RIO DE JANEIRO (August 14) – Roman VLASOV (RUS) won the battle of London 2012 gold medalists and Shinobu OTA (JPN) knocked off the gold and silver medalists from four years ago as Greco-Roman events kicked off wrestling at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on Sunday.

Defending champion Vlasov edged KIM Hyeon-Woo (KOR), the London 2012 gold medalist at 66kg, 7-6, in his opening bout and marched into the 75kg final at Carioca Arena 2, where he will meet world silver medalist Mark MADSEN (DEN).

Vlasov scored a four-point lift in the first period of his bout with Kim for a 6-2 lead, then survived a late throw attempt from par terre by Kim for the victory.

Meanwhile, Madsen fashioned a 1-0 win over 2014 world champion Peter BACSI (HUN) in the 75kg semifinals to become Denmark’s first wrestling finalist at the Olympic Games since Los Angeles 1932. Abraham KURLAND (DEN) took the silver medal then at 66kg.

At 59kg, Shinobu OTA (JPN) rallied for five points in the second period of his opening bout with London 2012 champion Hamid SORYAN (IRI) to kick off his charge to the gold medal final with a 5-4 win over the six-time world champion.

Ota, who has been dubbed at home as the “Ninja Wrestler,” also defeated world bronze medalist Almat KEBISPAYEV (KAZ), 6-0, before pinning two-time Olympic Games silver medalist Rovshan BAYRAMOV (AZE) in the first period of the semifinals.

In the final, Ota will meet reigning world champion Ismael BORRERO MOLINA (CUB), who defeated two-time world bronze medalist Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB), 4-1, in the semifinals.

Ota becomes Japan’s first finalist in a Greco-Roman finals at the Olympic Games since Katsuhiko NAGATA (JPN) advanced to the Sydney 2000 finals at 69kg. In that bout, Nagata lost to Filiberto ASCUY AGUILERA (CUB).

Greco-Roman 59kg (19 entries)

Gold Medal Final
Ismael BORRERO MOLINA v Shinobu OTA (JPN)

Semifinals
Ismael BORRERO MOLINA (CUB) df. Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB), 4-1
Shinobu OTA (JPN) df. Rovshan BAYRAMOV (AZE) by Fall, 2:31 (4-2)

Bronze Medal Finals
Winner RpA v Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB)
Winner RpC v Rovshan BAYRAMOV (AZE)

Repechage
RpA – Arsen ERALIEV (KGZ) v WANG Lumin (CHN)
RpB – Hamid SORYAN (IRI) v Almast KEBISPAYEV (KAZ) 
RPC – Winner RpB v Stig-Andre BERGE (NOR)

Greco-Roman 75kg (20 entries)

Gold Medal Final
Roman VLASOV (RUS) v Mark MADSEN (DEN)

Semifinals
Roman VLASOV (RUS) df. Bozo STARCEVIC (CRO), 6-3
Mark MADSEN (DEN) df. Peter BASCI (HUN), 1-0

Bronze Medal Finals
Winner RpA v Bozo STARCEVIC (CRO)
Winner RpB v Peter BACSI (HUN)

Repechage
RpA – KIM Hyeon-Woo (KOR) v YANG Bin (CHN)
RpB – Saeid Mourad ABDVALI (IRI) v Viktor NEMES (SRB)