#EmperorsCup

Takatani Caps Successful Move up to 86kg; Susaki Pulls out with Elbow Injury

Friday, December 21, 2018 - 13:25 By Ken Marantz

Share this article

TOKYO---Sosuke TAKATANI showed he could pull his weight in a heavier class, while Yui SUSAKI pulled a surprise by pulling out of the All-Japan Championships due to an injury.

Takatani, a 2014 world silver medalist at 74kg, capped his first foray at the Olympic weight class of 86kg by crushing defending champion Shota SHIRAI with a victory by fall in the final for his eighth straight national title. 

“I was wondering how I would do moving up to 86kg, but I put together some good matches, so I’m happy,” said Takatani, who won the 79kg last year as a stepping stone to the jump to 86kg. All of his previous titles came at 74kg.

In the final, Takatani scored a takedown off a single leg, then countered a Shirai takedown attempt with a 2-point crotch lift. He ended up on top and, applying a chicken wing, levered Shirai for 2 more points before forcing him completely over and securing the fall at 2:43.

It was a big difference from his close 2-1 semifinal win the day before over Masao MATSUSAKA. 

“In the semifinal, the opponent did well to match my moves, but today I attacked in the way I know I can,” Takatani said. “Shirai is also a wrestler who likes to go for tackles, which makes him an easier opponent for me.”

Takatani, who placed 11that 79kg at the Budapest 2018 world championships, said he is anxious to test himself against the world 86kg field.

“There are a lot of tall wrestlers at 86kg, so I think it will be easier for me to get tackles,” he said. 

Reigning U23 world champion, Yukako KAWAI, won the 62kg title with a 3-0 win over Yuzuru KUMANO. Photo: Sachiko Hotaka

In another feature final on the second day of the four-day tournament, which is serving as the first stage of qualifying for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Budapest silver medalist and world U23 champion Yukako KAWAI staved off her nerves enough to win the women’s 62kg title.

Kawai defeated Yuzuru KUMANO, a world U23 bronze medalist at 59kg, 3-0 in the final, scoring all of her points late in the first period. 

“I felt unstable and I wasn’t sure how I would do, but I wanted to win so badly,” said Kawai, the UWW U23 Wrestler of the Year. “My opponent in the final and I have met many times, so we both knew each other well, but I was still nervous.”

Yui SUSAKI (JPN), two-time world champion, had to withdraw due to a dislocated elbow. (Photo Gabor Martin) 

The big news of the day came prior to the late session, when the draw for Saturday’s weight classes were made. It was then that it was announced that Susaki, who won a second straight women’s 50kg gold in Budapest, had withdrawn due to a dislocated elbow suffered at the national team training camp last month.

For Susaki to now defend her world title, she will now have to win the title at the All-Japan Invitational Championships, also known as the Meiji Cup, next spring, then defeat the winner of this tournament (known as the Emperor’s Cup) in a playoff.

The 50kg class had drawn attention as a battle royale between Susaki, Rio 2016 champion Eri TOSAKA and defending champion Yuki IRIE.

“I made the decision today,” Susaki said. “I will do what I can to come back and qualify for the Meiji Cup, and win that.”

Takuya Ota , Susaki’s coach at Waseda University, said, “Even if she won, there was a possibility of making it worse and having to have surgery. If she’s not 100 percent, she can’t beat Tosaka or Irie.”

Four-time Olympic champion Kaori ICHO will meet three-time world and Olypmic champion Risako KAWAI in tomorrow's opening round. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

There was even more buzz created when it was announced that top-seeded Katsuki SAKAGAMI had withdrawn from the women’s 57kg class---the marquee division that could see a clash between Olympic champions Kaori ICHO and Risako KAWAI---although it had little to do directly with Sakagami.

Sakagami’s withdrawal leaves the division with just seven wrestlers, meaning the two-group, round-robin system comes into play. But, as this was the first time such a format was being used, there was much confusion among the Japanese press. What happens to the seeds? With Icho unseeded, can she be placed in the group with No. 2 seed Kawai? 

In the end, that’s just what happened, as Icho and Kawai will meet in the first match of Group B, which also includes Sae NANJO. The top two in each group advance to the semifinals later in the day, so a final on Sunday featuring Icho and Kawai is far from impossible. 

In other action Friday, Nobuyoshi ARAKIDA won his third straight gold and seventh over an 11-year span with a 2-1 victory over Katsutoshi KANAZAWA in the freestyle 125kg final. 

Arakida trailed 1-0 going into the second period, but scored on a step-out, then added a point with Kanazawa on the activity clock.

Naoya AKAGUMA won his first Emperor's Cup since 2016 with a 2-1 win over defending champion, Takeshi YAMAGUCHI. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Naoya AKAGUMA regained the freestyle 97kg title that he won in 2016, beating defending champion Takeshi YAMAGUCHI, 2-1, in the final. That also avenged a loss last July to Yamaguchi in the playoff for a spot on the team to the Budapest world championships. 

In Greco action, world U23 champion Katsuaki Endo claimed his first title when he overcame a flubbed throw attempt early into the 63kg final, and went on to defeat Yoshiki YAMADA by 10-0 technical fall in 2:28.

The 21-year-old Endo finished off his fourth straight technical fall, all without surrendering a point, with a nifty 5-point throw. 

At 72kg, Tomohiro INOUE scored with a 4-point arm throw right off the bat in final against Takuya TOMIZUKA, and that’s how it ended as he claimed his second straight title and fourth overall.

Asian silver medalist Masato SUMI won his second straight title at 87kg, edging JSDF Physical Training School teammate Takahiro TSURUDA 2-1 in a final in which all points came for passivity.  

The scene was virtually repeated in the next match, when Yuta NARA made it three in a row at 97kg with a 2-1 over rival Masaaki SHIKIYA, with passivity points accounting for all of the scoring. The result was a repeat of the 2017 final.

Arata SONODA maintained his grip on the heaviest division, extending his streak to five straight titles at 130kg with a 9-0 technical fall victory in 2:01 over Ryuta KONO.

With the grand exodus of wrestlers to the Olympic weight divisions, a number of women’s weight classes have just four or five wrestlers and are using a round-robin system. 

UWW's Cadet Wrestler of the Year Yuka KAGAMI won the 72kg gold medal with a 3-0 record. (Photo: Max Rose-Fyne.)

Three of the divisions crowned new champions, with UWW Cadet Wrestler of the Year Yuka KAGAMI taking the 72kg gold. The other winners were Nao TANIYAMA (55kg), who defeated world U23 champion Saki IGARASHI on Thursday, and Yuzuka INAGAKI (59kg).

In weight classes that went through preliminary rounds and semifinals Friday, Budapest 2018 bronze medalist Yuki TAKAHASHI advanced to the freestyle 57kg final, where he will face Kaiki YAMAGUCHI.

The 57kg final had expected to be a clash between defending national champions, as Kazuya KOYANAGI, the 2017 titlist at 61kg, dropped down to the Olympic division. But the 19-year-old Yamaguchi spoiled Koyanagi’s dreams, beating him 7-4 in the semifinals.

Takahashi, the 2017 world champion, is not taking his young opponent lightly. “Last year I faced him in the semifinals while he was still in high school and I beat him 4-0,” Takahashi said. “Continuing on that, no matter how the match goes, I want to win.”

Takahashi also needs to contend with the new format for this year’s tournament, which follows new UWW standards.

“Tomorrow is an early weigh-in, then the final is at night,” Takahashi said. “So I have to deal with how to spend the time and how to recover [from today].”

Yuhi  FUJINAMI, a 2017 world bronze medalist, advanced the final at 74kg with three consecutive technical falls. In the final, he will take on Ken HOSAKA, the opponent he defeated by 14-2 technical fall in the world team playoff last July.

Day 2 Results

Freestyle

57kg (19 entries)
Semifinals
Yuki TAKAHASHI df. Kotaro KIYOOKA, 7-0
Kaiki YAMAGUCHI df. Kazuya KOYANAGI, 7-4

61kg (18 entries)
Semifinals
Shingo ARIMOTO df. Joji NAGATA, 8-3
Yudai FUJITA df. Takumi YOSHIMURA, 3-2

74kg (19 entries)
Semifinals
Yuhi FUJINAMI df. Mao OKUI by TF, 15-2, 4:45
Ken HOSAKA df. Yuto MIWA, 6-1 

86kg (15 entries)
Final: Sosuke TAKATANI df. Shota SHIRAI by Fall, 2:43 (6-0)
3rdPlace: Hayato ISHIGURO df. Taisei MATSUYUKI, 7-4
3rdPlace: Masao MATSUSAKA df. Tatsuya SHIRAI by TF, 10-0, 4:00 

97kg (12 entries)
Final: Naoya AKAGUMA df. Takeshi YAMAGUCHI, 2-1 
3rdPlace: Yuji FUKUI df. Yusuke YOSHIKAWA by TF, 11-1
3rdPlace: Koki YAMAMOTO df. Takashi ISHIGURO, 3-0 

125kg (14 entries)
Final: Nobuyoshi ARAKIDA df. Katsutoshi KANAZAWA, 2-1 
3rdPlace: Tetsuya TANAKA df. Yasuhiro YAMAMOTO, 6-0 
3rdPlace: Reona AKAGI df. Takuya HIGUCHI, 6-3 

Greco-Roman


63kg (18 entries)
Final: Katsuaki ENDO df. Yoshiki YAMADA by TF, 10-0, 2:28
3rdPlace: Ryota KOSHIBA df. Kizuku YOSHIZUMI by TF, 9-0, 1:51
3rdPlace: Shintaro YOSHINAGA df. Ichito TOKUHIGA, 2-2 

67kg (21 entries)
Semifinals
Tsuchika SHIMOYAMADA df. Takahiro YAMAMOTO by TF, 10-2, 3:32
Shogo TAKAHASHI df. Yuji UEGAKI by TF, 8-0, 2:57

72kg (16 entries)
Final: Tomohiro INOUE df. Takuya TOMIZUKA, 4-0
3rdPlace: Nao KUSAKA df. Haruka OGA by Fall, 2:09 (4-0)
3rdPlace: Masaki KONDO df. Ryoma HOJO by Fall, 3:40 (9-4) 

77kg (16 entries)
Semifinals
Kodai SAKURABA df. Shohei YABIKU, 5-3 
Naotsugu SHOJI df. Yuya MAETA, 8-5

87kg (13 entries)
Final: Masato SUMI df. Takahiro TSURUDA, 2-1 
3rdPlace: Kanta SHIOKAWA df. Shuhei SAKANO by TF, 9-0, 1:47
3rdPlace: Taichi OKA df. Ryota NASUKAWA, 4-0 

97kg (15 entries)
Final: Yuta NARA df. Masaaki SHIKIYA, 2-1
3rdPlace: Yuri NAKAZATO df. Masayuki AMANO, 2-1
3rdPlace: Takuya YAMASHITA df. Ryosuke ISHII by TF, 9-0, 1:56

130kg (13 entries)
Final: Arata SONODA df. Ryuta KONO by TF, 9-0, 2:01
3rdPlace: Shoma SUZUKI df. Masashi SUGANO, 2-1
3rdPlace: Keita BANCHI df. Satoshi KAIZUKA, 2-2

Women’s Wrestling

55kg (4 entries)
Round-Robin (Final Standings)
1. Nao TANIYAMA (3-0, 9 pts)
2. Saki IGARASHI (2-1, 11)
3. Sena NAGAMOTO (1-2, 3)
Key Match: Taniyama df. Igarashi, 7-2 in 1stround

59kg (4 entries)
Round-Robin (Final Standings)1. Yuzuka INAGAKI (3-0, 11 pts)
2. Kumi IRIE (2-1, 9)
3. Kiwa IWASAWA (1-2, 3)
Key Match: Inagaki df. Irie, 8-5 in 2ndround

62kg (11 entries)
Final: Yukako KAWAI df. Yuzuru KUMANO, 3-0
3rdPlace: Miyu IMAI df. Miwa MORIKAWA, 2-2
3rdPlace: Yurika ITO df. Miru KUZUYA by TF, 10-0, :40 

65kg (4 entries)
Round-Robin (through 2 matches)
1. Naomi RUIKE (2-0, 8 pts); 2. Miki KAWAUCHI (1-1, 3); 3. Misuzu ENOMOTO (1-1, 3); 4. Saki KAWAUCHI (0-2, 1)

72kg (4 entries)
Round-Robin (Final Standings)
1. Yuka KAGAMI (3-0, 9 pts)
2. Naruha MATSUYUKI (2-1, 7)
3. Mei SHINDO (1-2, 5)
Key Match: Kagami df. Matsuyuki, 2-1 in 2ndround

76kg (5 entries)
Round-Robin (through 3 matches)
1. Hiroe MINAGAWA (2-0, 10 pts); 2. Masako FURUICHI (2-1, 8 pts); 3. Yasuha MATSUYUKI (2-0, 7); 4. Rino ABE (0-3, 1); 5. Miku SAITO (0-2, 0)

 

#WrestleParis

Paris 2024: Tazhudinov strikes gold; Japan finish with eight

Sunday, August 11, 2024 - 17:21 By Ken Marantz

Share this article

PARIS (August 11) -- A little less than a year ago in Belgrade, Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) announced himself to the world by knocking off two of the sport's biggest giants -- both literally and figuratively. On Sunday, he accomplished the one feat that makes a name live on forever.

Tazhudinov added the Olympic gold to the one he won at last year's World Championships, scoring an opportunistic fall over Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) in the freestyle 97kg final on the last day of competition at the Paris Olympics.

"This is the Olympic Games, all of the fights are difficult. I just did it," said the Russian-born Tazhudinov, who became Bahrain's first-ever Olympic champion in a sport outside of athletics. "I trained hard. My family, brothers and [training] partners helped me become what I am today."

Japan capped a spectacular showing in Paris by grabbing the two other gold medals at stake, with world champion Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) prevailing at women's 76kg to become the country's first-ever champion in the heaviest weight class, and unheralded Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) taking the freestyle 65kg title to join a childhood wrestling club teammate as Olympic champion in Paris.

Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN)

The 21-year-old Tazhudinov turned the wrestling world upside down in Belgrade last September when he swept aside in succession both Kyle SNYDER (USA) and Abdulrashid SADULAEV (AIN), who between them had won every world or Olympic 97kg title dating back to 2015, en route to the gold.

Few had been aware of Tazhudinov up to that point, although he did give a hint of things to come by winning the Asian Championships earlier that year. The native of the wrestling hotbed of Dagestan had changed his nationality to Bahrain in the autumn of 2022.

A month after his triumph in Belgrade, Tazhudinov added the Asian Games gold, then prepped for Paris this year by winning the Antalya international tournament and successfully defending his Asian title in Bishkek.

On Sunday, Tazhudinov shone brightest on the biggest stage of all, beating Snyder in the semifinals before securing the gold before another packed crowd at the Champs de Mars Arena.

In the final, two-time reigning European champion Matcharashvili threw caution to the wind at the start and attempted a bold arm throw. It would be a fateful decision, as Tazhudinov stopped the move and Matcharashvili left on his back. That provided the opening for him to pounce on top, securing the fall at 1:52 for his seventh straight major tournament title.

"It was a counterattack, and I caught him on this move," said Tazhudinov, who has not lost since falling 6-4 to Vladislav BAITCAEV (HUN) in the quarterfinals of the Alexandria Ranking Series tournament in February 2023.

Kagami doesn't put up the big numbers like Tazhudinov, but she steadily wears down opponents and gains enough openings to score with her deceptive speed.

Yuka KAGAMI (JPN)Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) after winning the 76kg final against Kennedy BLADES (USA) in Paris. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

In the women's 76kg final against Kennedy BLADES (USA), Kagami trailed 1-1 on criteria when she connected with a double-leg tackle, driving the American out of bounds for a takedown that was originally scored a stepout to lead 3-1.

After that Kagami never let the taller Blades, who defeated six-time world champion Adeline GRAY (USA) at the U.S. Olympic trials to get to Paris, get even a whiff of her legs as she secured the historic victory for Japan.

“She was definitely strong, and her positioning was great," said the 20-year-old Blades, last year's world U23 silver medalist. "I knew going into the match that Japan is very disciplined on positioning, so I think that’s what made it a little tough. I’m just going to go back to the drawing board and start working on my stuff again.

“She was ready for what I was going to do, and I was ready for what she was going to do. It was definitely a scramble. It was a fun match. Of course, I do want to be on top, always. But honestly, at the end of the day, it was a battlefield."

Blades had advanced to the final by knocking off world silver medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) 8-6 in the semifinals Saturday.

That Japan is the dominant power in women's wrestling is beyond dispute -- the country won four of the six golds in Paris, with two bronzes -- but until Sunday, it had always come up short in the heaviest weight at the Olympics.

The last time a Japanese heavyweight even medaled was in Beijing 2008, when Kyoko HAMAGUCHI (JPN) won a second straight bronze at 72kg. Kagami was determined to rectify the situation.

"It is something that I have always been aiming for," Kagami said. "It's really a thrill to be able to accomplish something that no one else has. What I did today resulted from what I have done up to now and the choices that I have made."

After the victory, Kagami lifted up and twirled around coach Shogo MAEDA, who is not only a national team coach but was her coach at Toyo University, which she chose to attend instead of one of the established powerhouses.

Kagami is a product of the JOC Academy that also produced Tokyo Olympic champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN) and Nonoka OZAKI (JPN), who both won bronzes in Paris. Her effervescence and outgoing nature make her a favorite on the national team.

"To see everyone with tears of joy for me makes me the happiest," said Kagami, a two-time Asian champion and world bronze medalist in 2022.

"I had always aimed to be standing here. I thought to enjoy each and every match, each and every second. I was smiling, and I was nervous. But I spent this Olympics even enjoying the nervousness."

Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN)Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) laces Amouzad KHALILI (IRI) during the 65kg final at the Paris Olympics. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

At 65kg, Kiyooka was never considered a favorite in a stacked weight class, although he did earn some street cred by defeating Tokyo Olympic champion Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) en route to qualifying for Paris.

“There was a certain degree of pressure to perform as well as my rival, but I was able to defeat the champion of the Tokyo Games," said Kiyooka, who finished ninth at the 2023 World U23 Championships. "I felt like there was an element of fate there having defeated a prior gold medalist."

His lightning-quick reflexes and solid techniques propelled him to the pinnacle of the sport, capped by a 10-3 victory over reigning Asian champion and 2022 world 61kg gold medalist Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI).

Amouzad got on the scoreboard first with a driving stepout while on the activity clock. Kiyooka responded with a single-leg takedown, then executed a lace-lock variant in which he puts his head between the legs while securing the thighs or ankles, a move often used by Japanese wrestlers.

Kiyooka reeled off a series of rolls, but a fourth that would have ended the match came after time expired, leaving him with a still-formidable 10-1 lead.

"That is my pet move, and if I can get into position, I'm confident I can get the turns," the 23-year-old Kiyooka said. "I had intended to end it right there, but time ran out.

"When I looked up it was 10-1. I was aiming to attack from the beginning in the second period to win by technical superiority, but he is not so easy of an opponent, so I couldn't finish it off."

It was Amouzad who would score the lone points of the second period, a 2-point exposure off a counter, but he never found a way through Kiyooka's defenses to close the gap any further.

“In this 65kg weight class, any athlete could have won gold," Kiyooka said. "It’s a very difficult and challenging weight class, and winning gold in this weight class is particularly important for me. That’s why I felt like the hero of my own novel."

Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN)Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) celebrates with his childhood friend and fellow Olympic champion Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Kiyooka started wrestling at age 3 at a kids wrestling club in Kochi City on the central island of Shikoku. It was there he first met the 2-year-old daughter of the club's coach. Her name is Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN), and she won the women's 57kg gold the previous day.

"I had to find a way to win," Kiyooka said. "Before the tournament, we knew that she would wrestle before me, so I told her to put pressure on me by winning. I converted that into motivation.

"We've had a great relationship leading up to this point and both of us won gold medals. We made each other stronger and had dreams of the Olympics together, and we could both win by encouraging each other. It's really incredible that we won titles at the same Olympics."

Asked about standing at the top of the medal podium, Kiyooka replied, "It's the most beautiful view in the world."

Japan finished its best-ever tournament with a total of eight golds, one silver and two bronzes from the 13 weight classes in which the country had qualified. With Kiyooka's victory, Nippon Sports Science University students and alumni combined for five golds, more than double any other country.

Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI)Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) denied Kyle SNYDER (USA) in the 97kg bronze-medal bout. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Snyder denied bronze; Albania wins 2nd

Snyder, who came to Paris looking to regain the Olympic title after taking silver in Tokyo, will leave empty-handed after being dealt a 4-1 defeat by 2022 world U23 champion Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI).

Azarpira scored a takedown in the first period and two stepouts in the second, then fended off everything Snyder threw his way to earn a bronze medal and repeat his 6-3 victory over Snyder in the final at the Zagreb Open in January.

The other 97kg bronze went to Russian-born world silver medalist Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE), who scored two takedowns in each period of a 10-0 victory over Murazi MCHEDLIDZE (UKR).

Prior to the Paris Olympics, Albania had never won an Olympic medal in any sport. European champion Islam DUDAEV (ALB) gave the tiny European nation a second in wrestling in two nights.

The Russian-born Dudaev had just been tagged for a 4-point throw when he scored a reversal with :04 left, giving him a thrilling 13-12 victory over reigning world champion Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) in a freestyle 65kg bronze-medal match.

“The match was very difficult," Dudaev said. "It was not the first bout I had with Muszukajev. We have already met several times, so I knew him quite well, and I knew what I was supposed to do to win against him.”

Dudaev started off the clash with a bang, getting 4 with a marvelous inner crotch throw and 2 more with an exposure. Musukaev cut the lead to 8-4 off a scramble, and a takedown whittled it further to 8-6 at the break.

Dudaev spread the gap again to six points with a takedown and roll, but Musukaev struck back again with a takedown, then used a front headlock to throw Dudaev to the mat for 4 to go ahead 12-12 on criteria.

But Dudaev squirmed out of the hold and got behind in time to secure a dramatic win and join compatriot Cherman VALIEV (ALB), also a native Russian, as a bronze medalist.

Sebastian RIVERA (PUR)Sebastian RIVERA (PUR) scores the winning takedown against Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

There was also drama in the preceding 65kg bronze-medal match, as Sebastian RIVERA (PUR) scored a takedown in the final seconds to upend Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) 10-9, giving Puerto Rico just its second-ever Olympic wrestling medal.

"It was tough," Rivera said. "Everybody in the weight class was really tough. To get a medal, that’s what I expected and what I came here to do, so I’m happy I could fulfill my dreams."

Rivera prevailed in a back-and-forth match when Tumur Ochir, trying to clinch the victory, went for a headlock throw, but the Puerto Rican slipped out and got behind with eight seconds left.

Tumur Ochir appeared to have remained on all fours to avoid the takedown -- but a challenge revealed his knee hit down, giving Rivera the winning points.

Rivera had spotted Tumur Ochir a 4-0 lead in the first period, then went ahead himself 8-4 with a takedown and three exposures from an arm trap. Tumur Ochir took back the advantage 9-8 on a 4-point leg sweep and a lost challenge.

Rivera, who was born in the U.S. state of New Jersey and competed collegiately at Northwestern and Rutgers universities, joins Jaime ESPINAL (PUR), a silver medalist at freestyle 84kg at London 2012 as the only wrestling medalist in their nation's history.

At women's 76kg, world silver medalist Medet Kyzy was relegated to her second straight fifth-place Olympic finish when she was dealt a 6-0 defeat by Milaimy MARIN (CUB) in their bronze-medal match.

Marin fired out of the blocks with a big 4-point double-leg takedown, then went behind for a takedown in the second to deny the Asian champion.

In a rare Olympic medal match between South Americans, Tatiana RENTERIA (COL) gave Colombia its second-ever Olympic wrestling medal, defeating Genesis REASCO (ECU) 2-1 for the other women's 76kg bronze in a bout decided solely on activity points.

Day 7 Results

Freestyle

65kg
GOLD: Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) df. Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI), 10-3

BRONZE: Sebastian RIVERA (PUR) df. Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) 10-9
BRONZE: Islam DUDAEV (ALB) df. Ismail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN), 13-12

97kg
GOLD: Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) df. Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) by Fall, 1:52 (2-0)

BRONZE: Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) df. Murazi MCHEDLIDZE (UKR) by TF, 10-0, 4:29
BRONZE: Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) df. Kyle SNYDER (USA), 4-1

Women's Wrestling

76kg
GOLD: Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) df. Kennedy BLADES (USA), 3-1

BRONZE: Milaimy MARIN (CUB) df. Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ), 6-0
BRONZE: Tatiana RENTERIA (COL) df. Genesis REASCO (ECU), 2-1