Wrestling at the 1956 Summer Olympics – Men's freestyle lightweight
{{short description|Wrestling at the Olympics}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox Olympic event
|event = Men's freestyle lightweight
|games = 1956 Summer
|image = Shigeru Kasahara, Emam-Ali Habibi, Alimbeg Bestayev 1956b.jpg
|caption = The final podium.
|venue = Royal Exhibition Building
|dates = 28 November–1 December 1956
|competitors = 19
|nations = 19
|gold = Emam-Ali Habibi
|goldNOC = IRI
|silver = Shigeru Kasahara
|silverNOC = JPN
|bronze = Alimbeg Bestaev
|bronzeNOC = URS
|prev = 1952
|next = 1960
}}
{{WrestlingAt1956SummerOlympics}}
The men's freestyle lightweight competition at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne took place from 28 November to 1 December at the Royal Exhibition Building. Nations were limited to one competitor.{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1956/WRE/mens-lightweight-freestyle.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418020132/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1956/WRE/mens-lightweight-freestyle.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 April 2020 |title=Wrestling at the 1956 Melbourne Summer Games: Men's Freestyle Lightweight |work=Sports Reference |access-date=14 March 2019}} Lightweight was the fourth-lightest category, including wrestlers weighing {{convert|62|to|67|kg|lbs}}.{{sfn|Official Report|1958|p=664}}
Competition format
This freestyle wrestling competition continued to use the "bad points" elimination system introduced at the 1928 Summer Olympics for Greco-Roman and at the 1932 Summer Olympics for freestyle wrestling, as modified in 1952 (adding medal rounds and making all losses worth 3 points—from 1936 to 1948 losses by split decision only cost 2). Each round featured all wrestlers pairing off and wrestling one bout (with one wrestler having a bye if there were an odd number). The loser received 3 points. The winner received 1 point if the win was by decision and 0 points if the win was by fall. At the end of each round, any wrestler with at least 5 points was eliminated. This elimination continued until the medal rounds, which began when 3 wrestlers remained. These 3 wrestlers each faced each other in a round-robin medal round (with earlier results counting, if any had wrestled another before); record within the medal round determined medals, with bad points breaking ties.{{sfn|Official Report|1958|p=664}}
Results
=Round 1=
; Bouts
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left;"
! Winner | Nation | Victory Type | Loser | Nation |
| Muhammad Ashraf | {{flagIOC|PAK|1956 Summer}} | Fall | O Tae-geun | {{flagIOC|KOR|1956 Summer}} |
| Mario Tovar | {{flagIOC|MEX|1956 Summer}} | Fall | Mateo Tanaquin | {{flagIOC|PHI|1956 Summer}} |
| Jay Thomas Evans | {{flagIOC|USA|1956 Summer}} | Fall | Jack Taylor | {{flagIOC|GBR|1956 Summer}} |
| Shigeru Kasahara | {{flagIOC|JPN|1956 Summer}} | Fall | David Schumacher | {{flagIOC|AUS|1956 Summer}} |
| Gyula Tóth | {{flagIOC|HUN|1956 Summer}} | Fall | Juan Rolón | {{flagIOC|ARG|1956 Summer}} |
| Emam-Ali Habibi | {{flagIOC|IRI|1956 Summer}} | Fall | Olle Anderberg | {{flagIOC|SWE|1956 Summer}} |
| Roger Bielle | {{flagIOC|FRA|1956 Summer}} | Decision, 2–1 | Väinö Hakkarainen | {{flagIOC|FIN|1956 Summer}} |
| Garibaldo Nizzola | {{flagIOC|ITA|1956 Summer}} | Fall | Lakhshmi Kant Pandey | {{flagIOC|IND|1956 Summer}} |
| Adil Güngör | {{flagIOC|TUR|1956 Summer}} | Decision, 3–0 | Georgi Zaychev | {{flagIOC|BUL|1956 Summer}} |
| Alimbeg Bestaev | {{flagIOC|URS|1956 Summer}} | Bye | N/A | N/A |
; Points
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
! Rank | Wrestler | Nation | Start | Earned | Total |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 1 | align=left| {{sortname|Muhammad|Ashraf|dab=wrestler}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|PAK|1956 Summer}} | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 1 | align=left| {{sortname|Alimbeg|Bestaev}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|URS|1956 Summer}} | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 1 | align=left| {{sortname|Jay Thomas|Evans}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|USA|1956 Summer}} | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 1 | align=left| {{sortname|Emam-Ali|Habibi}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|IRI|1956 Summer}} | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 1 | align=left| {{sortname|Shigeru|Kasahara}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|JPN|1956 Summer}} | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 1 | align=left| {{sortname|Garibaldo|Nizzola}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|ITA|1956 Summer}} | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 1 | align=left| {{sortname|Gyula|Tóth|dab=wrestler}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|HUN|1956 Summer}} | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 1 | align=left| {{sortname|Mario|Tovar}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|MEX|1956 Summer}} | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 9 | align=left| {{sortname|Roger|Bielle}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|FRA|1956 Summer}} | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 9 | align=left| {{sortname|Adil|Güngör}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|TUR|1956 Summer}} | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 11 | align=left| {{sortname|Olle|Anderberg}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|SWE|1956 Summer}} | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 11 | align=left| {{sortname|Väinö|Hakkarainen}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|FIN|1956 Summer}} | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 11 | align=left| O Tae-geun | align=left| {{flagIOC|KOR|1956 Summer}} | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 11 | align=left| {{sortname|Lakhshmi Kant|Pandey}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|IND|1956 Summer}} | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 11 | align=left| {{sortname|Juan|Rolón}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|ARG|1956 Summer}} | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 11 | align=left| {{sortname|David|Schumacher|dab=wrestler}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|AUS|1956 Summer}} | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 11 | align=left| {{sortname|Mateo|Tanaquin}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|PHI|1956 Summer}} | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 11 | align=left| {{sortname|Jack|Taylor|dab=British wrestler}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|GBR|1956 Summer}} | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 11 | align=left| {{sortname|Georgi|Zaychev}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|BUL|1956 Summer}} | 0 | 3 | 3 |
=Round 2=
; Bouts
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left;"
! Winner | Nation | Victory Type | Loser | Nation |
| Alimbeg Bestaev | {{flagIOC|URS|1956 Summer}} | Fall | O Tae-geun | {{flagIOC|KOR|1956 Summer}} |
| Mario Tovar | {{flagIOC|MEX|1956 Summer}} | Decision, 2–1 | Muhammad Ashraf | {{flagIOC|PAK|1956 Summer}} |
| Jack Taylor | {{flagIOC|GBR|1956 Summer}} | Decision, 3–0 | Mateo Tanaquin | {{flagIOC|PHI|1956 Summer}} |
| Jay Thomas Evans | {{flagIOC|USA|1956 Summer}} | Decision, 3–0 | Shigeru Kasahara | {{flagIOC|JPN|1956 Summer}} |
| Juan Rolón | {{flagIOC|ARG|1956 Summer}} | Decision, 3–0 | David Schumacher | {{flagIOC|AUS|1956 Summer}} |
| Emam-Ali Habibi | {{flagIOC|IRI|1956 Summer}} | Decision, 3–0 | Gyula Tóth | {{flagIOC|HUN|1956 Summer}} |
| Olle Anderberg | {{flagIOC|SWE|1956 Summer}} | Decision, 2–1 | Väinö Hakkarainen | {{flagIOC|FIN|1956 Summer}} |
| Garibaldo Nizzola | {{flagIOC|ITA|1956 Summer}} | Decision, 2–1 | Roger Bielle | {{flagIOC|FRA|1956 Summer}} |
| Adil Güngör | {{flagIOC|TUR|1956 Summer}} | Decision, 3–0 | Lakhshmi Kant Pandey | {{flagIOC|IND|1956 Summer}} |
| Georgi Zaychev | {{flagIOC|BUL|1956 Summer}} | Bye | N/A | N/A |
; Points
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
! Rank | Wrestler | Nation | Start | Earned | Total |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 1 | align=left| {{sortname|Alimbeg|Bestaev}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|URS|1956 Summer}} | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 2 | align=left| {{sortname|Jay Thomas|Evans}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|USA|1956 Summer}} | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 2 | align=left| {{sortname|Emam-Ali|Habibi}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|IRI|1956 Summer}} | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 2 | align=left| {{sortname|Garibaldo|Nizzola}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|ITA|1956 Summer}} | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 2 | align=left| {{sortname|Mario|Tovar}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|MEX|1956 Summer}} | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 6 | align=left| {{sortname|Adil|Güngör}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|TUR|1956 Summer}} | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 7 | align=left| {{sortname|Muhammad|Ashraf|dab=wrestler}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|PAK|1956 Summer}} | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 7 | align=left| {{sortname|Shigeru|Kasahara}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|JPN|1956 Summer}} | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 7 | align=left| {{sortname|Gyula|Tóth|dab=wrestler}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|HUN|1956 Summer}} | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 7 | align=left| {{sortname|Georgi|Zaychev}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|BUL|1956 Summer}} | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 11 | align=left| {{sortname|Olle|Anderberg}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|SWE|1956 Summer}} | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 11 | align=left| {{sortname|Roger|Bielle}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|FRA|1956 Summer}} | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 11 | align=left| {{sortname|Juan|Rolón}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|ARG|1956 Summer}} | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 11 | align=left| {{sortname|Jack|Taylor|dab=British wrestler}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|GBR|1956 Summer}} | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 15 | align=left| {{sortname|Väinö|Hakkarainen}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|FIN|1956 Summer}} | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| 15 | align=left| O Tae-geun | align=left| {{flagIOC|KOR|1956 Summer}} | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| 15 | align=left| {{sortname|Lakhshmi Kant|Pandey}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|IND|1956 Summer}} | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| 15 | align=left| {{sortname|David|Schumacher|dab=wrestler}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|AUS|1956 Summer}} | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| 15 | align=left| {{sortname|Mateo|Tanaquin}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|PHI|1956 Summer}} | 3 | 3 | 6 |
=Round 3=
Anderberg was injured and withdrew.
; Bouts
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left;"
! Winner | Nation | Victory Type | Loser | Nation |
| Alimbeg Bestaev | {{flagIOC|URS|1956 Summer}} | Fall | Georgi Zaychev | {{flagIOC|BUL|1956 Summer}} |
| Muhammad Ashraf | {{flagIOC|PAK|1956 Summer}} | Decision, 3–0 | Jack Taylor | {{flagIOC|GBR|1956 Summer}} |
| Jay Thomas Evans | {{flagIOC|USA|1956 Summer}} | Decision, 3–0 | Mario Tovar | {{flagIOC|MEX|1956 Summer}} |
| Shigeru Kasahara | {{flagIOC|JPN|1956 Summer}} | Fall | Juan Rolón | {{flagIOC|ARG|1956 Summer}} |
| Gyula Tóth | {{flagIOC|HUN|1956 Summer}} | Forfeit | Olle Anderberg | {{flagIOC|SWE|1956 Summer}} |
| Emam-Ali Habibi | {{flagIOC|IRI|1956 Summer}} | Decision, 3–0 | Roger Bielle | {{flagIOC|FRA|1956 Summer}} |
| Garibaldo Nizzola | {{flagIOC|ITA|1956 Summer}} | Decision, 2–1 | Adil Güngör | {{flagIOC|TUR|1956 Summer}} |
; Points
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
! Rank | Wrestler | Nation | Start | Earned | Total |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 1 | align=left| {{sortname|Alimbeg|Bestaev}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|URS|1956 Summer}} | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 2 | align=left| {{sortname|Jay Thomas|Evans}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|USA|1956 Summer}} | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 2 | align=left| {{sortname|Emam-Ali|Habibi}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|IRI|1956 Summer}} | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 2 | align=left| {{sortname|Garibaldo|Nizzola}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|ITA|1956 Summer}} | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 5 | align=left| {{sortname|Shigeru|Kasahara}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|JPN|1956 Summer}} | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 5 | align=left| {{sortname|Gyula|Tóth|dab=wrestler}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|HUN|1956 Summer}} | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 7 | align=left| {{sortname|Muhammad|Ashraf|dab=wrestler}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|PAK|1956 Summer}} | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 7 | align=left| {{sortname|Mario|Tovar}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|MEX|1956 Summer}} | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 9 | align=left| {{sortname|Adil|Güngör}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|TUR|1956 Summer}} | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| 10 | align=left| {{sortname|Georgi|Zaychev}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|BUL|1956 Summer}} | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| 11 | align=left| {{sortname|Olle|Anderberg}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|SWE|1956 Summer}} | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| 11 | align=left| {{sortname|Roger|Bielle}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|FRA|1956 Summer}} | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| 11 | align=left| {{sortname|Juan|Rolón}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|ARG|1956 Summer}} | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| 11 | align=left| {{sortname|Jack|Taylor|dab=British wrestler}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|GBR|1956 Summer}} | 4 | 3 | 7 |
=Round 4=
; Bouts
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left;"
! Winner | Nation | Victory Type | Loser | Nation |
| Alimbeg Bestaev | {{flagIOC|URS|1956 Summer}} | Fall | Muhammad Ashraf | {{flagIOC|PAK|1956 Summer}} |
| Shigeru Kasahara | {{flagIOC|JPN|1956 Summer}} | Fall | Mario Tovar | {{flagIOC|MEX|1956 Summer}} |
| Gyula Tóth | {{flagIOC|HUN|1956 Summer}} | Decision, 3–0 | Jay Thomas Evans | {{flagIOC|USA|1956 Summer}} |
| Emam-Ali Habibi | {{flagIOC|IRI|1956 Summer}} | Decision, 3–0 | Garibaldo Nizzola | {{flagIOC|ITA|1956 Summer}} |
; Points
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
! Rank | Wrestler | Nation | Start | Earned | Total |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 1 | align=left| {{sortname|Alimbeg|Bestaev}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|URS|1956 Summer}} | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 2 | align=left| {{sortname|Emam-Ali|Habibi}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|IRI|1956 Summer}} | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 2 | align=left| {{sortname|Shigeru|Kasahara}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|JPN|1956 Summer}} | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 4 | align=left| {{sortname|Gyula|Tóth|dab=wrestler}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|HUN|1956 Summer}} | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 5 | align=left| {{sortname|Jay Thomas|Evans}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|USA|1956 Summer}} | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| 5 | align=left| {{sortname|Garibaldo|Nizzola}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|ITA|1956 Summer}} | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| 7 | align=left| {{sortname|Muhammad|Ashraf|dab=wrestler}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|PAK|1956 Summer}} | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| 7 | align=left| {{sortname|Mario|Tovar}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|MEX|1956 Summer}} | 4 | 3 | 7 |
=Round 5=
It is unclear why Tóth finished fourth despite having fewer bad points than Kasahara, who advanced to the medal rounds, at the end of this round.
; Bouts
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left;"
! Winner | Nation | Victory Type | Loser | Nation |
| Gyula Tóth | {{flagIOC|HUN|1956 Summer}} | Decision, 2–1 | Alimbeg Bestaev | {{flagIOC|URS|1956 Summer}} |
| Emam-Ali Habibi | {{flagIOC|IRI|1956 Summer}} | Decision, 3–0 | Shigeru Kasahara | {{flagIOC|JPN|1956 Summer}} |
; Points
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
! Rank | Wrestler | Nation | Start | Earned | Total |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 1 | align=left| {{sortname|Alimbeg|Bestaev}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|URS|1956 Summer}} | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 2 | align=left| {{sortname|Emam-Ali|Habibi}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|IRI|1956 Summer}} | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 3 | align=left| {{sortname|Shigeru|Kasahara}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|JPN|1956 Summer}} | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| 4 | align=left| {{sortname|Gyula|Tóth|dab=wrestler}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|HUN|1956 Summer}} | 4 | 1 | 5 |
=Medal rounds=
Habibi's round 5 victory over Kasahara counted for the medal rounds. Habibi also defeated Bestaev, taking the gold medal with a 2–0 record against the other medalists. Kasahara never faced Bestaev; it is unclear how the silver and bronze medals were decided.
; Bouts
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left;"
! Winner | Nation | Victory Type | Loser | Nation |
| Emam-Ali Habibi | {{flagIOC|IRI|1956 Summer}} | Fall | Alimbeg Bestaev | {{flagIOC|URS|1956 Summer}} |
; Points
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
! Rank | Wrestler | Nation | Wins | Losses |
| {{gold01}} | align=left| {{sortname|Emam-Ali|Habibi}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|IRI|1956 Summer}} | 2 | 0 |
| {{silver02}} | align=left| {{sortname|Shigeru|Kasahara}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|JPN|1956 Summer}} | 0 | 1 |
| {{bronze03}} | align=left| {{sortname|Alimbeg|Bestaev}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|URS|1956 Summer}} | 0 | 1 |
References
{{Reflist}}
General
- {{Cite book |title=The Official Report of the Organizing Committee for the Games of the XVI Olympiad, Melbourne, 1956 |year=1956 |publisher=W. M. Houston |location=Melbourne |publication-date=1958 |url=https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll8/id/16475/rec/23 |ref={{sfnref|Official Report|1958}} }}
{{Footer Olympic Champions freestyle wrestling lightweight}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wrestling at the 1956 Summer Olympics - Men's freestyle lightweight}}