Tokyo 2020-Bound Fumita Regains Greco 60kg Crown from Reigning Champ Emelin

Tuesday, September 17, 2019 - 17:26 By Ken Marantz

NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan (Sept. 17) --- Having already secured his Olympic cake, Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) added the cherry on top in the form of a second world gold medal.

Fumita, in a clash of current and former world champions, outclassed Sergey EMELIN (RUS) with a 10-5 victory over in the 60kg final at the World Championships as the final three titles in Greco-Roman were decided on Day 4.

By making the final during the qualification rounds the previous day, Fumita had already assured himself of a spot on the team to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics that Japan will host.

The top six finishers in each Olympic weight class secure berths for their country at Tokyo 2020---the Japan federation, however, has gone a step further by deciding that any wrestler that wins a medal automatically fills that berth without any further domestic qualifying process.

“Yesterday, I felt like I was carrying a big burden,” Fumita said. “I always give everything to try to win, but I made sure I was especially stable in winning my matches.

“But today, the burden fell from my shoulders, and I wrestled with the firm determination to go all out and be aggressive.”

Fumita, the 2017 gold medalist who was injured for much of 2018, fell into a 5-point hole against reigning champion Emelin. The Russian gained the par terre advantage first, then twice turned Fumita with a gut wrench for a 5-0 lead.

Fumita, however, did not panic nor get distraught. In fact, he was relieved.

“I thought, ‘I’m glad it was only 5 points,’” Fumita said. “I thought he might have ended it there. But I figured I would get a chance and then I was able to work my lifts for points. The way the match went was close to what I had planned.”

Fumita got onto the scoreboard by getting a headlock on Emelin and twisting him up and over for 4 points, then added a roll and another 4-point throw for a 10-5 lead. That’s how the first period ended, and when Emelin was unable to penetrate Fumita’s defenses in the second, that’s how it ended.

Fumita credited advice he received from senior training partner Shinobu OTA, who ironically he had defeated for the place on Japan’s team at 60kg. Ota moved up to the non-Olympic 63kg and won a gold medal on Monday.

Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) upset reinging world champion Sergey EMELIN (RUS), 10-5, to win his second career world title, and first since the 2017 Paris World Championships. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

“He’s a strong opponent,” Fumita said of Emelin. “He’s great on the ground and good at rolling. Before the match, my senior teammate Ota gave me meticulous advice such as this will work, or don’t do that. He asked for 500,000 yen ($4,600)---that’s a joke—but it would have been worth 500,000 yen.”

With the Olympic shadow hanging over the proceedings, Fumita said the elation from winning this year was different than that he experienced two years ago in Paris.

“Winning the title in 2017 made me really happy, but it was about energy. I felt like I had ridden a wave. To win then was like reaching a goal, an end point. The World Championships is a huge event and that’s how I felt when it ended.

"This time, I was extremely careful and precise about every little detail in preparation as I aimed for the championship. It was, how do I put it, a bigger ‘feeling of accomplishment’ than the last time. It’s like the little things I did built into one mass.”

Meanwhile, Tamas LORINCZ (HUN) will finally take home an elusive gold medal in his 10th trip to the World Championships after winning the 77kg title with an 8-0 technical fall over Alex KESSIDIS (SWE).

Lorincz, a world silver medalist the past two years as well as at the London 2012 Olympics, scored three 2-point exposures during two stints in the par terre position to finish off Kessidis in 2:28.

“I am not the youngest competitor, so I have been waiting very, very long for the first world gold medal, so I’m excited and very happy about that,” said the 32-year-old Lorincz, whose younger brother Viktor won the 87kg silver the previous day.

“The final is never easy. The Swedish guy earned to right to be here in the final and he did very well up to today.”

Riza KAYAALP (TUR) added a fourth world title to his resume after edging Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB), 3-1, in the 130kg finals. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

While Lorincz was celebrating his first world gold, veteran Riza KAYAALP (TUR) was just as excited about winning a fourth, after topping Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB), 3-1, in the 130kg final.

“I’m very happy for this result,” Kayaalp said. “It is something I do as a gift for my nation. The only gold that I am missing is an Olympic gold. I hope to win that next year.”

Dating back to 2009, Kayaalp’s collection also includes two world silvers and two bronzes, an Olympic gold and a silver, and nine European golds.

In the bronze medal matches, Iran had a wrestler in all three weight classes and came away with two victories.

Up-and-coming Alireza NEJATI (IRI) came back from a 5-0 deficit to forge out a 7-5 victory at 60kg over Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB), the 2018 world silver medalist at 63kg. The other bronze went to Mirambek AINAGULOV (KAZ), who thrilled the home crowd with a 10-0 technical fall over Lenur TEMIROV (UKR).

Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI) captured his second career world bronze medal with a 9-6 win over Karapet CHALYAN (ARM). (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Asian champion Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI) won a close encounter with Karapet CHALYAN (ARM), holding on for a 9-6 victory at 77kg, while Jalgasbay BURDIMURATOV (UZB) denied the host nation another bronze by edging Ashkat DILMUKHAMEDOV (KAZ) 3-1

The third Iranian, Amir GHASEMI (IRI) was disqualified for a third caution while trailing 8-0 in the second period at 130kg against ageless Heiki NABI (EST), who now has five world medals---including two golds---in 11 trips to the worlds. Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO) defeated Eduard POPP (GER), 5-0, for the other bronze.

In the team standings, Russia was unable to match its six golds from Budapest 2018, but still comfortably topped the standings with 132 points after capturing two golds and three silvers.

Uzbekistan, with a silver, two bronzes and two fifth places, finished second at 90. Georgia, which had two champions and a bronze medalist, was third with 79, just edging Iran with 75.

Iran national team coach Aziz NAGHOUSI said he was neither happy nor sad at missing out on the top three, noting it was quite an improvement from the 11th-place finish in Budapest. He also pointed out that nine of the team members were competing at their first world championships, and six of them are under 23.

“Our coach said finishing third would be good, but I think fourth is better,” Naghousi said. “We must work harder and harder.”

Olympic spot secured, Mukaida now gets chance to avenge loss to Pak in 53kg final
In the women’s semifinals that started the night session, two-time world champion Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) eased to a victory at 53kg that clinched a place at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and earned her a chance to avenge a recent loss.

Mukaida, the 2015 and 2018 world champion at 55kg who dropped to the Olympic weight of 53kg, scored a pair of first-period takedowns and that’s all she needed for a 4-0 victory over Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE).

“My movement wasn’t very good, but I kept my focus up to the end and I was determined to win,” Mukaida said.

Awaiting in the final will be PAK Yong Mi (PRK), who dealt Mukaida a stunning defeat in the final at the Asian Championships in April in Xi’an, China, scoring a takedown in the final seconds for a 4-3 win.

Like Fumita, Mukaida clinched a berth for herself at Tokyo 2020 by making the final, but said that was not her only objective.

“I secured [the place] in the Olympics, but I can’t be satisfied with just that,” Mukaida said. “I have one more match tomorrow, and I want to get revenge and win the title and go home with a smile on my face.”

Pak earned her shot at a world gold by defeating 2018 world bronze medalist PANG Qianyu (CHN) by 12-2 technical fall. Trailing 2-0 in the second period, Pak scored a takedown, secured a lace lock and whipped off five straight rolls to end the match in 4:48.

Mariya STADNIK (AZE) will be making her fifth appearance in the world finals when she wrestles Alina VUC (ROU) on Wednesday night. She'll look to add a second world title to her resume and first since 2009. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

In a high-profile semifinal at 50kg between medalists at both the Rio 2016 and Budapest 2018, Mariya STADNIK (AZE) held on for a 6-4 win over SUN Yanan (CHN), who had stunned Yuki IRIE (JPN) in a 13-12 thriller in the quarterfinals.

Stadnik, the runner-up at Budepest 2018 to Yui SUSAKI (JPN), will get a chance to add to her lone world gold medal---won a decade ago in 2009---when she faces Alina VUC (ROU).

Yuc rallied from a 6-0 deficit to beat Valentina ISLAMOVA BRIK (KAZ) 6-6 on criteria.

In the non-Olympic weights, 2015 world junior champion Nanami IRIE (JPN), Yuki’s younger sister, made the final in her senior debut by routing Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ) by 10-0 technical fall. In the other semifinal, Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) edged Bediha GUN (TUR) 6-4.

At 72kg, London 2012 Olympic gold medalist and Rio 2016 bronze medalist Natalia VOROBEVA (RUS) continued her quest toward a second career world title when she swept aside Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) by 10-0 technical fall.

Aiming to halt the powerful Russian will be European champion Alina MAKHYNIA (UKR), a 7-0 winner over Paliha PALIHA (CHN) in the other semifinal.

Day 4 results

Greco-Roman

60kg (39 entries)
Gold – Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) df. Sergey EMELIN (RUS), 10-5
Bronze – Mirambek AINAGULOV (KAZ) df. Lenur TEMIROV (UKR) by TF, 10-0, 3:17
Bronze – Alireza NEJATI (IRI) df. Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB), 7-5

77kg (38 entries)
Gold – Tamas LORINCZ (HUN) df. Alex KESSIDIS (SWE) by TF, 8-0, 2:28
Bronze –Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI) df. Karapet CHALYAN (ARM), 9-6
Bronze – Jalgasbay BURDIMURATOV (UZB) df. Ashkat DILMUKHAMEDOV (KAZ), 3-1

130kg (31 entries)
Gold – Riza KAYAALP (TUR) df. Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB), 3-1
Bronze –Heiki NABI (EST) df. Amir GHASEMI (IRI) by Disq., 4:35 (8-0)
Bronze – Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO) df. Eduard POPP (GER), 5-0

Women’s Wrestling
50kg (29 entries)
Semifinal – Alina VUC (ROU) df. Valentina ISLAMOVA BRIK (KAZ), 6-6
Semifinal – Mariya STADNIK (AZE) df. SUN Yanan (CHN), 6-4

53kg (30 entries)
Semifinal – Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) df. Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE), 4-0
Semifinal – PAK Yong Mi (PRK) df. PANG Qianyu (CHN) by TF, 12-2, 4:48

55kg (18 entries)
Semifinal – Nanami IRIE (JPN) df. Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ) by TF, 10-0, 3:56
Semifinal – Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) df. Bediha GUN (TUR), 6-4

72kg (12 entries)
Semifinal – Natalia VOROBEVA (RUS) df. Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) by TF, 10-0, 5:00
Semifinal – Alina MAKHYNIA (UKR) df. Paliha PALIHA (CHN), 7-0

#WrestleAmman

Olympic champs prevail as Iran bounces back with 4 golds

Wednesday, March 26, 2025 - 19:27 By Ken Marantz

AMMAN, Jordan (March 26) -- With its two Olympic champions in action, it was a pretty sure thing that Iran would do better than its disappointing showing the previous day in Greco-Roman at the Asian Championships.

The wrestling powerhouse sure did, rebounding all the way to the top of four medal podiums. Paris Olympic gold medalists Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) and Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) defended their Asian titles in leading a quartet of Iranians who captured titles on Wednesday in Amman, a day after Iran came away with just a single gold.

Danial SOHRABI (IRI) and Mohammad NAGHOUSI (IRI) also emerged victorious as Iran stormed to the team title with 201 points, well ahead of the 168 chalked up by second-place Uzbekistan, which claimed three golds on the opening day Tuesday -- all in head-to-head clashes with Iranian opponents. Japan finished third with 131 points.

Olympic bronze medalist Se Ung RI (PRK) won the other gold on offer on Wednesday with a victory at 60kg after taking silvers in 2018 and 2019.

Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) wrestles Yuri NAKAZATO (JPN) in the 97kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Saravi, competing for the first time since Paris, showed again why he has been the dominant force at Greco 97kg in recent years when he easily outclassed 2023 world U23 bronze medalist Yuri NAKAZATO (JPN) 8-0 in the final.

"This is my first official appearance after the Olympic Games," Saravi said. "Thank God I was able to put on a good performance and win the gold medal."

Put in par terre, Saravi scored a roll against the gutsy but outmanned Nakazato, then added an arm drag takedown for a 5-0 lead. Just seconds into the second period, Saravi got behind for a takedown during a scramble that landed him out of bounds.

The Japanese side took a risk and challenged the call, even though losing it would give Saravi the winning point. That's just what happened, and Saravi was champion at 3:08 with his third technical fall in three matches without conceding a point.

"After the Olympics, I suffered a knee injury, but thankfully, I’m in much better condition now," Saravi said. "Over the past two or three months, I’ve been able to train at the camp under the supervision of the national team and I’ve reached a decent level of readiness and felt good.

"I hope to reach full readiness by the World Championships and deliver a strong performance there to achieve the best possible result."

The 27-year-old Saravi, who also won a bronze medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, has not lost since falling 3-0 to Gabriel ROSSILO (CUB) in the semifinals of the 2023 World Championships.

Perhaps more impressively, he has finished in the top-three in every competition he has entered since the 2019 worlds, a streak of 18 tournaments that includes a world gold in 2021 and Asian gold in 2020.

Saravi said he looks forward to renewing his rivalry with four-time Olympic medalist Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM), whom he defeated in the final in Paris.

"Artur Aleksanyan is a great wrestler and someone I have a lot of respect for," Saravi said. "I see it as motivation for myself to face him several times in the coming years.

"I hope Aleksanyan can achieve the best results in the European Championships, and that we can put on a great match together at the World Championships so that the fans can enjoy it."

Saied ESMAEILI (IRI) sets up to throw Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) during the 67kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Earlier, Esmaeili, also making his first appearance since the Olympics, had to work a bit harder than Saravi to prevail 3-0 in the 67kg final over world U23 champion Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ), a repeat of the outcome of last year's final.

"This edition of the Asian Championships had a high level of competition, with renowned wrestlers from Japan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan," Esmaeili said. "The Kyrgyz wrestler was the world U23 champion and a strong competitor. The Japanese wrestler was the Asian Games champion and showed a high level of performance."

Esmaeili got a 2-point throw from par terre in the first period, then held his ground to avoid giving up a passivity point in a scoreless second to relegate Beishekeev to the silver medal again.

"In the final, I fought for those six minutes, but my opponent wasn’t really there to wrestle with me," Esmaeili said. "I attacked him during those six minutes, and in the second period, he kept stopping the match to catch his breath. Honestly, the final was the toughest match."

Esmaeili said he had to make the tough transition that comes with the notoriety of becoming an Olympic champion.

"After becoming an Olympic champion, people expect a lot from me, and because of the matches I’ve had, their expectations have increased," he said. "Every competition we enter is more stressful than before because people say, 'He’s an Olympic champion, so he has to perform well.'

"That’s why we have to be careful not to lose. The pressure of competition has become much heavier for us since the Olympics."

The loss was Beishekeev's first since last year's final in Bishkek, after which he won titles at the 2024 World U23 Championships and at this year's Tirana Ranking Series tournament. He also has bronze medals from both the Asian Games and Asian Championships in 2023.

Danial SOHRABI (IRI) celebrates after winning the 72kg final against Abdullo ALIEV (UZB) at the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 72kg, Sohrabi completed a dominant run to the title by putting away 2024 bronze medalist Abdullo ALIEV (UZB) 8-0 in the final for his fourth technical fall in four matches -- all without giving up a point.

Sohrabi, the 2023 world U23 champion, took advantage of the first shot at par terre by scoring consecutive rolls for a 5-0 lead, added a stepout, then finished the match with a takedown at 2:38.

Mohammad NAGHOUSI (IRI) wrestles Omar SATAYEV (KAZ) in the 82kg final at the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

World U23 champion Naghousi had his work cut out for him in forging a 3-1 victory over Omar SATAYEV (KAZ) in the 82kg final.

Naghousi used a body lock throw to score from par terre in the first period, then defended well from the bottom in the second period, avoiding giving up points on a rolling throw attempt by Satayev, whose silver marks his first senior-level medal.

Se Ung RI (PRK) celebrates after winning the gold medal at the 60kg weight class. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At 60kg, Ri used his agility to step over and gain a 2-point exposure on a takedown attempt by world U23 champion Alisher GANIEV (UZB) in the second period, giving him a 6-4 win and his first victory in three trips to the Asian final.

"I trained really hard to make sure I would win first place here," Ri said. "In the match against the Uzbekistan athlete, since I was stronger overall, I tried my best to overpower him tactically and secure the gold medal."

Ri took the early lead with an arm drag takedown and gut wrench to go up 4-0, but Ganiev came back with a lateral drop for 2, then spun behind after stopping an arm throw to make it 4-4 with the criteria in his favor.

In the second period, Ganiev got in tight on a takedown attempt on the mat, but Ri stepped over the top to wrench Ganiev temporarily onto his back for the 2 that would give him the title.

Ri, who prevented Iran from having finalists in all five weight classes when he defeated Pouya NASERPOUR (IRI) 8-4 in the semifinals, said he prepared well for what he knew would be a tough competition in the Olympic weight class.

"The 60kg category is an Olympic category, that's why I studied all of the opponents carefully, watched a lot of match footage and worked hard to win," Ri said.

Shahin BADAGHIMOFRAD (QAT) edged Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB) 6-5 in the 82kg bronze-medal bout. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Qatar gains 2nd-ever Asian medal, with an Iranian tint

In the bronze-medal matches, Qatar picked up just its second-ever medal -- again thanks to the efforts of an import -- when Iranian-born Shahin BADAGHIMOFRAD (QAT) edged two-time bronze medalist Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB) 6-5 at 82kg.

Badaghimofrad, who finished fifth for Iran at the 2023 Asian Championships and made his debut for Qatar earlier this year, had fallen behind 5-4 from a scramble that was started from a nice 4-point fireman's carry by Rasulov. But Badaghimofrad used an arm drag for a takedown to go ahead before the break, then held off Rasulov in a second period that saw no passivity points assessed.

Qatar's only previous medal was a silver won at freestyle 125kg by Georgian-born Giorgi SAKANDELIDZE (QAT) in 2018 in Bishkek. There have been a handful of fifth-place finishes by native Qataris.

In the other 82kg match, Boseong KANG (KOR) pulls a surprise with a 6-6 victory over dethroned defending champion Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN), using an effective arm throw to build a six-point lead before holding off a late charge from the Japanese teen.

At 60kg, Kaito INABA (JPN) added a bronze to the silver he won last year in Bishkek, defeating Iran's Naserpour 1-1 on last-point criteria in a match limited to passivity points.

With Inaba on top in the second period, Naserpour did an amazing job of preventing being thrown, but Inaba clinched the win when he wriggled out of a Naserpour arm spin late in the match.

The second bronze-medal match at 60kg was also decided on last point, as Ziyue XI (CHN) used a high-chest wrap to turn over Akyl SULAIMANOV (KGZ) from par terre and secure a 3-3 victory for the first major medal of his career.

Sulaimanov, who won an Asian U23 bronze here last year, converted a reverse body roll in his turn from par terre in the first period.

At 67kg, Man Gwang SON (PRK) scored a stepout with :43 second left, giving him the criteria advantage and a 2-2 victory over Nozimjon BOYKUZIEV (UZB). Boykuziev had gone ahead with a stepout during a throw in par terre to go up 2-1.

Katsuaki ENDO (JPN) won the 67kg bronze medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Asian Games champion Katsuaki ENDO (JPN) hit a rolling 4-point throw from par terre in the first period and that was more than enough to defeat NEERAJ (IND) 5-0 in a battle between the 2022 bronze medalists. The loss denied Neeraj a third career Asian bronze.

In a bizarre finish at 72kg, Ji LENG (CHN) was on his way to a victory over Omar AL DARAGHMEH (JOR) when a misguided challenge from the Jordan side gave the Chinese the points he needed for an 11-3 technical fall.

Leng had a pair of stepouts and a takedown-roll combination in the second period to build up a 9-3 lead when Al Daraghmeh attempted a pancake that was stopped and originally scored as 2 for Leng. The call was overturned as a slipped throw, but Jordan challenged anyway -- and "won" the challenge because Al Daraghmeh was instead assessed a 2-point leg foul penalty which ended the match.

Issei HONNA (JPN) earned the other 72kg bronze for his first international medal, ripping off three rolls from par terre en route to a 10-0 victory over Begmyrat NOBATOV (TKM) in 2:13.

At 97kg, NITESH (IND), a two-time Asian U23 medalist, earned his first senior medal with a one-sided 9-0 victory over Amanberdi AGAMAMMEDOV (TKM). Nitesh scored three gut wrenches from par terre, then ended the match with an arm drag takedown with :04 left in the first period.

Youfang ZHANG (CHN) snatched the other 97kg bronze in impressive fashion, reversing Jewoo PARK (KOR) during a gut wrench and securing a fall at 2:00.

Day 2 Results

Greco-Roman

60kg (12 entries)
GOLD: Se Ung RI (PRK) df. Alisher GANIEV (UZB), 6-4

BRONZE: Kaito INABA (JPN) df. Pouya NASERPOUR (IRI), 1-1
BRONZE: Ziyue XI (CHN) df. Akyl SULAIMANOV (KGZ), 3-3

67kg (13 entries)
GOLD: Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) df. Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ), 3-0

BRONZE: Man Gwang SON (PRK) df. Nozimjon BOYKUZIEV (UZB), 2-2
BRONZE: Katsuaki ENDO (JPN) df. NEERAJ (IND), 5-0

72kg (14 entries)
GOLD: Danial SOHRABI (IRI) df. Abdullo ALIEV (UZB) by TF, 8-0, 2:38

BRONZE: Ji LENG (CHN) df. Omar AL DARAGHMEH (JOR) by TF, 11-3, 5:14
BRONZE: Issei HONNA (JPN) df. Begmyrat NOBATOV (TKM) by TF, 10-0, 2:13

82kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Mohammad NAGHOUSI (IRI) df. Omar SATAYEV (KAZ), 3-1

BRONZE: Boseong KANG (KOR) df. Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN), 6-6
BRONZE: Shahin BADAGHIMOFRAD (QAT) df. Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB), 6-5

97kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) df. Yuri NAKAZATO (JPN) by TF, 8-0, 3:08

BRONZE: NITESH (IND) df. Amanberdi AGAMAMMEDOV (TKM) by TF, 9-0, 2:56
BRONZE: Youfang ZHANG (CHN) df. Jewoo PARK (KOR) by Fall, 2:00 (3-3)

Tokyo 2020-Bound Fumita Regains Greco 60kg Crown from Reigning Champ Emelin

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Olympic champs prevail as Iran bounces back with 4 golds