To Our Friends in Wrestling Around the world
By William May
(Japan Amateur Wrestling Federation, Public
Information Committee
:wmay52@hotmail.com)
HAMAGUCHI SNARES BEIJING BERTH WITH WIN AT ASIAN C‘SHIPS
JEJU, Korea (March 20) ? Kyoko Hamaguchi (right photo) rallied for three wins to take her third straight title in the Asian championships and secure a berth in this summer’s Beijing Olympic Games. Hamaguchi’s triumph, following a disastrous ninth place finish at last year’s world championships, completes Japan’s quartet of entries in female wrestling for the Beijing Games in August.
Hamaguchi, who took a bronze medal in Athens four years ago, joins defending Olympic and world champions Saori Yoshida (55 kg) and Kaori Icho (63) as well as Athens silver medalist Chiharu Icho (48) on the Japanese roster.
Meanwhile, Yoshida, the Icho sisters and Mami Shinkai (67) also bagged
gold medals for Japan in the one-day Asian female wrestling competition.
Also, Mizuho Kajita took a bronze medal at 59 kg, but Yuri Kai lost her
opening match and did not get a chance to wrestle for the medals.
Japan won the team competition ahead of China and third-place Kazakhstan.
In the race for Olympic tickets, Enkhjargal Tsogtbazar of Mongolia defeated Neha of India in a battle of bronze medalists at 48 kg for one Beijing berth while China’s Xu Li defeated Chinese Taipei entry Su Ying-tzu in a similar wrestle-off at 55 kg for another.
At 63 kg, Mongolia’s Odonchimeg Badrakh advanced to the finals against Kaori Icho and grabbed the ticket for Beijing with a silver-medal performance.
Results of bouts involving Japanese entries:
Women’s freestyle
48 kg - ICHO, Chiharu (1st, 9 entries)
R1 ? df. Enkhjargal Tsogtbazar (MGL), 2-0 (1-0, 2-1)
Icho scores a go-behind point to take the first period but needs a late
snap down and spin behind to defeat the defending champion.
R2 ? df. Zhuldyz Eshimova-Turtbayeva (KAZ), 2-0 (3-0, 1x-1=last point)
Icho takes the first period with a three-point double-leg takedown midway
through the interval, but needs a late double-leg with five seconds remaining
in the second to subdue last year’s Asia champion at 51 kg.
SF - df. Wu Li-chuan (TPE), 2-0 (1-0, 2-0)
Icho wins first period with lone double-leg takedown, and the second on
a force-out from behind and go-behind.
F1 - df. Ren Xuecheng (CHN), 2-0 (1-0=2:03, 1-0)
In a rematch of the 2006 world championship final, Icho scores from the
clinch in the first period and a go-behind in the second of a controlled
strategic encounter.
51 kg - KAI, Yuri (did not place, 7 entries)
R1 - lost to Huang Wenjuan (CHN), 1-2 (0-1+2:05, 1-0=2:11, 1-4)
Kai and Huang trade periods from the clinch, both with Kai on the defensive,
but in the third, Huang counters Kai’s takedown attempt with a front headlock
and nearside cradle.
55 kg - YOSHIDA, Saori (1st, 11 entries)
R1 - df. Alka Tomar (IND), 2-0 (1-0, 3-0)
Yoshida has trouble penetrating the extreme defense of the 2006 world
bronze medalist until snaring the right leg in the final 20 seconds of
the first period. Yoshida works a front headlock for two points in the
second and then adds a go-behind point.
R2 - df. Xu Li (CHN), 2-0 (3-1, 6-3)
Yoshida breaks a 3-3 tie in the second period with three unanswered takedowns
in a seesaw match.
SF - df. Otgonjargal Naidan (MGL) by fall, 2P=0:53 (1-0, 7-0)
Yoshida gets her takedown motor running in the second period, then counters
her opponent’s attack with a whipover for the fall.
F1 - df. Saltanat Abdrakhmanova (KAZ), 2-0 (1-0, 6-0=1:58)
Yoshida takes the first period with a takedown in the final 15 seconds,
but comes out in the second with all pistons firing, scoring takedowns
at will and nearly missing with an arm bar for the fall.
59 kg - KAJITA, Mizuho (3rd, 7 entries)
R1 - df. Narangaraev Cjagnaadorj (MGL) by fall, 2P=1:28 (2-0, 6-3)
Kajita rolls on top of her opponent’s hip throw and presses for the fall.
SF - lost to Li Songni (CHN) 1-2 (2-2x=last point, 1-0, 0-3)
After trading periods, Kajita attempts a takedown in the final seconds
of a scoreless third period and is thrown to her back by the junior world
champion.
F3 - df. Jung Hae-Rim (KOR), 2-0 (2-0, 5-3)
Kajita takes the first period with a pair of single-leg takedowns, but
is thrown in the second and needs a late gut wrench to secure the bronze
medal.
63 kg - ICHO, Kaori (1st, 8 entries)
R1 - df. Ge Zhen (CHN), 2-0 (4-0, 1-0)
Icho opens with a double-leg for three points, then turns Ge with a leg
grapevine but cannot get the fall. She scores a takedown early in the second
period and runs the clock out.
SF - df. Elena Shalygina (KAZ) , 2-1 (2-0, 0-1=2:04, 2-0)
In a repeat of last year’s world championship final, Icho takes the first
period with an ankle pick and takedown counter, but drops the second from
the clinch. In the third, Icho scores a quick go-behind point and then
steps over an arm throw by the Russian-born 19-year-old late for the win.
F1 - df. Odonchimeg Badrakh (MGL), 2-0 (6-0=1:17, 1-0)
Icho attacks with a single-leg, scores exposure points with a leg grapevine
and then repeats a cross-ankle turn to end the first period. Icho gets
behind with a duck under midway through the second and runs out the clock
against last year’s Asia bronze-medal winner.
67 kg - SHINKAI, Mami (1st, 6 entries)
R1 - df. Suman Kundu (IND), 2-0 (1-0, 3-0)
Shinkai scores with a double-leg takedown just before time to take the
first period and the picks away with takedowns and a counter to win the
second.
SF - df. Zhang Fengliu (CHN), 2-0 (2-1, 4-0)
Shinkai gives up a takedown to the junior world silver medalist in the
first minute, but storms back for two takedowns herself to win the first
period. In the second, it was all Shinkai as she rolled into the finals.
F1 - df. Nasanburmaa Ochirbat (MGL) by fall, 1P=1:52 (6-0)
Shinkai, herself the junior world champ in 2005, picked apart last year’s
junior world bronze medalist in the first period before a lateral drop
and body press for the fall and the gold medal.
72 kg - HAMAGUCHI, Kyoko (1st, 8 entries)
R1 - df. Xu Qing (CHN) by fall, 2P=0:50 (2-3, 3-0)
Hamaguchi gets thrown her back from a front headlock in the first period.
She avoids the fall, but losses the period to the Chinese newcomer. Hamaguchi
wastes little time in the second, moving from a single-leg attack to head-and-arm
control for the fall.
SF - df. Hwang Eun-Joo (KOR) by fall, 1P=0:16 (4-0)
Hamaguchi throws her opponent to the mat just after the whistle and covers
for the fall.
F1 - df. Burmaa Ochirbat (MGL), 2-0 (1-0, 1-0)
In a battle of Athens Olympians, both aiming for a trip to Beijing, Hamaguchi
scores with a single-leg in the first period. In the second, Hamaguchi
hits another takedown for a point and then runs out the clock.