Susaki Returns from Elbow Injury with Victory as Junior, but Laments Struggles

Wednesday, April 3, 2019 - 22:56 By Ken Marantz

TOKYO---Two-time senior world champion Yui SUSAKI went into the Japan Junior Queens Cup with the objective of winning a title in her comeback from a serious elbow injury in December, and going home with a smile.

She got half of what she wanted.

Susaki had to fight back tears after struggling to defeat relatively unheralded Remina YOSHIMOTO, 2-1, in the 50kg final of the junior division of the two-day tournament for Japan's young females at Tokyo's Komazawa Gym.

While a junior tournament, even on the national level, may seem below Susaki's pay grade, she saw it as a chance to get back on the mat following her injury, and, as she turns 20 in June, have one last fling as a junior. What she did not foresee was the immense pressure that she would put on herself to perform.

"In this final, I really felt the pressure," Susaki said. "Having that fear going into the match, it was the first time I wrestled feeling such pressure. Only a person who has become a champion can experience this. I will get over this and work hard to become a dominant, true champion."

Susaki, who won her second straight senior world title last October in Budapest, suffered a dislocated elbow just prior to the Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships in December. That tournament was the first of two qualifiers for Japan's team to this year's world championships in Astana---where winning a medal will automatically clinch a spot on the squad for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

"Where I am at this point, I can't achieve my goal," Susaki said. "I will urgently pick up the pace to overcome my shortcomings, and renew my determination to make it to the Tokyo Olympics. Compared to myself at the world championships, I am still far behind my ideal level."

(Yui SUSAKI holds off Remina YOSHIMOTO in the junior 50kg final. Photo: Takeo Yabuki, JWF)

To get back to the worlds---and have a shot at the coveted ticket to Tokyo 2020---Susuki will next have to enter a qualifying tournament for the Meiji Cup All-Japan Invitational Championships in June, the second national team qualifier. She would then have to win the Meiji Cup, then defeat Emperor's Cup champion Yuki IRIE in a playoff.

Not impossible, as she did it last year to get to Budapest. But that time, she wasn't coming off a serious injury that has seemed to sap some of her confidence.

"She's only just returned and her elbow has healed, now she needs to increase the amount of practice," said Shoko YOSHIMURA, Susaki's coach during her days at the JOC Elite Academy who was in her corner on Wednesday. "She had a tough time in the final, but up to then, she had very good matches. We saw a lot of good things. She just needs to have confidence going into matches."

Susaki, her elbow taped, completely outclassed her first three opponents, winning by first-period 10-0 technical falls in her first two matches on Tuesday, then routing Ayaka HIRATA by the same score in their semifinal Wednesday morning.

But Yoshimoto, who just entered her freshman year at powerhouse Shigakkan University, proved to be formidable opponent, one who might crash the three-women 50kg party of Susaki, Irie and Rio 2016 champion Eri TOSAKA. Like Susaki, Yoshimoto needs to qualify for the Meiji Cup.

In the final, all three points came with the opponent on the activity clock, with Susaki scoring the go-ahead point with :40 left in the match. Yoshimoto had the best chance to score, as she got in on a deep single-leg early in the first period, but Susaki reached over and locked a leg and the move ended in a stalemate.

"In the final, I wasn't able to wrestle my way, and it became a tough match," Susaki said.

Yoshimoto, the 2017 world cadet champion at 46kg, sensed Susaki's anxiety, and regretted she could not take advantage to score a major upset over one of world wrestling's most popular stars.

"I think that she was under a lot of pressure this time, as this was her comeback from an injury," Yoshimoto said. "Psychologically, I was the challenger, which was an advantage for me. That I wasn't able to come away with a win was due to my weakness. She was under many times more pressure than me, and by winning, it shows how strong Yui is. That's something that I'm still lacking."

(Yui SUSAKI fights off a takedown attempt by Remina YOSHIMOTO in the junior 50kg final. Photo: Takeo Yabuki, JWF)

Yoshimoto made an impression as a high schooler at the Emperor's Cup last December, when she lost 8-4 to Irie in the quarterfinals, then pushed Tosaka in the third-place match before falling 7-3. She followed that up with a strong showing at this year's Klippan Lady Open, where she lost 4-4 to Chinese veteran SUN Yanan.

"She's a very good wrestler," Yoshimura said. "She uses the typical Japanese low stance. She had a great tournament."

Yoshimura added that Susaki's tough final proved only further how loaded Japanese women's wrestling is in the lower weight classes, and will only get stronger as the stakes rise.

"From now, they will raise each other's level, and the strongest wrestler will represent Japan at the world championships and Olympics," she said. "Looking at that, Japan has incredible depth, with many strong wrestlers. To win this fight is very difficult. If you beat them, you're very close to being a world champion."

Following Tuesday's session, Susaki spoke more in depth about her current condition and the recovery process. She also said the experience of being away from the sport only served to renew her devotion for it.

"My left elbow has pretty much healed, it's about at 90 percent," she said. "When I was injured before the Emperor's Cup and couldn't compete, it was really tough to take. It was the first time to have such a serious injury, and experience such hard times.

"It made me happy that I was able to wrestle again, and it made me realize how much I really like wrestling. Before I had to watch from the stands and bear the frustration, but to be able to now wrestle in a match, it's fun and I really know how happy it makes me. It makes me feel deep inside how important wrestling is to me."

Susaki said she was so desperate to get back into action, during rehab she even practiced one-handed. Unfortunately, she said, she ended up developing some bad habits which she had since amended.

As for entering the junior tournament, she replied, "Conversely, I didn't feel I had the choice not to enter. When I was unable to compete at the Emperor's Cup, I decided I would get back to full health and win the Queens Cup."

(Haruna OKUNO puts the pressure on Umi IMAI in the junior 53kg final. Photo: Takeo Yabuki, JWF)

Okuno also makes victorious comeback

Like Susaki, fellow world champion Haruna OKUNO missed out on the Emperor's Cup---in her case due to a stomach virus---and entered the Junior Queens Cup as part of her comeback.

Okuno was a rock of stability in winning the 53kg title, notching four without conceding a point, including a solid 6-0 win in the final over world junior and Klippan champion Umi IMAI.

That was Okuno's second 6-0 victory of the tournament, which also included a 10-0 technical fall and a victory by fall in which she had built a 12-0 lead.

(Haruna OKUNO defends against a takedown attempt by Umi IMAI in the junior 53kg final. Photo: Takeo Yabuki, JWF)

"More than a technical fall, I wanted to solidly score points," Okuno said. "Even when [Imai] got my legs, I was able to break free. Up to now, most times when the opponent got in my legs, they were able to lock it up. But I worked on breaking the hold."

Okuno is a product of the same wrestling club that produced legendary Saori YOSHIDA, and although the club stressed aggressiveness, her forte became defense, which she showed in the Junior Queens.

"I come from the same place as Saori [Yoshida], so attacking, going for tackles is the image that we have. But when I was in kids wrestling, I wasn't strong on tackling. I was the type of wrestler that had low scores, or come-from-behind wins or losses. To not give up points has been my strong point."

Okuno, who bounced back from finishing third at the Asian Games last summer by winning the gold in Budapest, has her work cut out for her to get onto the team for Astana. Mayu MUKAIDA, the world champion at 55kg, has dropped down to the Olympic weight of 53kg, and moved halfway to Astana by winning the weight class at the Emperor's Cup. Head-to-head, Mukaida has won all eight of their encounters.

(Yuka KAGAMI works for a takedown against Kanon KOBAYASHI during their round-robin match in the junior 72kg class. Photo: Takeo Yabuki, JWF)

In other action, two-time world cadet champion Yuka KAGAMI moved up to the junior division and made mincemeat of that group, posting four 10-0 technical falls and one fall to win the 72kg gold.

Kagami, who was named the UWW cadet wrestler of the year in 2018, said she has been inspired by JOC Elite Academy alum Susaki to take shots at the older divisions, and this year she finished second at the Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix and third at the Klippan.

"I didn't really think about that, but I watched Yui and other older teammates win on the senior level," she said. "I thought if I worked hard, I could do it, too."

The 17-year-old Kagami revealed that she will make her most bold challenge to date in June, when she moves up to 76kg for the Meiji Cup in a bid for Tokyo 2020 that few thought was in her range.

Kagami won the 72kg title at the Emperor's Cup in a field of four as the top wrestlers went either up or down to the Olympic divisions of 68kg or 76kg. But she wants to fulfill her Olympic dream sooner than later, which will put her on a collision course with two-time world medalist and defending champion Hiroe MINAGAWA.

"Right now, I'm in a non-Olympic weight, but it's my plan to enter the Meiji Cup at 76kg, win that and then the playoff, then go to the world championships," Kagami said. "Everyone's saying to me 'Paris [2024]', but for myself, I'm aiming for Tokyo."

In the 55kg class, world U23 and junior champion Saki IGARASHI scraped out a 3-0 win over high schooler Tsugumi SAKURAI in the final.

Two of Japan's reigning world junior champions came up short of national titles, as Atena KODAMA fell 5-2 in the 62kg final to Yuzuka INAGAKI, and Akie HANAI decked Hanako SAWA with two seconds left in the 57kg final.

Twin sisters Naruha and Yasuha MATSUYUKI won the 68kg and 76kg titles, respectively.

The tournament also decided the nation's best females in the schoolgirl, junior high school and cadet age groups.

(Akari FUJINAMI works to turn over Mako ONO in the cadet 53kg final. Photo: Takeo Yabuki, JWF)

Among the future stars, Akari FUJINAMI remains untouchable at the cadet level as the younger sister of 2017 world freestyle bronze medalist Yuhi FUJINAMI put together three technical falls and a fall to take the 53kg crown.

"I was satisfied that I was able to be the aggressor," said Fujinami, who will compete in her first high school tournament in August. "I want to continue to raise my level, and work hard to be able to challenge those at the next level."

In a battle between Asian U15 champions and Klippan cadet medalists, Moe KIYOOKA edged Yu SAKAMOTO 2-1 in a nail-biting 49kg final.

World cadet champions Nonoka OZAKI (61kg) and Honoka NAKAI (69kg) both stormed to gold medals in their respective divisions.

#WrestleParis

Paris 2024: Saravi wins Iran's first gold after beating Aleksanyan

Wednesday, August 7, 2024 - 22:46 By Ken Marantz

PARIS (August 7) -- Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) notched his first win in four career meetings with superstar Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM), and it couldn't have come at a better time or place.

Saravi scored a late takedown against Aleksanyan in the Greco 97kg final on Wednesday at the Paris Olympics, giving him a 4-1 victory to improve on the bronze medal he won three years ago in Tokyo and assuring that the Armenian's fourth career Olympic medal would be a second straight silver.

"Thank God I got the first gold for Iran at Paris 2024, and my first gold at an Olympics after I took bronze at Tokyo 2020," Saravi said. "And thanks to my coaches. I’m so happy."

In other action at the packed Champs de Mars Arena, one day after Japan won its first Olympic Greco gold in 40 years, it got another when Nao KUSAKA (JPN) claimed the 77kg title, while Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) emerged victorious when the dust cleared on a chaotic day in the women's 50kg division.

Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) with his coach at the medal ceremony at the Paris Olympics. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Saravi, winner of three tournaments this year including the Asian Championships, looked confident against the veteran Aleksanyan, who had previously beaten him in the semifinals at the Tokyo Olympics and at both the 2019 and 2022 World Championships.

"It’s so sweet to win the gold medal after three attempts," Saravi said. "I have a lot of respect for my opponent in the final. He’s so professional, but I was able to beat him."

Both wrestlers were unable to score from the top in par terre, and Saravi held a 1-1 lead on criteria in the second period. In a quick flurry, Aleksanyan was knocked backward toward the ground, and Saravi spun behind for a takedown.

The Armenian side challenged that Saravi had gone out of bounds during the move, but the takedown was upheld, tacking another point onto the Iranian's tally. He then held on to become Iran's fifth Olympic Greco champion in its history.

"I had lost matches before, even though I still won medals, but now I won, and it is like getting revenge, and at the most important tournament to do that," said Saravi, the 2021 world champion who won bronzes in 2022 and 2023.

Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) tries to score on Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) in the 97kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Saravi knows that celebrations have started in his hometown of Amol in north central Iran.

"My city and province is the home of Greco-Roman wrestling in Iran," he said. "Everybody is really happy there and celebrates my medal, so I am really proud to have made this happen.”

Aleksanyan did not take the defeat very well. With a full collection of Olympic medals -- he also won a gold at Rio 2016 and bronze at London 2012 -- a second silver was not anything he desired.

Immediately after the medal was placed around his neck at the award ceremony, he took it off and kept it in his hand, even as the medalists were paraded around the arena for photo shoots. He did not attend the medalists' press conference.

Nao KUSAKA (JPN) celebrates after winning the 77kg final in Paris. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

In the other Greco final, world bronze medalist Kusaka scored a 4-point takedown in the second period that propelled him to the 77kg gold with a 5-2 victory over four-time Asian medalist Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ).

The victory came a day after Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN), Kusaka's predecessor at powerhouse Nippon Sports Science University, won the 60kg gold, ending Japan's 40-year Greco drought at the Olympics.

"I was in junior high and high school when Kenichiro won world titles and he was someone I always looked up to," the 24-year-old Kusaka said. "As my senior colleague, he was the one who pulled me along the most."

In the final, Zhadrayev struck first with a stepout and a passivity point, but he was unable to turn Kusaka from par terre and went into the second period leading 2-0.

Kusaka, who had beaten Zhadrayev in their only previous meeting at the 2023 German Grand Prix, turned the match around when he stuck the Kazakh with a pancake for 4. He then received a passivity point to make it 5-2 and held on to finish up the victory.

"To be honest, it didn't go according to my game plan," Kusaka said. "But all I could do was believe in myself all the way to the end. Once I got on the mat, there was nobody there to save me. I just believed in myself and all the training that I put in and kept putting the pressure on."

Nao KUSAKA (JPN) scores two points against Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) in the 77kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Three years ago in Tokyo, Japan got a surprising bronze medal in this weight class from Shohei YABIKU (JPN). But in the ensuing years, Kusaka seemed to come out of nowhere to not only depose Yabiku, but rise to a world-class level.

He first made himself known with a bronze medal at the 2023 World Championships. After going on his own to Germany and Hungary for intense training, he started this year off with a bronze at the Zagreb Open.

It got better from there, as he won the Asian Championships, beating reigning world champion Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) in the process, then the Budapest Ranking Series to suddenly make himself the top seed in Paris.

"It's like a dream," Kusaka said. "For this moment, from when I was little, I got through tough times and it's great that I became the champion."

Nao KUSAKA (JPN) celebrates with his mother after winning the gold medal at the Paris Olympics. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

It could be said that Kusaka was destined for Olympic success from the day he came into the world. He was born two months after Naoko TAKAHASHI (JPN) won the gold medal in the women's marathon at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, a feat that makes her among Japan's most beloved athletes to this day.

So impressed was Kusaka's mother that she used the same kanji character for "Nao" in Takahashi's first name for her newborn son.

Kusaka paid tribute to his namesake after his win. After Takahashi's won in Sydney, she famously said, "It was a really fun 42 kilometers."

After Kusaka won in Paris, he commented, "It was a really fun six minutes."

Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) celebrates after winning the gold medal at 50kg at the Paris Olympics. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Hildebrandt seemed to be having fun throughout the day, from the time she stood in the tunnel awaiting the women's 50kg final to the time she stood for the endless photos and hugged numerous well-wishes over her hard-earned gold medal.

Hildebrandt gave the U.S. two golds in two days of women's wrestling with a 3-0 victory over Yusneylis GUZMAN (CUB), who was not her opponent when everyone went to sleep the night before.

"My mind and body are not computing everything, especially with the chaotic morning I had with the change of opponent, so it's all been crazy," Hildebrandt said. "Mostly, I just feel gratitude and I just want to go squeeze my family."

Much of the wrestling world awoke to the shock of 50kg finalist Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) failing to make weight. Phogat had produced the surprise of the competition when she handed defending champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN) her first-ever international loss, and was aiming to give India its first-ever Olympic women's gold.

Under UWW rules, Guzman, as the losing semifinalist to Phogat, took her place in the final. At first, Hildebrandt and her team did not know how the disqualification would affect the competition.

"We get the news that she didn't make weight, and we were under the impression that it was a forfeit," Hildebrandt said. "So, there was a lot of celebrating. It was very strange, like 'Oh my god, I just won the Olympics.'

"Then an hour later, they were like, 'You did not win the Olympics.' I'm like, 'Oh, this is very weird.' So there had to be a reset. I took a nap, woke up, and it was like a fever dream."

Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) The four medalists at the 50kg weight class at the Paris Olympics. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Hildebrandt had beaten Guzman 10-0 in the semifinals of last year's Pan Am Championships, but the Cuban did a good job of keeping the Paris final close.

In the end, a takedown in the first period and an activity point in the second were all that three-time world medalist Hildebrandt could put on the scoreboard, but it was enough to add the Paris gold to her bronze from Tokyo.

For Hildebrandt, it marked a remarkable journey in which she made the drastic drop from 55kg down to the Olympic weight of 50kg.

"The weight cut has taken a lot of deliberate education and discipline," she said. "I actually started the weight cut for these Games back at the end of 2022. I was like, 'Everything I do, from
here on out, is going to feed into [Paris] 2024. So, it's going to be uncomfortable in 2023.'

"I'm so happy to say I've had the smoothest cut of my life for Paris 2024. It paid off."

Yui SUSAKI (JPN) defeated Oksana LIVACH (UKR) in the bronze medal bout in Paris. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Susaki, Makhmudov bounce back to bag bronzes

Susaki bounced back from her dethroning as Olympic champion by winning a bronze medal -- the first time in her life that she had ever taken part in a third-place match.

Putting on a display of the lightning-quick takedowns that had made her 94-0 against non-Japanese opponents prior to Tuesday's defeat, Susaki cruised to a 10-0 victory over Oksana LIVACH (UKR), finishing off the match 17 seconds into the second period.

"After losing in the first round yesterday, it's been a really rough two days," Susaki said. "But the people around me had my back and helped me get back on my feet. I am grateful to them from the bottom of my heart."

Susaki said she was moved by the many non-Japanese fans who cheered for her. "I had thought that without being 'Yui Susaki, Olympic champion,' I would have no value. But win or lose, I was encouraged by the cheers and I want them to see me again as an Olympic champion. I will fight hard over the next four years."

According to the Japan Federation website, a third place at the 2017 All-Japan Championships marks the only time Susaki finished out of the top two in any competition both at home and abroad, dating back to junior high school. In that tournament, the losing semifinalists received the bronze medals without a playoff.

World bronze medalist Ziqi FENG (CHN) picked up the other bronze at women's 50kg, storming to a six-point lead and holding on for a 6-4 vicory over world silver medalist Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL).

Feng opened with two slick takedowns, following the second with a gut wrench, before Dolgorjav struck back to make it 6-2 at the break. Dolgorjav kept the pressure on in the second period, but it wasn't until the final four seconds that she finally got behind for a takedown that was too little, too late.

At Greco 77kg, Makhmudov, the Tokyo silver medalist who looked bound for an Olympic gold in Paris after winning back-to-back world titles, also had to settle for a bronze, and it was no easy task at that.

Makhmudov, who fell to Zhadrayev in the quarterfinals, got a 4-point lift-and-throw early in the second period, and that made the difference in a 6-5 win over Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE), whose late rally came up just short.

Down 5-1, Suleymanov got a stepout and fleeing point, then scored a takedown with six seconds left. But Makhmudov had the criteria advantage, and a last-ditch challenge by the Azeri side only added an unneeded point.

European champion Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM), the bronze medalist at the last two World Championships, picked up the other bronze at Greco 77kg when he hung on for a 6-5 victory over Aram VARDANYAN (UZB).

Amoyan opened with a stepout that became an afterthought when he launched a 4-point throw from par terre for a 6-0 lead. But in the second period, Vardanyan hit a 4-point throw of his own from par terre using a front headlock, but that early stepout left him one point short.

Kyrgyzstan picked up a second bronze when five-time Asian medalist Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) edged Mohamad GABR (EGY) 2-1 at Greco 97kg. Dzhuzupbekov had the criteria advantage after each received a passivity point when Gabr had the option for a second par terre in the final minute, but opted to remain standing. After time ran out, Egypt made a dubious challenge that added a point to Dzhuzupbekov's tally.

The other 97kg bronze-medal match ended on a sad note when 40-year-old Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) was forced to default after injuring his shoulder early in his clash with reigning world champion Gabriel ROSILLO (CUB).

Assakalov landed on the shoulder as he tried an arm throw. He tried to continue, but after a few seconds realized it was not to be, awarding the victory to Rosillo.

It would be the two-time world medalist's last chance for an Olympic medal in three appearances, as he left his shoes on the mat after the match as a sign that he was retiring.

Day 3 Results

Greco-Roman

67kg
SF 1: Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) df. Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE), 3-3
SF 1: Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) df. Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM), 10-4

77kg
GOLD: Nao KUSAKA (JPN) df. Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ), 5-2

BRONZE: Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) df. Aram VARDANYAN (UZB), 6-5
BRONZE: Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) df. Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE), 6-5

87kg
SF 1: Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI) df. Zhan BELENIUK (UKR), 3-3
SF 1: Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) df. David LOSONCZI (HUN), 3-1

97kg
GOLD: Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) df. Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM), 4-1

BRONZE: Gabriel ROSILLO (CUB) df. Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) by Inj. Def., :42 (2-0)
BRONZE: Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) df. Mohamad GABR (EGY), 2-1

Women's Wrestling

50kg
GOLD: Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) df. Yusneylis GUZMAN (CUB), 3-0

BRONZE: Yui SUSAKI (JPN) df. Oksana LIVACH (UKR) by TF, 10-0, 3:17
BRONZE: Ziqi FENG (CHN) df. Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL), 6-4

53kg
SF 1: Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) df. Annika WENDLE (GER) by TF, 10-0, 4:29
SF 1: Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) df. Qianyu PANG (CHN) by TF, 10-0, 4:40

Susaki Returns from Elbow Injury with Victory as Junior, but Laments Struggles

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Paris 2024: Saravi wins Iran's first gold after beating Aleksanyan