#WrestleTokyo Olympic Games Preview: 57kg

Thursday, July 29, 2021 - 15:08 By Eric Olanowski

TOKYO, Japan (July 20) – Zaur UGUEV (RUS) has been the gold standard at 57kg since he bolstered his resume with a pair of world titles in '18 and '19. The 26-year-old Khasavyurt, Dagestan native heads into the Tokyo Olympic Games with 15 men chasing down the head-topping crown he's held since '18. He's riding a five-tournament 16-match win streak and is seeded second at 57kg, one spot behind Serbia's history-making Olympian, Stevan MICIC (SRB).

Micic, Serbia's first-ever freestyle Olympian, won the tight-knit race for the 57kg top seed after claiming gold at the final Ranking Series event of the season, the Poland Open. He earned 62 Ranking Series points and finished two points ahead of Uguev.

Uguev dropped to an uncharacteristic 23rd-place finish at the '17 World Championships but has since terrorized the rest of the 57kg field on his way to winning back-to-back world titles. Since that loss, the spry and agile lightweight has medaled at 15 consecutive events and has podium-topping finishes in 12 of those appearances.

His last loss came at the '19 European Games, where he fell to eventual champion Mahir AMIRSLANOV (AZE). But Uguev won't have to worry about the young Azeri, as he failed to qualify for the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Uguev's path to joining fellow Russian lightweight Olympic champions Mavlet BATIROV (' 04) and Djamal OTARSULTANOV (' 12) will have to go through an insanely loaded tier-two field. That group is highlighted by fellow world champion Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN) and world medalists Suleyman ATLI (TUR), Bekhbayar ERDENEBAT (MGL), Thomas GILMAN (USA), Kumar RAVI (IND) and Nurislam SANAYEV (KAZ).

Takahashi has been on a rollercoaster ride filled with mixed emotions since grabbing world supremacy in Paris in '17. He regressed to a bronze medal finish in Budapest and had a tenth-placing showing in Nur-Sultan, but capitalized on his opportunity to qualify Japan for the Olympic Games after he won the '21 World Olympic Qualifier. Then, in early June, the 27-year-old punched his ticket to Tokyo with a special playoff win over Rio Olympic silver medalist Rei HIGUCHI (JPN).

Turkey's ever-improving Atli has been a regular fixture on the 57kg podium over the last few years. The third-seed at 57kg made his world-level debut on the Turkish roster at the '17 World Championships and has since claimed a pair of world medals. Since his breakout performance in Budapest, the 27-year-old has compiled an 8-2 world championship record en route to bronze and silver medal finishes, respectively, at the '18 and '19 World Championships.

Atli will be on the bottom side of the bracket with second-seeded Uguev.

India's Ravi is the fourth-seeded guy at 57kg, so he'll be positioned on the top side of the bracket with Micic.

Ravi, the 24- year-old Haryana product, surprised the field in Nur-Sultan with four presence-announcing wins in his first senior-level world appearance. He dropped a close one in the semifinals against Uguev, but fought back and scored four wins, including top-notch wins over world champion Takahashi and European champion Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) route to a bronze-medal finish.

Other non-seeded past world-meal threats include Erdenebat, Gilman and Sanayev.

Sanayev is only two World Championships removed from falling to Uguev by two points in the gold-medal match. Although it was a slight step down, the Chadan, Russian-born Kazakh grasped a second world medal in '19. He fell to Atli in the semifinals but bounced back to beat Micic for world gold.

Erdenebat, a two-time world bronze medalist ('15 and '17), is set to make his second Olympic appearance. The 28-years-old from Ulan Bator punched his ticket to Tokyo with a decisive 6-2 semifinal win over three-time European champion Giorgi EDISHERASHVILI (AZE) at the World Olympic Qualifier in Sofia. He's now looking to improve on his 16th place from Rio.

America's 27-year-old '17 world runner-up Gilman will return to America's world-level roster for the first time since finishing in fifth place at the '18 World Championships. He lost his starting spot to Daton FIX (USA) in '19 but rebounded to his winning ways in '20. The two-time Ranking Series champion won the 57kg title at the '20 Pan American Olympic Qualifier and qualified the USA for Tokyo. He earned his spot on America's Tokyo roster with two wins over '19 junior world silver medalist Vitali ARUJAU (USA) in the U.S. Olympic Trial finals.

Other rising stars who can make some noise at 57kg are Arsen Harutyunyan and Diamantino IUNA FAFE (GBS).

After struggling with the massive weight cut, Harutyunyan returned to his attack-first mindset. Since that disappointing 16th place finish in Nur-Sultan, the '19 European champion at 61kg has three 57kg medals -- including a gold at the European Olympic Qualifier and a silver medal finish at the Individual World Cup where he dropped the gold-medal match to Uguev.

Iuna Fafe heads into Tokyo riding a two tournament win streak. The 20-year-old stole the show in Hammamet at the Africa and Oceania Olympic Qualifier after beating African silver medalist Gamal MOHAMED (EGY), three-time Commonwealth Games silver-medalist Ebikewenimo WELSON (NGR) and 2016 Rio Olympian Chakir ANSARI (MAR), the 19-year-old pinned two-time African champion Abdelhak KHERBACHE (ALG) in just 57 seconds en route to the 57kg title. He followed that up with a gold-medal performance at the City of Sassari Tournament at the end of June.

Wrestling at the Tokyo Olympic Games kicks off August 1-7 at the Makuhari Messe with 57kg action beginning on August 4.

57kg Entries
No. 1 Stevan Andria MICIC (SRB)
No. 2 Zavur UGUEV (RUS)
No. 3 Suleyman ATLI (TUR)
No. 4 Kumar RAVI (IND)
Nurislam SANAYEV (KAZ)
Reza ATRINAGHARCHI (IRI)
Diamantino IUNA FAFE (GBS)
Abdelhak KHERBACHE (ALG)
Thomas GILMAN (USA)
Oscar Eduardo TIGREROS URBANO (COL)
Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM)
Georgi VANGELOV (BUL)
Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB)
Minghu LIU (CHN)
Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN)
Bekhbayar ERDENEBAT (MGL)

#WrestleZagreb

Zagreb Open: Azarpira beats Snyder; Zare, Susaki dominate

Friday, January 12, 2024 - 00:01 By Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (January 11) -- He was ready to take over the 97kg weight class in Iran after the Tokyo Olympics. He won the U23 World Championships aged 19 years. He repeated as the champion in 2022. But then Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) rose along with Mohammad MOHAMMADIAN (IRI).

After spending a year struggling at 92kg because of the decision of Iran's management, Amirali AZAPIRA (IRI) is back to his best at 97kg. He defeated Goleij and Mohammadian in Iran and shocked the wrestling world on Thursday with a controlled win over Kyle SNYDER (USA) at the Zagreb Open to win the gold medal.

Snyder, who was the favorite to win the gold medal, especially after his easy 4-0 win over Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) in the semifinal, was shut down by Azarpira in the second period, suffering a 6-3 loss after leading 3-0.

Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) scores on Kyle SNYDER (USA) in the 97kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Memories from last year's Zagreb Open final must have flashed for Azarpira as he lost that match 3-0 to return with a silver medal. But this year, despite Snyder's 3-0 lead, Azarpira continued his attacks and scored two takedowns in the second period to win 6-3.

"I had already thought about the final," Azarpira said. "I had practiced with the other guys [on the Iran team] for a long time for this competition. Last year, I lost to Snyder in the same tournament and the same final but this year, I was confident that I could defeat him."

Snyder led 1-0 at the break after Azarpira was on the activity clock and opened the second period with a takedown to lead 3-0. But Azarpira answered with a takedown of his own to make it 3-2 and added a stepout which Snyder challenged but lost.

Azarpira led 4-3 with over a minute remaining in the final and Snyder came close to scoring the winning stepout twice but Azarpira's defended well.

"It was a good takedown in the first period and then he got into my legs and scored," Snyder said. "I still had a minute and 15 seconds to score but could not. He had good defense. It was good to compete and keep learning. I need to get better at opening guys up and score points."

Azarpira used Iran's traditional underhooks and kept his legs away from Snyder's reach to avoid getting taken down or double-leg attacks.

"I was three points behind but I didn’t lose my focus because I had a plan," Azarpira said. "I knew that even if I was six points behind, I could win it. I was relieved because I already knew that I was going to win. My mind was ready for this competition and I had gained self-confidence."

Azarpira lost some of his self-confidence in 2023 when Iran decided to prepare him for the World Championships at 92kg after Ghasempour's injury. He finished fourth at the Ranking Series event in Budapest and eighth at the World Championships after a loss to Zahid VALENCIA (USA).

But come 2023, he won the Iran nationals to earn his spot for Zagreb and with the win over Snyder, he will be headed to the Asian Olympic Qualifiers in Bishkek in April.

"I’ve been playing at the weight of 97kg for about three or four years and I fit in this weight," he said. "But according to the opinion of the technical staff of my country, they allowed me to participate in the World Championships at 92kg. But at this weight, considering the weight I lost and the circumstances, I didn’t have the necessary preparation for the competition and I was very annoyed during this time. But I wasn’t real me in the World Championships when I lost."

Azarpira opened the day with a 5-0 win over Radoslaw BARAN (POL) and survived a scare against Isaac TRUMBLE (USA) 8-7 before winning 10-0 against VICKY (UWW).

But Snyder was dominant in the first three matches. He defeated Tuerxunbieke MUHEITE (CHN), Erhan YAYLACI (TUR) and Cristian SARCO (VEN) via technical superiority. He would then beat Ghasempour 4-0 in their second career meeting.

Azarpira's win over Snyder has all but ended Ghasempour's Olympic hopes. Winning the quota in Bishkek would mean that Azapira's ticket to Paris is all but guaranteed.

"It can be said that this weight is the hardest weight in the World, Olympic, Asian," Azarpira said. "With the plans I have, I hope I can get the best results in this weight and I have high hopes in myself.

Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) defeated Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) 5-0 in the 125kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Another Iran wrestler who has confirmed his Paris Olympics ticket is world champion Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) as he defeated Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) in the 125kg final. The bout was a playoff for the Olympic spot as Masoumi had won the national championships. Like their previous encounters, Zare was in control of the bout which he won 5-0.

"Masoumi is a young and powerful wrestler and he wrestles with high physical strength," Zare said. "Because of that, I was under pressure but according to the training I had done before this tournament, I showed my body was ready to defeat all my opponents."

Throughout the day, Zare showed why he remains the top wrestler at 125kg, winning two bouts via technical superiority before the final.

"The competition was high level and in our weight, except for one or two wrestlers, the champions of different countries were all present and this shows that this year is the year of the Olympics," he said.

Having won the World Championships twice now and a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, Zare said that he would do everything in his control to win the Paris Olympics.

"The biggest dream of every athlete is Olympic gold and I practice and work hard every day to achieve the Olympic gold and I wanna do it not just once, but several times."

Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) won the 79kg gold after a 6-0 win over Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO). (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Iran's third gold medal was won by Mohamad NOKHODI (IRI) who recovered from a grueling semifinal against Evan WICK (USA) to win gold at 79kg with a 6-0 win over Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO). The two-time world silver medalist Iranian struggled with his conditioning in the semifinal but managed to win 6-6. In the final, he scored all the points in the first period and then defended Kentchadze's attacks to win the gold.

Kentchadze finished with a silver medal last year as well after losing to Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI) in the final.

In the other non-Olympic weight class in Freestyle, Nathan JACKSON (USA) won the gold medal at 92kg after a fall over Andro MARGISHVILI (GEO) in the final.

Yui SUSAKI (JPN) defeated Ziqi FENG (CHN) in the 50kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Susaki show

A fully fit and rejuvenated Yui SUSAKI (JPN) remained untouchable in wrestling as she won the 50kg gold medal with ease, finishing each of her five bouts well before time.

Her opponent in the final and world bronze medalist Ziqi FENG (CHN) had similar results, finishing her three bouts before time but suffered a 10-0 loss to Susaki in the final.

At the World Championships, Feng had troubled Susaki and only lost 4-2 but Susaki said it wasn't a big deal.

"I have no injury now," Susaki said. "After the World Championships, I planned a lot [for Feng]."

The 24-year-old has been on a long exposure trip to Europe in which she trained in Germany and France.

"I want to train with foreign athletes and know the style," she said. "I have the Olympics so I want to feel the power of foreign wrestlers, how to fight them, how to plan against them. I had a great experience."

At 55kg, Samantha STEWART (CAN) came home with a gold medal after a 3-1 victory over Roksana ZASINA (POL) in the final.

RESULTS

Freestyle

79kg
GOLD: Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) df. Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO), 6-0

BRONZE: Evan WICK (USA) df. Abdollah SHEIKHAZAMI (IRI),

92kg
GOLD: Nathan JACKSON (USA) df. Andro MARGISHVILI (GEO), via fall

BRONZE: Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) df. Eric SCHULTZ (USA), 8-7

97kg
GOLD: Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) df. Kyle SNYDER (USA), 6-3

BRONZE: Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) df. Erhan YAYLACI (TUR), 3-1
BRONZE: Isaac TRUMBLE (USA) df. VICKY (UWW), 8-5

125kg
GOLD: Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) df. Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI), 5-0

BRONZE: Zhiwei DENG (CHN) df. Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO), via inj. def.
BRONZE: Mason PARRIS (USA) df. Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE), 6-2

Women's Wrestling

50kg
GOLD: Yui SUSAKI (JPN) df. Ziqi FENG (CHN), 10-0

BRONZE: Nadezhda SOKOLOVA (AIN) df. Kseniya STANKEVICH (AIN), via fall (10-2)
BRONZE: Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) df. Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR), 7-6

55kg
GOLD: Samantha STEWART (CAN) df. Roksana ZASINA (POL), 3-1

BRONZE: Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) df. Roza SZENTTAMASI (HUN), 2-2
BRONZE: Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA) df. Albina RILLIA (UKR), via fall (4-0)

#WrestleTokyo Olympic Games Preview: 57kg

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Zagreb Open: Azarpira beats Snyder; Zare, Susaki dominate