Emperor's Cup

Tosaka's Shocking Withdrawal Puts Showdown with Susaki on Hold; Mukaida Takes 55kg Title

By Ken Marantz

TOKYO (Dec. 22) - The highly anticipated clash of the lightweight titans, Rio 2016 gold medalist Eri TOSAKA and reigning world champion Yui SUSAKI, will have to wait for another day. 

Tosaka won her opening match in the women's 50kg class at the All Japan  championships on Friday, but then in a shocking development, suddenly pulled out of the tournament due to lingering knee and ankle injuries suffered in October.

Tosaka, who underwent foot surgery after the Rio Olympics and only returned to competition in September, struggled to defeat Miho IGARASHI 6-4 in their quarterfinal match on day three of the four-day tournament at Tokyo's Komazawa Gym.

The win, in which Tosaka scored four points in the final minute, put her into the semifinals. But while speaking to the press after her match, her coach and national technical director Kazuhito SAKAE came by and urged her to pull out, saying it was not worth the risk of worsening the injuries. 

"I think you should stop," Sakae said. "I'm stopping you. You might want to still go out there, but it will be a problem if you make things worse."

Tosaka tearfully agreed it was the right decision.

Tosaka made a victorious return at the Japan Women's Open in September, where she won the 53kg title while admittedly looking rusty. She was working out the kinks at a national team training camp when, while sparring with rival Susaki, Tosaka suffered injuries to her left knee and ankle during a lift attempt.

"She was looking good, and I thought she would be able to beat the world champion Susaki," Sakae said. He added that after the injury, "We didn't know until up to the weigh-in here whether or not she would wrestle."

In Tosaka's absense, the 19-year-old Susaki has emerged as the premier lightweight in the world, capturing the 48kg world title that Tosaka had held since 2012. 

Susaki was as surprised as anyone to hear of Tosaka's withdrawal, and disappointed as well. Susuki won her first national title in 2016 while Tosaka was sidelined, and she was determined to defeat the star and prove she was the "true national champion."

"Now I want to win the tournament, and I'll take on Tosaka the next time," Susaki said.

Susaki advanced safely with a 10-0 technical fall in 4:22 over Miyu NAKAMURA, setting up a semifinal against 2015 national champion Yuki IRIE. The winner will take on Miho IGARASHI, who will receive the default from Tosaka.

The semifinals in the 10 remaining weight classes will be held on the final day Saturday morning, with the nationally televised finals in the afternoon. Dec. 23 is a national holiday for the Emperor's birthday, which is why the tournament is also referred to as the Emperor's Cup. 

In other action, world 53kg silver medalist Miyu MUKAIDA withstood a back injury and a late charge by Saki IGARASHI to notch a 4-2 victory in the women's 55kg final and win a second national title in a row. 

Mukaida picked up four early points with a takedown and a roll, but soon after felt pain in her right lower back. It was all she could do to hold off Igarashi, who scored a takedown with :05 left. 

Still feeling the sting of her stunning loss in the final at Paris 2017, when she blew a 6-0 lead and lost the gold to Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR), Mukaida has made it her mission to fight to the finish of every match. 

"After I scored to take the lead, I injured my back," Mukaida said. "I couldn't attack, so I have regrets about that. One issue I've been dealing with is not staying on the attack until the end, so it's disappointing that I couldn't work on that."

Mukaida said she moved up to 55kg, the division in which she won the world gold in 2016, because the two-day format for each weight class means having to weigh in each day. It meant having to deal with cutting less weight.

"For this tournament, I entered 55kg, which isn't my usual weight class. But no matter what weight class I enter, I always aim to win the title. In the end, I won so I'm happy."

Mukaida, who won all four of her matches at 53kg in helping Japan win the Women's World Cup, said she will consult with her coaches and others on whether to aim for Tokyo 2020 at 53k or 57kg. 

High schooler Naruha MATSUYUKI beat her more heralded twin sister Yasuha  to the title of "national champion" when she broke open a close match with four points in the last minute to defeat Masako FURUICHI, 6-1, in the women's 72kg final.

The victory by Matsuyuki, who usually wrestles at 69kg, came a day after Yasuha lost 2-0 in the 76kg final to world silver medalist Hiroe SUZUKI. 

"Always, in matches up to now, I was told that the reason I lost was in my head," Matsuyuki said. "From the beginning, I wanted to make sure I didn't lose mentally. That's what I was able to do."

The sisters, Aichi Prefecture natives who both attend wrestling powerhouse Shigakukan High School, are being touted as future prospects for Japan in the heavyweight divisions. 

Of the two, Yasuha has had the better results. At the world under-23 in November, Yasuha took the 75kg gold, while Naruha settled for silver at 69kg; at the world juniors, Yasuha was a silver medalist, while Naruha was fifth.

"Yasu has had better results, and the coaches and others have said she would win the All Japan first," Matsuyuki said. "But I was able to make the most of this chance, so I'm really happy."

Both sisters are being tapped for Tokyo 2020, but it is not year clear how they will fit into the picture. 

"This is not an Olympic weight class, so to go the Olympics, I will have to change," Matsuyuki said. "I will talk it over with our coaches and Yasu, and we'll try to work out a way that both of us can make it."

As for the touranment at the wrestling venue for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, the family is not yet finished. Older brother Taisei MATSUYUKI has been assured of at least a bronze medal after advancing to the semifinals of the freestyle 86kg class.

In the other women's final Friday, Katsuki SAKAGAMI overwhelmed former world champion Chiho HAMADA at 57kg with a 12-2 technical fall in 5:35.

Among the other wrestlers who found success at a heavier weight class were world 70kg bronze medalist Yuji FUJINAMI and former world 74kg silver medalist Sosuke TAKATANI.

Fujinami built up a big lead in the 74kg final against Ken HOSAKA, then in a flurry of action caught him on his back and recorded a fall in 1:53 for his first national crown. 

"My body is still light [for 74kg]," Fujinami said. "Even if I win at 74kg in Japan, the world level is very high. Right now my ability is not enough, my strength is not enough. I'll work hard to be competitive on that level."

Takatani, who won six consecutive Japan titles at 74kg, picked up No. 7 overall with a victory in the 79kg division, which for him is a stepping stone to the Olympic weight class of 86kg.

Takatani showed he could handle the extra weight by forging a 10-0 technical fall in 5:59 over Tsubasa ASAI, a student at Takatani's alma mater of Takushoku University and with whom he often trains.

Takatani, who celebrated his victory with a dance and some preening of his chiseled physique for the matside cameras, said he has started an intense program to add weight through muscle mass. 

"To get the body I need, I've cut down on my running and focused mostly on weight training," he said. "Right now, my normal weight is 85, 86kg. To wrestle at 86kg, my aim is to gain weight up to 90kg by building up muscle.

"In general, I've put on one or two kilos every three months. It's been a good pace. Now I want to build strength that will allow me to compete overseas."

The other freestyle gold at stake went to Takeshi YAMAGUCHI at 97kg. He picked up his first title since winning four straight from 2012 to 2015 by edging Taira SONODA, 3-2. 

Sonoda's loss kept him and older brother Arata from becoming the first siblings since 2011 to win titles at the same All Japan championships.  

In the previous match, Arata SONODA capped the most dominating performance to date of the tournament when he needed just 1:49 to notch an 8-0 technical fall victory over Masahiro TANITA in the Greco-Roman 130kg final.

Sonoda had scored lightning-quick technical falls in his first two matches, winning in :28 and :31. 
 
In other Greco finals, Tomohiro INOUE claimed his first title in two years and fourth overall when he rallied to a 7-3 win over Kazuhiro HANAYAMA at 72kg.

Inoue spotted Hanayama a 3-0 lead in the first period, but came back in the second, knotting the score before going ahead with a pair of rolls from the par-terre position. 

In a tight battle between former champions for the 87kg gold, Masato SUMI edged Taichi OKA, 2-1, with all points scored for passivity. 

Tsuchika SHIMOYAMADA, winner at the Dave Schultz Memorial in November, overcame a 5-0 deficit with a second-period rampage that included a big 5-point throw to defeat Katsuyoshi KAWASE, 10-5, at 67kg.

While fans have been deprived of a Tosaka-Susaki duel, there is still the possibility of another installment of the long-running feud between Greco-Roman stars Kenichiro FUMITA and Shinobu OTA.

Fumita, the reigning world champion, and Ota, the silver medalist at Rio 2016, both made the semifinals at 60kg. 

Japan's other male world champion, Yuki TAKAHASHI, had no trouble making the semifinals in freestyle 57kg, although Rei HIGUCHI, the Rio 2016 silver medalist in that division, was an early casualty at 65kg as his struggles continue with the added weight.

Higuchi rallied from a 5-1 deficit to tie his second-round match with Takuto OTOGURO, only to allow a tilt with :10 left and fall 8-5. 

Higuchi's slump started with a semifinal loss at 61kg at the Asian Championships in May, and continued when he lost to Rinya NAKAMURA in the final at the national invitational championships in June, then again to Nakamura in a playoff for a spot on the team to Paris 2017.   

"I have to fundamentally change my style of wrestling," Higuchi said. "At 65kg, power is not the problem, but my size (163cm) is a minus. After the Rio Olympics, everyone has studied my single-leg tackles and I can't do anything."

Results of Day 3 Finals

Freestyle

74kg (14 entries)
Yuhi FUJINAMI def. Ken HOSAKA by Fall, 1:53
Bronze medals: Momojiro NAKAMURA and Mao OKUI

79kg (11 entries)
Sosuke TAKATANI def. Tsubasa ASAI by TF, 10-0, 5:59 
Bronze medals: Yuta ABE and Hayato ISHIGURO

97 kg (13 entries)
Takeshi YAMAGUCHI def. Taira SONODA, 3-2 
Bronze medals: Naoya AKAGUMA and Hiroto NINOMIYA

Greco-Roman

67kg (15 entries)
Tsuchika SHIMOYAMADA def. Katsuyoshi KAWASE, 10-5
Bronze medals: Shogo TAKAHASHI and Taiki KOBAYASHI

72kg (19 entries)
Tomohiro INOUE def. Kazuhiro HANAYAMA, 7-3
Bronze medals: Muuto SAWADA and Takahiro YAMAMOTO

87kg (12 entries)
Masato SUMI def. Taichi OKA, 2-1 
Bronze medals: Atsushi MATSUMOTO and Kanta SHIOKAWA 

130kg (13 entries)
Arata SONODA def. Masahiro TANITA by TF, 8-0, 1:49
Bronze medals: Naoto YAMAGUCHI and Yuya FUJITA

Women

55kg (6 entries)
Mayu MUKAIDA def. Saki IGARASHI, 4-2
Bronze medals: Arisa TANAKA and Momoka KADOYA

57kg (7 entries)
Katsuki SAKAGAMI def. Chiho HAMADA by TF, 12-2, 5:35
Bronze medals: Akie HANAI and Sae NANJO

72kg (4 entries)
Naruha MATSUYUKI def. Masako FURUICHI, 6-1
Bronze medals: Mei SHINDO and Rin MIYAJI

Pairings for Day 4 Semifinals

Freestyle

57kg (23 entries)
Yuki TAKAHASHI vs Kaiki YAMAGUCHI
Yasuhiro MORITA vs Toshihiro HASEGAWA

65kg (22 entries)
Shoya SHIMAE vs Daichi TAKATANI
Kiryu KINJO vs Kei YONEZAWA

86kg (8 entries)
Masao MATSUSAKA vs Taisei MATSUYUKI
Takahiro MURAYAMA vs Shota SHIRAI

Greco-Roman

60kg (11 entries)
Kenichiro FUMITA vs Kiyoshi KAWAGUCHI
Hayanobu SHIMIZU vs Shinobu OTA

77kg (15 entries)
Shohei YABIKU vs Kenryu KUZUYA
Ryosho KAMEI vs Takeshi IZUMI

82kg (16 entries)
Yuya MAETA vs Tatsuya FUJII
Yuya OKAJIMA vs Nobuaki TESHIGAWARA

Women

50kg (13 entries)
Yui SUSAKI vs Yuki IRIE
Miho IGARASHI vs Eri TOSAKA

53kg (8 entries)
Haruna OKUNO vs Kana HIGASHIKAWA
Yuka YAGO vs Yu MIYAHARA

62kg (7 entries)
Risako KAWAI vs Honoka IMAGAWA
Aika YAGO vs Yurika ITO

68kg (4 entries)
Sara DOSHO vs Umi FUKUSHIMA
Mai HAYAKAWA vs Chiaki IIJIMA

#wrestlebishkek

Asian Championships Day 4 Women's Wrestling Finals Set

By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 14) -- Women's Wrestling will continue at the Asian Championships on day four with world champion Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) wrestling in front of the home crowd for the first time. Japan will look to build on its three gold medals from day three.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 3 REPORT

14:27: Anastassiya PANASSOVICH (KAZ) was frantic at the start of the 72kg semifinal against HARSHITA (IND) but the Indian remained calm. Harshita with a double-leg and gets the four-pointer. Panassovich is put on the activity clock in the second period, making it 5-0 for Harshita. No more points in the semifinal as Harshita enters the 72kg final with a 5-0 win.

14:24: Qian JIANG (CHN), an Asian junior champion in 2019, will get a chance for a first senior gold by advancing to the 72kg final with a victory by fall over Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL). Jiang had a pair of 4-point takedowns in the match. First, she used a single-leg tackle to send Zoright directly to her back, although the Mongolian rolled through to get 2 points of her own. Jiang then used a 2-on-1 to whip Zorigt down for 4, but finished her off with the fall in 1:08.

14:07: Enkhjin TUVSHINJARGAL (MGL) with a fall over Irina KAZYULINA (KAZ) in the 65kg semifinal with 3:33 left on the clock. In a dramatic turn of events, Kazakhstan challenged for a stepout at 4:14. The result is reversed and Kazakhstan is given a point for stepout and the pin is canceled. Kazyulina with a takedown and a 4-0 lead at the break. Tuvshinjargal gets exposure in the second period to cut the lead to 4-2 and a go-behind soon to lead 4-4 on criteria. Kazyulina is out of steam and Tuvshinjargal has another takedown to lead 6-4. No more scores in the bout and Tuvshinjargal heads into the 65kg final with a 6-4 win.

14:06: Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN) will get a chance to improve on her silver-medal performance from a year ago when she barged to a first-period fall over teenager ANTIM (IND) in their 65kg semifinal. Yoshitake, a 2022 world U20 champion, scores a takedown and exposure for a 4-0 lead. She keeps the pressure on and flips Antim onto her back and records the fall at 1:31.

14:02: Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) sets up the highly anticipated clash in the 62kg final with Motoki, after using her counter lifts to great effect to build a big lead in a 13-3 victory over Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL). Her lone takedown in the second period led to a pair of rolls that ended the match.

13:56: Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) was slow off the blocks but she pins MANISHA (IND) after the Indian was called for fleeing and was put in forced par terre. An arm-bar and pin for the victory.

13:51: Three-time world champion Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) is taken into the second period by Laura ALMAGANBETOVA (KAZ) in their 57kg semifinal, but the outcome is as expected as the Japanese records a fall with just over two minutes left. Sakurai gets an activity point, then fights through Almaganbetova's defenses late in the first period to score a takedown and two exposures for a 7-0 lead. In the second period, she gets a single-leg takedown and gains a lace lock. But instead of rolling, she lifts and pressures Almaganbetova onto her back for the fall.

13:44: Yongxin FENG (CHN) with that super strong Chinese gut wrench to take out Gantuya ENKHBAT (MGL) 10-0 in just 30 seconds. Feng will wrestle for the 57kg gold medal.

13:42: ANJU (IND) into the 53kg final! A stepout and fleeing from Chun LEI (CHN) gives Anju a 2-0 lead. But Lei answers with a low single and gut wrench to take a 6-2 lead at the break. Anju gets a stepout and another point for Lei's passivity in the second period to close the gap to 6-4. With 20 seconds left, Anju hits a cradle for two and two and holds Lei in danger as the clock expires. China challenged the call but lost and Anju won 9-6.

13:37: Ji Hyang KIM (PRK) is into the 53kg final with a victory by fall over Thi My Trang NGUYEN (VIE). Kim, a 2019 Asian cadet champion, gets a pair of takedowns, adding a gut wrench after the first one. Kim then uses a fireman's carry to put Nguyen directly to her back, transitions to a headlock and secures the fall at 2:44.

The semifinals begin at 13:30 local time. Mongolia and India lead with four wrestlers in the semifinals. Japan, China and Kazakhstan have three each in the semifinals. Kyrgyzstan, Vietnam and DPR Korea enter one each.

12:58: Returning silver medalist Sumire NIIKURA (JPN) takes back the lead in the second period, only to lose it and suffer a 10-6 defeat by Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL) in their 72kg quarterfinal. Niikura led 4-4 on criteria going into the second period when Zorigt scored a takedown with 1:12 left. Niikura came back with a stepout, and a fleeing point tacked on made it 6-6, her advantage. With :24 on the clock, Niikura loses her balance and Zorigt takes advantage to score the go-ahead takedown. A stop on a desperation throw accounts for the final score.

12:50: Qian JIANG (CHN) defies the home crowd and hangs on for a 10-8 victory in her 72kg quarterfinal over Asian Games 68kg silver medalist Nurzat NURTAEVA.

12:47: Paris-bound two-time world medalist Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) gets started at 62kg with a 10-0 victory over Arian CARPIO (PHI) to advance to the semifinals. Motoki opens with a double-leg takedown. She then uses a nice ankle pick for 2, then applies the lace lock and ends the match with three quick rolls.

12:41: Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL), a three-time bronze medalist and 2015 world silver medalist, is into the 62kg semifinals with a 5-0 victory over LILI (CHN), a world bronze medalist last year at 65kg.

12:40: A U20 world bronze medalist HARSHITA (IND) rolls to a 13-3 win over Ozoda ZARIPBOEVA (UZB) to enter the 72kg semifinals.

12:36: In a battle of 2021 world bronze medalists (in different weight classes), Gantunya ENKHBAT (MGL) used a whizzer counter to great effect to defeat SARITA (IND) 8-4. Ehkhbat's 4-point throw off a whizzer in the first period had her ahead on criteria when Sarita tied the match in the second period. As Sarita pressed for a go-ahead point, Ekhbat hit another whizzer for 4 at the buzzer.

12:31: In one of the wildest bouts of the session with the unlikeliest of finishes, MANISHA (IND) came out a winner on cautions over Su Gyong CHOE (PRK) in their 62kg quarterfinal. Manisha overcame an 8-2 deficit to lead 10-8, and then a flurry of action, including a 4-point takedown by Choe, put the Korean up 13-12. With 10 seconds left, Manisha charged Choe out of the ring, gaining a stepout point and a fleeing point to lead 14-13. But that was the third caution on Choe, ending the match.

12:30: Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) may be donning a new hairstyle but her dominance on the mat is still old. The world champion entertains the home crowd with a victory by fall over Subeen JO (KOR) and enters the 62kg semifinal.

12:25: Irina KAZYULINA (KAZ), a bronze medalist back in 2018, hangs on for a 4-3 victory over Dinora RUSTAMOVA (UZB) to advance to the 65kg semifinals.

12:23: A stepout to start but ANTIM (IND) gets a flurry of takedowns and counters to beat Dilnaz SAZANOVA (KGZ) 11-0 in four minutes and 19 seconds and advance to the 65kg semifinals.

12:19: Two-time reigning world champion Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) opens her campaign at 57kg for a second Asian gold (she also won in 2022) with a 37-second victory in the quarterfinals over Sezim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ). A takedown to a lace lock, four rolls and that was it.

12:17: Thi My Trang NGUYEN (VIE), a U17 Asian bronze medalist, moves into the semifinals of 53kg with a 4-1 win over Yi Jing CHEN (TPE).

12:17: ANJU (IND) has her hands full with Nethmi PORUTHOTAGE (SRI) in their 53kg quarterfinal and trails in the second period. But a 4-point takedown opens the floodgates and the Indian posts a 14-4 victory.

12:08: Yongxin FENG (CHN) with a quick 10-0 win over Hyon Ju YUN (PRK). A strong gut wrench to finish the bout at 57kg.

12:06: Ji Hyang KIM (PRK) is looking impressive at 53kg, rolling to a 12-2 victory over two-time Asian U20 silver medalist Dilshoda MATNAZAROVA (UZB).

12:05: A mixed result for Korea and Kazakhstan on MAt C. In the 62kg bouts, Subeen JO (KOR) pins Tynys DUBEK (KAZ) but in the 57kg bout, Laura ALMAGANBETOVA (KAZ) pins Bogyeong KIM (KOR).

11:59: A sad end for Soobin KIM (KOR) in her 65kg quarterfinal match with Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN). Yoshitake gets in on single second into the match and wrenches Kim's knee inward, causing her to cry out in pain. She is taken off the mat on a stretcher.

11:55: A quick pin for Qian JIANG (CHN) over Oguljan EGEMBERDIYEVA (TKM) at 72kg.

11:54: Sezim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ), 2021 world junior bronze medalist, goes ahead with a takedown and gut wrench midway through the second period, then adds a pair of late takedowns for a 10-4 victory over Ulmeken ESENBAEVA (UZB) at 57kg.

11:51: To the thrill of the home crowd Dilnaz SAZANOVA (KGZ) with a 12-0 win over Naziya JORAYEVA (TKM) at 65kg. Great start for the home wrestlers today.

11:45: Unheralded Nagisa HARADA (JPN), a late replacement on the Japan squad at 53kg for injured world champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN), falls at the first hurdle, losing 4-0 to 2018 champion Chun LEI (CHN). In the first period, Lei uses an underarm spin for a takedown, adds a gut wrench, and fends off the attacks from Harada, a silver medalist at the 2023 Klippan Lady Open.

11:43: A rare and impressive victory for Sri Lanka on Mat B, as Nethmi AHINSA (SRI) chalks up a 12-1 victory over Ayazhan MARKASHEVA (KAZ) at 53kg. Sri Lanka is still looking for its first-ever senior Asian Championships medal.

11:36: In the opening match on Mat A, 2019 Asian cadet champion Ji Hyang KIM (PRK) scores a pair of takedowns in the first period, with a 2-point exposure after the second one, to lead 6-0 against Otgontuya CHINBOLD (MGL), the silver medalist last year at 55kg. Kim gains another takedown and exposure combination to end the match 10-0 with 25 seconds to spare.

11:30: Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) will be wrestling in Bishkek and she will renew her rivalry with Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) at 62kg. Tynybekova has won both the matches the two have wrestled. A potential third meeting in the final is on the cards.