#WrestleOslo

Teen phenom Fujinami excited, not nervous, about global senior debut

By Ken Marantz

TOKYO (September 30) -- Teenager Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) was bred to wrestle for fun as much as victories. She's had an awful lot of both in her budding career.

Fujinami, regarded as one of Japan's top future prospects, will face the toughest test of her young life when she makes her international senior debut at the World Championships in Oslo in the women's 53kg division, which gets underway October 5.

Fujinami, still a month shy of her 18th birthday, stormed her way onto a young but not-to-be-underestimated Japanese team by winning the two national championship tournaments that served as the domestic qualifiers. Those were her first-ever senior-level competitions.

The 2018 world cadet champion says she has no jitters about about making the jump directly from cadet to senior, following a route previously taken by recently crowned Olympic champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN).

"My feelings right now are that I'm excited," Fujinami said in a telephone interview from her home in central Japan. "I really want the tournament to start soon. I'm don't feel nervous at all. I'm fired up. I'm looking forward to seeing how I can do."

Leave it to Japan, the preeminent powerhouse in women's wrestling, to be missing the Olympic champion and still have a wrestler of her caliber to take her place.

Akari FujinamiAkari FUJINAMI (JPN) addressing the media after the Emperor's Cup in December, 2020. (Photo: UWW / Ken Marantz)

Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) was busy preparing for her gold-medal run at 53kg at the Tokyo Olympics and did not enter the two national tournaments -- the All-Japan Emperor's Cup in December 2020 and the All-Japan Invitational Meiji Cup last May. In fact, none of Japan's Olympians, including the four other gold medalists, will be making the trip to Oslo.

But it cannot be said that Fujinami had an easy path to Oslo. At both tournaments, she encountered both two-time world champion Haruna OKUNO (JPN) and 2019 world silver medalist Nanami IRIE (JPN) -- and won each time. And quite handily, in fact.

"It gives me a lot of confidence," said Fujinami, who beat Irie in both finals without conceding a point.

Fujinami is yet to face Mukaida in an official match, but seeing her fellow Mie Prefecture native win the Olympic gold medal has stoked a fire in Fujinami. If Mukaida (now Shidochi following her recent marriage) intends to defend her Olympic title, she will likely have to get past Fujinami first.

"I watched [her matches]," Fujinami said. "I thought she was fantastic, but my stronger feeling was that I have to beat this person and win the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics."

Fujinami, a senior at Inabe Gakuen High School, has not lost a match since the national junior high school championships in June 2017, and is currently on a 79-match winning streak. Of those 79 wins, put together while accumulating 20 tournament titles, all but 15 were by fall or technical fall.

Fujinami has appeared in five international tournaments, and has yet to lose to a non-Japanese opponent. In 2018, she reeled off victories at the Klippan Lady (cadet division), Asian cadet, World cadet and Asian U15 championships.

She won a second straight Klippan Lady title in February 2019 -- with four straight technical falls -- but with the start of the worldwide pandemic, that would prove to be her last international competition until Oslo.

"It will be the first time in two years for me to face a foreign opponent," Fujinami said. "But I don't think there will be any big difference from what I normally do."

Akari FujinamiAkari FUJINAMI (JPN), right, during the U15 Asian Championships in 2018. (Photo: UWW / Ken Marantz)

Along with Mukaida, the Oslo field will also be missing Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Qianyu PANG (CHN). But Fujinami might have to contend with bronze medalist Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL), along with newly crowned world junior champion Emma MALMGREN (SWE).

She's ready for the challenge. "I'd really like to face them," she said.

Fujinami said she is well prepared for the World Championships, and will be heading to Oslo coming off a national team training camp. Prior to that, she was able to practice even though her school was still having only online teaching. The wrestling team was able to use the school's wrestling room.

Obviously too dominant for her female teammates, Fujinami spars with the boys at Inabe Gakuin. "They are around the same weight," she said. "It's a hard workout that's like matches."

Fujinami has also been invited in the past to train with the team at Nippon Sports Science University, where four-time Olympic champion Kaori ICHO (JPN) is currently an assistant coach.

"I haven't gone there recently because of the coronavirus," said Fujinami, who has not officially committed to a university after graduation next March, but said she will likely go to NSSU.

Fujinami started wrestling at age three, following her older brother Yuhi into the kids wrestling club run by her father Toshikazu, who is still her coach at Inabe Gakuen. Yuhi went on to win a bronze medal at the 2017 world championships at freestyle 70kg.

"I wanted to imitate what my brother was doing, so that's why I started wrestling," said Fujinami.

While Japanese wrestling often has a Spartan image, such was not the case at the Inabe Club. It would not be until her third year of elementary school that she would win her first national schoolgirls title.

"In the beginning, I was actually weak," Fujinami said. "My mother and father, and they'll say it even now, they wanted me to have fun wrestling, and I think they thought I wouldn't be an athlete with high aims.

"But as I stayed with it, I really got into it and wanted to become a world-beater. But I didn't feel that way when I was little."

With their mutual success, Fujinami and her brother developed a sibling rivalry that was, and still is, always friendly.

"I got along well with my brother and still do now," Fujinami said. "In 2017 he won a bronze medal at the World Championships, but I want to better his record and win a gold medal."

On the mat, Fujinami's main weapon is a lightning-quick single-leg takedown, which, like many Japanese, she quickly transitions to a lace-lock. She has recently focused on improving her ground wrestling, both offensively and defensively.

While she said she did not have a favorite wrestler growing up -- despite the fact that superstar Saori YOSHIDA (JPN) is also a Mie native -- Fujinami mentioned Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) when asked during a Zoom press conference whose style of wrestling she liked.

"I often watch and learn from his videos," she said of the Tokyo Olympic gold medalist at freestyle 65kg. "He can score a tackle from anywhere. He's really amazing. Like that, I want to do wrestling that's fun to watch, where a lot happens."

In Oslo, Fujinami plans to maintain her pre-match routine of eating "sekihan," a dish of rice boiled with red beans that she will bring with her. What won't be routine these days is competing in front of a crowd.

In the few domestic tournaments that weren't canceled amid the pandemic, fans and friends were not allowed.

"Having a crowd really livens up the matches, and for us athletes, its raises our motivation," Fujinami said.

#WrestleAmman

U17 Worlds: India claims four WW golds after unbeaten run

By Vinay Siwach

AMMAN, Jordan (August 22) -- China's Na HU (CHN) stole a match in the dying seconds but it was India that stole the show at the U17 World Championships in Amman on Thursday. India had four wrestlers in the final in Women's Wrestling and all four won gold medals.

Last year, India had won only one gold, coming at 61kg. But with four golds and five more weight classes remaining, the country is set to register its best at the U17 World Championships.

Hu was the other champion of the day at 49kg, a weight class in which India had no participation as it sent only nine wrestlers in Women's Wrestling to the U17 Asian Championships in June.

NEHA (IND)NEHA (IND) scores a takedown against So TSUTSUI (JPN) during the 57kg final at the U17 World Championships in Amman. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Leading the Indian team was returning bronze medalist NEHA (IND) at 57kg. A day before heading to Amman, Neha met VINESH (IND) who had returned from the Paris Olympics. Vinesh had become the first wrestler to beat Yui SUSAKI (JPN) internationally and reach the final at 50kg. She was later disqualified for failing her weigh-in on the second day.

Hailing from the same village -- Balali in Haryana -- as Vinesh, Neha did not take long to announce herself, winning the gold medal by beating So TSUTSUI (JPN) in a show of brute power. In her earlier bouts on Wednesday, Neha won one via fall, one via technical superiority and the semifinal 8-4.

The 16-year-old will have to quickly refocus as she is scheduled to compete at her first U20 World Championships in Pontevedra, Spain from September 2.

Mansi LATHER (IND)Mansi LATHER (IND) works for the pin against Hanna PIRSKAYA (AIN) during the 73kg final at the U17 World Championships in Amman. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

At 73kg, Mansi LATHER (IND) capped off her dominant run with a gold medal by pinning Hanna PIRSKAYA (AIN) in the final. This was her third fall in four bouts while one was a 6-0 win over returning champion Piper FOWLER (USA).

Lather built a 3-0 lead over Pirskaya at the break and continued her attacks in the second period. She had Pirskaya's back on the mat after a takedown and secured the fall with 1:23 remaining in the four-minute bout. The gold is an addition to her gold at the U17 Asian Championships in 69kg in June.

PULKIT (IND)PULKIT (IND) and Daria FROLOVA (AIN) in a scramble during the 65kg final at the U17 World Championships in Amman. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

PULKIT (IND) did not dominate her final but did enough to beat Daria FROLOVA (AIN), 6-3, and win the gold medal at 65kg. She got the first points on board when Frolova tried to score a pushout but Pulkit defended and pushed Frolova out. Frolova fell with Pulkit scoring a takedown to take a 2-0 lead. It became 3-0 when Frolova was called passive.

A missed leg-attack from Frolova gave another takedown to Pulkit who extended her lead to 5-0. Frolova cut the lead to 5-3 when she scored a takedown and Pulkit was cautioned. The next attempt gave her hope but Pulkit defended the attack and came out unscathed. A lost challenge added one point to Pulkit's score.

Aditi KUMARI (IND)Aditi KUMARI (IND) celebrates after winning the 43kg gold medal at the U17 World Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Aditi KUMARI (IND) was the fourth gold medalist for India as she defeated Maria GKIKA (GRE) 7-0 in the 43kg final. Gkika was hoping to become Greece's first world champion in Women's Wrestling in 22 years.

Kumari got the first point when Gkika was called passive before she added a takedown just before the break to lead 3-0. She added two gut wrenches before the clock expired and raced to a 7-0 lead that she maintained till the end of the match.

Ha, the lone Chinese wrestler in the final, had to bring out a clutch double-leg to score two points and beat Utaha YUI (JPN) 4-3 in the 49kg final and become the first wrestler from China to win gold at U17 Worlds in Women's Wrestling after five years.

Yui led 3-0 at the break but Ha scored a takedown to cut it to 3-2 in the second period. As Yui tried holding on to that lead, Ha made continuous attempts to break the defense. She finally succeeded in the final 10 seconds, using a double-leg attack, completing the takedown with head-outside for two points.

Yuu KATSUME (JPN)Yuu KATSUME (JPN) defeated Morgan TURNER (USA) in the 46kg semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostandin Andonov)

India eyes team title

With four golds and two more finalists on Friday, India will be favorites to win the Women's Wrestling team title in Amman. This would be the first time it will accomplish the feat after falling short for the last five years.

India has 100 points from the gold medal while Japan, in second spot, has 56 points. Japan has three finalists on Friday and is still looking for its first gold medal. Japan hopes that one of Yuu KATSUME (JPN), Nana KOZUKA (JPN) and Sae NOGUCHI (JPN) end the drought.

Katsume entered the 46kg final by beating returning champion Morgan TURNER (USA) 13-2 in the semifinal. She will take on Shrutika PATIL (IND) for gold after Patil beat Medina KUANYSHBEK (KAZ) in the other semifinals.

Kozuka was also dominant, winning her 53kg semifinal via fall over Lisette BOETTKER (EST) and will take on Kaura COLES (CAN) after she became the first Canadian to reach the U17 Worlds final in Women's Wrestling. Coles beat Isabella GONZALES (USA), 8-3.

Noguchi will look to stop the United States from having a U17 world champion as she faces Taina FERNANDEZ (USA) in the 61kg final. Noguchi beat Hiunai HURBANOVA (AZE) 5-0 while Fernandez pinned Zhaidar MUKAT (KAZ) in the semifinals.

At 69kg, Oleksandra RYBAK (UKR) will face KAJAL (IND) after she stunned Ilayda CIN (TUR) with a fall. Cin was leading 4-0 when Rybak rolled over and pinned her. Kajal defeated Rahma BEDIWY (EGY), 4-3, in a close semifinal.

Ukraine's second finalist was Kamila KUCHMA (UKR) who won her semifinal at 40kg against Nazrin AHMADLI (AZE) 5-0. She will take on Aleksandra FEDOROVA (AIN) who defeated Raj BALA (IND) 4-3, thanks to a challenge to give her the win instead of Bala, who was winning 3-2 before the challenge.

https://photo.uww.org/Wrestling/2024/U17-World-Championships/Womens-Wrestling

RESULTS

43kg
GOLD: Aditi KUMARI (IND) df. Maria GKIKA (GRE), 7-0 

BRONZE: Aleksandra BEREZOVSKAIA (AIN) df. Mareim ABDELAAL (EGY), 7-0
BRONZE: Gabriela PALACIOS (MEX) df. Xin HUANG (CHN), 6-4

49kg
GOLD: Na HU (CHN) df. Utaha YUI (JPN), 4-3

BRONZE: Kseniya KOSTSENICH (AIN) df. Dounia ZITOUNI (ALG), via fall
BRONZE: Polina BOCHKAREVA (AIN) df. Esra MAMMADLI (AZE), 9-0

57kg
GOLD: NEHA (IND) df. So TSUTSUI (JPN), 10-0

BRONZE: Anna STRATAN (KAZ) df. Mairi MANI (GRE), 5-1
BRONZE: Palina BRAHINETS (AIN) df. Barbara BAGER (HUN), 7-3

65kg
GOLD: PULKIT (IND) df. Daria FROLOVA (AIN), 6-3

BRONZE: Uldana TILEUKHAN (KAZ) df. Anastasiya KOMANAVA (AIN), via fall (13-2)
BRONZE: Maram ALY (EGY) df. Ling CAI (CHN), via fall (11-0)

73kg
GOLD: Mansi LATHER (IND) df. Hanna PIRSKAYA (AIN), via fall

BRONZE: Lotta ENGLICH (GER) df. Khrystyna DEMCHUK (UKR), via fall (5-2)
BRONZE: Diana TITOVA (AIN) df. Makia KIMURA (JPN), 6-0

Women's Wrestling Semifinals

40kg
GOLD: Kamila KUCHMA (UKR) vs. Aleksandra FEDOROVA (AIN)

SF 1: Aleksandra FEDOROVA (AIN) df. Raj BALA (IND), 4-3
SF 2: Kamila KUCHMA (UKR) df. Nazrin AHMADLI (AZE), 5-0

46kg
GOLD: Shrutika PATIL (IND) vs. Yuu KATSUME (JPN)

SF 1: Yuu KATSUME (JPN) df. Morgan TURNER (USA), 13-2
SF 2: Shrutika PATIL (IND) df. Medina KUANYSHBEK (KAZ), 3-1

53kg
GOLD: Nana KOZUKA (JPN) vs. Kaura COLES (CAN)

SF 1: Kaura COLES (CAN) df. Isabella GONZALES (USA), 8-3
SF 2: Nana KOZUKA (JPN) df. Lisette BOETTKER (EST), via fall (10-0)

61kg
GOLD: Taina FERNANDEZ (USA) vs. Sae NOGUCHI (JPN)

SF 1: Sae NOGUCHI (JPN) df. Hiunai HURBANOVA (AZE), 5-0
SF 2: Taina FERNANDEZ (USA) df. Zhaidar MUKAT (KAZ), via fall (6-0)

69kg
GOLD: Oleksandra RYBAK (UKR) vs. KAJAL (IND) 

SF 1: KAJAL (IND) df. Rahma BEDIWY (EGY), 4-3
SF 2: Oleksandra RYBAK (UKR) df. Ilayda CIN (TUR), via fall (2-4)