'Tired' Olympic champ Kinjo gives way to blooming Sakurai

Saturday, June 17, 2023 - 09:54 By Vinay Siwach

TOKYO (June 17) -- The Meiji Cup witnessed another upset as Tsugumi SAKURAI triumphed over Risako KINJO (formerly Kawai) in the 57kg weight class, marking the third Olympic champion to be defeated in just two days.

While Mayu SHIDOCHI and Yukako KAWAI couldn't hold back their emotions after their losses, Kinjo took her 11-1 defeat on Friday in stride.

With a laugh, Kinjo remarked, "I'm tired."

For more than seven years, Kinjo has been a dominant force in women's wrestling, securing gold medals in Rio and Tokyo and claiming titles at the World and Asian Championships during this period.

However, after her victorious performance at the Tokyo Olympics, Kinjo entertained doubts about continuing in the sport. She contemplated whether her participation at 57kg was her final endeavor in that weight class. Over the course of two years, she got married, gave birth, and started raising a child, prompting her to question her future in wrestling.

"After the Tokyo Olympics, I thought 'was that my last for me at 57kg?'," she said.

Nevertheless, as the Paris Olympics approached, Kinjo found herself back on the mat, initially competing at 59kg before returning to 57kg with the aim of earning a chance to win her third consecutive Olympic gold medal.

"I am very happy to be able to again compete at the biggest domestic tournaments like the All-Japan [Meiji Cup]," she said. "It was my first time at 57kg since the Tokyo Olympics, and even though it's been a while, I had no problem getting down to the weight.

"This time, I had no breakdown in my condition and was in good shape. When I started wrestling as a child, I had never experienced not being in this sport and I had found out what it felt like. It made me realize how glad I am that I did wrestling."

Among the notable stars of Japanese wrestling, Kinjo stands out as one of the few athletes to defeat the four-time Olympic champion Kaori ICHO. Her remarkable career has solidified her status as a true legend in the sport.

So when Kinjo was asked about her loss to Sakurai in the 57kg semifinal, she offered a straightforward assessment.

"I have won two Olympic gold medals and I entered this tournament with a goal to win this and go to the Olympics," she said. "The effort you put as a two-time Olympic champion and to someone who has never been [is very different]. The feeling I had when I was going for the first time and the mindset was different. For someone going for the first time to the Olympics, it becomes everything in their life. For me, it's not."

Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) Tsugumi SAKURAI won her 57kg semifinal against Risako KINJO, 11-1. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation / Takeo Yabuki)

Perhaps that's why she stepped aside for a while after the Tokyo Olympics. And it was only then that Sakurai could win the domestic competition and go to Oslo where she became the world champion in 2021.

So Saturday provided a perfect opportunity for Sakurai to establish herself as the best in Japan. She took the first step by overcoming Kinjo.

"I am younger, and I was determined to win," Sakurai explained.

Sakurai's triumph over Kinjo involved not only her performance on the mat but also meticulous preparation with her coaches. Soon after the draw in the morning, Sakurai realized that her path crossed with Kinjo's, and she understood that the moment had arrived. Her coaches reviewed Kinjo's previous matches, analyzing her techniques and providing instructions to Sakurai.

"I was not seeded," she said. "Before the match, my coach said that you are the world champion so go out and fight with confidence and she is the Olympic champion but believe that you are the strongest."

The pep talk seemed to ignite Sakurai's determination, as she began the bout aggressively, earning the activity point. She managed to get to Kinjo's legs multiple times, attempting to score a pushout as well. However, in one such scramble, Kinjo was awarded a stepout, putting her ahead with a 1-1 criteria lead.

During the break, Sakurai received another pep talk.

"After watching Kawai's other bouts, my coaches told me that she will attack from the second period so be careful," she said.

Sakurai turned the tide, launching her own attacks. She seized opportunities to attack Kinjo's legs and executed a leg lace. Kinjo defended against the first turn, but eventually succumbed, resulting in an 11-1 victory for Sakurai.

Although Sakurai had defeated Kinjo, her celebrations were somewhat subdued, as her achievement only secured her a spot in the Meiji Cup final. On Sunday, she would need to defeat Nanjo, who had previously bested her in the Emperor's Cup final in December. If successful, Sakurai would have to face Nanjo once again in a playoff on July 1 to secure her ticket to the Belgrade World Championships, in accordance with the rules set by the Japanese Wrestling Federation.

"If I don't win tomorrow, I can't go to the World Championships," she said. "There is still tomorrow. I want to win the title, the playoff and go to the World Championships."

According to the JWF rules, any wrestler who secures a medal in the Olympic weight classes at the World Championships earns an automatic spot on the Paris Olympics team. Failure to do so requires them to face the winner of the 2023 Emperor's Cup in another playoff whose winner will be dispatched to the Asian Olympic Qualifiers next year.

Considering the almost certain success of Japanese women wrestlers in winning medals at the World Championships, Kinjo's path to the Paris Olympics has become incredibly challenging. However, she confirms that she remains committed to wrestling.

"But my love for wrestling has not changed," she said. "I will continue to practice, thinking 'I can keep up one more time' with the younger wrestlers as I watch them make their mark."

For now, as the reigning Emperor's Cup champion in the 59kg weight class, Kinjo has the opportunity to compete in Belgrade. She can challenge the Meiji Cup winner at 59kg in a playoff on July 17. Kinjo intends to consider this possibility once things calm down.

"When things calm down, I will think [about 59kg]," she said. "There is not much time but I will talk to my coach and family and decide and set new goals. It would have made me look cooler if I had won here and aimed for Paris."

#JapanWrestling

Takatani stretches streak of national titles; Kanazawa wins historic GR crown

Thursday, December 22, 2022 - 17:22 By Ken Marantz

TOKYO (December 22) -- As veteran Sohsuke TAKATANI balances a number of off-the-mat pursuits, he still managed to extend his streak of national titles to the second-longest ever, while a Tokyo high schooler nearly half his age also etched his name in the history books.

Takatani held on for a 12-8 victory in the freestyle 92kg final over teen collegian Arashi YOSHIDA to notch his 12th straight title on the opening day of the Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships on Thursday in Tokyo.

A short time earlier, Kohaku KANAZAWA became the first-ever high schooler to win a national crown in Greco-Roman when he scraped out an 8-7 victory over world U20 bronze medalist Taiga ONISHI at 55kg in the tournament serving as the first of two domestic qualifiers for next year's World Championships in Belgrade.

And in the first of what will be a succession of battles between current Olympic and/or world champions and medalists over the four-day event at Tokyo's Komazawa Gym, world silver medalist Ami ISHII and world 65kg champion Miwa MORIKAWA advanced to a highly anticipated final in the women's 68kg division.

The clashes of the titans on tap are all due to the tournament's link with the 2024 Paris Olympics. As the Japan federation has decreed that a wrestler who wins a medal in Belgrade in an Olympic weight will automatically fill the spot in Paris that they have secured, that has added urgency to qualify for Belgrade, particularly among the women, where a world medal is accessible. It has also funneled the top wrestlers into the six Olympic divisions in each style.

All wrestlers who lose here will get another shot in June at the second qualifier, the Meiji Cup All-Japan Invitational Championships. Winners of both tournaments will automatically earn a ticket to Belgrade, with a playoff determining the spot if the winners are different.

For this year's Emperor's Cup, the federation tweaked the format by running the Olympic weight classes over two days, the same as is done at the Olympics and the worlds. Non-Olympic weights are being started and ended on the same day.

Sohsuke TAKATANI (JPN) Sohsuke TAKATANI rolls Arashi YOSHIDA early in the freestyle 92kg final. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / Japan Wrestling Federation)

Takatani, the 2014 world silver medalist at 74kg who plans to move down to 86kg at the Meiji Cup in a bid to make his fourth Olympics, advanced to the 92kg final with a pair of technical falls, but met some unexpected resistance there from national collegiate champion Yoshida of Nihon University.

The 33-year-old Takatani stormed to an 8-0 lead with a driving takedown and three rolls off a lace lock. But Yoshida, whose Iranian father runs the kids' wrestling club in nearby Chiba Prefecture where he got his start, came back with a takedown to cut it to 8-2 at the break.

In the second period, Yoshida scored three more takedowns to offset a takedown and two stepouts by Takatani, but it wasn't enough to dethrone the champion, whose run of titles has come over four different weights. The 12 crowns overall also put him in fifth place on Japan's all-time list of total titles, one behind both Kaori ICHO and Saori YOSHIDA.

"I've been working hard every year and I've kept it going well for 12 years," Takatani said. "Many young wrestlers have put up a challenge and it's my mission to keep from losing."

As he keeps his career going, the outgoing Takatani also stays busy as the head coach at his alma mater, Takushoku University, by preparing for a doctoral course at Tsukuba University, and as a new father after his wife gave birth to their first child, a son, in September.

"I thought about entering at 86kg here, but I thought that if I put out energy too early, I would peter out in the second half," he said. "So I decided I will build up a little more [mentally and physically] and then go for it. If I get a chance, I might give 97kg a try. But I think that would irritate some people."

Kohaku KANAZAWA (JPN) High schooler Kohaku KANAZAWA and Taiga ONISHI grapple for position in the Greco 55kg final. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki/Japan Wrestling Federation)

In the Greco 55kg final, Kanazawa trailed 2-4 going into the second period against Waseda University's Onishi, but went ahead 5-4 with a gut wrench from par terre. Onishi came back to take the lead with a takedown to the back, but it was only temporary, as Kanazawa quickly reversed to go ahead 6-6 on criteria. He then added a takedown, and allowed only a late stepout for the win.

"I didn't feel any pressure and just went all out," said Kanazawa, who finished fifth at this year's world U17 in his international debut. "I'm surprised."

Kanazawa is a second-year student at Jiyugaoka Gakuen High School, the alma mater of 2021 champion Yu SHIOTANI, the world bronze medalist who has moved up to the Olympic weight of 60kg and a possible clash with Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Kenichiro FUMITA.

Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) Moe KIYOOKA, left, and Rino KATAOKA, teammates at the recent World Cup, square off during the women's 55kg final. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki/Japan Wrestling Federation)

Meanwhile, Moe KIYOOKA, who pulled off an age-group double this year with titles at both the world U20 and world U23, defeated two of her World Cup teammates en route to her first senior national title at women's 55kg.

Kiyooka scored a first-period takedown and made that hold up for a 2-0 victory over Rino KATAOKA, who wrestled at 53kg on the young Japanese team that lost two close matches at the World Cup two weeks ago in the U.S. The top Japanese wrestlers skipped the World Cup because of its proximity to the Emperor's Cup.

In her opening match in the quarterfinals, Kiyooka chalked up an 11-0 technical fall over Ruka NATAMI, the Japan team's 57kg entry in Coralville.

"We didn't talk about this All-Japan tournament in particular," said Kiyooka, a freshman at Ikuei University. "But for me, while we were warming up, I kind of got an idea of how I could do and I felt that if there was something lacking, I had a week until the All-Japan and could make adjustments."

It was at the World Cup that Kiyooka was dealt her first career loss by a non-Japanese wrestler when she fell 3-0 to the world bronze medalist at 57kg Alina HRUSHNYA (UKR).

"The match I lost at the World Cup was one that I have to reflect on because it showed how weak-hearted I can be," Kiyooka said. "The opponent faced [Ikuei teammate] Tsugumi SAKURAI at the World Championships and I was there for that match, so I have an image of her as being strong. That made me feel weak. But because of that, I made sure to brace myself for this All-Japan."

Kiyooka said her goal remains a gold medal in Paris and at this point, she plans to drop to 53kg for the Meiji Cup, which would mean getting on a collision course with Olympic champion Mayu SHIDOCHI and 2021 world champion Akari FUJINAMI. Kiyooka faced Shidochi in this year's Meiji Cup final at 55kg and lost by technical fall.

Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) Miwa MORIKAWA clamps down on Miyu IMAI in holding on for a 3-0 victory in the women's 68kg semifinals. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki/Japan Wrestling Federation)

Morikawa's striking means of motivation

When the dust settled at women's 68kg, Morikawa and Ishii were the last left standing in a field that included four current or past world gold or silver medalists, not to mention a pair of former world junior champions.

Morikawa advanced to Friday's final with a 3-0 victory over 2018 world junior champion Miyu IMAI in a rematch of last June's Meiji Cup final, also won by Morikawa. Imai, who went to the World Cup and split her two matches at 65kg, had set up the clash by edging 2021 world 72kg champion Masako FURUICHI, 2-1.

"Unlike recent competitions, I didn't have to cut any weight, so my condition was a little flat going into the tournament," Morikawa said. "I wondered if I would be alright."

Morikawa said that she moved up to 68kg -- her natural weight -- because her previous experience of dropping to 62kg left her too drained and she missed out on the Tokyo Olympics.

"Up to now, I've built up experience in the non-Olympic weight of 65kg, but I still have regrets to this day of not making it to the Tokyo Olympics," Morikawa said. "I thought that I don't want to have that feeling ever again.

"It's not like I want to win this tournament so much that I'll die for it, but I want to take the mat feeling that will definitely win it. I hope I can win it and get off to a good start [heading to the Olympics]."

Before each match, Morikawa showed what was providing her with extra motivation. As she waited at matside for the previous match to end, she wore a Japan national soccer team T-shirt with the No. 8 of striker Ritsu DOAN.

Japan's run into the knockout round of the recent World Cup in Qatar, where the Samurai Blue stunned powerhouses Germany and Spain in the group stage, thrilled and inspired the nation, none more so than Morikawa and her soccer-loving family.

"I watched more than half of the World Cup matches," Morikawa said. "I saw the final this week. On the Japan team, I really like Doan. I think there are parts of me that are similar to Doan's boldness. So when I wear his t-shirt or use his towel, it raises my motivation and gets me ready for what's ahead."

Ishii advanced to the final with a 12-2 technical fall over 2019 world U20 champion Naruha MATSUYUKI, but that came after surviving a scare against 2021 world silver medalist Rin MIYAJI in which she overcame a four-point deficit to post a 6-4 victory.

The 2022 world silver medalist looked flat in giving up a pair of first-period takedowns to Miyaji. But she used her counterattack to get back into the match and went ahead 4-4 on criteria with a takedown with 25 seconds left.

Ishii scored a last-second takedown when Miyaji stopped fighting after the back of her head collided with Ishii's front teeth. That opened up a cut that caused Miyaji to be taken to the hospital.

It was another physically painful ending for Miyaji. At the 2021 World Championships, her shocking victory by fall over Olympic champion Tamyra MENSAH STOCK (USA) in the semifinals was tempered by a serious knee injury she suffered in a loss in the final to Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ).

Ayano MORO (JPN) Teenager Ayano MORO prepares for battle ahead of her semifinal match with Nanaha TAKASU at women's 76kg. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki/Japan Wrestling Federation)

One anticipated match-up that didn't come off Thursday was at women's 76kg, where world bronze medalist Yuka KAGAMI pulled out of the competition with a torn right pectoralis major muscle after winning the opening match of her round-robin group.

That kept Kagami from a potential first meeting with 17-year-old world U20 champion Ayano MORO, who won all three of her matches by technical fall to make Saturday's final against Nodoka YAMAMOTO.

Moro, who is making her first appearance in a senior-level tournament, has not lost since being beaten by Ishii in the final of the national junior high school invitational in 2017. That run includes a 4-2 victory in the final of the Junior Queen's Cup in April over Yamamoto, who notched two impressive victories at the World Cup.

"This was my first Emperor's Cup, but I'm aiming to make the 2024 Paris Olympics, so it doesn't matter if it's the first," Moro said. "It's only natural to think of winning. That's what I practiced for. Since I started high school, I think this is the best I've ever wrestled."

Kagami said she suffered the injury 10 days ago in practice, and after being unable to launch any form of attack in her 2-1 victory over Yamamoto -- all points were scored on the activity clock -- she decided to withdraw.

Had there been one more entry in the seven-women field, she said she might have stuck it out, as it would have meant a straight knockout format and a maximum of three matches. But she said the prospect of four more matches would be too much to bear.

"During the match, I could hear it popping," Kagami said. "At the time, I could withstand the pain, but after the match, I couldn't move and had no power.

"Two and a half years ago I injured my ankle, and because it was my leg, I couldn't move. This time, I could use my left arm, so I tried to think of a way I could win. Still, this doesn't mean the Paris Olympics is completely gone. I can still reach [No. 1] at the next World Championships, so at least my goal has become clearer."

Day 1 Results

Freestyle

74kg (14 entries)
Semifinal - Daichi TAKATANI df. Jintaro MOTOYAMA by TF, 10-0, 3:oo
Semifinal - Kirin KINOSHITA df. Kota TAKAHASHI, 4-4

92kg (14 entries)
Gold - Sohsuke TAKATANI df. Arashi YOSHIDA, 12-8

Bronze - Takeshi YAMAGUCHI df. Akinobu TAKEUCHI by Fall, :20 (2-0)
Bronze - Ryoichi YAMANAKA df. Hikaru ABE by Fall, 4:51 (4-2)

Semifinal - Sohsuke TAKATANI df. Takeshi YAMAGUCHI by TF, 11-0, 3:21
Semifinal - Arashi YOSHIDA df. Hikaru ABE by TF, 11-0, 3:44

97kg (10 entries)
Semifinal - Takashi ISHIGURO df. Toyoki HAMADA by TF, 11-0, 3:45
Semifinal - Hibiki ITO df. Hiroto NINOMIYA, 4-2

125kg (10 entries)
Semifinal - Daiki YAMAMOTO df. Takuya HIGUCHI by Def.
Semifinal - Ryusei FUJITA df. Yuji FUKUI, 7-3

Greco-Roman

55kg (15 entries)
Gold - Kohaku KANAZAWA df. Taiga ONISHI, 8-7

Bronze - Shoya ITO df. Shu HIRATA by TF, 10-1, 1:54
Bronze - Mizuki ARAKI df. Kagetora OKAMOTO by Def.

Semifinal - Kohaku KANAZAWA df. Shoya ITO, 10-6
Semifinal - Taiga ONISHI df. Kagetora OKAMOTO by TF, 8-0, 2:21

87kg (10 entries)
Semifinal - Masato SUMI df. Daisei ISOE by TF, 8-0, :32
Semifinal - So SAKABE df. Kaito MIYAMOTO by TF, 9-0, 1:58

97kg (11 entries)
Semifinal - Yuta NARA df. Yuri NAKAZATO, 5-0
Semifinal - Masayuki AMANO df. Kyo KITAWAKI by Fall, 1:15 (8-0)

130kg (10 entries)
Semifinal - Shion OBATA df. Daigo NISHI by TF, 9-1, 3:57
Semifinal - Sota OKUMURA df. Ryuta KONO by TF, 11-2, 4:52

Women

55kg (14 entries)
Gold - Moe KIYOOKA df. Rino KATAOKA, 2-0

Bronze - Kanon YAMASHITA df. Ruka NATAMI, 9-4
Bronze - Neon GOMI df. Misaki YOSHIBA, 2-1

Semifinal - Moe KIYOOKA df. Kanon YAMASHITA, 12-6
Semifinal - Rino KATAOKA df Neon GOMI, 4-2

65kg (10 entries)
Gold - Mahiro YOSHITAKE df. Rin TERAMOTO, 5-3

Bronze - Misuzu ENOMOTO df. Nagisa ITO by TF, 10-0, 2:09
Bronze - Momoko KITADE df. Kaede HIRAI, 5-1

Semifinal - Mahiro YOSHITAKE df. Misuzu ENOMOTO, 12-10
Semifinal - Rin TERAMOTO df. Momoko KITADE, 2-2

68kg (9 entries)
Semifinal - Ami ISHII df. Naruha MATSUYUKI by TF, 12-2, 5:55
Semifinal - Miwa MORIKAWA df. Miyu IMAI, 3-0

76kg (7 entries)
Semifinal - Nodoka YAMAMOTO df. Mizuki NAGASHIMA, 4-0
Semifinal - Ayano MORO df. Nanaha TAKASU by TF, 10-0, 1:10

'Tired' Olympic champ Kinjo gives way to blooming Sakurai

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Takatani stretches streak of national titles; Kanazawa wins historic GR crown