Susaki regains Asian crown but shows cracks in pre-Paris prep

Saturday, April 13, 2024 - 18:57 By Ken Marantz

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 13) -- Reigning world and Olympic champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN) finally showed some chinks in her armor. Not enough to suffer a first-ever loss to a non-Japanese opponent, but enough to give her something to think about with four months to go to the Paris Olympics.

Susaki faced the rare situation of trailing in a match in the women's 50kg final at the Asian Championships but managed to right the ship and defeat Ziqi FENG (CHN) 8-4 on Saturday at Bishkek Arena to regain the title she won in her last appearance in 2017.

"To go through such troubling matches before the Olympics is an important experience in order to win the gold in Paris," said Susaki, who earlier overcame a tough challenge from Yong Ok HWANG (PRK). "I want to make use of this feeling of regret so that after I win the gold, I can say it was good I had this experience."

Japan won two of the four other women's golds at stake on the third day of the competition, with two-time world champion Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) triumphing in her first international foray at the Olympic weight of 68kg and 2022 world U23 champion Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) winning the 55kg title in her senior Asian debut.

World silver medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) sent the home fans happy by rallying to a thrilling victory in the 76kg final to cap the night, which earlier saw world champion Qi ZHANG (CHN) storm to the 59kg gold to follow up her victory over two-time Olympic champion Risako KINJO (JPN) in the afternoon session.

Yui SUSAKI (JPN) attempts an unsuccessful front headlock roll against Ziqi FENG (CHN) in the 50kg final during the Asian Championships (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

For Susaki, the stop in Bishkek is part of her final preparations in the run-up to the Paris Olympics. Instead, it turned into a wake-up call, although she is trying to see it in a positive light.

"To be in a tough situation and still be able to come out with a victory gives me a boost of confidence," said the four-time world champion.

In the final against Feng, Susaki was facing an opponent she had beaten twice in the past seven months -- an 8-2 win in the semifinals at last year's World Championships in Belgrade and a 10-0 rout in the final of the Zagreb Open in January.

But it became obvious that her opponents are doing their homework on the superstar, who has only three losses in her entire career, all to the same Japanese opponent, Yuki IRIE (JPN).

Feng got on the scoreboard first with a counter lift for 2, but Susaki rolled through it and gained 2 of her own. But she lost the criteria advantage when Feng stuffed her on a front headlock roll for a 4-2 lead. It looked like it would stay that way to end the period, but Susaki came back with a driving takedown off a high crotch just seconds before the buzzer.

In the second period, Susaki kept her composure and scored a pair of takedowns to clinch the victory, which runs her current streak to 54 wins in a row.

"I wasn't trying for any specific tackle and I tried to hit a front headlock roll," Susaki said. "But I realize I can improve on the combination and it makes me want to quickly get back to practice."

Susaki's first bump in the road came in her opening match in the quarterfinals against Hwang, a 2019 bronze medalist who, like the rest of her compatriots, had been out of the international wrestling scene for much of the past five years.

Susaki received two activity points before Hwang came to life and scored a stepout late in the second period. She was close to scoring another when Susaki wriggled out of danger, then stopped a desperate front roll attempt to win 4-1.

"She came up with a strategy to keep the score low and put everything into deciding it at the end," Susaki said. "I allowed her to dictate the match. I'm going to go back to Japan and figure out how to deal with an opponent who avoids contact and saves it for the end."

Even with the close calls, Susaki remains among the most popular wrestlers on the circuit, as attested by the cheers for her from the Bishkek crowd.

"It was my first Asian Championships in seven years," Susaki said. "Seven years ago, it was my first challenge at a senior tournament. It was very moving to be back after seven years. The Kyrgyz people supported me and I was very happy to be able to compete with so many cheering for me. I'm very grateful to the fans."

Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) completes a takedown against world silver medalist Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) in the 68kg semifinals during the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Ozaki had her own issues to deal with, mainly handling a move from 62kg to 68kg over one year, with a stop at 65kg in between to win another world title. The extra weight proved to be no problem, at least on the continental level.

"My objective was winning the title, but it didn't matter if I lost as long I took something away from it," Ozaki said. "I wanted it to be a test of what level I am at."

Her level is quite high, to say the least. Ozaki won the gold with a 15-2 victory over 2022 Asian U23 champion RADHIKA (IND), her third consecutive technical fall of the day in which she was on the mat for a combined time of just over seven minutes.

"My transition from standing to the ground position was good and I could get big points," Ozaki said. "I want to continue working on that in practice."

Ozaki, the 2022 world champion at 62kg, suffered a devastating setback when she lost out on the place at the Paris Olympics in that weight class to Sakura MOTOKI (JPN). After moving up to 65kg for another chance to win a world title, which she accomplished, the opportunity to earn a ticket to Paris arose at 68kg, and she grabbed it by beating Ami ISHII (JPN) in a playoff in January.

As a natural 62kg wrestler, Ozaki has a speed advantage over her opponents. Since earning the Olympic spot, she has been spending time filling out into the heavier weight.

"I still have room to get bulkier and put on weight," she said. "I think I'll be much bigger the next time you see me."

Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) scores a two-point takedown in her 7-0 win over Kyong OH (PRK) in the 55kg final during the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At 55kg, Kiyooka pulled away in the second period for a 7-0 victory over Kyong OH (PRK), adding the senior Asian gold to the world U23 and U20 titles she won in 2022.

"Last year, I was supposed to be here, but I got injured and that was tough to take," the 20-year-old Kiyooka said. "This makes up for that."

In the final, Kiyooka received an activity point for the lone score of the first period. In the second period, she scored a pair of takedowns, sandwiched around an exposure for stopping a reverse fireman's carry that the Korean wrestlers use so effectively.

"The Japan team has many top-level wrestlers and I got power from them," Kiyooka said. "I was very nervous, but I was able to move just as I do in practice."

To earn a spot on the team to Bishkek, Kiyooka defeated former world champion Haruna OKUNO (JPN) for the first time at the All-Japan Championships in December. She said her goal now is to secure a ticket to this year's senior World Championships.

While Kiyooka's job is done in Bishkek, she still has a future interest in the city. Her older brother Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) will be coming in an attempt to earn an Olympic quota in freestyle 65kg at the Asian Olympic Qualifier, which follows on April 19-21.

"I wanted to create good momentum to pass off to my brother," Kiyooka said. "I didn't see him before I left, but he messaged me and said, 'If you stay relaxed, you can win.'"

Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) celebrates after winning the 76kg final during the Asian Championships in Bishkek on Saturday. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

For Medet Kyzy, her 10-7 victory over Yuanyuan HUANG (CHN) in the 76kg final was similar in nature to a match between them 10 months ago in Bishkek, but far more dramatic and with more at stake.

Medet Kyzy, who trailed 4-0 after the first period, bulled her way to a 4-point takedown -- her second of the match -- with 35 seconds left to regain the Asian title she won in 2022 in her fifth straight trip to the final.

"To be honest, the final match was a little hard for me, but you saw that there were lots of our fans in the stands and each of them needed to see my victory, so I did my best to win," Medet Kyzy said.

At the Bishkek Ranking Series tournament last June, Huang led 3-0 after the first period of the final when Medet Kyzy rallied to a 5-3 win, scoring the winning takedown with 23 seconds left.

Qi ZHANG (CHN) celebrates after beating two-time Olympic champion Risako KINJO (JPN) in the 59kg quarterfinal during the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

In the 59kg final, Zhang needed less than a minute to score a takedown, lock up an arm and score four straight rolls to vanquish Anudari BATKHUYAG (MGL) 10-0. That gave her her first Asian title after a pair of bronzes from 2017 and 2019.

It was Zhang's second straight 10-0 win after her victory over Kinjo. The Chinese beat the two-time Olympic champion by getting the latter of two activity points and win 1-1 on criteria.

Risako KINJO (JPN) won the bronze medal at 59kg at the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Kinjo rebounds to take bronze

Kinjo, a four-time world and Asian champion, made sure she would not leave Bishkek empty-handed, overwhelming Dilfuza AIMBETOVA (UZB) 13-2 in a 59kg bronze-medal match.

"Am I disappointed, or am I happy, I'm not even sure myself," said Kinjo, who capped her victory with a driving 4-point takedown that ended the match with five seconds left in the first period.

Kinjo was appearing in her first international competition since winning the 57kg gold at the Tokyo Olympics. After that, she got married, gave birth, and missed out on a place at the Paris Olympics at 57kg to world champion Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN), who will be in action on Sunday.

Still wanting to compete, Kinjo moved up to 59kg and won the national title to earn the ticket to Bishkek.

Asked about the loss to Zhang, Kinjo said, "The opponent is the world champion. I don't know if she even knew I had changed my name. She is not an opponent that I can't beat. But strategically the match went her way. I lost, but it was enjoyable six minutes."

Host Kyrgyzstan picked up two bronze medals, and both in dramatic fashion at the expense of opponents from rival neighbor Kazakhstan.

At 55kg, Aruuke KADYRBEK KYZY (KGZ) gave up what should have been a decisive 2-point arm throw to Zulfiya YAKHYAROVA (KAZ) with four seconds left, only to come away with a 5-3 win by managing to score a reversal with less than one second on the clock. An unsuccessful challenge accounted for the final score.

Gulnura TASHTANBEKOVA (KGZ) also gave up early points to Albina KAIRGELDINOVA (KAZ) at 68kg, but came back with a counter to the back and scored a fall at 2:09.

Diana KAYUMOVA (KAZ) took home the other bronze at 59kg with a wild 11-8 victory over Pushpa YADAV (IND). Kayumova was leading 7-7 on criteria when she clinched the win with her second 4-point move of the match -- a Greco-like back suplex.

In a surprise at 76kg, Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE) prevented Japan from having a medalist in every weight class when she overcame a four-point deficit to defeat 2022 world U23 bronze medalist Yasuha MATSUYUKI (JPN) 8-6.

Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ), whose defense of her 76kg title ended with a semifinal loss to Medet Kyzy, also worked her way out of a four-point hole, but did it by pancaking PRIYA (IND) and scoring a fall in the second period.

At 50kg, Shivani PAWAR (IND) used her counter style of wrestling to maximum effect, pulling off a last-second victory with a counter lift to stun three-time world medalist Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) 9-7.

In arguably the biggest victory of her career, Pawar, the 2021 world U23 silver medalist, had given up a go-ahead takedown to Dolgorjav with 20 seconds left.

Hwang, who won a bronze medal as a member of the last DPR Korea team to appear at the Asian Championships in 2019, will go home with another after defeating Thi Xuan NGUYEN (VIE) 4-2 at 50kg.

Min ZHANG (CHN), the 2023 Asian U23 champion, denied Dulguun BOLORMAA (MGL) a fourth senior Asian medal when she notched an entertaining 15-5 victory at 55kg.

Zhang led by a modest 2-1 in the second period when she scored a takedown and two rolls to go up 8-1. Bolormaa caught Zhang with a 4-point headlock throw, but her inability to secure the fall was her undoing, as Zhang came back with a 4-point takedown and gut wrench to finish the technical fall at 5:26.

World silver medalist Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) earned her fourth senior Asian medal -- still none gold -- when she edged Zelu LI (CHN) 2-1 for the other 68kg bronze, with all of the points coming on the activity clock.

Day 3 Results

Women's Wrestling

50kg (13 entries)
GOLD: Yui SUSAKI (JPN) df. Ziqi FENG (CHN), 8-4

BRONZE: Yong Ok HWANG (PRK) df. Thi Xuan NGUYEN (VIE), 4-2
BRONZE: Shivani PAWAR (IND) df. Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL), 9-7

55kg (10 entries)
GOLD: Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) df. Kyong OH (PRK), 7-0

BRONZE: Min ZHANG (CHN) df. Dulguun BOLORMAA (MGL) by TF, 15-5, 5:22
BRONZE: Aruuke KADYRBEK KYZY (KGZ) df. Zulfiya YAKHYAROVA (KAZ), 5-3

59kg (8 entries)
GOLD: Qi ZHANG (CHN) df. Anudari BATKHUYAG (MGL) by TF, 10-0, :50

BRONZE: Risako KINJO (JPN) df. Dilfuza AIMBETOVA (UZB) by TF, 13-2, 2:54
BRONZE: Diana KAYUMOVA (KAZ) df. Pushpa YADAV (IND), 11-8

68kg (9 entries)
GOLD: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) df. RADHIKA (IND) by TF, 15-2, 4:28

BRONZE: Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) df. Zelu LI (CHN), 2-1
BRONZE: Gulnura TASHTANBEKOVA (KGZ) df. Albina KAIRGELDINOVA (KAZ) by Fall, 2:09 (7-2)

76kg (9 entries)
GOLD: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) df. Yuanyuan HUANG (CHN), 10-7

BRONZE: Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) df. PRIYA (IND) by Fall, 4:25 (2-4)
BRONZE: Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE) df. Yasuha MATSUYUKI (JPN), 8-6

Japan Wrestling

Fujinami's pre-Paris prepping includes victory in rare clash with fellow world champ Sakurai

Sunday, January 21, 2024 - 12:45 By Ken Marantz

TOKYO (January 18) -- It wasn't exactly Rocky and Apollo Creed settling their score in a dank empty boxing gym. But on a winter morning in Tokyo, two reigning women world champions met in a rare clash that would have been a marquee match-up on a global stage but was seen only by a sparse crowd in a nondescript high school gym.

Akari FUJINAMI got the best of fellow world champion Tsugumi SAKURAI when they faced off not for individual glory, but for collegiate pride in the East Japan Women's Collegiate League, a team competition held on Jan. 14.

A crowd of 150 or so was on hand for the clash of titans at Kokugakuin High School in central Tokyo, almost solely teammates, coaches, referees and officials from the organizing Tokyo Wrestling Association. The only sign that something special was at hand were the 30-plus media members there to witness the historic event.

JPN1 Nippon Sport Science University's Akari FUJINAMI looks for an opening in her match with fellow world champion Tsugumi SAKURAI of Ikuei University in a collegiate team tournament in Tokyo on Jan. 14. (photo by Ikuo Higuchi / Japan Wrestling Federation)

Fujinami, the reigning world gold medalist at 53kg from Nippon Sports Science University, defeated three-time 57kg titlist Sakurai of Ikuei University 5-0 in a 59kg match as both continue their preparations for the Paris Olympics, where they will both be favorites to strike gold.

Fujinami and Sakurai have practiced together before at national team camps, most recently at the start of the new year, but had not met in an official match since their high school days.

"We have practiced together many times," Fujinami said. "I was nervous in the actual match and it had a different feel. I think things came out that I can work on going into Paris, and I hope the two of us can win gold medals in Paris."

The five-team competition (actually four, with Nihon University a no-show) paired squads of three in the 53kg, 59kg and over-59kg weight classes in a duel meet format. Fujinami's victory was not enough to prevent Sakurai's Ikuei from beating NSSU 2-1, with Paris hopeful Ami ISHII scoring the decisive victory. Ikuei went on to win the title.

Fujinami, however, won her two other matches on the day, running her current winning streak to 133 that dates back to her junior high school days and includes two world senior titles.

So what led such stars to risk injury in an Olympic year in a match that would normally only have occurred had a national team berth been at stake?

"For sure, there were various things I thought of, but I wanted to make some contribution to Nittaidai," Fujinami said, using the common term for NSSU. "I heard that Sakurai would be participating, and I knew Sakurai would be ready, so I wanted to do it. I thought it would be a match that will have a connection to Paris. I entered because I will do everything to get ready for Paris, and I did it for Nittaidai."

Sakurai, at 22, is two years older. The two had met three times previously, most recently in July 2019, when Fujinami won for the first time, notching a 7-4 victory in the final at the Inter High School Championships.

Before that, Sakurai scored technical falls in their first two matches, both in 2016, when Fujinami was still in junior high school. It would be in June the following year that Fujinami would lose 7-2 to Umi ITO in the 44kg final of the All-Japan Junior High School Championships---and has not lost since.

"The last time I faced [Sakurai] I was in my first year of high school, so some time has passed since then," Fujinami said. "Both of us have made progress, and both of us will be putting it all on the line in Paris, so we will practice together again with the aim of making us both better."

JPN2 Fujinami gets behind for a first-period takedown. Fujinami's father and coach calls out in the background on the left. (photo by Ikuo Higuchi / Japan Wrestling Federation)

In the match, Sakurai tried to use her strength advantage to tie up Fujinami's arms, which thwarted any attacks but led to a passivity point for Fujinami. At the end of the first period, Fujinami finally broke through with a classic single leg takedown to take a 3-0 lead into the second frame.

Neither wrestler could create a good opening in the second period. At one point, Fujinami shot and was temporarily knocked back off balance, but she quickly recovered, and she later squirmed out of an arm spin. With time running out, Sakurai attempted a last-ditch headlock, but Fujinami fought it off for a takedown at the buzzer.

"At this level, I knew it would be a match in which you couldn't let the chance get away if given even a little opening," Fujinami said. "She's an opponent with a strong defense."

JPN5 Hosei University's Narumi NAKAMURA scores a rare 2-point exposure on Fujinami. (photo by Ikuo Higuchi / Japan Wrestling Federation)

Not surprisingly, Fujinami had an easier time in her two other matches, winning by either fall or technical superiority. She did, however, give up a rare 2-point exposure to Hosei University's Narumi NAKAMURA, who normally wrestles at 57kg. Fujinami had scored a takedown and was trying for a turn when her opponent reached down and pulled up Fujinami's leg from the inside. But the action came at the edge and was limited to the exposure.

According to the Japan federation website, it was the 12th time in Japan history that two reigning world champions faced each other, dating back to 1965. The most recent occurred in 2019, when then-women's 55kg champion Mayu MUKAIDA (now SHIDOCHI) defeated 53kg counterpart Haruna OKUNO in a 53kg match at the All-Japan Invitational Championships.

In almost all of the previous cases, the clash of titans came about because of the funneling of top wrestlers into the fewer weight classes used for the Olympics. Champions in non-Olympic weights would shift into Olympic ones, creating marquee match-ups. None drew more attention than the epic battles between reigning Olympic champions Kaori ICHO and Risako KAWAI for the 57kg spot at the Tokyo Olympics.

What made the Fujinami-Sakurai encounter so unique was that it occurred in such an innocuous event. While NSSU and Ikuei have emerged as the collegiate powerhouses in women's wrestling, no major title nor individual glory was on the line, and both schools had an alternate on the roster.

"We're in an era now where the strong wrestlers want to face each other," said NSSU assistant coach and former Olympic medalist Chikara TANABE. "If you avoid each other, you won't get stronger. There was also the pride of representing their university. The tournament organizer thought they wouldn't face each other, but they wanted to do it."

JPN3 Sakurai attempts a last-ditch headlock, which Fujinami fights off for a late takedown. (photo by Ikuo Higuchi / Japan Wrestling Federation)

Fujinami agrees that facing tough domestic competition, even if it means risking injury -- she has often expressed indifference about the winning streak -- can only be a positive thing.

"I knew deep down that there was a big risk in the challenge itself, but I felt it was something I could not run away from," Fujinami said. "In the end, I won. Looking back on this competition, I will look for things to work on, all in preparation for Paris."

Sakurai concurred, saying, "I went in with the intention of winning, so there is some disappointment. But it is a good thing to to face a wrestler who is above me. Practicing with wrestlers like her at the national camp should help me in my bid to win at the Olympics. I'm glad that I participated in this."

Fujinami would not reveal what her actual weight was on the day, but 59kg marks the heaviest weight class in which she has ever competed. She had gone up to 55kg twice recently and won both times, at the national collegiate championships in 2022 and the Dan Kolov-Nikola Petrov international tournament in Bulgaria last year.

"I have to lose a lot to get down to 53, so I decided to go at 59," she said.

JPN6 Ikuei's Ami ISHII works for a takedown against Kanagawa's Makoto KOMADA. (photo by Ikuo Higuchi / Japan Wrestling Federation)

Ishii preps for playoff with wins

It might have been a small surprise to also see Ishii taking the mat as well, given that she is two weeks away from an all-or-nothing playoff for the women's 68kg spot in Paris coming up against Nonoka OZAKI.

Ishii had secured the 68kg berth by winning the fifth-place playoff in Belgrade, but because she did not medal, as per Japan federation criteria, she did not automatically fill it herself. A victory at the Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships in December would have clinched it, but she lost in the first round to Ozaki, who went on to win the title. Now the two will go at again in a playoff on Jan. 27.

"I went into the Emperor's Cup with the intention of winning, so I had already committed to entering this before that," Ishii said. "It is a good rehearsal to have a tension-filled match before the playoff."

Ishii all but assured Ikuei the championship when she defeated NSSU's Kokona TAKADA 11-0 in the over-59kg match, then later won again by technical superiority in Ikuei's victory over Kanagawa University. Ishii was selected as the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament.

The 21-year-old Ishii was a silver medalist at 68kg in her senior world debut in 2022. But last year in Belgrade, she lost 11-1 to eventual champion Buse TOSUN (TUR) in the semifinals, then lost a heartbreaking 8-8 decision in the bronze-medal match to Irina RINGACI (ROM). She bounced back to defeat Emma BRUNTIL (USA) 2-0 in the fifth-place playoff.

Ozaki, the 2022 world silver medalist at 62kg, failed to displace Sakura MOTOKI -- Ishii's teammate at Ikuei -- in that weight class, and as a sort of consolation, won the 65kg world title in Belgrade. She then bumped up another weight class at the Emperor's Cup in a last-chance bid to get to Paris.

JPN9 The nine Japanese who have already secured tickets to the Paris Olympics pose together after being introduced to the crowd on the final day of the All-Japan Championships in December. (photo by Takeo Yabuki / Japan Wrestling Federation)

Next stop, Bishkek

Next up for both Fujinami and Sakurai will be the Asian Championships on April 11-16 in the Kyrgyzstan capital of Bishkek, where they will look to solidify their UWW rankings and ensure high seeds at the Paris Olympics.

Both won golds at the Asian Games in China last October to follow up their triumphs the previous month at the World Championships. Fujinami will be aiming for her third straight Asian Championships title, while Sakurai will attempt to add to the title she won in 2022.

"We would be concerned if she didn't enter a tournament [before Paris]," said Fujinami's coach and father Shinichi. "At this point the biggest fear is injury. We have to prepare carefully and methodically for Paris."

The Asian Championships is expected to be the last opportunity for the world will get a glimpse of either wrestler before the Paris Olympics, although Shinichi said there is a slight possibility of his daughter appearing at the Ranking Series tournament in Budapest in June.

He noted that the Budapest has a two-kilogram weight allowance, but said at this point the Japan federation will not be dispatching wrestlers, meaning anyone who wants to go would have to do so as an individual.

Of the three other Japanese women who have already clinched tickets to Paris, Yui SUSAKI at 50kg and Sakura MOTOKI at 62kg have not publicly announced their intentions regarding Bishkek, while Yuka KAGAMI at 76kg said she will be there.

Kagami was an Asian champion in 2019 and silver medalist in 2022. Susaki and Motoki just finished competing at the Zagreb Open, where the former captured the gold while the latter lost in the semifinals to rival Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) and defaulted the bronze-medal match.

As for the four Japanese men who already have tickets to Paris, it appears only Nao KUSAKA at Greco 77kg will be competing in Bishkek, according to his coaches. Kusaka, who won a bronze in Zagreb, will also enter the Wladyslaw Pytlasinski Cup in Warsaw in June. Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Kenichiro FUMITA will bypass an attempt at a third career Asian title at Greco 60kg, but intends to travel to Warsaw in his lone tuneup for Paris.

In freestyle, neither Rei HIGUCHI at 57kg nor Daichi TAKATANI at 74kg will be going to Bishkek. Higuchi is expected to enter the Budapest Ranking Series event, as much to experience getting down to weight as anything else, while a source said that Takatani will head to Paris with only practice under his belt.

While Susaki was keeping her immediate plans under wraps, she recently made a surprisingly forthcoming -- and bold -- statement regarding her post-Paris future.

At the All-Japan Championships in December, Susaki and the other eight wrestlers who had already clinched berths in Paris did not compete, but were in attendance on the final day and were introduced to the crowd.

Later, Susaki met with the Japanese press and said that she is not only aiming to win a second straight Olympic title in Paris, but to also win golds at the Olympics after that in Los Angeles in 2028 and Brisbane in 2032.

Such a feat would equal that of Kaori ICHO, the only woman in Olympic history to win four consecutive golds in one event.

Susaki regains Asian crown but shows cracks in pre-Paris prep

Comments

Fujinami's pre-Paris prepping includes victory in rare clash with fellow world champ Sakurai