#WrestleNewDelhi

Otoguro Dominates in Rematch With Punia for 65kg Asian Gold

Saturday, February 22, 2020 - 18:34 By Ken Marantz

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New Delhi (Feb. 22)—Former world champion Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) came out on top quite convincingly in the rematch on his rival’s home soil. Whether he can repeat it back in his own country—when it would matter most---is a matter for another time.

Otoguro effectively used a low-single attack to grind out a 10-2 victory over Bajrang PUNIA (IND) in the freestyle 65kg final at the Asian Championships on Saturday night in New Delhi.

The victory in the highly anticipated rematch of the final at the 2018 World Championships, in which Otoguro rambled to with a wild 16-9 win, gives the young Japanese a confidence boost heading toward the Tokyo Olympics—particularly taking into consideration his disappointing fifth-place finish at last year’s worlds in Nur-Sultan.

“Last year, I feel like I was only losing and I went through various experiences,” Otoguro said. “From now, this is an Olympic year, and I feel I’ve gained some momentum. But I still have room to improve. How strong I can get from here, I’m also looking forward to finding out.”

Punia, a bronze medalist in Nur-Sultan, was looking to defend the Asian title he won last year in Xi’an, China. But he had no answer for Otoguro’s attacks and counters, as the Japanese put the match away with seven unanswered points in the second period.

Asked about his low-single approach, Otoguro replied, “When I shot for the low single, his leg was sweaty, so I went for his shoe so I wouldn’t slip off.”

Punia was not immediately available for comment, but his personal coach, Shako Bentinidis, said people should not read into the loss too much.

“I am happy with the silver medal today,” Bentinidis said. “Sometimes it is possible for him to lose, but not at Olympics. I think this is no problem. Better to lose now before Olympics.”

Bentinidis issued a warning to the Indian media, saying, “We must stay relaxed, and not so much ‘Bajrang, Bajrang.’”

For the 21-year-old Otoguro, it was his first continental championship since winning the Asian cadet crown in 2014. He said that heading into the Tokyo Olympics, he is undecided if he will enter an overseas tournament, and is leaning toward attending a training camp abroad.

One thing he knows is that since winning the 2018 world title, which made him Japan’s youngest-ever world freestyle champion, his rivals are looking for holes in his game to exploit. 

“Of course, I feel that others have been studying me,” he said. “I really felt it over the last year. Since then, I have been making adjustments looking ahead to the Olympics.”

Kumar RAVI (IND) cruised to the 57kg title with a 10-0 win over Hikmatullo VOHIDOV (TJK) in the gold-medal match. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Ravi rolls to 57kg gold before home crowd
Host India had three wrestlers in the five finals on the opening day of freestyle, and Kumar RAVI (IND) gave the home crowd a thrill with a one-sided win in the 57kg final that capped a day of dominance.

With the order of bouts reversed for the night session, Ravi concluded the festivities with a 10-0 technical fall over Hikmatullo VOHIDOV (TJK), who was aiming to become only Tajikistan’s second Asian champion in history.

“I just thought I had to win the gold medal for India because it is my home country and I was wrestling in front of my family,” said Ravi, a world bronze medalist in Nur-Sultan who captured his first senior Asian title. “It was a perfect day for me.”

Ravi said he knows he has raised national hopes for his success at Tokyo 2020. “Because of this gold medal, there are more expectations on me from my country,” he said. “Going into the Tokyo Olympics, the gold medal means a lot to me in my Olympic journey.”

Ilyas BEKBULATOV (UZB) back-tripped Amirhossein HOSSEINI (IRI) for four points en route to 10-6 win in the 70kg finals. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Russia ostensibly provided two champions when transplants Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (KGZ) and Ilyas BEKBULATOV (UZB) won gold medals at 79kg and 70kg, respectively.

In a frenetic 79kg final that saw the lead change hands five times, Budazhapov notched the winning takedown with 15 seconds left to upend Baliyan GOURAV (IND) 7-5.

Budazhapov, a three-time winner of the Mongolian Open while competing for Russia, took a 2-1 lead into the second period when Gourav started a string of alternating takedowns. On the final one, Budazhapov came out the back door to secure the points, then gained another on a lost challenge. 

“I don’t know how it happened, but I was very tired and a bit groggy,” Budazhapov said of the back-and-forth exchanges. 

As for reaching the top of the Asian medal podium for the country of his grandmother, Budazhapov said, “It’s very good for me. I am happy. In the future I have to work harder.”

Budazhapov is also making his mark off the mats. A businessman, he owns a chain of four wrestling shops in Russia, called Olimpic Shop, that also sells globally online and has received endorsements from the likes of Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS), Kyle SNYDER (USA) and Zaur UGUEV (RUS).

Bekbulatov pulled off the move of the day in his 10-6 victory in the 70kg final over Amirhossein HOSSEINI (IRI) as the 29-year-old added an Asian gold to his collection of three European medals that includes a 2017 gold.

With a 4-2 lead in the second period, Hosseini got in on a single leg and lifted it into the air. But before he knew what hit him, Bekbulatov leaped up and back-tripped for a 4-point move. 

“When I wrestle, I never plan what I’m going to do, because I wrestle by the situation,” Bekbulatov said. “You take my leg, I do this trick. If I don’t do this trick, I will try another.”

Bekbulatov, who twice participated in the Pro Wrestling League in India, said he was happy to wrestle in the Asian Championships.

“I’m very happy for every competition,” he said. “To participate for the Uzbek national team is good for me, because my main goal is to wrestle in the Olympic Games. “

Bekbulatov said he will drop down to 65kg for next month’s Asian Olympic qualifying tournament, which would only deepen an already stacked weight class. 

Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) upgraded his silver medal from last year with a win over Salywart KADIAN (IND) in the 97kg finals. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

World U-23 champion Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) improved on his silver medal from 2018 when he outmuscled Salywart KADIAN (IND) to take the 97kg gold with a 10-0 technical fall.

After gaining a point on the activity clock, Goleij bulled Kadian out for three stepouts, then faced little resistance in scoring three takedowns, the last one on a snap down that ended the match at 5:30.

In the bronze-medal matches, 2018 world champion Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN) bounced back from his loss earlier in the day to Ravi by overwhelming 2019 world bronze medalist Nurislam SANAYEV (KAZ) 14-5 at 57kg for his second straight Asian bronze.

World 65kg silver medalist Daulet NIYAZBEKOV (KAZ) had a little harder time with Nyamdorj BATTULGA (MGL), but forged out a 4-1 win to add the bronze to his 2018 gold.

Shinkichi OKUI (JPN), making his international debut, scored a takedown and a stepout in the last half-minute, then deftly walked a tightrope to avoid being forced out himself in the final seconds as he held on for a 4-3 victory over Batzul DAMJIN (MGL) at 79kg.

Kazakhstan came away with three bronzes, including a second straight for Alisher YERGALI (KAZ) at 97kg, while Japan, Iran and Kyrgyzstan claimed two each and Tajikistan one.  

Day 4 Results

Freestyle

57kg (11 entries)
GOLD – Kumar RAVI (IND) df. Hikmatullo VOHIDOV (TJK) by TF, 10-0, 3:27 
BRONZE – Bekbolot MYRZANAZAR UULU (KGZ) df. Sardor RUZIMOV (UZB) by Fall, 4:53 (7-0)
BRONZE – Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN) df. Nurislam SANAYEV (KAZ), 14-5 

65kg (14 entries)
GOLD – Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) df. Bajrang PUNIA (IND), 10-2
BRONZE – Daulet NIYAZBEKOV (KAZ) df. Nyamdorj BATTULGA (MGL), 4-1
BRONZE – Amirhossein MAGHSOUDI (IRI) df. Abbos RAKHMONOV (UZB), 2-0

70kg (9 entries)
GOLD – Ilyas BEKBULATOV (UZB) df. Amirhossein HOSSEINI (IRI), 10-6 
BRONZE – Meirzhan ASHIROV (KAZ) df. Naveen NAVEEN (IND) by TF, 12-1, 3:53 
BRONZE – Islambek OROZBEKOV (KGZ) df. Temuulen ENKHTUYA (MGL) by Default

79kg (8 entries) 
GOLD – Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (KGZ) df. Baliyan GOURAV (IND), 7-5 
BRONZE – Shinkichi OKUI (JPN) df. Batzul DAMJIN (MGL), 4-3
BRONZE – Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI) df. Galymzhan USSERBAYEV (KAZ), 5-0

97kg (11 entries)
GOLD – Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) df. Salywart KADIAN (IND) by TF, 10-0, 5:30
BRONZE – Rustam ISKANDARI (TJK) df. Zaid SHISHANI (JOR) by Fall, 1:33 (6-0)
BRONZE – Alisher YERGALI (KAZ) df. Magomed MUSAEV (KGZ), 11-5 

#WrestleTirana

U23 Worlds: Iran, Moldova split Greco golds

Thursday, October 24, 2024 - 05:48 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (October 23) -- Iran and Moldova emerged as the top nations on the third day of the U23 World Championships in Tirana, Albania with them winning two gold medals each. Iran won the team title with 149 points with yet another incredible performance. Georgia followed with a second-place finish with 121 points and Armenia was third with 93 points.

Iran's first gold medal of the day came from U20 world champion Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) as he added the U23 world title to his growing resume. He won the U17 world title in 2022.

The 19-year-old was up against European silver medalist Rashad MAMMADOV (AZE) in the final but apart from par terre in the first period, he never looked in trouble. Mammadov got two points for a correct throw to lead 3-0 at the break.

Ahmadi Vafa got the par terre in the second period and scored two turns to lead 5-3. He went into defensive soon and was hit with the third passivity. But it proved fatal for Mammadov who was stopped in the middle of a turn from Ahmadi Vafa. With a 7-3 lead, Ahmadi Vafa hit a huge four-pointer on the edge to win the bout 11-3 and his third age-group gold medal.

"It was decided by the coaching staff to compete at the U23 World Championships after the U20 one," Ahmadi Vafa said. "Thank God, I was able to participate and return to Iran with a gold medal"

Ahmadi Vafa credits his training this year and his study of his opponents as the major factors for his improvement after suffering close losses in the age-group World Championships last year. 

"I worked really hard this year," he said. "I spent a full year in training camp and put in a lot of effort. A thorough analysis with the coaching staff made me win. I was able to reap the rewards of all my hard work over the past year."

In the 45-day break between the U20 and U23 World Championships, Ahmadi Vafa trained with the senior team. 

"A few days after we returned to Iran, we went to the senior camp," he said. "We were under a lot of physical strain, so the coaching staff decided to make our training sessions a bit lighter than the others.

"Our bodies responded well. I always felt deep inside that I could do it. I always say that I’m the best in my weight class."

To be on Iran's senior team, Ahmadi Vafa would have had to go through Poya DAD MARZ (IRI) who is the senior team member. However, the Iran federation has asked him to move to the 60kg weight class.

"He has a senior medal, and I have a lot of respect for him," he said. "We are from the same hometown. We’ve trained together several times at the senior camp, and he’s a really good opponent for me, and I might be a good opponent for him too.

"But the decision of the coaches is that I have to move up to the new weight category of 60kg, which will be a lot tougher. But I need to work harder to be able to win the gold medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics."

Multiple-time age-group world champion Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) added the U23 world title with a dominant run in Tirana. With three technical superiority victories, Hedayati won the final 6-0 against Dmitrii BABORYKO (AIN).

Hedayati, in which typical style, began attacking relentlessly and soon scored a couple of stepouts. He was also awarded the par terre but he could not score any points. After leading 6-0, Hedayati scored a takedown to finish the bout 8-0 but Baboryko challenged. On review, Hedayati was warned for pushing and the score was reversed to 6-0.

The 21-year-old managed to hang on to that lead and win the gold medal.

Alexandrin GUTU (MDA)Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) scores two points over Samuel BELLSCHEIDT (GER) in the 77kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostandin Andonov)

For Moldova, Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) defended his U23 world title at 77kg and Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) denied Japan's Komei SAWADA (JPN) in the 63kg final to win the gold medal.

Gutu, who has a U17 world title as well, was competing at his fourth U23 World Championships and has won medals in three of them with two golds. Wrestling Samuel BELLSCHEIDT (GER) in the final on Wednesday, Gutu used his signature front headlock to score exposure. That remained the difference as he clinched a 3-1 victory.

The win gave Gutu something to cherish after a disappointing season in which he failed to qualify for the Olympics and finished with only a bronze medal in four tournaments.

"This championships is very important for me," Gutu said. "As everyone knows, I lost at the Olympic qualifiers. I couldn’t even win the European Championships. This was the last tournament of the year. I needed to show a good performance here. I am really happy that I’ve won."

After dealing with the disappointment of failing just one win short of winning a ticket to the Paris Olympics, Gutu took some time to motivate himself to return to the mat.

"After the qualifiers in Baku, it was difficult to recover," he said. "I can’t even describe it. I was not just one step away, I was one percent away from that spot. It was very disappointing. 

"I’ve always had that motivation. The younger generation looks up to me. My family and my coaches are always there for me. I can’t let them all down. I will keep working until I get what I want."

Eriomenco added to the party with the 63kg gold as he defeated Swada in a very one-sided final. He got two turns from par terre to lead 5-0 at the break. Swada opened the second period with a stepout and then a point for par terre. As he was trying the gut-wrench, Eriomenco got out of the hold and scored a reversal to make it 6-2. Two easy turns made it 10-2, ending the match with technical superiority.

"I’ve been working so hard to reach this," Eriomenco said. "I’ve finished third three times at the European Championships and last year I was third at the Worlds. I was motivated to win this gold. I’ve never won even the European championships, but now I have won the World gold. I came here only for gold."

The difference between the physicality of the two wrestlers stood out and Eriomenco acknowledged that it worked to his advantage.

"From the beginning, I could feel that I was physically stronger," he said. "That’s when I got the confidence that I could win. The first match was the toughest one, then it was a bit easier. The final match was the most difficult. It was mentally tough to get ready for that match, because I really wanted the gold medal and no less."

Eriomenco is scheduled to compete at the Non-Olympic Weight Classes World Championships and is keen to leave an impression.

"It’s definitely going to be difficult to compete at two competitions in a raw," he said. "I won’t let the weight go up a lot. I will keep it down. I think everything is going to be ok. I know all my competitors. We’ve been training together at camps, we’ve been wrestling each other at competitions."

Fellow gold medalist Gutu also praised his compatriot and friend for his gold medal. 

"Eriomenco is my best friend," Gutu said. "I am so happy for him, because he was always so close, but he could never win. He became the World champion, I am really happy for him and it motivated me a lot to win my gold medal as well."

Anes GONIBOV (AIN)Anes GONIBOV (AIN) defeated Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) in the 87kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) had the chance to add a second title to his U20 one from 2021. However, he fell short and dropped his 87kg final against Anes GONIBOV (AIN) 4-0.

Gonibov got par terre position in both the periods which made his lead 2-0. Sterkenburg tried desperately for a takedown but failed and Gonibov managed to score and lead 4-0. The win for Gonibov gives him his second world tittle to along with his gold medal at the U23 World Championships at 82kg.

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) df. Rashad MAMMADOV (AZE), 11-3

BRONZE: Vishvajit MORE (IND) df. Adam ULBASHEV (AIN), 14-10
BRONZE: Kohei YAMAGIWA (JPN) df. William SULLIVAN (USA), 11-1

63kg
GOLD: Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) df. Komei SAWADA (JPN), 10-2

BRONZE: Erfan JARKANI (IRI) df. Arman VARDANYAN (ARM), 8-0
BRONZE: Mairbek SALIMOV (POL) df. Bekir ATES (TUR), via fall

77kg
GOLD: Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) df. Samuel BELLSCHEIDT (GER), 3-1

BRONZE: Khasay HASANLI (AZE) df. Temuri ORJONIKIDZE (GEO), 
BRONZE: Ali OSKOU (IRI) df. Doniyorkhon NAKIBOV (UZB), 6-4

87kg
GOLD: Aues GONIBOV (AIN) df. Marcel STERKENBURG (NED), 4-0

BRONZE: Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) df. Payton JACOBSON (USA), 9-0
BRONZE: Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) df. Yasin YAZDI (IRI), 4-4

130kg
GOLD: Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) df. Dmitrii BABORYKO (AIN), 6-0

BRONZE: Giorgi TSOPURASHVILI (GEO) df. Albert VARDANYAN (ARM), 1-1
BRONZE: Koppany LASZLO (HUN) df. Pavel HLINCHUK (AIN), 9-1

Women's Wrestling Semifinals

50kg
GOLD: Natalia PUDOVA (AIN) vs. Sage MORTIMER (USA)

SF 1: Natalia PUDOVA (AIN) df. Natallia VARAKINA (AIN), 8-2
SF 2: Sage MORTIMER (USA) df. Umi ITO (JPN), via fall (4-12)

55kg
GOLD: Zeltzin HERNANDEZ GUERRA (MEX) vs. Jonna MALMGREN (SWE)

SF 1: Zeltzin HERNANDEZ GUERRA (MEX) df. Amani JONES (USA), via fall (4-5)
SF 2: Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) df. Ekaterina KARPUSHKINA (AIN), 7-0

59kg
GOLD: ANJLI (IND) vs. Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR)

SF 1: ANJLI (IND) df. Aurora RUSSO (ITA), via fall (4-0)
SF 2: Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) df. Himeka TOKUHARA (JPN), 5-2

68kg
GOLD: Aues GONIBOV (AIN) vs. Marcel STERKENBURG (NED)

SF 1: Nesrin BAS (TUR) df. Alina SHAUCHUK (AIN), via fall (3-0)
SF 2: Ami ISHII (JPN) df. Xinze DU (CHN), 10-0

76kg
GOLD: Shuiyan CHENG (CHN) vs. Yelena MAKOYED (USA)

SF 1: Shuiyan CHENG (CHN) df. Zsofia VIRAG (HUN), 10-0
SF 2: Yelena MAKOYED (USA) df. Nodoka YAMAMOTO (JPN), via fall (13-2)