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.

#wrestlebishkek

Dauletbekov wins third straight Asian gold; Zare grabs 5th for Iran

Friday, April 12, 2024 - 17:26 By Ken Marantz

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 12) -- Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) was not only aiming to complete a three-peat of Asian titles. There was a score to settle and wasn't going to let the chance to waste.

Dauletbekov willed himself to a late 4-point takedown to post a 5-2 victory over nemesis Javrail SHAPIEV (UZB) in the freestyle 86kg final at the Asian Championships on Friday in Bishkek, avenging a pair of losses over the past three years including one that kept him out of the Tokyo Olympics.

"I am very happy to be a three-time Asian champion, winning the gold medal for my country," Dauletbekov said. "I’ve been working hard for that. Thanks a lot to my coaches. It’s a team effort."

World champion Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) handily won the gold at 125kg for his first Asian title which, combined with a victory at 92kg by Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI), gave Iran exactly half of the 10 gold medals over the two days of freestyle at Bishkek Arena.

The host country got its first gold when defending champion Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) scored a late takedown for a dramatic victory at 61kg, while Japan picked up its second as Kota TAKAHASHI also left it late in winning at 74kg and denying Tajikistan just its second-ever Asian gold.

Iran captured the team title for the sixth time in seven years with 190 points. Japan finished second with 130, followed by host Kyrgyzstan with 121, three points ahead of neighbor Kazakhstan.

Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) scores a crucial takedown over Javrail SHAPIEV (UZB) in the 86kg final during the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Dauletbekov, a world bronze medalist the past two years, became the second wrestler at the tournament to complete the Asian three-peat after Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) did it the day before at 65kg.

For all Dauletbekov's shining credentials, Shapiev has remained a thorn in his side. Although Dauletbekov won 4-0 in a bronze-medal match at the 2018 Asian Championships in their first meeting, the Uzbek defeated him by fall at the 2021 Asian Olympic Qualifier -- Shapiev went on to place fifth in Tokyo -- and then again at last year's Asian Games, where Dauletbekov finished out of the medals.

On Friday, Dauletbekov managed to step up when the chips were down.

"The final match was a matter of principle for me," Dauletbekov said. "I lost to him [Shapiev] at the Asian Games. I think that match was controversial. I am very happy that I could win here."

In the first period, the scoring was limited to an activity point awarded to Dauletbekov, but Shapiev was on the receiving end of the next one in the second period, which put him ahead on criteria.

Dauletbekov, however, was not to be denied. He secured a body lock and used an inside trip to send Shapiev crashing to his back for a 4-point takedown. A penalty point for fleeing on Dauletbekov in the final seconds accounted for the final score as he added the title to the ones he captured in Ulan Bataar in 2022 and last year at home in Astana.

"I won my second Asian title at home, there were many fans, I will remember that tournament," he said. "This Asian Championships was successful for me. You saw that in the final, I was losing 1-1, but I could make a 4-point move to win the match with a 5-2 score."

Dauletbekov said he is considering entering the Budapest Ranking Series tournament in June as a last tuneup for the Olympics. He said he's been keeping tabs on the competition and likes his chances in Paris.

"I followed the [European] Olympic qualifier in Baku," he said. "There are many strong opponents in my weight class. I’ll be ready for them and hope everything will work out."

Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) won the 125kg with a technical superiority over Aiaal LAZAREV (KGZ). (Photo: United World Wrestling)

In the final match of the night, Zare showed why he is the dominant heavyweight in the sport today. Facing Aiaal LAZAREV (KGZ) -- at age 38, 15 years his senior -- Zare put on a clinic in quickly transitioning from takedown to exposure points in cruising to an 11-0 technical fall.

"Due to the good training we went through at the Iran national team camp, I participated in this match with less than 100% preparation and thanks to God I could get the gold," Zare said.

Lazarev was on the activity clock when Zare scored a takedown with a slick ankle pick. Before the 30 seconds had finished, the Iraninan had ripped off a pair of gut wrenches, giving him a 7-0 lead going into the second period. A takedown right to a roll for 4 ended the match with 32 seconds left.

Zare, a Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist and world champion in 2021, will be heading into the Paris Olympics on quite a roll. Since winning the world title last year in Belgrade -- which included victories over superstars Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) and Taha AKGUL (TUR) -- he won golds at the Asian Games and this year's Zagreb Open.

"This is my last competition before the Olympics," Zare said. "I needed both the ranking points and the fact that the Asian medal is valuable for our country, and thank God I didn’t return empty-handed."

Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) defended his 61kg title at the Asian Championships in Bishkek, thanks to a last ditch takedown in the final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

In the 61kg final, Zhumashbek Uulu didn't cut it as close as he did in his semifinal match earlier in the day, but he still took it to the wire to defeat Assyl AITAKYN (KAZ) 3-1 and complete a successful defense of his title.

Both wrestlers received an activity point, but Aitakyn got his midway through the second period to lead on criteria. With 20 seconds left, Zhumashbek Uulu scored a snap-down, spin-behind takedown to clinch the win to the delight of the partisan crowd.

In the semifinals, Zhumashbek Uulu was trailing on criteria when he hit a 4-point back trip in the last second for a stunning 11-7 victory over Reza ATRI (IRI).

Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) scores a takedown to take a decisive lead in the 74kg final against Victor RASSADIN (TJK). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Takahashi's 6-3 victory in the 74kg final against Viktor RASSADIN (TJK) followed a similar pattern. Takahashi got the first activity point, but was trailing on criteria when Rassadin got the second in the second period.

Takahashi, a 2022 world U23 bronze medalist who was making his international senior debut, then put the pressure on. That left an opening that Rassadin used to get in on a low single, but Takahashi nimble-footed out of it, then turned and charged Rassadin for a takedown.

"The opponent went into a firm defensive stance," Takahashi said. "I wanted to attack, but I couldn't get through where I wanted to. I couldn't score any takedowns and I was starting to get impatient."

The 20-year-old Takahashi said he was inspired by the victory at 57kg the previous night by Kento YUMIYA (JPN), his teammate at Nippon Sport Science University, often referred to as Nittaidai.

"Kento Yumiya won the title, and that made me a little anxious," Takahashi said. "I wanted to show that Nittaidai wrestling is strong. And I couldn't do less than a classmate the same age."

Rassadin was penalized a point for fleeing on the takedown, and Takahashi took advantage of the par terre position to score an exposure for a 6-1 lead. Rassadin scored a stepout, with a fleeing point tacked on, but it was not enough to deny Takahashi.

Rassadin was aiming to join Yusup ABDULSALAMOV (TJK), who triumphed in the same weight class in 2003 in New Dehli, as Tajikistan's lone Asian gold medalists.

Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) celebrates after winning the 92kg gold medal in Bishkek. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At 92kg, Firouzpour regained the title he won in 2022 when he relied on his solid base and raw power to chalk up six stepouts in an 8-3 victory over teenager Sherzod POYONOV (UZB).

Firouzpour, the world U20 and U23 champion in 2022 and winner at this year's Yasar Dogu tournament in Turkey, scored three stepouts in the first period, while giving up one himself. He added three more in the second before finally scoring a takedown off an underhook. Poyonov scored a consolation takedown in the final seconds.

Kum Chol RI (PRK) blanked Reza ATRI (IRI) 11-0 in the 61kg bronze medal bout. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

DPR Korea picks up 2nd bronze in return

In the bronze-medal matches, Kum Chol RI (PRK) gave the DPK Korea its second bronze in its return to the Asian Championships after a five-year absence by putting together a masterful 11-0 victory over 2022 world silver medalist Reza ATRI (IRI) at 61kg.

After scoring a nifty low-single takedown, Ri showed incredible dexterity and balance when he twice cartwheeled out of front-headlock counter lifts, both of which he turned into stepouts. The Iranians challenged the second, but it was denied to give Ri a 5-0 lead.

In the second period, Ri, making his first international appearance since winning an Asian cadet title in 2014, spun behind for a takedown, then went back and forth with an arm bar roll to finish off the match in 4:16.

The other 61kg bronze went to Enkhbold ENKHBAT (MGL), who put together a somewhat unusual winning pattern in a wild 18-7 victory over Akash DAHIYA (IND).

Enkhbat twice used a takedown and lace lock combination to chalk up big points -- eight in the first period and 10 in the second to end the match. But in between, he allowed Dahiya to come back and score seven points to cut the gap to one.

Sangho HAN (KOR) gave Korea its first medal of the competition with an amazing comeback at 74kg, overcoming a seven-point deficit to defeat teenager Alp BEGENJOV (TKM) 17-7 and deny Turkmenistan its first-ever senior Asian medal in freestyle.

The 17-year-old Begenjov came out on fire, kicking out the leg for a 4-point takedown before adding a stepout and a takedown for a 7-0 lead. But then he ran out of gas, and Han took full advantage, scoring two takedowns, a stepout and two exposures to go ahead 9-7 at the break.

It was more of the same in the second, as he used a lace lock for four points, then a takedown to a roll for four more to end the match at 3:34.

Iran added two bronze medals to its final tally with victories by Hossein ABOUZARI (IRI) at 74kg and Hadi VAFAEIPOUR (IRI) at 86kg.

Abouzari, making his senior Asian debut, scored all of his points in the second period of a 5-2 victory over 2021 champion Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ). Vafaeipour had an easier time with Peilong LI (CHN), scoring two takedown-exposure combinations in a 10-0 technical fall in 2:31.

Tatsuya SHIRAI (JPN), a 2022 world U23 champion appearing in just his second international tournament on the senior level, came away with the other 86kg bronze with a 3-0 victory over Atai IZABEKOV (KGZ). Shirai was the aggressor throughout and was rewarded with two activity points, then added a stepout at the buzzer.

Bahrain had two wrestlers named SHARIPOV in action, and both came away with bronze medals with one-sided victories.

Magomed SHARIPOV (BRN) picked up his second straight Asian bronze at 92kg after scoring four takedowns, including a 4-pointer, in a 10-0 technical fall over Suhe GANG (CHN), and Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) scored a second-period fall over Anirudh KUMAR (IND) after building an 8-2 lead at 125kg.

Batzul DAMJIN (MGL) won the other 92kg bronze and broke some host country hearts, scoring a duck-under takedown with 40 seconds left for a 2-2 victory on criteria over Nurtilek KARYPBAEV (KGZ). Both of Karypbaev's points came on the activity clock.

BUHEEERDUN (CHN) needed just 44 seconds to secure his second straight bronze at 125kg, scoring a takedown and executing four gut wrenches for a 10-0 victory over Odgerel BATKHISHIG (MGL).

Day 2 Results

Freestyle

61kg (15 entries)
GOLD: Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) df. Assyl AITAKYN (KAZ), 3-1

BRONZE: Kum Chol RI (PRK) df. Reza ATRI (IRI) by TF, 11-0, 4:16
BRONZE: Enkhbold ENKHBAT (MGL) df. Akash DAHIYA (IND) by TF, 18-7, 5:29

74kg (16 entries)
GOLD: Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) df. Viktor RASSADIN (TJK), 6-3

BRONZE: Hossein ABOUZARI (IRI) df. Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ), 5-2
BRONZE: Sangho HAN (KOR) df. Alp BEGENJOV (TKM) by TF, 17-7, 3:34

86kg (12 entries)
GOLD: Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) df. Javrail SHAPIEV (UZB), 5-2

BRONZE: Hadi VAFAEIPOUR (IRI) df. Peilong LI (CHN) by TF, 10-0, 2:31
BRONZE: Tatsuya SHIRAI (JPN) df. Atai IZABEKOV (KGZ), 3-0

92kg (12 entries)
GOLD: Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) df. Sherzod POYONOV (UZB), 8-3

BRONZE: Magomed SHARIPOV (BRN) df. Suhe GANG (CHN) by TF, 10-0, 3:34
BRONZE: Batzul DAMJIN (MGL) df. Nurtilek KARYPBAEV (KGZ), 2-2

125kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Amir ZARE (IRI) df. Aiaal LAZAREV (KGZ) by TF, 11-0, 5:27

BRONZE: Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) df. Anirudh KUMAR (IND) by Fall, 4:15 (8-2)
BRONZE: BUHEEERDUN (CHN) df. Odgerel BATKHISHIG (MGL) by TF, 10-0, :44

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

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Dauletbekov wins third straight Asian gold; Zare grabs 5th for Iran