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."

#JapanWrestling

Matsuyuki spoils Kagami's mat return; Morikawa downs Ishii

Friday, December 19, 2025 - 14:26 By Ken Marantz

TOKYO (December 19) -- The buzzing that had barely died down from the epic clash of reigning world champions in the previous match turned to gasps when Paris Olympic champion Yuka KAGAMI was dealt a shocking loss to spoil her return to competition.

Yasuha MATSUYUKI notched one of the biggest wins of her career, scoring a buzzer-beating takedown to defeat Kagami 4-2 in the women's 76kg final on the second day of the Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships on Friday.

"I was continually finishing second, so I'm happy to finally win the championship," said Matsuyuki, a longtime fixture on the podium but whose lone previous title came in 2019.

Matsuyuki's victory overshadowed one of the most anticipated matches of the four-day tournament, in which world 65kg champion Miwa MORIKAWA moved up to 68kg and notched a well-earned 5-3 win over Ami ISHII, the reigning world champion in the weight class.

The national championship at Tokyo's Komazawa Gym carries with it additional perks, as it is also serving as the qualifier for the Asian Championships in April, and as one of two qualifiers for the Asian Games and World Championships in the fall.

Yasuha MATSUYUKI, left, fends off Paris Olympic champion Yuka KAGAMI in the women's 76kg final. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

The 26-year-old Matsuyuki has an added incentive to get to the Asian Games, as the event will be held in her native Aichi Prefecture. But getting there will likely mean having to repeat her victory over Kagami at the second domestic qualifier, the Meiji Cup All-Japan Invitational Championships in the late spring.

Whatever her fate, the three-time world age-group bronze medalist can always look back on pride at having defeated an Olympic champion, even if it was in the latter's first competition in 16 months.

"I focused doing what I wanted to do, and keeping the opponent from doing what they wanted to do. In the final in particular, my thought was to keep the points I give up to a minimum," said Matsuyuki, one-half of a set of twin sisters who have a long list of podium finishes at national competitions.

In the final, Kagami took a 2-0 lead into the second period after scoring a stepout while Matsuyuki was on the activity clock.

"When she got her second point, I thought that if I give up any more, that would really put me in a bind," Matsuyuki said. "Anyway, I didn't want to give up any more points. At the very end, I thought only of how to go ahead."

After cutting the gap with an activity point, Matsuyuki was trying to work for an opening as the clocked ticked down and Kagami put up a stiff resistance. Matsuyuki managed to secure a body lock from the side, which Kagami countered with a hard whizzer, leaving the two battling side-by-side on their knees.

Yasuha MATSUYUKI, top, completes the winning takedown in the final seconds of the women's 76kg final. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

With time running out, Matsuyuki, using her decided height advantage, went over the top and slipped a grapevine in from the opposite side. From there, it was a matter of getting her arm out of the whizzer -- which she did with :01 on the clock to the shock of the crowd. The takedown was upheld on challenge, making the final score 4-2.

Asked what was going through her mind during the challenge, Matsuyuki replied, "When I got behind and got my arm out, the clock was still going, so I thought I would be alright."

Kagami, who had been aiming for her fourth career title and first since 2021, has gained quite a national following after her triumph in Paris, affably appearing on a wide range of TV variety shows.

"I'm sorry to everyone who came to support me," Kagami said. "I was thinking about defending the lead."

Reigning world champions Miwa MORIKAWA, left, and Ami ISHII battle in the women's 68kg final. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

The clash between Morikawa and Ishii lived up to its billing, and portends a fierce competition all the way up to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics after both came up short of Paris.

"It's been awhile since I've competed at 68kg, but I decided to move up after the World Championships," Morikawa said. "I think this is a good first step toward Los Angeles."

Morikawa struck first, withstanding Ishii's underhook attack to score a stepout, gain an activity point, then counter a single-leg attempt to get behind for a takedown. Ishii gained a stepout herself to make it 4-1 at the break.

In the second period, Morikawa picked up another stepout, then survived a dicey predicament that could have been far worse. Ishii got in on a low single, which Morikawa countered by reaching to the side and grabbing a leg.

But Ishii managed to step over and pressured her leg into Morikawa's chest, which gained an exposure and put her dangerously close to a fall. Morikawa opted to keep hold of the leg and managed to squirm out of the situation, thus limiting Ishii to just two points.

"If I had let go of the leg, she might have been able to turn me a few times," Morikawa said. "I just tried to avoid the fall, and that kept it to two points."

Morikawa had lost to Ishii in two of three bouts between the two over a six-month span from late 2022 to mid-2023 in the qualifying process for Paris (in which Ishii eventually lost out to Nonoka OZAKI). She knows that she has not seen the last of her rival.

"I know she is a strong opponent," Morikawa said. "She is the world champion, and I had disappointed losses to her before and missed out on Paris.

"I kept believing that if I can give everything I have, the results will come. I do everything that needs to be done, just as my coach [four-time Olympic champion Kaori ICHO] tells me. Today the result was a victory, which is great, but with my win, it means my opponent is going to be training even harder. I have to do the same."

Taishi NARIKUNI, right, knocks Ryoma HOJO temporarily off balance during the Greco 72kg final. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

Narikuni emulates Tanabe, achieves Greco half of two-style double

In the tournament, Olympic weight classes are being competed over two days, while non-Olympic divisions are completed in a single day.

In a case of the latter, Taishi NARIKUNI joined Kaisei TANABE as a winner of a Greco title as part of their attempts to complete the first Greco-freestyle double in over 50 years.

Narikuni gained a second-period takedown that gave him a 3-1 victory over Ryoma HOJO in the 72kg final for his first Greco title at the Emperor's Cup.

"My mind is on tomorrow," Narikuni said when asked how he felt about his victory.

Having previously won the freestyle 70kg title in 2021, he joined a select group of wrestlers who have won titles in both styles over their careers.

But the 2022 world freestyle 70kg champion is looking to complete the double in the same tournament, when he competes in that weight class on Saturday. That hasn't been done since 1973.

In doing so, Narikuni would beat Tanabe to the punch. Tanabe won the Greco 63kg title on Thursday, but to complete the double, he needs a victory in the final at freestyle 65kg -- which won't be until Sunday.

Narikuni's ultimate goal is to win world titles in both styles -- his way of exceeding his mother, who was a two-time world champion. That has caused him to put immense pressure on himself.

"My value will only be recognized if I get it tomorrow," Narikuni said. "If I don't make it, entering this tournament will be meaningless."

Taizo YOSHIDA, right, gets a grip on Daisei ISOE, but is unable to complete the lift. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

In other finals, teen phenom Taizo YOSHIDA, a senior world bronze medalist at Greco 82kg, made a successful move up to 87kg, defeating Nippon Sports Science University teammate Daisei ISOE 6-1.

The weight difference might have been seen in Yoshida's inability to complete a lift, but he was never in danger of losing after combining three stepouts and a go-behind takedown for his second senior national title.

At freestyle 61kg, former world bronze medalist Toshihiro HASEGAWA won his first Emepror's Cup title in four years with a 14-4 victory over world U23 bronze medalist Akito MUKAIDA.

In a rematch of the final from the Meiji Cup last June won by Hasegawa, he gave up a pair of takedowns in the first period to trail 4-0 going into the second. But fate dealt Mukaida a heavy blow, as Hasegawa caught him with an ankle-low single, then went right to the lace lock. Mukaida appeared to suffer a knee injury as Hasegawa easily rolled him six times.

Teenager Yamato OGAWA, a 2023 world U17 champion, became the sixth different champion in six years at freestyle 57kg, overcoming a five-point deficit in the second period to defeat Fuga SASAKI 6-5.

Ogawa's comeback featured a 4-point arm throw as he won in a weight class that was missing, among others, the U.S.-based pair of defending champion Rin SAKAMOTO and former world 61kg champion Masanosuke ONO.

Arash YOSHIDA completes a takedown to the back against Toyoki HAMADA in their freestyle 97kg semifinal. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

Yoshida powers into final

In Olympic weight classes that were run up to the semifinals, rising star Arash YOSHIDA set himself up for a three-peat at freestyle 97kg by advancing to Saturday's final.

With entries limited in the division he now dominates, the 21-year-old Yoshida received a forfeit that put him directly into the semifinals, where he demolished Toyoki HAMADA by fall after building an 11-1 lead.

In the final, Yoshida will face high schooler Noah LEIBOWITZ in a rematch of the gold-medal match at the Meiji Cup that Yoshida won by fall. The match will be sort of a proxy fight between Iran and the United States, given that their fathers are natives of those wrestling powerhouses, respectively.

A victory would cap a breakout year for Yoshida, highlighted by his bronze medal at the senior World Championships in Zagreb. He also won the senior Asian and world U23 titles.

Meanwhile, the irrepressible Sohsuke TAKATANI, who won 12 consecutive titles over four freestyle weight classes from 74kg to 92kg starting in 2011, earned a shot at his first in three years by making the final at 86kg.

Takatani, now 36 and the head coach at Takushoku University, edged Tatsuya SHIRAI 2-1 in the semifinals, with all of the points scored on the activity clock. In the final, he will take on Kodai TAKAHASHI, an 8-2 winner over Natsura OKAZAWA.

Ironically, both Takatani and Takahashi have seen their younger brothers outshine them of late. Daichi TAKATANI won the 74kg silver medal in Paris, while Kota TAKAHASHI struck gold at the Zagreb worlds in the same weight class.

At women's 53kg, defending champion Moe KIYOOKA dealt Tokyo Olympic champion Mayu SHIDOCHI another setback in her return from a hiatus for marriage and childbirth, scoring takedowns in both periods in a 5-2 victory in the semifinals.

In the final, she will face 2023 world U23 55kg champion Umi IMAI, a 5-0 winner over Saki YUMIYA. Kiyooka will be aiming for a fourth straigt national crown, having won back-to-back at 55kg in 2022 and 2023.

World champion Haruna MURAYAMA OKUNO is skipping the tournament.

An enticing final was set up at Greco 60kg, in which Yu SHIOTANI, a former world bronze medalist and the 2021 Emperor's Cup champion at 55kg, will face current world U23 champion Koto GOMI.

Shiotani, a two-time Asian champion who won the Tirana Ranking Series event in February, advanced with a 5-2 victory over Takuma NAKASHIMA. Gomi knocked off 2023 Asian Games silver medalist and three-time former champion Ayata SUZUKI 9-4.

Day 2 Results

Freestyle

57kg (18 entries)
GOLD: Yamato OGAWA df. Fuga SASAKI, 6-5

BRONZE: Kento YUMIYA df. Kentaro KAWANO by TF, 11-0, 1:48
BRONZE: Rikuto NAGAI df. Yamato FURUSAWA, 8-4

61kg (20 entries)
GOLD: Toshihiro HASEGAWA df. Akito MUKAIDA by TF, 14-4, 4:51
BRONZE: Shosuke TAKASUGI df. Atsushi KATO, 2-1
BRONZE: Meiryu AKAMINE df. Kodai OGAWA, 4-0

SF 1: Toshihiro HASEGAWA df. Atsushi KATO by Fall, 2:59 (7-0)
SF 2: Akito MUKAIDA df. Kodai OGAWA, 9-4

86kg (10 entries)
SF 1: Kodai TAKAHASHI df. Natsura OKAZAWA, 8-2
SF 2: Sohsuke TAKATANI df. Tatsuya SHIRAI, 2-1

97kg (8 entries)
SF 1: Arash YOSHIDA df. Toyoki HAMADA by Fall, 2:07 (11-1)
SF 2: Noah LEIBOWITZ df. Keita KOBAYASHI by TF, 10-0, :32

125kg (10 entries)
GOLD: Taiki YAMAMOTO df. Taira SONODA, 3-0

BRONZE: Hosei FUJITA df. Akinari ORIYAMA, 4-0
BRONZE: Hibiki ITO df. Yuta MITSUHASHI by TF, 10-0, 1:22

Greco-Roman

60kg (16 entries)
SF 1: Yu SHIOTANI df. Takuma NAKASHIMA, 5-2
SF 2: Koto GOMI df. Ayata SUZUKI, 9-4

72kg (18 entries)
GOLD: Taishi NARIKUNI df. Ryoma HOJO, 3-1
BRONZE: Rintaro SOGABE df. Takara FUKUSAWA, 6-0
BRONZE: Takeru KOZUKA df. Rei NAGAMATSU, 10-6

SF 1: Taishi NARIKUNI df. Takara FUKUSAWA by Fall, 1:51 (4-0)
SF 2: Ryoma HOJO df. Takeru KOZUKA by TF, 9-0, 2:01

87kg (9 entries)
GOLD: Taizo YOSHIDA df. Daisei ISOE, 6-1

BRONZE: Genki YAHAGI df. Takahiro MURAYAMA, 4-3
BRONZE: Chihiro MOTOHASHI df. Takahiro INAMOTO by Fall, 2:02 (6-1)

97kg (16 entries)
GOLD: Takahiro TSURUTA df. Yuri NAKAZATO, 1-1

BRONZE: Atsuki CHIDA df. Koki MATSUMOTO, 3-2
BRONZE: Kanta SHIOKAWA df. Sorato NAKAZAWA, 7-5

130kg (9 entries)
SF 1: Yuta NARA df. Ayumu IWASAWA by TF, 9-0, 2:07
SF 2: Shion OBATA df. Sota OKUMURA, 3-3

Women's Wrestling

53kg (10 entries)
SF 1: Moe KIYOOKA df. Mayu SHIDOCHI, 5-2
SF 2: Umi IMAI df. Saki YUMIYA, 5-0

59kg (19 entries)
GOLD: Sena NAGAMOTO df. Sae NANJO, 3-2
BRONZE: Konami ONO df. Sae NOGUCHI by Inj. Def.
BRONZE: Yuri KOSHIBA df. Hiyori MOTOKI, 6-4

SF 1: Sena NAGAMOTO df. Sae NOGUCHI by TF, 10-0, 3:10
SF 2: Sae NANJO df. Hiyori MOTOKI by TF, 10-0, 1:06

68kg (8 entries)
GOLD: Miwa MORIKAWA df. Ami ISHII, 5-3

BRONZE: Momoko KITADE df. Kaede MATSUYAMA, 5-3
BRONZE: Ray HOSHINO df. Rua YOKOYAMA by Fall, 1:51 (8-0)

76kg (8 entries)
GOLD: Yasuha MATSUYUKI df. Yuka KAGAMI, 4-2

BRONZE: Nodoka YAMAMOTO df. Sakura NAKANO by Fall, 2:08 (10-0)
BRONZE: Mahiru FUJITA df. Makoto KOMADA by TF, 10-0, 3:50

Pakistan's Inam Reaches for Beach Wrestling Glory

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Matsuyuki spoils Kagami's mat return; Morikawa downs Ishii