Yoshimoto adds Asian gold to world title with eyes on Paris 2024

Thursday, April 21, 2022 - 13:39 By Ken Marantz

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (April 21) -- World champion Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) had one small stumble early in the final, but it was smooth sailing the rest of the way as she cruised to her first senior Asian title.

Yoshimoto scored a late fall over home favorite Namuuntsetseg TSOGTOCHIR (MGL) in the 50kg final, and powerhouse Japan took three of the five titles at stake as the women's competition started Thursday at the Asian Championships.

"I wasn't concerned about giving up points, but to achieve my ultimate goal, I have to raise my attacking ability so I don't give up points," the 21-year-old Yoshimoto said.

With China missing from the tournament due to travel issues as well as the DPR Korea, the women's fields had limited entries and all five weight classes competed in a group stage.

Meanwhile, the other reigning world champion in action, Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ), suffered a stunning loss in the 68kg final to Madina BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), while world bronze medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) captured her first Asian title at 76kg.

Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) won the gold at 50kg. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

Yoshimoto showed the domination that propelled her to the world title last year in Oslo when she needed just 2:13 to win her two group matches with a technical fall and fall, then made the final with a 10-0 technical fall in 1:07.

In the gold-medal bout, Yoshimoto lost her balance when Tsogtochir slipped away from a tackle attempt, allowing the Mongolian to rush her and gain a takedown. That got the partisan crowd at the Buyant Ukhaa Sports Palace vocally involved.

"The crowd was really something, but this [my opponent's] country, so there's nothing I can do about it, it's only natural," Yoshimoto said. "I tried not to pay attention to during the match."

There would be no more slipups, as Yoshimoto built up a 6-2 lead in the first period, and added six more points before ending the match by fall at 5:04.

"I allowed her to get points, which made the match more touch-and-go," Yoshimoto said. "I need to reflect on [that mistake]."

The match gives Yoshimoto, a student at powerhouse Shigakkan University, something to work on.

"I have to address the issue of having my attack lead to points," Yoshimoto said. "There were times when I wasn't able to turn an attack into points or let my opponent get away, or had points scored on me. I came to realize this, and I'll work on it to achieve my next goal."

That next goal is crystal clear -- to get to the 2024 Paris Olympics. But to do that, it means a clash with the reigning Olympic champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN), who has not competed since her triumph at the Tokyo Games last summer.

The two could meet in June at the All-Japan Invitational Championships, where Susaki will make her return to action. The tournament will serve as a qualifier for this year's World Championships, although Yoshimoto will definitely not be defending her title, as she has already committed to the Asian Games.

So there won't be anything but a psychological edge at stake if the two clash in June, as the qualifying process for Paris starts at the All-Japan Championships in December. Susaki has already beaten Yoshimoto twice, most recently in a close 2-1 decision in 2019.

"The 'real' competition is the [first] Paris qualifier which will be in December, that and the next in June, so I have to get a win there," Yoshimoto said.

"The [upcoming tournament] is before that, so it's like I just want to see how it goes. But in reality, I have to win. It's really been awhile, so I have to go all out, as I will be the challenger."

Madina BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) upset world champion Meerin ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) to win the 68kg gold. (Photo: Bayrem Ben Mrad)

At 68kg, Bakbergenova scored three points in the final 25 seconds of the summit clash to stun Olympic bronze medalist Zhumanazarova 4-2 and pick up her first Asian gold after two previous bronzes.

In a staid match, Zhumanazarova had gone ahead 2-0 after receiving her second activity point, before the gap was cut to one when Bakbergenova gained an activity point. With the clock ticking down, the Kazakh came to life, spinning behind on a takedown attempt to force a stepout.

An additional point was tacked on for fleeing, and another when the Kyrgyz side unsuccessfully challenged the call. The match ended with Zhumanazarova desperately clutching an ankle but Bakbergenova fending off the tackle attempt.

"With the help of God I’ve won the Asian Championships," said Bakbergenova, who had lost 5-0 to Zhumanazarova in the group stage. "We’ve been preparing for a very long time here in Ulaanbaatar. We had a two-week training camp here. Thanks a lot to the Mongolian girls, it was a good camp with nice training."

Bakbergenova also had a close call to get into the final. Facing former world junior champion Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN) in the semifinals, Bakbergenova scored a takedown with 30 seconds left to win 3-3 on criteria.

"I wrestled against the Japanese wrestler in the semifinal, before that I knew I was gonna wrestle her, and I did my best to win the match," Bakbergenova said.

Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) counter for four points secured her the first Asian Championships gold. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

Medet Kyzy, a two-time Asian silver medalist, finally moved to the top of the podium with a 5-3 victory in the 76kg final over former world junior champion Yuka KAGAMI (JPN).

Medet Kyzy scored 4 points with a twisting counter lift from the standing position that Kagami reversed to the back, putting the Kyrgyz ahead 5-2. Kagami, the 2019 Asian champion at 72kg, scored a late stepout, but it was too little, too late.

Umi IMAI (JPN) defeated Otgonjargal GANBAATAR (MGL) in Round 2 to all but confirm the gold. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

Imai, Natami add to Japan gold tally

Japan's two other gold came from Umi IMAI (JPN) at 55kg and Sara NATAMI (JPN) at 59kg, who both became first-time senior Asian champions. Both weight classes had just five entries and were run in a round-robin format.

Imai, the 2018 world junior champion at 53kg, had her 'gold medal' match in the second round of the round-robin when she defeated Otgonjargal GANBAATAR (MGL), 12-3. She clinched the title in her final match in the night session with victory by fall over winless Sarbinaz JIENBAEVA (UZB).

"It was my intention to definitely bring the title home, so it's a bit of a relief," Imai said. "I'm glad I can take a medal home.

"I gave it my all and did my style of wrestling. In my first match, my legs weren't moving well and other things, but instead of becoming timid, I stuck with my wrestling and stayed on the attack, so it was good."

Imai said she overcame jitters that were from more than appearing in her first Asian Championships.

"It's my first international tournament in a while," Imai said. "So there was an aspect of being nervous. But if I think too much, I tighten up. I thought to just go like I always do. I just focused on practicing as usual."

Imai took a practical approach to a question about the missing Chinese and DPR Koreans.

"Those two countries are on the top level in Asia. My feeling was that I wanted to face them and test myself. But it is what it is, and it was good that I fought in my own style."

In a final round-robin match that ended up deciding the silver medal, Ganbaatar defeated Sushma SHOKEEN (IND) 15-5, overcoming a 5-4 deficit with a reversal and five straight lace locks. Shokeen took the bronze.

Sara NATAMI (JPN), blue, won her first Asian gold after winning a silver in 2018. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

Natami, a Shigakkan teammate of Yoshimoto's, had previously appeared at the Asian Championships as a high schooler in 2018 in Bishkek, where she finished second to Chinese opponent Xingru PEI (CHN). She wishes she had a chance for a rematch.

"The Chinese athletes are strong," Natami said. "I work to win each and every match. I want to [face] the Chinese again."

Natami defeated eventual silver medalist Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL) 4-2 in the third round of the morning session. In her final match, she got caught three times in a counter lift by Diana KAYUMOVA (KAZ) and trailed 6-4, but scored six points in the second period for a 10-6 win.

"My attack was good, but the finishing up was poor," Natami said. "When I get back to Japan, I will closely address this problem."

Earlier in the day, Baatarjav edged defending champion and world bronze medalist Sarita MOR (IND), 2-1, and the Indian eventually had to settle for the bronze medal.

Because of the limited fields, there was only one bronze medalist in each weight class. At 50kg, 2021 silver medalist Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZB) scored a fall over MANISHA (IND); Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) sent Matsuyuki home empty-handed after a 4-0 win at 68kg; and Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA (KAZ) took the 76kg bronze by beating Ariunjargal GANBAT (MGL), 7-4.

Day 3 Results

Women's Wrestling

50kg (6 entries)
GOLD: Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) df. Namuuntsetseg TSOGT OCHIR (MGL) by Fall, 5:04 (12-2)

BRONZE: Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZB) df. MANISHA (IND) by Fall, 2:31 (10-0)

55kg (5 entries)

GOLD: Umi IMAI (JPN), 4-0
SILVER: Otgonjargal GANBAATAR (MGL), 3-1
BRONZE: Sushma SHOKEEN (IND) , 2-2

Key match: Umi IMAI (JPN) df. Otgonjargal GANBAATAR (MGL) 12-3 in Round 2

59kg (5 entries)
GOLD: Sara NATAMI (JPN), 4-0
SILVER: Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL), 3-1
BRONZE: Sarita MOR (IND), 2-2

Key match: Sara NATAMI (JPN) df. Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL) 4-2 in Round 3

68kg (7 entries)
GOLD: Madina BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) df. Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ), 4-2

BRONZE: Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) df. Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN), 4-0

76kg (6 entries)
GOLD: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) df. Yuka KAGAMI (JPN), 5-3

BRONZE: Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA (KAZ) df. Ariunjargal GANBAT (MGL), 7-4

#WrestleTirana

World Championships: Sadulaev caps golden return with 92kg title

Friday, November 1, 2024 - 00:20 By Ken Marantz

TIRANA, Albania (October 31)--After a long absence from the mat forced by a combination of injuries and extenuating circumstances beyond his control, two-time Olympic champion Abdulrashid SADULAEV (AIN) returned in triumph.

It wasn't at his usual weight class and he has no plans to remain there, but for now the Russian great can be satisfied with adding yet another global gold medal to his formidable collection.

Sadulaev won his sixth world title in a third different weight class when he defeated Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) 6-0 in the final at freestyle 92kg on Thursday, the final day of the Non-Olympic Weight Categories in Tirana.

"I can’t express what I feel yet," Sadulaev said. "I am very happy to be back on the top place of the podium of the world championships. This time it was a bit more difficult than the previous ones. There were many things that didn’t depend on me. I am glad."

Meanwhile, up-and-coming Masanosuke ONO (JPN), following up on Japan's success in the lightest weights at the Paris Olympics, completed a dominant run to the 61kg gold, while Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) and Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) ended long waits to return to the medal podium by making it to the top step at 70kg and 79kg, respectively.

Sadulaev, wrestling at 92kg for the first time in his career and down from 97kg for the first time since winning the 86kg gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics, put up his usual granite wall of defense, while also showing the combination of speed, power and agility on the attack that sets him apart from his peers.

"I was about 98kg when I started the preparation," Sadulaev said. "The weight cut was not so difficult. I stopped eating flour and sweets, and the weight started to go down. Only the last two kilograms were a bit difficult to cut.

"The only problem was that I had the weigh-ins at 8 a.m. in the morning, then we arrived at the venue and I started wrestling in 30 minutes, I didn’t even have any time to rest. All the matches were just happening one by one with no rest. That’s why I got a bit tired in the semifinal match."

In the final, Sadulaev was on the activity clock in the first period when he scored a takedown, then added a pair of gut wrenches to build a 6-0 lead. From there, he held off everything that Maisuradze threw at him to add to the five world titles he won starting in 2014.

The last time the world saw Sadulaev, he suffered a serious neck injury and was beaten in the semifinals at the 2023 World Championships in Belgrade by Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN), a former member of Sadulaev's wrestling school in Dagestan now competing for Bahrain who won the gold in Paris.

Sadulaev was declared ineligible to defend his Olympic 97kg title in Paris as part of sanctions on Russia and Belarus, and skipped what would have been his return at this year's European Championships in February due to injury.

"I found out that I will be wrestling at 92kg at the worlds only at the end of September," Sadulaev said. "I talked to the president of the federation. I was preparing to compete at the Olympic Games, but unfortunately, I wasn’t allowed to enter, that’s why I decided to give it a try here...One and a half months was enough for me to prepare."

But as he showed over the two days in Tirana, he could be as competitive as ever. He started by handily defeating fellow superstar David TAYLOR (USA) in a classic matchup in the first round, then showed that his fire for success still burned bright within him when he scraped together a 4-point takedown in the final seconds to edge Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) 5-3 in the semifinals.

"It didn’t really matter if I had to wrestle Taylor in the final match or in the qualification round," Sadulaev said. "It would have been more interesting if it was a final match. It would have been very spectacular if we wrestled in the final.

"In the semifinal match, I missed an attack, and in the end, I had to get a last-second score. I think it made the match even more interesting."

Looking ahead, Sadulaev said he will be heading back up to 97kg. "This was the only one time for me wrestling at 92kg. This is not my weight class, I will be back at 97kg again. I just used this opportunity not to lose another year. I had to make history to win the world championships in three different weight classes."

The dynamic Ono, who won the world U20 gold in September, never let up on the gas in storming to a quick 10-0 victory in the 61kg final over Ahmet DUMAN (TUR).

As he did throughout the tournament, Ono transitioned immediately to a gut wrench from a takedown, scoring six quick points before Duman knew what hit him. Ono then used a snap-down to a low ankle for another takedown, then a gut wrench to finish the rout in 1:22.

Ono, who started his golden run with a 10-2 win over Tokyo Olympic and former two-time world champion Zavur UGUEV (AIN), reeled off 12-0, 11-0 and 12-0 victories to advance to the final.

The senior Asian bronze medalist this year at 65kg, he later revealed that an injury had hampered his preparations. "One month ago, I broke my ankle and I couldn't practice at all," Ono said. "The Uguev match was my first live wrestling after the fracture, and I was very unsure how I would do."

For Ono, currently a student at Yamanashi Gakuin University, the school that produced Tokyo Olympic champion Takuto OTOGURO (JPN), the question is where does he go from here?

Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN), who followed Otoguro by winning the 65kg gold in Paris, beat Ono in the final at the 2023 All-Japan Championships during the Olympic qualifying process. Going down to 57kg, where Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) won the Paris gold, seems unlikely.

Wherever he ends up, he will go with confidence. "I don't know if I'll go to 65kg and face him [Kiyooka]," Ono said. "If I do, I'm definitely going to win."

As for celebrating his triumph in Tirana, that will have to wait. "In five days, I have the Japan University championships," he said.

In the 70kg final, Kaipanov scored all of his points in the second period to defeat Asian silver medalist Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) 5-3 and add the gold to the world silver he won in 2019 and become just the second world freestyle champion in Kazakhstan history -- and second in two years.

Kaipanov, a two-time former Asian champion, twice scored 2-point exposures by stopping body-lock throw attempts by Aoyagi, a former teammate of Ono's at Yamanashi Gakuin who was coming off a bronze-medal finish at the World U23 Championships held a week ago in the same venue.

Kaipanov's victory came a year after Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) captured the 92kg title in Belgrade to become their country's first-ever freestyle gold medalist.

Kentchadze, a four-time European bronze medalist whose only previous world medal was a 74kg silver won in 2015, scored six takedowns in a 13-4 victory over 2023 world U23 champion Magomed MAGOMAEV (AIN) to take the 79kg gold.

Kentchadze, who was fifth at the 74kg at last year's worlds in Belgrade, gave up an opening takedown, but responded by scoring two himself to go ahead. After the second, however, he got stuffed attempting a roll to go behind 4-4, but righted the ship and added two more takedowns before the break to lead 8-4.

In the second period, Kentchadze sandwiched two more takedowns around a stepout to pull away and emerge victorious in the tournament's most crowded weight class with 33 entries.

Taylor claims emotional bronze

Taylor didn't get the gold that he came out of retirement to get in Tirana, but he did show a bit of his old magic in claiming a bronze medal at 92kg with an impressive 6-2 comeback victory over Ghasempour.

"When you're good for so long, you never know when it's time to be done," said an emotional Taylor, the Tokyo Olympic and three-time world champion at 86kg. "I just got an opportunity to go out the way I wanted to."

Ghasempour, the 2021 and 2022 world champion at 92kg, opened the scoring with a takedown while on the activity clock to lead 2-0 at the break. In the second period, Taylor went on the offensive and scored three takedowns against the tough Iranian, the last coming with two seconds left to preserve the victory.

After the match, Taylor remained on the mat for a short while, drinking in the atmosphere and the applause of the crowd. Later, he smile broadly on the medal podium and posed for photo together with Sadulaev.

The 33-year-old had retired after failing to make the U.S. team to the Paris Olympics and took the head coaching job at powerhouse Oklahoma State University. But the chance to face Sadulaev for the first time and possibly add to his gold medal collection was incentive enough to bring him back to the mat. The luck of the draw saw him face Sadulaev in the first round, where he lost 7-0.

"It was a tough decision to wrestle, but I didn't want it to end the way it did in April," Taylor said. "Going into this, I was hyperfocused on wrestling Sadulaev. The game script didn't go as I thought. I should have wrestled [him] like I did [against Ghasempour]. [The bronze-medal match] was a match of redemption. It was a world-final caliber match."

Although they met just that one time, Sadulaev had kind parting words for Taylor. "I want to congratulate Taylor on an amazing career," he said. "He was one of the best wrestlers of the modern time. I wish him good luck. Sooner or later, I will retire as well. But not now."

In the other 92kg bronze-medal match, Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK) gave Slovakia a second bronze of the night when he rode a six-point lead to an 8-6 victory over a spirited Benjamin HONIS (ITA), who had been aiming to become Italy's first world medalist not named Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) since 2018.

Vito ARUJAU (USA), denied the chance to defend his world 61kg title by Ono in the semifinals, came away with a bronze medal by taking one of the biggest scalps of his career, beating Ugaev 8-3.

Arujau, shaking off a painful finger injury that caused him to need treatment during the second period, scored four takedowns in toppling the normally 57kg Uguev, who had obvious trouble handling the extra weight.

The other 61kg bronze went to Tsogbadrakh TSEVEENSUREN (MGL), who came up with a big move to defeat Nuraddin NOVRUZOV (AZE) by fall. Tseveensuren started with a 4-point pancake that Norvuzov reversed for 2, then countered a takedown attempt by locking the Azeri in a cradle and securing the fall at 2:30.

Russian-born Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK) ended Tajikistan's 17-wait for a second world medal when he broke open a tight match with a 10-point flurry in the second period to defeat Akaki KEMERTELIDZE (GEO) 13-2 in a 70kg bronze-medal match.

Kudiev, a bronze medalist at this year's Antalya Ranking Series at 65kg, followed in the footsteps of another native Russian, Yusup ABDUSALOMOV (TJK), who won a silver at freestyle 84kg in 2007.

European U23 champion Inalbek SHERIEV (AIN), last year's world U23 gold medalist, claimed his first senior world medal with a 10-0 victory in the other 70kg bronze-medal match over Vasyl SHUPTAR (UKR). Sheriev scored three takedowns in the second period to end the match with :08 left.

At 79kg, Asian champion Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI), who knocked off six-time world champion Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) before losing to Kentchadze in the semifinals, overwhelmed young Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) 10-0 to take home a world medal for the third consecutive year.

Takahashi, the world U23 champion at 74kg a week ago in Tirana, did a remarkable job of making it to the bronze-medal match, having come back from massive deficits in both of his repechage matches just a few hours earlier.

Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK), the 2021 European champion, scored a 2-point exposure on a counter in the second period to edge Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL) 2-1 for the other 79kg bronze.

Freestyle Results

61kg (27 entries)
GOLD: Masanosuke ONO (JPN) df. Ahmet DUMAN (TUR) by TF, 10-0, 1:22

BRONZE: Tsogbadrakh TSEVEENSUREN (MGL) df Nuraddin NOVRUZOV (AZE) by Fall, 2:30 (8-2)
BRONZE: Vito ARUJAU (USA) df. Zavur UGUEV (AIN), 8-3

70kg (25 entries)
GOLD: Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) df. Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN), 5-3

BRONZE: Inalbek SHERIEV (AIN) df. Vasyl SHUPTAR (UKR) by TF, 10-0, 5:52
BRONZE: Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK) df. Akaki KEMERTELIDZE (GEO) by TF, 13-2, 4:39

79kg (33 entries)
GOLD: Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) df. Magomed MAGOMAEV (AIN), 13-4

BRONZE: Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) df. Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) by TF, 10-0, 3:49
BRONZE: Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK) df. Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL), 2-1

92kg (29 entries)
GOLD: Abdulrashid SADULAEV (AIN) df. Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO), 6-0

BRONZE: David TAYLOR (USA) df. Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI), 6-2
BRONZE: Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK) df. Benjamin HONIS (ITA), 8-6

Yoshimoto adds Asian gold to world title with eyes on Paris 2024

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World Championships: Sadulaev caps golden return with 92kg title