#NFRoundup

NF Roundup: Nov. 16-20

Monday, November 16, 2020 - 17:08 By United World Wrestling Press

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Nippon Sport Science University won the freestyle title at the All-Japan Collegiate Championships (Photo: Tateo Yabuki/Japan Wrestling Federation)

Yamaguchi Leads NSSU to Japan Collegiate Freestyle Title
World junior champion Kaiki YAMAGUCHI made a successful move up to 65kg, helping lead Nippon Sport Science University to the team title as one of the school's three gold medalists at the All-Japan Collegiate Championships.

Bakhdaulet ALMENTAY (KAZ) etched his name in Japan wrestling history when the Yamanashi Gakuin University senior captured the 125kg gold to become the ninth four-time champion in the history of the freestyle tournament, which was held Nov. 7-8 in Osaka. 

Yuto TAKESHITA, last year's Asian junior champion, won the 57kg gold and Kodai OGAWA triumphed at 61kg as NSSU swept the three lightest weight classes, and had three silver medalists in winning the team title for the 21st time with 71 points. 

Takushoku University, with two champions in Takuma TANIYAMA at 70kg and Kojiro SHIGA at 74kg, finished second with 46.

Yamanashi Gakuin picked up a second title as Takuma OTSU, the national senior champion and Asian silver medalist at 92kg, won the 97kg crown, while world U-23 bronze medalist Hayato ISHIGURO of Nihon University repeated as 86kg champion. 

Kaiki YAMAGUCHI led NSSU to the Japan collegiate freestyle title (Photo: Tateo Yabuki/Japan Wrestling Federation)

Yamaguchi, the 2018 champion and 2019 runner-up at 61kg -- the weight class in which he won the world junior gold last year in Thailand -- was named the tournament's outstanding wrestler. 

He chalked up three technical falls before knocking off defending champion Ryoma ANRAKU of Waseda 3-1 in the semifinals, then edged Shinnosuke SUWAMA of Kokushikan University 2-0 in the final. 

Takeshita, the Asian junior champion, pulled off the biggest win of the tournament in the quarterfinals, when he posted a 6-2 win over world junior champion Toshiya ABE of Kokushikan. He took the gold with a 7-0 victory over Senshu University's Daiki ARAKI.

Almantay, coming off winning a third straight Greco title in October, maintained his domination of the college heavyweights, winning three of his four matches by technical fall, including a 10-0 win in the final over NSSU's Haroon ABID of Pakistan. The former world junior bronze medalist did not surrender a point. 

By winning a fourth title in a row, Almentay joined a elite group that includes two-time Olympic medalist Kosei AKAISHI (Nihon, 1983-1986) and 2014 world silver medalist Sosuke TAKATANI (Takushoku, 2008-2011), who will be aiming to qualify for a third Olympics in March. Of the nine who have accomplished the feat, he is the fourth from Yamanashi Gakuin.

Kojiro SHIGA claimed the title at 74kg (Photo: Tateo Yabuki/Japan Wrestling Federation)

In the 74kg final, Takushoku's Shiga overwhelming NSSU freshman Yudai TAKAHASHI by 10-0 technical fall for his third straight title in a clash between two of Japan's national team members at the 2019 World Championships in Nur-Sultan.

Shiga, the Asian silver medalist at 70kg, finished seventh in that weight class in Nur-Sultan, while Takahashi dropped down from 79kg, the weight in which he finished second at the All-Japan Championships last year as a high school senior. 

The national-level tournament was latest in recent months to be held employing strict restrictions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. That included prohibiting spectators and testing all competitors. 

So far, there have been no reports of infections in the weeks following any of the tournaments. 

Final Results
57kg: Yuto TAKESHITA (NSSU) df. Daiki ARAKI (Senshu), 7-0
61kg: Kodai OGAWA (NSSU) df. Keita SHIMIZU (Takushoku), 7-5
65kg: Kaiki YAMAGUCHI (NSSU) df. Shinnosuke SUWAMA (Kokushikan), 2-0
70kg: Takuma TANIYAMA (Takushoku) df. Kazuki SAITO (Meiji) by TF, 10-0, 1:31
74kg: Kojiro SHIGA (Takushoku) df. Yudai TAKAHASHI (NSSU) by TF, 10-0, 3:45
86kg: Hayato ISHIGURO (Nihon) df. Tatsuya SHIRAI (NSSU), 4-1 
97kg: Takuma OTSU (Yamanashi Gakuin) df. Keiwan YOSHIDA (Nihon), 8-6
125kg: Bakhdaulet ALMENTAY (Yamanashi Gakuin) df. Haroon ABID (NSSU) by TF, 10-0, 4:19

Coronavirus Crashes Olympic Party for Wrestler-Coach Couple
LINK: https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2020/11/cb0540320eda-coronavirus-crashes-olympic-party-for-wrestler-coach-couple.html

Despite these most uncertain of times, when the Tokyo Olympics might not even take place, Japanese wrestler Mayu Mukaida has seized control of her situation, preparing step by step for whatever comes next.

Had the global health crisis not disrupted her life and the sports calendar, the 23-year-old would have made her Olympic debut at the games this past summer and then married her coach Shota Shidochi.

"I want no regrets later, whether the Olympics go ahead or not. I will prepare the best I can," Mukaida told Kyodo News in a recent interview.

In February, Mukaida and Shidochi moved their training base to Tokyo from Aichi Prefecture in central Japan to get used to the host city environment, but in March the Olympics were postponed until 2021.

After the initial disappointment of having to wait another year for her shot at Olympic glory as well as her wedding day, Mukaida finally came to terms with the reality of having to re-plan everything in August.

Vinesh Phogat Gets Surprise Help in Solving Mukaida Problem

"But the tenacious Indian champion and her coach has now got a helping hand from Japan to solve the puzzle named Mayu Mukaida. During their training trip in Norway, Vinesh who has already qualified for Tokyo Olympics with the help of her Hungarian coach Woller Akos trained with multiple time world champion Haruna Okuno of Japan. Okuno who fights in the same category as Mukaida in 53kg recently won the Under 23 world championship and also has two senior world championship titles to her name. Training sessions with Okuno has given Vinesh insight into the wrestling style of her nemesis Mukaida. According to Vinesh’s coach Akos practicing in the Japanese style, wrestling has really helped the Indian champion."

 

FULL STORY: https://wrestlingtv.in/vinesh-phogat-gets-helping-hand-from-japan-itself-to-solve-the-mayu-mukaida-puzzle/

UWW Launches Legends v. Stars Freestyle Bracket on Instagram

Click HERE to visit the UWW Instagram feed and vote for your favorite wrestlers.

Free Download Available for Bundesliga Magazine:
HERE: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1j8ivQ5bTSgK69oVXVeK5XmQpbeXCQy0u/view 

ALT91A

 

#WrestleBudapest

World C'ships hopefuls battle it out in Budapest Ranking Series

Monday, July 14, 2025 - 14:51 By Vinay Siwach

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 13) -- The Budapest Ranking Series, held at this time of year, serves as the primary team selection event for most countries heading into the World Championships. Rather than conducting domestic trials, nations use this international competition to identify their top wrestlers for each weight class.

Georgia, Hungary, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan will be among the top countries looking to finalize their Greco-Roman teams during the July 17-20 tournament in Hungary capital.

Azerbaijan, one of the strongest Greco-Roman nations, is bringing all three of its 2024 world champions. Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE), the 55kg world champion, and Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE), the 63kg world champion, are both entered at 60kg. Ulvu GANIZADE (AZE), the 72kg world champion, will compete at 77kg alongside Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE).

Mammadli is on a hot streak, having claimed European and world titles in 2024 before adding the 2025 European gold at 60kg. Meanwhile, Azizli, a European silver medalist at 55kg, enters the 60kg bracket for two key reasons: to challenge Mammadli and avoid a significant weight cut.

Ganizade and Suleymanov did not win medals at the European Championships but will battle it out at 77kg in Budapest to make the team.

Paris Olympic bronze medalist and European champion Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) is at 72kg, up from his preferred 67kg as he prepares for the World Championships without forcing himself to reduce weight.

Similarly, hosts Hungary will have tough battles among local wrestlers. European 72kg champion Levente LEVAI (HUN) is moving up to 77kg and his brother Zoltan, a regular at 77kg, is now at 82kg. But so is world silver medalist Erik SZILVASSY (HUN) and it will be toss-up between the two to make the World Championships team.

The 87kg continues to be a heavily contested weight class as Tamas LEVAI (HUN), Istvan TAKACS (HUN) and European champion David LOSONCZI (HUN) are entered and the winner is likely to take the spot for the Zagreb Worlds.

At 130kg, Darius VITEK (HUN) and Koppany LASZLO (HUN) will fight it out for the spot.

The competition, however, won't be limited to these team selection battles. Many other top wrestlers are also entered, aiming for final preparations before the World Championships in Zagreb from September 13-21.

Here's the breakdown of each weight class:

55kg: European champion Emin SEFERSHAEV (UWW) will be the favorite in the bracket which also has 2024 European champ Artiom DELEANU (MDA), United States phenom Jayden RANEY (USA), Mongolia Ranking Series winner Anil MOR (IND) and world bronze medalist Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB).

The Budapest tournament will be a big test for teenagers Mor and Raney as they compete at the senior level.

60kg: Apart from Azizli and Mammadli, Pridon ABULADZE (GEO), world U20 medalist SUMIT (IND), Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ), former world champion Victor CIOBANU (MDA), European silver medalist Georgij TIBILOV (SRB), Sadyk LALAEV (UWW), Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (UWW) and world U23 champion Alisher GANIEV (UZB) rack up a stacked bracket.

Mammadli will still be the favorite, coming in as the European champion. He will also be keen on avenging his Zagreb Open loss to Mehroj BAKHRAMOV (UZB). Azizli, who has tried to make 60kg before in his career, will have a big task as he has struggled to match up against bigger-sized wrestlers at this weight class.

Tibilov made the finals in Bratislava but lost to Mammadli. He will be keen on getting a rematch in Budapest. Lalaev, who lost to Tibilov, has a chance to avenge that loss to the Serbian. He also has to battle it out with Allakhiarov as both are fighting for a spot at the World Championships as UWW wrestlers in Zagreb.

Ganiev, who has impressed with world U23 gold and Asian Championships silver, can be a problem for others in the bracket.

63kg: Red-hot Kerem KAMAL (TUR) will try to maintain his winning streak of 2025 as he enters the fourth tournament of the year. He won gold in Tirana, Bratislava and Ulaanbaatar in dominant fashion. He will be in Budapest at 63kg as the favorite.

European silver medalist Karen ASLANYAN (ARM) has a chance to avenge his loss in the final to Kamal but a strong bracket means he has bigger hurdles as well.

World U23 champion Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA), Aref MOHAMMADI (QAT), Dinislam BAMMATOV (UWW) and Sergey EMELIN (UWW) are entered to gain ranking points in Budapest.

67kg: With Jafarov moving up to 72kg for this tournament, former world champions Leri ABULADZE (GEO) and Sebastian NAD (SRB) along with a few others can win the gold.

Abuladze needs to win gold to make the World Championships over European bronze medalist Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) who will also look to beat his compatriot and earn his ticket to Zagreb.

Kazakhstan's world U23 champion Sultan ASSETULY (KAZ) has not shown the same form since winning the world gold in 2023. He has a chance to be in Zagreb with good performance in Budapest. He also has Din  KOSHKAR (KAZ) fighting for the same spot.

Add Ruslan BICHURIN (UWW) to the bracket as he can easily take the gold medal to surprise the field at 67kg.

Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO)Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) is a world U23 champion at 72kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

72kg: Three Georgians are entered at 72kg -- Iuri LOMADZE (GEO), Otar ABULADZE (GEO), Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO). The winner will get the spot on the Georgian team for the World Championships but the challenge is to win the tournament.

Lomadze failed to win a medal at the European Championships which created an opportunity for world bronze medalist Abuladze and world U23 champion Chkhikvadze to enter the race for a spot on the team.

Former world champion Ali ARSALAN (SRB), who missed out on a medal at the Europeans, would be keen on getting back to winning ways before the World Championships where he won bronze last year.

Jafarov won't be too worried about his result here as he neither gains ranking points nor is his Azerbaijan team spot in danger.

77kg: Both Ganizade and Suleymanov have a chance to make the world team for Azerbaijan. Even if Ganizade misses the podium, he will most likely be back to 72kg. Still, it spices up the 77kg in Budapest.

Levai, who won 72kg European gold, will be challenging the 77kg field in Budapest as he prepares for the World Championships. His win in Bratislava has forced his brother Zoltan to move to 82kg. Levai has rock-solid defense and can score points from different positions.

But big-throwing wrestlers like Alexandrin GUTU (MDA), Sergei STEPANOV (UWW) and Sergei KUTUZOV (UWW) are entered in the competition.

Gutu missed the European Championships and his place was taken by Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA). Now, both are fighting for the 77kg spot for Moldova. Asian champion Aram VARDANYAN (UZB) will be hoping to build on his gold, his first-ever in any championships. 

Other significant names include Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO), Ahmet YILMAZ (TUR), Yunus BASAR (TUR) and Kamal BEY (USA).

82kg: European champion Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) will be challenged more than the Euros in Budapest. While he has mastered the European field, the Asian wrestlers can pose some unique challenges.

Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) and Samandar BOBONAZAROV (UZB) are the big names entered from Asia. Also add the two Kazakhstan wrestlers, Dias KALEN (KAZ) and Shamil OZHAEV (KAZ). World U23 silver medalist Beka MELELASHVILI (USA) will also be a tough competitor from the U.S.

Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO), Zoltan LEVAI (HUN), Erik SZILVASSY (HUN) and Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) are some of the European stars.

87kg: Always regarded as the toughest weight class in Greco-Roman, the 87kg doesn't have a clear favorite. Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) will only be at his third competition this year after he won the Zagreb Open early in the year and then the invitational Thor Masters last month. It remains to be seen how rusty he looks coming back from the break.

Hungarian trio -- Levai, Takacs and Losonczi -- are fighting it out for the spot on the team and Losonczi will be the favorite to win, like last year.

The biggest challenge will come from Milad ALIRZAEV (UWW), Alan OSTAEV (UWW) and Aues GONIBOV (UWW). Only one of the three can be at the World Championships and that will add motivation for them to win the tournament.

Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) and Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) are also entered as they look to earn some ranking points for World Championships.

Islam ABBASOV (AZE), Ivan HUKLEK (CRO), Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ), Shamil OZHAEV (KAZ) and Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) are also in the bracket, making it even more unpredictable.

97kg: A mini-battle for Azerbaijan will be between Arif NIFTULLAYEV (AZE) and Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE), while Artur SARGSIAN (UWW) and Magomed MURTAZALIEV (UWW) will vie for UWW spots. Sargasian suffered a surprising loss at the European Championships but will hope to make the world team.

Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) and Alex SZOKE (HUN) are other big names in the competition.

130kg: European silver medalist Hamza BAKIR (TUR) will be the favorite to win the gold medal at 130kg despite the presence of Beka KANDELAKI (AZE),  Heiki NABI (EST), Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ) among others.

Hungary has Darius VITEK (HUN) and Koppany LASZLO (HUN) competing for the 130kg spot for Hungary. 

Mihail KAJAIA (SRB) is a surprise entry at 130kg from Serbia as he seems to struggle to make the 97kg weight class

The United States has three entries -- Cohlton SCHULTZ (USA), Aden ATTAO (USA) and Courtney FREEMAN (USA).