All Japan Championships

Left Behind in the Run to Tokyo 2020, Okuno Plods into 53kg Final at All Japan

By Ken Marantz

TOKYO (Dec. 20) — Throughout her career on the global stage, Haruna OKUNO has blown away all in her path, a trend she continued this year by winning both the world junior and U-23 titles over a two-month span. 

Back home in Japan, however, missing out on the senior World Championships and subsequently a place at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics seemed to take the wind out of her sails.

Okuno put together two underwhelming victories to advance to the final of the women’s 53kg class on the second day of the All Japan Championships in Tokyo, setting up a rematch of a recent disappointing loss to world silver medalist Nanami IRIE.

Okuno could manage only two activity-clock points in fending off Asian junior champion Umi IMAI 2-0 in the quarterfinals, then rode a lone first-period takedown to beat unheralded Yuka YAGO 3-1 in the semifinals.

“After the World Cup [in November], I didn’t get in enough practice,” said Okuno, who won two matches in helping host Japan win a fifth straight World Cup. “Without practice, this is what happens. As I wanted focus on tying up, I think overall that went well. I’m not injured, but I’m not in good condition.”

Okuno, whose only international losses came at the world cadet in 2014 and Asian Games in 2018 (she finished third at both), picked up a second senior world gold in 2018 when she won the 53kg title in Budapest. 

But both she and Irie lost out for the place in that weight class for the team to the World Championships in Nur-Sultan to Mayu MUKAIDA, the 55kg world champion who dropped down to the Olympic weight. 

Okuno and Irie both entered the wrestle-off for the 55kg spot, and Irie pulled off a surprising 3-1 win to earn the ticket to Nur-Sultan, where she captured the silver medal in her senior world debut. Okuno, who had won two previous meetings between the two, never seemed to have her heart in the match.

“In the playoff for the World Championships, 55kg was the only weight class open [for us],” Okuno said. “Before the playoff, I hardly practiced for two months. I only trained for two days. This year was the least I’ve practiced in my life.”

There was speculation that Okuno might drop down to 50kg—the only women’s weight class in which Japan did not clinch an Olympic berth at Nur-Sultan—and enter the fray for the coveted ticket to the Asian Olympic qualifying tournament with Yui SUSAKI, Yuki IRIE (Nanami’s older sister) and Eri TOSAKA.   

But she said Friday she never thought of going down to 50kg, citing the example of gold medalist Hitomi Obara’s struggle to get down to 48kg for the London 2012 Olympics. 

“Obara cut weight for London, when the weigh-in was held the day before, and she spent two years to get down to the weight,” Okuno said. “Now, with the same-day weigh-in, it’s not so easy to just go out and win.”

Nanami Irie made the final with a 10-0 technical fall in the semifinals over Yumi SHIMONO. 

Mukaida and the other world medalists in Olympic weights at Nur-Sultan automatically clinched Tokyo 2020 spots, and are sitting out the All-Japan tournament, also referred to as the Emperor’s Cup. 

In the few weight classes in which Japan clinched an Olympic spot but did not medal, the winner at Komazawa Olympic Park Gym will fill the berth. In the remaining divisions, the winners will represent Japan at the Asian qualifier in Xi’an, China, in March. 

Of the three wrestlers who failed to secure Olympic spots in Nur-Sultan and were involved in finals contested on Friday, two earned tickets to Xi’an and another shot. 

Naoya AKAGUMA gained a point in each period with Takeshi YAMAGUCHI on the activity clock for a 2-0 victory to capture his second straight national freestyle 97kg title and third overall.  

At Greco 97kg, Yuta NARA made it four national titles in a row with a 2-2 win over Yuri NAKAZATO. In Nur-Sultan, outside of the three medalists in the lightest weight classes, Nara was Japan’s only Greco wrestler to post a victory.

Nobuyoshi ARAKIDA’s two-year reign at freestyle 125kg ended when he had to default during the final to Tetsuya TANAKA due to a right elbow tendon injury that he originally suffered in Nur-Sultan.

“It’s disappointing to lose, but I knew going into the final I would put priority on the injury,” he said. “I knew that defaulting would be the best option.”

Meanwhile, there was high anticipation that the Emperor’s Cup would get its first-ever high school Greco champion and first in freestyle in 30 years—a direct result of all the maneuvering into Olympic weight classes that thinned out the non-Olympic divisions.

But all three high schoolers in men’s finals on Friday were taught a harsh lesson by collegiate opponents on just how intense the senior level can be. 

Hikaru TAKADA came closest, falling 5-3 to Shin HARAGUCHI at freestyle 70kg. But the two Greco finals turned into routs, as Asian silver medalist Hiromu KATAGIRI needed just over a minute to crush Yu SHIOTANI with a 12-0 technical fall that he ended with a 5-point throw, and Ayata SUZUKI followed suit with a 9-0 technical fall of Kosei TAKESHITA.

“The opponent was a high school student, so I thought there is no way I’m going to lose,” Katagiri declared. 

Sara NATAMI upset Yuzuka INAGAKI, 2-2, in the 59kg finals. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

One of Japan’s top female high schoolers, Yuzuka INAGAKI, was not immune from the carnage. She was stunned by collegian Sara NATAMI, who pancaked her for 2 points in the second period of the 59kg final for a 2-2 win on big-point criteria. 

Inagaki, the world junior and U-23 champion at 62kg, had beaten Natami 5-0 in their Nordic group the day before. 

“Yesterday was under the Nordic system, so I knew I would have another chance,” said Natami, a 2018 Asian silver medalist. “I just had to build off [the loss].”

While the high schoolers came up short, Nao KUSAKA became the youngest-ever national Greco champion when, at 19 years and 22 days, he defeated Takuya TOMIZUKA 5-4 for the 72kg title.

Satoki MUKAI joined his father as a national champion with a 2-1 victory over Yoji KAWAMURA in the Greco 82kg final. His father Takahiro, a two-time Olympian, won eight straight titles at 74-82kg from 1982 to 1988.

In weight classes that ran through the semifinals on Friday, former world silver medalist Sosuke TAKATANI advanced to the final at freestyle 86kg as he pursues a berth in a third career Olympics.

Fellow world team member Yudai TAKAHASHI could give the tournament a male high school champion just yet after securing a spot in the freestyle 79kg final. 

Former two-time world champion Yui SUSAKI and Rio 2016 Olympic champion Eri TOSAKA could square off in the 50kg semifinals on Satruday. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Susaki, Tosaka drawn in same bracket
Former two-time world champion Yui SUSAKI and Rio 2016 Olympic champion Eri TOSAKA could meet in the women’s 50kg semifinals following the draw for Saturday, when the action starts for the marquee weight classes. 

Yuki IRIE, who defeated Susaki in a playoff for a place on the team to Nur-Sultan, is the top seed in the other bracket of the high-profile division.

Susaki defeated Tosaka by technical fall in the final at the All-Japan Invitational Championships last June, which put her in the playoff with Irie.

In the women’s 68kg class, Rio champion Sara DOSHO, who finished fifth at Nur-Sultan, was handed a tough test to start out with, as she was drawn with highly touted high schooler Yuka KAGAMI.

Kagami, the world 72kg junior champion, had tried to make Tokyo 2020 at 76kg, but could not unseat world silver medalist Hiroe MINAGAWA. Now she has gone the other way, dropping down to 68kg.  

At Greco 67kg, world 63kg champion Shinobu OTA could face defending national champion Shogo TAKAHASHI in the quarterfinals, which would be the second match for both.

Ota was the Rio 2016 silver medalist at 59kg, but failed to beat eventual world champion Kenichiro FUMITA for the place on the team to Nur-Sultan at 60kg. He moved up to 63kg and came away with his first world title, and has now jumped another division in a bid to return to the Olympics.

At freestyle 57kg, former world champion Yuki TAKAHASHI and Rio 2016 silver medalist Rei HIGUCHI were drawn in separate brackets, meaning they would not meet until Sunday’s final. 

Day 2 results

Freestyle

61kg (19 entries)
Final - Ryuto SAKAGI df. Keita SHIMIZU, 5-3
3rd Place - Kodai OGAWA df. Raimu MAEDA by TF, 10-0, 3:22 
3rd Place - Ryutaro HAYAMA df. Takumi YOSHIMURA, 7-1

70kg (16 entries)
Final - Shin HARAGUCHI df. Hikaru TAKADA, 5-3
3rd Place - Ryo YONEZAWA df. Tsuyoshi NAKAMURA, 10-8 
3rd Place - Hidetaka SAKANO df. Shinnosuke SUWAMA by Def. 

79kg (11 entries)
Semifinals
Yudai TAKAHASHI df. Taro UMEBAYASHI, 9-2
Shinkichi OKUI df. Yuta ABE, 5-2

86kg (11 entries)
Semifinals
Sosuke TAKATANI df. Shutaro YAMADA, 8-0
Hayato ISHIGURO df. Shota SHIRAI, 2-1

92kg (9 entries)
Semifinals
Takuma OTSU df. Yudai YOKOTA by TF, 12-1, 4:33
Ryoichi YAMANAKA df. Takumi TANIZAKI, 4-1

97kg (14 entries)
Final - Naoya AKAGUMA df. Takeshi YAMAGUCHI, 2-0 
3rd Place - Taira SONODA df. Keiwan YOSHIDA, 6-2 
3rd Place - Takashi ISHIGURO df. Atsushi MATSUMOTO by TF, 10-0, 3:42

125kg (14 entries)
Final - Tetsuya TANAKA df. Nobuyoshi ARAKIDA by Inj. Def., 3:00 (2-0) 
3rd Place - Yasuhiro YAMAMOTO df. Takuto YASUDA by TF, 14-3, 4:55
3rd Place - Katsutoshi KANAZAWA df. Taiki YAMAMOTO, 5-4

Greco-Roman

55kg (23 entries)
Final - Hiromu KATAGIRI df. Yu SHIOTANI by TF, 12-0, 1:07 
3rd Place - Takumi HOSHINO df. Kagetora OKAMOTO by TF, 8-0, 2:07 
3rd Place - Hirokazu ONO df. Mizuki ARAKI, 9-3

60kg (12 entries)
Final - Ayata SUZUKI df. Kosei TAKESHITA by TF, 9-0, 3:16 
3rd Place - Kaito INABA df. Tatsuto OSHIRO by TF, 9-0, 2:17 
3rd Place - Kensuke SHIMIZU df. Maito KAWANA, 8-3 

63kg (15 entries)
Semifinals
Yoshiki YAMADA df. Harushi SHIMAYA, 7-1
Masaki ISHIKAWA df. Ichito TOKUHIGA by TF, 10-0, 1:44

72kg (22 entries)
Final - Nao KUSAKA df. Takuya TOMIZUKA, 5-4
3rd Place - Minto MAEDA df. Ibuki KATSUURA by TF, 9-1, 5:13
3rd Place - Takahiro YAMAMOTO df. Masaki KONDO by Fall, 1:53 (4-0)

82kg (15 entries)
Final - Satoki MUKAI df. Yoji KAWAMURA, 2-1 
3rd Place - Yuto MATSUZAKI df. Masao TANAKA, 5-3
3rd Place - Rai HAYASHI df. Shoma YAMASAKI by Fall, 4:44 (7-0) 

87kg (12 entries)
Semifinals
Masato SUMI df. Kanta SHIOKAWA, 5-1
Takahiro TSURUDA df. Kaito MIYAMOTO, 7-0 

97kg (14 entries)
Final - Yuta NARA df. Yuri NAKAZATO, 2-2
3rd Place - Suguru KINOSHITA df. Masayuki AMANO, 2-1
3rd Place - Masaaki SHIKIYA df. Sanjuro TAKAHASHI by TF, 10-0, 2:06

130kg (10 entries)
Semifinals
Arata SONODA df. Shoma SUZUKI by TF, 8-0, 1:12
Ryota KONO df. Keita BANCHI by Fall, 1:58 (5-0)

Women’s Wrestling

53kg (14 entries)
Semifinals
Haruna OKUNO df. Yuka YAGO, 3-1
Nanami IRIE df. Yumi SHIMONO by TF, 10-0, 3:26 

55kg (10 entries)
Final - Kana HIGASHIKAWA df. Tsugumi SAKURAI by Fall, 1:02 (2-0)
3rd Place - Tomoha UCHIJO df. Saki IGARASHI by Def.
3rd Place - Michika OHASHI df. Hikari HIGUCHI, 6-3 

57kg (8 entries)
Semifinals
Akie HANAI df. Chiho HAMADA, 3-1
Sae NANJO df. Hanako SAWA by TF, 10-0, 2:06

59kg (6 entries)
Final - Sara NATAMI df. Yuzuka INAGAKI, 2-2 
3rd Place - Yumi KON df. Ayami SUGIMOTO, 5-2 

62kg (11 entries)
Semifinals
Atena KODAMA df. Suzu YABIKU, 7-0
Ami ISHII df. Kumi IRIE, 4-3 

65kg (7 entries)
Final - Naomi RUIKE df. Miyu IMAI, 7-2
3rd Place - Miki KAWAUCHI df. Rin TERAMOTO, 6-6

72kg (3 entries)
Round-Robin
(Standings after 2 rounds)
1. Mei SHINDO (2-0), 2. Kanon KOBAYASHI (0-1), Mai HAYAKAWA (0-1).

76kg (5 entries)
Round-Robin, Final Standings
1. Yasuha MATSUYUKI (4-0)
2. Rino ABE (3-1)
3. Mizuki NAGASHIMA (1-2)
Key match: Yasuha MATSUYUKI df. Rino ABE, 10-1

#WrestleParis

Paris 2024 Wrestling Day 4: Yazdani, Lee, makes semis; Sakurai vs Maroulis set

By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

PARIS (August 9) -- Freestyle action kicks off in Paris with 57kg and 86kg as Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) and Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) look to change their silver medals from past Olympics to gold. In 57kg, Helen MAROULIS (USA) is trying to do the same but world champion Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) is in her way.

LIVE MATCH ORDER | PARIS 2024 DAY 3

13:31: Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) is back in the Olympic semifinals! He got thrown for a huge four from Dauren KURGULIEV (GRE) but he comes back to break Kurguliev and win 9-4 and book a spot against Myles AMINE (SMR)

13:20: A bout for the ages as returning bronze medalist Myles AMINE (SMR) beats Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) 16-14 to book his spot in the semifinal! Nurmagomedov took the lead using a leg lace but Amine hit the same and reclaimed the lead. At 16-12, Amine was happy to keep his distance from Nurmagomedov even if that meant giving up a takedown.

13:08: Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) pins Javrail SHAPIEV (UZB) in the second period. What a win for Ramazanov and he moves into the semifinal at 86kg. He will face Aaron BROOKS (USA) for a spot in the final

13:06: Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) with a first-period fall of Giullia PENALBER (BRA) to book her spot in the women's 57kg semifinals. The former 59kg world champion will face Hong.

13:04: Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) gets a 4-point counter and three takedowns in a 12-5 victory over Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) and he's into the freestyle 57kg semifinal and a date with Lee.

13:00: Kexin HONG (CHN) wins a thriller in the women's 57kg quarterfinals over Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR), finishing off the Nigerian with a cradle for a fall with :44 left after she had just surrendered the lead. Adekuoroye strikes first with a pair of takedowns, but Hong responds with a takedown and three lace-lock rolls to go up 8-4. In the second period, Adekuoroye goes ahead on criteria with a takedown and lace lock, but Hong strikes back by getting her into a cradle and securing the fall.

12:55: Aaron BROOKS (USA) is on mission today! He takes out Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN) 11-1 at 86kg. The pace of that bout was unreal and completely broke Ishiguro

12:51: Helen MAROULIS (USA) scores three takedowns and she's into the women's 57kg with a 7-4 victory over Alina HRUSHYNA AKOBIIA (UKR). She will face Sakurai in a rematch of the semifinals at last year's worlds in Belgrade, which Sakurai won 6-0.

12:49: Spencer LEE (USA) gives up an early takedown to Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ) in their freestyle 57kg quarterfinal, but then he gets to work. He twice gets a takedown-exposure combo, then finishes off a 12-2 win with a 4-point takedown with 58 seconds left in the first period.

12:45: Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) has been spotted. He begins with a 10-0 win over Jayden LAWRENCE (AUS) who has scored two points over Yazdani at the World Championships.

12:41: AMAN (IND) earns a clash with Higuchi in the freestyle 57kg semis after using the lace lock to chalk up a 12-0 victory over Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB).

12:39: Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) is at her dominating best, piling up the points with both offensive and defensive takedowns and a pair of stepouts against Luisa VALVERDE (ECU). When it hits 11-0, she is in the middle of applying an arm bar that puts Valverde onto her back for a fall at 4:35.

12:28: Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) is coming in hot! He moves into the quarterfinals with an 11-0 win over Ethan RAMOS (PUR). His likely quarterfinal opponent -- Hassan YAZDANI (IRI)

12:33: Rio Olympic silver medalist Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) takes the mat for the first time in the freestyle 57kg quarterfinals after his first-round opponent, Alireza SARLAK (IRI), failed to make weight. Higuchi dominates Darian CRUZ (PUR), scoring with some creative exposures to finish off a 12-2 victory early in the second period.

12:30: World silver medalist Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) easily gets past Sandra PARUSZEWSKI (GER) 9-0 to secure a place in the women's 57kg quarterfinals.

12:26: Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) makes his Olympic debut with a win over Bat Erdene BYAMBASUREN (MGL) at 86kg. A top 12-2 win to advance to the quarterfinals.

12:22: Three-time world bronze medalist Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) grabs the final place in the freestyle 57kg quarterfinals with a 13-3 win over Roman BRAVO (MEX).

12:19: Giullia PENALBER (BRA) makes short work of Rckaela AQUINO (GUM), slamming to her back for a 4-point takedown and securing the fall in 1:02 to advance at women's 57kg.

12:16: Returning bronze medalist Myles AMINE (SMR) shows why he is a threat. Top defense as he beats Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR) 7-4 to move into the quarterfinals at 86kg.

12:15: Kexin HONG (CHN), a winner this year in Budapest and Zagreb, wins a lively clash with Khongorzul BOLDSAIKHAN (MGL), advancing at women's 57kg with a 16-12 victory. Hong takes an 8-0 lead, but Boldsaikhan cuts the lead to 2 in the second period. Hong puts up 6 with a takedown-lace lock combination, only for Boldsaikhan to get 4 with a counter lift. But Hong gets a final 2-point exposure to notch the win.

12:11: Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) gets a 4-point throw in the first period, then gets a pair of exposures countering a front headlock roll in the second in an 11-4 win over Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE) at freestyle 57kg.

12:04: World bronze medalist Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR), looking for her first Olympic medal in a thrid appearance, advances at women's 57kg by injury default when Chaimaa AOUISSI (ALG) suffers a head gash and is unable to continue.

12:02: Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) pulls out his 'A' game to beat Alexander MOORE (CAN) 12-2 in the opening round. He will face Javrail SHAPIEV (UZB) who defeated Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) 5-2 in the other bout.

12:00: Spencer LEE (USA), competing on a top world stage for the first time since winning back-to-back world junior titles in 2015-16, scores a takedown and activity point in the first period, and holds on for a 3-2 win over Wanhao ZOU (CHN) at freestyle 57kg. Zou gets a pair of stepouts late in the second period but just ran out of time.

11:59: In a wild clash of 2022 world bronze medalists, Alina HRUSHYNA AKOBIIA (UKR) rallies out of an eight-point hold to defeat Anhelina LYSAK (POL) 16-13 at women's 57kg. Lysak had three 4-point moves and led 13-5 when Hrushyna Akobiia hit a 4-pointer of her own. In the final 30 seconds, she picked up a takedown and a stepout to go ahead, then added a late takedown. Whew!

11:47: Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ) scores a second-period takedown with Asian bronze medalist Meirambek KARTBAY (KAZ) on the activity clock to take a 3-1 lead, then adds a stepout for a 4-1 victory at freestyle 57kg.

11:45: Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN) has no trouble disposing of Fateh BENFERDJALLAH (ALG) via technical superiority and sets up a 86kg quarterfinal with Aaron BROOKS (USA).

11:41: Helen MAROULIS (USA), looking for her second Olympic gold and third medal overall, repeats her victory from the 2021 world final over ANSHU (IND) to advance to the women's 57kg quarterfinals 7-2. Maroulis uses an effective single-leg attack to score three takedowns

11:38: Aaron BROOKS (USA), who defeated David TAYLOR (USA) in the U.S. trials, gave up an early stepout but bounced back with two takedowns and beat top seed Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) 4-1 in the opening round at 86kg. 

11:36: Diamantino IUNA FAFE (GBS), only the third wrestler in Guinea-Bissau history to appear in the Olympics, looks like a seasoned pro in taking a 6-0 lead against world bronze medalist Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) at freestyle 57kg. But the match is six minutes, and Abakarov comes back with two takedowns, adding a lace lock after the second. An unsuccessful challenge adds a point as Abakarov advances 7-6.

11:33: An impressive start for Luisa VALVERDE (ECU), who opens with a 4-point takedown against Aurora RUSSO (ITA) at women's 57kg, then scores a takedown to the back and secures the fall at 2:34.  

11:27: Two-time reigning world champion Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) opens her Olympic debut at women's 57kg with an activity point, then a slick ankle pick for a takedown against Hannah TAYLOR (CAN), but gets reversed going for a lace lock. She adds a stepout and another takedown in the second period for a hard-fought 6-1 win.

11:26: 2023 Asian champion AMAN (IND) uses a shrug-by to get behind Russian-born 2021 European champion Vladimir EGOROV (MKD) for the clinching takedown in a 10-0 win at freestyle 57kg.

11:17: Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) spots Dominique PARRISH (USA) a four-point lead in their women's 53k repechage, then storms back to go ahead 10-4 with a back trip before latching onto a cradle for a fall.

11:14: Darian CRUZ (PUR) picks up a big win for the Caribbean nation, locking up Gamal MOHAMED (EGY) in a cradle and securing the fall in their freestyle 57kg opener.

11:09: Luis ORTA (CUB), denied in his bid for a second straight Olympic gold, will get a chance for a bronze after storming to a 9-0 victory over Ishak GHAIOU (ALG) in the 67kg repechage.

11:08: Hyogyong CHOE (PRK) stays on track to give the DPR Korea its first-ever women's Olympic medal with an 11-0 repechage victory over European champion Andreea ANA (ROU) at 53kg. Choe will take on Annika WENDLE (GER).

11:04: In the opening match on Mat A, Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ) uses an arm throw for a quick 4-pointer, then lifts and throws Mate NEMES (SRB) for 4 more and an 8-0 win in their Greco 67kg repechage. He will face Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) in a bid for Kyrgyzstan's third bronze medal in Greco later tonight.

10:45: We are beginning with Freestyle at Paris 2024 in two weight classes and women's wrestling will continue with 57kg.