#WrestleBelgrade

Individual World Cup Entries

By Eric Olanowski

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (December 9) -- Abdulrashid "The Tank" SADULAEV (RUS), the four-time world champion and Rio Olympic gold medalist, headlines the entry list for the Individual World Cup (December 12-18) that will feature 505 wrestlers from 51 different countries.

Sadulaev is one of 31 returning world medalists -- including five world champions from 2019 -- who will take the mat in Serbia next week. Freestyle and Greco-Roman each include 11 medal winners from Nur-Sultan, while women's wrestling welcomes 9 from the last world championships.

World Medalist By Style
Freestyle: 3 gold, 2 silver and 6 bronze = 11
Greco-Roman: 1 gold, 3 silver and 7 bronze = 11
Women's Wrestling: 1 gold, 3 silver and 5 bronze = 9

Freestyle ('19 world champions listed in BOLD)

57kg
Abdelhak KHERBACHE (ALG)
Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM)
Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE)
Uladzislau ANDREYEU (BLR)
Mikyay Salim NAIM (BUL)
Levan METREVELI VARTANOV (ESP)
Adam Visrailovitch BIBOULATOV (FRA)
Diamantino IUNA FAFE (GBS)
Niklas STECHELE (GER)
Gamzatgadzsi HALIDOV (HUN)
Kumar RAVI (IND)
Rahman Mousa AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI)
Givi DAVIDOVI (ITA)
Bekbolot MYRZANAZAR UULU (KGZ)
Chakir ANSARI (MAR)
Anatolii BURUIAN (MDA)
Petru CRACIUN (MDA)
Minir REDJEPI (MKD)
Richard Antonio GARCIA ANDRADE (PAN)
Razvan Marian KOVACS (ROU)
Zavur UGUEV (RUS)
Stevan Andria MICIC (SRB)
Saban KIZILTAS (TUR)
Andrii YATSENKO (UKR)
Gamal Mohammed Yahya ALSABRI (YEM)

61kg
Abdelghani BENATALLAH (ALG)
Agustin Alejandro DESTRIBATS (ARG)
Razmik PAPIKYAN (ARM)
Akhmednabi GVARZATILOV (AZE)
Ayub Muratovitch MUSAEV (BEL)
Georgi Valentinov VANGELOV (BUL)
Arman ELOYAN (FRA)
Nico MEGERLE (GER)
Georgios PILIDIS (GRE)
Richard VILHELM (HUN)
Rahul Balasaheb AWARE (IND)
Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ)
Leomid COLESNIC (MDA)
Vladimir EGOROV (MKD)
Eduard GRIGOREV (POL)
Ivan GUIDEA (ROU)
Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RUS)
Nino LEUTERT (SUI)
Muhamad IKROMOV (TJK)
Recep TOPAL (TUR)
Volodymyr BURUKOV (UKR)

65kg
Isa MERKJA (ALB)
Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM)
Haji ALIYEV (AZE)
Niurgun SKRIABIN (BLR)
Haji Mohamad ALI( BRN)
Vladimir Vladimirov DUBOV (BUL)
Juan Pablo GONZALEZ CRESPO (ESP)
Ilman MUKHTAROV (FRA)
Mbunde CUMBA MBALI (GBS)
Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN)
Amirmohammad Babak YAZDANICHERATI (IRI)
Abdellatif MANSOUR (ITA)
Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ)
Andrei PERPELITA (MDA)
Nicolai GRAHMEZ (MDA)
Elmedin SEJFULAU (MKD)
Sixto Miguel AUCCAPINA PEDRAGAS (PER)
Krzysztof BIENKOWSKI (POL)
Nikolai OKHLOPKOV (ROU)
Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (RUS)
Ahmet DUMAN(TUR)
Gor OGANNESYAN(UKR)
Hussein Abdullah Hussein Abdullah AL AZZANI(YEM)

70kg
Eriglent PRIZRENI (ALB)
Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM)
Gitinomagomed GADZHIYEV (AZE)
Dzianis SALAVEI (BLR)
Nicolae COJOCARU (GBR)
Shamil USTAEV (GER)
Daniel ANTAL (HUN)
Naveen NAVEEN (IND)
Islambek OROZBEKOV (KGZ)
Mihail SAVA (MDA)
Valentin BORZIN (MDA)
Fati VEJSELI(MKD)
Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL)
George BUCUR (ROU)
Chermen VALIEV (RUS)
Daniel CHOMANIC (SVK)
Mustafo AKHMEDOV (TJK)
Haithem DAKHLAOUI (TUN)
Haydar YAVUZ (TUR)
Ihor NYKYFORUK (UKR)

74kg
Orges LILA (ALB)
Hrayr ALIKHANYAN (ARM)
Khadzhimurad GADZHIYEV (AZE)
Azamat NURYKAU (BLR)
Ali Pasha Ruslanovich UMARPASHAEV (BUL)
Leon Juan Carlos PERALTA LANAS (CHI)
Jonatan ALVAREZ DIAZ (ESP)
Aimar ANDRUSE (EST)
Charles André AFA (FRA)
Augusto MIDANA (GBS)
Osman Kubilay CAKICI (GER)
Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN)
Narsingh Pancham YADAV (IND)
Mitchell Louis FINESILVER (ISR)
Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ (ITA)
Saiakbai USUPOV (KGZ)
Mohammed J M Th A ABDULKAREEM (KUW)
Vasile DIACON (MDA)
Evgheni NEDEALCO (MDA)
Riad REDJEPI (MKD)
Andrzej Piotr SOKALSKI (POL)
Maxim VASILIOGLO (ROU)
Razambek ZHAMALOV (RUS)
Malik Michael AMINE (SMR)
Zaur EFENDIEV (SRB)
Marc DIETSCHE (SUI)
Tajmuraz Mairbekovic SALKAZANOV (SVK)
Fazli ERYILMAZ (TUR)
Denys PAVLOV (UKR)

79kg
Arman AVAGYAN (ARM)
Rashad YUSIFLI (AZE)
Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (BLR)
Dzhemal Rushen ALI (BUL)
Erik REINBOK (EST)
Saifedine ALEKMA (FRA)
Eduard TATARINOV (GER)
Csaba VIDA (HUN)
Baliyan GOURAV (IND)
Aron CANEVA (ITA)
Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (KGZ)
Alans AMIROVS (LAT)
Stanislav NOVAC (MDA)
Astrit ISMAILI (MKD)
Vasile Madalin MINZALA (ROU)
Akhmed USMANOV (RUS)
Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK)
Ayoub BARRAJ (TUN)
Muhammet Nuri KOTANOGLU (TUR)
Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR)
Rashid KURBANOV (UZB)
86kg
Hovhannes MKHITARYAN (ARM)
Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE)
Rasul TSIKHAYEU (BLR)
Akhmed Adamovitch MAGAMAEV (BUL)
Taimuraz FRIEV NASKIDAEVA (ESP)
Akhmed AIBUEV (FRA)
Bedopassa BUASSAT DJONDE (GBS)
Ahmed Ruslanovic DUDAROV (GER)
Deepak PUNIA (IND)
Uri KALASHNIKOV (ISR)
Ivars SAMUSONOKS (LAT)
Roman MANITRA RAHARISON (MAD)
Rachid OURIBI (MAR)
Piotr IANULOV (MDA)
Stole EFTIMOV (MKD)
Pool Edinson AMBROCIO GREIFO (PER)
Zbigniew Mateusz BARANOWSKI (POL)
Dauren KURUGLIEV (RUS)
Myles Nazem AMINE (SMR)
Boris MAKOEV (SVK)
Osman GOCEN (TUR)
Mraz DZHAFARIAN (UKR)

92kg
Gadzhimurad MAGOMEDSAIDOV(AZE)
Arkadzi PAHASIAN(BLR)
Alejandro CANADA PANCORBO(ESP)
Ilja MATUHIN(GER)
Georgii RUBAEV(MDA)
Redjep HAJDARI(MKD)
Mihai Nicolae PALAGHIA(ROU)
Alikhan ZHABRAILOV(RUS)
Strahinja DESPIC(SRB)
Samuel SCHERRER(SUI)
Erhan YAYLACI(TUR)
Vasyl SOVA(UKR)

97kg
Shamil ZUBAIROV (AZE)
Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR)
Ahmed Sultanovich BATAEV (BUL)
Ertugrul AGCA (GER)
Satywart KADIAN (IND)
Abraham de Jesus CONYEDO RUANO (ITA)
Edon SHALA (KOS)
Nicolai CEBAN (MDA)
Samhan JABRAILOV (MDA)
Magomedgadji Omardibirovich NUROV (MKD)
Radoslaw BARAN (POL)
Michael MANEA (ROU)
Abdulrashid SADULAE V(RUS)
Suleyman KARADENIZ (TUR)
Valerii ANDRIITSEV (UKR)

125kg
Paris KAREPI (ALB)
Catriel Pehuen MURIEL (ARG)
Hovhannes MAGHAKYAN (ARM)
Jamaladdin MAGOMEDOV (AZE)
Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (BLR)
Islam Timurovich ADIZOV (BUL)
Amarveer DHESI (CAN)
Daniel LIGETI (HUN)
Sumit SUMIT (IND)
Aiaal LAZAREV (KGZ)
Radu LEFTER (MDA)
Egor OLAR (MDA)
Boban DANOV (MKD)
Robert BARAN (POL)
Shamil SHARIPOV (RUS)
Oktay GUNGOR (TUR)
Oleksandr KHOTSIANIVSKYI (UKR)


Roman VLASOV (RUS), a two-time Olympic champion, will wrestle at 77kg. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

Greco-Roman ('19 world champion listed in BOLD)

55kg
Abdelkarim FERGAT (ALG)
Rudik MKRTCHYAN (ARM)
Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE)
Nedyalko Petrov PETROV (BUL)
Fabian Bernhard SCHMITT (GER)
Arjun HALAKURKI (IND)
Balbai DORDOKOV (KGZ)
Artiom DELEANU (MDA)
Leonid MOROZ (MDA)
Andre Ricardo CARDOSO OLIVEIRA SILVA (POR)
Cristian Vasile VAGIUNIC (ROU)
Emin Narimanovitch SEFERSHAEV (RUS)
Sebastian KOLOMPAR(SRB)
Serif KILIC (TUR)
Vladyslav KUZKO (UKR)

60kg
Abdennour LAOUNI (ALG)
Armen MELIKYAN (ARM)
Nihat Zahid MAMMADLI (AZE)
Maksim KAZHARSKI (BLR)
Tsvetan Metodiev SIRASHKI (BUL)
Helary MAEGISALU (EST)
Etienne KINSINGER (GER)
Krisztian KECSKEMETI (HUN)
Gyanender GYANENDER (IND)
Abere FETENE (ISR)
Jacopo SANDRON (ITA)
Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ)
Fouad FAJAR I(MAR)
Victor CIOBANU (MDA)
Joao Marco BENAVIDES ROCHABRUN (PER)
Razvan ARNAUT(ROU)
Stepan MARYANYAN (RUS)
Kristian FRIS (SRB)
Ahmet UYAR (TUR)
Viktor PETRYK (UKR)

63kg
Abdeldjebar DJEBBARI (ALG)
Gevorg GHARIBYAN (ARM)
Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE)
Soslan DAUROV (BLR)
Nikalas Petrov SULEV (BUL)
Erik TORBA (HUN)
Sachin RANA (IND)
Kaly SULAIMANOV (KGZ)
Mohammad F Kh M J ALAJMI (KUW)
Mateusz Radoslaw SZEWCZUK (POL)
Julinho Benjamim CORREIA DJU (POR)
Mihai Radu MIHUT (ROU)
Zhambolat LOKYAEV (RUS)
Perica DIMITRIJEVIC (SRB)
Abdurrahman ALTAN (TUR)
Oleksii MASYK (UKR)

67kg
Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM)
Islambek DADOV (AZE)
Konstantin Ivanovich STAS (BUL)
Cristobal Alonso TORRES NUNEZ (CHI)
Gagik Mishai SNJOYAN (FRA)
Witalis LAZOVSKI (GER)
Krisztian Istvan VANCZA (HUN)
Ashu ASHU (IND)
Ruben MARVICE (ITA)
Khalmurat IBRAGIMOV (KGZ)
Donior ISLAMOV (MDA)
Alex Salomon PINEDA MARIN (PAN)
Nilton Gonzalo Marcos SOTO GARCIA (PER)
Roman PACURKOWSKI (POL)
Nazir Rachidovitch ABDULLAEV (RUS)
Davor STEFANEK (SRB)
Atakan YUKSEL (TUR)
Artur POLITAIEV (UKR)

72kg
Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM)
Ulvu GANIZADE (AZE)
Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL)
Luka MALOBABIC (CRO)
Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamed Hassan GHANEM (FRA)
Idris IBAEV (GER)
Balint KORPAS I(HUN)
Aditya KUNDU (IND)
Ruslan TSAREV (KGZ)
Valentin PETI C(MDA)
Mihai PETIC (MDA)
Narek OGANIAN (RUS)
Mate NEMES (SRB)
Aleksandar MAKSIMOVIC (SRB)
Andreas VETSCH (SUI)
Leos DRMOLA (SVK)
Cengiz ARSLAN (TUR)
Maksym YEVTUSHENKO (UKR)

77kg
Abd Elkrim OUAKALI (ALG)
Karapet CHALYAN (ARM)
Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE)
Pavel LIAKH (BLR)
Rosian Ognyanov DERMANSKI (BUL)
Antonio KAMENJASEVIC (CRO)
Jakub BIELESZ (CZE)
Evrik NIKOGHOSYAN (FRA)
Pascal EISELE (GER)
Georgios PREVOLARAKIS (GRE)
Zoltan LEVAI (HUN)
Sajan SAJAN (IND)
Roman ZHERNOVETSKI (ISR)
Matteo MAFFEZZOLI (ITA)
Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ)
Daniel CATARAGA (MDA)
Igor BESLEAGA (MDA)
Alexandrin GUTU (MDA)
Iwan NYLYPIUK (POL)
Ilie COJOCARI (ROU)
Roman VLASOV (RUS)
Viktor NEMES (SRB)
Denis HORVATH (SVK)
Furkan BAYRAK (TUR)
Yasaf ZEINALOV (UKR)

82kg
Chawki DOULACHE (ALG)
Maksim MANUKYAN (ARM)
Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE)
Radzik KULIYEU (BLR)
Daniel Tihomirov ALEKSANDROV (BUL)
Filip SACIC (CRO)
Oldrich VARGA (CZE)
Ranet KALJOLA (EST)
Roland SCHWARZ (GER)
Tamas LEVAI (HUN)
Igor PETRISHIN (ISR)
Kairatbek TUGOLBAEV (KGZ)
Zied AIT OUAGRAM (MAR)
Mihail BRADU (MDA)
Gabriel LUPASCO (MDA)
Alvis Albino ALMENDRA JIMENEZ (PAN)
George Vlad MARIEA (ROU)
Milad Valerikovitch ALIRZAEV (RUS)
Branko KOVACEVIC (SRB)
Salih AYDIN (TUR)
Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR)

87kg
Bachir SID AZARA (ALG)
Artur SHAHINYAN (ARM)
Islam ABBASOV (AZE)
Kiryl MASKEVICH (BLR)
Yoan Danielov DIMITROV (BUL)
Vjekoslav LUBURIC (CRO)
Ilias PAGKALIDIS (GRE)
Istvan TAKACS (HUN)
Kumar SUNIL (IND)
Hossein Ahmad NOURI (IRI)
Fabio PARISI (ITA)
Atabek AZISBEKOV (KGZ)
Szymon SZYMONOWICZ (POL)
Davit CHAKVETADZE (RUS)
Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB)
Dogan GOKTAS (TUR)
Semen NOVIKOV (UKR)
Luis Eduardo AVENDANO ROJAS (VEN)

97kg
Adem BOUDJEMLINE (ALG)
Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM)
Aliaksandr HRABOVIK (BLR)
Kiril Milenov MILOV (BUL)
Artur OMAROV (CZE)
Melonin NOUMONVI (FRA)
Michail IOSIFIDIS (GRE)
Alex Gergo SZOKE (HUN)
Hardeep HARDEEP (IND)
Mohammadhadi Abdollah SARAVI (IRI)
Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA)
Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ)
Choucri ATAFI(MAR)
Musa EVLOEV (RUS)
Mihail KAJAIA (SRB)
Damian VON EUW (SUI)
Suleyman DEMIRCI (TUR)
Vladlen KOZLIUK (UKR)
Luillys Jose PEREZ MORA (VEN)

130kg
Hemza HALOUI (ALG)
David OVASAPYAN (ARM)
Beka KANDELAKI (AZE)
Radoslav Plamenov GEORGIEV (BUL)
Yasmani ACOSTA FERNANDEZ (CHI)
Stepan DAVID (CZE)
Eduard POPP (GER)
Nikolaos NTOUNIAS (GRE)
Naveen NAVEEN (IND)
Rafal Andrzej KRAJEWSKI (POL)
Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU)
Sergey SEMENOV (RUS)
Boban ZIVANOVIC (SRB)
Osman YILDIRIM (TUR)
Mykola KUCHMII (UKR)


Aisuulu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) is the lone returning world champion entered in women's wrestling. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

Women's Wrestling ('19 world champion listed in BOLD)

50kg
Turkan NASIROVA (AZE)
Miglena Georgieva SELISHKA (BUL)
Julie Martine SABATIE (FRA)
Debora Valeria TURE (GBS)
Lisa ERSEL (GER)
Devi NIRMALA (IND)
Maria LEORDA (MDA)
Emilia CIRICU BUDEANU (MDA)
Gloria Estefanny ASCA VILCAPOMA (PER)
Anna LUKASIAK (POL)
Emilia Alina VUC (ROU)
Ekaterina POLESHCHUK (RUS)
Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR)
Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR)

53kg
Tatyana VARANSOVA (AZE)
Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR)
Sezen Behchetova BELBEROVA (BUL)
Marina RUEDA FLORES (ESP)
Hilary Ysaline HONORINE (FRA)
Nina HEMMER (GER)
Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE)
Emanuela LIUZZI (ITA)
Iulia LEORDA (MDA)
Thalia Jihann MALLQUI PECHE (PER)
Roksana Marta ZASINA (POL)
Andreea Beatrice ANA (ROU)
Anzhelika VETOSHKINA (RUS)
Zeynep YETGIL (TUR)
Khrystyna Zoryana DEMKO (UKR)

55kg
Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR)
Annika WENDLE (GER)
Pinki PINKI (IND)
Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA)
Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL)
Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (RUS)
Bediha GUN (TUR)
Tetyana KIT (UKR)

57kg
Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE)
Evelina Georgieva NIKOLOVA (BUL)
Maria Victoria BAEZ DILONE (ESP)
Mathilde Hélène RIVIERE (FRA)
Laura MERTENS (GER)
Emese BARKA (HUN)
Anshu ANSHU (IND)
Arianna CARIERI (ITA)
Nuraida ANARKULOVA (KGZ)
Anastasia NICHITA (MDA)
Patrycja GIL (POL)
Veronika CHUMIKOVA (RUS)
Mehlika OZTURK (TUR)
Antonyna KULAHINA (UKR)

59kg
Bilyana Zhivkova DUDOVA (BUL)
Sandra PARUSZEWSKI (GER)
Sarita SARITA (IND)
Mariana CHERDIVARA ESANU (MDA)
Magdalena Urszula GLODEK (POL)
Svetlana LIPATOVA (RUS)
Anna FABIAN (SRB)
Elif YANIK (TUR)
Kateryna ZELENYKH (UKR)

62kg
Tetiana OMELCHENKO (AZE)
Lydia PEREZ TOURINO (ESP)
Ameline DOUARRE (FRA)
Luisa Helga Gerda NIEMESCH (GER)
Anna Hella SZEL (HUN)
Sonam SONAM (IND)
Aurora CAMPAGNA (ITA)
Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ)
Kriszta Tunde INCZE (ROU)
Liubov OVCHAROVA(RUS)
Cansu AKSOY (TUR)
Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR)

65kg
Elis MANOLOVA (AZE)
Mimi Nikolova HRISTOVA (BUL)
Debora LAWNITZAK (GER)
Sakshi MALIK (IND)
Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (LAT)
Irina RINGACI (MDA)
Mariia KUZNETSOVA (RUS)
Asli DEMIR (TUR)
Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR)

68kg
IrIna  Petrovna NETREBA (AZE)
Hanna SADCHANKA (BLR)
Sofiya Hristova GEORGIEVA (BUL)
Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE)
Dalma CANEVA (ITA)
Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ)
Khanum VELIEVA (RUS)
Nesrin BAS (TUR)
Alina BEREZHNA STADNIK MAKHYNIA (UKR)

72kg
Gozal ZUTOVA (AZE)
Yuliana Vasileva YANEVA (BUL)
Koumba Selene Fanta LARROQUE (FRA)
Maria SELMAIER (GER)
Preet Kaur GURSHARAN (IND)
Yanet Ursula SOVERO NINO (PER)
Alexandra Nicoleta ANGHEL (ROU)
Evgeniia ZAKHARCHENKO (RUS)
Zsuzsanna MOLNAR (SVK)
Buse TOSUN (TUR)
Alla BELINSKA (UKR)

76kg
Sabira ALIYEVA (AZE)
Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR)
Mariya Gerginova ORYASHKOVA (BUL)
Erica Elizabeth WIEBE (CAN)
Pauline Denise LECARPENTIER (FRA)
Aline ROTTER FOCKEN (GER)
Zsanett NEMETH (HUN)
Kiran KIRAN (IND)
Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ)
Catalina AXENTE (ROU)
Ekaterina BUKINA (RUS)
Yasemin ADAR (TUR)
Anastasiia OSNIACH SHUSTOVA (UKR)

*Please note that this list is an unoffical list and is subject to change.

#JapanWrestling

Fujinami stays on path to Paris, via Belgrade, with 53kg title

By Ken Marantz

TOKYO (June 17) -- A day after vanquishing the Olympic champion, Akari FUJINAMI secured a shot at regaining her world title, which in turn would get her closer to her ultimate goal of gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Fujinami cruised to the women's 53kg title at the Meiji Cup All-Japan Championships on Saturday, clinching a spot on Japan's team to this year's World Championships in Belgrade where the first qualifying spots for Paris will be up for grabs.

Fujinami, the 2021 world champion who missed last year's worlds due to injury, rolled to a 10-0 technical fall in the final over fellow 19-year-old Moe KIYOOKA at Tokyo Metropolitan Gym in the second of Japan's two domestic qualifiers for Belgrade.

"Winning this tournament was my sole objective," Fujinami said. "At the moment that I won, the first thing that came into my head was that I want to win the world title. At the World Championships, I want to take the gold and take home the spot at the Olympics."

Fujinami's victory stretched her current winning streak to 122 matches dating back to her junior high school days in 2017 and followed her title run in December at the Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships, the first of the world team qualifiers.

For wrestlers in the Olympic weights, titles at both tournaments clinches a spot at the World Championships. In cases in which the winners are different, they will meet in a playoff scheduled for July 1.

Also securing his ticket to Belgrade was Rei HIGUCHI, the reigning world champion at freestyle 61kg who has moved back down to 57kg, the weight class in which he won a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Missing out was Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Shohei YABIKU after losing in the final at Greco 77kg, while world bronze medalist Yuka KAGAMI kept alive her hopes of a return trip to Belgrade by defeating Emperor's Cup champion Ayano MORO to force a playoff at women's 76kg.

Akari FUJINAMIAkari FUJINAMI blanked Moe KIYOOKA in the 53kg final at Meiji Cup in Tokyo. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation / Takeo Yabuki)

With the Olympic weight classes being run over two days, Fujinami's title run began Friday with a victory by fall in a long-awaited first-time clash with Tokyo Olympic champion Mayu SHIDOCHI (formerly MUKAIDA). That all but ended Shidochi's dreams of an Olympic repeat, as Fujinami will certainly be the favorite in Belgrade for the gold, much less just a medal.

Against Kiyooka, a world U23 and U20 champion and Emperor's Cup winner last year at 55kg, Fujinami used her unstoppable single-leg to score three takedowns in the first period, then picked up a pair of stepouts before ending the match with a takedown at 4:10.

"We've sparred together often in the past," Fujinami said. "[She knows] the tackle I use and I know she's a wrestler who likes to go on the attack. I kept from being defensive and stayed aggressive."

Her incredible winning streak has particularly caught the eyes of the local press, mainly because she surpassed the 119-match string put together by three-time Olympic champion and national hero Saori YOSHIDA.

But to Fujinami, the streak only holds significance if the gold-medal match in Paris is eventually included, although she appreciates the attention it brings to the sport. "To me, the record means nothing," she said. "But through this, it will spread the word of wrestling, which is a good thing."

After missing the World Championships last year in Belgrade due to a foot injury, Fujinami made up for the lost time and piled up a series of titles starting with her win at the Emperor's Cup.

Her victory on Saturday gave her a fourth championship over a five-month span, following wins at the Zagreb Open in February, the Dan Kolov-Nikola Petrov tournament in Bulgaria in March, and the Asian Championships in April.

Rei HIGUCHIRei HIGUCHI clinched his spot on the Japan team for World Championships after winning the gold medal at 57kg. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation / Takeo Yabuki)

Higuchi, who missed out on the Tokyo Olympics -- mainly after infamously failing to make weight at the Asian qualifying tournament -- is intent on getting back to the Olympics and making amends for his runner-up finish in Rio.

But he said the Olympic berth at stake in Belgrade will not be the main incentive. Having won the 61kg gold last year in the Serbian capital, he wants to gain another world title there.

"I get more pumped up for matches overseas than in Japan," Higuchi said. "I feel I am better overseas and those matches bring out the best in me. I want to win the world title in Serbia, which I think is a place that suits me."

Higuchi was untroubled in scoring a 4-0 victory in the final over 2019 Asian bronze medalist Yudai FUJITA, but expressed concern over his lack of ability to pad his lead after scoring all of his points in the opening minute.

"There were situations where I could have gotten more points," said Higuchi, who scored with a takedown-gut wrench combination. "He was good enough where he could make it to the final, and I knew I had to be stronger to overcome him. But it turned out that I wasn't doing my wrestling and I'm not very satisfied."

Still, he fared better than Yabiku, who gave up a 2-point exposure in par terre and came up on the short side of a 3-2 decision in the Greco 77kg final against world U23 bronze medalist Nao KUSAKA.

Kusaka had ousted Yabiku at the Emperor's Cup, where the latter was at far less than top shape after suffering a severe knee injury 10 days before the competition. He subsequently underwent surgery and, while still having some limited motion, felt prepared to get the title he needed to earn a fourth career trip to the World Championships.

"Up to yesterday, I was able to defend [in par terre], but today I was turned over," Yabiku said. "I lost to Kusaka the last time, and he has studied me. Standing, on the ground, it was like he was controlling me. At this rate, no matter how many matches we have, it will be the same result."

Yuka KAGAMIYuka KAGAMI won the 76kg final to earn a spot in the playoff against Ayano MORO, her opponent on Saturday, on July 1. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation / Takeo Yabuki)

Like Yabiku, Kagami had been affected by an injury at the Emperor's Cup, where she was forced to default due to a torn shoulder as Moro captured the title.

Kagami also underwent surgery -- the scar runs parallel to the right strap at the front of her singlet -- and after a grueling rehab, only returned to the mat in April.

"In the months after the Emperor's Cup, so many people put in a great deal of effort to get me ready [for the Meiji Cup]," Kagami said. "Because of that, I could get the gold medal."

She hardly showed the effects as she defeated Moro 2-1 in the final, with all points scored on the activity clock. That followed up a 3-2 victory in their Nordic round-robin group on Friday and means the two will go at it again in the July 1 playoff.

"My movement was a bit tighter than yesterday, but that was because winning was everything," Kagami said. "But compared to before, I was more aggressive."

Takuto OTOGURO (JPN)Tokyo Olympic champion Takuto OTOGURO complained of strain in his right foot during his 65kg semifinal win against Kaiki YAMAGUCHI. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation / Takeo Yabuki)

Otoguro, Susaki advance, with concerns

Olympic champions Takuto OTOGURO and Yui SUSAKI both advanced to the final of their respective weight classes, but their post-match actions led to varying degrees of concern.

Otoguro's case seems much more serious, as he had to be piggy-backed off the mat following a 3- 2 semifinal victory over Kaiki YAMAGUCHI at freestyle 65kg, during which he took a long timeout when a recent foot injury flared up.

Otoguro, whose only competition since winning the Tokyo gold in 2021 was a triumphant run at the Emperor's Cup, had looked sluggish in his opening match in the quarterfinals but managed to forge out a safe 2-0 victory over Kaiji OGINO.

Against the formidable Yamaguchi, a 2022 Asian bronze medalist and 2019 world U20 champion, Otoguro had to be on his toes, and the strain apparently proved too much for his tender foot.

After whizzering to a stepout and gaining an activity point for a 2-0 lead in the first period, Otoguro managed to fend off a high single-leg attempt. But soon afterward he dropped to the mat clutching his foot and stayed down for an extended time discussing the problem with the tournament medical staff and his coaches. At one point he even took off his shoe and sock and gingerly walked about testing the foot.

The match was eventually resumed, and Yamaguchi went ahead with a stepout and activity point of his own with a minute left. But Otoguro reached down for the drive that made him Japan's youngest-ever male world champion in 2018 and scored a stepout to secure the win and a place in Sunday's final against Asian bronze medalist Ryoma ANRAKU.

Otoguro was not made available to the media, but Kenji INOUE, the head coach of the Self-Defense Force Physical Training School team, issued a statement: "Early this year, he injured his right foot in a match at training camp. Regarding tomorrow's match, it will be decided based on how the treatment goes."

Susaki, aiming for a second straight world title that will propel her into the Paris Olympics, had no trouble on the mat, rolling to a 10-0 technical fall in the women's 50kg semifinals over Riko KASAI.

That sets up yet another clash in the final with Asian champion Remina YOSHIMOTO, who won the 2021 world title while Susaki was on a post-Olympic hiatus. The two met in the Emperor's Cup final, with Susaki winning 8-0 for her fifth win in five career meetings.

It was at the post-match press conference that something went amiss with Susaki. After answering a standard opening question about her performance -- "I still have one more match. I want to win that and keep on track to the Olympics," she answered -- she suddenly stopped, rubbed her stomach and walked over to sit on a nearby bench.

After a few moments, her handlers announced that she would not be answering any more questions. It was not immediately known what the problem was, but speculation is that it is related to a struggle to make weight. Still, it did not seem serious enough to keep her from appearing in Sunday's final.

The other pairing of note decided on Saturday was at women's 57kg, in which world champion Tsugumi SAKURAI stunned two-time Olympic champion Risako KINJO (formerly KAWAI) and earned a chance to avenge her semifinal loss at the Emperor's Cup to eventual titlist Sae NANJO, the world U23 champion.

Sakurai showed no fear in scoring the go-ahead takedown with 1:45 left, then poured it on for an 11-1 technical fall over Kinjo, who had returned to the Olympic weight after winning at the Emperor's Cup at 59kg.

With Kinjo's loss, three of Japan's four women's gold medalists in Tokyo have seen their chances of an Olympic repeat all but end as the depth of Japanese women's wrestling comes to the fore. Kinjo joined Shidochi and younger sister Yukako, the 62kg gold medalist who was aiming to make Paris at 68kg, as those whose fates are now in the hands of others.

Day 3 Results

Freestyle

57kg (13 entries)
GOLD - Rei HIGUCHI df. Yudai FUJITA, 4-0

BRONZE - Toshihiro HASEGAWA df. Tatsuya TSUKAMOTO, 2-1
BRONZE - Yuto NISHIUCHI df. Shotaro TATSUMURA, 8-0

65kg (9 entries)
Semifinal - Takuto OTOGURO df. Kaiki YAMAGUCHI, 3-2
Semifinal - Ryoma ANRAKU df. Makoto HOSOKAWA, 11-9

70kg (8 entries)
GOLD - Yoshinosuke AOYAGI df. Keiji WATANABE, 5-0

BRONZE - Kanata YAMAGUCHI df. Yuma TOMIYAMA, 3-3
BRONZE - Toki OGAWA df. Daishin YAMAJI, 6-1

Semifinal - Yoshinosuke AOYAGI df. Kanata YAMAGUCHI, 8-4
Semifinal - Keiji WATANABE df. Daishin YAMAJI, 4-2

74kg (14 entries)
GOLD - Daichi TAKATANI df. Yuto MIWA by TF, 10-0, 3:45

BRONZE - Masaki SATO df. Kansui OZEKI by TF, 10-0, 1:37
BRONZE - Kirin KINOSHITA df. Kojiro SHIGA, 5-3

79kg (9 entries)
GOLD - Kosuke YAMAKURA df. Shu YAMADA by TF, 10-0, 1:13

BRONZE - Kenshin YAMAJI df. Koki OTA by TF, 11-0, 3:43
BRONZE - Hirotaka ABE df. Kento ITAKURA, 11-9

Semifinal - Kosuke YAMAKURA df. Koki OTA, 7-0
Semifinal - Shu YAMADA df. Kento ITAKURA, 3-2

Greco-Roman

60kg (11 entries)
Semifinal -- Maito KAWANA df. Yu SHIOTANI, 4-1
Semifinal -- Kaito INABA df. Koto GOMI by TF, 11-0, 2:22

77kg (11 entries)
GOLD - Nao KUSAKA df. Shohei YABIKU, 3-2

BRONZE - Minto MAEDA df. Shu YAMADA by TF, 8-0, :45
BRONZE - Taishi TOMOYOSE df. Tatsuya FUJII, 2-1

82kg (8 entries)
GOLD - Yuya OKAJIMA df. Yuya MAETA, 4-3

BRONZE - Hayato TAMAOKA df. Isami HORIKITA, 5-3
BRONZE - Reon KAKEGAWA df. Shotaro OIZUMI by TF, 8-0, 2:14

Semifinal - Yuya MAETA df. Hayato TAMAOKA, 5-1
Semifinal - Yuya OKAJIMA df. Reon KAKEGAWA by TF, 9-0, 2:03

97kg (8 entries)
GOLD - Yuta NARA df. Yuri NAKAZATO, 3-3

BRONZE - Kyo KITAWAKI df. Daisho KATO, 8-7
BRONZE - Masayuki AMANO df. Yudai YONETA by TF, 9-0, 1:55

Women

50kg (13 entries)
Semifinal - Yui SUSAKI df. Riko KASAI by TF, 10-0, 1:56
Semifinal - Remina YOSHIMOTO df. Miu OBATA by TF, 10-0, 1:54

53kg (12 entries)
GOLD - Akari FUJINAMI df. Moe KIYOOKA by TF, 10-0, 4:10

BRONZE - Mayu SHIDOCHI df. Karen SASAKI by TF, 11-1, 4:52
BRONZE - Haruna OKUNO df. Mako ONO by TF, 10-0, 3:31

57kg (13 entries)
Semifinal - Sae NANJO df. Umi IMAI by TF, 10-0, 1:21
Semifinal - Tsugumi SAKURAI df. Risako KINJO by TF, 11-1, 5:05

76kg (7 entries)
GOLD - Yuka KAGAMI df. Ayano MORO, 2-1

BRONZE - Nokoda YAMAMOTO df. Yasuha MATSUYUKI, 6-1

Semifinal - Yuka KAGAMI df. Nokoda YAMAMOTO, 8-2
Semifinal - Ayano MORO df. Yasuha MATSUYUKI by TF, 11-0, 5:28