Grappling

Grappling World Championship Day 4 Recap

Monday, September 10, 2018 - 04:04 By Marc Berman

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Team Russia stole the show on day two of the senior-level grappling gi worlcd championships in Astana.

A total of six Russians competed in the men’s finals with five walking away with golds. Ruslan ABDULAEV (RUS) led his nation with a great performance in the 100+kg division, making use of great stand up work followed by a slick submission-oriented ground game to defeat his Italian opponent 8-0 in the semifinal. 

In the finals Abdulaev worked his way on top, passed the guard and finished the match with a beautiful arm lock from mount.

At 77kg, Yusef KADDUR (ESP) handed the Russians their only finals match loss by out working  Ruslan RIZANOV (RUS) in a tight match with a final score of 5-2.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu superstar Joâo MIYAO (BRA) in the 62kg final over Dmytro BARANOV (UKR) securing his second gold medal of the weekend. Miyao’s strategy was to pull guard and attacking the back position, though he did display a nice standing game - hitting a throw in his semifinal match before getting the submission victory.

Poland’s Sanda PNIAK (POL) brought home gold in the Women’s 64kg division. Pniak was able to find the submission victory in her first two matches of the day before winning big on points (9-1) in the finals match.

Defending her home turf in the 53kg division was Abilkadyrova Aigerim (KAZ), reaching the finals match against Anna Augustyn-Mitkowska (POL) after two submission victories. Mitkowska was at peak performance all day but, was unable to play spoiler falling 7-0 to Aigerim in the final.

62kg

Quarter-Final-  D. Baranov (UKR) defeats A. JOHNSON (USA) by submission

Quarter-Final- U. Naoki (JPN) defeat A. VERDEMARE (ITA) by submission

Quarter-Final- N. Vince ORTIZ (PHI) defeats C. BARRIOS by submission

Quarter-Final- J. Bordignon MIYAO (BRA) defeats M. TEMEEV (RUS) by points (5-2)

Semi-Final - D. Baranov (UKR) defeats U. Naoki (JPN) by points ( 6-4)

Semi-Final- J. Bordignon MIYAO (BRA) defeats  N. Vince ORTIZ (PHI) by submission

Final- J. Bordignon MIYAO (BRA) defeats D. Baranov (UKR) by points (7-6)

66kg

Quarter-Final- J. Uulu TOKTORBAY (KGZ) defeats M. GAVINO (ITA) by submission

Quarter-Final-  A. KHMELIUK (UKR) defeats O. Dorin JIMBOREAN (ROU) by points (5-4)

Quarter-Final-  B. HOUNZA (FRA) defeats T. ALROY (ISR) by points (4-1)

Semi-Final - J. Uulu TOKTORBAY (KGZ) defeats  O. Aibar (KAZ) by points (6-3)

Semi-Final- B. HOUNZA (FRA) defeats  A. KHMELIUK (UKR) by submission

Final- B. HOUNZA (FRA) defeats J. Uulu TOKTORBAY (KGZ) by points (5-4)

71kg

Quarter-Final- D. SEMENIUK (UKR) defeats F. ALCADLDE (ESP) by submission

Quarter-Final- K. DANIYAR (KAZ) defeats U. BAKBENGEN (KGZ) by points (14-9)

Quarter-Final-  C. Lullan IOGRA (ROU) defeats J. WITOWSKI (POL) by points (5-3)

Quarter-Final-  G. ALIBEKOV (RUS) defeats M. BAGGIERI (ITA) by points (4-0)

Semi-Final -  K. DANIYAR (KAZ) defeats  D. SEMENIUK (UKR) by points (10-2)

Semi-Final-  G. ALIBEKOV (RUS) defeats by points C. Lullan IOGRA (ROU) by points (9-1)

Final- G. ALIBEKOV (RUS) defeats K. DANIYAR (KAZ) by points (7-0)

77kg

Quarter-Final- R. NARUSVICIUS (LTU) defeats H. MIRJALAL (AZE) by submission

Quarter-Final-  Y. KADDUR (ESP) defeats D.NETKACHEV (UKR) by submission

Quarter-Final-  O. EMANOELY (ISR) defeats M. KALUSZEWSKI (POL) by points (8-2)

Quarter-Final-  R. RIZANOV (RUS) defeats M. BAILLOT (FRA) by submission

Semi-Final -  Y. KADDUR (ESP) defeats  R. NARUSVICIUS (LTU) by points (7-2)

Semi-Final- R. RIZANOV (RUS) defeats  O. EMANOELY (ISR) by points (10-0)

Final- Y. KADDUR (ESP) defeats R. RIZANOV (RUS) by points (5-2)

84kg

Quarter-Final-  I. POGACSAS (HUN) defeats A. ALI (PAK) by submission

Quarter-Final-  P. NIDZI (POL) defeats H. HORODETSKI (UKR) by points (5-4)

Quarter-Final- A. ANNABI (FRA) defeats P.HAJIMURAD (AZE) by submission

Quarter-Final- M. UMAROV (RUS) defeats M. TAIGAT (KAZ) by points (17-0)

Semi-Final - P. NIDZI (POL) defeats  I. POGACSAS (HUN) by submission

Semi-Final- M. UMAROV (RUS) defeats A. ANNABI (FRA) by points (3-1)

Final- M. UMAROV (RUS) defeats P. NIDZI (POL) by points (7-3) in the 84kg final

92kg

Quarter-Final- P. BAGINSKI (POL) defeats A. IBRAGIMOV (ISR) by submission

Quarter-Final- C. SOTO (USA) defeats Y. ISICHKO (UKR) by submission

Quarter-Final- O. BEKSULTAN (KGZ) defeats C. MIRSEA (ROU) by points (7-3)

Quarter-Final-  A. SHAPIEV (RUS) defeats A.ABU-BAKIR (KAZ) by points (3-2)

Semi-Final - A. SHAPIEV (RUS) defeats O. BEKSULTAN (KGZ) by submission

Semi-Final- C. SOTO (USA) defeats P. BAGINSKI (POL) by submission

Final- A. SHAPIEV (RUS) defeats C. SOTO (USA) by points (10-0) in the 92kg final

100kg

Quarter-Final- J. Becancor MORENO (ESP) defeats D. NSOMBOLI (FRA) by submission

Quarter-Final- A. BAKDAULET (KAZ) defeats B.TOMASETTI (ITA) by submission

Quarter-Final- I. UMAROV (RUS) defeats A. HALETA (UKR) by submission

Semi-Final - S. EVAENII (KGZ) defeats J. Becancor MORENO (ESP) by points (6-2)

Semi-Final- I. UMAROV (RUS) defeats A. BAKDAULET (KAZ) by points (5-3)

Final- I. UMAROV (RUS) defeats S. EVAENII (KGZ) by points (7-2)

100+kg

Quarter-Final- defeats U. NUROV (UZB) by criteria (3-3)

Quarter-Final- V. MANCUSO (USA) defeats. Ahmed Khan QASURI (PAK) by forfeit

Quarter-Final- R. ABDULAEV (RUS) defeats V. MATEIKO (UKR) by forfeit

Quarter-Final-  A. FREZZA (ITA) defeats A. SAULET (KAZ) by pointa (6-2)

Semi-Final - V. MANCUSO (USA) defeats N. ISMAILOV (KGZ) by submission

Semi-Final- R. ABDULAEV (RUS) defeats A. FREZZA (ITA) by points (8-0)

Final- R. ABDULAEV (RUS) defeats V. MANCUSO (USA) by points submission (armlock) in the 100+kg final

Women’s Grappling

53kg

Quarter-Final- A. ALGERIM (KAZ) defeats P. KRUPSKAIA (RUS) by submission

Quarter-Final- S. SKRPNYK (UKR) defeays M. MORGAN (USA) by criteria (2-2)

Quarter-Final- A. AUGUSTYN-MITKOWSKI (POL) defeats L. BOES (FRA) by points (9-3)

Quarter-Final- N. ANAIANSI (ESP) defeats S.GABRIELLI (ITA) by points (4-1)

Semi-Final - A. ALGERIM (KAZ) defeats S. SKRPNYK (UKR) by submission

Semi-Final- N. ANAIANSI (ESP) defeats A. AUGUSTYN-MITKOWSKI (POL) by points (5-2)

Final- A. ALGERIM (KAZ) defeats A. AUGUSTYN-MITKOWSKI (POL) by points (7-0)

58kg

Quarter-Final- K. FAIRZA (KAZ) defeats M. Aisa RATCLIFF (PHI) by points (9-1)

Quarter-Final-  M. MONTERO (ESP) defeats T. SONIA (FRA) by points (6-0)

Quarter-Final- Z. SZAWERNOWSKA (POL) defeats K. SHAKALOVA (UKR) by points (12-2)

Quarter-Final-  B. STIKKELMAN (USA) defeats B. CARIANI (ITA) by submission

Semi-Final - Z. SZAWERNOWSKA (POL) defeats B. CARIANI (ITA) by points (2-2 OT)

Semi-Final- K. FAIRZA (KAZ) defeats M. MONTERO (ESP) by submission

Final- Z. SZAWERNOWSKA (POL) defeats K. FAIRZA (KAZ) by points (13-4)

64kg

Quarter-Final- T. HRYNKO (UKR) defeats N.ASSEI (KAZ) by points (5-1)

Quarter-Final-  S. PNIAK (POL) defeats U. BARCHYNAI (KGZ) by submission

Quarter-Final-  I. GROMOVA (RUS) defeats I. PAVESE (ITA) by points

Semi-Final - T. ANNE (FRA) defeats T. HRYNKO (UKR) by points (5-4)

Semi-Final- S. PNIAK (POL) defeats  I. GROMOVA (RUS) by submission

Final- S. PNIAK (POL) defeats T. ANNE (FRA) by points (9-1)

71kg

RR RND 1- I. MUNGAI (ITA) defeats O.SUSKO (UKR) by points (9-4)

RR RND 1- R. ANUFRIEVA (RUS) defeats B. GUINUR (KAZ) by submission

RR RND 2- I. MUNGAI (ITA) defeats B. GUINUR (KAZ) by points (16-0)

RR RND 2-  R. ANUFRIEVA (RUS) defeats O.SUSKO (UKR) by submission

RR RND 3-  R. ANUFRIEVA (RUS) defeats I. MUNGAI (ITA) by submission

RR RND 3- O.SUSKO (UKR) defeats  B. GUINUR (KAZ) by points (12-1)

71+kg

RR RND 1- H. KOVALSKA (UKR) defeats M. ZASZCZUDLOWICZ (POL) by points (11-1)

RR RND 1-I. SHOROKHOVA (RUS) defeats S. ZARINA (KAZ) by points (6-3)

RR RND 2- M. ZASZCZUDLOWICZ (POL) defeats C. BARRE (FRA) by points (9-2)

RR RND 2- H. KOVALSKA (UKR) defeats S. ZARINA (KAZ) by submission

RR RND 3- C. BARRE (FRA) defeats S. ZARINA (KAZ) by submission

RR RND 3- H. KOVALSKA (UKR) defeats I. SHOROKHOVA (RUS) by points (16-2)

RR RND 4- S. ZARINA (KAZ)  defeats M. ZASZCZUDLOWICZ (POL) 3-2 points

RR RND 4- I. SHOROKHOVA (RUS) defeats C. BARRE (FRA) by points (5-3)

 

#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.