Pakistan's Inam Reaches for Beach Wrestling Glory

Friday, March 27, 2020 - 15:39 By Vinay Siwach

Muhammad Inam had never been to the beach. His hometown of Gujranwala is a hamlet, landlocked enclave in the northeast corner of Pakistan. For Inam the ocean, the salty air, and the wave pounded sands of the beach were nothing more than fantasy.

That was until Inam was entered to compete in the 80+ kg beach wrestling category during the 2014 Asian Beach Games in Phuket, Thailand. There Inam tasted the salt air, but also defeat.

A star wrestler in Pakistan having won Commonwealth Games gold medal in 2010, Inam finished with a bronze medal in Phuket. For a man of his stature and ability, Inam thought, a bronze medal was an underachievement.

But it was also an opportunity.

Inam decided that in the coming beach games and championships he’d be more prepared than his opponents and decided to include beach wrestling in his daily mat training and lifting routines.

"The closest beach for us was 1,300 kilometres away in Karachi," Inam said. "Going there is not possible as I have an akhara [wrestling centre] here. Pakistan's wrestling lives Gujranwala."

Muhammad INAM (PAK) and friends pose together next to the sandpit they constructed with the sand from a nearby lake.

With the help of his teammates, Inam traveled to a nearby lake and extracted sand to bring back to his akhara. Once collected he constructed a small circular practice pit.

The idea of making a sand pit for wrestling struck when he returned from Phuket and failed to find a similar training area close-by.

"I brought the sand from ponds and lakes and then made a circular ring at my center," he said. "I practice here daily. It's not costly and the young kids enjoy playing on the sand. It does not hurting them so they like the environment."

"I cannot wrestle everyday so we have small activities like beach volleyball or beach football. But I am on that sand for two hours a day so I get that feeling. My muscles get used to it."

His participation in mud wrestling competitions also grew as he wanted to increase his stamina. In 2016, Inam traveled to Vietnam for the Asian Beach Games. He returned home with a gold medal in the 90kg after beating Mohammad Sadati of Iran in the final. Out of the five bouts in the tournament, he did not concede a single point while scoring 17 of his own.

Muhammad INAM (PAK) edged Pejman Fazlollah TABAR NAGHRACHI (IRI) 2-1, and became Pakistan's first-ever wrestling world champion. (Photo: Max Rose-Fyne)

A year later, Inam became Pakistan's first-ever world champion in any form of wrestling. In Dalyan, Turkey, Inam captured the gold medal after beating Pejman Fazlollah TABAR NAGHRACHI (IRI) 2-1 in the final.

He returned to Turkey in 2018 to successfully defended his 90kg title by beating Irakli MTSITURI (GEO). In the two World Championships combined, Inam conceded only three points. His run in 2018 included four victories by fall including the final.

Hailed as the finest wrestler in Pakistan, Inam has kept his struggle going looking forward the newly minted 2019 Beach Wrestling World Series – a prize money event that touched on four location around the world. And after that a chance at the World Beach Games in Doha.

After making the pit at his wrestling centre, he practiced in that for two hours a day to adapt to the beach sand. This was not entirely new for him as he had been wrestling on mud since he was 10-years-old.

"Pakistan and India have mud wrestling and that is the base of this beach wrestling as well," he said. "My great grandfather wrestled, do did my grandfather and then my father. All of them were wrestlers in dangals so that is what helped me be good at beach wrestling."

Both the South Asian countries have traditional wrestling competitions on mud with a circular boundary, like in beach wrestling. In mud wrestling or dangals the winner is declared when one of the wrestler touches both shoulders of his opponents on the ground, a rule similar to beach.

With the easy rules and experience of competing in mud wrestling tournaments since he was a teenager, Inam knew that he has a bright chance of excelling in beach wrestling.

"I was always a mud wrestler. Pakistan had only five mats in the whole country," he said. "I would go around wrestling dangals and in 2014 I won the bronze medal at Asian Beach Games and I told myself that this is what I can be best at.

"It was a weird feeling as I was very comfortable on the sand. I had no problem find a grip in the sand because I had always practiced in mud."

Inam, a senior superintendent at the Gujranwala Electric Power Company, explains that his success on beach revolves around the fact that he decided to do what international wrestlers do on mat.

Muhammad INAM (PAK) and members of his team stand next to their makeshift sandpit.

"It's like the side are flipped. Earlier, I used to practice for mat competitions for one month prior to competition," he said. "The Georgia, Iran and Russia wrestlers would be practicing on mat throughout the year. But now, I am practicing beach wrestling for 12 months while the mat wrestlers are practicing only a one month before the competition."

With that confidence, he wanted to win the gold medal at the World Ranking Series Final in Zagreb, Croatia this year but an unexpected problem denied him the opportunity.

"I could not get a visa to Croatia because Pakistan does not have that an embassy there," he said. "I have been dealing with such troubles for a long time."

Despite being held out of the last event for the Beach Wrestling World Series, Inam still had his sties placed on winning gold at the World Beach Games as he was the only Pakistani athlete to qualify for the Games and therefore felt more pressure to win.

Inam was drawn in a tough Group B that also had 2012 London Olympics bronze medalist Dato Marsagishvili (GEO), among wrestlers from Azerbaijan, Turkey and Portugal. He began the day with a quick win over Kanan ALIYEV (AZE).

Next up was Murat Ozkan of Turkey. Inam was tested more than his first bout the results was not different. A 1-0 win was enough to keep him on track to reach the knockout stages. But before that, Inam had a tough one to crack in the group itself.

Dato Marsagishvili (GEO), the winner of 2019 Beach Wrestling World Series Final and the only wrestler to beat Inam on beach in last two years, was up next.

Perhaps Inam was waiting for it. The bout saw a lot of action however no wrestler was able to break the deadlock for the first two minutes. It was only in the final minute that Marsagishvili was awarded a point as Inam was warned for an eye poke. Inam did not agree with the decision but had no option but to continue. In the dying seconds of the bout, Inam scored a go-behind to win the 1-1 and avenge his earlier loss.

Inam comfortably topped the group after beating Adao ANDRADE (POR) 3-0 and reached the semi-finals. Marsagishvili also made it to the last-four as a result of his second-place in the group.

As fate would have it, both wrestler won the semi-finals. Inam defeated Pedro GARCIA (ESP) 3-0 while Marsagishvili got the better of Mihai PALAGHIA (ROU) 4-0. The two were now set for a third bout inside five months. Marsagishvili had taken the first win 2-0 at the Beach Wrestling World Series stop in Rio de Janeiro in May. Inam won the bout in the group stages in Doha. The stage was set for the third bout of the rivalry in Doha with the gold medal at the inaguaral World Beach Games on line.

Muhammad INAM (PAK) downed London Olympic bronze medalist Dato Marsagishvili (GEO), 5-3, in the World Beach Games finals. (Photo: Theo Lowenstein)

Marsagashvili build a two-point lead with two single-point takedowns. Inam roared back with two of his own to lead 2-2 on criteria and knew he has to play the clock for the last 40 seconds to win the gold medal.

Marsagashvili wanted to avenge his loss to Inam earlier in the day. In a desperate move in the closing seconds of the bout, he tried to trip Inam for the win but it was the latter who managed to balance himself and exposed Marsagishvili's back. Inam was awarded three points and the top medal.

"I have wrestled him before and I knew what I lacked in that bout in Rio," Inam said. "I loved winning in Doha because everyone was shouting in the arena and I was wrestling for Pakistan. The bout was so tough and to win it after a comeback gave me more joy. I cannot explain the atmosphere that day."

Back home, he was given a hero's welcome. Everyone wanted a piece of Inam and he had interviews lined-up with channels for several days.

After a successful campaign in Doha, Inam is hoping that beach wrestling can be included in the Olympic program for 2024 Games in Paris. Though he will be 35-years-old by then, he wants to win a wrestling medal for Pakistan which last won an Olympic medal in the sport back in 1960 Games in Rome.

Muhammad INAM (PAK) celebrates after winning the World Beach Games gold medal. (Photo: Theo Lowenstein)

"Beach wrestling will keep growing as it's so easy for both wrestlers and crowd," he said. "It is viewer friendly and only three minutes long. The rules are you need to touch a wrestler's back on the ground to win. This rule in common in all dangals across Pakistan and India and most wrestling styles around the world. If not that then push out your opponent to win."

"Freestyle and Greco-Roman is different because there are typical rules. The aggressive wrestler is also going down on his back and people get confuse as to why he is being awarded points when he is down on his back."

Olympic glory would definitely bring more money and fame for Inam but he thinks it will help wrestling, which is currently 'neglected' in the country. Though the boys still practice at the few centers that are left in the countries, Inam thinks it unfortunate that Pakistan could not build a women's wrestling team.

Freestyle wrestling is yet to pick up in Pakistan while belt wrestling is seen as the more acceptable form of the sport. Inam, however, thinks that beach wrestling can pick up in Pakistan and women will also be able to take up the sport.

"Pakistan has women's teams of karate, judo, taekwondo and even cricket. So why not wrestling?" he asks. "Beach wrestling is amazing to remove these culture problems and oppression which are same for everyone.

"If they are allowed in other sports, then allow them in wrestling as well. For gender equality, it is the best way to start. I think girls should be free to think if they want to go into sports. World has changed and with that we have to change and allow girls in wrestling."

#WrestleBelgrade

Susaki storms to third world gold at 50kg

Wednesday, September 14, 2022 - 20:27 By Ken Marantz

BELGRADE, Serbia (Sept. 14)--Yui SUSAKI (JPN), taking the international stage for the first time since her Olympic triumph last year, picked up right where she left off. Confident, cat-like quick and as dominant as ever.

Susaki stormed to her third world title with a first-period fall over Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) in the 50kg final on Wednesday, the first of four women's finals on the fifth day of the World Championships in Belgrade.

"I'm really happy I could be at a tournament again on this stage," said Susaki, who added to the world golds she won in 2017 and 2018. "This is a tournament where I knew I could become the world champion if I went into each and every match looking to have fun and give my all while doing my wrestling. I think I achieved my objective, so I have a good feeling."

Powerhouse Japan got a second gold later in the night when Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) upgraded the silver medal at 65kg that she won a year ago in Oslo, while Olympic bronze medalist Yasemin ADAR (TUR) won her second world title at 76kg and unheralded Dominique PARRISH (USA) emerged victorious from a wide-open field at 53kg in her senior world debut.

Yui SUSAKI (JPN) pinned Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) in the 50kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andoonov)

Susaki, who has yet to lose to a non-Japanese opponent in her career, ravaged the field with four wins by either fall or technical fall, naturally without conceding a point. Showing her ability to adjust on the fly, she prevailed in the final despite not being able to secure a tackle or her trademark lace lock.

Susaki gained two points against 2021 bronze medalist Dolgorjav with a front headlock roll, which she then transitioned into an exposure situation that put the Mongolian onto her back. Applying the pressure, the fall came in 1:24.

"I summoned my courage and wanted to go on the offensive, so it was good that I was able to do that," Susaki said.

Susaki takes her most recent triumph with a grain of salt, as some of her fiercest rivals were missing from the competition, most notably four-time Olympic medalist Mariya STADNIK (AZE) and Asian rival Yanan SUN (CHN).

"Stadnik, Sun Yanan, the ones I faced in the Olympics didn't enter, so I definitely wanted to win in a dominant way and take the title," she said. "The fact that I achieved that, it was a good tournament leading to the Paris Olympics."

As much as fans have come to expect Susaki to be dominant, she again claimed that she can achieve an even higher level. "I realized several things here, and I want to get back to Japan soon and start practicing to get stronger," she said.

Asked what part of her game she needs to address, Susaki replied: "Tackling is my strong point. I need to find a way to break through when the opponent ties up, so I can get in on more tackles and that will lead to more points. So I want to work on that."

Having graduated from Waseda University last March, Susaki was presented with an ideal environment that allows her to pursue the sport full-time in her bid for an Olympic repeat in Paris in 2024.

Susaki became an "employee" of Kitz Corporation, a major valve-maker located in her home prefecture of Chiba. That allows her to train full-time, mostly at the National Training Center, where she was a product of the JOC Elite Academy. It has also expanded her already swollen fan base.

"This time, I was supported by my company Kitz," Susaki said. "Since finishing college and joining Kitz, the number of people supporting me has increased. That has given me energy and gives me a reason to work hard. I am even more motivated to get stronger."

For those who can't get enough of the 23-year-old dynamo, they won't have to wait long to see her in action. She plans to enter the World U23 Championships next month in Spain, with the mission of securing a historical victory.

"The U23 title is one I don't have yet," she said. "I'm not sure, but I think I would be the first to win the five titles of world cadet, junior, U23 and senior and the Olympics. I want to do that. Next month, I will prepare earnestly to get stronger and win it."

Susaki has been beaten only three times since junior high school, and all by the same opponent, Yuki IRIE (JPN). One of those losses kept her from defending her world title in 2019, and she, like all of Japan's Olympic medalists, skipped the 2021 tournament.

Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) shoots for Jia LONG (CHN) leg in the 65kg final. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Morikawa picked up Japan's fourth women's gold of the tournament by holding on for a 2-0 victory over Jia LONG (CHN) in a 65kg final that left her a mixture of happy and disappointed.

In what could be regarded as a de facto Asian final -- China skipped this year's Asian Championships, where Morikawa won the gold -- the Japanese prevailed by scoring a stepout and an activity point in the first period.

"As far as the way the match went, I’m not very satisfied," Morikawa said. "To win the gold and not give up a point was good. But overall, it was really poor. I feel I'm still lacking ability. I give myself a 50 [out of 100]."

Morikawa will also be in Pontevedra, Spain, for the World U23, where she will bid farewell to the 65kg class as she decides which Olympic weight class to move into, most likely 68kg.

"My goal is to take a lap [on the mat] with the Japanese flag at the Paris Olympics," she said.

Morikawa certainly has a positive support system. She trains at her alma mater of Nippon Sports Science University, from which she graduated in March and often practices with men and one of her coaches is four-time Olympic champion Kaori ICHO (JPN).

Yasemin ADAR (TUR) won her second world title at 76kg. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

In the 76kg final, Adar was holding her own against a tough Samar HAMZA (EGY) when she unleashed a 4-point front headlock with :10 left to put an exclamation point on a 6-0 victory.

"I am very, very happy, I can not put it into words," said Adar, who won her fifth European title earlier this year. "I am an idol in women's wrestling in Turkey and that makes me proud, there will be many good wrestlers after me and if I can be an example, it makes me proud. This is my second world title, I had promised my family that I will bring the belt home."

Adar received an activity point in the first period, then scored a stepout in the second. As Hamza went in for a desperate tackle, Adar hit her big move. Hamza, who became Egypt's first-ever female to make a world final, will take home the silver to go with the bronze she won last year in Oslo.

Dominique PARRISH (USA) celebrates after winning the 53kg world title. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 53kg, Parrish was trailing 2-2 on criteria when she avoided a trip by Asian silver medalist Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) and slipped around the back for a takedown and a 4-2 victory.

"I know that nobody is going to outgas me," said Parrish, who was at the Tokyo Olympics as a training partner. "Before the finals, I was telling myself, no fear, fast feet, active hands. Definitely, when I stepped on that mat, I was not scared. I knew it was going to be tough but having the freedom to let myself go."

In the mixed zone, Pan Am champion Parrish addressed the elephant in the room -- the absence of 2021 world champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN), who was a late withdrawal from the tournament after suffering a foot injury in practice.

"The next two years, she is the target," Parrish said. " They [Japan] are always the target for the women's team. Not that any country is not, but Japan is always disciplined in its stance and techniques. We are going to pick them apart and beat them."

Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) wrestles Emilia VUC (ROU) in the 50kg bronze medal bout. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Hildebrandt survives mat scare to take bronze

In the bronze-medal matches, Olympic bronze medalist Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) had a scary incident that seemed to leave her momentarily unconscious but managed to come back to defeat Emilia VUC (ROU) by a 10-0 technical fall in 5:40.

Hildebrandt, the 2021 silver medalist, scored all of her points with takedowns. It was after the second one that Vuc applied a vicious front headlock and turned Hildebrandt over. But when the American was unresponsive, the referee stopped the match as her coach leaped to the mat to assist her, bringing a hush to the Stark Arena crowd.

After a few tense minutes, Hildebrandt said she was alright to continue. Vuc lost her points for the dangerous hold, and Hildebrandt gained another takedown before the break. She then got two more in the second period to end the match and add to her two world silvers.

The other 50kg bronze went to Anna LUKASIAK (POL), who came up with a 2-point exposure as she was receiving an activity point with :20 left to edge Miesinnei GENESIS (NGR) 3-2.

Ecuador had two chances to win its first-ever world medal, but both Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU) at 53kg and Genesis REASCO (ECU) at 76kg were denied.

Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) gave up two quick-fire takedowns to Yepez Guzman, but after stopping a roll attempt for two, she locked onto the laces and three rolls one way and two more the other gave her a 14-4 technical fall in 1:44.

Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) defeated European champion Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) to win the 53kg bronze medal. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

The other 53kg bronze went to eight-time Asian medalist Vinesh PHOGAT (IND), who put up a stiff wall of defense and scored on counters against European champion Emma MALMGREN (SWE). Phogat also scored on the two occasions when she went on the offensive to notch an 8-0 victory to add to the world bronze she won in 2019.

Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) spoiled the Ecuadorian party when she scraped out a 4-0 victory over Reasco. Kagami, the 2019 world junior champion making her senior debut, got a stepout, activity point and a defensive takedown in the first period, then held off Reasco to add another medal to the Japanese tally.

The other 76kg bronze went to Epp MAE (EST), who scored a stepout with :27 left to defeat 2018 world champion Justina DI STASIO (CAN) and secure her fifth career world medal.

At 65kg, the United States got another bronze when Mallory VELTE (USA) routed Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL) 11-2 for her second world medal, while Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) edged Elis MANOLOVA (AZE) 3-2 for her third.

Amit ELOR (USA) reached the 72kg final in her first senior appearance. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Teen Elor joins elite American compatriots in finals

In the semifinals held earlier in the night session, teenager Amit ELOR (USA) stunned defending champion Masako FURUICHI (JPN) 3-2 to join two of her highly decorated compatriots in the finals held Thursday night.

The 18-year-old Elor, coming off winning a second straight world U20 title a month ago in Sofia, scored a first-period takedown, then added a second-period activity point. Furuichi finally got the takedown she so desperately sought with :05 left but had insufficient time to turn her.

"I was just like, is this real?" Elor said. "I was waiting for this, but it’s not over until tomorrow night."

Elor said she stuck with the game plan that gave her wins in her first two matches by technical fall and fall. "My style is putting a lot of pressure and not giving my opponents any space," she said. "It was close but in the end, it worked out."

In the final, Elor will face last year's runner-up to Furuichi, Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), who had a pair of 4-point moves in powering to a 12-2 technical fall over Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) in 3:55.

Elor's victory came after current and former world champions Helen MAROULIS (USA) at 57kg and Tamyra MENSAH STOCK (USA) at 68kg booked their spots in the finals by bringing their bouts to early ends.

"It’s really inspirational, but it’s also very stressful that I am on their level," Elor said.

Japan had wrestlers in all four semifinals, but only prevailed twice -- and those two face the daunting task of taking on Maroulis and Mensah Stock in the finals.

At 57kg, defending champion Maroulis will aim for a fourth world gold when she takes on Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN), the 55kg champion a year ago in Oslo. She moved up to the Olympic weight class to get an early start on challenging Tokyo champion Risako KAWAI (JPN) for a spot at Paris 2024.

In the semifinals, Maroulis used an ankle pick to send 2021 bronze medalist Davaachimeg ERKHEMBAYAR (MGL) to her back and secure a fall at 5:20. Sakurai, this year's Asian champion, had little trouble in disposing of Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) by 10-0 technical fall in 4:47.

Maroulis has a long history of facing the Japanese in big matches. She shocked three-time Olympic champion Saori YOSHIDA (JPN) in the final at the 2016 Rio Olympics in what proved to be Yoshida's final match of her career. Five years later at the Tokyo Olympics, she fell to Kawai in the semifinals and had to settle for a bronze medal.

At 68kg, Olympic champion Mensah Stock swept away 2021 world 65kg champion Irina RINGACI (MDA) and will next face teenager Ami ISHII (JPN) in a bid to add to the world title she won in 2019.

Mensah Stock scored three takedowns, getting between the legs on the second one to add a pair of exposures, and cruised to a 10-0 technical fall in 2:29. Ishii, like Elor a gold medalist at the world U20 last month, needed a late takedown to edge Nisha DAHIYA (IND) 5-4.

At 59kg, Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) failed to join Ikuei University teammates Ishii and Sakurai in the finals when she dropped a 7-5 nail-biter to Anastasia NICHITA (MDA), who used her long limbs to her advantage.

Nichita led 4-1 when Motoki, another world U20 champion last month, roared back with a takedown and roll to go ahead. But Nichita managed to reverse Motoki to her back at the end of the roll, putting her ahead 6-4. An unsuccessful challenge of a last-second stepout attempt added the final point.

At the Tokyo Olympics, Nichita suffered a heartbreaking loss in the quarterfinals, when Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL) hit a last-second 4-point lateral drop for a 6-3 victory.

In the final, Nichita will face Grace BULLEN (NOR), who assured herself a first world medal in four attempts when she forged out a 5-3 win over Jowita WRZESIEN (POL).

Day 5 Results

Women's Wrestling

50kg (22 entries)
Gold - Yui SUSAKI (JPN) df. Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) by Fall, 1:24 (4-0)

Bronze - Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) df. Emilia VUC (ROU) by TF, 10-0, 5:40
Bronze - Anna LUKASIAK (POL) df. Miesinnei GENESIS (NGR), 3-2

53kg (23 entries)
Gold - Dominique PARRISH (USA) df. Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL), 4-2

Bronze - Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) df. Emma MALMGREN (SWE), 8-0
Bronze - Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) df. Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU) by TF, 14-4, 1:44

57kg (19 entries)
Semifinal - Helen MAROULIS (USA) df. Davaachimeg ERKHEMBAYAR (MGL) by Fall, 5:20 (7-1)
Semifinal - Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) df. Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) by TF, 10-0, 4:47

59kg (14 entries)
Semifinal - Grace BULLEN (NOR) df. Jowita WRZESIEN (POL), 5-3
Semifinal - Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) df. Sakura MOTOKI (JPN), 7-5

65kg (14 entries)
Gold - Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) df. Jia LONG (CHN), 2-0

Bronze - Mallory VELTE (USA) df. Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL), 11-2
Bronze - Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) df. Elis MANOLOVA (AZE), 3-2

68kg (23 entries)
Semifinal - Ami ISHII (JPN) df. Nisha DAHIYA (IND), 5-4
Semifinal - Tamyra MENSAH STOCK (USA) df. Irina RINGACI (MDA) by TF, 10-0, 2:29

72kg (14 entries)
Semifinal - Amit ELOR (USA) df. Masako FURUICHI (JPN), 3-2
Semifinal - Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) df. Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) by TF, 12-2, 3:55

76kg (25 entries)
Gold - Yasemin ADAR (TUR) df. Samar HAMZA (EGY), 6-0

Bronze - Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) df. Genesis REASCO (ECU), 4-0
Bronze - Epp MAE (EST) df. Justina DI STASIO (CAN), 2-1

Pakistan's Inam Reaches for Beach Wrestling Glory

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Susaki storms to third world gold at 50kg