#WrestleTokyo Olympic Games Preview: 68kg

Friday, July 23, 2021 - 20:26 By Ken Marantz

TOKYO, Japan (July 23) -- Many athletes might cringe at the near-monastic life awaiting them under the harsh pandemic protocols at the Olympics. Tamyra MENSAH-STOCK (USA) can't wait.

"I'm going to be fine," Mensah-Stock told the Japanese press at the U.S. team's pre-Olympic camp in central Japan. "I'm a homebody. I play video games, I karaoke, I literally stay at home when I'm in the States. This is what I love. This is perfect."

That only spells more trouble for the others in the women's 68kg weight class, where the 28-year-old Mensah-Stock heads into her Olympic debut in Tokyo as the reigning world champion and the No. 1 seed, and on quite a roll.

Mensah-Stock's main competition looks to come from unseeded opponents -- the two fifth-place finishers at the 2019 World Championships, Alla CHERKASOVA (UKR) and 2016 Rio Olympic champion Sara DOSHO (JPN), as well as Asian qualifier Feng ZHOU (CHN) and two-time former world champion Battsetseg SORONZONBOLD (MGL), a bronze medalist at the 2012 London Olympics.

Since her triumph at the 2019 worlds in Nur-Sultan, Mensah-Stock has lost just one match in international competition.

After winning all three of her matches at the 2019 World Cup, she finished second at 2020 Matteo Pellicone tournament. In Rome, Mensah-Stock defeated both Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) and Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) -- who are the Nos. 2 and 3 seeds in Tokyo, respectively -- en route to the final, where she dropped a 8-8 decision to China's Zhou after leading 8-0 with two minutes to go.

The American rebounded from that setback with titles at the 2020 and 2021 Pan American Championships, which sandwiched golds at the Grand Prix de France and the Matteo Pellicone in 2021.

Although Mensah-Stock goes in as the favorite, she knows she can't take anything for granted.

"I just have to stay tough and have a strong mindset," she said. "I wouldn't say I'm worried about all of them, but I've got to stay on my guard. Because at any point in time, something can happen."

Asked what drives her to seek the gold medal, she replied, "I need to showcase what I have. God has given me so much talent, I have to go out there and showcase what he has given me, and I feel like he has given me enough talent to reach gold. So I've got to go and shine my light, just blind everybody with all my talent, if I can."

Naturally optimistic and outgoing, Mensah-Stock took the postponement of the Olympics in stride.

"I was bummed, but I knew that it was only going to be postponed, I knew it wasn't going to be canceled," she said. "So I was actually kind of happy as well, because I got spend more time with my husband and my dogs, and see my family a lot more. So it was kind of a super-vacation."

Her main rival for the gold at Makuhari Messe will likely be Dosho, who seemed to be cruising toward a succession of global titles when she suffered a serious left shoulder injury during a victory over Danielle LAPPAGE (CAN) at the 2018 World Cup that required surgery.

That kept the 26-year-old Japanese from defending the world title she had won the previous year, and even when she came back at the Japan championships at the end of 2018, she was not the force she once was, being reticent to use her left arm.

At the 2019 World Championships, Dosho hardly looked like an Olympic champion. She was completely overpowered by Mensah-Stock in a 10-1 drubbing in the quarterfinals, then squeaked by Oborududu in the repechage to make it to the bronze-medal match, where she lost 4-1 to Anna SCHELL (GER).

She could have clinched the Olympic berth she earned for Japan at Nur-Sultan by winning the national title in 2019, but suffered a left knee injury just before the tournament, and was unceremoniously ousted 9-2 by Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) in the semifinals.

Her Olympic fate hung on a playoff between her and Morikawa, held in March 2020, which Dosho managed to win 3-1. Dosho then became one of those athletes who benefitted from the postponement of the Tokyo Games, because it gave her time for all of her injuries to heal.

"I was able to change my outlook, thinking this is a chance for my injuries to heal and to build up strength for the Olympics," Dosho told the Japan federation website.

Now healthy and with an expanded repertoire beyond the quick double-leg tackle she learned at the kids wrestling club run by late father of Saori YOSHIDA (JPN), Dosho heads into the Tokyo Olympics with renewed confidence.

"The previous time [in Rio] was my first Olympics and I just rolled with the punches," Dosho said. "I had no problems and I was able to easily qualify. This time, it didn't go like that. I thought, 'This was really tough.' But through my losses, I was able to get a true feel for my weaknesses, and I could think about what I need to do to win the next time. I feel I've really grown."

Prior to her loss in Nur-Sultan, Dosho had not tasted defeat since the 2015 World Championships, where she lost in the quarterfinals to Zhou before taking the bronze medal. She avenged that loss in the semifinals at the 2017 Asian Championships en route to the gold, and again in the final at the 2019 Asian Championships.

Asked to comment about a possible clash with Dosho, Mensah-Stock deferred. "Let's let the wrestling do all the talking," she said. "I don't really have any comments about any of my competitors. Let's just get out there, wrestle clean, wrestle hard, wrestle smart."

The 32-year-old Cherkasova, who will be appearing in her second Olympics, won the 2018 world title that Dosho missed, defeating Larroque in the final as Zhou and Mensah-Stock shared the bronze medals.

From 2017 up to the 2019 World Championships, Cherkasova medaled at 12 consecutive tournaments, but missed a bronze medal in Nur-Sultan when Soronzonbold scored a defensive takedown with 45 seconds left for a 2-2 win.

She has had mediocre run-up to Tokyo, however, as all she has to show from four tournaments is a bronze medal at the 2020 European Championships. At the 2020 Matteo Pellicone tournament, she lost to Zhou in the quarterfinals and Lappage in the repechage.

The 31-year-old Soronzonbold's better days appear to be behind her, but experience means she can never be fully discounted. Her world titles came back in 2010 and 2015, the latter with a win in the final over Risako KAWAI (JPN) who would go on to win the Olympic gold the following year.

China's Feng, 27, qualified for her second Olympics by winning the Asian Olympic qualifying tournament in April, which she preceded with a gold at the 2019 World Military Games and her victory over Mensah-Stock in the 2020 Matteo Pellicone final. She has two world medals, a bronze in 2018 and a silver in 2015.

Larroque, 22, is also a two-time world medalist. Having earned her ticket to Tokyo at the European Olympic qualifying tournament, she heads there on a bit of a roll, having won the European and Poland Open titles this year, the latter coming in a field that included eight entries at the Tokyo Olympics.

68kg
No. 1 Tamyra Mariama STOCK MENSAH (USA)
No. 2 Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR)
No. 3 Koumba Selene Fanta LARROQUE (FRA)
No. 4 Anna Carmen SCHELL (GER)
Agnieszka Jadwiga WIESZCZEK KORDUS (POL)
Battsetseg SORONZONBOLD (MGL)
Alla CHERKASOVA (UKR)
Sara DOSHO (JPN)
Enas Mostafa Youssef Khourshed AHMED (EGY)
Danielle Suzanne LAPPAGE (CAN)
Yudari SANCHEZ RODRIGUEZ (CUB)
Khanum VELIEVA (RUS)
Feng ZHOU (CHN)
Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ)
Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL)
Elis MANOLOVA (AZE)

#WrestleAmman

U20 Worlds: Alameldin gives Egypt gold; Iran wins team title

Sunday, August 20, 2023 - 15:15 By Vinay Siwach

AMMAN, Jordan (August 20) -- Six wrestlers from Egypt have managed to reach a final at a U20 World Championships in the past. None crossed the final hurdle till Sunday.

Moustafa ALAMELDIN (EGY) took it upon himself to create history for Egypt by becoming the first wrestler from his country to win the gold at U20 World Championships as he defeated Gaspar TERTERYAN (ARM), 4-2, in the 67kg final in Amman, Jordan.

Alameldin got a turn from par terre and then defended as if his life depended on it when put in par terre in the second period. He led 3-1 and gave up a stepout in the final second. Armenia challenged the call asking for fleeing but lost which added the extra points to Alameldin's score.

"I didn't want anyone to take advantage against me from par terre," Alameldin said. "I positioned myself properly and remained strong. All I was thinking about was getting this medal."

His run to gold included five thrilling victories, beginning with Luka IVANCIC (CRO). He then faced returning gold medalist Kanan ABDULLAZADE (AZE) but remained unfazed, beating him 7-5. Azat SARIYAR (TUR) was no match as Alameldin reached the semifinal against Ahoura BOUVEIRI PIANI (IRI). A fierce battle saw Alameldin lead 4-0 before Bouveiri made it 5-2 at the break. Alameldin caught Bouveiri in the middle of a turn and scored two before adding two more. The 9-4 score stood till the clock expired.

"The final was very difficult and strong," he said. "However, the second match was the most difficult but I was able to win the gold medal."

The Alameldin win also marks the first time Egypt has won a gold medal at a World Championships after four years. Mohamed EL SAYED (EGY) won gold at the U23 World Championships in 2019.

The U20 African champion had participated in the senior African Championships last year and won silver after losing to Tokyo Olympian Abdelkarim FERGAT (ALG). At the U20 event, he lost to Fayssal BENFREDJ (ALG).

However, he turned it around this year by beating Benfredj 9-0 to become the U20 African champion. He also finished fifth at the Alexandria Ranking Series event. He lost 5-3 to Merey BEKENOV (KAZ) in the opening bout but pinned Tokyo bronze medalist Sailike WALIHAN (CHN) in the repechage. A close 3-2 loss to HUSIYUETU (CHN) in the bronze medal bout saw him finish fifth.

The gold in Amman helped Egypt finish inside the top 10 in the team race which was won by Iran with 162 points, way ahead of the second-placed Georgia which had 89 points.

Armenia will look back at this and two more losses in the bronze-medal bouts as missed opportunities to finish second. It was third with 88 points while Turkiye finished with 81 points in fourth place. Asian powerhouse Kyrgyzstan, which did not bring a full squad, was fifth with 70 points.

While Terteryan lost, his compatriot Suren AGHAJANYAN (ARM) clinched the gold medal at 60kg. For a while, memories of the 2022 U20 World Championships final must have come gushing back to Aghajanyan as he tried to double-arm lock SUMIT (IND). It was a move that cost him the gold medal in 2022.

"Last year, I had a very hurtful loss in the last 20 seconds," Aghajanyan said. "After that, I spent the whole year preparing to win the gold medal. I’ve trained a lot to achieve this."

Saeid ESMAEILI LEIVESI (IRI) got his arm out of that lock and put Suren AGHAJANYAN (ARM) on his back to win 6-6 in 2022. Sumit, however, did not break the lock and despite ending on top of Aghajanyan, got two points. He tried pinning the Armenian but was denied as Aghajanyan defended extraordinarily using the bridge position.

"I was in a risky position in the final match but I was sure I would get out of it," Aghajanyan said referring to the attempted pin by Sumit.

Leading 9-4 at this point, the two wrestlers were called in neutral and Aghajanyan scored a big four to win the gold medal 13-4 and banish the memories of the previous U20 World Championships in which he finished with a silver medal.

While he is still number two in the country at 60kg behind Gevorg GHARIBYAN (ARM), Aghajanyan hopes to climb up the ladder soon.

"I am still the second one on our senior team," he said. "But I will work hard and do my best to become first in my weight class to win the Olympic qualification license."

Alperen BERBER (TUR) scores a takedown against Yasin YAZDI (IRI) in the 82kg final. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

At 82kg, Alperen BERBER (TUR) added a U20 world title a year after winning the U17 gold medal in emphatic style as he beat Yasin YAZDI (IRI) 9-1 in the gold medal bout.

Last year, the 18-year-old lost to Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI) 8-2 in the semifinals but returned to win the bronze medal. He left nothing to chance, using four strong gut wrenches from par terre in the second period to complete his victory.

The win would come as a relief for Berber as he struggled at the start of the year, finishing seventh at the U23 European Championships. But he participated in the Bishkek Ranking Series and won a silver after losing to Mohamadipiani in the final in June. Two weeks later he won silver the U20 European Championships.

In his earlier bouts, Berber defeated Wojciech IWANOWSKI (POL) 10-0, Ivan CHMYR (UKR) 3-1 in the quarterfinals and Data CHKHAIDZE (GEO) 8-0 in the semifinals, widening the gap from their previous bout which ended 3-1.

Imran ALIEV (AIN) finished the 72kg final in 2 minutes and 19 seconds. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Imran ALIEV (AIN) captured the gold medal at 72kg in just two minutes and 19 seconds as he gut wrenched Levente LEVAI (HUN). He scored a takedown to open his scoring before Levai was called for inactivity, giving one more point to Aliev. It took a little effort but Aliev got three strong turns to clinch the gold.

Aliev was clearly the most dominant wrestler of the tournament as he won all five of his bouts via technical superiority. Apart from the 9-0 win over Levai in the final, he beat Anri PUTKARADZE (GEO), 9-0, in the semifinal, Seyedmohammadmahdi MIRI (IRI), 10-1, in the quarterfinals, Ankit GULIA (IND), 11-3, in the pre-quarterfinals and Imur TEMIRBEKOV (KGZ), 8-0, in the qualification round.

Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN) celebrates after winning the 97kg final. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

The final gold of the night was won by Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN) as he defeated 2022 U17 world champion Gor AYVAZYAN (GEO), 8-0, in three minutes and 40 seconds.

Ayvazyan was called passive in the first period and Khaslakhanau scored a correct throw and reverse lift to make it 5-0. Using his strength to rattle Ayvazyan, the AIN wrestler scored two stepouts before the 30-second break.

A stepout 40 seconds into the second period gave Khaslakhanau the gold medal.

RESULTS

60kg
GOLD: Suren AGHAJANYAN (ARM) df. SUMIT (IND), 13-4

BRONZE: Amirreza DEHBOZORGI (IRI) df. Saifulla KURMAN (KAZ), 9-0
BRONZE: Ilkin GURBANOV (AZE) df. Emirlan DUISHENALIEV (KGZ), 3-1

67kg
GOLD: Moustafa ALAMELDIN (EGY) df. Gaspar TERTERYAN (ARM), 4-2

BRONZE: Azat SARIYAR (TUR) df. Ahoura BOUVEIRI PIANI (IRI), 3-2
BRONZE: Arslanbek SALIMOV (POL) df. Nestori MANNILA (FIN), 4-0

72kg
GOLD: Imran ALIEV (AIN) df. Levente LEVAI (HUN), 9-0

BRONZE: Anri PUTKARADZE (GEO) df. Seyedmohammadmahdi MIRI (IRI), 5-1
BRONZE: Muhammed GOCMEN (TUR) df. Aaron BELLSCHEIDT (GER), 5-4

82kg
GOLD: Alperen BERBER (TUR) df. Yasin YAZDI (IRI), 9-1

BRONZE: Data CHKHAIDZE (GEO) df. Ivan CHMYR (UKR), 2-1
BRONZE: Imam ALIEV (AIN) df. Ruben GEVORGYAN (ARM), via fall (4-0)

97kg
GOLD: Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN) df. Gor AYVAZYAN (GEO), 8-0

BRONZE: Magomed MUKHTAROV (AIN) df. Kevin USPENSKI (EST), 8-0
BRONZE: Rostislav COVALI (MDA) df. Arshak GEGHAMYAN (ARM), via fall (5-5)

#WrestleTokyo Olympic Games Preview: 68kg

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U20 Worlds: Alameldin gives Egypt gold; Iran wins team title