Otoguro, Susaki Give Host Japan Golden Ending to Olympic Wrestling

Saturday, August 7, 2021 - 19:18 By Ken Marantz

CHIBA, Japan (August 7) -- While the wrestling world was anticipating the big showdown at 97kg, Japanese eyes were focused on the two other finals on Saturday night, and they provided a double thrill for the host country.

Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) and Yui SUSAKI (JPN), both 2018 world champions, captured gold medals in their Olympic debuts as Japan brought the curtain down on the wrestling competition at Makuhari Messe Hall A with a bang.

Otoguro gave the Japanese men their lone wrestling gold medal of the Tokyo Games with a masterful performance against Rio 2016 bronze medalist Haji ALIYEV (AZE), winning the stacked freestyle 65kg class with a 5-4 win in the final.

"I overcame a lot of difficulties, but because of the people around me, I made progress litle by little," said Otoguro, who finished fifth at the 2019 World Championships. "It's a dream come true, I'm really happy."

Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) defeated Haji ALIYEV (AZE) in the 65kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Otoguro got the go-ahead points with 20 seconds left, as well as one for an unsuccessful challenge that made it 5-2, then survived being assessed a pair of penalty points for fleeing to hold off the ever-dangerous Aliyev.

Aliyev took a 2-2 lead into the second period after scoring a takedown with 8 seconds left in the first. Otoguro appeared to have a chance to score early in the second period, but Aliyev forced a stalemate.

But Otoguro was not to be denied, and got in deep with a single-leg. As he did in the first period, he got 2 points by rolling through and keeping his own back unexposed when Aliyev rolled back in an attempted counter lift.

"When the Olympics were postponed, my coach said that there might not be an Olympics, but to believe that there will be and stay prepared," Otoguro said. "I put that preparation to use in the last 30 seconds and was able to get it in the end."

Otoguro burst upon the international scene at the 2018 World Championships in Budapest where, at age 19 years 10 months, he became the youngest-ever Japanese to win a men's world title. That broke the previous record held by 1976 Olympic champion Yuki TAKADA (JPN), who became his mentor at Yamanashi Gakuin University.

65kg podium Tokyo Olympics 65kg medal winners. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

After graduating in March, Otoguro followed his older brother into the sports division of the Japan Self-Defense Forces. Among his coaches is London 2012 champion Tatsuhiro YONEMITSU (JPN), who, until Otoguro's victory Friday night, had been the last Japanese male to win an Olympic wrestling title.

"I spar with coach Yonemitsu every day, I admire him and learn so much from him," Otoguro said. "All those that I so admire, like Mr. Takada, I'm really happy to win the same gold medal as them."

Otoguro acknowledged that he felt under the gun to give the Japanese men a gold, after the host nation won a silver and bronze in Greco and the three others in freestyle, including brother Keisuke at 74kg, came up empty-handed.

"There was pressure," Otoguro said. "In other sports, [Japanese] athletes were winning gold medals. But freestyle had none and my turn came up on the last day. It was a really tough tournament. But everyone came together as one, and helped me get this win."

Yui SUSAKI (JPN) is the Olympic champion at 50kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Susaki gave Japan its fourth gold medal of the Games in women's wrestling--matching the total won at Rio--with a 10-0 technical fall over Rio 2016 bronze medalist Yanan SUN (CHN) in the 50kg final.

"The person I am here now is because of the support of everyone around me," said Susaki, who grew up about 30 kilometers away from the wrestling venue in Matsudo city. "I feel so grateful. Their power became my power."

Susaki, who had beaten Sun in all three of their previous meetings, posted her most one-sided victory over the 2013 world champion by spinning behind for a takedown, then ripping off two lace locks.

Sun temporarily broke the hold, but Susaki reapplied the ankle hold and rolled two more times for a 10-0 technical fall in 1:36.

For the 21-year-old Susaki, who won the first of her two senior world titles in 2017, the year after taking her third world cadet gold, the Olympic gold was the fulfillment of a dream that seemed all but ended two years ago.

In fact, it was Sun who indirectly reopened the door to the Tokyo Olympics for Susaki, who hardly seemed grateful when she manhandled Sun in the last match of the wrestling competition at Makuhari Messe.

Yui SUSAKI (JPN) defeated Yanan SUN (CHN) to win the 50kg gold medal. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Dating back to junior high school, Susaki has lost just three times in her life -- all to compatriot Yuki IRIE (JPN). One loss came at the domestic qualifying tournament for the 2019 World Championships, where winning a medal would mean an automatic place on Japan's team to
Tokyo 2020.

But Irie was dealt a stunning 13-12 loss in the quarterfinals in Nur-Sultan by Sun, who then lost in the semifinals, thus keeping Irie out of the repechage. With Japan failing to earn an Olympic berth at 50kg, the process started all over again, and Susaki made the most of the second chance.

She beat Irie for the right to represent Japan at the Asian Olympic qualifier, which she won easily to earn her ticket to the Tokyo Games.

Susaki, who was one of Japan's flag-bearers at the opening ceremony, remained unbeaten against foreign foes by blasting through the Olympic tournament with four straight technical falls, all without conceding a point.

"It's like a dream," Susaki said. "My family, friends and others believed in me. That I can show them my gold medal makes me so happy."

During the medal ceremony, the presenter of the floral bouquet was Japanese legend Kaori ICHO, the lone wrestler in history with four Olympic gold medals.

Asked if Icho said anything to her, Susaki replied, "She said, 'Good luck for the next one also.' It gives me a stong feeling to go for the next [Olympics]."

With Susaki's victory, Japanese had now won 15 of the 24 gold medals awarded since women's wrestling was added to the Olympic program in 2004.

Stadnik secures 4th Olympic medal

Mariya STADNIK (AZE), right, won a bronze medal. (Photo: UWW / Tony Rotundo)

In the bronze-medal matches, reigning world champion Mariya STADNIK (AZE) joined an elite group of four-time Olympic medalists -- albeit none of hers are gold--when she manhandled Namuuntsetseg TSOGT OCHIR (MGL) at 50kg.

The 33-year-old Stadnik struck early and often, rolling to a 10-0 technical fall in 1:47 to add to her silver medals from London 2012 and Rio 2016 and bronze at Beijing 2008. Her world title in 2019 came a decade after her first and only other one.

American Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA), the 2018 world silver medalist at 53kg who was dealt a last-second loss in the semifinals by Sun, came away with the other 50kg bronze.

Hildebrandt broke open a close match in the second period and finished off a 12-1 technical fall in 5:49 over 2018 world bronze medalist Oksana LIVACH (UKR) with three lace locks.

At freestyle 97kg, London 2012 champion Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE) was denied a third Olympic medal when Reineris SALAS PEREZ (CUB) scored a stepout with 30 seconds left for a 3-3 victory.

Sharifov, who also owns a bronze medal from the Rio Olympics, led 2-0 in the second period when he gave up a counter lift that put the Cuban ahead 2-2, but regained the lead with a stepout on the same scramble.

The 34-year-old Salas Perez, who announced he would retire after the Tokyo Games, adds the Olympic bronze to two world silver medals he won back in 2014 and 2015.

The other bronze went to Abraham CONYEDO RUANO (ITA), who pulled off a desperation counter back trip for 4 points late in the second period to defeat Suleyman KARADENIZ (TUR) 6-2 and give Italy its lone wrestling medal in Tokyo.

At freestyle 65kg, Bajrang PUNIA (IND) avenged a semifinal loss to Daulet NIYAZBEKOV (KAZ) from the 2019 worlds by scoring three takedowns in the second period for an 8-0 victory.

The two had a tempestuous battle in the third-place match at the 2019 worlds, which Niyazbekov barely won 9-9 on criteria after squadering a 9-2 lead. Among Punia's points during his comeback was a penalty point for an eye gouge.

Reigning world champion Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (ROC) scored three of his points on stepouts in outlasting Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) 5-0 for the other bronze in a battle of two wrestlers who had both beaten Otoguro at the 2019 worlds but lost to him in Tokyo.

Rashidov had also beaten Muszukajev 3-2 in the semifinals in Nur-Sultan en route to his first world title after winning consecutive silvers at 61kg.

With the conclusion of eight days of competition, host Japan finished with the most golds with five, while the United States had the most overall medals with nine, one more than the Russian Olympic Committee.

A total of 26 countries won at least one medal, with Nigeria and San Marino winning their first- ever in Olympic wrestling.

Day 7 Results

Freestyle

65kg
GOLD - Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) df. Haji ALIYEV (AZE), 5-4

BRONZE - Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (ROC) df. Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN), 5-0
BRONZE - Bajrang PUNIA (IND) df. Daulet NIYAZBEKOV (KAZ), 8-0

97kg
GOLD - Abdulrashid SADULAEV (ROC) df. Kyle SNYDER (USA), 6-3

BRONZE - Reineris SALAS PEREZ (CUB) df. Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE), 3-3
BRONZE - Abraham CONYEDO RUANO (ITA) df. Suleyman KARADENIZ (TUR), 6-2

Women's Wrestling

50kg
GOLD - Yui SUSAKI (JPN) df. Yunan SUN (CHN) by TF, 10-0, 1:36

BRONZE - Mariya STADNIK (AZE) df. Namuuntsetseg TSOGT OCHIR (MGL) by TF, 10-0, 1:47
BRONZE - Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) df. Oksana LIVACH (UKR) by TF, 12-1, 5:49

#WrestleTokyo

Lopez Joins Icho as 4-time Olympic Gold Medalist; Fumita, Gray Fall

Monday, August 2, 2021 - 15:12 By Ken Marantz

CHIBA, Japan (August 2) --- Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) joined the most elite club in world wrestling when the Cuban giant became just the second wrestler in history to win a fourth Olympic gold medal.

Lopez had little trouble forging a 5-0 victory over Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO) in the Greco-Roman 130kg final Monday night to join Kaori ICHO (JPN) as the only wrestlers with a quartet of Olympic gold medals.

Such legends as Alexander KARELIN (RUS) and Saori YOSHIDA (JPN) both came close, but both fell at the final hurdle, ending their careers with three Olympic golds and a silver. But the 38-year-old Lopez wasn't to be denied on the first night of finals at the Tokyo Olympics.

It was a good night all around for Cuba at Makuhari Messe Hall A, as Luis ORTA SANCHEZ (CUB) won the first gold on offer when he stunned world champion and local favorite Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) 5-1 in the Greco 60kg final.

The final match of the night provided another surprise courtesy of Aline ROTTER-FOCKEN (GER), who will exit the sport as Olympic champion with a well-earned 7-3 victory in the women's 76kg final that denied five-time world champion Adeline GRAY (USA) an elusive Olympic gold.

But the night belonged to Lopez, who had wrestled sparingly after his triumph five years at Rio 2016 before deciding to try for an historic fourth gold in five Olympic appearances.

He all but put the matter out of doubt in the first period, when in his first chance in the par terre position, he rolled Kajaia for a 3-0 lead. In the second period, he sandwiched a pair of stepouts around a passivity point, for which he opted to stay standing instead of going to par terre.

Lopez started his celebrations with 10 seconds to go, waving his fingers in the air and swaying his arms as Kajaia, a 2019 world bronze medalist, just looked on, knowing the battle was over.

Mijain LOPEZ GR 130kg Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) with his gold medal. (Photo: UWW / Tony Rotundo)

Lopez and Icho are among just six athletes who have won four gold medals in the same event in Olympic history, joining athletics stars Al OERTER (USA) and Carl LEWIS (USA), swimmer Michael PHELPS (USA) and sailing's Paul ELVSTROM (DEN).

"It's incredible. I have sacrificed 20 years and I deserve the gold medals and I have achieved that with the help of my coaches," said Lopez, whose medal collection includes five world golds, the last of which came in 2014, and three silvers.

"I will enjoy the gold but any athlete in the world would enjoy it like me. I would like to tell wrestlers that they can reach their goals if they can work hard for it."

Lopez's last loss came at the 2015 World Championships to Riza KAYAALP (TUR), the reigning world champion whom he defeated in the semifinals on Sunday.

The question now is, will there be a try for a fifth?

"All of the wrestlers have asked me to stay and of course I am thinking about it," said Lopez, who will turn 39 on August 20. "I want to enjoy this and I will tell at the end of this year whether I will wrestle or not. It's obvious that it's incredible to win four medals. I am going to enjoy it."

Luis ORTA SANCHEZ (CUB) won the 60kg gold medal in Tokyo. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

In the 60kg final, Orta Sanchez effectively neutralized Fumita's attack, while getting the points from par terre that often make the difference in Greco to win his first major title.

It marks the second straight Olympics that a Cuban defeated a Japanese in the Olympic final of the lightest Greco weight class. At Rio 2016, Ismael BORRERO MOLINA (CUB) defeated Shinobu OTA (JPN) for the 59kg gold. Borrero Molina will be going for a second straight gold at 67kg.

"There was pressure on me to defend the gold of Borrero," Orta Sanchez said. "All I thought after winning the gold was about my new-born daughter. Participating in the Olympics was my dream. I wanted to do this for my wife and daughter."

For Fumita, the loss was devastating. Ever since Tokyo was awarded the Olympics, his dream was to win a gold there. Through all the uncertainty and one-year postponement, he was grateful that the Games ended up being held after all.

"All the people who helped in the organization in getting these Games to go on, and the people who supported me watching on TV, I am so grateful," Fumita said in tears in an interview with Japanese TV.

"My goal was always to get onto this stage. People will have their opinion on having it under these conditions, and I wanted to repay the organizers and volunteers who believed more than the athletes with a victory. But it ended with this shameful result, and I apologize."

Fumita has had a target on his back since winning his first world title in 2017 and repeating as world champion in 2019, and Otra Sanchez obviously did his homework, never giving the Japanese a chance to set up his trademark throws.

"I knew that they had studied my wrestling, that I still couldn't overcome that was due to my lack of ability," Fumita said.

Aline ROTTER FOCKEN (GER) Aline ROTTER-FOCKEN (GER) won the gold at 76kg. (Photo: UWW / Tony Rotundo)

The 30-year-old Rotter Focken, a four-time world medalist who won her lone world title in 2014, had said before the final that this, her second Olympics, would be the final tournament of her career. What a way to go out.

Rotter Focken scored the bulk of her points with counters against Gray, who was looking for redemption after leaving Rio 2016 without a medal, although she was suffering from a shoulder injury at the time.

After gaining an activity clock point, Rotter Focken stopped a Gray single-leg attempt in which the American seemed to lose her balance, pushing her onto her back for a 3-0 lead.

In the second period, Gray came in high on a double-leg tackle and Rotter Focken unleashed a wicked whizzer that sent Gray flipping onto her back for a 4-point move. Gray fought desperately at the end, gaining a stepout and takedown, but time ran out on her Olympic dream.

"I will retire," Rotter Focken said. "I had always thought that if I become Olympic champion, I want to retire because I don't want to lose anymore."

The German said that winning the gold in Tokyo made it special, even though there were no spectators in the stands due to a recent surge in infections in Japan.

"Japan is not only the country where women's wrestling is popular, but sports is popular," Rotter Focken said. "I was looking for a full stadium but everything changed because of the pandemic, but the Olympic spirit is still there. People in Japan are enthusiastic about sports. It was incredible event even without the spectators."

130kg podium The four medalists at 130kg GR weight class. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Meanwhile, the the Russian Olympic Committee, China and Turkey split up the bronze medals on offer by winning two each.

Former world champion Yasemin ADAR (TUR) gave Turkey its first-ever women's Olympic medal while denying Kyrgyzstan its first by locking up Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) for a fall in 1:24 at 76kg.

"I am thrilled that I won the first medal for women’s wrestling for Turkey," Adar said. "I am very excited to be achieving a first, very honored to be representing my country and it just means so much more nowadays because my country is having a very difficult time with wildfires. The pain is burning inside me.

"I am not able to describe my emotions, but I hope from the bottom of my heart that my medal gives my people a glimpse of hope and joy in these difficult times."

The other bronze-medal match at 76kg also ended in a fall, with 2018 Asian champion Qian ZHOU (CHN) decking rival Hiroe MINAGAWA (JPN) in 2:30, avenging a loss to the Japanese in the 2019 world quarterfinals.

At Greco 60kg, 2019 world silver medalist Sergey EMELIN (ROC) started his bronze-medal playoff against Victor CIOBANU (MDA) with a 4-point throw, then ended it with another to cap a 12-1 technical fall in 3:53.

Sailike WALIHAN (CHN) added the Olympic bronze to his one from the 2018 worlds when he chalked up a 1-1 victory over Lenur TEMIROV (UKR) in which both points were awarded for passivity.

At 130kg, Riza KAYAALP (TUR) bounced back from his disappointing loss to Lopez by scoring six points off gut wrenches en route to a 7-2 victory over Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI).

Yasmani ACOSTA (CHI), just the second Chilean wrestler to ever appear in the Olympics, came up just short of taking home a medal when he lost to Sergei SEMENOV (ROC) 1-1 after a trade of passivity points.

Nigeria assured of 1st-ever Olympic wrestling medal

Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) reached the 68kg finals Monday. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Four years ago, Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) was thrilled to see her "little sister" Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) become Nigeria's first-ever finalist at a World Championships.

On Monday, she secured her own place in the nation's history by being the first to make an Olympic final -- which also makes her the African country's first Olympic wrestling medalist.

Oborududu defeated Battsetseg SORONZONBOLD (MGL) 7-2 in the semifinals of the women's 68kg class, earning a place in Tuesday's final against world champion Tamyra MENSAH STOCK (USA).

"I feel so excited to get into the final of the Olympics," said Oborududu, who is competing at her third Olympics and has never placed higher than fifth in six trips to the World Championships. "It's not easy."

Oborududu scored all of her points in a whirlwind first period against the veteran Soronzonbold, a 2019 world bronze medalist who won a bronze at the 2012 London Olympics and was a world champion in 2010.

"I know she has been a world champion," Oborodudu said. "I lost to her in 2016, in the first round of the Olympics. When I knew I would meet her in the semifinal, I said to myself, 'This is your time. Go all out and wrestle. So that is what I did."

Asked about her historic clinching of a medal, she replied, "We have been working for the past two Olympics. We were not able to get any medal, but we keep working. We knew that one day we will get it."

Oborodudu said that Adekuoroye's success laid the foundation for Nigeria to further strengthen its program.

"We are like sisters on the team," she said. "She is like a younger sister to me. Seeing her do well at the World Championships inspired us to push harder."

Tamyra MENSAH STOCK (USA) reached her first Olympic final. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Mensah Stock, who had been a one-woman wrecking crew leading up to the semifinals, was pushed hard in her final-four clash with 2018 world champion Alla CHERKASOVA (UKR).

Stock Mensah fell behind 2-4 in the second period, but bounced back to post a a 10-4 win and advance to the final.

"I'm so excited that I'm getting better, that I'm able to inflict my will," Stock Mensah said. "It's a dream come true."

Musa EVLOEV (ROC) made it to the final at 97kg. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

At Greco 97kg, world champion Musa EVLOEV (ROC) and Rio 2016 gold medalist Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) set up the latest clash between the two in a global final, but how ready the latter will be for battle remains to be seen.

Aleksanyan appeared to strain his left hamstring trying to lift Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) from the par terre as he trailed 1-1 on criteria. At the same time, the Iranian was assessed a two-point penalty for grabbing a leg, then lost a challenge of the call to give the Armenian a 4-1 victory.

Aleksanyan left the arena without commenting on his condition nor the impending rematch of his loss to Evloev in the final at the 2019 World Championships.

Evloev was rock solid in posting a 7-1 victory in the other semifinal over Tadeusz MICHALIK (POL), scoring with two rolls from par terre in the first period.

Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) reached his second straight Olympic final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

ROC coach Gogi KOGUASHVILI said that only the result of the match mattered, not the content.

"Our tactics for the semifinals was to win whatever it takes," he said. "We weren't trying to make it look spectacular or something like that, the goal was to just win and qualify for the final."

The other world champion in action, Tamas LORINCZ (HUN), had his hands full in holding off two-time world bronze medalist Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI) for a 6-5 win in a 77kg semifinal clash between wrestlers who both have brothers in the Olympics.

Lorincz, looking to add to the silver medal he won at London 2012 in his fourth Olympic appearance, became the latest recipient of what would prove to be the winning point by an unsuccessful challenge.

Tamas LORINCZ (HUN) will wrestle for gold at 77kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Lorincz went ahead 3-1 in the second period with a front lift, then was awarded two points for a leg penalty. The Iranians challenged the call, but it was rejected to give the Hungarian a five-point lead.

That was exactly what he needed when Geraei executed a pair of acrobatic lifts for two points each. But it was too little, too late.

In the final, Lorincz will face Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ), who put himself into position to become his country's first-ever Olympic gold medalist in any sport when he defeated Karapet CHALYAN (ARM) 6-2.

The big move for 2018 Asian champion Makhmudov, who missed all of 2019 after undergoing knee surgery following an injury suffered while playing football, came in the first period, when Chalyan had him in the air, cocked and ready to throw. But Makhmudov resisted and it was the Armenian who landed on his back, a 4-point move for Makhmudov.

Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) stormed into the 77kg final in Tokyo. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

DAY 2 RESULTS

Greco-Roman

60kg
GOLD - Luis ORTA SANCHEZ (CUB) df. Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN), 5-1

BRONZE - Sailike WALIHAN (CHN) df. Lenur TEMIROV (UKR), 1-1
BRONZE - Sergey EMELIN (ROC) df. Victor CIOBANU (MDA) by TF, 12-1, 3:53

77kg
SF1 - Tamas LORINCZ (HUN) df. Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI), 6-5
SF2 - Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) df. Karapet CHALYAN (ARM), 6-2

97kg
SF1 - Musa EVLOEV (ROC) df. Tadeusz MICHALIK (POL), 7-1
SF2 - Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) df. Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI), 4-1

130kg
GOLD: Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) df. Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO), 5-0

BRONZE - Riza KAYAALP (TUR) df. Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI), 7-2
BRONZE - Sergei SEMENOV (ROC) df. Yasmani ACOSTA (CHI), 1-1

Women's Wrestling

68kg
SF1 - Tamyra STOCK MENSAH (USA) df. Alla CHERKASOVA (UKR), 10-4
SF2 - Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) df. Battsetseg SORONZONBOLD (MGL), 7-2

76kg
GOLD - Aline ROTTER-FOCKEN (GER) df. Adeline GRAY (USA), 7-3

BRONZE - Yasemin ADAR (TUR) df. Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) by Fall, 1:24 (4-0)
BRONZE - Qian ZHOU (CHN) df. Hiroe MINAGAWA (JPN) by Fall, 2:30 (2-0)

Otoguro, Susaki Give Host Japan Golden Ending to Olympic Wrestling

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Lopez Joins Icho as 4-time Olympic Gold Medalist; Fumita, Gray Fall