#WrestleTokyo

Mensah-Dosho Clash Highlight #WrestleTokyo Day 2

By Vinay Siwach

CHIBA, Japan (August 1) --- Tamyra STOCK MENSAH (USA) debut at the Olympics will not get bigger than this. The world champion will face defending Olympic champion and local star Sara DOSHO (JPN) in the opening round at 68kg at the Tokyo Olympics Monday.

Mensah and Dosho squared-off in the quarterfinal at the 2019 World Championships in which the American won easily. But that was close to two years ago and Dosho will like to avenge that loss if she wants to defend her gold from Rio.

It won't be easy for the winner though. Feng ZHOU (CHN) will be the likely opponent of the Chinese can get over U23 world champion Yusaris SANCHEZ RODRIGUEZ (CUB). The two are also locked in the first round.

Their semifinal opponent will be one of Enas AHMED (EGY), Agnieszka WIESZCZEK (POL), Alla CHERKASOVA (UKR) and Anna SCHELL (GER).

On the other side of the bracket, former junior and U23 world champion Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) will be up against Mongolia's star Battsetseg SORONZONBOLD (MGL). The winner will face one of former world silver medalist Danielle LAPPAGE (CAN) and European champion Khanum VELIEVA (ROC).

Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL) also has a tough one against Asia champion Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ). The winner will face one of Elis MANOLOVA (AZE) or Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR).

In Greco-Roman, two favorites at the 97kg weigh class world champion Musa EVLOEV (ROC) and defending Olympic champion Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) are on the opposite side of the brackets.

Aleksanyan opens up against Uzur DZHZUPBEKOV (KGZ) who beat the Armenian at the Ukrainian Memorial earlier this year. Evloev also has better 3-1 head-to-head record against him.

Even if Aleksanyan wins his first bout, he has to go through Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) or Rio Olympic bronze Cenk ILDEM (TUR) who are likely to in the quarterfinal.

Another weight class that will be in action Monday is 77kg at Greco-Roman. Rafiq HUSEYNOV (AZE) and Alex KESSIDIS (SWE) will wrestle in the opening round. Both won a silver medal at the 2019 Worlds but at different weight categories. Huseynov has dropped down from 82kg and will be wrestling down below 80kg for the first time since 2014.

World champion Tamas LORINCZ (HUN) gets Zied AIT OUAGRAM (MAR) in the first round. World bronze medalist Karapet CHALYAN (ARM) will be wrestling Asian champion Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) in the first round. The winner is likely to get 2018 world champion and veteran Aleksandr CHEKHIRKIN (ROC) in the quarterfinals.

Wrestling begins at 1100 hours local time at the Makuhari Messi, Chiba.

#UnitedWorldWrestling

UWW President Lalovic conferred Order of Dostyk by Kazakhstan

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (February 26) -- United World Wrestling President Nenad LALOVIC was conferred the Order of Dostyk of the second degree by Kazakhstan President Kassaym Jomart TOKAYEV for his contribution to the development of wrestling in Kazakhstan.

The Order of Dostyk of second degree is one of the state awards of Kazakhstan which it confers foreign nationals for their efforts in peace, friendship and cooperation between people.

Lalovic was in the country in second week of February and visited various sports facilities including the under-construction National Sports University in Astana.

"I am glad to visit Astana again," Lalovic was quoted as saying by Kazakhstan media. "Your city is becoming more beautiful and modern. Today, I got acquainted with the new sports infrastructure, surveyed several facilities that have made sports an integral part of the urban environment. Sports complexes are built at a high level, providing comfort for both athletes and fans. Each of them is capable of hosting international competitions."

Highlighting the key role wrestling plays in enhancing the country’s stance on the international arena, Tokayev hailed the achievements of Kazakhstan wrestlers following their successful performance at major world competitions.

Kazakhstan won its first-ever Freestyle gold medal at senior World Championships in 2023 when Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) won at 92kg. Last year, Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) won gold at 70kg in Tirana to become the second world champion from the country.

In Greco-Roman, it has five gold medals from three wrestlers while in Women's Wrestling, it has no gold but multiple silver medalists.