Gray Grabs U.S.-Record 5th Women’s World Gold; Kawai Wins 57kg Showdown with Rong

Thursday, September 19, 2019 - 18:38 By Ken Marantz

NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan (Sept. 19)---By winning a fifth world title, Adeline GRAY (USA) became sole holder of the record for American women. It wasn’t lost on her either that she did it with a victory over a Japanese in the run-up to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

“Number five,” Gray said, as if she needed to remind herself of the accomplishment. “Heading into the Olympics in Tokyo, beating Japan---man, that country is so good at women’s wrestling.”

Gray scored all of her points late in the first period and held on for a 4-2 victory over Hiroe MINAGAWA (JPN) in the 76kg final, one of four golds decided on Day 6 of the Nur-Sultan World Championships.

In defending the title she won a year ago in Budapest, Gray also broke a tie with Trish Saunders for most world golds by an American woman.

“It’s pretty awesome,” Gray said. “Sara McMann, Kristie Davis, Trish Saunders, they reach out to me every once in a while just to let me know they’re watching and excited about women’s wrestling, and it’s pretty special.”

The 28-year-old Gray had beaten Minagawa 6-1 at the Women’s World Cup in March 2018, but found the two-time bronze medalist more than a handful this time.

Adeline GRAY (USA) waves at photographers while standing on top of the world podium. (Kadir Caliskan)

“She was doing a great job,” Gray said. “She frustrated me. I have an attack hand and she wouldn’t let me tie up with it, and she’s so low to the ground and able to keep her legs back that I wasn’t able to get my reach. So I was having to adjust, and I finally made those adjustments.”

Minagawa earned the first point with Gray on the activity clock, but the American went ahead 4-1 with a takedown and tilt late in the first period. Gray said that she recalled advice she overheard from USA development coach Kevin Jackson.

“I was listening to coach Jackson yesterday talk to the men’s freestyle team and he said it’s important for world champions to go out there and score points at the end of the periods,” she said.

“I felt like I was really focused in that period, so I didn’t really know it was the end. But I definitely felt like we had been hand-fighting for a while. So I took some drive from that speech last night.”

In the second period, Gray held off the attacks of Minagawa, who scored a consolation stepout with :02 left.

The two could face each other again at Tokyo 2020, as the top six finishers in each weight class secured berths for their country. Minagawa, by winning a medal, fulfilled the Japan federation criteria that allows her to automatically fill the spot without any further domestic qualifying process.

Risako KAWAI (JPN) is carried around the mat after winning the 57kg world title. (Kadir Caliskan)

Joining Minagawa on the Olympic team will be Rio 2016 Olympic gold medalist Risako KAWAI (JPN), who captured her third straight world gold in her first foray in the Olympic weight class of 57kg.

Kawai, the 59kg champion in 2018, dominated defending champion RONG Ningning (CHN) for much of the 57kg final before surviving a late comeback and holding on for a 9-6 victory.

Kawai, who defeated four-time Olympic champion Kaori ICHO (JPN) in a playoff that drew national attention to make Japan’s team to Nur-Sultan, took a 5-0 lead in the first period, than added a pair of takedowns in the second.

As Kawai pressed for the points to secure a technical fall, Rong used a headlock counter for 4 points, then rolled Kawai to cut the gap to 3 with a minute to go. But the Japanese remained out of danger the rest of the way to secure the gold.

“I got to 9 points and only needed one more to finish it off, but the Chinese wrestler is strong and I gave up 4 points,” Kawai said. “Part of me thought I was going to turned over at the very end, and that I’m glad this wasn’t [the] Tokyo [Olympics].”

Kawai broke down in tears after the win and was consoled by her coach at matside, a mixture of joy and relief for the long journey that she had taken to this moment.

“It’s a point along the way, one step up toward my objective, although it is not enough of a step,” Kawai said.

Risako KAWAI (JPN) surrounded by members of the media after winning her third world title. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

There were also mixed emotions, as earlier in the day, younger sister Yukako had lost in the quarterfinals at 62kg. The two are extremely close and have a joint dream of winning Olympic golds together. Yukako can still clinch a spot by making in through the repechage and winning a bronze on Friday.

Risako said she did not see Yukako’s loss, and did not find about it until well later.

“I was back at the hotel until my final and had planned to watch it on TV, but they cut to another mat and I didn’t see it,” Kawai said. “Nobody contacted me, and I didn’t hear from anyone when Yukako was supposed to wrestle [her next match].

“I called my mother to ask her what happened. I thought, perhaps she lost, and that broke my heart. But my mother came by and said, ‘Risako, wrestle the way Risako knows how,’ which encouraged me.”

In the 59kg final, Linda MORAIS (CAN) snatched victory from the jaws of defeat when she used an underhook pancake to pin Luibov OVCHAROVA (RUS).

Ovcharova stormed out to a 6-1 lead, scoring a takedown and two rolls before Morais slipped out of the second hold for a reversal. When the Russian came in on tackle, Morais got an arm over Ovcharova’s head and under an arm, then levered her to her back for a fall in 2:15.

The victory made Morais, a bronze medalist in 2016, the fifth Canadian woman in history to win a world gold.

In another final in a non-Olympic weight, 2018 European silver medalist Inna TRAZHUKOVA (RUS) made short work of Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) in the 65kg final, storming to a 13-0 technical fall in 4:12.

In the bronze medal matches, Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) earned her third world medal---each in an odd-numbered year---with a 10-0 technical fall of world junior silver medalist Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) at 57kg.

The other bronze went to Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR), a 4-0 winner over Jowita WRZESIEN (POL).

China had wrestlers in each of the three other weight classes, and came out with two victories.

PEI Xingru (CHN) denied Pooja DHANDA (IND) a second straight world bronze by beating her 5-3 at 59kg, while WANG Xiaoqian (CHN) rolled to a 10-0 technical fall over Forrest MOLINARI (USA) in just over a minute at 65kg.

Veteran Epp MAEE (EST) denied the Chinese trifecta by beating ZHOU Qian (CHN) 6-4 at 76kg for her third career world medal and first since 2015.

The other bronze medals went to Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL) at 59kg, Elis MANOLOVA (AZE) at 65kg and Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) at 76kg

Daulet NIYAZBEKOV (KAZ) celebrates after defeating returning world silver medalist Bajrang PUNIA (IND), 9-9, in the semifinals. (Kadir Caliskan)

Niyazbekov ousts Punia to make 65kg final against Rashidov
In the semifinals in four weight classes held earlier in the session, Daulet NIYAZBEKOV (KAZ) pulled off biggest surprise when he knocked off 2018 world silver medalist Bajrang PUNIA (IND), 9-9 at freestyle 65kg.

With the score tied 2-2 in the second period, Niyazbekov chalked up 4 points on a counter to a throw by Punia that could have gone either way, and got another point from an unsuccessful challenge. He then scored a takedown to make it 9-2.

But Punia, the Asian champion, has made a name for himself for dramatic comebacks, and he started one with a pair of takedowns to make it 9-6 with just under a minute to go. With Niyazbekov clearly running out of gas, Punia got another takedown, a penalty point and then a final takedown.

That tied the score, but the 4-point play earlier in the period was the top criteria, giving the win to Niyazbekov, who acknowledged he had felt worn out from his 6-2 win over Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) in the previous round.

“Actually, I couldn’t even imagine I would win in the semifinal,” Niyazbekov said. “After my match with the Mongolian, I felt really tired.”

The victory put him into the final against Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (RUS), who will aim for his first world gold after winning silvers at 61kg the past two years before moving up to the Olympic weight class.

He advanced with a touch-and-go 3-2 win over Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN), after knocking off Rio 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Haji ALIYEV (AZE) and defending champion Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) along the way.

“I have never wrestled him, but I know his style very well,” Niyazbekov said of Rashidov. “He doesn’t make any mistakes. I will try to wear him down.”

Zavur UGUEV (RUS) will try to defend his Budapest world title on Friday night when he wrestles Suleyman ATLI (TUR) in the 57kg finals.(Kadir Caliskan)

At 57kg, Zavur UGUEV (RUS) earned a shot at a second straight world title by advancing with a 6-4 win over a gutsy Kumar RAVI (IND), who fought back from a 6-0 deficit but just came up short.

In the final, Uguev will take on Suleyman ATLI (TUR), who scored a 4-point move with :08 left to stun 2018 silver medalist Nurislam SANAYEV (KAZ) 5-3. That assures Atli of improving on his bronze medal from last year.

In the women’s 62kg class, defending champion Taybe YUSEIN (BUL) will face Asian champion Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) after both won their semifinals with little trouble.

Yusein needed just :39 to chalk up a 10-0 technical fall over Marianna SASTIN (HUN), while Tynybekova eased to a 7-0 win over KIM Jong Sim (PRK).

Tamyra MENSAH STOCK (USA) picked up a stunning 10-1 win over two-time world and Olympic champion Sara DOSHO (JPN). (Photo: Tony Rotundo)

At 68kg Tamyra MENSAH STOCK (USA) continued to have the tournament of her life, as the 2018 bronze medalist crushed Anna SCHELL (GER) by 10-0 technical fall. Her path to the final included a victory over Rio 2016 Olympic and two-time world champion Sara DOSHO (JPN).

Mensah Stock’s opponent in the final, Rio 2016 bronze medalist Jenny FRANSSON (SWE), gets the never-say-die award, as her 9-7 victory over Alla CHERKASOVA (UKR) marked her second straight victory by scoring in the final seconds.

The Swedish veteran, 32, is looking to add to her lone world gold---won back in 2012.

The competition continues with Day 7 on Friday, in which the qualification rounds will be held in freestyle 70kg, 74kg, 92kg and 125kg, as well as the repechage rounds for four divisions started Thursday.

Day 6 Results

Freestyle

57kg (34 entries)
Semifinal – Suleyman ATLI (TUR) df. Nurislam SANAYEV (KAZ), 5-3
Semifinal – Zavur UGUEV (RUS) df. Kumar RAVI (IND), 6-4

65kg (44 entries)
Semifinal – Daulet NIYAZBEKOV (KAZ) df. Bajrang PUNIA (IND), 9-9
Semifinal – Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (RUS) df. Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN), 3-2

Women’s Wrestling

57kg (31 entries)
Gold – Risako KAWAI (JPN) df. RONG Ningning (CHN), 9-6
Bronze – Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR) df. Jowita WRZESIEN (POL), 4-0
Bronze – Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) df. Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) by TF, 10-0, 1:56

59kg (18 entries)
Gold – Linda MORAIS (CAN) df. Luibov OVCHAROVA (RUS) by Fall, 2:15 (3-6)
Bronze – PEI Xingru (CHN) df. Pooja DHANDA (IND), 5-3
Bronze – Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL) df. Anhelina LYSAK (URK) by Fall, 3;38 (10-0)

62kg (34 entries)
Semifinal – Taybe YUSEIN (BUL) df. Marianna SASTIN (HUN) by TF, 10-0, :39
Semifinal – Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) df. KIM Jong Sim (PRK), 7-0

65kg (17 entries)
Gold – Inna TRAZHUKOVA (RUS) df. Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) by TF, 13-0, 4:12
Bronze – WANG Xiaoqian (CHN) df. Forrest MOLINARI (USA) by TF, 10-0, 1:07
Bronze – Elis MANOLOVA (AZE) df. Yuliana YANEVA (BUL), 3-1

68kg (32 entries)
Semifinal – Jenny FRANSSON (SWE) df. Alla CHERKASOVA (UKR), 9-7
Semifinal – Tamyra MENSAH STOCK (USA) df. Anna SCHELL (GER) by TF, 10-0, 3:00

76kg (31 entries)
Gold – Adeline GRAY (USA) df. Hiroe MINAGAWA (JPN), 4-2
Bronze – Epp MAEE (EST) df. ZHOU Qian (CHN), 6-4
Bronze – Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) vs Aline ROTTER FOCKEN (GER), 3-0

#WrestleBelgrade

Snyderlaev slayer Tazhudinov storms to historic world gold for Bahrain

Tuesday, September 19, 2023 - 22:19 By Ken Marantz

BELGRADE, Serbia (September 19) -- Having slayed the Snyderlaev beast, Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) completed his historic and mind-boggling run to a world title with one final display of domination.

The 20-year-old Tazhudinov overwhelmed Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) in the freestyle 97kg final at the World Championships on Tuesday, giving Bahrain its first-ever world gold and just its second medal overall.

"On my way to Belgrade, I knew I could become the world champion," Tazhudinov said. "If I didn’t believe in myself, I wouldn’t have even come here."

It was also a historic day for Hungary, as Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) became the Greco-loving nation's first freestyle world champion since 1979 with a victory at 65kg while denying Puerto Rico its first-ever gold medalist.

The United States, with three champions, won the freestyle team title for the second year in a row with 133 points, followed by Iran with 104 and Georgia, with 80 points, was third. Kazakhstan, which got its first-ever freestyle world champion, was fourth with 74 points and Azerbaijan was fifth with 66 points.

Meanwhile, Haruna OKUNO (JPN) started what is expected to be a Japanese women's gold rush by claiming the 55kg title for her third career gold and first since 2018, while China's Qi ZHANG (CHN) captured the other women's crown at stake at 59kg.

The 20-year-old Tazhudinov followed up his stunning victories on Monday over titans Kyle SNYDER (USA) and Abdulrashid SADULAEV (AIN) by defeating Magomedov by fall before a shocked and appreciative crowd at Belgrade's Stark Arena.

Tazhudinov started off with a single-leg takedown, then added a 4-point takedown. Magomedov, a bronze medalist last year, showed some life with a stepout, but Tazhudinov responded by securing a cradle and finishing off the Azeri with 11 seconds left in the first period.

Tazhudinov's triumph marked the first time since 2015 that neither Snyder nor Sadulaev made the top of the podium at 97kg at a World Championships or Olympics. Their head-to-head showdowns, dubbed Snyderlaev, became among the sport's most anticipated matches.

The way that Tazhudinov manhandled both may indicate a changing of the guard and definitely puts a target on his back in Paris. Against Snyder, Tazhudinov had a pair of 4-point counter lifts, while he built a 9-2 lead when Sadulaev was forced to default their semifinal with a neck injury.

"I was sure I would win [against Snyder], I’ve been watching his matches almost every day, I’ve studied all his techniques," Tazhudinov said. "We prepared the right technique and I won.

"It was very difficult to prepare for the match [against Sadulaev]. He had a neck injury, I didn’t even wrestle my best, because of that injury. I wish him a quick recovery and I hope we will wrestle each other again when he is ready."

Tazhudinov was born in the wrestling hotbed of Dagestan, and ironically is a product of Sadulaev's wrestling club. He began wrestling for Bahrain last year, and this year won gold at the Asian Championships and the Bishkek Ranking Series tournament.

He joins Adam BATIROV (BRN), who won the freestyle 70kg silver in 2018, as the lone world medalist representing Bahrain.

"Definitely, I feel great, I don’t even know how to explain what I feel, thanks a lot to my coaches and my parents for bringing me up," Tazhudinov said. "If they weren’t there for me, I wouldn’t have been here today."

Tazhudinov credited his coach Shamil Omarov, who is also personal coach of Sadulaev, in particular for his success. "He’s been training with me every day, he’s been going to every single training camp with me. He spent more time with me than with his own kids."

Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) captured the 65kg gold medal over Sebastian RIVERA (PUR). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Muszukajev also took his share of big scalps before crushing Sebastian RIVERA (PUR) by a 10-0 technical fall in the 65kg final to capture an elusive gold after finishing third in both 2019 and 2022.

"I’ve been going for this gold for so long," Muszukajev said. "I was the third at two World Championships and finally, I’ve won this belt. I’ve been dreaming to try it on for so long. It’s been very difficult. My side of the bracket was really tough."

En route to the final, Muszukajev defeated Olympic champion Takuto OTOGURO (JPN), albeit the Japanese was hampered by a foot injury, and defending world champion Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) in a semifinal thriller.

Otoguro later forfeited his repechage bout due to the foot injury.

Muszukajev said he knew he was in for a challenge when he saw the brackets. "What can I do, I came here to win," he said. "I was ready to wrestle anyone.

"One of the most emotional matches was against the Iranian wrestler. I took a last-second win, and I felt that weight off my shoulders."

Against the American-raised Rivera, who became the second world medalist in Puerto Rican history, the lightning-quick Muszukajev started out with a takedown and stepout in the first period. In the second, the Hungarian blasted Rivera for a pair of 4-point takedowns, the second of which ended the match at 4:27.

Haruna OKUNO (JPN) won her third world title in Belgrade. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Okuno, who failed to displace star Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) for a spot on the Japanese team at the Olympic weight of 53kg, scored two takedowns in the first period and made that hold up in a 4-2 victory over 2019 world champion Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA).

She acknowledged that she would have preferred to compete in an Olympic weight class, but was glad to get the ball rolling for the Japanese women's team by becoming its first champion of the tournament. Earlier, Japan put wrestlers into all four of Wednesday's finals.

"I wanted to get a solid win and get the momentum going for those who will be wrestling [in the finals] tomorrow," Okuno said. "I'm glad I was able to do that."

Okuno, one of only a handful of wrestlers who have won the "Grand Slam" of world titles in all four age groups, won her first senior gold at 55kg in 2017 before moving down to 53kg and triumphing again the following year.

"Five years has passed," she said. "I've realized again how difficult it is to get to the World Championships and how big a thing it is. I will never forget that."

Qi ZHANG (CHN) won China's first gold medal at the World Championships since 2019. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

In the women's 59kg final, Zhang, a silver medalist on the world junior (U20) and U23 levels, picked up her first senior gold with a 4-1 victory over veteran Yuliia TKACH (UKR).

Zhang, who had three third-place finishes in international tournaments this season, was trailing 1-1 on criteria when she scored the winning takedown with an arm drag with 1:15 left. Tkach got in on a single in the dying seconds, but Zhang kept her from turning it into points. An unsuccessful challenge added the final point.

Tkach, the European silver medalist this year, had been aiming to win her second world gold, nine years after winning the first in 2014 at 63kg. Instead, she can be proud knowing she will be taking home her fifth world medal and first since 2018.

Kyle SNYDER (USA) defeated Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB) in the repechage to reach the bronze-medal bout at 97kg. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Snyder gains bronze by default

In the bronze-medal matches, Snyder claimed his seventh world medal and second bronze without a fight when Sadulaev defaulted their bronze-medal match. Sadulaev had reportedly already flown back to Moscow.

The forfeit also means that the United States gained another quota for the Paris Olympics.

European champion Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) will leave Belgrade with a bronze medal for the second straight year after topping Ibrahim CIFTCI (TUR) 6-2 in the other third-place match at 97kg.

Shamil MAMEDOV (AIN) made sure Amouzad would leave Belgrade without a medal after notching an 8-6 win at 57kg in an entertaining bout between two young wrestlers.

After Mamedov went ahead 2-0 with a stepout and a fleeing point tacked on, Amouzad came back with his silky smooth duck-under takedown. But Mamedov came up with the big move, a counter whizzer to the back for 4 to go up 6-2 going into the second period.

Amouzad came back with a stepout, then charged ahead with his underhook for a takedown to cut the lead to 6-5. Mamedov, the 2021 world U20 champion, never wavered and clinched the win and the bronze medal with a takedown with 43 seconds left.

The other 65kg bronze went to European champion Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM), who scored two stepouts and a late takedown in the second period to top Maxim SACULTAN (MDA) 5-1.

Both Mamedov and Tevanyan grabbed Paris Olympic quotas with the former winning it as an Individual Neutral Athlete and Tevanyan for Armenia.

Othelie HOEIE (NOR) won Norway's second world medal since 2005. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

It was a red-letter day for the Norwegian women's team and its Japanese coach Yurie YONEOKA when young Othelie HOEIE (NOR) defeated Elena BRUGGER (GER) 5-1 for a women's 59kg bronze -- just the Nordic nation's second world medal since 2005.

Othelie, a European bronze medalist, was on the activity clock and about to go behind on criteria in the second period when she nailed Brugger with a pancake to go ahead 3-1. She then added a snapdown takedown to seal the deal.

Yoneoka, who wrestled and coached collegiately in the U.S., was hired by the Norwegian federation to turn around a program that won 11 gold medals in the late 1980s and early 90s -- including three by Hoeie's mother Gudrun -- but has had none since and only one finalist.

Jennifer PAGE (USA) assured she will be taking home a momento of her senior world debut at the ripe age of 30, pancaking Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE) to her back and securing a fall in 1:41 to win the other 59kg bronze medal.

At 55kg, Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA) avenged a loss to Karla GODINEZ (CAN) in last year's bronze-medal match, securing the winning takedown at the edge with 35 seconds left for a 3-2 victory that put her on a world podium for the first time on any age level.

Godinez had received an activity point in each period but was unable to keep her knee from hitting the mat and make the takedown a stepout instead. The Canadian side made a specious challenge after the buzzer, which added the final point as Dragutan became the fourth Moldovan woman in history to win a world medal.

Anastasia BLAYVAS (GER) added senior world bronze to the U23 one she won last year, scoring a stepout with 22 seconds left to edge teenager Neha SHARMA (UWW) on last-point criteria 2-2 for the other 55kg bronze.

Amouzad gains Paris ticket

In the fifth-place playoff for an Olympic berth held later, Amouzad shrugged off the acrobatic antics of Sacultan and charged to a 10-0 victory in 4:27 at 65kg.

After gaining an activity point, Amouzad got Sacultan's leg in the air and managed to not only hold on when the Moldovan twice executed a spinning back flip, but he finished off the takedown. In the second period, Amouzad scored a 4-point takedown and ended the match with a powerful double-leg takedown.

At 97kg, Turkey received the berth when Ciftci was awarded an injury default over Sadulaev.

Day 4 Results

Freestyle

65kg (45 entries)
GOLD: Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) df. Sebastian RIVERA (PUR) by TF, 11-0, 4:27

BRONZE: Shamil MAMEDOV (AIN) df. Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI), 8-6
BRONZE: Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) df. Maxim SACULTAN (MDA), 5-1

5th-Place Playoff: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) df. Maxim SACULTAN (MDA) by TF, 10-0, 4:27

97kg (35 entries)
GOLD: Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) df. Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) by Fall, 2:49 (8-1)

BRONZE: Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) df. Ibrahim CIFTCI (TUR), 6-2
BRONZE: Kyle SNYDER (USA) df. Abdulrashid SADULAEV (AIN) by Inj. Def.

5th-Place Playoff: Ibrahim CIFTCI (TUR) df. Abdulrashid SADULAEV (AIN) by Inj. Def.

Women's Wrestling

50kg (28 entries)
GOLD: Yui SUSAKI (JPN) vs. Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL)

Semifinal: Yui SUSAKI (JPN) df. Ziqi FENG (CHN), 8-2
Semifinal: Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) df. Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA), 7-5

55kg (19 entries)
GOLD: Haruna OKUNO (JPN) df. Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA), 4-2

BRONZE: Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA) df. Karla GODINEZ (CAN), 3-2
BRONZE: Anastasia BLAYVAS (GER) df. Neha SHARMA (UWW), 2-2

57kg (36 entries)
GOLD: Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) vs. Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN)

Semifinal: Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) df. Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR) by TF 10-0, 4:14
Semifinal: Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) df. Helen MAROULIS (USA), 6-0

59kg (22 entries)
GOLD: Qi ZHANG (CHN) df. Yuliia TKACH (UKR), 4-1

BRONZE: Jennifer PAGE (USA) df. Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE) by Fall, 1:40 (4-0)
BRONZE: Othelie HOEIE (NOR) df. Elena BRUGGER (GER), 5-1

65kg (17 entries)
GOLD: Macey KILTY (USA) vs. Nonoka OZAKI (JPN)

Semifinal: Macey KILTY (USA) df. Tatsiana PAULAVA (AIN) by TF, 10-0, 2:29
Semifinal: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) df. Lili LILI (CHN) by TF, 10-0, 1:01

76kg (29 entries)
GOLD: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) vs. Yuka KAGAMI (JPN)

Semifinal: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) df. Tatiana RENTERIA (COL) by Fall, 2:32 (4-2)
Semifinal: Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) df. Milaimys MARIN (CUB), 5-2

Gray Grabs U.S.-Record 5th Women’s World Gold; Kawai Wins 57kg Showdown with Rong

Comments

Snyderlaev slayer Tazhudinov storms to historic world gold for Bahrain