Rzazade, Aliyev lead Azerbaijan charge at European Championships

Tuesday, April 18, 2023 - 21:52 By Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (April 18) -- Since the turn of the century, Azerbaijan has been struggling to find a world-beating lightweight.

Barring Olympic champion Namik ABDULLAEV (AZE), no wrestler has been able to stamp his authority in the 55kg-57kg weight class. Giorgi EDISHERASHVILI (AZE) did win the European Championships twice in 2017 and 2018, but he was well past his prime by then and never looked threatening at the world level. Haji ALIYEV (AZE) won a bronze medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics but has spent most of his career at 61kg or above.

Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE) may change that now. Having won the U23 world title in 2021, the 25-year-old reached the final of the European Championships last year and taking a step further, became the champion on Tuesday, beating two-time European champion Suleyman ATLI (TUR).

Rzazade led Azerbaijan's charge on day two of the European Championships in Zagreb as the nation took a comfortable seat at the top of the team rankings. Aliyev added a fourth European title and his first since 2019 to make it two golds for the night for his country.

For day two semifinal results, click here: Akgul vs Petriashvili, Round 11

Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR) ended the country's 10-year wait for a European champion as he defeated Georgios KOUGIOUMTISDIS (GRE) to capture the 79kg gold medal while Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) scored a late takedown to deny Magomedkhan MAGOMED (AZE) a repeat at 97kg.

Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) added a senior European title to his U17, U20 and U23 titles as he defeated Mikyay NAIM (BUL) in the 65kg final.

Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE) throws Suleyman ATLI (TUR) in the final move of the bout. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

But it was Rzazade who came out all guns blazing and etched his name in history as he won the 25th gold medal for Azerbaijan at the European Championships.

Atli was looking for his third after suffering three losses in the finals in the last five years but little did he know that Rzazade will hit an arm throw five seconds into the final.

And as Atli was settling down after that throw, Rzazade dropped to his knees to which Atli reacted by throwing himself backward. Rzazade made it look like he was going for a leg attack but hit another arm throw, this time earning himself two points.

A 6-0 was always difficult to cover. Atli did try and cut it to 6-2 at the break but Rzazade came out even more aggressive in the second period. Atli tried tipping him but Rzazade was solid and threw Atli to his back for four and turned for a 12-2 win. Rzazade was off for the celebrations.

Turkiye challenged the call claiming it was only two points on the throw and won. The wrestlers had to restart with the score at 10-2. But it just delaying the inevitable.

Rzazade and Atli body-locked each other but it was the former who managed to get the throw. This time, there was no one stopping the Azerbaijan wrestler from celebrating his first European title.

"I came here to be a champion," Rzazade said. "I was very ambitious coming here. It's a great feeling and I am proud that I was able to raise the Azerbaijan flag. This is one of the best days of my life."

For the 17 years he has been wrestling, beginning in the town of Astara in south Azerbaijan, walking distance from the border of Iran which also has an Astara bordering Azerbaijan, the first senior title could feel that way.

Tuesday's final was in contrast to the one he had last year when Vladimir EGOROV (MKD) defeated him 8-6. Rzazade fell behind 8-0 but rallied to score six points and as he was about to get a turn for the win, the time ran out. He did not leave anything to chance this year and captured the gold medal.

"Last year in the final, I lost a very close bout," he said. "Today I was able to win gold and it's a very different feeling than the previous one. I am very happy that I was able to win the gold.”

That loss allowed Rzazade to put things into perspective and grow as a wrestler moving forward.

"Now I am an ambitious athlete," he said. "This is my year and this is my day. I think I am not that weak and everyone sees me as a tough opponent. It won't be easy as good and strong opponents are waiting for me.”

His opponents too will have to work hard to beat the newly minted European champion. A lethal underhook and strong gut wrench make him a threat. Add to that a solid defense, both in par terre and standing.

“I am looking forward to the next championships -- the World Championships in Serbia,” he said. “As we can obtain the license for the Olympic Games, I will like to get one in Serbia. I want to be an Olympic champion.”

Haji ALIYEV (AZE) became the first male wrestler from Azerbaijan to win four European gold medals. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Aliyev made it two for Azerbaijan as he won the 70kg gold after beating Ramazan RAMAZANOV (BUL) in the gold medal bout. With him turning 32 years old on April 21, Aliyev gifted him an early birthday present.

The Tokyo Olympics silver medalist became the first male from Azerbaijan to win four European titles as he went past Abdullaev who had three titles. Greco-Roman star Rafiq HUSEYNOV (AZE) has three titles as well and will get a chance to make it four in the coming days. Mariya STADNIK (AZE) still leads the way with seven titles.

“This is a very important win for me,” Aliyev said. “In the history of Azerbaijan, I am the first [male] one to win four European golds. This is very good for me.”

On Monday Aliyev had said that he is wrestling at 70kg which has stronger wrestlers than him. But he outsmarts them to win.

Against Ramazanov, he did use various tricks to capture the gold medal. Instead of waning himself out, Aliyev decided to rack up stepouts instead of indulging in scrambles.

He got three stepouts and a takedown to lead 5-1 at the break. He continued to put the pressure on Ramazanov and scored another stepout. Ramazanov scored a stepout and got an extra caution point to cut the lead to 8-3. Aliyev added a late takedown to win 10-3.

“We’ve been preparing a lot,” he said. “We had a lot of training camps this year. We are on the right way. That’s why we are winning.”

For his future plans, Aliyev said he is still chasing that elusive Olympic gold, a medal the 31-year-old missed by a whisker in Tokyo.

“I already have an Olympic bronze and silver, but I need the gold,” he said. “I will try hard. I do my best for this gold. I think it doesn’t matter if I am 32 or 34 years old, it only matters to work hard and become a champion.”

But Aliyev also knows that winning a medal in 65kg will be a herculean task as it is the deepest category in the world.

“This weight class is the toughest,” he said. “There are many good opponents and there are usually around 4-5 world champions. I think I know their wrestling styles. This is my last chance and I have to win the Olympic gold and then retire.”

Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) scoring a takedown on Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) in the final. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Azerbaijan could have won three gold medals but world bronze medalist Matcharashvili pulled off a late takedown to beat fellow world bronze medalist Magomedov 4-3 in the final at 97kg.

Magomedov, the defending champion, began with a stepout and always looked to attack even as Matcharashvili continued to stall in the first period. He got a takedown on the edge to lead 3-0 at the break.

After five minutes of no action from Matcharashvili, he got going in the final minute, scoring a takedown via single-leg. In the final 20 seconds, Magomedov managed to go behind but slipped, giving Matcharashvili the opportunity to score another takedown as he won 4-3.

It was the first European gold medal for the former U23 world champion who also has a silver medal from European Games.

Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) celebrates after winning the 65kg gold medal in Zagreb. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Tevanyan, Mykhailov win first titles

Tevanyan waited four years to be back at the European Championships and he made it memorable by winning the gold medal at 65kg.

In 2019, Tevanyan finished 11th but won the U23 world title, wrestled at the Olympics and World Championships and has wins over Aliyev and Izsmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) since.

Though he got the first point of the final, Naim, hoping to become his country's first freestyle European champion in 18 years, failed to challenge a strong Tevanyan.

In the gold medal bout, it was in the second period that Tevanyan scored the first takedown using an arm drag but he failed to get any turns.

Naim kept coming back at Tevanyan who countered one of those attempts and got a roll to make it 6-1. He added another takedown to extend the lead before a slip-by takedown and gut got him the gold 12-1.

“I am very happy because this is a very long-awaited medal,” he said. “Since 2018 [2019], I could not participate in the European Championships, which is why I am very happy, I have a lot of emotions and I am in an amazing mood.”

Though he has U17, U20 and U23 European titles, his resume lacked the senior title that Tevanyan believes is the most important.

“The senior is very different from other age categories because for me this is the real sport. My plans are to get to the Olympic Games and become the champion of the world. There will be training camps and we will get back in shape. I will do everything to achieve the best physical shape.”

The first opportunity to win a ticket to Paris will be the World Championships in Belgrade in September and Tevanyan will be one of the favorites to win a medal, perhaps a gold. And if he reaches the final, which opponent will he like to wrestle?

“No difference [to me],” he said. “If I'm in the final, it doesn't matter.”

Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR) won the gold medal at 79kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Mykhailov ended a decade-long wait for Ukraine to have a freestyle European champion as he extended his unbeaten record against Georgis KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) who was the defending champion.

Pavlo OLIYNYK (UKR), who later represented Hungary, was the last European champion as he won the 96kg gold in 2013 in Tbilisi.

Kougioumtsidis, who became Grecee's first-ever champion last year, was hoping to repeat but Mykhailov shut him out completely.

The Ukrainian defeated Kougioumtsidis twice last year and was the favorite. He got a stepout and a takedown against the Greek's stepout. Despite the effort from Kougioumtsidis, Mykhailov remained in control.

He later explained why this win was low-scoring while his previous two were both technically superiorities before adding that this is just the beginning.

“The final is always very important so I didn’t risk a lot,” Mykhailov said. “This is very emotional. I’ve been going for the gold for a long time. But this is not the time to stop. This is the pre-Olympic year, we have to qualify.”

The gold was precious for the Ukrainian as he has been impacted by the war in his country.

“How to say, we train with no electricity,” he said. “There was a time when we trained with no electricity and no light for 6 months. I couldn’t train for about half a year. It was not possible at all. These are really tough moments. Not possible to explain.”

On his plans before the World Championships, Mykhailov didn't reveal much but he did say how he quenches his thirst after a grueling bout and a winner's interview.

“I’ll wrestle at some tournaments, we will make decisions with the coaches,” he said. “For now, I just want to drink some coke.”

RESULTS

57kg
GOLD: Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE) df. Suleyman ATLI (TUR), 12-2

BRONZE: Georgi VANGELOV (BUL) df. Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO), 10-0
BRONZE: Horst LEHR (GER) df. Simone PIRODDU (ITA), 2-2

65kg
GOLD: Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) df. Mikyay NAIM (BUL), 12-1

BRONZE: Edemi BOLKVADZE (GEO) df. Stefan COMAN (ROU), 2-2
BRONZE: Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR) df. Ali RAHIMZADA (AZE), 7-6

70kg
GOLD: Haji ALIYEV (AZE) df. Ramazan RAMAZANOV (BUL), 10-3

BRONZE: Ihor NYKYFORUK (UKR) df. Patryk OLENCZYN (POL), via fall
BRONZE: Vasile DIACON (MDA) df. Kevin HENKEL (GER), 7-2

79kg
GOLD: Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR) df. Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE), 3-1

BRONZE: Ahmad MAGOMEDOV (MKD) df. Arman AVAGYAN (ARM), 7-4
BRONZE: Hetik CABOLOV (SRB) df. Sabuhi AMIRASLANOV (AZE), via injury default

97kg
GOLD: Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) df. Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE), 4-3

BRONZE: Vladislav BAITCAEV (HUN) df. Benjamin HONIS (ITA), 10-6
BRONZE: Ibrahim CIFTCI (TUR) df. Murazi MCHEDLIDZE (UKR), 12-3

Emperor's Cup

Tanabe joins Olympic medalist dad as national champion

Thursday, December 21, 2023 - 17:16 By Ken Marantz

TOKYO (December 21)--Almost 27 years to the day after his father won his first national championship in the same arena, Kaisei TANABE made his first trip to the top of the podium. Next up will be trying to equal, or better, that Olympic medal.

Tanabe scored a pair of second-period takedowns to defeat Nippon Sport Science University teammate Yuto NISHIUCHI 6-2 in the final of freestyle 61kg on the opening day of the Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships on Thursday in Tokyo.

With the victory, Tanabe and his father and coach Chikara, a bronze medalist at 55kg at the 2004 Athens Olympics, became the sixth father-son tandem of national champions in the tournament's 90-year history .

"My father has a bronze medal from the Athens Olympics, I want to do better than that," the 21-year-old Tanabe said.

Naturally, it was a proud moment for dad, too. "I'm more happy than if I won," Chikara said. "When I was also in my third year of college, I won my first All-Japan title. My son now won in his third year of college, so he has caught up to me. Next it will be great if he can get an Olympic medal."

While Kaisei will have to wait for the 2028 Los Angeles Games at the earliest to realize his Olympic dream, for others the tournament is also a qualifier for the Asian Olympic qualifying tournament in April in Bishkek in weight classes in which Japan has not already secured a berth at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

In the non-Olympic weights, a title earns a ticket to the Asian Championships to be held a week earlier in the Kyrgyzstan capital. As in recent years, the competition in non-Olympic weights is being completed in a single day, while the Olympic divisions are over two days.

JPN1 Kaisei TANABE scores a late takedown in the freestyle 61kg final against Yuto NISHIUCHI. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / Japan Wrestling Federation)

In the 61kg final at Yoyogi Gym No. 2, Tanabe sandwiched a pair of stepouts around a takedown by Nishiuchi to trail 2-2 on criteria going into the second period. But he gained a go-behind takedown to go ahead, then added another in the final seconds to secure the title in his third appearance.

"In the final the opponent was strong, so I wasn't so concerned with how I did it, I just wanted to win," Tanabe said. "But I want to fix those points for my next competition. We practice every day so we both know each other well. I think the difference between us is I have more power, and I wanted to take advantage of that."

Although two years Tanabe's junior, Nishiuchi has already had more international success. This year he dropped down to 57kg and won his second straight world U20 gold and finished second at the Zagreb Open. Tanabe was a world cadet (U17) bronze medalist in 2017, but did little else until this year, when he took third at the Dan Kolov-Nikolai Petrov Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria, which included a win over Olympic bronze medalist and former world champion Thomas GILMAN (USA).

"In the lighter weights, Japan has many strong wrestlers and there are good ones overseas as well," Tanabe said. "I want to get to their level and, if possible, pass them."

Japan has already qualified for the Paris Olympics in freestyle at 57kg, which meant Tanabe could have made a challenge for the open spot at 65kg, where Tokyo Olympic champion Takuto OTOGURO is favored. That's what his main college rival Masanosuke ONO of Yamanashi Gakuin University opted to do, but Tanabe thought the timing was wrong.

"Up to now I've never really done anything at the All-Japan, and I was determined to win a championship so I entered at 61kg," he said.

To get to an Olympics, he knows he will eventually either have to go up or down a weight class. Asked which way he was leaning, "I'm not very good at controlling my weight, so I want to bulk up and become a competitive wrestler at 65kg," he said, adding he has not decided when he will make such a move.

The Tokyo-born Tanabe started wrestling at age 4, and he described his father as "a nice father and a tough coach." Growing up, Tanabe did not gain inspiration from Chikara's Olympic medal--in fact, he never really saw it. "He didn't win [the gold], so the medal was never on display," he said.

Tanabe's older sister, Yumeka, is also an accomplished wrestler who was a two-time world cadet champion. But four third-place finishes at the All-Japan kept the home from having a father-daughter pairing of national champions, like that of the great Saori YOSHIDA and her late father Eikatsu.

Chikara, who won the last of his five national titles in 2003, sees potential in Kaisei. "I wrestle with him and I can feel his power," he said. "From here, he'll keep improving going toward the Olympics. I want him to set a high goal."

JPN3 Shingo HARADA flips over Tomohiro INOUE to finish up a title-winning victory at Greco 72kg. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / Japan Wrestling Federation)

Harada follows up strong showing in Belgrade

In other finals, Shogo HARADA followed up his eye-catching performance at the World Championships with a title at Greco 72kg in his All-Japan debut, thumping veteran Tomohiro INOUE 9-0 in the final.

After scoring a takedown and 2-point tilt to go ahead 4-0, Harada slammed down Inoue to finish off the match with six seconds left in the first period.

The 23-year-old Harada, who switched from judo to wrestling in high school, made his international debut at last year's worlds in Belgrade and turned heads by placing fifth. While still an amazing feat, it left him rueing that he could have done more.

"At the World Championships, I didn't put out all of my power and I lost in the semifinals," Harada said. "I took that back home and reflected on what happened. I found I was too impatient. I think I've improved on that little by little."

At the moment, Harada says he is not yet at the level of domestic competition in the Olympic weight classes both above and below him. "I won this title, but deep down, I'm not yet at the top level in Japan looking at the weight classes around me." he said.

The 36-year-old Inoue said the loss likely marks the end of a career that featured five national titles dating back to 2012, with the most recent in 2021. It also included a silver medal at this year's World Veterans Championships.

While the loss was one-sided, it only makes a difficult decision a little easier. "If it was a closer match, it might have been tougher to take," he said.

JPN5 Ayano MORO gets behind in the women's 72kg final against Sumire NIIKURA. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / Japan Wrestling Federation)

In a battle of a pair of 2022 women's champions, teenager Ayano MORO dropped down to 72kg and dethroned two-time reigning titlist Sumire NIIKURA 6-0.

The 18-year-old Moro twice gained 2-point exposures on counters to add to the title she won at 76kg last year. "I wasn't able to get in on my tackle, which is my strong point, so honestly speaking I'm not so happy," she said.

Moro's chances of making the Paris Olympics ended when the 2020 world U20 champion lost a world team playoff to Yuka KAGAMI, who then clinched her ticket to Paris by winning the gold at the World Championships.

"In December last year at the Emperor's Cup, I entered at 76kg with the goal of the Olympics," she said. "At that time I won the title which was good, but I hurt my shoulder. But I had won, so I had no choice but to keep aiming for the Olympics, although I later lost.

"Now the Olympics is no longer an objective. I had a lot of time to think. Looking at my height and other things, I thought it would be best to drop down, which would allow me to do my tackles. I thought I would give going down a weight class a try."

Moro said that neck problems followed her shoulder injury, keeping her from being in top condition for the tournament. She said she will work to get ready for her senior Asian debut.

"The wrestlers from other countries are strong and I've been to enough international tournaments to know I can't take it lightly," Moro said. "My first priority will be getting healthy. You can't win if you don't practice, but first I need to get my body back in shape."

In the other final, Kagetora OKAMOTO became a first-time champion by beating Kohei YAMAGIWA 6-4 at Greco 55kg. Okamoto made the final by knocking off 2022 world U20 bronze medalist and 2023 world team member Taiga ONISHI.

JPN4 Takahiro TSURUTA works to turn Yuta NARA in the Greco 97kg semifinals. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / Japan Wrestling Federation)

The three upper Olympic weights in Greco got the process started to see who will be going to the Asian Olympic qualifier, with the lone surprise coming at 97kg when Takahiro TSURUTA knocked off six-time champion Yuta NARA 3-1 in the semifinals.

"Since I moved up to this weight class, I've been in three tournaments with him, but we never faced each other," Tsuruta said. "Even if I win the title, if I didn't face him I would have felt like something was missing."

Tsuruta, an Asian Games bronze medalist this year, will take on world U23 bronze medalist Yuri NAKAZATO on Friday for the gold and a chance to make the Olympics.

Tsuruta and Nakazato are familiar with each other. When Tsuruta moved up from 87kg in 2021, he promptly won his first and only title with a victory in the final over Nakazato, who knocked off Nara in the semifinals. Nakazato avenged the loss in the final at the Meiji Cup in June 2022, only to see Tsuruta come back and beat him in a playoff for the world team that year.

Meanwhile, world U23 champion Yuzuku INAGAKI, who lost out to Paris-bound Sakura MOTOKI for a place on the Japan team to the World Championships at women's 62kg, will have to get by another Motoki to add to the lone title she won in 2018.

Inagaki overwhelmed Suzu SASAKI by 10-0 technical fall to set up a clash in the final with Motoki's younger sister Hiyori, who is still looking for her first career title at any level. The two met in the first round at the national collegiate championships in August, with Inagaki scoring a first-period fall en route to a third straight title.

It could be said that the de facto final came in the quarterfinals, when Inagaki was trailing on criteria when she scored two late takedowns to defeat 2020 Asian champion Naomi RUIKE 6-2.

Day 1 Results

Freestyle

61kg
GOLD--Kaisei TANABE df. Yuto NISHIUCHI, 6-2

BRONZE--Kodai OGAWA df. Takumi YOSHIMURA, 3-0
BRONZE--Kosei IDE df. Takara SUDA, 6-5

Semifinal--Yuto NISHIUCHI df. Kodai OGAWA, 6-1
Semifinal--Kaisei TANABE df. Takara SUDA by TF, 11-1. 5:24

74kg
Semifinal--Kojiro SHIGA df. Daiju SUZUKI, 14-6
Semifinal--Kota TAKAHASHI df. Shoto KANEKO by TF, 10-0, 2:56

125kg
Semifinal--Taiki YAMAMOTO df. Ryusei FUJITA by TF, 10-0, :46
Semifinal--Koki YAMAMOTO df. Yuji FUKUI, 5-0

Greco-Roman

55kg
GOLD--Kagetora OKAMOTO df. Kohei YAMAGIWA,. 6-4

BRONZE--Taiga ONISHI df. Kenta OGUSU, 9-4
BRONZE--Soken MASUDA df. Seima TOKUHARA, 7-3

Semifinal--Kagetora OKAMOTO df. Taiga ONISHI, 5-2
Semifinal--Kohei YAMAGIWA df. Soken MASUDA, 11-9

72kg
GOLD--Shingo HARADA df. Tomohiro INOUE by TF, 9-0, 1:54

BRONZE--Daigo KOBAYASHI df. Sanshiro ISHIHARA by Fall, 2:34 (5-0)
BRONZE--Akira MITAMI df. Ryoma TOYOTA, 3-2

Semifinal--Shingo HARADA df. Sanshiro ISHIHARA by TF, 11-0, 2:45
Semifinal--Tomohiro INOUE df. Akira MITAMI, 5-3

87kg
Semifinal--So SAKUBE df. Minto MAEDA, 3-1
Semifinal--Masato SUMI df. Tatsuya FUJII, 5-1

97kg
Semifinal--Takahiro TSURUTA df. Yuta NARA, 3-1
Semifinal--Yuri NAKAZATO df. Masayuki AMANO by TF, 11-0, 1:34

130kg
Semifinal--Sota OKAMURA df. Kyo KITAWAKI by TF, 9-0, 1:55
Semifinal--Shion OBATA df. Yuma MIYAUCHI, 7-1

Women's Wrestling

53kg
Semifinal--Rino KATAOKA df. Mako ONO, 1-1
Semifinal--Mihoko TAKEUCHI df. Chiaki KAWAI, 6-4

62kg
Semifinal--Yuzuka INAGAKI df. Suzu SASAKI by TF, 10-0, 1:57
Semifinal--Hiyori MOTOKI df. Kiwa IWASAWA by Fall, 1:37 (4-0)

72kg
GOLD--Ayano MORO df. Sumire NIIKURA, 6-0

BRONZE--Chisato YOSHIDA df. Kokona TAKADA by Fall, 6:00 (9-2)
BRONZE--Yuka FUJIKURA df. Asahi NAKAMURA, 6-2

Semifinal--Sumire NIIKURA df. Kokona TAKADA by TF, 11-0, 5:57
Semifinal--Ayano MORO df. Yuka FUJIKURA by Fall, 2:37 (8-0)

Rzazade, Aliyev lead Azerbaijan charge at European Championships

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Tanabe joins Olympic medalist dad as national champion