#WrestleTokyo

Wrestling Launches Comprehensive Media Guide, Website Dedicated to Tokyo 2020

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (July 27) -- United World Wrestling, the international federation for the sport of wrestling, this week launched its media guide and website for Tokyo 2020, complete with biographies, photos, and videos of each competitor in an easy-to-navigate format.

TOKYO 2020 Page: https://uww.org/event/tokyo-2020

The site includes biographies for all 289 Olympians entered into the wrestling competition along with their headshots, action photos, and behind-the-scenes moments. Journalists and fans seeking to know more about the athletes will have everything they need in one easy-to-find location, including the top seeds, brackets, and emerging storylines. All photos can be used by the athletes, national federations, and media (with proper credit).


PHOTOS: https://uww.org/event/tokyo-2020?tab=photos

UWW.org's Tokyo 2020 page will also be home to all wrestling coverage at the Olympic Games. United World Wrestling's media team will also be providing news updates, blogs, interviews, bracket updates, event photos, headshots, and much more each day from the competition. There are even links to the social media pages for all wrestlers entered in the Games.

Perhaps most useful for fans and journalists are the 18 in-depth weight category previews which outline the favorites, dark horses, and back stories between the sport's top competitors. The site will also be navigable by the daily schedule, allowing the two-day competition to be easily divided and absorbed based on the progress of the event. 

For any questions on how to use the media guide, or insights on the upcoming competition please feel free to reach out to UWW's Head of Media Tim Foley at foley@unitedworldwrestling.org

#WrestleTokyo

Lopez, Kayaalp Set for #WrestleTokyo Semifinal Collision Course

By United World Wrestling Press

TOKYO, Japan (July 31) --- A blockbuster day awaits wrestling fans on the opening day at the Tokyo Olympics as three-time defending champion Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) is set for a collision with Rio Olympics silver medalist Riza KAYAALP (TUR).

The two were drawn on the upper side of the bracket at 130kg weight class and are on path to meet in the semifinal at the Makuhari Messe, Chiba on Sunday.

The first set of draws was completed in Tokyo for two weight classes, 60kg and 130kg, in Greco Roman and one in women's wrestling – 76kg.

Lopez will take on Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU) in the first round while Kayaalp will be up against Mantas KNYSTAUTAS (LTU).

Fourth seed Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) will have to overcome Lopez in the quarterfinal if he wants to reach the semifinal.

At 60kg, home favorite and world champion Kenchiro FUMITA (JPN) has drawn Abdelkarim FERGAT (ALG) and fourth seed Ali Reza NEJATI (IRI) is up against Armen MELIKYAN (ARM) in the first round.

The other side can see two young stars U23 world champion Kerem KAMAL (TUR) and Individual World Cup champion Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KAZ) meet in the quarterfinals. The winner can possibly wrestle second seed and former world champion Sergey EMELIN (ROC) in the semifinal.

Wrestlers at 76kg in women's wrestling also received their draws and five-time world champion Adeline GRAY (USA) will be wrestling Zaineb SGHAIER (TUN) in her first bout while defending champion Erica WIEBE (CAN) will wrestle European champion Epp MAEE (EST) in her first round.

Former world champion Yasemin ADAR (TUR) can wrestle Gray in the second round. The semifinal can see former Olympic champion Natalia VOROBEVA (ROC) wrestle one of them. But she has to go through Samar HAMZA (EGY), Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) and Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ).

In another top first-round bout, Aline ROTTER FOCKEN (GER) will take on Rio Olympic fifth-placer and former world silver medalist Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR).

World silver medalist and local hope Hiroe MINAGAWA (JPN) begins her campaign against veteran wrestler Burmaa OCHIRBAT (MGL). Ochirbat is wrestling in her third Olympics and was one of the wrestlers from Athens Olympics as well.