To Our Friends in Wrestling Around the world
By William May
(Japan Amateur Wrestling Federation, Public
Information Committee
:wmay52@hotmail.com)
JWF TO LODGE COMPLAINT WITH FILA OVER ZLATEVA HEAD BUTT
TOKYO (October 5) - The Japan Wrestling Federation (JWF) announced that it plans to lodge a complaint with wrestling’s world governing body FILA over a head butt by Bulgaria’s Stanka Zlateva in the women’s 72-kg final at the recently concluded wrestling world championships.
JWF executive director Yusaku Imaizumi told reporters that the federation would protest this kind of dangerous behavior and will issue a demand for
stringent measures against this kind of wrestling to be put into place in the future. The JWF showed reporters a video of Zlateva head-butting
Japan’s Kyoko Hamaguchi in the final match of the world championships, which concluded October 1 in Guangzhou, China. Hamaguchi reportedly had
her nose broken in four places by the head butt.
The JWF, which obtained the video from competition broadcaster Nihon
Television, said it would send copies of the video to FILA and the Bulgarian
wrestling federation. The action in question occurred moments after the
start of second period in the final between Zlateva and Hamaguchi.
Hamaguchi had taken the first period 3-1 and as the second period opened,
Zlateva appeared on the video to aim her head at Hamaguchi’s nose, butting
the former five-time world champion full-on in the face. While Imaizumi
would not say that the action was “intentional,” it did not appear on the
video that Zlateva was trying to attack the legs for a takedown and that
the contact was accidental.
Shortly after that, Zlateva appeared to be jumping for joy on the video.
While not on the NTV video, another video from different angle also reportedly
appeared to show the Bulgarian coaches smiling and laughing.
(Video of the head-butting incident, 37 seconds -- Click here)
Before the championship final, Hamaguchi had won her first three matches
of the competition by fall and in the semifinals defeated Ohenewa Akuffo
1-0, 1-0 to avenge a loss to the Canadian wrestler at the World Cup in
May. In the final, Hamaguchi, seeking a sixth world championship title,
appeared in good form in the first period, giving up the first point but
rallying to come from behind for a 3-1 win.
After the butting incident in the second period, the match was interrupted
for about 10 seconds, but was re-started quickly with Hamaguchi not showing
any sign of being intimidated. About 15 seconds later, however, the bleeding
from Hamaguchi’snose became worse and again time was called to mop the
blood from the mat.
Hamaguchi was forced out of bounds twice in the period and Zlateva evened
the match at one period apiece 1-2. Hamaguchi also lost the third period
0-6 and had to settle for the silver medal for a second year in a row.
When asked if the head butt and bloody nose had any effect on the outcome
of the match, Hamaguchi replied “Absolutely none.”
Imaizumi stressed that “Hamaguchi has not protested or made any excuse
at all for her loss. This is not a demand that the final places be reversed
or Zlateva be disqualified and stripped of her medal.”
“For the development of women’s wrestling, we want to request that firm
action be taken against this kind of behavior in the future.” Imaizumi
went on to explain the reasons behind the JWF’s actions: “After being butted
Hamaguchi appeared unaffected, so everyone in the arena thought it wasn’t
serious. But after learning how serious the injury was, however, we decided
that we had to do something, we had to take whatever action we could.”
Shigeo Kinase, JWF coach for women, delivered a message to the press
conference from Hamaguchi. “I love wrestling. My injury in this last match
was very painful and a very bitter experience for me. I do not want young
boys and girls who aim to be wrestlers in the future to ever have this
kind of experience. I am resting and relaxing now and hope that this injury
will heal as quickly as possible. I further hope it will be an added incentive
in the sport I love as I look ahead to the Beijing Olympics. I am very
sorry that I have caused you all such concern.”
Hamaguchi’s mother, Hatsue, told the reporters in place of her daughter
“Wrestling is a wonderful, not dangerous sport. We must not allow this
kind of violent behavior to be accepted.”