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World Olympic Qualifier Freestyle Paris 2024 Qualification Bouts

Saturday, May 11, 2024 - 07:46 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

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ISTANBUL, Turkiye (May 11) -- Freestyle takes the stage at the World Olympic Qualifier in Istanbul. After the 18 quotas of Greco-Roman and 12 of Women's Wrestling were decided, 12 Freestyle Paris 2024 spots will be handed out on Saturday and 6 more on Sunday.

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The Paris 2024 Qualification bouts will begin at 2000 hours local time in Istanbul

18:24: Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) caps the 8 1/2-hour session with a 3-0victory over  JAIDEEP (IND) at 74kg. The three-time world medalist scores a takedown in the first period and gets an activity point in the second to move one win away from his first trip to the Olympics.

18:18: For once, it was Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) coming up on the short end of a dramatic, down-to-the-wire match. Chermen VALIEV (ALB) pulled off a stunning 5-5 win on criteria at 74kg over the Italian star, who had posted nail-biting wins in his previous two matches. With Chamizo leading 3-2 in the second period, Valiev scores a stepout off a scramble, but Chamizo goes back ahead 5-3 with a stepout and fleeing point. But with time running out, Valiev lunges for an ankle and latches on, which Chamizo responds to by heading out of Dodge. That gives Valiev a stepout and fleeing point to go up 5-5 on last point. In the final seconds, Chamizo forces Valiev to the edge, but the Albanian slips out of danger to clinch the win.

18:02: Viktor RASSADIN (TJK), aiming to become Tajikstan's first Olympic wrestler since 2012, keeps the pressure on and it pays off with two activity points and a 2-0 victory over Vadym TSURKAN  (UKR) at 74kg. He will face the winner of Frank CHAMIZO  (ITA)-Chermen VALIEV (ALB), which is next up on Mat B.

17:52: The dynamo known as Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) continues his impressive run at 65kg, shucking and spinning his way to a 9-0 victory over Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK). The Asian silver medalist scores a stepout and a takedown-gut wrench combo for a 5-0 lead in the first period and adds two takedowns in the second. He will face SUJEET (IND) for the ticket to Paris.

17:45: European champion Islam DUDAEV (ALB) saved by the challenge! Kwang Jin KIM (PRK) led 2-0 with Dudaev on his legs. Dudaev tried a takedown but the referees did not score it. However, Albania challenged it and won as Kim had three points touching on the mat with Dudaev in control. Dudaev wins 2-2 and advances at 65kg

17:41: Tokyo Olympian Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR), a two-time world bronze medalist at 79kg, scores the go-ahead takedown with 47 seconds left and adds a gut wrench to defeat Zushen LIN (CHN) 6-3 and advance to the qualification match at 86kg.

17:32: In a clash of the two losers of the Paris qualification matches at the Asian Qualifier, Zhiwei DENG (CHN) scores a takedown on a counter of his opponent's attack and holds on for a 3-0 victory over Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) at 125kg. Deng, a 2019 world bronze medalist, finished fifth in Tokyo in his second Olympic appearance.

17:22: Daniel LIGETI (HUN) moved one win away from earning a third Olympic appearance with a 4-0 victory over Zyyamuhammet SAPAROV (TKM) at 125kg. A second-period takedown with Saparov on the activity clock clinched the win for the 34-year-old Ligeti.

17:12: Chongsong HAN (PRK) advances to tonight's Paris qualification match at 57kg by outclassing Horst LEHR (GER) 16-4. Han's speed and strength ruled the day as he scored a takedown and gut wrench to lead 5-0 in the first period. Han scores a takedown, then pads the lead with four points in a scramble in which Lehr finally gets on the board. A 4-point takedown, in which Lehr scores 2 in the flow, ends the match.

17:05: Spencer LEE (USA) is in the Paris qualification bout at 57kg! He needs just 54 seconds to beat former European champion Vladimir EGOROV (MKD) 12-2 using a mix of lace and gut.

AMAN (IND) follows Lee into the Paris qualification bout after he beats Andri YATSENKO (UKR) 12-2. He will wrestle Chongsong HAN (PRK) for the spot

16:58: Rio 2016 bronze medalist Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) gives the home crowd another win, holding off Mohammad MOTTAGHINIA (ESP) for a 5-2 win at 74kg. Demirtas scores a takedown, a stepout and two activity points, with only a second-period takedown by his opponent marring an otherwise perfect performance.

16:50: Two-time Asian medalist Rakhat KALZHAN (KAZ) deals Iran a serious blow in its hopes of fielding a full freestyle lineup in Paris when he notches a solid 7-2 win over Alireza SARLAK (IRI) at 57kg. Kalzhan gains a lift-and-trip takedown in the first period and a smooth duck under in the second. Sarlak manages a pair of stepouts, but Kalzhan stops a late takedown with a pancake for his final 2.

16:55: Viktor RASSADIN (TJK) led Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) 5-3 in the last 30 seconds but Khadjiev scored exposure to make it 5-5. But he failed to get another point and dropped his 74kg bout 5-5. France challenged asking for two more points but lost which added one more point to Rassadin's score to make it 6-5. 

16:44: Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) must be relieved after that outcome. With 10 seconds left in his bout against Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ), Chamizo was down 1-1 on criteria but Toktomambetov, who had been warned for fleeing, was docked a caution and one point for fleeing again with 3 seconds left, giving Chamizo a 2-1 lead. Kyrgyzstan challenges the call but the fleeing call is held. Kyrgyzstan lose the challenge and Chamizo wins 3-1 to advance at 74kg.

16:38: SUJEET (IND), a 2022 world U20 bronze medalist, keeps the pressure on from the get-go and gradually piles up points while shutting his opponent down to score a 10-0 victory over Tokyo Olympian Junsik YUN (KOR) at 65kg. Next up for the Indian is Lachlan MCNEIL (CAN).

16:30: That will be a 7-2 win for Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL). 70 world champion Zain RETHERFORD (USA) was up 2-2 on criteria with the clock down to the final minute but Tumur Ochir hit a single leg and exposure to make the score 6-2. The U.S. challenged the call but lost the challenge.

16:17: Asian Games bronze medalist Kwang Jin KIM (PRK) scores three 4-point moves and defeats two-time world U23 bronze medalist Maxim SACULTAN (MDA) 12-4 to advance at 65kg. Kim will face Islam DUDAEV (ALB) for a place in the Paris qualification match, as the DPR Korea looks to gain an Olympic freestyle spot after being shut out at the Asian Qualifier.

15:42: Veteran Jose DIAZ (VEN), looking to get back to the Olympics after appearing at London 2012 and Rio 2016, pulls a stunner by beating Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Abraham CONYEDO (ITA) 4-1 at 125kg. Diaz is trailing 1-0 in the second period with Conyedo on the activity clock when the 35-year-old pancakes Conyedo to his back for 2, then clinch the win with a stepout.

15:29: Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN), who won a bronze medal at the Asian Championships before losing in the first round of the Asian Olympic Qualifier, advances at 125kg with a 5-2 win over Oleksandr KHOTSIANIVSKYI (UKR). Khotsianivskyi was on the activity clock in the first period when Sharipov scored a takedown and lace-lock roll to account for his points.

15:27: Two-time Olympian and five-time European medalist Daniel LIGETI (HUN) proves too much for Georgi IVANOV (BUL), finishing up a 12-1 win early in the second period at 125kg. Ligeti scores four takedowns in the first period, then ends the match with a 4-point counter throw as Ivanov drove him to the edge on a tackle attempt.

14:53: Ahmed BATAEV (BUL), a 2022 European silver medalist at 92kg, gets a low takedown with nine seconds left to stun young 2023 Asian champion Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) 4-3 at 97kg. In the first period, Yoshida gets in on a single and lifts it up, but Bataev reaches down and grabs Yoshida's ankle, then drives him back for a takedown. Yoshida avoids making the same mistake in the second period, then adds an activity point for a 3-2 lead. He seems to be on the way to victory Bataev makes a stab at the shoelaces and connects, tripping Yoshida backwards for the winning 2. 

14:53: 2023 Asian champion AMAN (IND) proves too agile and too elusive for Tokyo Olympian Georgi VANGELOV (BUL), as he piles up five takedowns in a 10-6 victory at 57kg. Aman was this year's Zagreb Open champion where Vangelov took a bronze, although they did not face each other.

14:45: 2021 world silver medalist Alireza SARLAK (IRI), looking to fill the only Paris berth in freestyle missing for Iran, advances with a workmanlike 9-3 win over European bronze medalist Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO) at 57kg. Sarlak gradually builds up a 5-0 lead in the first period with a stepout, activity point, go-behind takedown and stepout. In the second period, he adds two stepouts and a last-second gimme takedown, while giving up a stepout and takedown.

14:31: Spencer LEE (USA) appears almost unconcerned after finding himself in a 6-1 hole early in his 57kg bout with Wanhao ZOU (CHN). Lee just goes to work and, after gaining a stepout, he scores a takedown, then applies a lace lock and rolls three times, and suddenly he's up 10-6. In the second period, Zou scores a stepout and takedown within seconds of each other, but the clock runs out as he tries to turn Lee, who advances with a 10-9 win.  

14:24: Three-time world medalist Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK), who won his fourth straight European title earlier this year, gets off to a good start in his bid for an elusive first Olympics, storming past Arslan AMANMYRADOV (TKM) 11-0 at 74kg.

14:15: Chermen VALIEV (ALB), in his first outing for Albania, rallies to a 10-0 win over Hrayr ALIKHANYAN (ARM) at 74kg. Next up for him is Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO).

14:05: A week after Viktor RASSADIN (TJK) won a silver medal at the Asian Championships,  two-time Asian champion Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) came up one win short at 74kg at the Asian Olympic Qualifier. Now, Rassadin in on the inside track to Paris after scoring a takedown in each period in a 4-1 victory over the 2019 world silver medalist at 70kg.

14:00: Former U20 world bronze medalist SUJEET (IND) with a takedown during Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) activity clock to win 3-2 at 65kg. Jalolov was the U20 world champion when Sujeet won the bronze medal.

13:50: Rio 2016 bronze medalist and two-time former world champion Frank CHAMIZO (ITA), coming off a controversial loss at the European Qualifier as he aims to make a third Olympics, pulls off a miracle comeback to defeat 20-year-old Feng LU (CHN) 10-8 at 74kg. Lu opens the match with a takedown and two exposures before Chamizo reverses for a 6-1 lead. In the second period, Chamizo finally catches Lu for a takedown with Lu on the activity clock, then adds an exposure on a counter to make it 6-6, but he still trails on criteria. Chamizo gets a takedown, but Lu counter lifts for 2 to stay ahead 8-8. With the clock ticking down, Chamizo bulls a fatigued Lu down at the edge for a dramatic takedown with :02 on the clock.

13:41: Tokyo Olympian and two-time European silver medalist Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) pancakes Zagreb Open bronze medalist Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN) to his back for 4, but he won't need the points as he secures the fall at 74kg.

13:31: Zain RETHERFORD (USA) breezes into the next round at 65kg, using a hard cross-face for exposure points to finish off an 11-0 win over Ibrahim GUZAN (YEM) in 2:26.

13:29: Asian Games bronze medalist Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ), who came up one win short at the Asian Qualifier on home soil, caps a second-period rally from three points down by scoring a takedown with 1:10 left to defeat 2021 European silver medalist Ramazan RAMAZANOV (BUL) 5-3 at 74kg.

13:17: Tokyo Olympian Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL), a 2021 world bronze medalist coming off a silver-medal performance at the Asian Championships, opens with a slick 4-point arm throw against Alibeg ALIBEGOV (BRN) at 65kg. He adds two takedowns in the second period, getting an exposure after the second to finish a 10-0 victory with 5 seconds to spare.

13:07: Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO), a 2023 world bronze medalist at 79kg, notches three takedowns in the first period en route to a 9-1 victory over 2019 world bronze medalist and Tokyo Olympian Stefan REICHMUTH (SUI) at 86kg.

13:01: Tokyo fifth placer and Asian Games silver medalist Deepak PUNIA (IND) goes down to Zushen LIN (CHN) at 86kg. He led 3-0 at the break but Lin got on a single-leg before scoring a takedown. He added a gut-wrench to lead 4-3. Punia added a stepout but Lin held 4-4 criteria before he added a late takedown to win 6-4

12:50: Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR) , a world bronze medalist the last two years at 79kg, opens his campaign at 86kg with a 4-0 victory over Aimar ANDRUSE (EST). Mykhailov's points come off a front headlock roll and a single-leg takedown.

12:40: It was experience over youth as 32-year-old 2023 European bronze medalist Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL) takes the lead, loses it, then comes back to defeat two-time world U20 champion Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) 6-3 at 86kg. Jezierzanski goes ahead 2-1 in the second period with an activity point and a stepout, but Magamadov replies with a double-leg takedown with :58 left. But Jezierzanski isn't done, grabbing a takedown and transitioning to a gut wrench with 23 seconds on the clock.

12:17: Two-time reigning European champion Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) gets a takedown shortly after receiving an activity point with just over a minute left, giving him a 4-0 victory over 2022 world bronze medalist and Tokyo Olympian Boris MAKOEV (SVK) at 86kg.

11:45: Ahmet DUMAN (TUR), the 2022 world U23 silver medalist at 57kg, gets the home crowd revved up with an 11-0 victory over Besir ALILI (MKD) at 65kg.

11:43: Zain RETHERFORD (USA), a two-time world champion at 70kg who had to go through the grueling USA trials just to get to Istanbul, started what he hopes will be a long day at 65kg with a victory by fall over Stefan COMAN (ROU). Retherford, leading 3-2 in the second period, secures the fall after the second of two takedowns. With 37 entries at 65kg, Retherford will have to win five matches to clinch the Olympic spot today.

11:28: An early setback for an Indian team that was shut out in freestyle at both the World Championships and Asian Qualifier. Aaron JOHNSON (JAM) scores a stepout with five seconds left to defeat SUMIT (IND) 2-2 on criteria at 125kg. Jamaica has never had an Olympian in wrestling.

11:18: Georgi VANGELOV (BUL) must be very relieved after that 7-7 victory over Sunggwon KIM (KOR) at 57kg. He led 3-0 at the break when Kim called for a medical timeout for concussion. He returned to score his first point but another timeout later, he hit a duck under for takedown and gut wrench to make it 5-3 in the last minute. However, Vangelov scored a takedown and turn to take a 7-5 lead. Kim got on Vangelov's leg to score a takedown but managed only a stepout and one point for fleeing but Vangelov still held the criteria.

11:06: Arash YOSHIDA (JPN), the 20-year-old rising hope in the upper weights for Japan, scores three takedowns in the first period before finishing up an 11-1 win in the second over Nishan RANDHAWA (CAN) at 97kg. Yoshida, whose father is Iranian and runs the wrestling club in Japan where he started the sport, won the Asian gold and finished fifth at the World Championships last year at 92kg.

10:51: Veteran Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB) uses a lace lock to build up a 9-0 lead in the first period against Adlan VISKHANOV (FRA), then finishes him off with a takedown with just over a minute left to advance 11-0 at 97kg.

10:51: Two-time European bronze medalist Horst LEHR (GER), leading 5-0 in the second period, hits a slick 4-point arm throw, then adds a gut wrench for an 11-0 victory over Ilman MUKHTAROV (FRA) at 57kg.

10:46: Spencer LEE (USA), the one-time wunderkind of U.S. wrestling who world junior titles in 2015 and 2016 but was sidetracked by injuries and college commitments, wastes no time in getting his quest for a first trip to the Olympics started at 57kg. He gets a quick takedown against Ben TARIK (MAR), applies a lace lock and, with four rapid rolls, he's a 10-0 winner in 23 seconds. 

10:00: The six Freestyle weight classes will be in action today for the 12 Paris spots and also the women's wrestling playoff later in the evening.

#JapanWrestling

Ozaki keeps Olympic dream alive, glides into 68kg playoff

Sunday, December 24, 2023 - 18:53 By Ken Marantz

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TOKYO (December 24) -- After a devastating setback last summer that left her doubting herself, Nonoka OZAKI took action by going back to school. On Sunday, she passed a vital test that moved her a step closer to the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Ozaki, looking far from the wrestler whose Olympic dreams seemed squashed for good a half-year ago, masterfully glided to a 7-0 victory over Miwa MORIKAWA in the women's 68kg final at the Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships in Tokyo.

The victory that capped the tournament at Yoyogi No. 2 Gym earned Ozaki a place in a playoff with Ami ISHII for the berth in Paris that Ishii had secured for Japan at this year's World Championships in Belgrade. The showdown has been set for January 27 at the National Training Center in Tokyo.

"There was only one match left, and I fought with the sole thought that winning this and then winning the playoff would get me to Paris," Ozaki said of the final.

The 20-year-old Ozaki relied on her speed and renewed confidence to win out in a weight class two above her usual 62kg. She had missed out on that division to Sakura MOTOKI, who clinched the Paris berth for Japan in Belgrade by winning a silver medal that automatically secured the spot for herself.

Japan female wrestlers won medals in five of the six Olympic weight classes in Belgrade, leaving only 68kg up for grabs because Ishii finished fifth. The lure of a ticket to Paris drew a slew of past and current world champions from weight classes above and below to the All-Japan to challenge Ishii, who would have snatched the berth outright with a victory.

Ozaki, the 62kg world champion in 2022, also went to Belgrade in the 65kg spot and won her second senior world title. Morikawa, the 2022 world champion at 65kg, likewise moved up to 72kg and took home a bronze.

Before the All-Japan, Ozaki said she added enough weight and strength so that it did not affect her speed. That helped her ensure that Ishii would not be leaving Yoyogi No. 2 Gym with both the title and Olympic berth by defeating her in the first round on Saturday. She and Morikawa then continued through the gauntlet to get to the final.

"It was a tense tournament," Ozaki. "I practiced very hard, practices that would be second to none, and I believed in myself, and my objective was to put all of that out on the mat here. I'm glad it worked out."

In the final, Ozaki led 1-0 after receiving an activity point when the complexion of the match turned with a lightning-fast series of points by Ozaki.

Morikawa shot for a high crotch and Ozaki reacted instantly by applying a pancake, then reversed field and grabbed the near knee to send Morikawa reeling backward for a takedown. Keeping the leg locked, Ozaki stood up and reverse rolled Morikawa over, then added a second exposure for a 7-0 lead.

In the second period, Ozaki never let the slower but more powerful Morikawa get close to her legs, fending off all attacks while continuing to keep just enough pressure on.

"I used my speed which is my strong point and withstood the power of the opponent, then used it against her to set up a tackle," Ozaki said. "I think I did well using the opponent's strengths, including when we tied up."

Nonoka OZAKI (JPN)Nonoka OZAKI turns Miwa MORIKAWA over during a six-point spree in the first period of the women's 68kg final. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation / Takeo Yabuki)

When time ran out, Ozaki neither screamed in joy nor punched the air. Her only gesture of celebration was a quick nod toward a section of the stands with a small group donned in bright yellow t-shirts with her name on them.

The contingent, which included her mother, was mainly students and parents from Nirasaki Technical High School in Yamanashi Prefecture, north of Tokyo. Up to a few months ago, Ozaki had no connection with the school, but it would play a huge role in her revival.

Ozaki represents a rare case among elite wrestlers in Japan in that she attends Keio University, one of Japan's top academic universities with no wrestling tradition to speak of. Instead of earning easy entry through sports, she went the route of the common student and passed the grueling entrance exam. A product of the Japan Olympic Academy that also produced world champions Yui SUSAKI and Yuka KAGAMI, she mainly uses that as her training base.

Wrestling at 62kg at the Asian Games in October, she defeated world champion Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ), only to be dealt a tough 6-6 loss to Hyun-Gong MUN (PRK) in the final. Something had to change, and fast.

It was then that a friend of her mother whose children attend Nirasaki Technical suggested that Ozaki come train with its national powerhouse wrestling team, which is coached by Toshiro FUMITA, the father of Kenichiro FUMITA, the Tokyo Olympic silver medalist at Greco 60kg.

Every weekend, Ozaki trained with the team, sparring with the boys, as she went to work on improving her defense and just regaining her confidence. The difference was palpable when comparing the aggressive Ozaki at the Emperor's Cup with the unsure Ozaki in the July playoff.

"It was exactly a year ago that I lost at the Emperor's Cup," Ozaki said. "I lost the chance at 62kg and it made me think about many things. I wasn't going to retire, and my desire to get to the Olympics never changed.

"Then the chance came up [at 68kg], and I was going to grab it. The person I was last year would not have been able to take it one step at a time and keep winning. It makes me think I have made progress as a person, and I can achieve the dream that I have had since I was small."

Speaking about her time at Nirasaki caused Ozaki to break down into tears. "They took care of me, and created a perfect environment to prepare," she said.

"They are the reason I could win here. The kids came here to support me, they made t-shirts, I have nothing but gratitude for them. I can't lose the next match."

Looking ahead to the playoff, Ozaki will be aiming to beat Ishii for a fifth time in five career meetings, having previously beaten her three times during their junior days. But one thing the past year has taught her is to never let down her guard.

"She has nothing to lose, and we both want to go to Paris," Ozaki said. "It will come down to getting ready over the next month and who wants it more."

Arash YOSHIDA (JPN)Arash YOSHIDA chalks up one of his six stepouts in the freestyle 97kg final against Hibiki ITO. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation / Takeo Yabuki)

Teen Yoshida earns ticket to Olympic qualifier

The final three tickets to the Asian Olympic qualifier in Bishkek in April were awarded, and teenager Arash YOSHIDA powered his way to one in his first-ever outing at freestyle 97kg, while two rising stars at Nippon Sports Science University grabbed the other two.

The 19-year-old Yoshida, the Asian champion at 92kg who finished fifth at the World Championships, gave away nothing in terms of strength at the higher weight class, crushing Hibiki ITO by a 10-0 technical fall in the final.

In fact, Yoshida was the one turning on the turbocharge as he scored six stepouts along with a pair of takedowns off counters for his first senior national title.

"I knew the opponent was strong on tackles, but I kept up my guard and used what worked best for me in the match," said the Nihon University star. "I know I didn't go on the attack very much, so I want to increase my attacks."

Yoshida, whose Iranian father was his coach at the Chiba Prefecture kids club where he started the sport, won all three of his matches by fall or technical fall.

One opponent he, fortunately, did not have to face was older brother Keivan, who was in the other bracket but lost his first-round match to defending champion Takashi ISHIGURO, who then fell to Ito in the semifinals.

"We were in the same weight class and I was thinking, 'Don't make us meet, don't make us meet,'" Yoshida said. "In the end, we didn't have to. Although he didn't make the final, he was there to help me warm up and all of the family gave me support."

At freestyle 65kg, NSSU's Kotaro KIYOOKA made sure his stunning win over Tokyo Olympic champion Takuto OTOGURO in Saturday's semifinals was not in vain, rolling to an 11-0 technical fall over fellow collegian Masanosuke ONO in the final.

With the victory, Kiyooka became the second member of his family to win a title at the tournament, after younger sister Moe successfully defended her 55kg crown on Friday.

Kyotaro SOGABE preceded his teammate to the top of the podium by rallying to beat NSSU alumnus and training partner Katsuaki ENDO 8-5 in the Greco 67kg final for his second straight title.

Sogabe was trailing 5-4 when he was put on top for the third par terre of the match with about a minute to go. He failed to score points with a throw, but the two landed in a position that allowed Sogabe to execute a pair of rolls to go ahead.

Sogabe, the Asian silver medalist this year and 2022 world U23 bronze medalist, had beaten Endo in a playoff to get to the World Championships. But his bid to clinch an Olympic spot in Belgrade came up just short when he suffered a heartbreaking 11-10 loss to Tokyo Olympic champion Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) during which he won the crowd to his side.

In Bishkek, both Kiyooka and Sogabe will aim to win Olympic berths in weight classes in which only Iran has already secured one from Asia.

Risako KAWAI (JPN)Risako KAWAI lifts up Sena NAGAMOTO for a 4-point counter in the women's 59kg final. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation / Takeo Yabuki)

Kinjo claims fifth national crown

Having come to terms with the fact that she no longer has a chance to win a third straight Olympic gold, Risako KINJO is content with continuing her career while balancing it with being the mother of a toddler.

Kinjo, formerly KAWAI, won her second straight title at women's 59kg and the fifth overall of her career with a 9-2 victory in the final over Sena NAGAMOTO.

With the win, Kinjo earned a ticket to next year's Asian Championships, which will be held in Bishkek the week before the Olympic qualifier.

"As I raise my child, I realize I can't do my wrestling as usual," said the 29-year-old Kinjo, who gave birth to her daughter in August 2022 and then lost out to world champion Tsugumi SAKURAI in the race for the Olympic berth at 57kg.

"To face opponents who can focus on wrestling seven days a week is difficult."

The non-Olympic weights were run in a single day, which meant Kinjo had to win four matches en route to the gold. That task was made more difficult by the fact that only two divisions were remaining on the final day, meaning very little time between bouts.

"It was hard to have four matches in one day, but I was glad I wrestled hard and got through it," she said.

Her toughest match came in the semifinals when Kinjo had to draw on all of her power and pride as a two-time Olympic champion to avoid an upset by 2022 world U23 champion Himeka TOKUHARA.

Tokuhara was leading 2-1 in the second period when she scored a 4-point throw from a standing front headlock. Looking like vintage Kinjo, she came back with a takedown with :40 left that had a one-point fleeing penalty tacked on to cut the lead to 6-4.

That put her on top in par terre, but Tokuhara wriggled out of a roll attempt. With :20 remaining, Kinjo hit a slick inside leg trip to slam Tokuhara to her back for 4 points and the win.

"Up to the Tokyo Olympics, my mindset was that I wanted to win every match and win big," Kinjo said. "Now I don't have that luxury. I have to focus for all six minutes on the opponent. I don't even remember the four matches. I'll have to look at the videos to see what happened."

In Bishkek, Kinjo will be aiming for her fifth career Asian title dating back to 2014. But there's another reason she will aim to strike gold.

"I want to wear a uniform with 'Kinjo' on it and compete overseas once more," she said. "Also, I don't want my child to think that I became weaker because I gave birth to her. I want to have a good result after giving birth. That's become my motivation."

In other finals, two-time former world champion Remina YOSHIMOTO re-established herself as arguably the second-best 50kg wrestler in the world, defeating world U23 champion Umi ITO 11-2 for her third career national title.

Yoshimoto has had the bad luck of competing during the reign of Tokyo Olympic and three-time world champion Susaki, who has lost to only one wrestler (albeit three times) in her entire career. Yoshimoto's only losses both at home and abroad since 2020 have come to Susaki, and her world and national titles were won when Susaki was not entered.

As for the Asian Championships, Susaki and the eight others who have clinched spots at the Paris Olympics will have the priority on deciding whether or not to go to Bishkek, despite not entering the All-Japan. If Susaki defers, Yoshimoto will get a chance at a third continental crown.

At women's 57kg, 2021 world bronze medalist Sae NANJO won her second straight title and fifth overall with a 4-0 victory in the final over Himeka TANABE.

Nanjo scored a pair of activity points while being continually held to a stalemate on her single-leg attempts by Tanabe, then finally scored a clinching takedown in the second period.

Tanabe, a four-time bronze medalist, was appearing in the final for the first time but came up short of joining younger brother Kaisei as a national champion. Kaisei had won the freestyle 61kg title to complete a father-son tandem with their father Chikara, a bronze medalist at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Leon KAKEGAWALeon KAKEGAWA, 2nd from right,  stands on the Greco 82kg podium after winning a bronze medal, making him the first to medal in both styles since 1973. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation / Takeo Yabuki)

College freshman achieves unique double

With a sudden influx of wrestlers entering both the freestyle and Greco competitions, the "Shohei Otani" award for best two-way player goes to Waseda freshman Leon KAKEGAWA, who became the first wrestler to win a medal in both styles at the All-Japan in a half-century.

Kakegawa won a bronze medal at Greco 82kg, a day after he finished as the silver medalist at freestyle 92kg.

Kakegawa said he exclusively practices Greco, but entered the freestyle after qualifying by winning a gold at the freshman college championships.

"As a freshman, I thought it would be good to get as much experience as I can, and even though it's not my main style, I decided to enter," he said.

Asked about the large gap in weights between the two styles, he acknowledged that he was closer to 86kg in freestyle. "But this being an Olympic [qualifying] year, the top competitors all gathered for this tournament," he said.

"I'm not yet at that level. As a non-Olympic weight class, 92kg is kind of overlooked and I thought it would increase my chances for medal."

The last time a wrestler medaled in both styles was in 1973 when Mitsuo YOSHIDA won golds in the 100kg class. He went on to become a professional wrestler with the ring name Choshuriki.

In fact, no wrestler since the 1980s had entered both styles until last year, when 2022 world 70kg freestyle champion Taishi NARIKUNI did it, only to pull out of both due to an injury. Still, that seemed to inspire others to try and a handful did so this year.

Day 4 Results

Freestyle

65kg (27 entries)
GOLD: Kotaro KIYOOKA df. Masanosuke ONO by TF, 11-0, 2:02

BRONZE: Tomohiro HASEGAWA df. Takuto OTOGURO by Def.
BRONZE: Takumi AKIYAMA df. Ryoma ANRAKU, 8-4

97kg (14 entries)
GOLD: Arash YOSHIDA df. Hibiki ITO by TF, 10-0, 4:52

BRONZE: Takashi ISHIGURO df. Asahi IMAMURA by Fall, :59 (6-0)
BRONZE: Genki HOKI df. Taira SONODA by Def.

Greco-Roman

67kg (20 entries)

GOLD: Kyotaro SOGABE df. Katsuaki ENDO, 8-5

BRONZE: Haruto YABE df. Zaion OBA by TF, 9-0, 3:18
BRONZE: Yuji UEGAKI df. Tomoaki FUTAMATA, 6-0

82kg (13 entries)
GOLD: Hayato TAMAOKA df. Taizo YOSHIDA, 6-4

BRONZE: Leon KAKEGAWA df. Renta YAMAGUCHI, 7-3
BRONZE: Muto SAWADA df. Shohei YABIKU by Def.

Semifinal: Taizo YOSHIDA df. Leon KAKEGAWA by TF, 12-4, 2:30
Semifinal: Hayato TAMAOKA df .Shohei YABIKU, 5-3.

Women's Wrestling

50kg (18 entries)
GOLD: Remina YOSHIMOTO df. Umi ITO, 11-2

BRONZE: Miruko SAKANE df. Miwa MAGARA, 6-2
BRONZE: Riko KASAI df. Minoriho YONEHARA , 6-2

57kg (13 entries)
GOLD: Sae NANJO df. Yumaka TANABE, 4-0

BRONZE: Sara NATAMI df. Ibuki TAMURA by Fall, 4:26 (10-0)
BRONZE: Kanon YAMASHITA df. Ichika ARAI by TF, 12-0, 3:29

59kg (15 entries)
GOLD: Risako KINJO df. Sena NAGAMOTO, 9-2

BRONZE: Miyu NAKANISHI df. Junna OKADA, 4-1
BRONZE: Himeka TOKUHARA df. Atena KODAMA, 6-2

Semifinal: Sena NAGAMOTO df. Miyu NAKANISHI, 3-1
Semifinal: Risako KINJO df. Atena KODAMA, 8-6

68kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Nonoka OZAKI df. Miwa MORIKAWA, 7-0

BRONZE: Masako FURUICHI df. Rin MIYAJI by Def.
BRONZE: Miyu YOSHIKAWA df. Mei SHINDO, 3-1