To Our Friends in Wrestling Around the world
By William May
(Japan Amateur Wrestling Federation, Public
Information Committee
Kyodo World Services, senior sports writer:wmay52@hotmail.com)
TANABE WINS OVER ’01 WORLD CHAMPION
NEW YORK (September 12) - Many wrestlers
would rather not have to face a former world
champion in their opening bout of the world
championships. But, this was the situation
facing Chikara Tanabe as he drew 2001 world
champion German Kontoev of Belarus for his
first opponent at 55 kg in the freestyle
wrestling world championships.
Further, given Japan’s record at the
world championships the last decade, the
coaches also would likely be lying if they
said they were not concerned about Tanabe’s
chances. That feeling, however, could not
have been very strong as the coaches told
the Japanese team that they believed Tanabe,
who finished sixth in the world meet a year
ago and won the Beloglazov International
this summer, could come away with a win.
Tanabe himself appeared undaunted as
he squared off with Kontoev and quickly scored
a takedown for the opening points. Kontoev,
however, countered to make it 2-2. The Tokyo
police officer forced a passivity call on
Kontev and converted
to grab a 4-2 lead. The officiating crew
hit Tanabe with a fleeing the mat call right
before the intermission, making the score
4-3. The Japanese coaches argued, but were
ignored.
Tanabe appeared defensive to open the
second period and was called for passivity.
Kontoev took advantage of his chance in par
terre, lifting Tanabe off the mat and coming
down with a firmly locked Turk. With the
nearfall bonus point, the former world champ
grabbed an 8-5 lead. Then, in a flurry, Tanabe
hit a double-leg takedown for three points
but gave up two points when he was flopped
onto his back. He followed up quickly, however,
with a tilt to make the score 10-10.
With 30 seconds remaining, Tanabe locked
up an ankle lace and struggled to make the
turn. Urged on by the coaches, he finally
got the exposure and then held on for the
win. Tanabe, who normally does not surrender
many points in his bouts, laughed painfully
after his victory “I thought it was going
to be easier to
win. Kontoev had a nice counter throw (to
the double-leg), didn’t he.”
With the victory over Kontoev, Tanabe
can secure a berth in next year’s Olympic
Games in Athens with a win over Canada’s
Mikhail Japaridze on Saturday (September
13). But, Tanabe’s goal is not just a berth
in the quarterfinals. He wants the gold medal.
After his win over Kontoev, Japanese
coaches and wrestling fans are now thinking
that it is entirely possible that Tanabe
may be the one next year that other wrestlers
will not want to draw.