To Our Friends in Wrestling Around the world
                    

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


HASEGAWA BAGS 55KG CROWN, 10K IN PRIZE MONEY AT FILA GGP FINAL


BAKU, Azerbaijan (July 17) - Japan’s new greco-roman ace Kohei Hasegawa defeated Olympic silver medalist Rovshan Bayramov (AZE) and went on to win the 55kg title on the first day of the FILA Golden Grand Prix Final. Hasegawa’s triumph was his fourth in international competition this year and was sweetened with $10,000 in prize money.

“Of my four wins this year, I’m happiest about this one because the Olympic No. 2 and other top wrestlers were here,” Hasegawa said. “This has really given me a shot of confidence” the Aoyama Gakuin University graduate added as he turns his attention to preparing for the world championships in Denmark in September.

The other members of Japan’s greco-roman squad entered in FILA’s biggest prize money meet, however, did not fair as well as only Ryo Minemura managed to post a win.

Minemura, however, also lost to Hasegawa in the quarterfinals and Bayramov in the consolations and had to settle for ninth place.

Tsutomu Fujimura, also heading to the worlds in September, had a particularly tough draw at 66kg, facing Athens Olympic champion and local favorite Farid Mansurov (AZE) in the second round and then facing last year’s GGP champion Tamas Loerinc (HUN) in the consolation matches.

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  Greco-Roman

55kg – HASEGAWA, Kohei (1st, 17 entries)

R1 – bye

R2 – df. Rovshan Bayramov (AZE), 2-0 (2-0, 3-2)
Hasegawa catches a break as Bayramov’s lift in the first period is not allowed because of a leg infraction. He then steps over the Olympic silver medalist’s gut wrench attempt in the second for the win.

R3 – df. Ryo Minemura (JPN), 2-0 (1-0, 3-0)
A gut wrench in the first period, and a takedown and switch counter in the second are enough for Hasegawa to defeat his Japanese rival.

SF – df. Peter Modos (HUN), 2-1(0-1, 1-0, 1-0)
Hasegawa has difficulty dealing with the long and lanky Hungarian. But, after trading the first two periods, Hasegawa comes out with a new strategy and a series of head snaps and forearm snaps that has the young Modos off-balance and ready for a simple body attack.

F1 – df. Mosen Hajipour (IRI), 2-0 (2-0, 1-0)
Hasegawa put up a tight defense against the military world champion from Iran, taking the first period with a gut wrench then sealing the deal with a defensive point in the second.

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55kg – MINEMURA, Ryo (9th, 17 entries)

R1 – bye

R2 – df. Lasha Gogitadze (GEO), 2-0 (1-0, 2-0)
Following the Hungarian Open in March, Minemura posts his second straight win over the Olympic No. 10 and last year’s GGP runner-up.

R3 – lost to Kohei Hasegawa (JPN), 0-2 (0-1, 0-3)
See above

r1 – lost to Rovshan Bayramov (AZE), 0-2 (0-1, 0-2)
Minemura wrestles the Olympic silver medalist tough, but is hoisted over for a point in the first period and then gives up a late duck-under and go-behind in the second.

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60kg – TANIOKA, Yasuyuki (16th, 18 entries)

R1 – bye

R2 – lost to Aslan Abdulin (RUS), 0-2 (0-1, 0-3)

Tanioka cannot score in par terre in the first period, then gets flipped over in the second.

r1 – lost to Hamid Bavafa (IRI), 0-2 (0-1, 0-1)

Tanioka cannot convert in par terre in the first period, then gives up a takedown in the second .

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66kg – FUJIMURA, Tsutomu (11th, 20 entries)

R1 – bye

R2 – lost to Farid Mansurov (AZE), 1-2 (0-3, 1-0, 0-1)
Fujimura fights off a fall in the first period and takes the second with a shoulder shuck and go-behind against the Athens Olympic champion. In the third period, however, Fujimura cannot generate anything on the feet and then tries in vain to turn the 2007 world champion in par terre over the final 20 seconds.

r1 – lost to Tamas Loerinc (HUN), 1-1 (0-3, 1-0, 0-1)
Fujimura has the first chance in par terre, but is flipped over with a reverse waistlock in the first period. He evens the period count in the second on strong defense. Fujimura is forced to take the offensive again in the third, but cannot turn last year’s champion.

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66kg – SHIMIZU, Hiroyuki (13th, 20 entries)

R1 – lost to Mukran Machutadze (GEO), 1-2 (0-2, 2-0, 0-1)
Shimizu gives up the first period on gut wrench in the last five seconds, but levels the count in the second with his own gut wrench feint and dive to the other side. In the third, the ball comes out blue and Shimizu is forced to try and turn his opponent over the final 30 seconds, but cannot find the handle.