Ex-MMA star, wrestler Katsuya Kitamura passes away at age of 36
Japanese Mixed Martial Art (MMA) and wrestling star Katsuya Kitamura suddenly passed away on Tuesday after being rushed to the hospital.
By ET Spotlight Special |
Agencies
Former New Japan Pro Wrestling fighter and bodybuilder Katsuya Kitamura passed away at the age of 36. The cause of death, however, remains unknown. He was 36 years old. According to officials, Kitamura felt sick on Tuesday and dialed for an ambulance to take him to the hospital. His condition deteriorated drastically after that, ultimately resulting in his death.
Kitamura began his pro wrestling career in New Japan in 2017, with a record of winning three successive All Japan Championships in the Greco-Roman style 96kg wrestling class. He was nicknamed "The Wrestling Monster" due to his tall stature and robust frame. He also won the "Young Lion Cup" in 2017, and many acknowledged his fighting prowess. But with a concussion at the Ibaraki tournament in March 2018, he had to withdraw from the tournament. He also had to leave the team on January 31, 2019, owing to an injury during practise and finally gave up pro wrestling.
Olympic Wrestling: India's Vinesh Phogat returns stronger, smarter to fulfil medal dream
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Five years after being stretchered off the mat with a twisted knee in Rio, India's Vinesh Phogat believes she has grown mentally stronger and technically accomplished as she resumes her bid for an Olympic gold in Tokyo.
Five years after being stretchered off the mat with a twisted knee in Rio, India's Vinesh Phogat believes she has grown mentally stronger and technically accomplished as she resumes her bid for an Ol..
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Phogat's dream of a medal in her first Olympics was cruelly cut short in 2016 when she hurt her ankle during her quarter-final bout against a Chinese opponent and left the mat in tears.
"I now have the experience of playing one Olympics. I know what to expect, how to prepare and how to conduct myself," the 26-year-old told the Times of India newspaper on Saturday.
Phogat's dream of a medal in her first Olympics was cruelly cut short in 2016 when she hurt her ankle during her quarter-final bout against a Chinese opponent and left the mat in tears."I now have th..
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"All these setbacks helped me become stronger, and I feel I enter Tokyo as a much stronger athlete mentally.
"I want to finish what I have started."
Currently training in Hungary, Phogat is the world number one in women's 53kg category and also the top seed in Tokyo.
"All these setbacks helped me become stronger, and I feel I enter Tokyo as a much stronger athlete mentally."I want to finish what I have started."Currently training in Hungary, Phogat is the world n..
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She has been training under Hungarian coach Woller Akos since 2018 and the partnership had worked wonders for her, said the Commonwealth and Asian Games champion.
"People won't understand from outside but earlier my game had technical flaws.
"I can see that now I'm smoother and display clean wrestling on the mat. I don't feel stuck on the match anymore. There is motion in my game."
She has been training under Hungarian coach Woller Akos since 2018 and the partnership had worked wonders for her, said the Commonwealth and Asian Games champion."People won't understand from outside..
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As for motivation, Phogat said she never forgot her pain in Rio.
"...every time I go on the mat for a match, that injury motivates me," said the wrestler from Haryana.
"It was one of the lowest points of my career. There was a lot of negativity from within.
"But I was able to come out of it and in hindsight, it has helped me become mentally strong."
As for motivation, Phogat said she never forgot her pain in Rio."...every time I go on the mat for a match, that injury motivates me," said the wrestler from Haryana."It was one of the lowest points ..
As a youngster, Kitamura had an impressive career in amateur wrestling. But he tested positive for anabolic steroids and received a two-year ban, ruining any chance of representing his nation in the Olympics. Kitamura began bodybuilding and made his Mixed Martial Art (MMA) debut in November 2021 after joining RIZIN. Kitamura also had a YouTube channel named "Bulk Academy Katsuya Kitamura," where he made a lot of videos about his bodybuilding and wrestling. After the news of his death spread, his fans took to Twitter to pay homage to him.
FAQs:
Who is Katsuya Kitamura? Katsuya Kitamura was a Japanese Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter and wrestler.
How old was Katsuya Kitamura? He was just 36 years old when he died this Tuesday.