He is 46, he is a father of five boys, he runs a wrestling school in Tokyo and he won his last international medal at Sydney Olympics in 2000. Meet Katsuhiko Nagata, a very unique wrestler seen in action on Thursday at the All Japan Championships. Nagata, a silver medalist at the Sydney Olympics returned to the national stage again at 46, only to be defeated at Greco-Roman 72kg by a reigning collegiate champion less than half his age by 1-5.

“I was turned around on the ground and couldn’t return. I had less experience than my current athlete, but I’m glad I competed well in the first round” said Nagata.

Whatever the result may be, Nagata by competing at the Japan nationals has established a unique record. Record of being the oldest to compete at the Japan Nationals at the age of 46.

“Four years have passed since I won the Japan National championships , and I think that the level of Japan in wrestling has improved. The last time I made a comeback at the age of 42 had a great result by winning the national title for 7th time in 2015. Now I’d like to do continue wrestling once more, want to pursue my path as age doesn’t defy or define participation in wrestling” said Nagata.

Nagata has won six consecutive national titles from 1997 to 2002 and also won the Olympic Silver medal in Sydney 2000 losing out to Filiberto Aguilera of Cuba. Nagata then spent five years as a pro fighter in mixed-martial arts, before opening his own wrestling school in the Metropolitan Tokyo suburb of Chofu. In 2015, he made a highly publicized and ultimately successful return to the mat at the All-Japan tournament, also known as the Emperor’s Cup, capturing the Greco 71kg gold for his seventh national title and first in 13 years.

Nagata, a father of five boys ranging in age from 7 months to 10 years. He still trains for 3-4 days a week. Asked about coming back a second time in a pre-Olympic year, Nagata noted it might not just be a coincidence. “Maybe because it’s the year before an Olympics, I get caught up in the excitement and it gets my juices flowing.” according to Nagata in an interview to UWW.

Also Read: All Japan Championship : Meet a unique wrestler who tried qualifying for Tokyo 2020 at the age of 46

This national championship of Japan will decide who will make it to the Japan team for the Asian Olympic Qualifiers in China scheduled for March. The destiny of many stalwarts of Japan wrestling is on line in this tournament. Multiple world & Olympic medal winner Sara DOSHO, Takuto Otoguro, Yui SUSAKI, Yuki TAKAHASHI and Shinobu OTA are trying to earn tickets to the Japan team via this tournament.

Day 1 Results – Freestyle

61kg
Semifinals
Ryuto SAKAKI df. Kodai OGAWA, 3-1
Keita SHIMIZU df. Ryutaro HAYAMA, 3-2

70kg
Semifinals
Hikaru TAKADA df. Tsuyoshi NAKAMURA by TF, 13-3, 3:35
Shin HARAGUCHI df. Shinnosuke SUWAMA, 3-0

97kg
Semifinals
Naoya AKAGUMA df. Keiwan YOSHIDA, 7-1
Takeshi YAMAGUCHI df. Takashi ISHIGURO, 6-5

125kg
Semifinals
Nobuyoshi ARAKIDA df. Yasuhiro YAMAMOTO by TF, 11-0, 4:06
Tetsuya TANAKA df. Taiki YAMAMOTO, 3-1

Greco-Roman

55kg
Semifinals
Yu SHIOTANI df. Kagetora OKAMOTO, 7-3
Hiromu KATAGIRI df. Hirokazu ONO by TF, 8-0, :39

60kg
Semifinals
Kosei TAKESHITA df. Kaito INABA, 4-0
Ayata SUZUKI df. Maito KAWANA, 10-3

72kg
Semifinals
Nao KUSAKA df. Minto MAEDA, 3-2
Takuya TOMIZUKA df. Takahiro YAMAMOTO, 6-6

82kg
Semifinals
Satoki MUKAI df. Yuto MATSUZAKI by TF, 9-0, 2:33
Yoji KAWAMURA df. Shoma YAMASAKI, 5-1

97kg
Semifinals
Yuta NARA df. Masayuki AMANO, 3-0
Yuri NAKAZATO df. Masaaki SHIKIYA, 6-5

Women’s Wrestling

55kg
Semifinals
Tsugumi SAKURAI df. Tomoha UCHIJO by TF, 13-1, 5:57
Kana HIGASHIKAWA df. Hikari HIGUCHI, 6-4

59kg
Semifinals
Sara NATAMI df. Ayami SUGIMOTO by TF, 10-0, 3:44
Yuzuka INAGAKI df. Yumi KON by TF, 10-0, 2:00

65kg
Miyu IMAI df. Rin TERAMOTO, 6-0
Naomi RUIKE df. Miki KAWAUCHI by TF, 11-0, 5:57

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