Japan wins wrestling silver and bronze, but gymnasts disappointed

Wednesday 20th August, 07:17 AM JST

BEIJING —

Wrestler Tomohiro Matsunaga came close to winning a surprise gold medal in the men’s 55-kilogram freestyle Tuesday, while Kenichi Yumoto grabbed a bronze in the 60-kg class, but Japan’s hopes of further medals in the gymnasium came to nothing. American Henry Cejudo denied Matsunaga the chance to win Japan’s first gold in men’s wrestling since the 1988 Seoul Games, grabbing his leg for a tackle in the second period after having narrowly beaten him in the first. The-28-year-old Matsunaga began the day by beating Senegal’s Adama Diatta, then disposed of Turkey’s Sezar Akgul and two-time world champion Dilshod Mansurov of Uzbekistan before crushing Russia’s 2007 world titlist Besik Kudukhov in the semifinals.

Yumoto, meanwhile, dominated Bazar Bazarguruev of Kyrgyzstan to take the bronze at 60 kg, having downed India’s Yogeshwar Dutt in the quarterfinals before losing to European champion Vasyl Fedoryshyn of Ukraine in the semis. Six of Japan’s 22 medals so far at Beijing have come in wrestling, with seven in judo and five in swimming. But hopes of adding to the two silver medals won so far in gymnastics were snuffed out by the prowess of the Chinese and Americans. In the women’s beam final Koko Tsurumi came eighth, as Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin took gold and silver for the United States, and Cheng Fei bronze for China, while Li Xiaopeng gave China gold in the men’s parallel bars, with Yoo Won Chul of South Korea taking silver and Anton Fokin of Uzbekistan bronze. The biggest disappointment for Japan, though, was in the men’s horizontal bar, with Takuya Nakase and Hiroyuki Tomita finishing fifth and sixth, as China’s Zou Kai won the gold and American Jonathan Horton took the silver. Nakase and Tomita, who helped Japan to the team silver medal earlier in the Games, both pulled off clean routines on the bar with solid release tricks, twists and turns but had problems in their landings to score 15.450 and 15.225 points, respectively.

Kyodo

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3 Comments

ProudKoreanGuy at 01:00 PM JST - 20th August

The Japanese gymanstics teams, both men's and women's, have certainly been a disappointment in this Olympics, hasn't it? What a shame, I always liked watching the technically clean routines from the Japanese gymnasts.
boobug at 12:31 AM JST - 21st August

What an interesting concept. First, the Chinese send out underaged athletes (alleged) and then the overall judging becomes suspect as "ties" are suddenly awarded to chinese athletes. And all the media can say is "disapponted" ? Hey ! Try robbed ! This has been a scam since day one. Shame on China and their misguided attempts at gaining world respect ! That can only be done through fair and honest competition. Too bad, I had great expectations from China. They have let me down enourmously !
daftpunk1976 at 10:22 AM JST - 21st August

"the Chinese send out underaged athletes" From what I have seen, there are seems like 1-2 girls look under age. But to be honesly most of chinese gymanstics athletes did a fine job! And I do agree with you about your point -"ties". I just don't understand why can't they both to achive gold?...To me , The Judgers seem like had been in doping... Best wish to japanese gymnasts team- a better job next!