In battle of 53kg titans, Fujinami subdues Olympic champ Shidochi

TOKYO (June 16) -- Mayu SHIDOCHI (formerly Mukaida), with tears streaming down her face, walked up for an interview shortly after her loss at the Meiji Cup. Throughout the press session, Shidochi struggled to control her emotions in front of the cameras.

After a while, Shidochi managed to calm down and even smiled during a few of her answers. However, when the questions about the Paris Olympics began to pile up, she broke down once again. She repeatedly mentioned one word in her answers: "Paris Olympics."

Shidochi, the Tokyo Olympic champion, was aiming to defend her gold in Paris and participated in the Meiji Cup. A gold medal at the Meiji Cup would have secured her spot in the playoff that Japan would host on July 1. Winning the playoff meant Shidochi would have earned a ticket to Belgrade for the World Championships. From there, all she had to do was win a medal, which was almost guaranteed for Japanese women wrestlers, to compete at the Paris Olympics.

However, she won't be going to Belgrade or Paris.

Only in Japan's women's wrestling, an Olympic champion starting as the underdog in a domestic tournament quarterfinal is unprecedented. That was the case when she faced Akari FUJINAMI at 53kg in the Meiji Cup on Friday. But in just five minutes and 37 seconds, the 19-year-old pinned Shidochi at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.

There was no surprise or collective gasp from the crowd. It seemed like an expected result since Fujinami was coming into the bout as the world champion and unbeaten in 119 bouts dating back to 2017.

Like any other country, Japan is obsessed with Olympic medals and Shidochi won it in Tokyo while Fujinami can win it in Paris. So the bout between the two was touted as the final showdown to ascertain the best at 53kg.

"I wanted to go to Paris soon after winning the Tokyo Olympics," Shidochi said. "But my motivation got down with time and I wondered what if I could not keep it up till this point. But I decided to compete because Fujinami was there.

"There was also a feeling of gratitude to the juniors who are pushing forward on the winning streak. I wanted to fight strong people. That was one of the reasons I kept competing after winning the gold medal [in Tokyo]."

Shidochi wanted to wrestle the best, in this case, Fujinami, and qualify for the Paris Olympics. She wrestled at the Emperor's Cup but lost to Haruno OKUNO and the match against Fujinami was delayed. Six months later, both ended up on the same side of the bracket at the Meiji Cup.

"I definitely wanted to enter the upper side of the bracket [as Fujinami) and my wish came true," she said.

Akari FUJINAMI turns Mayu SHIDOCHI before getting the fall at the Meiji Cup. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation / Takeo Yabuki)

Perhaps the most-anticipated match of the morning, Fujinami scored an opening takedown using her signature sweep single and go-behind, even though Shidochi anticipated her move. Shidochi seemed to have analyzed Fujinami's style, successfully defending against any other attempts at an ankle pick from the side.

During one of Fujinami's attempts, Shidochi flung her to the right. Although Fujinami managed to stay on her feet, Shidochi went for a headlock to the left and scored two points. Fujinami quickly escaped the hold and executed a reversal.

Fujinami's lead at the break was only one point. So she decided to remain on the attack in the second period as well. And 30 seconds into the second period, she attempted that pick from the side again. She failed but went for it again. Shidochi tried defending once again. However, Fujinami's grip on this instance was stronger and she scored a takedown and transitioned into a lace lock.

Rather than going for turns, Fujinami held Shidochi on her back, striving to secure the pin. For over a minute, Shidochi used a bridge to survive the attempt. However, with 23 seconds remaining on the clock, Fujinami pressed Shidochi's shoulder to the mat, securing the fall.

Both wrestlers acknowledged each other's achievements with a bow right after the whistle, and Fujinami helped Shidochi return to the center of the mat, displaying respect for her opponent.

Shidochi returned the favor during her interview.

"Throughout the match, I realized that she had practiced as well and was really strong," Shidochi said. "It's frustrating to end with this feeling, so I don't know what it will be [in the future]," Shidochi said. "But I want to take a good rest after this and think about it."

Akari FUJINAMI secured the fall over Mayu SHIDOCHI in five minutes and 37 seconds. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation / Takeo Yabuki)

For Fujinami, defeating the Olympic champion in their first official battle was the ultimate passing of the baton.

"My feeling was 'finally'," Fujinami said of facing Shidochi in an official match. "There is not a single day I did not think about Shidochi."

Acknowledging Fujinami's dominance was another Olympic champion and Fujinami's coach at the Nippon Sports Science University who stood on the sides of the mat and later patted the teenager's back.

That Olympic champion was Kaori ICHO.