#WrestleBaku, #WrestleParis

Nine nations, 2 AINs win Paris 2024 quotas at European qualifiers

Friday, April 5, 2024 - 22:13 By Vinay Siwach

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BAKU, Azerbaijan (April 5) -- Two months ago, Sergei SEMENOV (AIN) had pulled off one of the greatest wins in European history when he pinned Riza KAYAALP (TUR) in the 130kg final.

On Friday, Semenov continued his excellent form and qualified for the Paris Olympics 2024 from the European OG Qualifier in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Semenov was one of the two Individual Neutral Athletes who qualified for the Paris Games. Nine other countries shared the remaining 10 Greco-Roman spots on day one of the tournament.

Semenov, a two-time Olympic bronze medalist, controlled all three of his matches to win the spot. He blanked Dzmitry ZARUBSKI (AIN) 4-0 before holding off former world champion and London Olympics silver medalist Heiki NABI (FIN) 1-1.

In the Paris 2024 qualification bout, Semenov held off local favorite Beka KANDELAKI (AZE), 4-2, and silenced a loud Azerbaijani crowd at the National Gymnastics Center.

The second Paris 2024 quota at 130kg went to Jello KRAHMER (GER) who defeated three-time Olympian Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU), 6-1, in the semifinal.

Once he got the advantage in the first period, Krahmer asked to continue in standing instead of the usual par terre. Alexuc took the lead in the second period after Krahmer was called passive. But Alexuc failed to score any points.

As time was ticking, Krahmer managed to lock Alexuc's arm and threw him for a four-pointer which Romania challenged but lost, giving Krahmer a 6-1 win and a Paris 2024 quota.

Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) also continued his good form from Romania as the European champion made it look easy at 87kg and earned a Paris 2024 quota for Serbia. Up against former European champion Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN), who was coming back from a shoulder surgery, Komarov finished his bout against Bisultanov in just one minute and 23 seconds.

However, it wasn't a great start to the day as Komarov had to dig deep to win his opening bout against Ivan HUKLEK (CRO). Komarov fell behind 5-0 in the opening bout before using his strong gut-wrench to make a comeback and win 7-5.

Milad ALIRZAEV (AIN) got the second quota at 87kg after he defeated Kiryl MASKEVICH (AIN) 2-1 in a very close semifinal. Alirzaev earlier beat Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) 10-2 in a tense bout.

Tokyo Olympian Victor CIOBANU (MDA) qualified Moldova at 60kg after he defeated Hleb MAKARANKA (AIN), 9-1, in the semifinals. After giving up passivity in the second period, Ciobanu got the par terre advantage in the second and out came the reverse lift for four and flip for two more points to lead 7-1.

If Moldova allows Ciobanu to represent it in Paris, it will be the first time that a Moldovan Greco-Roman wrestler will be a two-time Olympian.

The other quota was secured by Enes BASAR (TUR), who had a field in Baku. He earned Turkiye the Paris spot at 60kg after beating Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (AIN) in the second semifinal at 60kg. After beating European champion and local favorite Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) in the quarterfinal, Basar stunned Allakhiarov 3-2 in the semifinal. Allakhiarov had beaten Basar 10-9 in the 63kg quarterfinals at the European Championships in February.

At 67kg, Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) scored a late stepout to beat Krisztian VANCZA (HUN), 5-4, in the semifinal to earn a quota for Ukraine. Vancza had taken 4-4 lead before Nasibov found a way to score via stepout.

France will have their own as Mamadassa SYLLA (FRA) defeated Gevorg SAHAKYAN (POL), 3-3, in a closely fought battle. Sylla scored his points in the second period which helped him secure the victory. This is the first time since the 2012 London Olympics that France has qualified in Greco-Roman.

Former world champion Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) turned up at 77kg and went home with the Paris 2024 quota for Turkiye. Up against the dangerous Alexandru GUTU (MDA) in the semifinal, Akbudak sneaked out a 10-8 win.

Akbudak scored three turns in par terre to lead 7-0 but Gutu blocked him in the last roll and then scored two more points. Akbudak led 8-5 at the break but Gutu scored three pushouts to tie it 8-8, However, Akbudak led on criteria, ultimately claiming the win.

Jonni SARKKINEN (FIN) got two four-pointers as he stunned Zoltan LEVAI (HUN), 9-0, to earn the other quota at 77kg.

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RESULTS

60kg Paris 2024 Qualification Bouts
SF 1: Enes BASAR (TUR) df. Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (AIN), 5-2
SF 2: Victor CIOBANU (MDA) df. Hleb MAKARANKA (AIN), 7-1

67kg Paris 2024 Qualification Bouts
SF 1: Mamadassa SYLLA (FRA) df. Gevorg SAHAKYAN (POL), 3-3
SF 2: Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) df. Krisztian VANCZA (HUN), 5-4

77kg Paris 2024 Qualification Bouts
SF 1: Jonni SARKKINEN (FIN) df. Zoltan LEVAI (HUN), 9-0
SF 2: Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) df. Alexandrin GUTU (MDA), 10-8

87kg Paris 2024 Qualification Bouts
SF 1: Milad ALIRZAEV (AIN) df. Kiryl MASKEVICH (AIN), 2-1
SF 2: Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) df. Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN), 8-0

97kg Paris 2024 Qualification Bouts
SF 1: Mindaugas VENCKAITIS (LTU) df. Mihail KAJAIA (SRB), 5-2
SF 2: Roberti KOBLIASHVILI (GEO) df. Lucas LAZOGIANIS (GER), 2-1

130kg Paris 2024 Qualification Bouts
SF 1: Sergei SEMENOV (AIN) df. Beka KANDELAKI (AZE), 4-2
SF 2: Jello KRAHMER (GER) df. Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU), 6-1

#WrestleNoviSad

U23 Worlds: Fujinami ready for first international test at 57kg

Friday, October 10, 2025 - 10:32 By Ken Marantz

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TOKYO, Japan (October 9) -- She already has an Olympic gold and two senior world titles, not to mention a 141-match winning streak that dates back to her junior high school days. And there is that undefeated record against non-Japanese opponents.

So what has compelled Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) to even bother entering the U23 World Championships, a tournament that, on paper at least, she should have no problem winning?

Rest assured there is method to what she would not regard as madness. It is all part of a grand plan, centered on the 21-year-old's much-publicized move from 53kg directly up to the next Olympic weight of 57kg with eyes firmly on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

"This will by my first world tournament since I moved up in weight class," Fujinami said in an interview via social media. "I want to try out what I have been practicing, and get an idea of where I stand in terms of my current ability. I also want to identify areas to work on ahead of the All-Japan Championships in December."

Fujinami tops the marquee as she makes her debut at the U23 World Championships, to be held October 20-27 in Novi Sad, Serbia. Currently in her senior year at Nippon Sports Science University, it will be just her third competition since she cruised to the 53kg gold at the Paris Olympics, where she won all four matches by either fall or technical superiority.

The two other outings -- one a collegiate team event in November 2024 and the other the Japan Queen's Cup in April at which she qualified for the U23 Worlds -- did not provide much of a workout. She won a total of four matches in a combined time of 7:11 without giving up a point.

Fujinami expressed no concerns about her extended absence from top-level competition. "This will be my first tournament in six months," she said. "I'm not worried about regaining my match feeling. For the Olympics, I had about a seven-month blank."

Fujinami had at first planned to try for the senior worlds, but decided she would not be ready as she makes the physical adjustment to 57kg. So will we see a bulked-up Fujinami in Novi Sad?

"Compared with the time when I was in the 53kg class, my natural weight is more than then," Fujinami said. "I am also going to have cut weight before the tournament at 57kg. I'm also working hard on weight training, and I'll try to show the effects of that in the matches."

Despite her exalted status, Fujinami knows not to take any opponent lightly – a lesson she learned fully well when she won her second senior world title in 2023. In the quarterfinals, she was stunned when Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) tagged her for five points early in the match and seven overall, marking the most points ever scored upon her by a non-Japanese.

Although Fujinami came back to take the lead and win by fall, it showed any lapse can lead to disaster – which, ironically, makes the sport more appealing for her.

“You never know what will happen in a match,” Fujinami said. “But I think that’s what makes it interesting. For me, a match is like a presentation of yourself, so I will go into it aiming to win while having fun.”

In Novi Sad, Fujinami may have to share some of the spotlight with compatriot, fellow Paris Olympic gold medalist and recently crowned senior world champion Sakura MOTOKI (JPN).

A victory by Motoki at 62kg would make her the third member of the “Golden Grand Slam” club -- those who have combined an Olympic gold with titles on the senior and all three age-group levels. The two current members are Yui SUSAKI (JPN) and Amit ELOR (USA).

Ironically, circumstances beyond her control worked against Fujinami ever having a chance to also gain entry into the club.

A world U17 champion in 2018, she was deprived twice of chances to win a U20 world title – first in 2021 when Japan opted to not send a team during the pandemic, and again in 2022 when an injury forced her to withdraw. Those same years she qualified for the U23 worlds, but missed out for the same reasons.

This time, her preparations have gone without a hitch. "I've been able to continue to train and practice without any major injuries," she said.

Prior to securing a second Olympic gold in Los Angeles, Fujinami has a more immediate goal — winning her first at the Asian Games, to be held next October in Nagoya / Aichi Prefecture, which borders her native Mie Prefecture. Because of the early deadline for entries, she needs a victory at the All-Japan Championships in December to make the Japanese squad.

“My goals are to win gold at the Asian Games in Nagoya and at the Los Angeles Olympics,” she said. “To achieve those goals, I’ve dedicated myself to strengthening myself during this period. It’s been a time for me to look inside myself and explore my wrestling. Now the time has come to show the results.”