Both Kamal Bey (77 kg, Army/WCAP) and Joe Rau (97 kg, TMWC) engaged familiar opponents in their respective opening bouts at the 2024 Summer Olympics on Tuesday morning but neither were able to garner a victory. However, at press time, Rau is still alive in the tournament while Bey has been eliminated.
Day 2 of the 2024 Paris Olympics began at 11:00am local time from Paris France (5:00am ET) and is streaming live on the Peacock Network.
Bey had drawn reigning two-time World Champion and ’20 Olympic bronze Azkhol Makhmudov (KGZ) for his opener. Bey downed Makhmudov in exciting fashion for Junior World gold in ’17 but was decisioned by the Kyrgyzstani wrestler for bronze the following year. As for Rau, his history with round-of-16 antagonist Mohammadhadi Saravi (IRI) is brand new. Rau had tested the ’21 World champ/multi-time medalist for the first time this past June in a match that went to the Iranian by way of technical superiority.
Bey & Rau Recaps
Bey vs. Makhmudov
Bey was called for passivity midway through the first period and Makhmudov threatened with a lock. He did not come all that close to gaining a turn and, in one instance, Bey showed that he was apt to try and step over if a rotation was achieved. Just before the break, Makhmudov snapped an arm throw attempt that forced Bey to cartwheel. No points were awarded to KGZ and Bey entered intermission down 1-0.
Between periods, Bey only briefly returned to his corner to be toweled off. As if to send a message with regards to his stamina, he spent the rest of the :30 pause in the center of the mat waiting for Makhmudov.
Following a series of compressed flurries in the ties, Makhmudov was able to score a pair of step-out points to elevate his lead to 3-0. Then, in short order, Bey was rung up for passivity. Makhmudov could not gather a lock and the action was restarted with just over a minute remaining in the contest. With :30 to go, Bey dashed forth with a body attack that caused Makhmudov to step off the boundary. Bey sought several searing entries in desperation as time ran short, but Makhmudov deflected the blitzes and collected a 4-1 decision.
Makhmudov was defeated by Demue Zhadrayev (KAZ) in the quarterfinal to eliminate Bey from possible contention for bronze in Wednesday’s repechage round.
Rau vs. Saravi
The action was just about even between Rau and Saravi throughout the preamble, though Saravi had put himself in position for a reach-around attempt, which naturally compelled the American to begin fighting out of the hold. The position did not mature, however, as passivity entered the equation in favor of Rau. From top par terre, he did not waste any time in clamping a front headlock. Rau cranked hard on his clasp but was unable to generate elevation. When the whistle blew for the reset, Saravi could be seen shaking the kinks out of his neck which were the result of Rau’s attempt. As the period began to wind down, Saravi had opened another reach-around opportunity, this time from the opposite side; he did not get behind Rau, but he did score a step-out point.
Rau strolled onto the mat for the second period trailing on criteria 1-1. Shortly thereafter, the officials deemed him passive, providing Saravi with both an outright 2-1 advantage and a chance to work from top par terre. The Iranian caught a run with his gutwrench and turned Rau three times to surge ahead further 6-1. After the restart, Saravi soon laced a right underhook off of an exchange and converted the position to a takedown. He next rotated one gutwrench to force a halt to the proceedings at 10-1.
Saravi defeated Uzur Dzhuzupbekov (KGZ) via technical fall in the quarterfinal and will face Mohamed Gabr (EGY) in the semifinal. If Saravi is successful, Rau will be pulled back in for tomorrow’s repechage round and greet Dzhuzupbekov.
The semifinals are scheduled to begin at 6:15pm local time in Paris, France (12:15pm ET) and can be viewed live on the Peacock Network.
Day 2 Greco-Roman Olympic Schedule
*All times ET
*Streaming live on Peacock
Tuesday, August 6 (If Saravi prevails in the semifinals, Rau is eligible for repechage on Wednesday)
12:15pm-4:00pm — Semifinals; medal matches for 130 kg
2024 Olympic Games
August 5-8 — Paris, FRA
TEAM USA DAY 2 RESULTS
77 kg: Kamal Bey (Army/WCAP)
LOSS Azkhol Makhmudov (KGZ) 4-1
97 kg: Joe Rau (TMWC)
LOSS Mohammadhadi Saravi (IRI) 10-1, TF
TEAM USA DAY 1 RESULTS
130 kg: Adam Coon (NYAC/Cliff Keen)
LOSS Amin Mirzazadeh (IRI) 3-1
Listen to “5PM57: Kamal Bey and David Stepanyan” on Spreaker.
Listen to “5PM56: Rich Carlson and Spencer Woods” on Spreaker.
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