OSLO, October 2 – Former under-23 world champion Toshihiro HASEGAWA (JPN) had to rally from behind in his three bouts Saturday to advance to the semifinals of the 61kg weight category on the opening day of the Oslo 2021 Wrestling World Championships.
Japanese freestyle head coach Kenji INOUE (JPN) was impressed and pleased with Hasegawa’s tenacity throughout the morning session, coming from behind for three wins to book a place in Saturday evening’s semifinal bouts at the new Jordal Amfi arena.
The original Jordal Amfi Arena was built in 1952 for the Winter Olympics for the ice hockey competition.
Meanwhile, among the 16 semifinalists wrestling Saturday evening are Tokyo 2020 gold medalist David TAYLOR (USA) and silver medalists Hassan YAZDANICHARATI (IRI) and Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO).
Joining the Tokyo 2020 finalists in the first-day semifinals will be Tokyo 2020 bronze medalists Kyle DAKE (USA). Artur NAIFONOV (ROC/RWF), Taka AKGUL (TUR) and Amir Hossein Abbas ZARE (IRI).
Results of Japanese entries:
Freestyle
61kg ( 25 entries)
Toshihiro HASEGAWA (JPN), 2018 U23 world champion
Qualification round – Defeated Nico MEGERLE (GER), 1-1
Hasegawa got a force-out point in the final 20 seconds for a 1-1 last-point victory over Megerle, a fifth-place finisher in the 2021 U23 European championships.
R16 – Defeated Rahman Mousa AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI), 9-5
Hasegawa fell behind, 3-5, midway through the second period, but rallied with a takedown with back exposure to edge the 2021 junior world championfor a 9-5 victory.
QF – Defeated Eduard GRIGOREV (POL), 9-5
Hasegawa scored a pair of takedowns in the final 75 seconds of his quarterfinal bout with 2021 European bronze medal winner Grigorev, adding back exposure to book his ticket to Saturday’s semifinal round.
SF – v. Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RWF), 2021 European champion
74kg (29 entries)
Masaki SATO (JPN), 2019 Jr. world silver medalist
Qualification round – Defeated Byumingang GONG (KOR), 2-2 (last points)
Sato surrendered a double-leg attack for two points in the first period, but scored a takedown in the final second of the bout for a 2-2 win.
R16 – Lost to Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) by TF, 13-2, 5:44
Tokyo 2020 Olympian Kentchadze got rolling with low level attacks, converting them extra exposure points.
86kg (25 entries)
Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN), 2018 Jr. world champion
Qualification round – Defeated Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL), 7-4
Ishiguro started strong against the 2018 Asian U23 bronze medalist on his way to a convincing win.
R16 – Lost to Artur NAIFONOV (RWF) by TF, 11-0, 3:51
Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist Naifonov fashioned technical fall victory against Ishiguro, who was overmatched by the 2020, 2021 European champion.
125kg (19 entries)
Taiki YAMAMOTO (JPN), 2020 national champion
Qualification round – Lost to Johannes LUEDESCHER (AUT), 1-2
Yamamoto gave up a late force-out point and fell to the 2019 Grand Prix of Spain champion. LUEDESCHER then fell in the quarterfinals to three-time world champion Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO).
Semifinal Pairings for Saturday evening
61kg
Toshihiro HASEGAWA (JPN) v Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RWF)
Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) v Daton FIX (USA)
74kg
Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) v Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO)
Kyle DAKE (USA) v Azamat NURYKOV (BLR)
86kg
Artur NAIFONOV (RWF) v Hassan YAZDANICHARATI (IRI)
David TAYLOR (USA) v Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE)
125kg
Amir Hossein Abbas ZARE (IRI) v Taha AKGUL (TUR)
Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) v Oleg BOLTIN (KAZ)
