#WrestleWarsaw

Mohammadian Closes Olympic Ticket for Iran; USA Shines at Poland Open

Tuesday, June 8, 2021 - 21:49 By Vinay Siwach

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WARSAW, Poland (June 8) -- Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI) had to wait until the final bout of the day but it was worth it as he successfully captured the gold medal at the Poland Open Ranking Series event in Warsaw.

The value of this gold medal increased as he also won the right to represent Iran at the Tokyo Olympics after beating two of his compatriots during his title-winning run on Tuesday.

Poland Open

Iran is treating the Poland Open as a selection tournament for the three freestyle and one Greco-Roman weight classes.

At 97kg, Mohammadian captured the spot after he beat Alireza Mohammad KARIMIMACHIANI (IRI) and Ali Khalil SHABANIBENGAR (IRI) with little separation in both the bouts.

“Thank God I was able to win,” Mohammadian said. “This is not the biggest day for me but I am happy.”

Apart from Iran's selection, the Tokyo seeds were confirmed in three weight classes as the final ranking points for 57kg, 86kg and 97kg were finalized on Tuesday.

Mohammadian's gold may not have been enough for a seed in the weight class at the Olympics, but it ended a long wait of Iran finalizing the wrestler at the weight. He won the quota in dominating fashion at the Asian Olympic Qualifiers in April.

But Shabanibengar's wins over him earlier this year and Karmimachiani's record at 92kg made them contenders as well. Instead of hosting a trial back home, the Iranian Federation decided to send the wrestler to Warsaw for a face-off. The winner would be selected for the Olympic team.

The stage was set when Karimimachiani and Mohammadian were drawn on the same side while Shabanibengar was split to the upper half. Mohammadian began with an 11-0 thrashing of Kollin MOORE (USA) in the qualification, while Karimimachiani overcame Abraham de Jesus CONYEDO RUANO (ITA), 11-1, in the quarterfinal. Earlier in the day, the Italian upset Olympic champion Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE) for a 2-2 criteria win.

Mohammadian's 10-0 win over Serik BAKYTKHANOV (KAZ) put him in the semifinal. He began with a takedown and secured a 2-0 lead. Karimimachiani's one point for passivity and a step out tied it 2-2, but Mohammadian held the criteria to set up a final against Shabanibengar.

It was anti-climatic as both wrestlers played it safe. They exchanged a point each for passivity but it was Mohammadian who was awarded one in the second period which gave him the win.

“I have been wrestling with Shabanibengar since cadet-level and I know his style,” he said. “Before becoming here I had strategized a lot and thankfully it paid off.”

At 57kg, Serbian Olympian Stevan MICIC (SRB) won his second Ranking Series gold medal in convincing fashion. He outscored Beka BUJIASHVILI (GEO) and Makhmudjon SHAVKATOV (UZB), 18-3, and was awarded the 57kg Nordic style gold medal.

Micic, who came into the tournament at the third-seeded wrestler for the Tokyo Olympic Games, passed second-seeded Sueyman ATLI (TUR) for the second spot in Tokyo.

“I felt really good today,” he said. “At this tournament, I just wanted to get my weight down to 57kg and go to the Olympics after a strong competition. The gold medal is always a boost in confidence.”

The top-four seeds at 57kg for Tokyo are Zavur UGUEV (RUS), Micic, Suleyman ATLI (TUR) and Ravi KUMAR (IND), respectively.

“I wasn't sure about the seeds so it was better to just compete,” he said. “I have a lot of confidence in my ability and it doesn't matter where I am seeded. I will have four tough matches in order to win at the Olympics.”

Micic defeated Beka BUJIASHVILI (GEO) and Makhmudjon SHAVKATOV (UZB) in the two matches to win the gold medal.

Stevan MICIC

USA also had a field day as they captured two gold medals. Zahid VALENCIA (USA) added another Ranking Series gold as he dominated the 86kg weight category.

“I started off a little bit slow but I am happy with how I ended it,” he said. “More offense, more takedowns is what I am looking for.”

Valencia survived a scare against local boy Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL) and won 6-5 before an injury default by world silver medalist Deepak PUNIA (IND) gave him a spot in the semifinal. Myles AMINE (SMR) was up next in the semifinal but Valencia had an easy 7-1 win.

In the 86kg finals, Zahid VALENCIA (USA) claimed his second Ranking Series title with a 10-0 trouncing of Georgia’s Sandro AMINASHVILI (GEO). The bleach blonde-haired American scored five first-period takedowns and ended the match less than two minutes into the finals.

But with David TAYLOR (USA) going to the Olympics, it was just the points for Valencia but not for the Olympics.

“[I am looking for] experience,” he said. “I am still young and could not make the Olympic team this year. It is still a goal of mine. I wanted to get matches and see how foreigners wrestle.”

The close first bout did upset Valencia but he is keen on working on his skills to not give up easy points.

“I got taken down,” he said. “I was working on my offense and defense. I did not want to over wrestle and expose myself.”

Also at 86kg, Myles AMINE (SMR) beat Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL) in the bronze medal match and leaped Artur NAIFONOV (RUS) for the No. 3 seed at the Olympic Games.

Amine came into the competition with 40 points -- seven points behind his Russian nemesis -- but used his ten-point bronze medal to move to the opposite side of the bracket as top-seeded Olympic champion Hasan YAZDANI (IRI).

The Olympic seeds at 86kg are Yazdani), Punia, Amine and Naifonov, respectively.

Another American with a big day was Alec PANTALEO (USA) who plowed his way to a fourth consecutive gold medal with a career-defining win over three-time world champion Haji ALIYEV (AZE), before capping things off with a win over rival James GREEN (USA) in the 70kg finals.

Alec PANTALEO df Haji ALIYEV

In the semifinals, Pantaleo cruised out to an early 6-1 lead over Aliyev thanks to a takedown and a four-point move. But the Azeri clawed back in the second period and tied the match, 6-6. The American’s first-period fought off a late flurry of attacks and used his four-point move to push himself into the finals.

In the gold-medal match, Pantaleo jumped out to an early four-point advantage against two-time world-medal winner James Green. He scored both early takedowns on head inside single legs to Green’s right leg. Pantaleo surrendered a takedown and a stepout in the second period, but hung on to win his fourth consecutive competition, 5-3.

At 79kg, Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK) scored a last-second takedown to beat veteran Rashid KURBANOV (UZB) 2-2 in the final and claim the gold medal.

RESULTS:

57kg
GOLD - Stevan Andria MICIC (SRB) (2-0)
SILVER - Beka BUJIASHVILI (GEO) (1-1)
BRONZE - Makhmudjon SHAVKATOV (UZB) (0-2)

70kg
GOLD - Alec William PANTALEO (USA) df. James GREEN (USA), 5-3
BRONZE - Haji ALIYEV (AZE) df. Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO), 2-1

79kg
GOLD - Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK) df. Rashid KURBANOV (UZB), 2-2
BRONZE - Mateusz KAMPIK (POL) df. Vadim PETRAUSKAS BABUSKIN (LTU), 16- 13
BRONZE - Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR) df. Aimar ANDRUSE (EST), 5-2

86kg
GOLD - Zahid VALENCIA (USA) df. Sandro AMINASHVILI (GEO), 10-0
BRONZE - Cezary SADOWSKI (POL) df. Pool AMBROCIO GREIFO (PER), 8-4
BRONZE - Myles AMINE (SMR) df. Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL), 6-1

97kg
GOLD - Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI) df. Ali SHABANIBENGAR (IRI), 1-1
BRONZE - Alisher YERGALI (KAZ) df. Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD), via fall
BRONZE - Alireza KARIMIMACHIANI (IRI)df. Kollin Raymond MOORE (USA), 2-2

#JapanWrestling

Another Ono rises: Konami follows brother's footsteps

Friday, August 29, 2025 - 02:52 By Ikuo Higuchi

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TOKYO (August 27) -- When you think of the name Ono from Shimane Prefecture, many will recall Masanosuke ONO (JPN), a world champion who is quickly becoming a global star, who now primarily competes in the United States.

Ono's younger sister Konami, who was undefeated in the national tournament during her elementary school years, is just like her brother. She went on to attend Nippon Sport Science University Ohka High School in Tokyo, where she grew up steadily, winning the Inter-High School Championships in 2023 and also winning silver at the U17 World Championships the same year.

A shoulder injury caused her to slow down, but through repeated practice at Nippon Sport Science University she regained her former strength and won the East Japan Student Championships and the All Japan Amateur Championships [women's competition is open to university students as well] last week.

Konami ONO (JPN)Konami ONO (JPN), left, won a silver medal at the 2023 U17 World Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Being coached by 2004 Athens Olympic bronze medalist Chikara TANABE and Kaori ICHO, she described herself as being in "the best environment."

Ono had been suffering from pain in the right shoulder and had to undergo a surgery in June last year. She had initially aimed for a comeback last year at the All Japan Championships [Emperor's Cup] in December, but was forced to withdraw. She returned to competition in April of this year at the Junior Queen's Cup U20, where she won one match, but lost the next match to a junior from high school by technical superiority.

"There were times when my shoulder would dislocate just by walking. It was a frustrating year," said Ono with her voice becoming teary, as if the pain had returned. "I'm happy because I was injured and couldn't wrestle for a while," she said but added, "I realized I need to practice more and get stronger."

Inspiration from brother Ono

While she was off the mat, Konami watched her brother Masanosuke win the gold medal at the U20 World Championships in 2024 and later become the world champion at 61kg at the Non-Olympic World Championships.

"It's not something I could ever imitate," she says, and although he is someone she should "admire" rather than "target," he is also someone close to her, having competed alongside since childhood. "I want to study hard and catch up," she says.

Konami ONO (JPN)Konami ONO (JPN) with world and Olympic champion Jordan BURROUGHS (USA). (Photo courtesy: Masaharu Ono) 

Earlier in spring, Konami accompanied her older brother to the United States, where he trains at Pennsylvania State University. She was still recovering and was unable to train, but she watched her brother's win against 2024 Paris Olympic silver medalist Spencer LEE (USA).

"I thought American wrestling was really amazing. It was inspiring," she said.

What made the biggest impression on Konami was how much fun her brother seemed to be having wrestling, even though he was in a foreign country.

"He really enjoys wrestling," she said. "I was amazed that there are people who love wrestling that much [laughs].

"My brother is my role model," she said. "I often watch his techniques and aspire to be like him."

What she finds particularly impressive is his speed, and the way he unconsciously develops his techniques. She herself sometimes has trouble deciding what to do next during a match, but her brother's body moves without a second thought. "I need to be able to come out with techniques one after the other," she said.

Training with Fujinami, Onishi

While Ono found his path in the United States, Konami is thinking of firmly establishing herself in Japan.

"I think that if I stay at Nippon Sport Science University, I will become really strong," she says, believing that his current environment is the place where she can develop the skills to compete on the world stage.

Not only is there an impressive coaching staff, but there are also world-class athletes such as 2024 Olympic champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) and Asian champion Sakura ONISHI (JPN) in the 57kg and 59kg weight class, respectively. Fujinami won gold at the Olympics in 53kg.

"I practice with Akari every day. She's really strong..." she said, admiringly, and when she's not sparring, she's always following Fujinami's movements to study them.

Since they are both in the 57kg weight class, could she challenge Fujinami as early as the All Japan Championships in December? To that question, she gave no clear answer, saying, "I'm not at the level where I can fight yet..." and said that she might move up a weight class as her body grows, so it's still up in the air, but perhaps the day is approaching when the middleweight trio, including Onishi, will take to the world stage.

Rather than setting big goals, her current goal is to "compete in many matches and enjoy wrestling." She says that she is actually enjoying it, so perhaps she is getting closer to her brother's level. Her next concrete goal is the All Japan Women's Open Championships in October.

She vowed to make a leap forward, saying, "I want to train both my body and mind and become even stronger. I want to become a star from Shimane Prefecture!"