Asian Schoolgirls

Rising Star Fujinami Leads Japan Gold Rush at Asian U-15 Girls

Friday, November 16, 2018 - 18:03 By Ken Marantz

Share this article

FUJIMI, Japan---Having already surpassed her world medalist brother in one aspect, Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) continues to establish herself as a likely future star in Japan's women wrestling.

Fujinami, a junior high schooler who this summer became a world cadet champion, stormed to victory in the 54kg division to lead a gold rush by the host country at the Asian U-15 Girls Championships on Friday in Fujimi, north of Tokyo.

Fujinami was one of six Japanese who made it to the top of the medal podium in the 10 weight classes, with Miu OBATA (39kg),  Yu SAKAMOTO (46kg), Moe KIYOOKA (50kg), Kanami YAMANOUCHI (58kg) and Ayano MORO (62kg) also emerging victorious. Japan also won two silver medals.

India claimed three golds, including a victory at 42kg by world cadet bronze medalist SWEETY (IND), along with three silvers and a bronze, while Uzbekistan took the remaining title in the heaviest weight of 66kg as well as four bronzes. It was a bittersweet day for Mongolia, which had to settle for four silver medals to go with one bronze.

Japan, which did not have an entry in the lightest weight class of 33kg, easily won the team title with 202 points, followed by India (181),  Kazakhstan (125), Mongolia (114) and Uzbekistan (105).

As the tournament, the first for the continent in this age category, drew entries from just eight countries---China was noticeably missing---all of the weight classes featured round-robin groups. In divisions with six or more, there were two groups to determine semifinals spots, concluding with a gold-medal match.

Fujinami's weight class had just four entries, so the ranking was determined after each wrestler faced each other in a simple round-robin. Fujinami's domination was complete, as she needed less than a combined three minutes to vanquish her three opponents by fall or technical fall.

"Even if the matches are won easily, there are issues I want to address," Fujinami said. "Today, I wanted to work on going right into turning over [the opponent] after making a tackle. I achieved that up to an extent, but I'm not there yet."

Three of the six weight classes that had finals featured clashes between Japan and India, and none was a close as the victory by India's Sweety at 42kg.

Facing Miwa MAGARA (JPN), Sweety gave up a takedown and an exposure to fall behind 4-0 in the first of the two 2-minute periods. But using the counter-wrestling that Indian wrestlers have become so successful at, she gained a go-behind takedown to cut the lead to two points.

Magara stayed on the attack and, with the clock ticking down, Sweety managed to fend off a tackle and slip behind with :02 left in the match to win 4-4 on last-point criteria.

"I was thinking only about the gold medal," Sweety said of those tenuous final seconds.

In the next match, Sakamoto gained some payback for the hosts by pulling away in the second period to defeat ANTIM (IND), 10-2, in the 46kg final.

Sakamoto, who won a gold medal in the Klippan Lady Open cadet tournament in February, took a 2-2 lead into the second period, then used a cradle to tack on four points. She then added an exposure and a takedown to finish up the win.

"I was able to do what I practiced in the first match, second match and third match [semifinal]," said Sakamoto, who attends the Japan Olympic Committee's Elite Academy. "But I let [my opponent] get away in the fourth match which was for the title."

India's other golds came at 33kg, which had just two entries and saw Pooja RANI (IND) defeat Anna NAZARENKO (KAZ) by 11-0 technical fall, and at 36kg, in which KOMAL (IND) rallied from a 0-6 deficit to defeat Fuka KONDO (JPN) 6-6 on last-point criteria in the third of her four round-robin matches.

Uzbekistan broke up the Japan-India gold monopoly when Rushana ABDIRASULOVA (UZB) took the 66kg title, winning three of her four matches by fall. She beat runner-up Davaajargal ALTANSUKH (MGL), 8-2, in her third match of the round-robin.

For Fujinami, who turned 15 on Nov. 11, it was her eighth gold medal in eight domestic and international tournaments this year---four of which were at the cadet (16-17) level and which included the world 49kg title in July in Zagreb.

"I go in with the feeling of being the challenger," Fujinami said of taking on high school-aged opponents. "From now, I will be in the position of the one being followed, but I aim to win and become champion of Japan."

Fujinami, who hails from the same Mie Prefecture that produced Saori YOSHIDA, started wrestling at age 4 in the Inabe Wrestling Club coached by her father. The Inabe club also was the launching point for her brother Yuhi FUJINAMI (JPN), who won a bronze medal in freestyle 70kg at the 2017 Paris world championships (this year he failed to medal at 74kg), as well as Paris gold medalist Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN).

Before making his mark on the senior level, Yuhi Fujinami was a world silver medalist as both a cadet and junior. By winning the first of possibly three world cadet golds, Akari has already bested her beloved brother, who is 7 years her senior but serves as a trusted coach and friend.

"Before tournaments, we exchange messages, and he teaches me techniques," Akari said. "If I have to say, right now he's a 'rival.' I'm like, I don't want to lose to him." She added that she respects what he has accomplished, saying, "I see with him, when you become a senior how tough it is to be third [in the world]."

Prior to her victory in Zagreb, her cadet titles came at Klippan Lady Open, the Japan Queen's Cup in April and the Asian Championships in Tashkent in May.

Fujinami, who will graduate from junior high school in March, will not be eligible to compete at the All-Japan Championships until she is 18. But that doesn't stop her from eyeing the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Off to a good start, time will tell if she can keep clearing the hurdles along the path to the ultimate goal of every wrestler.

Results
33kg (2 entries)

Final: Pooja RANI (IND) df. Anna NAZARENKO (KAZ) by TF, 11-0, 1:39

36kg (5 entries)
1st place: KOMAL (IND), 4-0
2nd place: Fuka KONDO (JPN), 3-1
3rd place: Kumushai ZHOODANBEKOVA (KGZ), 2-2

Key Match: KOMAL (IND) df. Fuka KONDO (JPN) 6-6 in 4th round

39kg (5 entries)
1st place: Miu OBATA (JPN), 4-0
2nd place: PINKI (IND), 3-1
3rd place: Nigina SABIROVA (UZB), 2-2

Key Match: Miu OBATA (JPN) df. PINKI (IND), 12-5 in 5th round

42kg (6 entries)
Final: SWEETY (IND) df. Miwa MAGARA (JPN), 4-4

3rd Place: Shugyla OMIRBEK (KAZ) df. Mushtariy TOLIPBEKOVA (UZB), 4-2

46kg (7 entries)
Final: Yu SAKAMOTO (JPN) df. ANTIM (IND), 10-2

3rd Place: Dilshoda MATNAZAROVA (UZB) df. LIAO Pei-Ying (TPE), 8-0

50kg (7 entries)
Final: Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) df. Khulan BYAMBASUREN (MGL), 3-0

3rd Place: Ulmeken ESENBAEVA (UZB) df. Altyn SHAGAYEVA (KAZ), 2-2

54kg (4 entries)
1st place: Akari FUJINAMI (JPN), 3-0
2nd place: Altjin TOGTOKH (MGL), 2-1
3rd place: Pratibha JANGHU (IND), 1-2

Key match: Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) df. Altjin TOGTOKH (MGL) by Fall, 1:01 (6-0) in 2nd round

58kg (7 entries)
Final: Kanami YAMANOUCHI (JPN) df. Bhagyashree FAND (IND), 5-0

3rd place: Maral BATTSOOJ (MGL) df. WENG Hsing-Yao (TPE) by Fall, :57 (2-0)

62kg (7 entries)
Final: Ayano MORO (JPN) df. Odzaya ERDENEBAT (MGL) by TF, 10-0 (2:18)

3rd place: Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB) df. SITTU (IND) by Fall, 2:38 (6-0)

66kg (5 entries)
1st place: Rushana ABDIRASULOVA (UZB), 4-0
2nd place: Davaajargal ALTANSUKH (MGL), 3-1
3rd place: Ayazhan TOKTASH (KAZ), 2-2

Key match: Rushana ABDIRASULOVA (UZB) df. Davaajargal ALTANSUKH (MGL), 8-2 in 3rd round

Team Standings
1. Japan, 202 points; 2. India, 181; 3. Kazakhstan, 125; 4. Mongolia, 114; 5. Uzbekistan, 105; 6. Chinese Taipei, 54; 7. Thailand, 37; 8. Kyrgyzstan, 32.

#WrestleParis

Wrestling at Paris 2024: Susaki, Makhmudov stunned; Aleksanyan vs Rosillo rematch

Tuesday, August 6, 2024 - 08:35 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

Share this article

PARIS -- The Olympic Games enter day two of wrestling at the Champs de Mars arena with Greco-Roman 77kg and 97kg and Women's Wrestling 50kg. Yui SUSAKI (JPN) is hoping to defend her title from Tokyo which she won without conceding a point. Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) is looking for his second title as well with the first coming in Rio.

LIVE MATCH ORDER | PARIS 2024 DAY 1

13:30: That is the end of the morning session! Mohamed GABR (EGY) is into the semifinal by beating Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN) 4-1. On a day of upset, count that one as well.

13:19: The shocks continue as Mariya STADNIK (AZE) sees her bid for an elusive Olympic gold end when two-time world silver medalist Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) scores a pair of takedowns in the final minute for a stunning 4-4 victory on big-point criteria. Dolgorjav went into the match a bit fresher after receiving a first-round forfeit from Emanuela LIUZZI (ITA), and she used her reserves to secure what proved to be the winning takedown with 28 seconds left. Stadnik challenged for eye poke which was confirmed on challenge but Dolgorjav still had criteria

13:18: Returning bronze medalist Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) with a technical superiority win over Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) and he is moving into the semifinal at 97kg.

13:15: Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) is into the Greco 77kg semifinals after beating Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) 1-1 on last-point criteria. Levai was put in par terre first, then held out when on the bottom in the second.

13:08: Tokyo bronze medalist Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) scrapes out a well-earned 7-4 victory over Ziqi FENG (CHN) to advance to the women's 50kg semifinals. Feng opens with a double-leg takedown that Hildebrandt reverses for 1, then goes ahead with shrug-by takedown. The two trade takedowns as the American goes into the break with a slim 5-4 lead. In the second period, she clinches the win with a takedown with :40 left.

13:05: Another star has fallen! World champion Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) saw his bid to become his country's first-ever gold medalist end with a 3-1 loss to Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ). Makhmudov got the chance in par terre first, but a series of rolls were nullified on challenge for leg use. In the second period, Zhadrayev applied a vicious front headlock from par terre and threw the Tokyo silver medalist for 2.

13:08: World champion Gabriel ROSILLO (CUB) was in some trouble against Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) but managed to hold his lead and scored a takedown on the counter in the dying seconds of the bout to win 5-2. He moves into the semifinal at 97kg

12:58: Never count out Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM)! He was down 5-5 on criteria after Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) used two front headlocks to score exposure. But Aleksanyan got behind and threw Assakalov for four to win 9-5

12:57: Yusneylis GUZMAN (CUB) storms into the women's 50kg semifinals with a 10-0 win over Gabija DILYTE (LTU). Guzman arm drags behind for a takedown, then reels off three rolls for an 8-0 lead. Another takedown ends the match with nine seconds left in the first period.

12:49: Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) follows up her monumental win over Yui SUSAKI (JPN) by holding off Oksana LIVACH (UKR) 7-5 in a scrappy women's 50kg quarterfinal. Phogat gets two takedowns and leads 5-2 when Livach puts on a late surge, cutting the gap to 1 with a stepout and a lost challenge. With the clock winding down, Phogat shrugs off a throw attempt for 2, and Livach adds a late stepout.

12:48: Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) gets a 2-point throw from par terre in the first period and that holds up for a 3-0 victory over Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI) and a spot in the Greco 77kg semifinals.

12:45: Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN) gets the par terre the second time and turns Roberti KOBLIASHVILI (GEO), adds a four-pointer and finishes the bout 9-1 at 97kg

12:38: Top seed Nao KUSAKA (JPN) finishes off a 12-2 victory over Aram VARDANYAN (UZB) with a 4-point pancake to snatch his place in tonight's Greco 77kg semifinals.

12:34: Veteran Mariya STADNIK (AZE) begins her quest for a fifth Olympic medal -- hopefully a first gold -- with a 6-2 victory over world bronze medalist Anastasia BLAYVAS (GER). The 35-year-old mother of two gets a takedown-roll combination for a 4-0 lead in the first period, then gets 2 more when she rolls through a headlock attempt in the second.

12:30: Mohamed GABR (EGY) gave no chance to Mihail KAJAIA (SRB). Gabr took a 6-0 lead and then defended the par terre position to win 6-1 and advance at 97kg.

12:25: 2021 world silver medalist Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) gets the passivity points and fights off Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) and an apparent left hamstring injury for a 2-0 victory at Greco 77kg.

12:23: Tokyo bronze medalist Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA)  goes out the backdoor for a takedown against Ibtissem DOUDOU (ALG), then transitions to the lace lock and reels off four rolls for a 10-0 win in 1:34 for a place in the women's 50kg quarterfinals.

12:18: World bronze medalist Ziqi FENG (CHN) uses an effective barrel roll for two takedowns of Nada MOHAMED (EGY), scoring a fall after the second one to advance to the women's 50kg quarterfinals.

12:19: Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) with a big four-pointer as he moves past Mindaugas VENCKAITIS (LTU) 5-1 and enters the 97kg quarterfinals.

12:14: Zoltan LEVAI (HUN), the world silver medalist in 2022, gets a second-period stepout and that's enough for a 2-1 victory at Greco 77kg over Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR), the 2022 world champ at 82kg.

12:08: Yusneylis GUZMAN (CUB) pulls off a thrilling 7-6 victory over Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) at women's 50kg with an exposure during a scramble in the final seconds that took the mat chairman a long time to sort out on challenge. Both wrestlers scored takedowns, only to give up 2-point counters down the stretch.

12:00 Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) with a controlled 4-0 win over Fadi ROUABAH (ALG) and moves into the quarterfinal. He will take on world champion Gabriel ROSILLO (CUB) who was not the best off the block but managed to beat Lucas LAZOGIANIS (GER) 7-5.

11:56: Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ), aiming to improve on his silver medal in Tokyo three years ago at Greco 77kg, can't get the turn in par terre, but rides a series of second-period stepouts to a 4-1 victory over Kamal BEY (USA)

11:53: Gabija DILYTE (LTU) uses a 2-on-1 to slam Alisson CARDOZO (COL) to her back and secures the fall at 4:14 to advance at women's 50kg.

11:45: Four-time world medalist Maklhas AMOYAN (ARM) tosses his way to an 8-0 victory at Greco 77kg over Jonni SARKKINEN (FIN). The winning point comes on a lost challenge by the Finnish side.

11:44: Oksana LIVACH (UKR), fifth at the Tokyo Olympics, scores a pair of 4-point takedowns and she advances at women's 50kg with a 10-0 victory over Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB).

11:37: Asian silver medalist Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI) gets the second of the passivity points and that's enough to defeat Yosvanys PENA (CUB) 1-1 at Greco 77kg.

11:33: Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) pulls off one of the greatest upsets in Olympic wrestling history, scoring a takedown in the final seconds to stun defending women's 50kg champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN) 3-2. It is Susaki's first loss ever in 95 matches against non-Japanese opponents. Phogat stays completely on the defensive throughout the match, giving Susaki both of her points from the activity clock. With the clock running down, Phogat goes on the offensive and knocks Susaki off balance and onto her bottom, then charges ahead for a takedown with :05 left. Japan challenges, but the takedown stands and Susaki is out. 

11:26: Former world silver medalist Aram VARDANYAN (UZB) storms into the quarterfinals at Greco 77kg with a workmanlike 9-0 victory over  Mahmoud ABDELRAHMAN (EGY).

11:24: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) bounces back from her quarterfinal loss to Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) to earn a chance for a bronze medal by defeating Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) 6-0 in their women's 68kg repechage match. Ozaki scores two takedowns and a 2-point exposure, but the former 62kg world champion still seems to be struggling with the extra weight.

11:22: A minute and 44 seconds is all Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) needed to get over Seungjun KIM (KOR) at 97kg opening round. He gets four gut wrenches from par terre to win 9-0.

11:20: Top seed Nao KUSAKA (JPN) begins his campaign at Greco 77kg with an impressive 9-0 win over Abd Elrim OUAKALI (ALG). After an early takedown, Kusaka gets a 4-point lift and throw from par terre. Ouakali comes near to scrambling for a takedown, but Kusaka reverses the momentum to score a match-ending takedown.

11:16: Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY) uses a four-point throw in his 6-4 win over Kiril MILOV (BUL) at 130kg. He will wrestle for bronze later tonight against Lingzhe DENG (CHN).

11:15: Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) makes short work of Kevin DE ARMAS (CUB) in the other Greco 60kg repechage, rolling to a 10-0 victory. He will take on world champion Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) for the bronze.

 

11:14: World champion Buse TOSUN (TUR) wins a battle of stepouts in the women's 68kg repechage against Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL), earning a place in the bronze-medal match with a 4-3 win. Both wrestlers had three stepouts, with the deciding point coming when Poland unsuccessfully challenged Tosun's third stepout.

11:10: The action on Mat A gets underway with the first of the two Greco 60kg repechage matches. Raiber RODRIGUEZ (VEN) will get a chance to give Venezuela its first-ever Olympic wrestling medal after scoring two 4-point takedowns in a 12-1 victory over Moamen MOHAMED (EGY). Rodriguez will face Se Ung RI (PRK) for the bronze later tonight. 

11:00:The day two will begin with repechage in GR 60kg and 130kg and WW 68kg. Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) is on the mat to wrestle Seungchan LEE (KOR). He wins via technical superiority 9-0 and moves into the bronze medal bout for the evening.