Host Japan Rides Close Early Wins to Top China, Gain Place in Final Against U.S.

Saturday, November 16, 2019 - 14:25 By Ken Marantz

NARITA, Japan (Nov. 16)---The two former world champions got the ball rolling with knife-edge victories, starting a run of six straight that propelled host Japan over rival China and into the final of the Women’s World Cup.

Yui SUSAKI (JPN) and Haruna OKUNO (JPN), who had to settle for age-group titles this year after failing to make Japan’s team to the senior World Championships, came through in tight matches as Japan defeated China 6-4 in the final session to win its three-team group.

In the championship match on Sunday at Nakadai Sports Park Gym in Narita, east of Tokyo, Japan will aim for a fifth straight title and 11th overall when it faces the United States, who will get a shot at adding to the lone crown it won back in 2003.

China and Mongolia will clash for the bronze medal, while Russia and Ukraine will face off in the fifth-place playoff.

The United States, which handily beat Russia 8-2 in the early session, clinched the other group by topping Mongolia by the same 6-4 score, getting victories by fall from two of its three reigning world champions, while overcoming a loss by fall from the other.

Japan showed its vulnerability in the upper weights when it lost the final four matches to China, although it is difficult to say if the outcome of any of those matches would have different had victory been on the line.

But in retrospect, it made Susaki’s 3-2 victory over Rio 2016 Olympic bronze medalist SUN Yanan (CHN) at 50kg and Okuno’s last-second 4-3 win over PANG Qiangyu (CHN) all the more vital.

Susaki is still feeling the pangs of the missing out on a chance for a third straight senior world title after losing a playoff for the Japan team spot to Yuki IRIE (JPN)---which at the time, she believed, as did most, ended her chances to compete at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

But when Irie failed to finish in the top six at the Nur-Sultan World Championships, it reopened the door for Susaki, who will get a second chance by triumphing at the All-Japan Championships in December.

“I was really down, and it was the first time I felt I was at rock bottom,” said Susaki, who won a second straight world junior gold in August in Tallinn. “But it was not over yet, and as long as there was still a 0.01 percent chance, I would believe in the possibility, and I kept working hard with the encouragement of others.”

Yui SUSAKI (JPN) works on finishing a shot against world champ and Rio Olympic bronze medalist, SUN Yanan (CHN). Susaki won the match, 3-2. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Susaki last faced Sun in 2017, when she beat her twice. And while their match was ostensibly one of 10 in a team event, it seemed there was more at stake, that this would reaffirm where Susaki stood against the world’s best.

“I’ve long wanted to face Sun, and beating her gives me confidence and momentum,” Susaki said.

Against the lankier Sun, Susaki found it difficult to finish off her takedowns, and trailed 2-1 after the Chinese scored on a counter crotch lift. Early in the second period, Susaki finally broke through the defenses for a takedown and a 3-2 lead.

“I found many points that I need to work on,” Susaki said. “Like finishing off my tackles, adding variation and creating more openings for attacks, and coming up with more moves that I can rely on. I want to fix this going into the All-Japan Championships.”

With a half-minute to go, Sun seemed on the way to scoring with a single-leg takedown, but the effort went in vain when the action was stopped because a hold on Susaki’s leg was in a dangerous position.

“I’m really puzzled,” Sun said. “I did not do any illegal action on purpose. I just continued the action and the referee stopped it. It’s a pity.”

Okuno, who added this year’s world junior and U-23 titles in lieu of getting a shot at third career senior gold, cut it as close as possible in beating Pang, a bronze medalist in Nur-Sultan.

Pang held a 3-2 lead in the final seconds when Okuno went on the attack and got behind in the standing position. Just as the clock was about to tick zero, Okuno forced Pang to the mat for the winning points.

Three-time world champion Risako KAWAI (JPN) picked up a 6-0 win over FENG Yongxin (CHN) in Japan's win over China. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Japan followed with a pair of 6-0 victories from Akie HANAI (JPN) at 55kg and three-time world champion Risako KAWAI (JPN) at 57kg.

“Looking at it as individual match, part of me felt I was a bit too tight,” Kawai said of her win over FENG Yongxin (CHN) in which she scored four of her points in the second period.

“But the World Cup is a team event and the most important thing is to win and not lose the momentum for the next match, so that was good.”

The hosts then got another big win when stocky high schooler and world junior champion Yuzuka INAGAKI (JPN) held world 57kg silver medalist RONG Ningning (CHN) at bay, winning their 59kg bout 2-0, with both points coming with the Chinese on the activity clock.

World silver medalist Yukako KAWAI (JPN) ended the suspense when she scored a victory by fall at 62kg over KANG Juan (CHN) to give Japan an unassailable 6-0 lead.

The Chinese finished up with consolation victories from WU Yaru (CHN) at 65kg, ZHOU Feng (CHN) at 68kg, WANG Juan (CHN) at 72kg and ZHOU Qian (CHN) at 76kg. The latter’s win was a one-sided 7-0 affair over world silver medalist Hiroe MINAGAWA (JPN) that avenged a loss in the quarterfinals at Nur-Sultan.

America's five-time world champion Adeline GRAY (USA) scored a pair of wins on the opening day of wrestling at the Women's World Cup, including an 11-6 victory over Ekaterina BUKINA (RUS). (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

In the other group, Adeline GRAY (USA), who captured a national-record fifth world gold in Nur-Sultan, only to needed to avoid losing by a technical fall in the final bout at 76kg to clinch the victory over Mongolia.

She did that and more, scoring a victory by fall in 2:40 over Ariunjargal GANBAT (MGL). Gray had built up a 10-0 lead and could have settled for a technical fall herself, but she had an underlying reason for going for the pin.

“We actually lost to Mongolia a few years ago in the same position; I won the match by a couple of points, [but] I needed the pin,” Gray said. “This was more of a revenge, that I wanted that pin from last time. I’m happy we got it.”

Whitney CONDOR (USA) at 50kg and 2018 world silver medalist Sarah HIDEBRANDT (USA) at 53kg staked the U.S. to a 2-0 lead, but Mongolia came back with three straight wins, starting with Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL) decking newly crowned world champion Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) at 55kg.

BAT OCHIR Bolortuya (MGL) scored a fall over reigning world champion Jacarra Gwenisha WINCHESTER (USA). (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Bat Ochir, who lost to Winchester in the quarterfinals at Nur-Sultan before battling back for a bronze medal, gave up an early takedown before scoring two stepouts to make it 2-2 going into the second period.

Winchester scored another takedown with a trip off a single-leg, and looked on the way to another when she lost her balance while on the attack. Bat Ochir pounced on the miscue, catching the American in a headlock and securing the fall in 4:18.

Macey KILTY (USA) ended Mongolia’s win streak with a victory at 62kg, and Forrest MOLINARI (USA) followed suit at 65kg. World champion Tamyra MENSAH-STOCK (USA) showed her dominance at 68kg with a victory by fall after building up a 10-0 lead.

When Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) defeated Victoria FRANCIS (USA) 13-7 at 72kg to cut the Americans’ lead to 5-4, that placed the outcome on the final bout at 76kg, where Gray lived up to her billing.

“I’m really proud of my team, they stepped up in the middle there,” Gray said. “We had a few athletes who just got done with some World Championships, coming off they were supposed to be on vacation, and we had some injuries last minute.

“For those athletes to step up and win matches, that turned the door right there, that made it possible for Tamyra and I to come out and get our jobs done. It takes a team for us to really be able to compete in this event. And it’s fun to do it when the pressure’s off a little bit.”

Looking ahead to the clash with Japan in the final, Gray said that while the Americans match up well in the upper weights, the team is going to need some mighty efforts early on to have a chance.

“I think especially in the upper weight classes, we’re going to do really well,” she said. “It’s just going to be those key matches early on.

“They have so much depth, and medals, just real talent down at those lower weight classes. But we’ve got that depth, too. We’ve got talent. It’s just going to be about bringing that heart at the right moment and winning those key points, and I think we can do that.

“But Japan is the best, and has been the best. I think it’s a good thing to let them know that we’re coming. Winning this World Cup would be definitely a great thing headed into Tokyo 2020.

BAT OCHIR Bolortuya (MGL) helped Mongolia earn the 6-4 win over Russia after defeating fellow world bronze medalist Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (RUS), 4-4. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

In the early sessions, Mongolia’s Bat Ochir came out on top in the Battle of World Bronze Medalists over Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (RUS), providing the key victory in Mongolia’s well-earned 6-4 win over Russia.

“It was a match between bronze medalists, and I planned all my tactics and concentrated on this match,” Bat Ochir said. “I watched her videos last night and talked to my coach about strategy.”

Bat Ochir trailed Khoroshavtseva 4-2 late in the match when she tried to come out through the back door, but the Russian fought to avoid conceding control.

As the final seconds ticked down, Bat Ochir freed a trapped leg and locked up a cradle at the buzzer, which by itself gave her a 2-point takedown, although it took a challenge to receive the points that gave her the 4-4 victory on last-point criteria.

“When I got the hold with the head and leg, then I thought I got the points,” Bat Ochir said, adding she was surprised by the non-call and “worried” when it went to the challenge.

That victory proved crucial, as Russia would have prevailed on classification points had the team score ended up 5-5.

The young Ukraine squad, overwhelmed 9-1 by the two Asian giants China and Japan, had one bright spot in Alla BELINSKA (UKR), who gave the European nation its only win in both matches.

She scored a victory by fall over world U-23 bronze medalist Mei SHINDO (JPN), then topped WANG Juan (CHN) by slamming her down for 4 points in the final seconds for a 9-6 win.

Day 1 Results

1st Session

JAPAN 9, UKRAINE 1
50kg: Kika KAGATA (JPN) df. Mariia VYNNYK (UKR), 2-1
53kg: Ibuki TAMURA (JPN) df. Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR), 14-5
55kg: Saki IGARASHI (JPN) df. Anastasiya KRAVCHENKO (UKR) by TF, 13-3, 3:35
57kg: Sae NANJO (JPN) df. Olena KREMZER (UKR) by TF, 10-0, 2:55
59kg: Yumeka TANABE (JPN) df. Sofiia BODNAR (UKR) by TF, 10-0, 4:25
62kg: Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) df. Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR) by Fall, 5:46 (10-2)
65kg: Naomi RUIKE (JPN) df. Oksana CHUDYK (UKR), 5-2
68kg: Naruha MATUYUKI (JPN) df. Alina RUDNYSTSKA LEVYTSKA (UKR), 6-0
72kg: Alla BELINSKA (UKR) df. Mei SHINDO (JPN) by Fall, 1:50 (6-1)
76kg: Yasuha MATSUYUKI (JPN) df. Romana VOVCHAK (UKR) by TF, 10-0, 2:40

MONGOLIA 6, RUSSIA 4
50kg: Chimgee BUYANDALAI (MGL) df. Daria LEKSINA (RUS) by Fall, 4:41 (10-2)
53kg: Milana DADASHEVA (RUS) df. Anudari NANDINTSETSEG (MGL), 10-1
55kg: Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL) df. Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (RUS), 4-4
57kg: Battsetseg ALTANTSETSEG (MGL) df. Marina SIMONYAN (RUS), 12-5
59kg: Liubov OVCHAROVA (RUS) df. Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL) by TF, 14-1, 6:00
62kg: Gantuya ENKHBAT (MGL) df. Uliana TUKURENOVA (RUS), 8-2
65kg: Natalia FEDOSEEVA (RUS) df. Purevsuren ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL), 7-3
68kg: Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) df. Anastasiia BRATCHIKOVA (RUS), 5-0
72kg: Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) df. Evgeniia ZAKHARCHENKO (RUS), 2-1
76kg: Ekaterina BUKINA (RUS) df. Ariunjargal GANBAT (MGL) by TF, 10-0, 2:59

2nd Session

CHINA 9, UKRAINE 1
50kg: SUN Yanan (CHN) df. Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) by Fall, 1:57 (8-0)
53kg: LUO Lannuan (CHN) df. Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR), 8-0
55kg: XIE Mengyu (CHN) df. Anastasiya KRAVCHENKO (UKR) by TF, 15-4, 3:02
57kg: FENG Yongxin (CHN) df. Olena KREMZER (UKR), 6-4
59kg: RONG Ningning (CHN) df. Sofiia BODNAR (UKR) by TF, 13-0, 3:38
62kg: KANG Juan (CHN) df. Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR) by DEF.
65kg: WU Yaru (CHN) df. Oksana CHUDYK (UKR) by TF, 10-0, 2:10
68kg: ZHOU Feng (CHN) df. Alina RUDNYSTSKA LEVYTSKA (UKR) by Fall, :51 (8-0)
72kg: Alla BELINSKA (UKR) df. WANG Juan (CHN), 9-6
76kg: ZHOU Qian (CHN) df. Romana VOVCHAK (UKR) by Fall, 1:09 (4-0)

UNITED STATES 8, RUSSIA 2
50kg: Whitney CONDER (USA) df. Daria LEKSINA (RUS), 7-0
53kg: Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) df. Milana DADASHEVA (RUS), 10-7
55kg: Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) df. Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (RUS), 5-4
57kg: Marina SIMONYAN (RUS) df. Kelsey CAMPBELL (USA) by TF, 10-0, 5:26
59kg: Liubov OVCHAROVA (RUS) df. Desiree ZAVALA (USA) by TF, 10-0, 2:12
62kg: Macey KILTY (USA) df. Uliana TUKURENOVA (RUS) by Inj. Def., :35
65kg: Forrest MOLINARI (USA) df. Natalia FEDOSEEVA (RUS) by Fall, 4:49 (3-2)
68kg: Tamyra MENSAH-STOCK (USA) df. Anastasiia BRATCHIKOVA (RUS), 8-0
72kg: Victoria FRANCIS (USA) df. Evgeniia ZAKHARCHENKO (RUS) by Fall, 4:26 (8-5)
76kg: Adeline GRAY (USA) df. Ekaterina BUKINA (RUS), 11-6

3rd Session

JAPAN 6, CHINA 4
50kg: Yui SUSAKI (JPN) df. SUN Yanan (CHN), 3-2
53kg: Haruna OKUNO (JPN) df. PANG Qianyu (CHN), 4-3
55kg: Akie HANAI (JPN) df. CHEN Jiawei (CHN), 6-0
57kg: Risako KAWAI (JPN) df. FENG Yongxin (CHN), 6-0
59kg: Yuzuka INAGAKI (JPN) df. RONG Ningning (CHN), 2-0
62kg: Yukako KAWAI (JPN) df. KANG Juan (CHN) by Fall, 4:46 (8-0)
65kg: WU Yaru (CHN) df. Misuzu ENOMOTO (JPN), 4-2
68kg: ZHOU Feng (CHN) df. Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN), 2-0
72kg: WANG Juan (CHN) df. Yuka KAGAMI (JPN), 7-1
76kg: ZHOU Qian (CHN) df. Hiroe MINAGAWA (JPN), 7-0

UNITED STATES 6, MONGOLIA 4
50kg: Whitney CONDER (USA) df. Namuuntsetseg TSOGT OCHIR (MGL), 4-3
53kg: Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) df. Anudari NANDINTSETSEG (MGL) by Fall, 1:32 (5-0)
55kg: Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL) df. Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) by Fall, 3:18 (4-4)
57kg: Battsetseg ALTANTSETSEG (MGL) df. Kelsey CAMPBELL (USA), 8-0
59kg: Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL) df. Desiree ZAVALA (USA) by TF, 12-2, 3:00
62kg: Macey KILTY (USA) df. Gantuya ENKHBAT (MGL), 4-2
65kg: Forrest MOLINARI (USA) df. Purevsuren ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL) 6-2
68kg: Tamyra MENSAH-STOCK (USA) df. Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) by Fall, 4:51 (10-0)
72kg: Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) df. Victoria FRANCIS (USA) 13-7
76kg: Adeline GRAY (USA) df. Ariunjargal GANBAT (MGL) by Fall, 2:40 (10-0)

#wrestlebishkek

India, DPR Korea and China top nations at Asian Olympic qualifier

Saturday, April 20, 2024 - 04:03 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 20) -- Asian OG Qualifier enters its second day with Women's Wrestling in six Olympic weight classes. 12 Olympic quotas will be awarded for Paris 2024.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | FREESTYLE REPORT

76 wrap: World U23 champion REETIKA (IND) gives India its third win of the night with an untroubled 7-0 victory over Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE). Reetika scores a pair of takedowns by spinning to the side off a front headlock, then adds a stepout for a 5-0 lead. It is much the same tactic in the second period to add another takedown to the tally as she keeps Chang at bay and is content to run out the clock in her fourth match of the day.

China won its third quota as well with Juan WANG (CHN) defeating Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) 6-1 in the semifinal. Bakbergenova got on board first as for Wang's passivity but was put on the activity clock in the second period and she failed to score to give Wang a 1-1 criteria lead. Wang held on to that lead till the final 10 seconds when she made a desperate attempt and Wang circled and pulled off a suplex for four. Kazakhstan challenged the call but lost giving one more point to Wang.

68kg wrap: Hosts Kyrgyzstan gets its third Paris 2024 quota as former world champion Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) holds on to a 7-3 win over Nabira ESENBAEVA (UZB).

Sol Gum PAK (PRK) pulls off a thrilling 7-4 victory over three-time Asian Games champion and two-time Olympian Feng ZHOU (CHN) to give the DPR Korea its third win in four matches. Pak, who needed to beat Olympic bronze medalist Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) in her final round-robin group match to make the qualifying match, opens with a takedown, but the lanky Zhou comes back with a counter lift from a front body lock to lead 2-2 on criteria at the break. In the second period, Pak goes ahead with a single-leg takedown from an underhook. As the clock ticks down, Zhou secures a front headlock and tries to muscle Pak over. Pak stops the throw for a moment to get a 2-point exposure before Zhou completes the roll. An unsuccessful challenge upholds Pak's exposure.

62kg wrap: Former world champion Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) proves too much for unheralded Hanbit LEE (KOR), scoring a fall for a victory that puts her back in the Olympics for the first time since 2016. Purevdorj, who won her lone Asian gold in Bishkek in 2018, uses a single for a takedown, then applies an arm bar and plies her opponent over for the fall in 1:57.

Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK) wins a second wrestling quota for the DPR Korea with a controlled 6-2 win over MANSI (IND). Mun used three takedowns against an agile Mansi who could have won India's third quota of the night.

57kg wrap: Zagreb Open champion Kexin HONG (CHN) pulls off a miracle comeback and avenges a loss at last October's Asian Games to In Sun JONG (PRK), storming back from an eight-point deficit to not only tie the match, but secure a fall and the ticket to Paris. Jong opened the match with a single-leg takedown, then put on a fine display of counter wrestling with consecutive counter-lifts to make it 6-0, then another to take an 8-0 lead into the break. But Hong got behind when Jong shot right off the whistle in the second period and added a lace-lock roll to cut the gap to 8-4. Hong then works out of a deep single for a takedown, flips Jong onto her back and secures the fall at 4:36. Jong had beaten Hong 4-2 in the Asian Games semifinals.

India gets its second quota of the night and third overall as ANSHU (IND) uses gut wrench to beat the 2023 Asian Championships silver medalist Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB) 11-0 inside the first period. She won 10-0 but Uzbekistan was challenged as the last roll was not exposure but a review confirmed the two points.

53kg wrap: Hyogyong CHOE (PRK) puts the DPR Korea in the Paris Olympics. She wins the first wrestling quota for the country with a 4-0 win over Zhuldyz ESHIMOVA (KAZ). Choe scored a takedown in the first period and tried holding that lead till the end. Eshimova, who needed a takedown to win, made a desperate attempt but Choe countered for another two points and the win.

Tokyo Olympics silver medalist and two-time world bronze medalist PANG Qianyu (CHN) earned her ticket to Paris after cruising to a 10-0 victory over Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB). Pang forces her way behind for an opening takedown, then gets a 2-point tilt and a pair of gut wrenches for an 8-0 lead. In the second period, Pang eludes a single-leg attempt and spins behind for a takedown that ends the match.

50kg wrap: Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) becomes the first woman in Uzbekistan history to clinch a spot in the Olympics when she hangs on desperately to a 4-2 victory over Meng Hsuan HSIEH (TPE). Keunimjaeva takes a 3-0 lead with a single-leg takedown with Hsieh on the activity clock, but a late shot at another is countered, and Hsieh slips behind for 2 with five seconds left in the first period. Keunimjaeva, who takes a timeout for treatment on her knee, keeps shooting in the second period, and although she can't finish them off, she eats away at precious time. After a late shot in the final seconds, Hsieh tries to slip away, but Keumjaeva clings onto the toes for dear life and gets the win. A challenge is unsuccessful. It is a reverse of their meeting at the 2021 Asian Olympic Qualifier at 53kg, which Hsieh won 16-8, although neither wrestler ended up qualifying.

VINESH (IND) wins the second quota for India for the Paris Games. Down at 50kg from her favored 53kg, she rolls to a 10-0 win over Laura GANIKYZY (KAZ). Leading 4-0 into the second period, Vinesh scored a takedown and then used two gut wrenches to finish the bout.

Here's the schedule for the Paris Qualification bouts

50kg
Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) vs. Meng Hsuan HSIEH (TPE)
VINESH (IND) vs. Laura GANIKYZY (KAZ)

53kg
Qianyu PANG (CHN) vs. Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB)
Zhuldyz ESHIMOVA (KAZ) vs. Hyogyong CHOE (PRK)

57kg
Kexin HONG (CHN) vs. In Sun JONG (PRK)
Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB) vs. ANSHU (IND)

62kg
Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) vs. Hanbit LEE (KOR)
Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK) vs. MANSI (IND)

68kg
Feng ZHOU (CHN) vs. Sol Gum PAK (PRK)
Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) vs. Nabira ESENBAEVA (UZB)

76kg
REETIKA (IND) vs. Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE)
Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) vs. Juan WANG (CHN)

12:25: Sol Gum PAK (PRK) stuns Olympic bronze medalist Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) 6-2 in their final group match at 62kg to advance at the expense of NISHA (IND) after all three finished 2-1. Pak leads 2-0 when Zhumanazarova goes ahead in the second period with a takedown. Pak works out from the bottom and grabs a leg, then slips out of a whizzer throw for a takedown and a 4-2 lead. She counters a late takedown for her final points. Zhumanazarova still topped the group, while Pak advanced despite losing to Nisha in the first round of matches.

12:20: REETIKA (IND) hangs on for a 9-6 win over Juan WANG (CHN) in the final Group bout at 76kg. Wang was cautioned for fleeing twice as Reetika scored stepouts. The Indian got a four-pointer to lead 8-0 at the break. Wang began her comeback with a takedown. She scored another in the 10 seconds, and added a gut but before she could tie it 8-8, the time ran out. China challenged but lost giving Reetika another point. Reetika tops the group and will face Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE).

12:15: Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB) wins a 6-4 thriller at 53kg over Aizhan SABYRBEK KYZY (KGZ). Down 2-0, Akhmedova scores a takedown, then in a scramble, gives up a 2-point exposure before getting one herself with 49 seconds left. That puts her ahead 4-4 on criteria, and she fights off a fierce attack, scoring a consolation takedown in the final seconds.

12:05: Olympic silver medalist Qianyu PANG (CHN) hangs on in a nail-biter for a 5-2 victory over a feisty Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) to make the qualifying match at 53kg. Pang is ahead 2-0 on a pair of stepouts when she pads the lead to 4-0 with a spin-behind takedown. With time running out, Batkhuyag works for a big move, and nearly gets it with a back trip for 2. She lifts Pang's legs and turns her over, but it comes after time expires. An unsuccessful challenge gives Pang her fifth point.

12:01: NISHA (IND) looks to have clinched second place in her 68kg group with a 10-0 victory over Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ).

11:53: Asian Games bronze medalist Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) continues her dramatic tournament at 50kg, scoring a 2-point counter on a deep takedown attempt by Thi Xuan NGUYEN (VIE) in the last 20 seconds to clinch a 3-1 victory and advance to the Olympic qualifying match.

11:49: Zhuldyz ESHIMOVA (KAZ), the Grand Dame of 53kg, hangs on for a 2-1 victory over Thi My Trang NGUYEN (VIE) to advance to the Olympic qualifying match. The 36-year-old Eshimova, whose collection of Asian medals dates back to 2007, will be aiming to make her third Olympics, having appeared at London 2012 and Rio 2016.

11:45: Hyogyong CHOE (PRK) limps but that is after she has pinned Nethmi AHINSA (SRI) to enter the 53kg semifinal. Can Choe win the first Paris 2024 wrestling quota for the DPR Korea

11:44: Asian Games bronze medalist Juan WANG (CHN) takes a 2-0 lead against Eunju HWANG (KOR) in the second period, where she scores a takedown and three gut wrenches for a 10-0 victory at 76kg. She is 2-0 in her group with one match to go.

11:41: VINESH (IND) is too good for Samnang DIT (CAM) as the Indian pins her inside the first minute to enter the 50kg semifinals. She is now one win away from winning the Paris 2024 quota.

11:36: Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) virtually assures she will be fighting for a ticket to Paris tonight when she defeats NISHA (IND) for her second fall in two matches in her 68kg round-robin group.

11:33: In a battle of world U23 bronze medalists from the past two years, MANSI (IND) scores a takedown with 1:12 left for a 6-4 come-from-behind victory over Irina KUZNETSOVA (KAZ) at 62kg.

11:32: U23 world champion REETIKA (IND) controls her Round 2 bout against Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) at 76kg throughout and wins 11-0.

11:27: Asian Games champion Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK), leading 4-0, opens the second period with a headlock takedown to the back of Tokyo Olympian Jia LONG (CHN), the 2023 Asian gold medalist at 65kg. It takes a while, but eventually, Mun records the fall.

11:25: Asian Games champion Feng ZHOU (CHN) with another strong performance. She uses the ever-reliable gut wrench to win 10-0 against Ohyoung HA (KOR).

11:22: Former world champion Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL), looking to get back to the Olympics after placing 7th at Rio 2016, moves one win away at 62kg by posting a 13-2 rout of Gulmira AITMURATOVA (UZB).

11:20: Tokyo Olympian ANSHU (IND), the 2021 world silver medalist, completes her third 4-point takedown-roll combination at the first-period buzzer to oust Kalmira BILIMBEKOVA (KGZ) 12-1 at 57kg

11:14: Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) scores a shocking 7-7 victory on criteria at 50kg over Son Hyang KIM (PRK), the Asian Games silver medalist and a 2017 world bronze medalist, with the winning point coming on a fingers-grabbing penalty in the final seconds that was awarded on the challenge. Kim was leading 6-2 when she gave up a 4-point counter lift with 12 seconds left, but went ahead by getting behind for a 1-point reversal with :07 on the clock.

11:02: Veteran Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ) sees her bid to make a third Olympics -- she appeared at Beijing 2008 and London 2014 -- are all but ended when she is dealt a 10-0 loss to Sol Gum PAK (PRK) for her second loss in her 68kg round-robin group.

11:02: Asian Games bronze medalist Kexin HONG (CHN) goes out the back door and lifts up and back for 4, part of a comprehensive 11-0 victory over Emma TISSINA (KAZ) at 57kg.

11:00: Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB) gets Youngjin KWON (KOR) in a strangle for a pin but Kwon survives. Sobiraova, an Asian silver medalist, finishes with a 12-2 win at 57kg

10:59: Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL), the 2022 world silver medalist, begins her campaign at 53kg with an 8-6 victory over Seoyoung PARK (KOR), who scores all of her points in the final 10 seconds. Next up for Batkhuyag is Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Qianyu PANG (CHN).

10:56: Laura GANIKYZY (KAZ) wins a wild one at 50kg over Vatansulton SHAKARSHOEVA (TJK), taking the big point-filled match 12-7.

10:52: REETIKA (IND) begins her senior debut at 76kg with a 10-0 hammering of Eunju HWANG (KOR). That is followed with another Indian-Korea bout and Vinesh, who has moved down to 50kg as India already has the 53kg quota, rolls to a 10-0 win over Miran CHEON (KOR).

10:49: In a round-robin group match at 76kg, Asian Games bronze medalist Juan WANG (CHN) breaks open a 1-1 match with a takedown and two rolls in the second period for a 7-2 win over 2023 world 72kg silver medalist Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL). There's a good chance they could meet again for the Paris quota.

10:40: Feng ZHOU (CHN) rolls to an 11-0 win over Nabira ESENBAEVA (UZB) at 68kg. Total dominance from Zhou. In the same weight class, NISHA (IND) beats Sol Gum PAK (PRK) 7-3 and wins the Round 1 bout.

10:35: Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) with a bright start for the local fans in Bishkek with a technical superiority win over Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ) at 68kg. This was a Round 1 bout which means that Shalygina can still make it to the semifinal.

10:30: 12 Paris Olympic quotas in Women's Wrestling on offer here in Bishkek. Japan already has all six so none of the Japanese are competing

Host Japan Rides Close Early Wins to Top China, Gain Place in Final Against U.S.

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India, DPR Korea and China top nations at Asian Olympic qualifier