#WrestleSkopje

Gadzhiev Stops Russia from Putting 5 Out of 5 in Finals at #WrestleSkopje

Monday, May 17, 2021 - 15:41 By Vinay Siwach

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Russia had entered five wrestlers in the semifinals of the five weight classes that were in action on Monday in Skopje. But the hopes of sending all five of them in Tuesday's finals were dashed as Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) defeated Inalbek SHERIEV (RUS) in the semifinal at the 70kg weight class.

Such was their dominance on the first day of the U23 European Championships in Skopje, North Macedonia the four others which reached the final defeated their opponents either via technical superiority or via fall at the Jane Sandanski Arena.

A former cadet world champion in 2019, Gadzhiev pulled all tricks out of the bag as he hung on for 7-6 win despite being cautioned twice in the bout.

In contrast to Sheriev's showing, Russia's quartet of Akhmed IDRISOV, Abdulmazhid KUDIEV, Khalid IAKHIEV and Aslanbek SOTIEV reached the final at 57kg, 65kg, 79kg and 97kg respectively in dominant fashion.

The finals line-up for Tuesday was completed by Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE) at 57kg, Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR) at 65kg, Nicolai GRAHMEZ (MDA) at 70kg, Ramazan SARI (TUR) at 79kg and Radu LEFTER (MDA) at 97kg.

In a bout that saw two cadet world medalists collide, Sheriev opened the scoring with a step out and Gadzhiev leveled it 1-1 after getting a step out of his own. But the big move came when Gadzhiev completed a takedown and continued the action for two turns to lead 7-2.

Then the waiting game began. Sheriev pulled off a slip from Gadzhiev's locks and scored a takedown to make it 7-4 before a warning to the Azerbaijan wrestler gave another point to him.

As Gadzhiev waited for the clock to expire, he was again warned for a singlet pull which reduced his lead to merely a point but he did well to hang on to it for 7-6 win.

Giorgi ELBAKIDZE (GEO) was Gadzhiev's first victim as he lost the 1/8 final 4-2 before the latter humbled Tobias PORTMANN (SUI) 9-2 in the quarterfinal.

Russia's field day

But the top performances came in the 57kg weight category as Idrisov ran through the 57kg field. He did not show any mercy to former junior world silver medalist Ramaz TURMANIDZE (GEO) in a 13-2 victory. The semifinal against senior European Championships bronze medalist Kamil KERYMOV (UKR) was as similar story as he won 10-0 to set up a final against Rzazade, who was equally dominant.

After getting a victory by default in the qualification round, he scored a 12-2 win over Hafiz Can HASDEMIR (TUR) and scored three four-point throws against Simone PIRODDU (ITA) in semifinal to win 14-1 in the first period.

The 65kg final will see former junior world champ at 70kg Arushanian take on Kudiev. While Kudiev was sitting in the quarterfinal and had an easier passage to the final, Arushanian was tested by junior European champion Hrachya MARGARYAN (ARM).

Kudiev u23 euros

With less than 10 seconds left in the quarterfinal, Arushanian was trailing 4-4 on criteria but got a leg lace and a 6-4 win. Marwane YEZZA (FRA), who seemed to have hurt himself in the semifinal, surrendered against the Ukrainian.

At 79kg, Iakhiev had a to and fro bout against Valentyn BABII (UKR) but managed to get a cradle to pin the Ukrainian. The bout began with Iakhiev exposing Babii on his back to lead 2-0. But Babii got a front headlock for four before Iakhiev's reversal and roll. Babii still led 5-5. He had the Russian on his back but failed to get the pin, going into the break with 7-5 lead.

Iakhiev seemed much aggressive in the second period and began with a takedown before an exposure gave him a 9-7 lead. He managed to get a cradle over Babii and froze him in that position to get the fall with two minutes and six seconds remaining.

He will take on Ramazan SARI (TUR) in the final as he defeated Goga MAMIAURI (GEO) 3-0. No points were scored by action as Sari got a step out before Mamiauri was warned twice.

Joining his Russian teammates in the final is Sotiev. The 97kg wrestler showed extreme composure to win 14-4 against Luka KHUTCHUA (GEO) despite trailing 0-4 at the break. With Khutchua struggling with his cardio in the second period, Sotiev scored a takedown and an exposure in first action.

Seconds later, he managed a perfect leg-lace to finish the bout and set up a final against Lefter who defeated Aliaksei PARKHOMENKA (BLR) 14-7.

Grahmez was the other Moldovian to reach the final as he defeated Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM) 4-3 in the 70kg semifinal. All but one points were scored as a result of step outs.

Freestyle action will continue on Tuesday with 61kg, 74kg, 86kg, 92kg and 125kg wrestler in action in Skopje.

Results: Freestyle

57kg
GOLD: Akhmed IDRISOV (RUS) vs Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE)

SF 1: Akhmed IDRISOV (RUS) df Kamil KERYMOV (UKR), 10-0
SF 2: Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE) df Simone PIRODDU (ITA), 14-1

65kg
GOLD: Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (RUS) vs Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR)

SF 1: Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (RUS) df Uladzislau KOIKA (BLR), 13-0
SF 2: Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR) df Marwane YEZZA (FRA), via fall

70kg
GOLD: Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) vs Nicolai GRAHMEZ (MDA)

SF 1: Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) df Inalbek SHERIEV (RUS), 7-6
SF 2: Nicolai GRAHMEZ (MDA) df Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM), 4-3

79kg
GOLD: Ramazan SARI (TUR) vs Khalid IAKHIEV (RUS)

SF 1: Ramazan SARI (TUR) df Goga MAMIAURI (GEO), 3-0
SF 2: Khalid IAKHIEV (RUS) df Valentyn BABII (UKR), via fall (11-7)

97kg
GOLD: Radu LEFTER (MDA) vs Aslanbek SOTIEV (RUS)

SF 1: Radu LEFTER (MDA) df Aliaksei PARKHOMENKA (BLR), 14-7
SF 2: Aslanbek SOTIEV (RUS) df Luka KHUTCHUA (GEO), 14-4

#JapanWrestling

Two-time Olympic champ Risako Kinjo brings curtain down on stellar career

Sunday, October 12, 2025 - 23:14 By Ken Marantz

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TOKYO, Japan (October 12) -- Risako KINJO (JPN), who won two Olympic gold medals under her maiden name of Kawai before capturing a fourth world title last year after giving birth, officially announced her retirement over the weekend.

"I felt that I had experienced everything that was good about being a wrestler," the 31-year-old Kinjo told the Japanese media Sunday on bringing down the curtain on one of wrestling's most sterling careers. "I felt fulfilled and happy with a life in which wrestling was my passion."

Kinjo also revealed that she is pregnant with her second child as she spoke to the media at the Japan Women's Open in Akitsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, where she was coaching younger sister Yukako TSUNEMURA (JPN), who was returning to the mat for the first time since becoming a mother herself.

Kinjo first announced her retirement on her Instagram account on Saturday night, stating that in the 24 years since she started wrestling at age 7, "I have had good experiences and bad, highs and lows. But to win four world championships and two consecutive Olympics was all due to the support and encouragement of many people. I thank them all."

Kinjo first struck Olympic gold at 63kg at Rio in 2016, then won out in a duel that captivated the wrestling world with fellow Rio and four-time Olympic champion Kaori ICHO (JPN) for the 57kg spot at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, where she took home a second gold.

Of the clash of the titans with Icho, Kawai remarked, "I had no more difficult period than that. I'm glad I was able to experience it."

In the Tokyo semifinals, Kinjo had to face yet another Rio gold medalist in Helen MAROULIS (USA), who had moved up from 53kg. Kinjo came away with a 2-1 win, then defeated Iryna KURACHKINA (UWW) 5-0 for the gold.

With Yukako also winning the 62kg gold, it elevated the Kawai sisters to celebrity status in the host country. The two got their start in the sport at the kids' club run by their mother. Both of their parents were national-level wrestlers.

Soon after Tokyo, Risako married former wrestler Kiryu KINJO, and in May 2022, gave birth to a baby girl. Instead of settling down to a domestic life, motherhood lit a fresh flame to continue the sport.

"I had originally planned to win the Tokyo Olympics and then retire gracefully," Kinjo said. "I even told people around me that I would quit after the Tokyo Olympics. But when I got married and got pregnant, I felt that my body wasn't only my own, and I wanted to continue wrestling.

"While I was pregnant, I watched Yukako's matches and thought to myself, 'If it were me, I would do it like this,' so after my child was born, I decided to try it again."

Her bid to win a third straight Olympic gold in Paris, however, was derailed by the reigning world 57kg champion Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN), who went on to triumph in the French capital.

Rebuffing speculation that the loss would mark her swan song, she showed her passion for the sport by sticking around. With the incentive of wanting to have her daughter see her compete and make some history, she had no qualms about moving into the non-Olympic weight of 59kg.

She suffered a setback of sorts at the Asian Championships in April 2024, when she lost to Qi ZHANG (CHN) in the semifinals and had to settle for a bronze medal.

But she righted the ship at the Non-Olympic Weight World Championships in October that year in Tirana, Albania, where she cruised into the 59kg final and defeated Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL) 4-2.

"No one from Japan had ever achieved becoming a 'world No. 1 as a mama', and it would be ideal if I could do it," Kinjo recalled thinking. "When I accomplished it at the World Championships last October, as soon as it was over I thought there is nothing else that I want."

That victory added to the three consecutive senior world golds that she won from 2017 to 2019. She also has a silver from 2015, and her laurels include a world cadet (U17) gold and two world junior (U20) titles, and she was a four-time Asian champion.

Kinjo was a star at Shigakkan University during its golden era as the elite powerhouse of women's wrestling in Japan, also producing such greats as Icho, Saori YOSHIDA (JPN), Eri TOSAKA (JPN), Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) and Sara DOSHO (JPN).

Looking ahead, she says her focus will be on raising her new baby while staying involved in the sport.

"Right now I am eight months pregnant, and first and foremost I will put my full efforts into proper childcare. And at the same time, I will be Yukako's coach and always maintain a link to wrestling," she said.

At the Japan Women's Open, a second-tier event that offers qualifying spots at the All-Japan Championships, Yukako showed she still has some rust to be knocked off. Entered at 59kg, she won her first two matches before falling to high schooler Miuna KIMURA (JPN) 4-1 in the semifinals.

The tournament also saw the return of Sakurai for her first competition since winning the gold in Paris. She needed three wins to take the 57kg title, defeating collegian Himeka HASEGAWA (JPN) 5-0 in the final.