate champion Keiwan YOSHIDA 10-0 in the 97kg final.

Ishiguro opened the scoring with a nifty ankle pick, then picked up four points with a double-leg tackle to the back. Two quick rolls after that and the match was ended at 2:34.

For those in the Olympic weights, the tournament is also serving as the qualifier for the Asian Games, to be held in September in Hangzhou, China. That might present a problem for the Japan federation, as it falls during the week after the World Championships, and it's unknown what wrestlers who qualify for both will do.

Ishiguro, who competed at this year's World Championships in Oslo, where he lost in the first round to superstar Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RWF), relishes the chance to prove himself on the continent after placing third at the Asian Championships last April.

"If I can't be competitive in Asia, I can't fight against the world," Ishiguro said. "I want to have the ability to take on Iran and Mongolia."

The other freestyle gold up for grabs on Thursday went to Taiki YAMAMATO, who won his second straight title and fourth overall with a close 3-2 victory over Hiroto NINOMIYA in the 125kg final.

Yamamoto, nursing a 2-0 lead after receiving two activity points, gave up a takedown with just under a minute left to fall behind on criteria, but came right back with a stepout point with :46 left for the victory.

KagamiYuka Kagami won the gold at 76kg over Nodoka YAMAMOTO. (Tateo Yabuki / Japan Wrestling Federation)

At women's 76kg, Kagami proved golden again by scoring a second-period takedown to notch a 2-2 win in the final over unheralded Nodoka YAMAMOTO.

"I was focused on staying aggressive, and I gave up points from my attack, but I never lost faith and kept up the attack in my style of wrestling to the end, and I think that's what led to this result," Kagami said.

Kagami said it was frustrating to watch the success of the Japanese women at the Tokyo Olympics, where the hosts won four of the six golds, but also motivated her to have similar success at Paris 2024.

"Seeing the Japanese wrestlers do so well invigorated me, but at the same time, I was gritting my teeth to the fact that I was not among them," Kagami said. "I want to definitely appear at the Paris Olympics and, to become the first Japanese in the heaviest [women's] weight to win a gold medal, I will dedicate myself to training from now."

Yamamoto had prevented the latest showdown between Kagami and rival Yasuha MATSUYUKI, who defeated Kagami a little over a month ago at the national collegiate championships. The 18-year-old Yamamoto knocked off Matsuyuki, her senior teammate at Shigakkan University, 2-1 in the semifinals.

The clash between Kagami and Matsuyuki, both former world cadet champions, at the college championships was the fourth meeting in a one-year span as they vie to fill the shoes of retired three-time world medalist Hiroe MINAGAWA.

"Since I had little time to practice after the inter-collegiates, I think this is the best I could do at this point," said Matsuyuki, who has been plagued with a knee injury dating back to July.

Matsuyuki said she may have subconsciously been looking past Yamamoto to a clash with Kagami. "I didn't have it that much in mind, but I might have thought that way unconsciously," she said.

At women's 59kg, 2018 Asian silver medalist Sara NATAMI took advantage of the absence of world silver medalist Akie HANAI and won her second career national title with a 10-0 technical fall over Himeka TOKUHARA.

In Greco-Roman, Sumi turned the tables on his Japan Self-Defense Forces teammate So SAKABE, avenging a loss in last year's final at 87kg by scoring a 5-1 victory in the final.

Put in the par terre first, Sumi took full advantage by powering Sakabe over with a pair of gut wrenches. Taking the bottom position in the second period, Sumi wriggled free of danger to secure the victory.

The title provides some consolation for Sumi, a 2018 Asian silver medalist who failed in two shots to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics.

"This year was the Tokyo Olympics, and I was sent as the Japan entry to the Olympic qualifiers, but unfortunately I was unable to secure a place, which was a shameful result," Sumi said.

"After that, I came back to Japan and it was very frustrating to watch the Tokyo Olympics. I set a goal to be ready in December for this tournament and it's good that I could win it."

Sakabe advanced to the final with a 4-1 victory over Satoki MUKAI, last year's 82kg champion who won a bronze medal at this year's Asian Championships.

Kodai SAKURABA, who finished eighth at the Oslo World Championships at 77kg, picked up his first national title with a 10-4 victory over collegiate champion Nao KUSAKA.

Kusaka was looking to add to the 72kg gold he won in 2019, which had made him the youngest national Greco champ in history.

At 82kg, Yuya OKAJIMA filled the gap left by Mukai and regained the title he won in 2018 by scoring a pair of takedown-gut wrench combinations in an 8-0 technical fall over Masao TANAKA.

Day 1 Results

Freestyle

70kg (12 entries)
Final - Taishi NARIKUNI df. Hikaru TAKATA, 7-3
3rd Place - Ryosuke KERA df. Ryo YONEZAWA, 3-3
Semifinal - Narikumi df. Yonezawa by TF, 11-0, 5:07
Semifinal - Takata df. Kera, 3-2

97kg (6 entries)
Final - Takashi ISHIGURO df. Keiwan YOSHIDA by TF, 10-0, 2:34
3rd Place - Shohei YAMASAKI df. Yohei SHINADA, 5-0
Semifinal - Ishiguro df. Shinada by TF, 11-0, 1:21
Semifinal - Yoshida df. Yamasaki, 9-7

125kg (10 entries)
Final - Taiki YAMAMATO df. Hiroto NINOMIYA, 3-2
3rd Place - Kai SHUTTO df. Sota YAMAMOTO, 4-2
Semifinal - T. Yamamoto df. Shutto, 3-0
Semifinal - Ninomiya df. S. Yamamoto by TF, 10-0, 1:40

Greco-Roman

77kg (11 entries)
Final - Kodai SAKURABA df. Nao KUSAKA, 10-4
3rd Place - Minto MAEDA df. Shunsuke MIZUGUCHI by TF, 9-0, 2:18
Semifinal - Sakuraba df. Mizuguchi by TF, 10-1, 2:50
Semifinal - Kusaka df. Maeda, 4-1

82kg (12 entries)
Final -Yuya OKAJIMA df. Masao TANAKA by TF, 8-0, 3:36
3rd Place - Yoji KAWAMURA df. Tatsuya FUJII, 3-1
Semifinal - Tanaka df. Kawamura, 5-3
Semifinal - Okajima df. Fujii, 2-2

87kg (11 entries)
Final - Masato SUMI df. So SAKABE, 5-1
3rd Place - Satoki MUKAI df. Ryota NASUKAWA, 5-3
Semifinal - Sumi df. Nasukawa, 8-1
Semifinal - Sakabe df. Mukai, 4-1

Women's Wrestling

59kg (10 entries)
Final - Sara NATAMI df. Himeka TOKUHARA by TF, 11-0, 4:18
3rd Place - Yumeka TANABE df. Yumi KON by TF, 10-0, 5:00
Semifinal - Natami df. Kon by TF, 10-0, 3:17
Semifinal - Tokuhara df. Tanabe, 3-3

76kg (5 entries)
Final - Yuka KAGAMI df. Nodoka YAMAMOTO, 2-2
3rd Place - Miku SAITO df. Yasuha MATSUYUKI by Def.
Semifinal - Yamamoto df. Matsuyuki, 2-1
Semifinal - Kagami df. Saito by TF, 11-0, 1:45

#WrestleIstanbul

World Olympic Qualifier Greco-Roman Paris Qualification Bouts Set

Thursday, May 9, 2024 - 06:57 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

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ISTANBUL, Turkiye (May 9) -- The first day of the World OG Qualifier, the last chance for wrestlers to earn a Paris 2024 spot, will see the six weight classes in Greco-Roman. Three wrestlers from each weight class will earn the spot for Paris from Istanbul.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER

Here are the Paris Qualification bouts for the evening session

60kg
Dahyun KIM (KOR) vs. Sadyk LALAEV (AIN)
Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) vs. Razvan ARNAUT (ROU)

67kg
Etienne KINSINGER (GER) vs. Valentin PETIC (MDA)
Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO) vs. Lei LI (CHN)

77kg
Rui LIU (CHN) vs. Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL)
Sergei KUTUZOV (AIN) vs. Iuri LOMADZE (GEO)

87kg
Kiryl MASKEVICH (AIN) vs. Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN)
Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) vs. Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE)

97kg
Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) vs. Yuri NAKAZATO (JPN)
Artur SARGSIAN (AIN) vs. Lucas LAZOGIANIS (GER)

130kg
Pavel HLINCHUK (AIN) vs. Sabah SHARIATI (AZE)
Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU) vs. Heiki NABI (EST)

17:12: In a marquee matchup to cap the seven-hour session, Iuri LOMADZE (GEO) got the best of Viktor NEMES (SRB), scoring a pair of 4-point moves in a 10-1 victory at 77kg. Trailing 1-0 in the second period and put into par terre, Lomadze hits a whirling 4-point throw. He then puts the match away by securing a body lock and taking Nemes to his back for 4.

17:04: Rui LUI (CHN) makes up for squandering an early lead by scoring a stepout with 1:03 left and holding on to defeat Idris IBAEV (GER) 5-5 at 77kg. Lui led 4-2 early in the first period when Ibaev went ahead 5-4 with takedown and stepout.

17:02: Young Pavel HLINCHUK (AIN) is looking unstoppable at 130kg, as he finishes off a 13-4 win over Elias KUOSMANEN (FIN) with an awesome underhook 4-point throw.

17:00: Sergey KUTUZOV (AIN) once again dominant on the mat! Per OLOFSSON (SWE) had no chance against Kutuzov who got the first par terre. Olofsson was docked for two points for leg could and Kutuzov scored a turn from par terre to lead 5-0. Few points in the second period but Kutuzov with an 8-2 win at 77kg.

16:51: Yuri NAKAZATO (JPN), looking to become the first Japanese in an upper weight class in Greco to make the Olympics since 2012, moved one step away by scoring two takedowns in a 6-0 victory over Felix BALDAUF (NOR) at 97kg. Standing in his way is Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN).

16:47: London Olympic silver medalist Heiki NABI (EST) is a win away from qualifying for the Paris Games. Nabi, 38, beats Oskar MARVIK (NOR) 5-1 in the quarterfinal at 130kg.

16:43: Lucas LAZOGIANIS (GER) knocks off two-time former world bronze medalist Mihail KAJAIA (SRB) at 97kg in another 1-1 match decided by the last of two passivity points. He will face Artur SARGSIAN (AIN) tonight for a ticket to Paris.

16:42: In a thriller at 60kg, Razvan ARNAUT (ROU) is trailing Justus PETRAVICIUS (LTU) 6-2 in the second period when he unleashes a lethal 4-point arm throw and pulls out a 6-6 win.

16:30: Artur SARGSIAN (AIN) barely manages to see off Vladen KOZLIUK (UKR) in the 97kg quarterfinals. Sargsian, who usually has a strong par terre, fails to perform against Kozliuk but gets the job done.

16:27: In one of the featured matches of what is officially the quarterfinals but what are de facto semifinals, Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE)  scrapes to a 2-1 victory over Alex KESSIDIS (SWE) at 87kg. After Kessidis gets a passivity point, Huseynov goes ahead on criteria when he receives a point from an unsuccessful and somewhat misguided challenge. In the second period, Huseynov gains a stepout, although it was one the Azeris might have wished they could have challenged it.

16:25: Zagreb Open champion Sadyk LALAEV (AIN) ended the strong run of Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) at 60kg, scoring a second-period takedown that clinched a 6-2 victory.

16:12: Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) does just what he needs to do to get by Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) at 87kg, scoring a roll from par terre to win 3-3 on last-point criteria. He will either Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) or Alex KESSIDIS (SWE) for a ticket to Paris.

16:08: 2021 world silver medalist Kiryl MASKEVICH (AIN) continues his run at 87kg with a 7-2 win over Nicu OJOG (ROU) to advance to the Paris 2024 qualification bout.

16:02: Lei LI (CHN) rallies from a 5-point deficit to defeat Mateusz BERNATEK (POL) 10-5 and advance to Paris 2024 qualification match at 67kg. He will face Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO), who came out a 9-4 winner in a contentious match with Din KOSHKAR (KAZ) on an adjacent mat.

15:50: Iuri LOMADZE (GEO) jumps out to a big lead against VIKAS (IND) at 77kg, using an arm throw for 2, then getting behind and nailing a 4-point throw. Lomadze then slips behind for a takedown that ends it at 8-0 with 25 seconds to spare in the first period.

15:45: Sergei KUTUZOV (AIN) looks the wrestler to beat at 77kg! He takes out Tsimur BERDYIEU (AIN) 8-0 to advance to the quarterfinals where he will face Per OLOFSSON (SWE).

15:39: Former world champion Viktor NEMES (SRB) forges ahead at 77kg, scoring a gut wrench in his second shot at par terre in the second period to sew up a 4-0 victory over Antonio KAMENJASEVIC (CRO).

15:29: Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) prevails in an intense battle between former world medalists at 77kg, gaining a stepout in the first period and a passivity point in the second for a 2-1 victory over Zoltan LEVAI (HUN).

15:27: There's still plenty of life left in 38-year-old Heiki NABI (EST), holder of an Olympic silver from 2012 and five world medals won over a span from 2006 to 2019. He gets a pair of gut wrenches from par terre in the first period, then uses stepouts to finish off Aybegshazada KURRAYEV (TKM) 9-0 at 130kg.

15:19: Veteran Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU), finally taking the mat for the first time on a long day as he bids to make a fourth Olympics, gets a gut wrench from par terre in the first period and comes out a 4-0 winner over Eduard BABENOSHEV (TJK) at 130kg.

15:17: Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO) falls in the 1/8 finals against Elias KUOSMANEN (FIN) 130kg. Kuosmanen hit a front head lock for four at the start of the bout before getting a passivity point to lead 5-0. Kajaia got one point in the second period but that was all as Kousmanen won 5-1.

15:10: Mihail KAJAIA (SRB) beats Alex SZOKE (HUN) 1-1 at 97kg after the two exchanged passivity points. Szoke got the par terre on the third passivity but failed to score and Kajaia was happy to hold on to his criteria lead.

15:02: Sabah SHARIATI (AZE), a bronze medalist at the 2016 Rio Olympics, rolls to a 9-0 victory over three-time Asian bronze medalist Roman KIM (KGZ) at 130kg.

14:59: Felix BALDAUF (NOR) wins over no new friends in Istanbul after he knocked off local favorite Metehan BASAR (TUR) at 97kg, winning 1-1 on last-point criteria after both received a passivity point.

14:50: Yuri NAKAZATO (JPN) continues to surprise at 97kg, scoring a reversal from the bottom of par terre after landing on his feet during a throw -- which was upheld on challenge -- in a 3-1 victory over Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE).

14:48: In a clash of Tokyo Olympians, Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) gets a passivity point in each period and comes out a 2-0 winner over Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) at 97kg.

14:34: An impressive display by two-time world bronze medalist Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) to move closer to a ticket to Paris at 60kg. He reverses from the bottom of par terre against Christopher KRAEMER (GER), then scores two gut wrenches to make it 5-1. Mammodov finishes the proceedings with a twirling 4-point throw and, with an unsuccessful challenge, the final score is 10-1.

14:31: Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) literally took down Goliath. The 2023 world bronze medalist at 63kg scored a takedown against five-time African medalist Romio GOLIATH (NAM), then reeled off four rolls for a 9-0 victory to advance at 60kg.

14:29: Alex KESSIDIS (SWE) reels off a 4-point throw from par terre in the second period and that makes the difference in a 5-4 victory over Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) at 87kg. Both wrestlers competed at the Tokyo Olympics at 77kg, but lost in the first round.

14:23: Marcel STERKENBURG  (NED) hangs on for a 3-2 win over Mihail BRADU (MDA) at 87kg. Sterkenburg scored a turn from par terre for a 3-0 lead. He challenged asking for two more points for the second turn. He lost that challenge as Bradu never came in danger position. Bradu got one point for par terre in the second period but failed to score any points.

14:15: Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) with a big four-pointer, that was challenged by Martynas NEMSEVICIUS (LTU) but lost. Bisultanov then added a takedown and turn to earn a 9-0 win at 87kg.

14:14: Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) hangs on for a 5-4 victory over Gevorg TADEVOSYAN (ARM) at 87g.

14:09: Olympic bronze medalist Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) advances at 87kg by the slimmest of margins, overcoming a 3-1 deficit in the final seconds for an improbable 4-3 win over Sunil KUMAR (IND). With time running out, Huseynov got in on a body lock and forced Kumar over the edge for a stepout. But the Indian was assessed a 1-point penalty for fleeing, giving Huseynov a 3-3 win on criteria. An unsuccessful challenge added the final point.

13:57: Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO), a 2021 world bronze medalist who would love nothing better than to get a chance to make up for a fifth-place finish in Tokyo, advances at 67kg with a 5-0 win over Niklas OEHLEN (SWE). Zoidze comes close but fails to complete a gut wrench from par terre in the first period, but pulls one off after a takedown in the second.

13:48: Valentin PETIC (MDA) scores a stepout on a throw attempt from par terre and comes out a 4-1 winner at 67kg over Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY). He will face Andreas VETSCH (SUI) for a place in Olympic qualification match.

13:45: European bronze medalist Kiryl MASKEVICH (AIN) scores a victory by fall over Arkadiusz KULYNYCZ (POL) at 87kg. Trailing 1-1 on criteria, Maskevich pancakes his opponent to his back and applies a tight headlock for the fall. It was a rematch of Maskevich's 7-5 win at the 2021 World Championships, where he won the silver medal and Kulynycz took home a bronze.

13:36: Mateusz BERNATEK (POL), a world silver medalist back in 2017, gets a stepout in the first period and a gut wrench from par terre in the second, and he advances at 67kg with a 4-1 victory over Yong Jin RO (PRK).

13:32: European bronze medalist Iuri LOMADZE (GEO) scores a first-period takedown and has one in the second nullified on challenge, but it's enough for a 3-0 victory over Oliver KRUEGER (DEN) at 77kg.

13:17: Asian Games bronze medalist Rui LIU (CHN), who suffered a heartbreaking loss in the final match at the Asian Qualifier, starts out strong at 77kg with an 11-0 win over Georgios PREVOLARAKIS (GRE). Liu gets a pair of rolls from par terre, then finishes it off the match with a 4-point throw.

13:11: Tokyo Olympian Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL), a 2019 world bronze medalist, gets the gut wrench during his shot at par terre in the second period and that's enough for a 3-1 victory over Marcos SANCHEZ (ESP) to advance at 77kg, today's most populated weight class with 33 entries.

12:52: Sergey KUTUZOV (AIN), the 2021 world silver medalist at 72kg, chalks up an 8-0 victory over Kamal BEY (USA) at 77kg, which took a while to figure out. With a 2-0 lead, Kutuzov got behind with the two standing and hit a 4-point throw. The USA side challenged, but instead, Bey was assessed a 2-point foul, ending the match just before the end of the first period.

12:45: Artur SARGSIAN (AIN), who broke his arm at the World Championships, returns for the last chance qualifier and beats Markus RAGGINGER (AUT) 7-1 at 97kg to keep his hopes of earning a Paris 2024 spot alive.

12:31: Pavel HLINCHUK (AIN), the 2023 world U23 champion at 97kg who has moved up to 130kg, advances with a fall over 2020 world U20 champion Mykhailo VYSHNYVETSKYI (UKR). Hlinchuk was leading 7-4 when Vyshnyvetskyi hit a lateral drop for 4. But Hlinchuk rolled through the move to come out on top and secure the fall.

12:17: Alex SZOKE (HUN), the 2021 world silver medalist who placed fifth at the Tokyo Olympics, knocks off Nikolaz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA) 10-1 at 97kg. Szoke gets a pair of rolls from par terre to build a 5-0 lead. On the bottom in the second period, Szoke stops a roll for 2, then gets on top and hits a gut wrench.

11:57: Metehan BASAR (TUR), six years removed from the second of his back-to-back world titles at 85/87kg, gets the home crowd going with a 2-0 win over Asian Games silver medalist Yiming LI (CHN) at 97kg. The 33-year-old Basar gains a passivity point in the first period and a stepout in the second.

11:56: Five-time Asian medalist and Tokyo Olympian Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ), who came up one win short at the Asian qualifier at home in Bishkek, stuffs a roll attempt by Kaloyan IVANOV (BUL) in par terre for 2 and advances at 97kg with a 3-1 victory.

11:38: Two-time world bronze medalist Murad MAMMADOV (AZE), the reigning European champion at 63kg, gets three rolls and an exposure from par terre to put away Aleksandrs JURKJANS (LAT) 10-1 as he tries to make his first Olympics at 60kg.

11:30: Munkh BATKHUYAG (MGL), a 2023 world U23 bronze medalist in freestyle (!), overwhelms Ibrahim BUNDUKA (SLE) 10-0 at 60kg as he launches his attempt to become just the second Mongolian in history to wrestle Greco at an Olympics and first since 1980.

11:21: Tokyo Olympic 77kg bronze medalist Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE), aiming to make it to Paris at 87kg, gets a pair of passivity points and a challenge point and holds on for a 3-1 win over Ilias PAGKALIDIS (GRE).

11:20: Two-time world medalist and Tokyo Olympian Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) bear hugs Hannes WAGNER (GER) straight to his back for a spectacular 4-pointer from par terre and he advances at 87kg with a 5-1 victory.

11:10: Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) uses his over-under position to score stepouts against Lukas STAUDACHER (AUT) and secures a technical superiority win at 87kg.

10:59: Another match is decided by which wrestler receives the last passivity point. In a battle of Tokyo Olympians, it was former world champion Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) gained a 1-1 victory at 87kg over four-time Pan Am champion Daniel GREGORICH (CUB). The loss by Gregorich at 87kg makes it difficult for Cuba to have wrestlers in all six Greco weight classes in Paris.

10:46: Veteran two-time world champion Hansu RYU (KOR) saw his bid to make a third Olympics end when a late takedown against Matias LIPASTI (FIN) was wiped out on challenge, giving Lipasti a 1-1 victory on last-point criteria -- he got the second of the passivity points awarded. Ryu had a second chance in par terre but couldn't turn Lipasti.

10:36: At 67kg, Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Mohamed ELSAYAD (EGY) has to hang on for a nail-biting 9-8 victory over European bronze medalist Abu AMAEV (BUL). Elsayad gets a pair of 4-pointers to build up a 9-2, only to allow Amaev to nearly rally to victory.

10:35: Yong Jin RO (PRK) gets the gut wrench in his second stint in par terre in the second period, giving him a 3-2 victory at 67kg over the two-time world 72kg bronze medalist Selcuk CAN (TUR). 

10:30: Lei LI (CHN) with a quick takedown and four three rolls for an 8-0 win over Adomas GRIGALIUNAS (LTU) at Greco-Roman 67kg. China is looking to earn the three Greco-Roman spots that it has still not got.

10:00: Welcome to the first day of the World OG Qualifier in Istanbul. Greco-Roman action will kick off the tournament. Winners of the semifinal along with the winner of the playoff between the two bronze medalists will earn a quota for the Paris Olympics.