Oslo2021-Day6, Session11 / Matsui Advances to Greco Semifinals in Oslo, Takes on Azizli (AZE)

Ken MATSUI (red)

OSLO, October 7 – Ken MATSUI (JPN) advanced to the semifinals of the Oslo 2021 Senior Wrestling World Championships on Thursday, presenting the national team newcomer with an opportunity to break new ground in his budding athletic career.

Matsui, a bronze medalist at the 2019 junior world championships in Estonia, squares off with European bronze medalist Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) at Jordal Amfi Arena with an eye on European champion Emin SEFERSHAEV of the Russian Wrestling Federation (RWF).

Sefershaev is currently the top-ranked wrestler in Greco-Roman at 55kg in the United World Wrestling polls. Sefershaev sits atop of the 50kg bracket and takes on Noryar HAKHOYAN (ARM) in the other semifinal.

Meanwhile, Kodai SAKURABA (JPN), a bronze medalist in this year’s Asian championships, opened with a pair of wins at 77kg, but was overwhelmed, 15-3, in the quarterfinals by Tsimur BERDYIEU (BLR).

Satoki MUKAI (JPN) posted a win over the Czech Republic’s Petr NOVAK in the qualification round, but was then tripped up by Ben PROVISOR (USA), 2-1, in the round of 16.

Japanese veteran Tomohiro INOUE (JPN), a bronze medal finalist at Rio 2016, fell 4-4 to Deyvid DIMITROV (BUL) in the preliminary bouts at 72kg.

Results of Japanese entries in Thursday’s morning session:

55kg (16 entries) – Ken MATSUI
Round of 16 – df. Snorre LUND (NOR), 9-0, 2:16
Quarterfinal – df. Ekrem OZTURK (TUR), 5-5
Semifinal – v Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE)

72kg (27 entries) – Tomohiro INOUE
Qual. – Lost to Deyvid DIMITROV (BUL), 4-4 (Eliminated)

77kg (31 entries) – Kodai SAKURABA
Qual. – Df. Matias LIPASTE (FIN) by technical superiority, 9-0, 4:52
R16 – Df. Bogdan KOURINNOI (SWE), 7-6
Quarterfinal – Lost to Tsimur BERDYIEU (BLR), 3-15, 3:28

82kg (27 entries) – Satoki MUKAI
Qual. – Df. Petr NOVAK (CZE), 5-3
R16 – Lost to Ben PROVISOR (USA), 1-2 (Eliminated)

Semifinals (Thursday evening)

55kg (16 entries)
Emin SEFERSHAEV (RWF) v Noryar HAKHOYAN (ARM)
Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) v Ken MATSUI (JPN)

72kg (27 entries)
Cengiz ARSLAN (TUR) v Sergei KUTUZOV (RUS)
Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) v Mohammad Reza MOKHTARI (IRI)

77kg (31 entries)
Tsimur BERDYIEU (BLR) v Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE)
Tamas LEVAI (HUN) v Roman VLASOV (RWF)

82kg (27 entries)
Adlan AKIEV (RWF) v Rafig HUSEYOV (AZE)
Pejman POSHTAM (IRI) v Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR)

Women’s Wrestling (Medal matches, Thursday evening)

57kg
GOLD – Helen MAROULIS (USA) v Anshu ANSHU (IND)
BRONZE – Veronika CHUMIKOVA (RWF) v Sae NANJO (JPN)
BRONZE – Davaachimeg ERKEMBAYAR (MGL) v Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR)

59kg
GOLD – Akie HANAI (JPN) v Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL)
BRONZE – Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL) v Maya NELSON (USA)
BRONZE – Sara LINDBORG (SWE) v Sarita SARITA (IND)

68kg
GOLD – Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) v Rin MIYAJI (JPN)
BRONZE – Olivia DI BACCO (CAN) v Khanum VELIEVA (RUS)
BRONZE – Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) v Tamyra STOCK MENSAH (USA)

72kg
GOLD – Masako FURUICHI (JPN) v Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ)
BRONZE – Davaanasan ENKH-AMAR (MGL) v Anna SCHELL (GER)
BRONZE – Cynthia VESCAN (FRA) v Buse CAVUSOGLU TOSUN (TUR)