Tokyo 2020 Test Event Starts with Minor Kinks, Vengeance for Japan’s Sakano

Thursday, October 3, 2019 - 13:17 By Ken Marantz

CHIBA, Japan (Oct. 3)---The wrestling venue for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics got its first taste of action with the start of a three-day women’s tournament, with the competition on the mat overshadowing the kind of technological glitches that often pop up in a test event.

Yui SAKANO (JPN) provided the surprise of the day in Hall 5 of Makuhari Messe, a sprawling convention center in western Chiba city down the coast from Tokyo, when she avenged a loss from three years ago to newly minted world bronze medalist PEI Xingru (CHN) in the 62kg semifinals.

Venue manager Yasukazu FUJIMORI, assessing the first day of the three-day test event in the six Olympic weight classes for women, said, “The training for the staff and volunteers went well. The problem was with the technology.”

He pointed out bugs with the printer and scoreboards, the type that come out during operational trials and are fixable as the UWW and Olympic systems are integrated.

Of bigger concern for Fujimori was the low number of wrestlers drawn to the tournament. Coming so close to the recently completed World Championships in Kazakhstan, only half the countries who had expressed interest in participating actually made the trip.

“It’s a bit of a lonely tournament,” Fujimori said. “We wanted 16 entries [per weight class] but only have eight [or nine],” adding that reductions in the budget by the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee for its “Ready Steady Tokyo” series of test events also was a factor.

Fujimori expressed his gratitude to China, which, among the six nations here, sent several top wrestlers, including five medalists from Nur-Sultan.

ZHOU Qian (CHN) defeated 2018 world champion Justina DI STASIO (CAN), 2-2, and will wrestle for gold at 76kg. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

“I wanted to get a feel for the atmosphere of this venue and the weather in Japan,” ZHOU Qian (CHN), a two-time former world medalist, said after making the 76kg final. “Maybe there will be some difference [next year], but it will help a lot to prepare next time.”

When the wrestlers got on the mat, of course, they put aside the external factors and focus on the task at hand, just as they would for any tournament.

Sakano, the 2017 world U23 champion at 60kg, was only offered a place at the tournament 10 days ago. And when she saw who was among her competition at 62kg, she became extra motivated.

Three years ago at the World Championships for non-Olympic weights, Sakano lost 8-6 in the semifinals to China’s Pei, who went on to win that title. Pei would add bronze medals at 59kg last year in Budapest and last month at Nur-Sultan.

On Thursday, Pei scored a go-behind takedown to take a 2-0 lead into the second period. But Sakano used a nifty barrel roll to go ahead 4-2 and came very close to ending the match with a fall.

“I wanted to use a different move, but the chance came up,” Sakano said. “I was losing anyway so I just went for it.”

Pei escaped the predicament, but could only gain a point for fleeing in the closing seconds and came out on the short end of a 4-3 score.

“I remember it,” Sakano said of the 2016 loss to Pei. “When I saw the draw, I thought this was a good chance for revenge as I hadn’t faced her in the three years [since the world championships].”

In the final on Saturday, Sakano will be looking for another measure of revenge. She will be facing 2018 world junior champion Atena KODAMA (JPN), who defeated her at last year’s All-Japan Championships.

Kodama advanced with a 5-3 victory over Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) after scoring all of her points in the second period, mainly with a deadly low single.

Yui SAKANO (JPN) scored a stunning 4-3 win over world bronze medalist PEI Xingru (CHN) in the 62kg semifinals. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

In the morning session, Sakano scored a victory by fall over LUO Xiaojuan, this year’s Asian champion at 65kg. Pei, meanwhile, had her hands full with Mallory VELTE (USA) in a clash of current and former world bronze medalists before coming away with a 4-1 victory.

Kodama, a 2018 world junior champion, defeated Yarygin Grand Prix runner-up Anna SHCHERBAKOVA (RUS) 8-1, twice fighting off whizzer attempts that ended up with the Russian on her back.

The 76kg final will be an all-China affair between Paliha PALIHA (CHN) and Zhou, who each advanced with very different wins.

Paliha, a world bronze medalist at 72kg, overwhelmed high schooler Mizuki NAGASHIMA (JPN) by 12-2 technical fall, while Zhou needed a spin-behind takedown with five seconds left to stun 2018 world 72kg champion Justina DI STASIO (CAN) 2-2 on criteria.

Asked what she was thinking as the clock ticked down, Zhou smiled and said in English, “I want to win.”

At 68kg, WANG Xiaoqian (CHN) stormed into the final with the most dominant performance of the day, and will face Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN) for the gold.

Wang, a world bronze medalist at 65kg, needed just 30 seconds to dispose of Alina RUDNYTSKA LEVYTSKA (UKR), a 2018 world junior bronze medalist, by 10-0 technical fall, then defeated Alexandra GLAUDE (USA) by fall.

Matsuyuki, one of twin sisters in the tournament, pancaked Alena STARODUBTSEVA (RUS) for two points early in their semifinal before holding on for a 3-0 win.

Day 1 Results

Women’s Wrestling

62kg (8 entries)
Semifinal – Yui SAKANO (JPN) df. PEI Xingru (CHN), 4-3
Semifinal – Atena KODAMA (JPN) df. Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR), 5-3

68kg (8 entries)
Semifinal – WANG Xiaoqian (CHN) df. Alexandra GLAUDE (USA) by Fall, 2:50 (6-0)
Semifinal – Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN) df. Alena STARODUBTSEVA (RUS), 3-0

76kg (9 entries)
Semifinal – Paliha PALIHA (CHN) df. Mizuki NAGASHIMA (JPN) by TF, 12-2, 4:35
Semifinal – ZHOU Qian (CHN) df. Justina DI STASIO (CAN), 2-2

#WrestleTirana

Eltemirov, Pavlov win U23 European golds

Sunday, March 9, 2025 - 23:52 By United World Wrestling Press

TIRANA, Albania (March 9) -- Five months ago, Magomed ELTEMIROV (UWW) left Tirana with a medal around his neck, but the one that left a bitter aftertaste: A silver at the U23 World Championship.

That evening, he was defeated in a tense final by Magomed KHANIYEV (AZE). On Sunday, he made amends and although it wasn’t by defeating Khaniyev, Eltemirov walloped another Azerbaijani wrestler, Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE), to win his maiden U23 European Championship gold medal.

Eltemirov looked charged up even before his name was announced. He sprinted to the center and got down to business without wasting a second. After going up by a point following Heybatov’s failed challenge asking for a stepout, Eltemirov built a comfortable three-point cushion going into the break with a razor-sharp leg attack.

He never took his foot off the pedal as within 30 seconds of restart, Eltemirov threw Khaniyev on the mat using an underhook for two more points and seconds later, summoned all his upper-body strength to execute an over-under throw for four after his attempted ankle pick failed.

Heybatov attempted a desperate single-leg attack which Eltemirov blocked and when Heybatov tried a counter lift, Eltermirov scored exposure to finish the match 11-0 with 1:25 remaining on the clock.

Lev PAVLOV (UWW) hits a match-winning cradle on Nika ZANGALADZE (GEO) in the 57kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

The 21-year-old led a procession of wrestlers representing the UWW to the top of the podium and most dominated. Another wrestler to win his first U23 European title was Lev PAVLOV (UWW), a multiple time age-group world medalist.

For close to five minutes and 30 seconds, not much happened in the 57kg freestyle final between Pavlov and Nika ZANGALADZE (GEO). Then, in a frenzied end, everything happened all at once: two stunning takedowns, dogged defending and a desperate bid to snatch a win from the jaws of defeat.

Ultimately, Pavlov won 6-1 to take home the first gold medal of the U23 European Championships in Tirana. The scoreline, however, barely suggests how close the bout was.

Both wrestlers traded passivity points — Zangaladze was penalised first before Pavlov was docked a point in the second period. It stayed 1-1 until the last 30 seconds when the match exploded.

With his super-quick reflexes, Pavlov scored a duck-under to cradle for a takedown and transitioned into arm-trap roll for two more points. That swung the momentum in his favor and then defended strongly to emerge victorious.

Arsen BALAIAN (UWW) survived a last-minute attack from Farid JABBAROV (AZE) to secure the 79kg gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

The evening’s fourth final, between Arsen BALAIAN (UWW) and Farid JABBAROV (AZE) at 79kg followed a similar pattern, wherein both wrestlers were cautioned — and penalized a point each — for passivity.

Balaian, who had two bronze medals in the U23 category last year in Europe and Worlds, began the second round a point down. However, he overturned the scoreline and made it 2-1 by winning two passivity points of his own. With only 41 seconds remaining in the match when he went into the lead, Balaian could have opted for a strong defence.

He tried that and was nearly caught out when Jabbarov got hold of his left leg with only 10 seconds left to play. But a steely Balaian refused to give up and instead turned around the position, gained control and exposed Jabbarov to go 4-1 up. Jabbarev challenged the final move but it was ruled against him, handing Balaian the title after two near-misses.

Amal DZHANDUBAEV (UWW) secured the 65kg gold over Abdullah TOPRAK (TUR). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At 65kg, Amal DZHANDUBAEV (UWW) had to fight back with all his might to secure the title. At the midway point of the gold medal bout, it looked like Dzhandubaev will comfortably win as he had a 5-0 lead but Abdullah TOPRAK (TUR) used a seatbelt throw for four to make score 5-4.

But Dzhandubaev did not falter even after the throw and kept his attacks, scored a stepout to make it 6-4. Defending that lead for final seconds, Dzhandubaev secured the gold, four years after he was crowned the U17 European champion.

At 97kg, Uladzislau KAZLOU (UWW) edging past Bady SAMDAN (UWW) 2-1 to reign supreme in the 97 kg category. Samdan had a 1-0 lead but Kazlou scored a stepout to lead 1-1 on criteria at the break. In the second period, Samdan was put on the 30-second activity clock in which he failed to score, handing Kazlou the win.

Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) celebrates after beating Arslan BAGAEV (UWW) in the semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Magamadov eyes gold

After two failures to get past him in 2024, Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) managed to beat Arslan BAGAEV (UWW) in the 86kg semifinals on Sunday. He shut Bagaev down for a 6-0 lead. Magamadov had lost to Bagaev in the U23 Euro final and the World Military Championships final in 2024.

He will face U23 world silver medalist Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) for the gold medal. The Azerbaijan wrestler had lost to Bagaev in the final of the U23 Worlds last year.

Volodymyr KOCHANOV (UKR) will be hoping to win Ukraine’s first gold medal of the U23 European Championship when he takes on Georgi IVANOV (BUL) in the 125kg final.

Kochanov has two U23 medals but on both occasions — he won European U23 silver in 2023 and U23 Worlds bronze last year — fell short of a top-of-the-podium finish. The final against Ivanov offers him that chance and to avenge his 2023 U23 Euro final loss to the Bulgarian.

RESULTS

57kg
GOLD: Lev PAVLOV (UWW) df. Nika ZANGALADZE (GEO), 6-1

BRONZE: Bekir KESER (TUR) df. Ion BULGARU (MDA), 18-14
BRONZE: Rahman IMANOV (AZE) df. Vladyslav ABRAMOV (UKR), 8-6

65kg
GOLD: Amal DZHANDUBAEV (UWW) df. Abdullah TOPRAK (TUR), 6-4

BRONZE: Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA) df. Hayk ABRAHAMYAN (ARM), 3-2
BRONZE: Murad HAGVERDIYEV (AZE) df. Fiodor CEAVDARI (MDA), 9-6

70kg
GOLD: Magomed ELTEMIROV (UWW) df. Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE), 11-0

BRONZE: Umut ERDOGAN (TUR) df. Pavel GRAUR (MDA), 5-1
BRONZE: Narek POHOSIAN (UKR) df. Muhammad ABDURACHMANOV (BEL), 2-0

79kg
GOLD: Arsen BALAIAN (UWW) df. Farid JABBAROV (AZE), 5-1

BRONZE: Ibrahim YAPRAK (TUR) df. Aykan SEID (BUL), 11-0
BRONZE: Umar MAVLAEV (SUI) df. Giorgi GOGRITCHIANI (GEO), 8-7

97kg
GOLD: Uladzislau KAZLOU (UWW) df. Bady SAMDAN (UWW), 2-1

BRONZE: Resul GUNE (TUR) df. Adam JAKSIK (SVK), via fall
BRONZE: David MCHEDLIDZE (UKR) df. Nikolaos KARAVANOS (GRE), 6-1

Semifinals

61kg
GOLD: Jeyhun ALLAHVERDIYEV (AZE) vs. Levik MIKAYELYAN (ARM)

SF 1: Jeyhun ALLAHVERDIYEV (AZE) df. Besir ALILI (MKD), 5-4
SF 2: Levik MIKAYELYAN (ARM) df. Mykyta ABRAMOV (UKR), 11-1

74kg
GOLD: Aghanazar NOVRUZOV (AZE) vs. Ismail KHANIEV (UWW)

SF 1: Aghanazar NOVRUZOV (AZE) df. Manuel WAGIN (GER), 4-2
SF 2: Ismail KHANIEV (UWW) df. Bohdan OLIINYK (UKR), 10-0

86kg
GOLD: Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) vs. Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA)

SF 1: Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) df. Radomir STOYANOV (BUL), via fall
SF 2: Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) df. Arslan BAGAEV (UWW), 6-0

92kg
GOLD: Knyaz IBOYAN (ARM) vs. Mukhamed KHANIEV (UWW)

SF 1: Knyaz IBOYAN (ARM) df. Denys SAHALIUK (UKR), 10-0
SF 2: Mukhamed KHANIEV (UWW) df. Sadig MUSTAFAZADE (AZE), 12-1

125kg
GOLD: Volodymyr KOCHANOV (UKR) vs. Georgi IVANOV (BUL)

SF 1: Volodymyr KOCHANOV (UKR) df. Khachatur KHACHATRYAN (ARM), 10-0
SF 2: Georgi IVANOV (BUL) df. Efe AL (TUR), via fall (12-1)

Tokyo 2020 Test Event Starts with Minor Kinks, Vengeance for Japan’s Sakano

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Eltemirov, Pavlov win U23 European golds