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.

#WrestleBelgrade

World Championships day eight semis set

Saturday, September 17, 2022 - 08:35 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

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BELGRADE, Serbia (September 17) -- The World Championships have entered its business day and the final three weight classes will be in action on Saturday. Stars from 61kg, 65kg, and 97kg will take the mat.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

The semifinals are set

61kg
Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) vs. Seth GROSS (USA)
Narankhuu NARMANDAKH (MGL) vs. Reza ATRI (IRI)

65kg
Haji ALIYEV (AZE) vs. Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI)
Sebastian RIVERA (PUR) vs. John DIAKOMIHALIS (USA)

97kg
Kyle SNYDER (USA) vs. Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI)
Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK) vs. Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) 

13:26: European bronze medalist Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK) wins a clash of relocated Russian-born wrestlers when defeats Vladislav BAITSAEV (HUN) 4-2 to make the 97kg semifinals. Tsakulov scores a stepout and activity point in the first period and adds a takedown in the second of a match in which he never trailed.

13:26: Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) gives up a 4-pointer in the opening seconds at 97kg against Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD), but comes back with a back-trip takedown and gut wrench to tie it at 4-4 at the break. Trailing on criteria, Matcharashvili gets the point he needs with a stepout with :56 and, with 1 point for fleeing tacked on, he's into the semifinals with a 6-4 victory.

13:25: 97kg quarterfinals with Mohammdhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI) wrestling Mahamed ZAKARIIEV (UKR) on Mat C. Mohammadian gets on a double leg attack but Zakariiev pulls off an arm throw to get a huge four. A stepout to make it 5-0. Mohammdian comes back with a stepout and then exposure makes it 5-3. Such is the pace of the match that Zakariiev can't keep up. Mohammdian wins 8-5 for a semifinal against Kyle SNYDER (USA).

13:20: Kyle SNYDER (USA) going full throttle on Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) and he works all takedowns to win 10-0 and is back in the semifinals at 97kg.

13:15: Narankhuu NARMANDAKH (MGL), up 4-1 after the first period, muscles for a takedown and two gut wrenches to go up 10-1 at 65kg against four-time Asian medalist Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ). Zholdoshbekov rallies for 4, but Narmandakh reverses, and after another gut wrench, Zholdoshbekov stops, holding his side. He can't continue, and Narmandakh advances to the semifinals by injury default with 1:41 left and a 13-5 lead.

13:12: Reza ATRI (IRI) saves himself with a pair of takedowns over a 30-second span midway through the second period, propelling him to a 6-3 victory over European bronze medalist Georgi VANGELOV (BUL) and into the 65kg semifinals.

13:09: Seth GROSS (USA) scored a technical superiority over Suleyman ATLI (TUR) in Tunisia and he starts on the offensive in their 61kg quarterfinal here. Gross gets a takedown, stepout and a caution point to lead 4-2 against Atli at the break. Atli with a takedown to lead 4-4 on criteria. But Gross comes back with a takedown and exposure to retake the lead 8-4. A late takedown gives Gross a 10-4 win over Atli.

13:05: Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) absolutely dominates the quarterfinal against Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) and secures a 10-0 technical fall for a place in the semifinals.

13:01: Sebastian RIVERA (PUR), a product of Rutgers University in the U.S., keeps alive his bid to become Puerto Rico's second world medalist in history, scoring all of his points in the second period for an 8-1 victory over Tsogbadrakh TSEVEENSUREN (MGL) to advance to the 65kg semifinals.

12:58: Yianni DIAKOMIHALIS (USA) provides all of the offense in the 65kg quarterfinal clash with Olympic bronze medalist Bajrang PUNIA (IND), and it pays off, pretty much one point at a time. He gets four stepouts in the first period off his tackle attempts to lead 4-0 after one period. In the second period, Punia reaches over after Diakomihalis is in on a single, but the American tips him over for an exposure. A challenge, a proper takedown and one final stepout give Diakomihalis the 10-0 technical fall at 4:57.

12:57: Haji ALIYEV (AZE) and Abbos RAKHMANOV (UZB) were in a close battle at the break with Aliyev leading 4-3. In the second period, Aliyev goes behind and Rakhmanov for a four. A 10-3 win and Aliyev will wrestle Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) in the semifinals.

12:50: Adil OSPANOV (KAZ) had Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) on the back but Amouzad survived the attempted fall. Amouzad then sends a huge four with an underhook and builds a 9-2 lead. Amouzad with a big four and wins 13-2.

12:40: Vladislav BAITSAEV (HUN) puts on a defensive masterclass against Batzul ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL) as he hangs on for a 6-0 win and a spot in the 97kg quarterfinals. The final spot at 97kg is filled by Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK) as he wins 10-0 against Mucahit CELIK (TUR).

12:34: 2019 world bronze medalist Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD), trailing 4-2 against Tuerxunbieke MUHEITE (CHN) at 97kg, scores a takedown and a pair of gut wrenches to take the lead in the second period. He gradually adds the three takedowns he needs for a 14-4 technical fall, putting him into the quarterfinals.

12:33: Olympic silver medalist Kyle SNYDER (USA) may have taken it a bit slow against Zbigniew BARANOWSKI (POL), scoring only stepouts and passivity points. But he does well to win 4-1 for a place in the 97kg semifinals. 

12:31: European champion Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) with a technical superiority win over Erik THIELE (GER) and he moves into the quarterfinals with ease at 97kg.

12:26: Asian champion Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI) stays on track for a possible semifinal clash with Kyle SNYDER (USA), cruising to a first-period 10-0 technical in his opening match over Samuel SCHERRER (SUI) to gain a spot in the 97kg quarterfinals.

12:25: Former U23 world champion Ulekbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ) up against Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA) and gives up a takedown. But his unorthodox style is too much for Arsamerzouev as Zholdoshbekov wins 6-2 for a place in the quarterfinal at 61kg. 

12:21: At 61kg, Reza ATRINAGHARCHI (IRI) gets behind for a takedown with Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE) on the activity clock, then seconds later gets the activity point. In the second period, Atrinagharchi is put on the clock and he responds with a stepout. That's all the scoring and the Iranian is through to the quarterfinals with a 4-0 win.

12:10: Olympic bronze medalist Bajrang PUNIA (IND) brings some light to what has been a dark day for India, scoring two takedowns and an activity point in a 5-4 win over Alejandro VALDES (CUB) to advance to the 65kg quarterfinals.

12:08: The U.S. juggernaut continues to roll with back-to-back wins on Mat A. Vianni DIAKOMIHALIS (USA) powers to a 10-0 technical fall over Vladimir DUBOV (BUL) to make the quarterfinals at 65kg, and Seth GROSS (USA) follows with a 7-0 win over Russian-born Eduard GRIGOREV (POL) to advance at 61kg. 

12:07: Sebastian RIVERIA (PUR) shows his win at the Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series was not a fluke. He beats Ahmet CYAR (TUR) 11-1 and moves into the 65kg quarterfinals.

12:05: 2016 Olympic silver medalist Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) wrestling Islam DUDAEV (ALB) at 61kg. He has built a 4-0 lead and keeps working on the leg attacks to make it 6-0 before a big double for four confirms his technical superiority.

11:57: Iszmail MUSZUKAJAEV (HUN), who memorably defeated Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) in a contentious world bronze-medal match in Nursultan in 2019, can't get any offense going and falls 6-0 to Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) in the second round at 65kg.

11:57: Olympic silver medalist Haji ALIYEV (AZE) in the 1/8 final against Agustin DESTRIBATS (ARG). They exchange stepouts but Aliyev with a takedown to lead 3-1. Destribats with a takedown on the edge but Aliyev challenges for a singlet pull. Aliyev gets on a single leg in the second period and completes it with a stepout. A takedown and he will win 6-1.

11:45: Kaiki YAMAGUCHI (JPN) shows a problem rarely seen in the Japan camp. He led 5-1 against Abbos RAKHMONOV (UZB). But he gave up two takedowns in the second period as Rakhmonov took a 5-5 criteria lead and the win.

11:29: 2021 world U23 bronze medalist Assyl AITAKYN (KAZ) leaves it late, scoring a takedown with :05 left to edge Pankaj PANKAJ (IND) 5-4 at 61kg.

11:21: Another Iranian clears the first hurdle as 2019 Asian champion Reza ATRINAGHARCHI (IRI) scores 8 points in the first period, then finishes off an 11-1 technical fall over Besir ALILI (MKD) a minute into the second.

11:15: John DIAKOMIHALIS (USA) found a way when he needed it the most! He avenges his 2021 Oslo loss to Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) with a shutout 4-0 win at 65kg.

11:08: Two-time world bronze medalist Alejandro VALDES (CUB) rolls to a 10-0 technical fall over Shaohua YUAN (CHN) to advance at 65kg. He finishes the match in 1:50 with a series of gut wrenches.

11:05: Vladimir DUBOV (BUL), a world silver medalist in 2013 and bronze medalist in 2015, survives his first test at 65kg with a 3-0 victory over Alexander SEMISOROW (GER). The 34-year-old Dubov gets a takedown in the first period and an activity point in the second.

11:00: A winning start for Asian champion Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI). Junsik YUN (KOR) had no answers to Amouzad's underhooks and gave stepouts. Amouzad fixes a 1/8 final against Izsmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN)

10:50: A start that was a little unexpected! Agustin DESTRIBATS (ARG) shows he is still working hard to be counted among the best at 65kg. He picks up a 9-1 win over Beka LOMTADZE (GEO)

10:47: In a qualification-round clash at 65kg between two world junior champions from 2019, Asian bronze medalist Kaiki YAMAGUCHI (JPN) puts on a second-period surge, including a 4-point tackle, to top Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR) by 12-2 technical fall. In 2019 in Tallin, Yamaguchi won 61kg and Arushanian at 70kg.

10:29: Welcome to all from Belgrade. Today will be the final morning session of the tournament. After a handful of repechage matches, competition will get underway in the three remaining freestyle weight classes, 61kg, 65kg and 97kg, taking us through the quarterfinals.