#WrestleTokyo

Youngsters Shine in Greco-Roman; Tynybekova, Kawai Reach Semifinals

Tuesday, August 3, 2021 - 07:45 By Vinay Siwach

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CHIBA, Japan (August 3) --- Out of the 49 wrestlers that took the mat Tuesday at the Makuhari Messe Hall in Chiba, 22 were world champions at the senior or age group level. By the end of the morning session eight remained in the hunt for the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics.

Wrestling saw action in 67kg and 87kg in Greco-Roman and 62kg in women's wrestling as it entered day three of the Olympics in Chiba Prefecture, 20 kilometers from downtown Tokyo. Semifinals were decided in all three of the weight categories.

A host of upsets in the morning sessions gave way to young blood in the 67kg semifinals. Former cadet world champion Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO) reached the semifinal after dumping Rio Olympic gold medalist Ismael BORRERO (CUB) in the opening round. Borrero was trailing 1-1 on criteria after giving up passivity in the second period. He went for a head pinch to get two points but instead gave up a takedown to trail 1-3. A late step out point was not enough as the defending champion lost 3-2.

Zoidze will face will face U23 world champion Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) in the semifinals as he upset three-time world champion Frank STAEBLER (GER) 5-5 in the quarterfinals. Staebler was leading 5-3 when the referees called for a leg-foul and it was awarded to Geraei. The two had one caution each and a similar scoring pattern but the Iran wrestler had the last point and was declared the winner.

ElsayedMohamed ELSAYED (EGY) is one of the two wrestlers from his country to make the semifinalists in Tokyo. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

The other semifinal will also see young guns Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) take on Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY). Multiple times age-group world medalist Nasibov claimed 2018 world champion Artem SURKOV (ROC) with a 1-1 score. The two had a passivity each but it was the Ukrainian who had it in the second period.

Elsayed had a frantic first bout against two-time world champion RYU Hansu (KOR) but hung in for a 7-6 win. In the quarterfinals he was in deep water against former junior world champion Karen ASLANYAN (ARM), but pulled out a 7-7 victory to reach the semifinals.

While it was youngsters who shone in 67kg, veterans ruled the 87kg weight class. In the final lap of his career, world champion Viktor LORINCZ (HUN) reached the semifinal and will take on Mohamed METWALLY (EGY). He defeated Atabek AZISBEKOV (KGZ) 6-1 in the first bout before he stopped Rio bronze medalist Denis KUDLA (GER) 1-1 in the quarterfinal.

Metwally was the surprise entry in the list as he won by technical superiority 9-1 over Individual World Cup winner Kiril MASKEVICH (BLR). He then pulled out a fall over Daniel GREGORICH HECHAVARRIA (CUB) to reach the semifinal.

Rio silver medalist and world champion Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) will take on Ivan HUKLEK (CRO) in the other semifinal at 87kg. Beleniuk continued his well planned strategy of trying to attack more in the second period, resulting in him winning the criteria lead.

Zhan BELENIUKZhan BELENIUK (UKR) reached the 87kg semifinal. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

In the first bout, he wrestled European champion Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) and won 3-1 after a big gut from par terre. Bachir SID AZARA (ALG) kept the match tighter, but it was Beleniuk gutting out the 1-1 win and trip to the semifinals.

Huklek removed Rio Olympic bronze medalist Rustam ASSAKOLO (UZB) in the quarterfinal with a 4-1 win. He began with a 5-3 win over John STEFANOWICZ (USA).

On the women's side, world champion Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) booked her spot in the second straight Olympic semifinal and will take on Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR). In 2016, Tynybekova lost her semifinal and later the bronze medal bout.

But she looked a wrestler on a mission as she defeated Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (LAT) 8-0 with those trademark double-leg takedowns. And just when it seemed that Kriszta INCZE (ROU) will be a problem, she exposed the Romanian to her back and won via fall.

AIsuluu TynybekovaAisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) is in the 62kg semifinal. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Koliadenko also looks like the one to cause the upset as she won both her bouts via fall. First was Aminat ADENIYI (NGR) who was up 4-0 but the Ukrainian smashed her to the mat and the referee took their time but finally called it a pin. LONG Jia (CHN) was her next victim as she also suffered a fall in the first period itself.

Even if Tynybekova clears the semifinals, she will meet one of the two main rivals in the Olympic finals as KAWAI Yukako (JPN) and Taybe YUSEIN (BUL) made it to the semifinal from the other side of the bracket at 62kg.

Kawai, wrestling at her first Olympics, got her lace going against Liubov OVCHAROVA (ROC) to win 10-0 before she won 10-2 against a tiring Henna JOHANSSON (SWE). The Swede did give up a point for passivity but managed a takedown but Kawai came back stronger with a four pointer as well to win.

Yusein was also dominant in her two bouts as she got Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL) in a arm-to-chest wrap and got the rolls for a 10-0 win in no time. But her opening win was 4-1 against Lais NUNES (BRA).

The semifinals will be followed by the medal bouts of the Greco-Roman 77kg and 97kg and women's 68kg weight classes.

#JapanWrestling

Yoshida sparks rare Olympic hope for Japan heavyweights

Thursday, June 15, 2023 - 15:56 By Vinay Siwach

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TOKYO (June 15) -- Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) has already etched his name in Japan's wrestling history by becoming the country's youngest male Asian champion in April. He secured the gold medal at 92kg in Astana, marking a rare triumph for Japan in the heavier weight categories, 40 years after Tamon HONDA (JPN) won at freestyle 100kg in 1983.

The 19-year-old's sensational debut on the international stage surprised everyone. On Thursday, he continued to impress by clinching the Meiji Cup title at 92kg in Tokyo, fueling his aspirations of winning a World Championship in Belgrade and becoming Japan's first Olympic medalist above 90kg later at the Paris Olympics.

"I was able to wrestle with confidence because it was a technique that I performed at an international competition," he said. "My goal this year is to win the World Championships and my ultimate goal is to win the Olympics."

To secure his spot for Belgrade, Arash must once again emerge victorious. Japan will host a playoff for the non-Olympic weight classes, where the top-two finishers of an Olympic weight class at the Emperor's Cup and Meiji Cup can compete.

Undoubtedly, he is the favorite to win the playoff on July 17. This victory will not only bring him closer to his personal goal but also fulfill his father's dream.

Javid ESFANJANI, originally from Iran, moved to Japan at the age of 23 and later married Naomi YOSHIDA. A few years later, he established Koshti Club, a wrestling club, as a way to express gratitude for the support he received in Chiba.

"Because of Japan, I was able to start my own family and build a happy home," Esfanjani told Japan Wrestling Federation in 2018. "So I thought I must do something to express my gratitude to Japan. Wrestling is something I can offer. I thought I would repay [Japan] by opening a wrestling club and developing [a new generation of] wrestlers."

Koshti

Arash, who began wrestling at the age of three, is part of the group that learned the intricacies of the sport at Koshti Club, which was founded in 2012.

"I follow traditional Iranian strength training and incorporate push-ups into my routine," he stated. "Since junior high school, my father has shown me videos of international competitions."

The fourth child out of six siblings, Arash made a name for himself by becoming a five-time national champion in kindergarten and elementary school. Although he took a break during junior high school, he returned to the mat in high school and secured national titles in both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling. Now studying Sports Science at Nihon University, Arash is determined to achieve even greater success.

Much of his success stems from the distinct in-your-face wrestling style he learned at his father's club. This style was evident during his recent victory, as he utilized breathtaking duck-unders and seamlessly transitioned into powerful gut wrenches, a rarity in Japanese wrestling, especially in the heavier weight divisions.

In the final against Satoshi MIURA, Arash employed heavy hands to unnerve his opponent before executing a classic duck-under for the initial takedown. He maintained control with an underhook, securing another takedown and gut wrench to establish an 8-0 lead. Shortly after the break, he secured yet another takedown, ultimately winning 10-0.

Arash recorded three technical superiority victories, which were met with cheers from a group of children and friends accompanying his father. After claiming the gold medal, he expressed gratitude to his supporters.

"The support helps a lot," he said. "Even when I was trailing, I did not feel like I was losing because of the support from the stands."

Arash will need all the support if he manages to actually go to Belgrade and take on the top wrestlers in 92kg in the world. And as far as the Olympics is concerned, Arash will try to make his bid after the World Championships.

"If things go well, it would be great if I could raise my weight to 97kg this year and compete in the Emperor's Cup, and then represent at the Asian qualifiers to qualify for the Paris Olympics," he said.

What Arash is chasing is improbable in Japanese wrestling as Akira OTA is the only wrestler to win a medal at a weight class above 82kg. Ota won consecutive silver medals at the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Games at 90kg.

While that dream takes it first steps, Arash, for now, eagerly awaits July 17.