BRATISLAVA (January 31) - Results of Japanese wrestlers at the 1st Olympic qualification tournament for freestyle wrestling at Sport Hall Mladost in Bratislava:
66 kg - YAMAMOTO, Hidenori (Japan Self-Defense Forces)
Pool I (29 entries)
1R - lost to Mostafa Gokar Masoud (IRI), 4-1
2R - df. Tebe Dorgu ((NGR) by TF 10-0, 6:00
Yamamoto had trouble getting in on Dorgu, but finally scored with a single-leg at 1:35. On the mat, however, Yamamoto converted with gut wrenches and ankle laces for a 9-0 lead at the intermission. In the second period, Yamamoto could not find the key to unlock the All-Africa Games winner's tough defense, but scored the 10th and final point with a high crotch for a technical fall as the clock expired.
3R - bye (Mostafa advanced with a technical fall over Dorgu.)
84 kg - YOKOYAMA, Hidekazu (Akita Shogyo high school, teacher)
Pool I (28 entries)
1R - df. Man Dula (CHN), 5-3
2R - df. Leonardo Gonzalez (PAN) by TF, 11-1, 1:39
Yokoyama gave Gonzalez a lesson in par terre wrestling. Gonzalez surprised the Akita high school teacher with a quick duck-under takedown to open the match, but Yokoyama answered back with a single-leg and then racked up 10 unanswered points with a trap-arm gut wrench and ankle lace.
3R - df. Naqi Shah Jalali (AFG) by default
Yokoyama moved into the quarterfinals when Jalali did not appear for the bout. Yokoyama will face Britain's Kamal Shalorus in the quarterfinals with a berth in this summer's Athens Olympic Games at stake.
QF - Kamal Shalorus (GBR)
96 kg - KODAIRA, Kiyotaka (Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department)
Pool H (30 entries)
R1 - df. Hong Seong-Ju (KOR) by TF, 14-4, 5:16
R2 - bye
R3 - df. Boltic Sinive ((NGR), 8-2
Kodaira battled with the all-Africa bronze medalist evenly over five minutes, but broke open a 2-2 tie with a single-leg takedown at 5:20. In the par terre position, he made sure that he would advance to the quarterfinals with a pair of tilts with a leg grapevine.
QF - v. Rustam Aghayev (AZE)
120 kg - TANAKA, Akihito (Senshu University)
Pool I (22 entries)
R1 - bye
R2 - lost to Kuramagomed Kuramagomedov (RUS) by TF, 10-0, 4:43
R3 - df. Wayne Weathers (CAN), 7-4
Tanaka gave up an early 3-0 lead, but remained relaxed and confident against a physically superior opponent. Weathers, who plays professional football in the Canadian league, missed with a throw, allowing Tanaka to land on top. The Senshu University junior converted with a chest-high gut wrench to take a 6-3 lead. Tanaka gave up a penalty point in the second period, but otherwise did enough to even his record at a win and a loss apiece.
