To Our Friends in Wrestling Around the world

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

By William May
（Japan Amateur Wrestling Federation, Public Information Committee
：wmay52@hotmail.com）

SASAMOTO GOLDEN ON 1ST DAY OF ASIAN GAMES WRESTLING




　　 　DOHA (December 9) - Makoto Sasamoto scored with a pair of gut wrenches in the last 30 seconds of the 60-kg greco-roman final to come from behind and claim his first-ever major international title.(left)

　　　Sasamoto defeated Chinese rival Sheng Jiang 0-4, 4-1, 4-3 at the Aspire sports complex for the gold medal at 60 kg as the Asian Games wrestling competition got under way. The victory ensured Japan's male wrestlers of a gold medal for a second straight Asian Games, following Shingo Matsumoto's triumph at 84 kg in 2002.

　　　Sasamoto took a bronze medal at those games in Busan, Korea. On the way to the gold medal final in Doha, Sasamoto also avenged a loss in the world championships by defeating Nurbakyt Tengizbayev of Kazakhstan in the semifinals. Sasamoto, who lost to Tengizbayev in three periods at the world meet in September, defeated the Asian championships winner 2-2, 4-1 in Doha.

　　　Against Sheng, the runner-up to Tengizbayev at the Asia meet in April, Sasamoto dropped the first period 0-4 on a back-arching lift. Sasamoto claimed the second period with a pair of gut wrenches. The two-time Olympic team member for Japan gave up another lift to Sheng in the third period and found himself down 0-3 with only 30 seconds remaining in the gold medal match.

　　　Instead of trying for the big lift, Sasamoto locked up for the gut wrench and converted twice for the victory.(right) ・Most wrestlers and coaches around the world know that Sasamoto has a good ・Tawara-gaeshi・(reverse waistlock lift and throw). But when they try to defend against that, other techniques, like the gut wrench, open up,・ explained Japanese coach Hiroshi Kado.

　　　・I was thinking all the way that I would win or lose with the gut wrench. The lift never crossed my mind,・Sasamoto said, adding that winning the gold medal is ・The greatest!・

　　　Also on the first day of wrestling, Taichi Suga posted a win for Japan at 74 kg, but could not get passed 2005 Asia champion Daniar Kobonov of Kyrgyzstan. Kobonov, a runner-up in this year's Asian championships, lost in the semifinals, denying Suga a chance to wrestle back for a bronze medal.

　　　Japan did not have an entry at 96 kg, the third weight category contested on the first day of wrestling.

Men's greco-roman

60 kg - SASAMOTO, Makoto (1st, 14 entries)

R1 - df. Yasser Mohammed Fallatah (KSA) by fall, 2P=1:17 (7-0=1:12, 9-0)

　　Sasamoto capitalizes on his opponent's missed throw and rolls to a technical fall in the first period. Sasamoto uses an arm spin and then a back-arching throw to secure the fall.

R2 - df. Ruslan Tumenbaev (KGZ), 2-0 (6-0, 6-0=1:30)

　　Both periods inconclusive on the feet. Sasamoto takes five points with a front headlock to win the first period, then uses a pair of gut wrenches in the second period on his way to an easy win.

SF - df. Nurbakyt Tengizbayev (KAZ), 2-0 (2b-2, 4-1)

　　Sasamoto went the opposite direction with a reverse waistlock for two points to take the first period on big-point criteria. Sasamoto scored early with a shoulder throw and held on for the win.

F1 - df. Sheng Jiang (CHN), 2-1 (0-4, 4-1, 4-3)

　　Sasamoto scores the winning gut wrench with less than 10 seconds remaining in the third period, then waits as officials listen to and reject Chinese arguments that Sasamoto's final turn was only worth one point.

In other medal matches at 60 kg:
F3 - Dilshod Aripov (UZB) df. Mostafa al Nakadli (SYR) by fall, 2P=1:27
F3 - Ruslan Tumenbaev (KGZ) df. Nurbakyt Tengizbayev (KAZ), 2-1 (0-4, 2-1, 2-1)

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

74 kg - SUGA, Taichi (12 entries)

1R - df. Sanjay (IND), 2-0 (6-0=1:38, 4-1)
　　Both periods ended 0-0 on the feet. Suga used lifts from the reverse waistlock for five points and three points, respectively, in a one-sided win.

2R - lost to Daniar Kobonov (KGZ), 0-2 (0-3, 0-5=1:20)

　　Both periods ended 0-0 on the feet. Kobonov wins the toss twice and scores a near fall in the first period and a 5-point throw in the second.

In the medal matches at 74 kg:
F1 - Roman Melyoshin (KAZ) df. Davood Abedinzadeh (IRI), 2-0 (2c-2
F3 - Bakhit Badr (QAT) df. Majed Farhan Mubark (KSA), 2-0 (5-1, 6-2)
F3 - Daniar Kobonov (KGZ) df. Denis Zdorikov (UZB), 2-1 (3-0, 0-3, 4-1)

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

96 kg - No Japanese entry (12 entries)
F1 - Han Tae-Young (KOR) df. Masoud Hashem Zadeh (IRI). 2-0 (1x-1, 3-0)
F3 - Genai Chkaidze (UZB) df. Ali Salman (IRQ), 2-0 (2-1, 3-0)
F3 - Muhammad al Ken (SYR) df. Jiang Huachen (CHN) by fall, 1P=1:08