Oslo2021-Day7, Session14 / Matsui Rolls Over Azizli, Sefershaev for 55kg Greco-Roman World Title

Ken MATSUI (JPN)

OSLO (October 8) – Ken MATSUI (JPN) rolled over former world champion Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) a day ago and stopped European champion Emin SEFERSHAEV (RWF) on Friday to become the latest world champion in Japan’s growing stable of Greco-Roman wrestling stars.

Matsui’s arrival might have surprised some wrestling fans, but with training partners and mentors like Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN), Shinobu OTA (JPN), Makoto SASAMOTO (JPN) among others at the Nippon Sports Sciences University, it should not be such a big surprise.

What might have been surprising is the way Matsui dismantled a world champ like Azizli before pinning him in the semifinals on Thursday and then taking apart the European champion Sefershaev in a second period flurry that went from 1-1 to 7-1 at warp speed.

The scramble with Sefershaev even included shooting down “the flying squirrel” – a desperation technique in which one wrestler dives over the opponent, tries to lock around the waist as he comes back to Earth all the while hoping to twist his opponent’s back to the mat for points.

It is a high-risk technique that Matsui sent plummeting in flames as he claimed his first senior world championship title.

From the silly to the sublime, Roman VLASOV (RWF) also won his third world championship title with a 2-1 decision over Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) at Jordal Amfi Arena in Oslo.

Over his career, Vlasov has struck Olympic gold twice — at London 2012 and Rio 2016, as well as winning four European titles over his career – a career forged in the model of the club’s namesake in Novosibirsk — Alexander Karelin.

At 72kg, Malkas AMOYAN (ARM), who won the European U23 crown in May, can now also claim a senior world title after a steady 3-1 victory over Sergei KUTUZOV (RWF). And, just prior to the gold medal match, Kristupas SLEIVA (LTU) of Lithuania came out of nowhere to defeat Mohammad Reza MOKHTARI (IRI) by technical superiority in 1:41

In the day’s final category to be contested, Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist Rafik Huseynov edged Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR), 2-1, to claim his first-ever world championship title.

In Friday’s semifinal bouts, Victor CIOBANU (MDA), trailing 0-6 in the second period at 60kg, received a chance in par terre. Ciobanu secured a reverse waistlock and sent Gevorg GHARIBYAN (ARM) skyward for five points, then added a dive between his opponent’s legs for three more points, making the final score 9-6.

At 97kg, Mohammadhadi Abdollah SARAVI (IRI) was more businesslike with a pair of takedowns to defeat Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA), 5-0, while Alex Gergo SZOKE (HUN) scored with a late gut wrench for a 4-4 win over Tracy G’Angelo HANCOCK (USA).

In the super heavyweight semifinals, Aliakbar YOUSOFIAHMADCHALI (IRI) and Zurabi GEDEKHAURI (RWF) scored nearly identical 2-1 wins over Yasmani ACOSTA FERNANDEZ (CHI) and Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO), respectively.

Friday’s Greco-Roman Medal Matches

55kg
GOLD – Ken MATSUI (JPN) df. Emin SEFERSHAEV (RWF), 7-1

BRONZE – Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) df. Noryar HAKHOYAN (ARM) by Technical Superiority, 9-0, 2:22
BRONZE – Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) df. Ekrem OZTURK (TUR), 5-2

72kg
GOLD – Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) df. Sergei KUTUZOV (RWF), 3-1

BRONZE – Gevorg SAHAKYAN (POL) df. Cengiz ARSLAN (TUR), 1-1 (last point)
BRONZE – Kristupas SLEIVA (LTU) df. Mohammad Reza MOKHTARI (IRI) by TS, 10-1, 1:41

77kg
GOLD – Roman VLASOV (RWF) df. Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE), 2-1

BRONZE – Roland SCHWARZ (GER) df. Tsimur BERDYIEU (BLR), 10-5
BRONZE – Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI) df. Tamas LEVAI (HUN) by TS, 9-0, 1:59

82kg
GOLD – Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) df. Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR), 2-1

BRONZE – Adlan AKIEV (RWF) df. Alex KESSIDIS (SWE) by TS, 8-0, 2:12
BRONZE – Pejman POSHTAM (IRI) df. Laszlo SZABO (HUN), 4-0

Friday’s semifinals for Saturday’s medal matches

60kg (19 entries)
Victor CIOBANU (MDA) df. Gevorg GHARIBYAN (ARM), 9-6
Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) df. Murad MAMMADOV (AZE), 4-2

97kg (27 entries)
Mohammadhadi Abdollah SARAVI (IRI) df. Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA), 5-0
Alex Gergo SZOKE (HUN) df. Tracy G’Angelo HANCOCK (USA), 4-4 (last points)

130kg (22 entries)
Aliakbar YOUSOFIAHMADCHALI (IRI) df. Yasmani ACOSTA FERNANDEZ (CHI), 2-1
Zurabi GEDEKHAURI (RWF) df. Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO), 2-1