#Bishkek2018

China, Mongolia Put 3 Wrestlers Each into Asian Women's Finals

By Ken Marantz

Coming off a haul of four gold medals from the previous day in women's wrestling at the Asian Championships, China put three wrestlers into the five remaining finals---a number limited by the fact that that was all China had in action on day four.

Paris 2017 world bronze medalist HAN Yue (CHN) won both of her matches by fall to advance to the 72kg final against Nasanburmaa OCHIRBAT (MGL), one of three Mongolians to earn spots in the gold-medal matches at the Kozhomkul Sports Palace.

There will also be a China-Mongolian duel at 62kg, in which Paris 2017 world champion Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) will take on LUO Xiaojuan (CHN), a 2015 Asian champion who ousted Rio 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Sakshi Malik in the qualification round.

PEI Xingru (CHN), a 2016 world champion, sees her path to gold blocked by Sara NATAMI (JPN), an unheralded high schooler who marked her debut in a senior international tournament by recording a fall and a technical fall.

China's entries at 53kg (PANG Qianyu) and 65kg (XU Rui) are both injured and withdrew from the tournament, according to the team's Bulgarian coach Siemon CHTEREV.

"I am content with this result," Chterev said. "I'm very happy with the Chinese team. For six months, they have been getting better. They believe in themselves. This is very important."

PICTURED: Navjot KAUR (IND)

Meanwhile, two-time Asian medalist Navjot KAUR (IND) will try to end India's hex in Asian women's finals---the country stands 0-13 dating back to 2001---when she takes on Miyu IMAI (JPN) in the 65kg final.

The Kaur-Imai showdown will be a rematch of a group stage match earlier in the day, which Imai won 4x-4 on criteria.

The possibility of a rematch came about because there were only six entries in both the 65kg and 72kg categories. The competitors were drawn into two groups of three. After a round robin, the top two in each group advanced to the semifinals.

PICTURED: Sumiya ERDENECHIMEG (MGL)

PAK Yongmi (PRK) will try to give North Korea its first gold of the tournament with a victory in the 53kg final against Sumiya ERDENECHIMEG (MGL), a 2013 world bronze medalist.

Pak advanced to the final with a nail-biting 4-3 victory over Yu MIYAHARA (JPN), who was coming off victories at the Dave Schultz Memorial and Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix tournaments.

"Our wrestlers who are on the level of being finalists didn't make it," said Japan women's coach Hideo SASAYAMA, also referring to four-time Asian medalist Yurika ITO (62kg) and New Delhi 2017 silver medalist Masako FURUICHI (72kg).

Asked about the performance of 17-year-old Natami, whose lone international experience was a silver medal in the cadet class at the 2016 Klippan Open, Sasayama reserved judgment.

"She had a good draw, and as a third-year high schooler, she still needs to go on the attack more," he said.

Women's Wrestling
53kg (10 entries)
Gold - PAK Yongmi (PRK) v Sumiya ERDENECHIMEG (MGL)

Bronze –  Thi Hang VU (VIE) v Yu Miyahara (JPN)
Bronze – Zhuldyz Eshimova (KAZ) v CHIU Hsin Ju (TPE)

Semifinal – PAK Yongmi (PRK) df. Yu Miyahara (JPN), 4-3
Semifinal – Sumiya ERDENECHIMEG (MGL) df. CHIU Hsin Ju (TPE) by Fall, 5:18 (4-1)

57kg (10 entries)
Gold - Sara NATAMI (JPN) v PEI Xingru (CHN)

Bronze –  KIM Yeseul (KOR) v Thi Huong DAO (VIE)
Bronze – Baltsetseg ALTANTSETSEG (MGL) v JONG In Sun (PRK)

Semifinal – Sara NATAMI (JPN) df. Thi Huong DAO (VIE) by TF, 10-0, 3:15
Semifinal – PEI Xingru (CHN) df. JONG In Sun (PRK) by Fall, 4:11 (2-2)

62kg (10 entries)
Gold - Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) v LUO Xiaojuan (CHN)

Bronze –  Khalbazar NARBAEVA (UZB) vs Yurika ITO (JPN)
Bronze – Sakshi MALIK (IND) v Ayaulym KASSYMOVA (KAZ)

Semifinal – Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) df. Yurika ITO (JPN), 9-1
Semifinal – LUO Xiaojuan (CHN) df . Ayaulym KASSYMOVA (KAZ), 5-1

65kg (6 entries)
Gold - Miya IMAI (JPN) v Kaur NAVJOT (IND)

Bronze –  LEE Hanbit (KOR) v Tsevegmed ENKHBAYAR (MGL)

Semifinal – Miya IMAI (JPN) df. LEE Hanbit (KOR), by TF, 10-0, 1:52
Semifinal – Kaur NAVJOT (IND) df. Tsevegmed ENKHBAYAR (MGL), 2-1

72kg (6 entries)
Gold - Nasanburmaa OCHIRBAT (MGL) v HAN Yue (CHN)

Bronze –  Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) v Masako FURUICHI (JPN)

Semifinal – Nasanburmaa OCHIRBAT (MGL) df. Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) by Fall, 2:11 (9-4)
Semifinal – HAN Yue (CHN) df. Masako FURUICHI (JPN) by TF, 10-0, 5:18

#WrestleZagreb

Zagreb Open: Gray, Nichita lose; Jafarov pinned

By United World Wrestling Press

ZAGREB, Croatia (January 13) -- More Women's Wrestling action on day four of the Zagreb Open. 53kg, 57kg, 72kg and 76kg wrestlers will be on the mat. In Greco-Roman, wrestlers from 63kg and 67kg will be in action.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER

14:50: A top semifinal to session the morning session as Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) pins world silver medalist Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE). Jafarov failed to score from par terre and challenged for leg foul. It was called clean, giving Nasibov a 1-1 criteria lead. Jafarov scored a stepout to lead 2-1 at the break. Nasibov gets the criteria back in the second period as Jafarov is called passive. Nasibov was happy to hold the criteria but referee calls for third passivity and Nasibov is put in par terre. As Jafarov tries the guy wrench, Nasibov stopped him and held to secure the pin

14:35: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) into the final at 76kg. She will take on Juan WANG (CHN) for the gold medal. At 53kg, Qianyu PANG (CHN) with a superb arm throw and then pins Min ZHANG (CHN).

14:30: Not to be for Anastasia NICHITA (MDA)! The world silver medalist at 57kg falls to Asian Games bronze medalist Kexin HONG in a close 3-2 semifinal. Leading 1-1 on criteria, Nichita wasn't able to stop Hong from a late takedown.

14:20: 63kg world champion Leri ABULADZE (GEO) survives a tough semifinal against TIBILOV (SRB). Abuladze led 5-1 after two turns from par terre but was cautioned for blocking and a stepout from Tibilov made it 5-3. Tibilov scored a takedown with a second left to make it 5-5 but Abuladze had the criteria.

14:15: Juan WANG (CHN) upsets another American wrestler! Kennedy BLADES (USA) was leading 3-1 with 20 seconds left on the clock but Wang sprung into action and scored a takedown to win 3-3 at 76kg.

14:00: Adeline GRAY (USA) and Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) coming out on Mat B for their quarterfinal at 76kg. Medet Kyzy on a single and trips Gray for four! Another single-leg attack for a takedown. Medet Kyzy makes it look so easy. A 10-0 technical superiority for the world silver medalist over the bronze medalist

13:45: Juan WANG (CHN) with a top win over Kylie WELKER (USA). She built an early lead and scored a takedown late in the match to rule out Welker who scored five points. Wang moves into the semis with an 8-5 win.

13:30: Qianyu PANG (CHN) has been on a roll today. She is into the 53kg semifinals with an 8-0 win over Annika WENDLE (GER). Up next is Min ZHANG (CHN) who, incidentally, also defeated a German wrestler, Anastasia BLAYVAS (GER), via fall to reach the semis. 

13:05: Gagik SNJOYAN (FRA) with a 10-0 win over NEERAJ (UWW). That match is followed by Danial SOHRABI (IRI) falling to Kristupas SLEIVA (LTU) 7-1. He failed to score from two par terre advantages he got. Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) blanks Niklas OEHLEN (SWE) 9-0.

12:45: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) with another fall. She moves into the quarterfinals after pinning Justina DI STASIO (CAN). Next up is Adeline GRAY (USA).

12:35: Adeline GRAY (USA) looks like returning to her best since her comeback at the World Championships. She holds off Yuanyuan HUANG (CHN) 4-0 to move into the quarterfinals at 76kg.  

12:15: Karla GODINEZ (CAN) and Dominique PARRISH (USA) moving on at 53kg. Godinez with a win over Haley AUGELLO (USA) while Parrish gets a walkover from Lucia YEPEZ (ECU)

WW - 53 kg1/8 Final455(SRI) Nethmi Ahinsa Fernando PORUTHOTAGE (18)(CHN) Min ZHANG (19)

11:50: U20 world champion Moustafa ALAMELDIN (EGY) with a big throw in the second period to beat Morten THORESEN (NOR) 4-1 at 67kg and move to the next round

11:45: Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) and Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) get going with easy wins. Nasibov got the better of HUSIYUETU (CHN) while Jafarov beat Alejandro SANCHO (USA) at 67kg. 

11:10: Danial SOHRABI (IRI) has made it a habit of living on the edge. Put in par terre, he gave up three turns as Haavard JOERGENSEN (NOR) led 7-1 at the break. Sohrabi didn't score any points when Joergensen was put in par terre but the Norweigen's conditioning was not up to the mark for the six minutes as Sohrabi five stepouts in the last 90 seconds to win 8-7.

10:45: Samar HAMZA (EGY) suffers a shock 3-2 loss to Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU) at 76kg. Just could not get going in her attacks. World silver medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) with a fall over Rita TALISMANOVAAA (AIN)

10:30: Down goes the European champion Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) as Min ZHANG (CHN) builds a strong 8-2 lead before winning 12-6. On Mat C, young prodigy Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) with a 10-6 win over Ekaterina VERBINA (AIN).

10:15: Electric start to the day as world bronze medalist Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) and Nina HEMMER (GER) put on a show. Yepez pulls off an 11-9 win at 53kg. Little later, Qianyu PANG (CHN) pins Christianah OGUNSANYA (NGR).

10:00: Welcome to the fourth day of the Zagreb Open Ranking Series. Adelaine GRAY (USA),