TANOKURA, SHIMIZU FINISH 1-2 AT HUNGARY GRAND PRIX
SZOMBATHELY, Hungary (February 23-24) – Shota Tanokura defeated Hayanobu Shimizu in a replay of their All-Japan semifinal match-up in December and claimed the 55kg crown at the Hungary Grand Prix greco-roman tournament.
Tanokura, who won his first All-Japan title in December, won with a reverse waistlock and turn in the first period and a defensive point in the second for first triumph in a major international competition.
Shimizu's run to the finals included wins over 2012 world university champion Max Nowry (USA) in the quarterfinals and 2010 Asian Games silver medalist Kanybek Zhochulbekov (KGZ) in the semis.
The only other Japanese wrestler to post a win in this grand prix event was Tomohiro Inoue, wrestling in his first international meet at the senior level. Inoue defeated Shmagi Guliashvili (GEO), a silver medalist here three years ago, in the consolation rounds at 74kg following a loss to world bronze medalist Neven Zugai (CRO).
Greco-roman
55kg – TANOKURA, Shota (1st, 14 entries)
R1 – df. Dmytro Kharko (UKR), 2-0 (1-0, 3-0)
R2 – df. Ednar Sharadze (GEO), 2-0 (1-0, 2-0)
SF – df. Halima Abou (EGY), 2-0 (7-5, 2-0)
F1 – df. Hayanobu Shimizu (JPN), 2-0 (3-0, 1-0)
55kg – SHIMIZU, Hayanobu (2nd, 14 entries)
R1 – df. Bence Kovacs (HUN) by TF, 2-0 (6-0, 6-0)
R2 – df. Max Nowry (USA), 2-1 (1-2, 3-0, 3-0)
SF – df. Kanybek Zholchubekov (KGZ), 2-1 (3-0, 0-3, 1-0)
F1 – lost to Shota Tanokura (JPN), 0-2 (0-3, 0-1)
66kg – OTOIZUMI, Hideyuki (21st, 23 entries)
R1 – lost to Danijel Janecic (CRO), 0-2 (0-5, 0-1)
74kg – INOUE, Tomohiro (9th, 22 entries)
R1 – lost to Neven Zugaj (CRO), 0-2 (0-1, 0-2)
c1 – df. Shmagi Guliashivili (GEO), 2-1 (2-0, 0-2, 2-0)
c2 – lost to Ruslan Tsihlev (KGZ), 1-2 (2-0, 0-3, 0-2)
84kg – OKA, Taichi (17th, 19 entries)
R1 – lost to Vladimer Gegeshidze (GEO), 0-2 (0-2, 0-1)
96kg – SAIKAWA, Norikatsu (18th, 20 entries)
R1 – lost to Irakli Kajaia (GEO), 0-2 (0-1, 0-3)
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