#WrestleBaku

Greco-Roman World Cup: Azerbaijan vs Iran for title

Saturday, November 5, 2022 - 05:48 By Vinay Siwach

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BAKU, Azerbaijan (November 5) -- The Greco-Roman World Cup in Baku kicked off with Turkiye and Iran. A close battle ended with Iran winning and it followed that up with a win over Kyrgyzstan to book a place in the final. From Group A, Azerbaijan and All-World team clashed and ended with 5 wins each. It came down to the classification points in which Azerbaijan outplaced the All-World team 22 to 20. Turkiye and Kyrgyzstan wrestled for a spot in the 3/4th place match against the All-World team. Turkiye defeated Kyrgyzstan 7-3.

Azerbaijan will take on Iran for the World Cup title while Turkiye and All-World team will clash for third place. The action begins at 1700 hours local time in Baku.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

22:25: The final bout of the day and the U23 world champion Fatih BOZKURT (TUR) pins Erlan MANATBEKOV (KGZ) at 130kg to give Turkiye a 7-3 win in the dual.

22:20: Metehan BASAR (TUR) does it for Turkiye. His win over U. DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) is the sixth of the dual for Turkiye and it will wrestle the All-World team for the bronze.

22:05: Late drama in the 87kg bout between A. AZISBEKOV (KGZ) and Ali CENGIZ (TUR). Azisbekov was leading 1-1 on criteria when he tried to throw Cengiz. When the scramble ends, Azisbekov is leading 3-3. Turkiye challenge the call and it seems Cengiz committed a leg foul. The score is 4-1 and Azisbekov will win the bout with that score. Kyrgyzstan make it 5-3 with two more bouts left.

21:52: World champion Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) with two big throws to claim a technical superiority 9-0 win over Kalidin ASYKEEV (KGZ). Now Turkiye needs just one win to reach the bronze medal match against the All-World team.

21:45: Akylbek TALANTBEKOV (KGZ) mounted a comeback against Yuksel SARICICEK (TUR) in the second period but he will go down 5-5 on criteria and Turkiye now leads 4-2. Two more wins for them to confirm the spot in the bronze medal bout.

21:35: Kyrgyzstan needed this win but Selcuk CAN (TUR) denies (KGZ) Adilkhan NURLANBEKOV (KGZ) at 72kg with a 5-3 win and Turkiye now leads the battle 3-2.

21:22: Murat FIRAT (TUR) delivers for Turkiye. He beats IBRAGIMOV Khalmurat (KGZ) 6-1 at 67kg and Turkiye has tied the dual 2-2 against Kyrgyzstan. 

21:10: Ahmet UYAR (TUR) pulls one back as he beats Kaly SULAIMANOV (KGZ) 5-1 at 63kg. Turkiye now has a win against two for Kyrgyzstan. 

21:00: A 2-0 lead for Kyrgyzstan now. Nurmukhammet ABDULLAEV (KGZ) beats Mukremin AKTAS (TUR) 6-1 and continues the good start for Kyrgyzstan. The two nations are fighting for a place in the bronze medal bout against the All-World team.

20:50: What a show by Taalaibek BEISHENBEK UULU (KGZ) as he rolls Ekrem OZTURK (TUR) for a four before getting a gut to make it 6-0. A takedown gives him the 8-0 win.

20:40: Now for the final match of the session. Turkiye takes on Kyrgyzstan for a place in the bronze medal match against the All-World team. We start with 55kg with Taalaibek BEISHENBEK UULU (KGZ) taking on Ekrem OZTURK (TUR).

It could have gone in the favor of the All-World team had Joni KHETSURIANI (UWW) scored a point against Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE). A case of ifs and buts but ultimately it is Azerbaijan that qualifies for the final.

20:30: Mantas KNYSTAUTAS (UWW) gets the win 5-1 over Sabah SHARIATI (AZE) but he fails to pin him. This means Azerbaijan will qualify for the final based on classification points. Both teams had five wins but Azerbaijan has 22 classification points to 20 for the All-World team.

20:15: Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (UWW) adds more drama to the dual. He beats Arif NIFTULLAYEV (AZE) 5-2 and now the All-World team has a chance to win this. At 130kg, Mantas KNYSTAUTAS (UWW) needs to pin Sabah SHARIATI (AZE).

20:07: Can the All-World team make a comeback? Alex KESSIDIS (UWW) beats Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE) 3-2 to make it 5-3. The All-World team needs to win the remaining two bouts by technical superiorities or via fall. 

20:00: In a rematch of the World Championships, Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UWW) wrestles Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) at 82kg. Berdimuratov gives up the first par terre but gets out of it quickly. Berdimuratov gets the criteria lead in the second period. Huseynov manages to get a lift and throw but it is not scored. Azerbaijan challenges and the review confirms a three-point contact and two points for Huseynov. Berdimuratov gets a takedown but Huseynov challenges again a leg four by Berdimuratov. Huseynov wins 3-1. Azerbaijan now lead 5-2. 

19:42: Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) with an all-important win at 77kg over Zoltan LEVAI (HUN). Both traded passivities but Suleymanov got the turn. Levai tried a desperate throw at the end but Suleymanov turned that into his own attacks and scored five via suplex. 

19:30: World Championships bronze medalist Andrii KULYK (UWW) and silver medalist Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) at 72kg now. Ganizade gets the first advantage but as he tries to lift and throw Kulyk, he is pinned to the mat by Kulyk who leads 2-1. In the second period, Kulyk gets the advantage but fails to turn. But a tiring Ganizade makes a dash for a takedown but fails to control and gives up a takedown and turn. Kulyk wins 7-1 to pull one back for the All-World team.

19:23: Azerbaijan has taken a big stride toward the final with Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) beating Joni KHETSURIANI (UWW) 5-0 at 67kg. The win makes it 3-1 for Azerbaijan. Khetsuriani not scoring a point also hurts the All-World team's chances.

19:10: Leri ABULADZE (UWW) and Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE) now wrestling at 63kg. Abuladze gets the first point for Mammadov's passivity. But he fails to get any turn. Mammadov gets the point in the second period. He leads 1-1 on criteria. A third passivity of the bout and goes against Mammadov. Abuladze still can't take advantage. He has just over a minute to break the criteria of 1-1. Mammadov holds on for a 1-1 win.

19:00: A fall for Aidos SULTANGALI (UWW) over Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) at 60kg! A crucial win for the All-World team as the fall gives them five classification points. In case the match-up neds 5-5, it can prove to be the decider.

18:50: Just not happening for Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (UWW). He once again goes down against Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE). A passivity for Azizli and he then gets a two-point turn before a throw for four points. A gut wrench to finish the bout 9-0.

18:45: Time for Azerbaijan vs All-World. First up at 55kg is Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) against Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (UWW).

18:42: A huge win for Aliakbar YOUSOFI (IRI). He pins Erlan MANATBEKOV (KGZ) at 130kg to complete an 8-2 rout of Kyrgyzstan.

18:35: That was a thriller. Mehdi BALIHAMZEHDEH (IRI) trailed Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) 3-1 up until the final minute but Balihamzehdeh manages to score a takedown for a 3-3 win.

18:22: At 87kg, Abolfazl CHOUBANI (IRI) and A. AZISBEKOV (KGZ) are involved in a battle. Azisbekov gets the 1-0 lead for par terre and then exposure to make it 3-0. Kyrgyzstan challenged for a leg foul but it's clean. Choubani scores a point for passivity but Azisbekov gets a four and then a takedown to win 9-2.

18:10: The first loss for Iran in this match-up. Kalidin ASYKEEV (KGZ) gets a reverse lift for two from par terre against Mohammadhossein MAHMOODI (IRI) at 82kg. Iran challenges the decision but the referral shows it is actually four points. Asykeev wins 6-1.

18:00: Mohammad Reza MOKHTARI (IRI) with a 7-1 win over Akylbek TALANTBEKOV (KGZ) at 77kg. A four-pointer in that win as Mokhtari produced a complete rotation in that throw.

17:50: Amir ABDI (IRI) confirms the spot in the final for Iran. He beats Adilkhan NURLANBEKOV (KGZ) at 72kg and with that, Iran will try to win the title Sunday.

1737: Seyed SOHRABI (IRI) is unstoppable here in Baku. He forces the first passivity of the bout against Khalmurat IBRAGIMOV (KGZ) and then gets three turns to lead 7-0. Ibragimov caught him in the turn during the fourth turn to get two on the board and was looking for a pin but Sohrabi's head was outside the zone. Kyrgyzstan challenged that call but lose. A lock for a takedown confirms a 10-2 win for Sohrabi.

1730: Iman Khoon MOHAMMADI (IRI) and Kaly SULAIMANOV (KGZ) wrestle at 63kg. Khoon Mohamadi uses the arm drag to perfection. He scores a four-point move before adding numerous stepouts. Sulaimanov tries a desperate four but fails. Khoon Mohammadi wins 12-1

1722: Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) with a clean 5-0 win over Nurmukhammet ABDULLAEV (KGZ) and Iran lead 2-0. The win eases the pressure on the upcoming wrestlers as Iran needs one more win to rule out all possibilities of Turkiye or Kyrgyzstan taking its spot. 

1710: Iran is not entering its reserve team. Poya DAD MARZ (IRI) will be coming out for the 55kg bout against Taalaibek BEISHENBEK UULU (KGZ). Dad Marz is called for passivity in the first period but he defends well from par terre. Dad Marz scores a stepout to make it 1-1 at the break. Beishenbek Uulu cannot defend the gut-wrench attempts from Dad Marz in the second period and gives up four points. A caution and two points against Beishenbek Uulu before a stepout confirm a 9-1 win for the Iran wrestler.

1700: Welcome back to the evening session of the Greco-Roman World Cup. Iran and Kyrgyzstan are wrestling with the latter hoping to surprise Iran and hope to make the final.

End of an entertaining first session in which Iran managed to get the better of Turkiye. A 6-4 win has given Iran a huge advantage and has virtually put the team in the final. The second session begins at 1700 local time.

Iran faces Kyrgyzstan before Azerbaijan hosts the All-World team. The final match of the evening session will be Turkey vs Kyrgyzstan.

11:50: Osman YILDIRIM (TUR) and Aliakbar YOUSOFI (IRI) are now on the mat for their 130kg bout. Yildirim is up 1-0 for passivity and a turn makes it 3-0. But Yousofi scores three stepouts and a point against Yildirim gives the lead 4-3 to Yousofi. Yildirim, as calm as he is, scores a takedwon on the edge and reclaims the lead. A point for Yousofi for Yildirim's passivity but the Turkiye wrestler leads 5-5 on criteria and that will remain the score as Yousofi suffers a close loss.

11:40: It's simple for Turkiye -- Metehan BASAR (TUR) can't afford to lose. Mehdi BALIHAMZEHDEH (IRI) has built a 4-0 lead but Basar gets two points for caution. Basar has a minute to score two points and win this. But Balihamzehdeh keeps him at bay and wins it 4-2 and that wins confirms Iran's win in this match-up.

11:32: A couple of challenges made that 87kg bout between Ali CENGIZ (TUR) and  Hamidreza BADKAN (IRI) seem like never-ending. But for what it's worth, Cengiz wins the bout 11-2 and keeps Turkiye in the race. Cengiz reverses the par terre position and gets three exposure along with a foul from Badkan to lead 8-2 at the end of the sequence. He wins 11-2 in the second period.

11:10: World champion Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) wins the second for Turkiye. He was trailing 3-0 at the break as Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI) got the first point and the turn. But Akbudak scores a takedown to start the second period before Mohmadipiani is called for passivity. Akbudak gets two turns from there to lead 7-3. A late takedown from Mohmadipiani but Akbudak wins 7-5 at 82kg. 

10:55: World Championships bronze medalist Yunus BASAR (TUR) gets one back for Turkiye. He was trailing Mohammad Reza MOKHTARI (IRI) 2-0 at the break but Basar gets the passivity point in the second period. Mokhtari flees the hold. The referee does not call it but Turkiye challenges and it is awarded to Basar. The bout restarts in par terre from which Basar scores a stepout. A challenge from Iran which it loses. Basar wins 6-2 to get Turkiye on board.

10:45: Seluk CAN (TUR) has a huge responsibility on his shoulders. He is wrestling Mohammadreza ROSTAMI (IRI) at 72kg with the hope of turning it around for his team. But Rostami leads 2-0 at the break. Can gets on the board for Rostam's passivity in the second period. But he can't get the turn. Rostami hangs on for a 2-1 lead and the win. Iran has won 5 bouts now. One more win will seal it.

10:35: Now wrestling at 67kg, U20 and U23 world champion for Iran Seyed SOHRABI (IRI) against Murat FIRAT (TUR). Sohrabi is one of the most exciting talents out there. He begins with a spin for two. Sohrabi then hits a four to lead 6-0. Turkiye challenges the call but the points stand. Sohrabi leads 7-0 before a stepout point gives him the 8-0 win. Another bout in which Turkiye does not score a point. This may hurt them later.

10:30: With a 2-0 lead, Iran will look to close this. Iman Khoon MOHAMMADI (IRI) and Ahmet UYAR (TUR) wrestling at 63kg and it's Khoon Mohammadi who scores four stepouts inside the first two minutes. He gets a takedown to lead 6-0 before finishing the bout before the break with a gut wrench. Iran leads 3-0

10:15: Kerem KAMAL (TUR) and Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) at 60kg in a revenge bout. Mohsen Nejad was leading his bout against Kamal at the World Championships in Belgrade before Kamal pinned him. Here in Baku, Mohsen Nejad comes out attacking from par terre and gets the gut wrench before exposure got him two more. Kamal challenges the second call. Challenge lost. In the second period, Kamal manages to get a reverse lift for two to make it 6-3. But he also gives up two points and it's 8-3. Three stepout points for Kamal but he fails to cover the lead and goes down 8-6.

10:10: Ekrem OZTURK (TUR) and Poya DAD MARZ (IRI) is the first bout of the World Cup at 55kg. Ozturk gets the advantage with a passivity point. He fails to get a turn in the par terre. In the second period, Dad Marz gets the 1-1 criteria lead for the passivity point. He also fails to get any turn from par terre. Dad Marz will win 1-1 despite the third passivity against him. A huge win for Iran.

1000: Welcome to the first session of the Greco-Roman World Cup here at the Baku Sports Hall. We have a one-mat setup for the World Cup. Iran and Turkiye go head-to-head now.

#JapanWrestling

Olympic champ Higuchi on fact-finding mission to get grasp on American folkstyle

Thursday, March 6, 2025 - 11:32 By Ken Marantz

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TOKYO (March 6) -- The conventional wisdom is that domestic folkstyle hampers American wrestlers trying to make the transition to the international stage. Paris Olympic champion Rei HIGUCHI (JPN), however, finds the opposite to be true, saying his toughest matches have come against opponents with such a background.

And the Japanese star has been on a fact-finding mission to find out why. Higuchi has been spending the winter learning American folkstyle while training at Lehigh University in the eastern U.S. in an attempt to find out what makes that version of the sport tick, and how he might be able to integrate its techniques into his own reportoire.

"When I face opponents who had done American style, I always have a hard time," Higuchi said in an interview last year prior to departing on his journey.

Higuchi, the freestyle 57kg gold medalist in Paris, cites the difficulty he had in the final with Spencer LEE (USA), the American sparkplug whom he defeated 4-2 with a late takedown off a scramble -- the aspect of the sport that Higuchi notes Americans are particularly adept at.

"It was the same with Seth GROSS [USA]," he added, referring to his opponent in a wild 15-7 semifinal victory en route to the 61kg world title in 2022. "It's a different culture, isn't it? The difference in styles, what makes them strong, that's something I haven't yet figured out. By not knowing, I feel I still have room for growth and that's exciting."

Rei HIGUCHI (JPN)Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) wrestling at the Lehigh University. (Photo: Courtesy of Lehigh University)

The biggest difference between American folkstyle and the freestyle used around the globe is the emphasis on control in the former. Takedowns are generally the same, but what comes after that is how the two styles greatly differ.

In a loose equivalent of par terre, there is no returning the wrestlers to their feet after an allotted time for gaining exposure points, and the bottom wrestler is obligated to be on the move and try to escape or reverse. And there are no points for just exposing the back; the opponent must be held down on the mat for a certain count for points to be given.

"In college style, on the ground, they don't use the body lock, so their forearms are incredibly strong," Higuchi noted. "Maybe it was just Spencer Lee, but I feel like I have to train harder to get that strength in my forearms.

"Instead of a body lock, I think I can raise my level by learning how to maintain control [on top], how to get takedowns and how to use my body. I want to practice a lot."

Regarding his first impression of the differences, Higuchi said in a message earlier this winter, "I feel that in folkstyle, there are a lot of scramble situations. In freestyle, you wrestle trying to keep your legs from getting touched. But these guys don't seem to care if someone gets in on a tackle.

"From the time the leg is touched, they are thinking about how to get control of the opponent. In that way, the American wrestlers are far superior in scrambles then those from other countries."

Lehigh UniversityLehigh University wrestling training room.

Lehigh comes calling

While it was Higuchi who would go off in search of enlightenment, it was actually Lehigh that came to him and proferred an invitation to practice with the team in the middle of the U.S. collegiate wrestling season.

The 29-year-old Higuchi, who defeated Lehigh alumnus Darian CRUZ (PUR) in the quarterfinals in Paris, said he was approached in September after the Olympics. He needed little persuasion.

"For them to think so highly of me, I was really happy," said Higuchi, who was allowed to bring his wife and baby daughter. "I want to help them produce NCAA champions."

The final arrangements were made by Sanshiro ABE (JPN), a former NCAA champ at Penn State currently living in Pennsylvania where Lehigh is located, via Shingo MATSUMOTO (JPN), the head coach at Nippon Sports Science University, Higuchi's alma mater where he continues to train.

From the start, Lehigh coach Pat SANTORO (USA), along with Kerry MCCOY (USA), the head coach of the Lehigh Valley Wrestling Club, were on board with Higuchi's coming.

"When Kerry McCoy and I were approached we were obviously very excited," Santoro said in an interview by email. "Kerry spent some time in Japan last year with Darian Cruz and learned so much. I have been a huge fan of Rei's for many years, so it was an easy decision."

Lehigh's timing was just right, because soon after other teams came calling for Higuchi. But he said he had already made a commitment and would stick to it.

"Actually, from [Tadaaki] HATTA I heard that Oklahoma [State] definitely wanted me to come," Higuchi said. "But I had already decided to accept Lehigh's offer, so I thought maybe I could go after that had finished. Oklahoma [State], Penn State, Iowa. Well, Iowa, I'm not sure, with the connection with Spencer Lee," he said with a grin.

Lehigh, which has a traditionally strong wrestling program, is an academically select private university with an enrollment of 5,800 located in the town of Bethlehem, about 90 kilometers north of Philadelphia and 130 kilometers west of New York City.

Higuchi is one of a number of top Japanese who have taken "sabbaticals" at U.S. universities this winter, after the country's wrestlers suddenly became hot commodities when they came away from Paris with a stunning haul of eight gold medals, a silver and two bronzes.

Reigning world 61kg champion Masanosuke ONO has been training at No. 1-ranked Penn State, while Paris 74kg silver medalist Daichi TAKATANI and Tokyo Olympic 65kg champion Takuto OTOGURO mixed it up at Ohio State.

But unlike Higuchi, the others went for exposure to American training methods, not to learn folkstyle. "I think it can be applied to freestyle," Higuchi said. "When we tied up, Seth was really strong in that position. His ability to be in control is higher than in freestyle now. I want to be able to do that part of it."

Higuchi said he knew going into the venture that, while his aim was to learn the American style, his hosts were not going to let the opportunity to pick the brain of an Olympic champion go to waste. As such, it natually evolved into a mutually beneficial arrangement for both sides, one in which Higuchi has already participated in a clinic for local wrestlers.

"I want to share the techniques I have with the Lehigh students, and conversely, I want to learn and absorb much from the Lehigh students that I can take back with me," Higuchi said. "I want it to be a fruitful three months."

Said coach Santoro: "Our staff and team ask a lot of questions about his training, learning new techniques and his mindset.

"I believe that freestyle and folkstyle are very similar and making a few minor adjustments will allow you to adapt to each style. At the end of the day, wrestling is wrestling and fundamentals are what wins at the highest level."

Higuchi said one thing he has he noticed is that American training sessions feature more live wrestling, while Japan's lean toward a more drill-oriented approach. "It's not a matter of which way is better, but the difference in culture seems to come out in the wrestling styles."

Rei HIGUCHI (JPN)Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) with wife Yuki and daughter Nagi at the airport before flying to the United States. (Photo: Rei Higuchi / X)

Longest stay abroad

Aside from international tournaments and overseas training camps, it marks the longest time Higuchi has spent overseas. "The longest up to now has been about three weeks," he said.

"I've been on extended practice tours to Russia, Mongolia and other places. But the max has been three weeks."

Ever since he attended the 2017 NCAA Championships in the midwestern city of St. Louis in 2017 ("They had massive crowds. Everyone eats popcorn as they watch," he recalls), Higuchi has been enamored with the fervor that Americans show for the sport.

He plans to stay through this year's NCAA Championships, to be held in nearby Philadelphia on March 20-22, and might consider a future stay in the States if the opportunity arises.

Rei HIGUCHI (JPN)Posing with Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) and others at the 2017 NCAA Championships in St. Louis. (Photo courtesy of Rei Higuchi)

"I've always wanted to go [to America]," Higuchi said. "But it was dependent on my putting up good results...In the future, I may be a coach in Japan, or perhaps a coach of a wrestler in America. I don't know how many years I will continue as an athlete.

"But I want to find a future work place that values the skills I have acquired, the passion I have for wrestling and my way of thinking."

In Japan, Higuchi has earned a reputation for being professional, polite and, for a Japanese athlete, outgoing in his own way. Coach Santoro said that that description fits the wrestler who has shown up in the wrestling room.

"Rei is extremely polite and friendly, what I noticed right away is how much he really enjoys wrestling," Santoro said. "He works extremely hard, but he often is smiling or laughing after a great scramble.

"His technique is some of the best I've seen in the world, he is fundamentally sound in so many positions. He is also very good at explaining his thought process of positional wrestling and technique."

Rei HIGUCHI (JPN)Playing the role of the typical tourist at the Statue of Liberty in New York in February. (Photo courtesy of Rei Higuchi)

Higuchi preceded his Lehigh adventure with a short stay at Cornell University, the alma mater of four-time world champion and two-time Olympic bronze medalist Kyle DAKE (USA) in upstate New York.

He arrived at Lehigh in December, but returned to Japan in early January to attend the wedding ceremony of fellow Olympic gold medalist and Nippon Sports Science alumnus Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN). When he returned to Lehigh, he was accompanied by his wife Yuki and daughter Nagi, who turned 1 in February.

The family, which took a sightseeing trip to New York City last month, has been staying at the home of Lehigh junior Ryan CROOKHAM (USA), who finished third at last year's NCAAs at 133lbs (60.3kg). Crookham is a local star from Hellertown, a neighboring town of Bethlehem.

"Our team loves having Rei around, they understand how elite he is and all of his accomplishments," Santoro said. "Seeing how well he prepares and how his mind works is very valuable for our guys. Some of the wrestlers on our team aspire to be World and Olympic champions, too."

Overcoming setbacks

Higuchi's determination enabled him to bounce back stronger from several devastating setbacks and ascend to the apex of the sport, the Olympic gold.

A native of Osaka in central Japan, Higuchi was pushed into the sport at age 3 by his mother, who was concerned he would be bullied because of his small size. His own stubbornness soured him on team sports, but was a good fit for an individual sport like wrestling.

"I was the type who would say, 'We lost because that guy stinks,'" Higuchi said in a 2019 interview with The Japan News. "In that way, wrestling is great. Everything depends on you. If you lose, it's you own fault. I think that is way it suits me."

His first setback came as an elementary school first-grader in 2002, when he lost in the final of that age group at the national championships. It's a loss that left a lifetime impression on him and solidified a distaste for losing that continued throughout his career. He went on to win his age group for the next five years.

He won his first senior national title in 2015 and qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics, where he was dealt his second big disappointment. In the 57kg final, he suffered a heart-breaking and frustrating 3-3 criteria loss to Vladimir KHINCHEGASHVILI (GEO) in a match he had led 3-0.

Higuchi's bid to make amends for that loss led to perhaps the most devastating calamity of his career. After an unsuccessful bid to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics at 65kg, he moved back down to 57kg, only to infamously fail to make weight at the Asian Qualifying Tournament. He then lost a playoff for the Japan team spot to Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN).

Getting married -- his wife was a former national high school champion, and they had a long-distance relationship starting as high schoolers -- helped add structure to his life, and enabled him to better manage his nutrition and weight control. From there, there was no stopping him as he stormed to the gold in Paris.

The path ahead

So, what lies ahead for Higuchi? Like the vast majority of Japan's Paris medalists, he has not seen action since the Olympics, spending the time recovering and taking advantage of invitations to take part in TV variety shows and other frivolities.

Higuchi had toyed with the idea of entering the Meiji Cup All-Japan Invitational Championships in June, which will serve as the second of two qualifiers for this year's World Championships, but has indicated he will give that a pass.

His more immediate aim is to make the team to the 2026 Asian Games, a tournament that he has yet to compete in and which Japan will host in the fall of that year. He would likely have to begin the qualifying process for that at the Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships in December.

"The next objective is to win a tournament that I haven't won before, which is the Asian Games," Higuchi said. "That's what I'm shooting for."

Beyond that, including defending his Olympic title, remains undecided. "As an athlete, I think I'll want to keep going up to Los Angeles," he said. "I still don't know about that."