Japan Wrestling

Legendary Icho Joins Japan National Team Staff in Run-Up to Paris Olympics

Tuesday, December 28, 2021 - 15:14 By Ken Marantz

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TOKYO (December 28) -- If anyone knows how to deal with pressure, it would be the only woman to win four gold medals in the same event in Olympic history.

That was behind the decision of the Japan Wrestling Federation to add Kaori ICHO to its performance enhancement team in the run-up to the 2024 Paris Olympics, appointing her to the newly established position of "entourage coach."

The federation announced the appointment following a meeting of its board of directors on December 19 at the recent Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships.

Two-time Olympic medalist Kosei AKAISHI was named the director of performance enhancement for the national team.

"I think that athletes have worries before matches and other times," Akaishi said. "Ms. Icho has been to the Olympics, and can (provide support) from both mental aspect and technical aspect."

Icho, 37, was named along with former world silver medalist and two-time Olympian Takahiro WADA as entourage coaches, whose main responsibility will be to provide mental support for national team members and coordinate those around them to ensure the best possible training environment.

The Japan Olympic Committee (JOC) defines the position as "those involved in developing a competitive environment and collaborating so that athletes can maximize their performance."

Icho reportedly had to think hard about accepting the offer. Akaishi said he offered the position to Icho in early November and she only recently made her decision to accept.

Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Yui SUSAKI is among those who are glad she did. "It is a great plus for such a renowned predecessor to become a coach," Susaki told Nikkan Sports. "I'm really looking forward to it."

Susaki, who did not compete at the Emperor's Cup but was there to support her Waseda University teammates, foresees getting advice from Icho in her bid to defend the Olympic 50kg title in Paris. "I want to learn what it takes to win consecutive titles, and I'll start thinking about what to ask," she said.

Icho secured a legendary place in sports history when she became just the fifth athlete, and the first woman, to win gold medals in the same event at four Olympics. (Greco wrestler Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) joined the elite group at Tokyo 2020). Icho struck gold at Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio de Janeiro 2016, the first three at 63kg and the last at 58kg.

Her bid for a fifth Olympic title ended when she lost a playoff at 57kg with fellow Rio champion Risako KAWAI in 2019. She did, however, make an appearance at the Tokyo Olympics, wearing a blue kimono instead of a singlet as she presented Susaki with the bouquet at the medal ceremony.

Although not officially retired, Icho, also a 10-time world champion, has been serving as a women's coach at Nippon Sports Science University and helped Miwa MORIKAWA win a silver medal at the 2021 World Championships at 65kg.

Akaishi won a silver medal at freestyle 62kg at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and a bronze at 68kg at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. He also competed at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

Shoko YOSHIMURA, Susaki's coach at the JOC Elite Academy who still sits in her corner during matches, was named as one of two assistant directors of performance enhancement, along with former Olympian and Greco national team member Masatoshi TOYOTA.

#WrestleBucharest

Gutu returns, Mihai ends drought at U23 Europeans

Tuesday, March 14, 2023 - 19:10 By Vinay Siwach

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BUCHAREST, Romania (March 14) -- For a period of one year from mid-2018, Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) dominated every competition participated in. He won the U17 World and European Championships along with the Youth Olympics sandwiched between the two.

But for the next six tournaments, Gutu failed to win a gold medal and reached the final in only one. He ended the title drought with a gold at the U20 European Championships in 2021. He defended his title a year later but that was the only highlight of the year as he fell in the U20 and U23 World Championships.

After beginning 2023 with silver and bronze at the two Ranking Series, Gutu on Tuesday warmed up for the European Championships with a gold medal at the U23 European Championships in Bucharest, Romania. The U23 title means that only the senior gold is left to win and complete the set of continental titles.

The 21-year-old wrestled defending champion Khasay HASANLI (AZE) in the 77kg final and was in trouble early as Hasanli got the par terre. Gutu wanted to sneak out of the position but got stuck and gave up two points. But when Hasanli tried to lift Gutu for another throw, he lost balance and Gutu got the two points for exposure. Then came the trademark front headlock by which he scored another two points to lead 4-3 at the break.

Gutu did not relent in the second period as well and scored two pushouts as Hasanli struggled to match his pace for six minutes. The Moldovan won 6-3 for his first gold of the year.

David LOSONCZI (HUN)David LOSONCZI (HUN) celebrates after beating Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) in the 87kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kostandin Andonov)

Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) was not as lucky as Gutu and failed to complete his set of European titles as he fell in the 87kg final for the second straight year.

David LOSONCZI (HUN) followed Istvan TAKACS (HUN) in denying Bisultanov in the final as he scrambled through for a 4-3 win in Bucharest.

World silver medalist Bisultanov got the par terre in the first period and scored an arm trap gut to lead 3-0. He did remain aggressive in the second period but the referees called him passive and Losonczi got the par terre.

Losonczi, a bronze medalist at the 2022 World Championships, managed to get a turn just in time to gain a 3-3 criteria lead which Bisultanov challenged for a foul. However, he lost the challenge as the referees deemed it a clean move and Losonczi got a 4-3 lead.

Despite his desperate efforts to score a point, Bisultanov, who got a second par terre position, fell short. But he would be hoping to turn around things by the time the European Championships, in which he is the defending champion, knock on the door in a month's time.

Denis MIHAI (ROU)Denis MIHAI (ROU) won the 55kg gold medal at home. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Mihai's home run

After 13 attempts, Denis MIHAI (ROU) finally got his much-deserved gold medal at a championships as he won the 55kg weight class. The victory was made sweeter as he made a comeback in the final to win at home.

Mihai has been in the finals of different championships over the years but failed to win a gold medal. But Tuesday was different as he defeated Karapet MANVELYAN (ARM) 7-3 in the final.

After a slow first period in which Mihai led 1-0 for Manvelyan's passivity, wrestling picked up pace in the second as Mihai was called passive and Manvelyan scored from par terre to lead 3-1.

Mihai received a second par terre position and this time made no mistake, scoring a stunning front throw for four points for a 5-3 lead. As Manvelyan tried to regain the lead, he got countered by Mihai who scored two more points to win 7-3.

The crowd went into a frenzy as soon as the final whistle blew with Mihai acknowledging the praise and falling onto the mat to soak the moment.

Tino OJALA (FIN)Tino OJALA (FIN) defeated Giorgi SHOTADZE (GEO) in the 63kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Ojala gets one for Finland

As an early contender for breakout performer of the tournament, Tino OJALA (FIN) won his first major gold medal on Tuesday. The wrestler became only the second from Finland to win a gold medal at U23 European Championships after Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) who won at 97kg in 2019.

Ojala's victory at 63kg meant that defending champion Giorgi SHOTADZE (GEO), who lost 5-4, was denied a second straight gold medal.

A correct throw from par terre in the first period gave Ojala a 3-0 lead in the final but Shotadze answered with a takedown using an arm throw 30 seconds before the break to cut the lead to 3-2.

Shotadze got the par terre position in the second period but failed to score. However, he still led 3-3 on criteria for scoring the last point.

Ojala got his chance to reverse the lead as Shotadze was called for passivity. He scored a gut wrench to take a 5-3 lead, a huge moment in the bout which saw only a stepout more action and Ojala winning 5-4.

Mykhailo VYSHNYVETSKYI (UKR)Mykhailo VYSHNYVETSKYI (UKR) won his first U23 European title after beating Giorgi TSOPURASHVILI (UKR). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 130kg, U20 world champion Mykhailo VYSHNYVETSKYI (UKR) won his first U23 European title after beating Giorgi TSOPURASHVILI (GEO), 4-1, in the final.

Vyshnyvetskyi led only 1-0 at the break, a point for Tsopurashvili's passivity. But he did not slow down in the second and scored via exposure when Tsopurashvili tried doing a bearhug. Georgia challenged the call and lost to give Vyshnyvetskyi a 4-0 lead in the final. 

The Ukrainian was called passive later in the second period but that was all the damage that occurred to him as Tsopurashvili failed to score from par terre and left the gold medal to his opponent.

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RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Denis MIHAI (ROU) df. Karapet MANVELYAN (ARM), 7-3

BRONZE: Muhammet CAKIR (TUR) df. Sabolc LOSONC (SRB), 9-0
BRONZE: Eduard STRILCHUK (UKR) df. Leonid MOROZ (MDA), 8-3

63kg
GOLD: Tino OJALA (FIN) df. Giorgi SHOTADZE (GEO), 5-4

BRONZE: Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) df. Andrii SEMENCHUK (UKR), 11-0
BRONZE: Mairbek SALIMOV (POL) df. Ismail CULFA (TUR), 10-2

77kg
GOLD: Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) df. Khasay HASANLI (AZE), 6-3

BRONZE: Deni NAKAEV (GER) df. Khvicha ANANIDZE (GEO), 9-1
BRONZE: Mykyta POLITAIEV (UKR) df. Sahan ACAR (TUR), 3-2

87kg
GOLD: David LOSONCZI (HUN) df. Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN), 4-3

BRONZE: Muhutdin SARICICEK (TUR) df. Szymon SZYMONOWICZ (POL), 2-1
BRONZE: Hovhannes HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) df. Gabriel LUPASCO (MDA), via fall

130kg
GOLD: Mykhailo VYSHNYVETSKYI (UKR) df. Giorgi TSOPURASHVILI (GEO), 4-1

BRONZE: Albert VARDANYAN (ARM) df. Marcel ALBINI (CZE), 6-1
BRONZE: Muhammet BAKIR (TUR) df. Sarkhan MAMMADOV (AZE), 4-0