Choe crushes Kiyooka to become frontrunner at 53kg

Friday, March 28, 2025 - 21:28 By Ken Marantz

AMMAN, Jordan (March 28)--It can be said that with a victory in the 53kg final at the Asian Championships, Hyogyong CHOE (PRK) has become the favorite to fill the hole left by the move up to 57kg by Paris Olympic champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN).

Choe, a Paris bronze medalist herself, powered to a comprehensive 12-1 victory over world 55kg champion Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) at the Asian Championships on Friday in Amman, Jordan, establishing herself as the one to beat in the runup to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Choe had an answer for everything Kiyooka threw at her, and seemed to score at will both offensively and defensively to give the DPR Korea its lone win in three finals on the final day of the women's competition.

"Our national wrestling team has trained together as one united group, supporting each other along the way," Choe said. "I was only focused on training to raise our national flag high on the world stage."

Japan picked up golds by Sara NATAMI (JPN) at 57kg and Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) at 65kg to finish with four overall -- a somewhat disappointing showing for the preeminent women's powerhouse -- and win the team title with 186 points. China finished second with 157, two ahead of DPR Korea in third.

The other golds at stake Friday went to MANISHA (IND), who won the 62kg title to end a streak of three consecutive bronzes, and four-time world medalist Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), who took home her fourth career gold at 72kg.

In the 53kg final, Kiyooka, who moved down to the Olympic weight with eyes firmly on Los Angeles, scored first with an activity point, but who would have thought that would be the extent of her efforts for the rest of the match?

Choe got onto the scoreboard by getting in on a single, raising the leg into the air and, after a struggle, finishing off the takedown to lead 2-1 at the break.

In the second period, Choe took advantage of some anxiousness on Kiyooka's part. Choe layed in wait for Kiyooka to take a shot, then sprung the trap by reaching back and whipping Kiyooka onto her back for 2.

From there, Kiyooka failed to properly set up two tackle attempts and it cost her when Choe had little trouble fending off the attacks and spinning behind for takedowns. After the second one, Choe latched onto the laces and rolled twice to finish off the win with 39 seconds to spare.

Hyogyong CHOE (PRK) completes the lace against Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) in the 53kg final during the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

"Our team, led by our esteemed Supreme Commander, had absolute confidence in victory and felt no fear at all," said Choe, who took home a third career continental medal, having won an Asian bronze at 55kg in 2010 and an Asian Games bronze in 2023.

It was an eye-opening setback -- and just her third loss ever to a non-Japanese -- for the 21-year-old Kiyooka, whose older brother Kotaro won the freestyle 65kg gold at the Paris Olympics. She had preceded her world title by winning the Asian gold last year at 55kg, and came into Amman coming off a victorious run at the Tirana Ranking Series event in February.

The match-winning sequence between Sara NATAMI (JPN) and Il Sim SON (PRK) during the 57kg final at the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

In the 57kg final, 2023 world U23 champion Sara NATAMI (JPN) learned from an early mistake and avoided giving up the same points to Il Sim SON (PRK) to preserve a hard-earned 2-2 victory on last-point criteria.

"I gave everything I had to win," Natami said. "Without thinking about how much time was left, I tried to put together moves to create a chance that would lead to points all the way up to the end."

Natami, the 2022 Asian champion at 59kg, gave up a takedown in the first period when Son spun out of an underhook and got behind for a 2-0 lead. In the second period, Natami emerged from a scramble by flipping Son onto her back to go ahead 2-2 on criteria.

With Natami desperately clinging to the lead, Son once again spun out of an underhook, but this time the Japanese was ready and managed to keep Son from getting behind.

Sara NATAMI (JPN) secured her second career title at the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

"She was very powerful, and I didn't want to give in to the pressure," said Natami, who earlier advanced to the final with a victory by fall over Paris Olympics bronze medalist Kexin HONG (CHN). "In the first period, my aim was to see how far I could keep her from scoring points."

Natami now faces the daunting task of trying to knock off Fujinami when the young superstar returns for her first individual competition at the All-Japan Invitational Championships [Meiji Cup] in June, a qualifier for the World Championships.

"Akari Fujinami will be entered, and although it's not just her, my goal right now is to beat Fujinami," Natami said. "If I can do that, next will be the World Championships."

MANISHA (IND) defends an arm-spin attempt from Ok Ju KIM (PRK) In the 62kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

The match of the finals came at 62kg, where MANISHA (IND) rallied from a five-point deficit for a thrilling 8-7 victory over Ok Ju KIM (PRK) for her first Asian gold after winning three consecutive bronzes.

"At every competition my start is very slow. Even at the World Championships you must have seen this last year," Manisha said, referring to her fifth-place finish in Tirana. "I am working on it. Today, I had this positive feeling about myself that I will perform my best."

After giving up an activity point to Kim, Manisha came back with a nice ankle pick for a takedown to take a 2-1 lead into the second period. That's where the action really got going.

Manisha constantly used an underhook offense, which Kim countered with a sitout spin that enabled her to get behind. She used the technique to score three takedowns of different variations to move in front 7-2.

But Manisha finally wised up and avoided the same mistake, opting for a snapdown attack that led to two takedowns to cut the gap to one. With 20 seconds left, she pancaked Kim for a 2-point exposure to clinch the victory.

"I was trailing in the first period but I could feel that she was tired," Manisha said. "As wrestlers we know when our opponent is tired. When the second period began, I could feel she was very tired. I had worked on it and I wanted to be pushing at full force all the time. So it was easy to cover."

Manisha said that tribulation of making the Indian team served as good preparation for the tournament in Amman.

"The competition in India is also tough," Manisha said. "But I did my best there and when I won, I realized that I can do well here as well. I was very positive from the start. Maybe the hard work of previous years will help me in 2025."

Kim made the final in her senior international debut with a stunning victory by fall in the semifinals over Paris Olympic 68kg bronze medalist and two-time world champion Nonoka OZAKI (JPN).

Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) works to finish a takedown against Enkhjin TUVSHINJARGAL (MGL) in the 65kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 65kg, Morikawa added to her gold from 2022 with a solid 6-2 victory over Enkhjin TUVSHINJARGAL (MGL), who had to settle for the silver for the second straight year.

"I won the title and was able to do a victory lap for the first time in awhile, so I am happy about that," said Morikawa, a three-time world medalist, including a gold in 2022. "But this time, the opponents were not so strong, so there are some things I need to look back on about how I wrestled. Most of all, I won the gold, so that's good."

Morikawa, coming off a victory at the Tirana Ranking Series, scored a takedown with Tuvshinjargal on the activity clock, then forced her over for a 2-point exposure to take a 5-0 lead into the break.

Tuvshinjargal mounted a comeback of sorts with a takedown in the second period, but couldn't further break through the defenses of Morikawa, who added a stepout on a counter. It was the second straight year that Tuvshinjargal lost to a Japanese in the final, having fallen to Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN) last year in Bishkek.

Morikawa lamented the fact that the DPR Korea had no entry in the weight class as she prepares for her next shot at a world title.

"At first, it had an entry but was withdrawn, so I had to fight who was here," Morikawa said. "I felt like there's no way I would be allowed to lose. My goal this year is to win the gold at the World Championships, so first of all to win in Asia is a good step.

"But globally, there are many strong opponents...I am well aware that the level around the world is continually getting better, so to keep from losing, I want to practice harder and harder, keep improving and make it so that people will still say that Japan is the strongest."

In the 72kg final, Bakbergenova capped the women's competition by scoring all of her points in the second period to forge a 4-1 victory over world U20 silver medalist and Asian U20 champion Yuqi LIU (CHN) for her fourth Asian gold and sixth medal overall.

There were plenty of shots in the first period, but none of them connected and an activity point for Liu was the lone score going into the break.

In the second period, Bakbergenova received an activity point, then pulled ahead with a 2-point exposure from a single-leg attack, which she followed by forcing a stepout. In the waning seconds, Bakbergenova defended against a single-leg attack to secure the victory.

Olympic medalists Hong, Ozaki settle for bronzes

In bronze-medal matches, the two Olympic bronze medalists who suffered stunning losses by fall in the semifinals, Hong and Ozaki, swallowed their pride and came back to secure some consolation from their trip to Amman with quick wins.

At 57kg, Kexin HONG (CHN) took little time in finishing off a not-so-easy opponent in two-time Asian medalist Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL), scoring a takedown and going straight to the lace lock, whipping off four rolls for a 10-0 win in :59.

Three matches later, Ozaki made it look like an instant replay, although she needed just 28 seconds to overwhelm local teenager Tala ABUKHEIT (JOR) in the exact same way for a 62kg bronze and her fourth career Asian medal.

Coming off the mat, Ozaki could only manage a wry smile over a tournament that went awry. Ozaki, who won the bronze in Paris and last year's Asian gold at 68kg after losing out to Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) at 62kg, earned her ticket to Amman by winning the All-Japan [Emperor's Cup] title in her return to 62kg.

"I was defeated [here], but after the Olympics, I moved back to this weight class, so I see it as an experience," Ozaki said. "It's a disappointing memory here, but I'm going to do what I can to be a contender again."

Ozaki said the psychological effect of cutting weight was bigger than the physical.

"I had to drop some weight, but mentally it was really tough," she said. "After the Olympics, where I had taken the bronze, i was really nervous about coming back, more nervous than I've ever been. But I look at it all as an experience."

The other bronze at 57kg went to Youngjin KWON (KOR), who picked up her first major medal when she survived a dangerous situation and went on to notch a victory by fall over Pei Ying LIAO (TPE).

Kwon came out like gangbusters with a 4-point headlock throw and a 2-point roll, but when she went for a gut wrench, Liao stepped over and put her on her back. Kwon escaped the predicament, and in the second period, put Liao onto her back during a counter takedown and secured the fall in 5:13.

Kalmira BILIMBEK KYZY (KGZ) gave Kyrgyzstan its lone medal of the night and her second career bronze at 62kg, breaking open a stepout-a-thon to build a 10-3 lead before defeating Tynys DUBEK (KAZ) by fall.

Bilimbek Kyzy led at one point 4-3, with all of the points coming on stepouts, then finally connected on three takedowns before securing the fall.

At 53kg, Asian U23 bronze medalist Zeinep BAYANOVA (KAZ) scored in a variety of ways to grind out a 10-6 victory over world U23 bronze medalist Otgontuya CHINBOLD (MGL).

Bayanova employed an arm drag, an inside leg trip and a counter tilt among her techniques to deny a third Asian bronze to Chinbold, whose three stepouts in the second period left her on the short end of the decision.

ANTIM (IND) earned her second career Asian medal with powerful 10-0 win over Meng Hsuan HSIEH (TPE) in the other 50kg bout, getting a 4-point takedown in an eight-point first period, then ending the match 25 seconds into the second with a double-leg takedown.

At 65kg, Qi ZHANG (CHN), last year's 59kg champion, earned her fourth career Asian medal dating back to 2017 with a 10-0 victory over Gaukhar MUKATAY (KAZ).

Zhang opened with a 4-point takedown and went to the gut wrench for three rolls or tilts to end the match in 1:43.

Shakhzoda ALLANIYAZOVA (UZB) claimed her first-ever major medal by winning the other 65kg bronze, scoring a juicy 4-point takedown off an arm drag early in the second period and then defending well to defeat Jeongae BARK (KOR) 5-1.

At 72kg, former world champion Masako FURUICHI (JPN), denied a chance for a first-ever Asian title with a close loss to Bakbergenova in the semifinals, rolled to a 10-0 win over teenager Sehee KIM (KOR) as she settled for a third continental medal in her first appearance since 2018.

Furuichi, who has completed the "Grand Slam" of all four world age-group golds, spun behind on a takedown counter, then reeled off four gut wrenches this way and that for the victory in 1:37. The victory added to her silver in 2017 and bronze in 2018.

In the other 72kg match, veteran Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL) added a second straight Asian bronze and fifth overall to her collection with a victory by fall over two-time Asian U23 medalist Svetlana OKNAZAROVA (UZB).

Zorigt, who also has an Asian gold from 2021 --the year Japan did not participate -- pancaked Oknazarova for a 2-point exposure, then twisted her onto her back for the fall in 52 seconds.

Day 4 Results

Women's Wrestling

53kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Hyogyong CHOE (PRK) df. Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) by TF, 12-1, 5:21

BRONZE: Zeinep BAYANOVA (KAZ) df. Otgontuya CHINBOLD (MGL), 10-6
BRONZE: ANTIM (IND) df. Meng Hsuan HSIEH (TPE) by TF, 10-0, 3:25

57kg (12 entries)
GOLD: Sara NATAMI (JPN) df. Il Sim SON (PRK), 2-2

BRONZE: Kexin HONG (CHN) df. Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL) by TF, 10-0, :59
BRONZE: Youngjin KWON (KOR) df. Pei Ying LIAO (TPE) by Fall, 5:13 (12-2)

62kg (10 entries)
GOLD: MANISHA (IND) df. Ok Ju KIM (PRK), 8-7

BRONZE: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) df. Tala ABUKHEIT (JOR) by TF, 10-0, :48
BRONZE: Kalmira BILIMBEK KYZY (KGZ) df. Tynys DUBEK (KAZ) by Fall, 5:38 (10-3)

65kg (12 entries)
GOLD: Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) df. Enkhjin TUVSHINJARGAL (MGL), 6-2

BRONZE: Qi ZHANG (CHN) df. Gaukhar MUKATAY (KAZ) by TF, 10-0, 1:43
BRONZE: Shakhzoda ALLANIYAZOVA (UZB) df. Jeongae BARK (KOR), 5-1

72kg (8 entries)
GOLD: Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) df. Yuqi LIU (CHN), 4-1

BRONZE: Masako FURUICHI (JPN) df. Sehee KIM (KOR) by TF, 10-0, 1:37
BRONZE: Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL) df. Svetlana OKNAZAROVA (UZB) by Fall, :52 (4-0)

#wrestlebishkek

Susaki Marks Post-Paris Reformation with Asian Gold

Thursday, April 9, 2026 - 18:51 By Ken Marantz

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 9) -- To hear Yui SUSAKI (JPN) speak of it, she is a new version of the wrestler who had stormed to every major title on offer before her unexpected and devastating downfall at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Having made serious changes to both her lifestyle and wrestling style in the ensuing years, she made a golden return in her first international competition since Paris.

Susaki made sure there would be no lapses or surprises when she defeated Son Hyang KIM (PRK) 6-0 in the women’s 50kg final at the Asian Championships on Thursday in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

“I’m genuinely happy, and I’m so glad to be back here and to have won,” Susaki said. “After Paris was over, I experienced various setbacks and I made various changes over the two years. The results of my new lifestyle in the two years since Paris and the daily practice I put in all came out in the four matches at these Asian Championships.”

In the four other women’s finals on the fourth day of competition, the host country had mixed results, as Olympic silver medalist Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) won the gold in a stacked 68kg division, while Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) stunned defending champion Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) at 76kg.

The powerful Japanese squad had three other finalists besides Susaki, but only got a title from teenager Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) at 55kg, while Mengyu XIE (CHN) triumphed at 59kg for her first Asian gold.

Yui SUSAKI (JPN) hits a leg-attack on Son Hyang KIM (PRK) during the 50kg final at the Asian Championships. (Photo: Untied World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Susaki had established herself as one of the new faces of the sport in the wake of the retirements of legends Saori YOSHIDA (JPN) and Kaori ICHO (JPN) with her triumph at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

That victory had made her the founding member of the “Golden Grand Slam” club for those who had won an Olympic gold as well as titles on all four levels of World Championships – senior, U23, U20 and U17.

But leading up to the defense of her Olympic title in Paris, she had shown chinks in the armor, first with some near-misses at the 2024 Asian Championships, which she still won but in less-than-convincing fashion.

It then all came crashing down at the Champs de Mars Arena, where she was dealt a stunning last-second loss by Vinesh PHOGAT (IND), marking her first-ever loss to a non-Japanese wrestler. Susaki ended up taking home a bronze, but that was small consolation.

After taking some time off, Susaki decided that some changes were in order, from altering her diet to make cutting weight easier to revising her match strategy.

“Along with Vinesh in Paris, I also learned much from my first-round match against the DPR Korean [Yong Ok HWANG] at the Asian Championships before Paris,” Susaki said, referring to an unusually difficult victory. “After that, I lost at the National Games [to Moe KIYOOKA], making it really a difficult two years.

“But thanks to those experiences, I have grown considerably. I definitely want to win the gold at the Los Angeles Olympics, and taking it one step at a time, I will take each title along the way.”

An emotional Yui SUSAKI (JPN) at the medal ceremony. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

The final at the Zhastyk Arena on Thursday, which brought her to tears on the medal podium, was a reunion of sorts. Susaki and Kim had faced each twice way back in 2017, first in the final at the Asian Championships and again in the semifinals of the World Championships. Susaki won both encounters.

Given her Paris experience, Susaki knew she could not underestimate Kim, and set up her moves deliberately and without anxiousness. She broke through with a go-behind takedown in the first period, then added a stepout for a 3-0 lead.

In the second period, Susaki got in deep on a tackle, but could only manage a stepout, then padded the lead with a snapdown takedown to make it 6-0. Down the stretch, she kept calm and on alert as Kim tied up, looking for an opportunity for a last-ditch throw that never came.

“It’s been nine years since I faced Kim Son Hyang, so it’s been quite awhile,” Susaki said. “She has achieved good results. I think I myself have changed and grown a lot over these past nine years.”

Susaki seemed unconcerned about a potential future encounter with the current world 50kg champion, Myong Gyong WON (PRK).

“The country and the opponent does not matter,” she said. “My objective is to assure I win by giving 100 percent.”

Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) won her second Asian title. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 68kg, Zhumanazarova spun behind for a first-period takedown and held on for a 2-1 victory over Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN), last year’s world and Asian champion at 65kg who has moved up to the Olympic weight.

The victory gave Zhumanazarova her second Asian gold, after previously winning in 2021, and fifth medal overall.

“This is my second gold medal at the Asian Championships, but it means just as much to me as the first one,” Zhumanazarova said. “I’m just as happy, because I’ve worked very hard for it and this is the result.”

Like Susaki and Kim, Zhumanazarova and Morikawa have a history that goes back some time. The two had met in the quarterfinals of the 2016 World Cadet (U17) Championships, where Morikawa won 4-0 en route to the silver medal. Zhumanazarova took a bronze.

Since then, they have both achieved varying levels of success. Zhumanazarova has two Olympic medals, including a bronze from Tokyo, and a world title from 2021. Morikawa has medals from five consecutive World Championships from 2021 to 2025, including two golds, and two Asian titles.

Morikawa needed to beat reigning world champion Ami ISHII (JPN) at the Japan national championships just to make the team to Bishkek.

Davaansan ENKH AMAR (MGL) defeated home favorite Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) in the 76kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

While the home crowd was still buzzing over Zhumanazarova’s win, compatriot Medet Kyzy was dealt a come-from-behind 4-2 loss by Enkh Amar in the 76kg final.

With no real attacks and lots of mutual pushing, Medet Kyzy had taken a 2-0 lead on an activity point in the first period and a face-shoving penalty in the second. After Enkh Amar received an activity point, the match finally started to heat up in the final minute.

Enkh Amar used a headlock to get Medet Kyzy off balance and slipped behind her with the two on their feet, then proceeded to march her over the edge for a stepout with :13 left. Medet Kyzy’s lack of a resistance led to a 1-point fleeing penalty to put the Mongolian ahead 3-2.

“I was very calm, and my coach also said to me to stay very calm, and that's why I made the correct decision at the last moment,” said Enkh Amar, the 2023 world silver medalist at 72kg.

As the clock ticked down, Medet Kyzy powered Enkh Amar to the edge and slammed her to the mat, sending the crowd into a frenzy. But the move failed to beat the clock, and an unsuccessful challenge made the final score 4-2.

Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN), red, turns Yuxuan LI (CHN) during the 55kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

In the 55kg final, Japan’s Uchida spotted Yuxuan LI (CHN) a six-point lead, only to storm back for a 10-6 victory that relegated the Chinese to a silver medal for the second straight year.

Li gained a takedown off a counter and proceeded with two gut wrenches. But on an attempt at a third, Uchida stepped over for a 2-point exposure.

Uchida’s next attack hit the mark for a single-leg takedown, to which she added two rolls of her own for an 8-6 lead. Uchida then sewed up the victory with a takedown for the lone points of the second period.

“Right away, I gave up a go-behind takedown and she rolled me, so I was really panicking,” Uchida said. “It made me uneasy that I couldn’t finish off my single-leg tackle, which is my specialty, and I gave up points off of it.

“But I have a variety of moves, and I know the hardships I went through to get here. I believed in myself and remembered to keep attacking to the end.”

Uchida said that when she noticed her opponent appeared to be running out of gas, she applied more pressure.

“I realized that my opponent was getting winded and even though it was tough for me, too, mentally I was feeling a bit at ease,” she said. “Even though I came back, it was still only a two-point difference. I made sure not to let up through the end.”

For the 19-year-old Uchida, a recent world U17 and U20 champion who had to settle for a bronze medal at last year’s World Championships in her first major senior-level tournament, the win in Bishkek had special meaning.

“I definitely wanted to win my first [major] senior tournament, but I lost convincingly at the World Championships in September,” Uchida said. “It was really tough to take, so I was really determined to win here.

“This is my last international tournament as a teenager, so I really wanted to finish with a win. Even if it was messy, I just wanted to be able to smile at the end.”

Mengyu XIE (CHN) won the 59kg gold medal with an 8-6 victory over Sena NAGAMOTO (JPN). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At 59kg, China’s Xie won her first Asian gold by surviving a fierce battle with Sena NAGAMOTO (JPN), hanging on for an 8-6 victory after holding a five-point lead in the second period.

“I know the opponent, the Japanese wrestler is very strong and tough,” Xie said. “I knew it would be a difficult final, but I didn't put too much burden on my shoulders. I just followed my mood and tactics and what the coach told me to do.”

Xie, a bronze medalist last year, struck first with a duck under for a takedown, but Nagamoto used a low single for a takedown in the final seconds of the first period to make it 2-2.

Xie broke the match open with a stepout and two takedowns to lead 7-2, but Nagamoto was not prepared to give up the fight. The 2023 world U23 silver medalist gained a 2-point exposure from a reverse headlock, which Xie slipped out of for a reversal.

Nagamoto picked up a late takedown, but Xie held on for the win.“I needed to be more careful to do all the actions because the opponent will try her best to attack,” Xie said. “But I cannot only think about defense, but also find a chance to do counterattack or attack.”

Xie, who also has a world 55kg bronze won in 2022, reveled in triumphing in her first trip to a major final.

“I never had this experience before,” she said. “It’s the first time in the final and I won gold the first time. So it’s like a dream.”

Returning champion at 68kg, Zelu LI (CHN) had to settle for a bronze medal in Bishkek. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

All 5 Chinese make medal podium

Zelu LI (CHN), dethroned as the 68kg champion by Zhumanazarova in the semifinals, was among a trio of Chinese who won bronze-medal matches to ensure that all five of the country’s wrestlers made it to the podium on Thursday.

Li, a 2025 world bronze medalist at 72kg, had little trouble rolling to a 10-0 victory in 1:25 against an overmatched Thi Linh DANG (VIE) to take home a 68kg bronze.

Li twice combined a takedown with two rolls – using an intriguing technique in which she locked Dang’s heel against the back of her leg in lieu of the more common lace lock.

In the other 68kg match, Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) picked up her second straight bronze and fifth Asian medal overall by ending what had been a close match with Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ) with a fall 47 seconds into the second period.

With the score tied 1-1, Enkhsaikhan powered the 37-year-old Shalygina straight to her back and secured the fall, denying the veteran another major medal in a vast collection that includes a bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

At 50kg, Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) denied Sri Lanka its first-ever Asian medal, scoring an activity point and a takedown off a barrel roll in the first period to edge Nipuni HEWA PEDIGE (SRI) 3-0. Hewa Pedige became the fourth wrestler overall and second woman from the island nation to make it to a bronze-medal match, and the fourth to come away empty-handed.

Olympic bronze medalist Ziqi FENG (CHN) earned her third career Asian medal by taking the other 50kg bronze with a quick 10-0 win over Maral TANGIRBERGENOVA (KAZ), scoring a takedown and four rolls in 1:16.

At 76kg, Wenji LI (CHN) secured China’s third bronze of the night, scoring a takedown and three stepouts in a 5-0 victory over Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE).

Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA (KAZ) became a five-time Asian bronze medalist – dating back to 2015 – when she defeated Eunju HWANG (KOR) 5-1 for the other 76kg bronze.

The 30-year-old Yerkebayeva scored a takedown in the first period and added another in the last 10 seconds of the match to clinch the victory.

The wildest match of the day came at 59kg, in which Ulmeken ESENBAEVA (UZB) squandered a nine-point lead to fall behind by three points, only to throw down Sezim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) and secure a fall with 23 seconds left.

Esenbaeva had a 4-point takedown as she raced to a 9-0 lead in the first period. But Zhumanazarova came to life, scoring a takedown and then piling up points in a scramble that included a 2-point penalty against Esebaeva for grabbing the head. When the dust was cleared on challenge, Zhumanazarova had a 12-9 lead at the break.

In the second period, Esenbaeva cut the gap with a backwards trip for a takedown. With time running out, she secured a headlock and took Zhumanazorova to her back for a 13-12 lead that became irrelevant when the fall was confirmed.

The other 59kg match has its share of drama as well, as NEHA (IND) rallied from a 4-1 deficit with second-period surge that gave her a 10-4 victory over two-time Asian medalist Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL).

Neha won her first Asian medal after moving up to 59kg, having finished second at the Zagreb Ranking Series at 57kg, the weight class in which she won a world U17 gold and U23 bronze in 2024.

That was India’s second bronze of the night, after Hansika LAMBA (IND) scored all of her points in the second period of a 6-1 victory over 2024 bronze medalist Aruuke KADYRBEK KYZY (KGZ) at 55kg.

Ariunzaya ODONCHIMEG (MGL) received the other 55kg bronze when Jeongbin OH (KOR) defaulted due to injury.

Day 4 Results

Women’s Wrestling

50kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Yui SUSAKI (JPN) df. Son Hyang KIM (PRK), 6-0

BRONZE: Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) df. Nipuni HEWA PEDIGE (SRI), 3-0
BRONZE: Ziqi FENG (CHN) df. Maral TANGIRBERGENOVA (KAZ) by TS, 10-0, 1:16

53kg (11 entries)
SF 1: Jin ZHANG (CHN) df. Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) by Fall, 2:33 (2-2)
SF2: MEENAKSHI (IND) df. Seoyoung PARK (KOR), 4-2

55kg (8 entries)
GOLD: Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) df. Yuxuan LI (CHN), 10-6

BRONZE: Ariunzaya ODONCHIMEG (MGL) df. Jeongbin OH (KOR) by Inj. Def.
BRONZE: Hansika LAMBA (IND) df. Aruuke KADYRBEK KYZY (KGZ), 6-1

57kg (11 entries)
SF 1: Kexin HONG (CHN) df. Youngjin KWON (KOR) by TS, 10-0, :30
SF2: Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) df. Sara NATAMI (JPN) by Fall, 3:20 (8-1)

59kg (8 entries)
GOLD: Mengyu XIE (CHN) df. Sena NAGAMOTO (JPN), 8-6

BRONZE: NEHA (IND) df. Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL), 10-4
BRONZE: Ulmeken ESENBAEVA (UZB) df. Sezim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) by Fall, 5:37 (13-12)

62kg (11 entries)
SF 1: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) df. Nigina SABIROVA (UZB) by Fall, 1:55 (8-0)
SF2: Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK) df. Tynys DUBEK (KAZ) by TS, 11-0, 3:20

65kg (9 entries)
SF 1: LILI (CHN) df. Firuza ESENBAEVA (UZB) by Fall, 2:09 (4-0)
SF2: Nana IKEHATA (JPN) df. Hanbit LEE (KOR), 4-0

68kg (10 entries)
GOLD: Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) df. Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN), 2-1

BRONZE: Zelu LI (CHN) df. Thi Linh DANG (VIE) by TS, 10-0, 1:25
BRONZE: Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) df. Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ) by Fall, 3:47 (3-1)

72kg (8 entries)
SF 1: Jia LONG (CHN) df. Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) by TS, 11-1, 4:31
SF2: Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN) df. HARSHITA (IND) by Fall, 5:59 (7-2)

76kg (9 entries)
GOLD: Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) df. Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) 4-2

BRONZE: Wenji LI (CHN) df. Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE), 5-0
BRONZE: Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA (KAZ) df. Eunju HWANG (KOR), 5-1

Choe crushes Kiyooka to become frontrunner at 53kg

Comments

Susaki Marks Post-Paris Reformation with Asian Gold