Fujinami preps for Belgrade worlds with 1st Japan collegiate title

Tuesday, August 23, 2022 - 18:14 By Ken Marantz

TOKYO (Aug. 22) --- With less than a month to go before she attempts to defend her world 53kg title in Belgrade, Japanese teen star Akari FUJINAMI opted to forego a chance at another world age group title, instead staying home and winning her first national collegiate championship.

In a women's competition that can be regarded as comparable to the World U20 Championships that ran concurrently in Sofia, Bulgaria, the Nippon Sports Science University freshman moved up to 55kg and cruised to the gold medal at the Japan collegiate championships held Aug. 15-18 in Tokyo.

"There were things I found I need to work on, and things that worked well," the 18-year-old Fujinami said. "I want to fix the small things in the leadup to the World Championships."

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Akari FUJINAMI counters a takedown attempt by Umi IMAI in the women's 55kg final.(Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation)

With three dominant wins without conceding a point, including a fall in the final over fellow Asian champion Umi IMAI, Fujinami will head to Belgrade riding a 103-match winning streak that dates back to 2017 and her junior high school days.

Fujinami, a 2018 world cadet (U17) champion, had qualified for the World U20 by winning the Junior Queens Cup title in April, which she followed up by adding her first senior Asian title later that month then securing her ticket to Belgrade with a victory at the domestic Meiji Cup in June.

But a trip to Sofia was taken off the table after taking into account a number of factors, which also played into her decision to wrestle at 55kg for the first time in her career (although she did win the 54kg title at the Asian U15 in 2018).

"It takes a toll to get down to 53kg many times," Fujinami said. "And thinking of the time needed to go overseas and come back, it's better to keep working hard here with the target of the World Championships. So I chose this [tournament]."

Wrestling at the heavier weight meant a new challenge and opponents with different physiques, but the two-time national senior champion was more than up to the task at Tokyo's Komazawa Gym.

"By entering 55kg, there is more power and I can find things to work on," she said. "At 55kg, I could give myself a test. After trying it, I feel a difference in power with 53kg, although the difference was not really that big."

After chalking up a pair of technical falls by a combined score of 21-0, Fujinami had her hands full with a determined Imai, a 2018 world junior (U20) champion who won her second senior Asian gold in April as a teammate of Fujinami's in Mongolia.

While Fujinami has earned a reputation for her lightning-quick single-leg takedowns, it was Imai who was the aggressor. Fujinami scored no offensive points, instead building up a 6-0 lead by countering three attacks by Imai, including the final time when she caught Imai and put her onto her back, finishing the match with a fall at 4:47.

Even so, Fujinami regarded the performance as a positive. "My counters were decisive," she said. "I didn't create chances to score from my own attacks. But I had foreseen that and thought I will have future matches like this. I went on the attack, but that also gave the opponent a chance to get in on a tackle."

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Akari FUJINAMI works for a fall against Umi IMAI in the women's 55kg final.(Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation)

Fujinami, whose father left his job as the coach of the high school she attended in central Japan to become the coach at NSSU in Tokyo, said she is enjoying her first year of college life. Although she won her world title last year prior to starting at NSSU in April, she feels like she's just one of the crowd at a school that produces top athletes in a variety of sports.

"I'm just a regular college student," said Fujinami, who lives with her father in a nearby apartment, where he does the majority of the cooking and housework. "There are many Olympic athletes all around me. I'm nothing special."

Fujinami has a single-minded goal of winning an Olympic gold medal, so it's no wonder that she can get a bit star-struck by someone who has already reached that lofty perch. She said that she recently got up the courage to ask Uta ABE, the women's 52kg gold medalist in judo at the Tokyo Olympics, to share a meal.

"It made me unbelievably happy," said Fujinami, who is three years Abe's junior. "She was so kind to me. It is really nice to have someone so close by who I respect so much."

While Fujinami would not go into details about what the two talked about, she said Abe is open to someday working out together and sharing techniques from the two sports. "I think it would be good for both of us," she said.

Fujinami never has to go far to be reminded of what hard work can achieve. Every day at practice she gets first-hand advice from, and an occasional thrashing by, NSSU coach Kaori ICHO, the only four-time female Olympic gold medalist in any sport.

"I get the chance to always be close to a great person like Icho," Fujinami said. "She won over 100 straight matches and has even greater records."

MATSUI Ken MATSUI battles with NSSU teammate Kuranosuke OKAWARA in the Greco 60kg final.(Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation)

Matsui, Yoshimoto rebound with titles

In other action, world champions Ken MATSUI and Remina YOSHIMOTO bounced back from losses that prevented them from being able to defend their world titles in Belgrade by winning collegiate crowns, although through very different routes.

NSSU's Matsui, who won the Greco 55kg gold last year in Oslo but lost out to Asian champion Yu SHIOTANI for the ticket to Belgrade, moved up to 60kg and needed come-from-behind victories in the final three of his four matches to snatch the gold.

"In June, I lost at the Meiji Cup and so I lost the chance to go to the World Championships," Matsui said. "Recently, when I'm at 55kg, I can't feel good about my match as I feel pressure to go out and win. By trying 60kg here, I was able to relax, and I thought I could simply enjoy wrestling."

His opponents hardly made it fun for Matsui. Moving up a weight class may have taken much of the pressure off him, it also made him more vulnerable while in the bottom of par terre position.

In the quarterfinals, he fell behind 9-4 against Senshu University's Keijiro SONE when he was tossed not once, but twice for 4 points. Matsui managed to come back and win 11-9, going ahead with :45 left.

In the final, Matsui defeated NSSU teammate Kuranosuke OKAWARA 4-2, scoring all four points by wiggling out from the bottom, getting behind and rolling his opponent out at the edge.

"My opponent in the final is a teammate, he knows my game, so it was tough going against him," Matsui said. "But I thought that definitely a chance would come my way, and I had to make sure not to let it get away. Normally, I can defend on the ground, but this time at 60kg, I could be turned, so I practiced standing up. If I could escape, I would avoid getting in dangerous positions."

Matsui, who also has a 2017 world cadet (U17) gold medal and 2019 world junior (U20) bronze to his credit, said that he was able to clear his head after the disappointment of losing to Shiotani both at the Meiji Cup and the subsequent world team playoff that followed.

"After the Meiji Cup, I went back to my home [in Aichi Prefecture] and did my student teaching for three weeks [in P.E. in high school]," Matsui said. "That allowed me to refresh my mind and get my thoughts in order. I had been down in the dumps and that was a good way to start anew. It was a good experience and a plus for my wrestling."

Will he be watching rival Shiotani at the World Championships?

"I don't want to watch, but if I don't, it won't be to my benefit," he said. "So I'll watch in support of all Japanese wrestlers who are entered."

Remina YOSHIMOTO works for a takedown in the women's 50kg final against Shigakkan teammate Minoriho YONEHARA. Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation)

Yoshimoto, a senior at Shigakkan University, earned her third national collegiate title--the 2020 tournament was canceled, preventing her from becoming a four-time champion--by ripping through the women's 50kg field with four straight technical falls without giving up a point.

Yoshimoto, the gold medalist in Oslo at 50kg, had her national team place usurped by Tokyo Olympic champion Yui SUSAKI, who returned to the mat to handily defeat Yoshimoto both in the Meiji Cup final and world team playoff.

Yoshimoto had to choke back tears when replying to a question about bouncing back from those losses.

"It was really heartbreaking," she said. "It's tough to think that 50kg is Yui's. But I have to accept it. The reality is that I lost, and that I lost completely. I accepted that and went back to practice."

Asked if she will watch the Belgrade worlds, she replied. "I will," but not just scout Susaki. "It's important to have a strategy, but no matter who the opponent is. I just want to pursue my own wrestling."

Yoshimoto's next shot at Susaki will come at the Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships in December, which will mark the start of the qualifying process for the 2024 Paris Olympics. It will also be her next competition.

"I have my student teaching coming up, so I can't go overseas," she said. "This will be the last tournament before December, and I will put everything into [the Emperor's Cup]."

Another medalist from the Oslo worlds who won't be going to Belgrade, NSSU's Rin MIYAJI, also came away with a collegiate title, taking the women's 68kg crown.

Miyaji won the silver medal at 68kg in Oslo, but suffered a serious knee injury in the final. She was in less-than-top shape at the Meiji Cup and lost in the semifinals to Ami ISHII, knocking her off the team to Belgrade.

Coming off a third-place finish at the Poland Open in July, she looked like a different person on the mat at Komazawa Gym, winning both of her matches by 10-0 technical falls.

"I got hurt at last year's World Championships, and I entered the Meiji Cup as my comeback tournament," Miyaji said. "At that time, because of the coronavirus, there were many times I couldn't practice. There was also still some fear factor. I couldn't be confident when I took the mat.

"This time, it was good because I was able to take the mat with confidence."

Taka Yudai TAKAHASHI won the freestyle 86kg title with his fifth straight technical fall of the competition. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation)

Belgrade-bound Takahashi triumphs

NSSU's Yudai TAKAHASHI, another wrestler who will be on the plane to Belgrade, moved up to freestyle 86kg and stormed to the gold in his final preparation for his second senior World Championships appearance.

The bullish Takahashi, who will wrestle at 79kg in Belgrade, strung together five technical falls in five matches, while allowing just a single point.

Asked if the move up was to provide a tougher challenge ahead of Belgrade, he replied, "It's also for the World Championships, but my ultimate goal is getting to the Olympics. This time I will be wrestling 79kg at the World Championships, so I want to win there and build momentum for the All-Japan Championships in December."

Takahashi first appeared at the worlds while still a high schooler in 2019, and he is now older, wiser and somewhat more self-assured.

"I went to the Asian Championships in April and I finished third, so it was a tournament where I gained a lot," Takahashi said. "That's no guarantee I can be successful [at the World Championships], but it made me aware of my strengths. But I have to build them up further, and the Asian Championships also brought up other things to work on. I want to overcome those issues."

Two of Takahashi's NSSU teammates pulled off the remarkable feat of completing the freestyle-Greco double. Hibiki ITO won titles in both styles at 97kg, while Tatsuya SHIRAI took the Greco gold at 87kg, then returned to the mat to win at freestyle 92kg.

Ito is one worth keeping an eye on just because he is such an anomoly in Japanese. He not only literally stands out because he stands 1.93 meters--an unheard-of height for a wrestler here--but also from an athleticism derived from his intriguing pedigree.

Ito's father Hiromichi competed at Greco 74kg at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, while his mother Keiko was a member of the Japanese women’s volleyball team that won a bronze medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. She stands 1.78 meters.

Ito said wrestling caught his eye as a youth, a decision that met no resistance from his mother. "I didn't think about [playing volleyball]," he said. "From the beginning, I went solely with wrestling under my father's influence. [My mother] said, wrestling's OK, you don't have to play volleyball."

Ito said he prefers freestyle, and will concentrate on that now as he aims for the Emperor's Cup in December, where he will look to avenge a loss in last year's final to 2021 Asian bronze medalist Takashi ISHIGURO.

"I haven't closed the gap yet [on Ishiguro]," he said. "The test will come in December and after that, so I'll do what I can to get closer."

#WrestleBelgrade

Susaki storms to third world gold at 50kg

Wednesday, September 14, 2022 - 20:27 By Ken Marantz

BELGRADE, Serbia (Sept. 14)--Yui SUSAKI (JPN), taking the international stage for the first time since her Olympic triumph last year, picked up right where she left off. Confident, cat-like quick and as dominant as ever.

Susaki stormed to her third world title with a first-period fall over Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) in the 50kg final on Wednesday, the first of four women's finals on the fifth day of the World Championships in Belgrade.

"I'm really happy I could be at a tournament again on this stage," said Susaki, who added to the world golds she won in 2017 and 2018. "This is a tournament where I knew I could become the world champion if I went into each and every match looking to have fun and give my all while doing my wrestling. I think I achieved my objective, so I have a good feeling."

Powerhouse Japan got a second gold later in the night when Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) upgraded the silver medal at 65kg that she won a year ago in Oslo, while Olympic bronze medalist Yasemin ADAR (TUR) won her second world title at 76kg and unheralded Dominique PARRISH (USA) emerged victorious from a wide-open field at 53kg in her senior world debut.

Yui SUSAKI (JPN) pinned Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) in the 50kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andoonov)

Susaki, who has yet to lose to a non-Japanese opponent in her career, ravaged the field with four wins by either fall or technical fall, naturally without conceding a point. Showing her ability to adjust on the fly, she prevailed in the final despite not being able to secure a tackle or her trademark lace lock.

Susaki gained two points against 2021 bronze medalist Dolgorjav with a front headlock roll, which she then transitioned into an exposure situation that put the Mongolian onto her back. Applying the pressure, the fall came in 1:24.

"I summoned my courage and wanted to go on the offensive, so it was good that I was able to do that," Susaki said.

Susaki takes her most recent triumph with a grain of salt, as some of her fiercest rivals were missing from the competition, most notably four-time Olympic medalist Mariya STADNIK (AZE) and Asian rival Yanan SUN (CHN).

"Stadnik, Sun Yanan, the ones I faced in the Olympics didn't enter, so I definitely wanted to win in a dominant way and take the title," she said. "The fact that I achieved that, it was a good tournament leading to the Paris Olympics."

As much as fans have come to expect Susaki to be dominant, she again claimed that she can achieve an even higher level. "I realized several things here, and I want to get back to Japan soon and start practicing to get stronger," she said.

Asked what part of her game she needs to address, Susaki replied: "Tackling is my strong point. I need to find a way to break through when the opponent ties up, so I can get in on more tackles and that will lead to more points. So I want to work on that."

Having graduated from Waseda University last March, Susaki was presented with an ideal environment that allows her to pursue the sport full-time in her bid for an Olympic repeat in Paris in 2024.

Susaki became an "employee" of Kitz Corporation, a major valve-maker located in her home prefecture of Chiba. That allows her to train full-time, mostly at the National Training Center, where she was a product of the JOC Elite Academy. It has also expanded her already swollen fan base.

"This time, I was supported by my company Kitz," Susaki said. "Since finishing college and joining Kitz, the number of people supporting me has increased. That has given me energy and gives me a reason to work hard. I am even more motivated to get stronger."

For those who can't get enough of the 23-year-old dynamo, they won't have to wait long to see her in action. She plans to enter the World U23 Championships next month in Spain, with the mission of securing a historical victory.

"The U23 title is one I don't have yet," she said. "I'm not sure, but I think I would be the first to win the five titles of world cadet, junior, U23 and senior and the Olympics. I want to do that. Next month, I will prepare earnestly to get stronger and win it."

Susaki has been beaten only three times since junior high school, and all by the same opponent, Yuki IRIE (JPN). One of those losses kept her from defending her world title in 2019, and she, like all of Japan's Olympic medalists, skipped the 2021 tournament.

Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) shoots for Jia LONG (CHN) leg in the 65kg final. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Morikawa picked up Japan's fourth women's gold of the tournament by holding on for a 2-0 victory over Jia LONG (CHN) in a 65kg final that left her a mixture of happy and disappointed.

In what could be regarded as a de facto Asian final -- China skipped this year's Asian Championships, where Morikawa won the gold -- the Japanese prevailed by scoring a stepout and an activity point in the first period.

"As far as the way the match went, I’m not very satisfied," Morikawa said. "To win the gold and not give up a point was good. But overall, it was really poor. I feel I'm still lacking ability. I give myself a 50 [out of 100]."

Morikawa will also be in Pontevedra, Spain, for the World U23, where she will bid farewell to the 65kg class as she decides which Olympic weight class to move into, most likely 68kg.

"My goal is to take a lap [on the mat] with the Japanese flag at the Paris Olympics," she said.

Morikawa certainly has a positive support system. She trains at her alma mater of Nippon Sports Science University, from which she graduated in March and often practices with men and one of her coaches is four-time Olympic champion Kaori ICHO (JPN).

Yasemin ADAR (TUR) won her second world title at 76kg. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

In the 76kg final, Adar was holding her own against a tough Samar HAMZA (EGY) when she unleashed a 4-point front headlock with :10 left to put an exclamation point on a 6-0 victory.

"I am very, very happy, I can not put it into words," said Adar, who won her fifth European title earlier this year. "I am an idol in women's wrestling in Turkey and that makes me proud, there will be many good wrestlers after me and if I can be an example, it makes me proud. This is my second world title, I had promised my family that I will bring the belt home."

Adar received an activity point in the first period, then scored a stepout in the second. As Hamza went in for a desperate tackle, Adar hit her big move. Hamza, who became Egypt's first-ever female to make a world final, will take home the silver to go with the bronze she won last year in Oslo.

Dominique PARRISH (USA) celebrates after winning the 53kg world title. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 53kg, Parrish was trailing 2-2 on criteria when she avoided a trip by Asian silver medalist Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) and slipped around the back for a takedown and a 4-2 victory.

"I know that nobody is going to outgas me," said Parrish, who was at the Tokyo Olympics as a training partner. "Before the finals, I was telling myself, no fear, fast feet, active hands. Definitely, when I stepped on that mat, I was not scared. I knew it was going to be tough but having the freedom to let myself go."

In the mixed zone, Pan Am champion Parrish addressed the elephant in the room -- the absence of 2021 world champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN), who was a late withdrawal from the tournament after suffering a foot injury in practice.

"The next two years, she is the target," Parrish said. " They [Japan] are always the target for the women's team. Not that any country is not, but Japan is always disciplined in its stance and techniques. We are going to pick them apart and beat them."

Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) wrestles Emilia VUC (ROU) in the 50kg bronze medal bout. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Hildebrandt survives mat scare to take bronze

In the bronze-medal matches, Olympic bronze medalist Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) had a scary incident that seemed to leave her momentarily unconscious but managed to come back to defeat Emilia VUC (ROU) by a 10-0 technical fall in 5:40.

Hildebrandt, the 2021 silver medalist, scored all of her points with takedowns. It was after the second one that Vuc applied a vicious front headlock and turned Hildebrandt over. But when the American was unresponsive, the referee stopped the match as her coach leaped to the mat to assist her, bringing a hush to the Stark Arena crowd.

After a few tense minutes, Hildebrandt said she was alright to continue. Vuc lost her points for the dangerous hold, and Hildebrandt gained another takedown before the break. She then got two more in the second period to end the match and add to her two world silvers.

The other 50kg bronze went to Anna LUKASIAK (POL), who came up with a 2-point exposure as she was receiving an activity point with :20 left to edge Miesinnei GENESIS (NGR) 3-2.

Ecuador had two chances to win its first-ever world medal, but both Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU) at 53kg and Genesis REASCO (ECU) at 76kg were denied.

Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) gave up two quick-fire takedowns to Yepez Guzman, but after stopping a roll attempt for two, she locked onto the laces and three rolls one way and two more the other gave her a 14-4 technical fall in 1:44.

Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) defeated European champion Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) to win the 53kg bronze medal. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

The other 53kg bronze went to eight-time Asian medalist Vinesh PHOGAT (IND), who put up a stiff wall of defense and scored on counters against European champion Emma MALMGREN (SWE). Phogat also scored on the two occasions when she went on the offensive to notch an 8-0 victory to add to the world bronze she won in 2019.

Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) spoiled the Ecuadorian party when she scraped out a 4-0 victory over Reasco. Kagami, the 2019 world junior champion making her senior debut, got a stepout, activity point and a defensive takedown in the first period, then held off Reasco to add another medal to the Japanese tally.

The other 76kg bronze went to Epp MAE (EST), who scored a stepout with :27 left to defeat 2018 world champion Justina DI STASIO (CAN) and secure her fifth career world medal.

At 65kg, the United States got another bronze when Mallory VELTE (USA) routed Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL) 11-2 for her second world medal, while Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) edged Elis MANOLOVA (AZE) 3-2 for her third.

Amit ELOR (USA) reached the 72kg final in her first senior appearance. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Teen Elor joins elite American compatriots in finals

In the semifinals held earlier in the night session, teenager Amit ELOR (USA) stunned defending champion Masako FURUICHI (JPN) 3-2 to join two of her highly decorated compatriots in the finals held Thursday night.

The 18-year-old Elor, coming off winning a second straight world U20 title a month ago in Sofia, scored a first-period takedown, then added a second-period activity point. Furuichi finally got the takedown she so desperately sought with :05 left but had insufficient time to turn her.

"I was just like, is this real?" Elor said. "I was waiting for this, but it’s not over until tomorrow night."

Elor said she stuck with the game plan that gave her wins in her first two matches by technical fall and fall. "My style is putting a lot of pressure and not giving my opponents any space," she said. "It was close but in the end, it worked out."

In the final, Elor will face last year's runner-up to Furuichi, Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), who had a pair of 4-point moves in powering to a 12-2 technical fall over Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) in 3:55.

Elor's victory came after current and former world champions Helen MAROULIS (USA) at 57kg and Tamyra MENSAH STOCK (USA) at 68kg booked their spots in the finals by bringing their bouts to early ends.

"It’s really inspirational, but it’s also very stressful that I am on their level," Elor said.

Japan had wrestlers in all four semifinals, but only prevailed twice -- and those two face the daunting task of taking on Maroulis and Mensah Stock in the finals.

At 57kg, defending champion Maroulis will aim for a fourth world gold when she takes on Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN), the 55kg champion a year ago in Oslo. She moved up to the Olympic weight class to get an early start on challenging Tokyo champion Risako KAWAI (JPN) for a spot at Paris 2024.

In the semifinals, Maroulis used an ankle pick to send 2021 bronze medalist Davaachimeg ERKHEMBAYAR (MGL) to her back and secure a fall at 5:20. Sakurai, this year's Asian champion, had little trouble in disposing of Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) by 10-0 technical fall in 4:47.

Maroulis has a long history of facing the Japanese in big matches. She shocked three-time Olympic champion Saori YOSHIDA (JPN) in the final at the 2016 Rio Olympics in what proved to be Yoshida's final match of her career. Five years later at the Tokyo Olympics, she fell to Kawai in the semifinals and had to settle for a bronze medal.

At 68kg, Olympic champion Mensah Stock swept away 2021 world 65kg champion Irina RINGACI (MDA) and will next face teenager Ami ISHII (JPN) in a bid to add to the world title she won in 2019.

Mensah Stock scored three takedowns, getting between the legs on the second one to add a pair of exposures, and cruised to a 10-0 technical fall in 2:29. Ishii, like Elor a gold medalist at the world U20 last month, needed a late takedown to edge Nisha DAHIYA (IND) 5-4.

At 59kg, Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) failed to join Ikuei University teammates Ishii and Sakurai in the finals when she dropped a 7-5 nail-biter to Anastasia NICHITA (MDA), who used her long limbs to her advantage.

Nichita led 4-1 when Motoki, another world U20 champion last month, roared back with a takedown and roll to go ahead. But Nichita managed to reverse Motoki to her back at the end of the roll, putting her ahead 6-4. An unsuccessful challenge of a last-second stepout attempt added the final point.

At the Tokyo Olympics, Nichita suffered a heartbreaking loss in the quarterfinals, when Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL) hit a last-second 4-point lateral drop for a 6-3 victory.

In the final, Nichita will face Grace BULLEN (NOR), who assured herself a first world medal in four attempts when she forged out a 5-3 win over Jowita WRZESIEN (POL).

Day 5 Results

Women's Wrestling

50kg (22 entries)
Gold - Yui SUSAKI (JPN) df. Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) by Fall, 1:24 (4-0)

Bronze - Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) df. Emilia VUC (ROU) by TF, 10-0, 5:40
Bronze - Anna LUKASIAK (POL) df. Miesinnei GENESIS (NGR), 3-2

53kg (23 entries)
Gold - Dominique PARRISH (USA) df. Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL), 4-2

Bronze - Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) df. Emma MALMGREN (SWE), 8-0
Bronze - Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) df. Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU) by TF, 14-4, 1:44

57kg (19 entries)
Semifinal - Helen MAROULIS (USA) df. Davaachimeg ERKHEMBAYAR (MGL) by Fall, 5:20 (7-1)
Semifinal - Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) df. Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) by TF, 10-0, 4:47

59kg (14 entries)
Semifinal - Grace BULLEN (NOR) df. Jowita WRZESIEN (POL), 5-3
Semifinal - Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) df. Sakura MOTOKI (JPN), 7-5

65kg (14 entries)
Gold - Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) df. Jia LONG (CHN), 2-0

Bronze - Mallory VELTE (USA) df. Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL), 11-2
Bronze - Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) df. Elis MANOLOVA (AZE), 3-2

68kg (23 entries)
Semifinal - Ami ISHII (JPN) df. Nisha DAHIYA (IND), 5-4
Semifinal - Tamyra MENSAH STOCK (USA) df. Irina RINGACI (MDA) by TF, 10-0, 2:29

72kg (14 entries)
Semifinal - Amit ELOR (USA) df. Masako FURUICHI (JPN), 3-2
Semifinal - Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) df. Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) by TF, 12-2, 3:55

76kg (25 entries)
Gold - Yasemin ADAR (TUR) df. Samar HAMZA (EGY), 6-0

Bronze - Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) df. Genesis REASCO (ECU), 4-0
Bronze - Epp MAE (EST) df. Justina DI STASIO (CAN), 2-1

Fujinami preps for Belgrade worlds with 1st Japan collegiate title

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Susaki storms to third world gold at 50kg