#WrestleTokyo: Lopez Sets Up Shot at Historic 4th Gold; Fumita, Gray Make Finals

Sunday, August 1, 2021 - 12:22 By Ken Marantz

CHIBA, Japan (August 1) --- After not budging in the bottom of the par terre position, Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) stood up and did a few hops like a boxer showing he wasn't affected by the best his opponent could hit him with.

Lopez withstood everything longtime rival Riza KAYAALP (TUR) could throw his way to remain on the path toward a unique place in Olympic history with a 2-0 victory in the semifinals of the Greco-Roman 130kg division on Sunday night at Makuhari Messe Hall.

Both of Lopez's points came on passivity calls as the Cuban star kept alive his hopes of joining Kaori ICHO (JPN) as the only wrestlers in Olympic history to win four gold medals.

In Monday night's final, Lopez will face 2019 world bronze medalist Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO), who clinched a medal in his second Olympic appearance by defeating Yasmani ACOSTA (CHI) 1-1 on last-point criteria.

In other action, reigning world champions and top seeds Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) and Adeline GRAY (USA) both advanced to their respective finals. Fumita, a two-time world champion making his first Olympic appearance, will have a shot at the gold at Greco 60kg, while Gray will look to add the women's 76kg Olympic crown to her five world titles.

Mijain LOPEZ Riza KAYAALP Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) after beating Riza KAYAALP (TUR) in the 130kg semifinal. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Lopez and Kayaalp have now met in three consecutive Olympics, and the Cuban has come out on top in all three, having dispatched Kayaalp in the semifinals at London 2012 and the final at Rio 2016. The last time Lopez lost to anyone was in 2015 at the hands of Kayaalp, who beat him for one of his three world titles.

"This was definitely my most difficult bout and win against Riza," Lopez said. "The match in the Rio Olympics final was one-sided. My matches are mostly about dedication and preparation. Tomorrow I have to go with the same technique and I am prepared for it."

The 38-year-old Lopez, who won the last of his five world golds in 2014, has competed in just two international tournaments since Rio, with the most recent being a triumphant run at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima.

But he has looked sharp on the mat at Makuhari Messe, where he scored a pair of technical fall victories to set up his clash with Kayaalp. In the first period, he turned the Turk in the par terre position, but the points were wiped out when it was determined he used his legs for leverage.

"The judges made a bad decision for the challenge," Lopez said. "But because I had established myself in the bout, it did not matter."

He then failed to turn Kayaalp in a second shot at par terre in the second period. With just over a minute left, Lopez was himself put in the par terre, giving Kayaalp a chance to turn the tide by turning him over. But the Cuba kept a rock solid base and, when he got up, gave the display of confidence.

Also Read: Mijain Lopez, too big to fail

The other semifinal featured a rare occurrence, as there were three passivity calls, with the requisite two points awarded, but not one battle in the par terre position. The two times that Acosta could have put Kajaia into par terre, he opted to continue the match from the standing position, including when the Georgian was tagged for passivity with 1:20 left.

The 27-year-old Kajaia, meanwhile, got his passivity point in the second period. But when he failed to heed the referee's instruction to put both of his knees on the mat, he forfeited the par terre and the two were put back on their feet.

It did little to diminish the elation Kajaia felt over his accomplishment. "It has been my goal for the past 27 years" he said. "Tomorrow will be a very spectacular match. I can’t say anything else. Today everything went well. So tomorrow I’ll only go forward, not step back."

Acosta, who is just the second Chilean wrestler in history to appear in the Olympics, will now have a chance for a bronze medal, which would be his country's first at the Tokyo Olympics.

Cuba will have a second wrestler in Monday's finals as Luis ORTA SANCHEZ (CUB) set up a gold-medal clash at Greco 60kg with Fumita by overwhelming the slippery Victor CIOBANU (MDA) by 11-0 technical fall in the semifinals.

Fumita Kenchiro FUMITA (JPN) will wrestle for gold at 60kg. (Photo: UWW / Tony Rotundo)

It marks the second straight Olympics that the final of the lightest Greco weight class will be a Japan-Cuban clash. In Rio, Ismael BORRERO MOLINA (CUB) defeated Shinobu OTA (JPN) in the 59kg final.

That result has provided motivation for Fumita, who won his second career world title in 2019. He and Ota were teammates and rivals at Nippon Sports Science University, with Fumita eventually winning out between them to earn the ticket to the Tokyo Olympics.

"Five years ago in Rio, I watched Ota get a medal right in front of my eyes," Fumita said. "I thought, 'I want that.' But to surpass him, the only way is to win the gold."

Luis ORTA SANCHEZ (CUB) made it to the 60kg final in Tokyo. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

By assuring himself of a silver medal, Fumita has extended a streak of Japanese men medaling at every Olympics dating back to Helsinki 1952. "In recent years, the women have been amazing, and the men have been continuing the streak," Fumita said. "I definitely wanted to keep it going."

Fumita is aiming to become Japan's first Olympic Greco champion since Atsuji MIYAHARA (JPN) won the 52kg gold at Los Angeles 1984.

In the semifinals, Fumita scored four points in the second period to defeat Lenur TEMIROV (UKR) 5-1. The Japanese kept his composure as he trailed 1-1 on criteria, then scored a takedown and gut wrench for the winning points.

In the women's 76kg division, 2019 world bronze medalist Alice ROTTER FOCKEN (GER) assured her country of its first women's Olympic wrestling medal in what she says will be her final tournament when she knocked off local favorite Hiroe MINAGAWA (JPN) 3-1 in the semifinals.

Focken Aline ROTTER-FOCKEN (GER) reached the final at 76kg in Tokyo. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

With Minagawa, the 2019 world silver medalist, leading 1-1 on criteria, Rotter Focken scored with a double-leg takedown with 1:15 left, then held on to make the final in her second Olympic appearance.

"It was really exciting and stressful, but I'm really happy I could show my full potential, because I can wrestle everyone," Rotter Focken said. "Sometimes it doesn't work out, and today it did."

Rotter Focken said she is looking forward to one final clash with Gray to cap a friendly rivalry that goes back to when they were teenagers. In fact, Gray said that she invited the German to her wedding (she couldn't come due to a prior commitment).

"I'm really happy to wrestle her," Rotter Focken said. "We are good friends, and we're always said for Tokyo that we'd like to meet each other in the Olympic final. It's like a movie, we did it. I like her style of wrestling, and I'm really excited who will be the No. 1 tomorrow."

Gray, who has waited five long years to redeem herself for failing to medal in Rio, kept her golden dreams alive with a close 3-2 victory over a young, gutsy Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ).

"This is so many years of hard work coming into fruition, it's incredible," Gray said. "I'm just excited to be here after such a long time."

Adeline GRAY (USA) after making it the 76kg final at Tokyo Olympics. (Photo: UWW / Tony Rotundo)

Gray took a 2-0 lead with an activity point and stepout in the first period. With just over a minute to go in the second, Medet Kyzy came close to a takedown, but failed to complete the move as they went out of bounds.

But the Kyrgyz side challenged the call, which was rejected, giving Gray a point that would later prove decisive.

"I think that's just experience," Gray said of avoiding the takedown. "I don't panic there. I'm great at scoring points, and I do pretty well when I'm down, so even if she does get that takedown...I really feel confident that it's enough of a fire to kick me into the next gear, which sometimes I need to make these matches not as close."

The 22-year-old Medet Kyzy, a 2019 world U-23 bronze medalist, went on the attack and, with 20 seconds left, secured a takedown that cut the lead to 3-2 and which she transitioned into a lace lock. But she wasn't able to turn the veteran American, who let out a whoop of joy when time expired.

"I haven't wrestled this women, she has been cleaning house with a lot of people who I have great matches with," Gray said of Medet Kyzy. "I went in ready to battle. It was a little closer than I expected it to be, she's pretty slippery in a few positions, but I really felt that my positioning got the better of her."

Also Read: #WrestleTokyo Day 1 Morning Session reacap

In the mixed zone, Gray opened up about the disappointment she felt five years ago in Rio, when she went in as the prohibitive favorite but came out on the short end of a 4-1 loss to Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR) in the quarterfinals.

"It's tough to lose," Gray said. "That's what it comes down to. I had expectations for myself, and I think everyone else did last [Olympic] quad for me to do well. I had gone undefeated for 2 1/2 years leading into it, I didn't see anybody that was really going to be able to go toe-to-toe with me."

Gray said that in the intervening years, she has come to realize how a shoulder injury had led to her downfall by not admitting to herself how serious it really was.

"I didn't realize how injured I was. I had to take a year and a half off, and it took me three years before my shoulder was ready to really compete and really grind. I didn't want to blame it on the injury because losses happen, but making it here today really shows me that I had a lot of pain leading up to that tournament and I was fighting through mentally just dealing with that on a day-to-day basis.

"It wears you down a little bit more that I had expected it to. I'm just thankful that I'm healthy, that I have a great team with me and so many people willing to help."

RESULTS:

Greco-Roman

60kg
GOLD: Kenchiro FUMITA (JPN) vs Luis ORTA SANCHEZ (CUB)

SF 1: FUMITA Kenichiro (JPN) df Lenur TEMIROV (UKR), 5-1
SF 2: Luis ORTA SANCHEZ (CUB) df Victor CIOBANU (MDA), 11-0

130kg
GOLD: Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) vs Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO)

SF 1: Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) df Riza KAYAALP (TUR), 2-0
SF 2: Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO) df Yasmani ACOSTA FERNANDEZ (CHI), 1-1

Women's Wrestling

76kg
GOLD: Adeline GRAY (USA) vs Aline ROTTER-FOCKEN (GER)

SF 1: Adeline GRAY (USA) df Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ), 3-2
SF 2: Aline ROTTER-FOCKEN (GER) df Hiroe MINAGAWA (JPN), 3-1

#wrestlebishkek

Vintage Susaki in Asian final; Morikawa vs Zhumanazarova for 68kg Gold

Wednesday, April 8, 2026 - 05:29 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 8) -- Yui SUSAKI (JPN) may have been away from the mat for over 20 months but she showed no signs of rust as she reached the Asian Championships final at 50kg in Bishkek on Wednesday.

With two falls and a technical superiority win, it was vintage Susaki as she did not give up a single point in the three bouts. First up was Ziqi FENG (CHN), a fellow bronze medalist from 2024 Paris Olympics, and Susaki blocked an arm-spin attempt from Feng to score two points. As Feng landed on her back, Susaki kept her in the same position to secure the first fall.

NEELAM (IND) tried to challenge Susaki a few times in the quarterfinals but her attempted front headlock counters did not work and Susaki scored an 11-0 technical superiority win in 2:51. The semifinal was a similar story as Susaki pinned Maral TANGIRBERGENOVA (KAZ) in just two minutes.

Susaki scored a go-behind to open the scoring before a gut-wrench turn gave her a 4-0 lead. A sweep-single to takedown made it 6-0, and Susaki continued the sequence into an arm-bar to secure the fall.

"This is my first official UWW tournament in one year and eight months and I'm really happy to be back on this stage, and I'm filled with gratitude," Susaki said. "In my three matches, I was able to put out what I did in practice. Looking ahead to tomorrow's final, I think they were good matches."

The theme of the final will also be vintage as Susaki faces an opponent she last wrestled nine years ago. She will take on Son Hyang KIM (PRK) for the gold medal bout, a wrestler Susaki defeated 10-0 to win her first Asian gold aged 18 in 2017.

While she is focused on winning the gold medal on Thursday, Susaki is treating the Asian Championships as the launch pad for a newer version of herself.

"I'm here to start toward winning this year's World Championships and Asian Games, and then the Los Angeles Olympics. To face the DPR Korean and firmly win would establish my presence to the world," she said.

The new Susaki also includes a improved weight management, an issue she struggled with in the past. After the Paris Olympics, Susaki gave considerable thought to moving up to 53kg but as the 2025 Emperor's Cup approached in December, she decided to remain at 50kg, a weight in which she won Olympic gold in Tokyo.

"It's my first time to get down to 50kg overseas since the Paris Olympics," she said. "Since then, I've made some changes to my diet, and it was really smooth this time and I was able to maintain my strength. I could keep eating while dropping weight, so my condition is very good."

Susaki will have a chance to win her third Asian title on Thursday when she takes on Kim.

A former world bronze medalist, Kim wrestled Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) in the other semifinal and scored an early takedown to open the scoring. She used a lace lock and twisted the Uzbekistan wrestler over three times for an 8-0 lead before the match hit the minute mark.

But Keunimjaeva, a three-time Asian bronze medalist, did not go down meekly, as she used a whizzer for a 4-point takedown at the edge to cut the lead in half before the break. Kim opened the second period with a duck under to a double-leg takedown to make it 10-4.

Two years ago in the Asian Olympic qualifying tournament in Bishkek, Keunimjaeva pulled off a miracle late comeback to beat Kim, and she nearly did it again. Locking Kim's arms, Keunimjaeva muscled Kim directly to her back for a 4-pointer in the last 20 seconds. But she failed to get the fall, and Kim got a late exposure for a 12-8 win.

In other semifinals, local stars Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) and Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) both made it to gold medal bouts at 76kg and 68kg respectively.

After her close call in the quarterfinals, Medet Kyzy leaves no margin for error in storming to an 11-0 win over Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE) in pursuit of her third straight Asian gold and fourth overall. Medet Kyzy spins behind for the opening takedown, then hits two gut wrenches, then adds a 2-point exposure. When Chang tries to escape by going over the top, Medet Kyzy somersaults her over onto her back for the winning points that end the match in 1:04. An unsuccessful challenge of who-knows-what adds a final point.

Two-time Asian bronze medalist Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) enters her first-ever Asian Championships final after a 7-2 win over Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA (KAZ). She got the first point for Yerkebayeva's passivity before a double-leg takedown to lead 3-0. As the clock ticked, Yerkebayeva tried a few fake attacks but missed them and Enkh Amar scored two counter takedowns to extend her lead to 7-0. Yerkebayeva scored a late takedown to cut the lead.

68kg semifinals - Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN), wrestling her first Asian Championships at 68kg, into the finals after 7-0 victory over former world silver medalist Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) in the semifinals. She started off with a point for Enkhsaikhan's passivity, then got a takedown when she was put on the activity clock. As the match progressed, Morikawa kept her pressure and scored two different takedowns on the edge to enter the final

Two-time Olympic medalist Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) ends the reign of defending champion Zelu LI (CHN) with a 1-1 victory, much to the delight of the home crowd despite the lack of technical points scored — Zhumanazarova came out on top by virtue of receiving the second of the two activity points. LI gets her activity point in the first period as neither wrestler can find an opening. In the second period, Zhumanazarova gets in on a single-leg takedown, but Li forces the situation to a stalemate. Li is then put on the activity clock, which puts Zhumanazarova up on criteria. In the final minute, Li twice launches an attack, but Zhumanazarova sprawls to safety to make the final for the first time since 2022.

59kg semifinals - Sena NAGAMOTO (JPN) becomes the third Japan wrestler to reach the final after a 10-0 blanking of Ulmeken ESENBAEVA (UZB) in the 59kg semifinals. She built a 6-0 lead in the first period before another takedown to start the second period to make it 8-0. A sweep-single takedown was her last move to complete a technical superiority victory.

Mengyu XIE (CHN), a former Asian champion looking to improve on her bronze medal from 2025, shrugs NEHA (IND) by and gets behind for an early takedown, to which she adds a gut-wrench. Neha comes back with counter roll for 2 from a front body lock, which the Chinese side unsuccessfully challenges, cutting Xie's lead to 4-3 at the break. A deep single-leg takedown and gut wrench by Xie makes it 8-3. When Xie shoots for a double, Neha locks her up again, this time spinning behind for a takedown, making it 8-5 with a minute to go. Neha twice tries to force Xie over with a front headlock roll, but each time, the Chinese resists and holds the Indian's back toward the mat for a pair of 2-point exposures and a 12-5 win.

55kg semifinals - World bronze medalist Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) continues to dominate in her senior Asian debut, advancing to the final with a one-side 10-0 victory over Ariunzaya ODONCHIMEG (MGL). Uchida, who won world U17 and U20 titles in recent years but had never competed in a continental tournament, finishes off the match after a second takedown, locking Odonchimeg's arm and levering her over three times to end the bout in 1:33.

Uchida will face returning silver medalist Yuxuan LI (CHN) for the gold medal after the China wrestler completed a dominant 11-1 victory over Hansika LAMBA (IND). Li got on the scoreboard when Lamba was called passive in the first period. Li then tripped Lamba for a takedown and used two gut-wrenches to lead 7-0. Lamba tried getting a takedown but Li was quick to counter and scored a takedown before giving up a reversal for a 9-1 lead. She finished the match with a takedown 6 seconds before the clock expired.

Qualification Session Higlights

12:42: Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA (KAZ) with an excellent fake attack to get a takedown against KAJAL (IND) to secure the win int the 76kg quarterfinals. Kajal led 3-1 when Yerkebayeva scored a stepout with 25 seconds left. Yerkebayeva managed a leg attack soon but let it go when Kajal fell forward to defend it. The Kazakhstan wrestler just jumped behind to get a takedown which stunned Kajal. Yerkebayev with a 5-3 win, as India challenged at the end and lost it.

12:37: Former world silver medalist Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) secures her spot in the 76kg semifinals with an 8-2 victory over Eunju HWANG (KOR). Leading 4-0, Enkh Amar gains two takedowns in the second period before Hwang gets on the scoreboard with a late takedown

12:35: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ), one of the host nation's top stars, avoided what would have arguably been the biggest upset of the tournament so far when she snatched a victory from the jaws of defeat in her 76kg quarterfinal with Wenji LI (CHN). Li, the 2023 Asian U23 champion at 72kg, was the dominant wrestler, using her double-leg takedown to build up a 6-2 lead deep into the second period. But there is a reason that Medet Kyzy is a three-time Asian champion and three-time world medalist. Just when it looked like all was lost, she shot in on a double, rose up to secure a bear hug, and tripped Li directly to her back in the final minute. That four points would have given her the win, but Li wasn't going anywhere and Medet Kyzy secured the fall with :29 left.

12:25: Two-time Olympic medalist Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ), looking for her first Asian gold to go with two bronzes and a silver, gets her campaign at 68kg started with an 11-0 win over Thi Linh DANG (VIE). Zhumanazarova is limited to two takedowns in the first period by the gutsy Dang, but after a second-period takedown, she ends the match with a 4-point takedown.

12:24: After a slow first period in which Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ) got a point for Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) passivity in their 68kg bout, Morikawa managed to score 10 points in the second to complete a victory over the Kazakhstan wrestler. A takedown and gut-wrenches is what Morikawa used to score her points.

12:16: Yui SUSAKI (JPN) uses her low single to deadly effectiveness in an 11-0 victory over NEELAM (IND) at 50kg that she completes eight seconds inside the first-period buzzer. Neelam did her best to counter Susaki's singles, but the Japanese star kept piling up the points in a four-takedown effort.

12:10: Son Hyang KIM (PRK) continues to impress at 50kg, hitting three gut wrenches after her second takedown to defeat Munkhnar BYAMBASUREN (MGL) 10-0 in 1:10 and advance to the semifinals

12:07: Sena NAGAMOTO (JPN), winner at the Zagreb Ranking Series who is making her senior Asian debut, gets off to a roaring start at 59kg with an 10-0 victory over Sezim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ)

12:02: Former Asian champion and world bronze medalist Mengyu XIE (CHN) overwhelms two-time Asian medalist Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL), scoring seven points in the first period and then ending the match in the second for an 11-0 win to advance to the 59kg semifinals

11:59: Rising star Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN), a 2025 world bronze medalist a year after winning the world U20 gold, storms to a 10-0 victory over Jeongbin OH (KOR) to secure her spot in the 55kg semifinals

11:58: Ulmeken ESENBAEVA (UZB), a multiple-time medalist at age-group Asian Championships, begins with a fall over Hyebin AHN (KOR) at 59kg.

11:56: Wenji LI (CHN) proves too powerful for Yasuha MATSUYUKI (JPN) in their qualifying round bout at 76kg, handing the Japanese squad its first loss by topping off two of her three takedowns with 2-point rolls in a 12-2 technical superiority win in 5:31

11:55: NEHA (IND), a former U20 world bronze medalist, starts with a fall over Viktoriia KHUSAINOVA (KAZ) at 59kg. She built a 6-0 lead before scoring a takedown and then used a cradle to secure the fall

11:53: An impressive start for last year's runner-up at 55kg, Yuxuan LI (CHN). After a stepout to get started against Aruuke KADYRBEK KYZY (KGZ), Li gains a takedown, then reels off four gut wrenches in succession for an 11-0 victory in just over a minute.

11:52: Five-time Asian medalist and 2023 world silver medalist Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) scores two stepouts in the first period, the second with Svetlana OKNAZAROVA (UZB) on the activity clock, and adds two takedowns in the second before finishing the match with a 4-point takedown in the last seconds for an 11-0 victory at 68kg.

11:41: Yi Hui LIN (TPE) stuns Ngoc Linh DO (VIE) with a 4-point takedown with :16 left, then holds on for a 5-4 victory at 50kg in the opening match on Mat B.

11:35: Son Hyang KIM (PRK), a world bronze medalist and Asian silver medalist way back in 2017, storms into the quarterfinals at 50kg with a 10-0 thrashing of Nipuni HEWA PEDIGE (SRI). Kim's most recent accomplishment was a silver at the 2023 Asian Games.

11:34: 53-second fall for Yui SUSAKI (JPN) in her first international match since the 2024 Paris Olympics! Susaki got Ziqi FENG (CHN) in her opening bout at 50kg, a rematch of the final from the 2024 Asian Championships final. Susaki tried two leg attacks but failed to covert them into points. Out of nowhere, Feng tried an arm-spin which was blocked by Susaki. Feng fell back first on the mat and Susaki kept the pressure to secure the fall!

11:30: After two days of exciting Greco-Roman in the morning, the Asian Championships will see Women's Wrestling on the mats. Local stars Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) and Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) will be the favorites at 68kg and 76kg

#WrestleTokyo: Lopez Sets Up Shot at Historic 4th Gold; Fumita, Gray Make Finals

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Vintage Susaki in Asian final; Morikawa vs Zhumanazarova for 68kg Gold