#WrestleUfa

Iran Captures 3 Golds, FS Team Title at #WrestleUfa; USA Continues 74kg Domination

By Vinay Siwach

UFA, Russia (August 18) – They waited six years for it but Iran finally reclaimed it. For the first time since 2015, Iran won the junior world team title and in style. With five gold medals, one silver and one bronze, Iran accumulated 178 points to win the top position in freestyle wrestling at the Junior World Championships in Ufa, Russia.

Two-time cadet world champion Rahman AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI) led the way with the gold medal at 61kg before former cadet world champion Amirhossein FIROUZPOURBANDPEI (IRI) and Ali AKBARPOURKHORDOUNI (IRI) won gold at 86kg and 125kg respectively.

The other two gold medals of the day went to USA as Keegan OTOOLE (USA) won the 74kg title and Rocky ELAM (USA) denied Iran a fourth gold of the night by winning the 92kg final bout.

Russia finished in second position with two gold and four bronze medals, giving them 142 points which are 13 more than USA which finished third after three gold and two bronze medals.

Amouzadkhalili began the night with 9-3 win over two-time cadet Worlds bronze medalist RAVINDER (IND). The two had an intense battle in the first period with one stepout for Amouzadkhalili. Ravinder began the second period with a lift on counter and lead 2-1 but Amouzadkhalili quickly scored a takedown to take back the lead.

“I am good at working with collar ties and arm drags,” he said and used the same to up the pressure on the Indian. With the time running out, Amouzadkhalili scored a big four using an ankle pick which India challenged and lost. A stepout each gave them one point but gold went to Iran.

The 61kg wrestler's win was another step towards his transition to senior level in which he won a bronze medal at the 2020 Individual World Cup. He will now wrestle at the Oslo World Championships.

“I only wanted gold and I won it,” he said. “I go to Norway and I hope to win the gold there."

It was followed by Firouzpourbandpei's win which was on similar lines as he continued to pressure Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) and ultimately won 10-0.

FirouzpourbandpeiAmirhossein FIROUZPOURBANDPEI (IRI) claimed his first junior world title in Ufa. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

A stepout opened the scoring for him before a takedown made it 3-0. He led 4-0 at the end of the first period. His continued pressure and defense to Magamadov's attacks eventually tired the French wrestler and a series of takedowns ended the bout 10-0 with 1:15 seconds remaining.

He won the world title in 2019 and said he is a much better wrestler since and enjoyed winning his first junior world title.

“The feeling is totally different,” he said. “Back then, I was a child and inexperienced but this time was much more difficult and I like it better.”

About staying at 86kg which has Iran's top wrestler Hassan YAZDANI (IRI), Firouzpourbandpei said that he will wait and decide about it.

Ali AKBARPOURKHORDOUNI (IRI)Ali AKBARPOURKHORDOUNI (IRI) won the 125kg world title in Ufa. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

The day was capped with Akbarpourkhordouni's nail-biting win at 125kg. Trailing 2-4 in the second period, the Iran wrestler scored a stepout against 2021 junior Euro champion Lyova GEVORGYAN (ARM) but still trailed 3-4. With 12 seconds remaining, he took advantage of a tiring Gevorgyan and scored a stepout and lead 4-4, marking his third straight win in the dying seconds after the quarterfinal and semifinal.

“After eight years of hard training I am a champion,” he said. “Regarding the final, I watched his bouts so I know how to wrestle him.”

Explaining his strategy for the bout, he said that keeping up the pressure was important if he wanted to win.

“In first round, I put pressure on him to tire him and I could get points in the second period,” he said.

While he missed the chance to be on the team to Oslo, the new junior world champ is looking to improve and make the next Iran team.

“This competition pushed me up one step but it is not the last step,” he said. “I am hoping to be at U23 World Championship and take same [gold] medal

“I learned too much from this competition and it pushed me up to one level but I need to learn and train more for senior level and Olympic Games.”

They might not have won the team title but USA continued their dominance at 74kg as Otoole won the gold. Since the 2016 junior Worlds, USA has captured every gold medal at this weight class and Otoole could not have asked for a better debut at an international event.

Otoole, who had never wrestled anyone outside of America, stunned a U23 world champion in the quarterfinals, defeated the home favourite in semifinal before beating Nurdaulet KUANYSHBAY (KAZ) 11-0 in the final.

Keegan OtooleKeegan OTOOLE (USA) is USA's fifth junior world champ at 74kg in last five edition. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

“It feels amazing,” he said. “I have been dreaming of this moment for many years. I had this opportunity and I wanted to make the most of it and fight till my death and that's what I did.”

His scrambles with Kuanyshbay got him two points to open and then a leg lace to double the lead. A stepout added one more point and he led 5-0 at the break.

Kuanyshbay did try to dive at Otoole's legs but the USA wrestler was quick to go behind or defend anything that was thrown at him. Otoole then tried his trademark cradle but couldn't get a fall but the two set of exposures make it 10-0 which are awarded after a discussion between the judges. Kazakhstan challenged the call but lost.

Despite his stunning run in Ufa, the American, who has to attend school from Monday, was not satisfied with his performance, especially because he wants to shift to senior level next year.

“[My performance was] Not perfect,” he said. “I was down in my quarterfinal and semifinal but I was wrestling amazing opponents. I felt I performed well but can improve.

“Next year, I will wrestle at the senior level in the US and see how I can do. I need to improve my strength, mental maturity and technicality to compete with those guys in the USA and internationally.”

Wrestling at his first-ever international tour, Otoole believed that he could not have had a better experience.

“[It was an] opportunity like I have never had before,” he said. “Wrestling overseas, traveling 25 plus hours and then I am wrestling opponents from Hungary, Azerbaijan, Russia and Kazakhstan. Amazing opportunity. This is going to propel me to the senior level.”

Rocky ELAMRocky ELAM (USA) scored this takedown to win the 92kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

His teammate Elam was also competing at his first international event and won a gold at 92kg against Mahdi HAJILOUEIANMORAFAH (IRI). Unlike Otoole, Elam had to work hard for his win and it only came in the final few seconds of the bout.

He was leading 2-0 after a passivity point and a stepout but in the second period, Hajiloueianmorafah came out on top in a scramble and led 2-2 on criteria. With less than 20 seconds to go, Elam snuggled out of a scramble to take down the Iran wrestler and hang on for a 4-2 win.

“I knew I was attacking the whole time and thought I was going to get it that time,” Elam said. “Just because he got that [one] takedown doesn't mean that I am out of it and I was confident of my attacks. I just needed to finish my shot and I was confident that I would do that at the last minute.”

Elam, whose brother Zachery won a silver at junior Worlds in 2018, said that this experience was challenging and he would only be a better wrestler from here.

“I try to stay active and offense wins me matches,” he said. “I am coming out a better wrestler from this tournament. I didn't want any easy guys to win the gold. I got challenged multiple times in this tournament and that will help me improve.”

USA kicks off WW with 3 finalists

Before the USA won two freestyle golds, the women's wrestler began the day on great note with three finalists in Ufa. A pair of cadet world champions and a bronze medalist led USA's strong performance Wednesday, the first of the women's wrestling.

Emily SHILSON (USA) and Amit ELOR (USA), who won cadet world titles in 2018 and 2021 respectively, are on course to win their first junior world titles at 50kg and 68kg.

Kylie WELKER (USA) won a bronze medal at the 2019 edition of the cadet Worlds but managed to reach the final in Ufa with a victory via fall over Kseniya DZIBUK (BLR) in the 76kg semifinal.

Russia and Belarus sent two each in the finals as well while Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan and India continued their improved performance in women's wrestling with one finalist each.

Shilson extended her head-to-head record against SIMRAN (IND) to 3-0 after beating her 10-0 in the semifinal. The USA wrestler quickly got up 6-0 with a takedown and two exposures. Simran did try to attack but Shilson was visibly quicker to counter and complete a double leg takedown and then exposed Simran to her back for the win.

“I was a little bit tired in the morning,” Shilson said. “But I had to find a way to win. I was down in the first match but had to finish the job. I recovered after the morning session and tomorrow I am not going to change much, move my feet and my hands.”

She will face Enkhzul BATBAATAR (MGL) who defeated Zehra DEMIRHAN (TUR) 9-4. Demirhan opened the scoring but one takedown from Batbaatar and leg lace sealed the win for her.

Elor also finished her bout in the first period as she laced Zsuzsanna MOLNAR (SVK) 11-0. She scored with a stepout and headlock before a leg lace made it 7-0. An arm spin for four finished it 11-0.

“I was a little nervous because this is the second junior tournament I have done,” Elor said. “I was comparing this to the cadet Worlds which really helped me prepare for this.”

But she is expected to face a tough challenge from Elizaveta PETLIAKOVA (RUS) who was equally dominant in her win over Nesrin BAS (TUR). She pinned Bas with 1:46 seconds remaining.

But Elor has been in terrific form since the 2019 cadet Worlds which was the last tournament someone scored a point on her in the semifinal. “I am going to rest a lot and focus,” she said. “My opponent is tough and looks athletic.”

Welker also won via fall against Dzibuk when she whipped the Belarus wrestler and secured the final with 4:58 seconds remaining. In the final, she will face BIPASHA (IND) who won 9-4 against Odbag ULZIIBAT (MGL). In a controlled semifinal, she led 2-0 by stepouts but Ulzibat scored 4 via whipover. In the same sequence, Bipasha exposed for two points. Another takedown made it 6-4 for India. A stepout and a takedown in the second period finished the bout 9-4.

Russia and Belrus will square off in the 59kg final with Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (RUS) taking on Aryna MARTYNAVA (BLR).

Sidelnikova was quick to finish her match 10-0 against Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) with a takedown and scoring via gut wrenches and exposure. Martynava made short work of former cadet World silver medalist Anna SZEL (HUN) 13-2.

The Belarus wrestler's huge double for four gave her a 10-2 lead and then an exposure made it 12-2. Hungary challenged the call but to no success.

The win for Martynava was a surprise for many including Sidelnikova. “I didn't expect Martynava would win,” she said. “But it doesn't matter who I should wrestle in the finals.”

The Russian wrestler lost to Valeria KOBOLOVA (RUS) at the senior Russian Championships but is looking forward to winning the junior world title at home.

“Junior World Championship is still really important,” she said. “It's my last Junior tournament, so I really want to win the gold.”

Belarus will have Alesia HETMANAVA (BLR) going for gold and will wrestle Kalmira BILIMBEK KYZY (KGZ) in the 55kg final. Both won their semifinal via falls.

“I have wrestled Bilimbek Kyzy before at the World championships, but I lost,” Hetmanava said. “So we will prepare some tactics for tomorrow. It's 1-1 so far as I won back in Belarus at the international tournament 'Medvezhonok'.”

Hetmanava went for the cradle to get the fall over Melda DERNEKCI (TUR) while Bilimbek Kyzy stunned home favourite Anastasiia IANDUSHKINA (RUS).

RESULTS FS Medal Bouts

61kg
GOLD: Rahman AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI) df RAVINDER (IND), 9-3

BRONZE: Fedor BALTUEV (RUS) df Abulfaz NASIROV (AZE), 14-3
BRONZE: Alibeg ALIBEGOV (BRN) df Levik MIKAYELYAN (ARM), 7-0

74kg
GOLD: Keegan OTOOLE (USA) df Nurdaulet KUANYSHBAY (KAZ), 11-0

BRONZE: YASH (IND) df Stambul ZHANYBEK UULU (KGZ), 12-6
BRONZE: Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) df Idar KHATANOV (RUS), 2-1

86kg
GOLD: Amirhossein FIROUZPOURBANDPEI (IRI) df Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA), 10-0

BRONZE: Islam KARTOEV (RUS) df Daviti KOGUASHVILI (GEO), 9-6
BRONZE: Sagadulla AGAEV (AZE) df Emre CIFTCI (TUR), 3-3

92kg
GOLD: Rocky ELAM (USA) df Mahdi HAJILOUEIANMORAFAH (IRI), 4-2

BRONZE: Pruthviraj PATIL (IND) df Ivan KIRILLOV (RUS), 2-1
BRONZE: Nicolaas DE LANGE (RSA) df Muhammed GIMRI (TUR), 8-6

125kg
GOLD: Ali AKBARPOURKHORDOUNI (IRI) df Lyova GEVORGYAN (ARM), 4-4

BRONZE: Anirudh KUMAR (IND) df Aydin AHMADOV (AZE), 7-2
BRONZE: Andrei BESTAEV (RUS) df Wyatt HENDRICKSON (USA), 7-3

RESULTS Semifinals

50kg
GOLD: Enkhzul BATBAATAR (MGL) vs Emily SHILSON (USA)

SF 1: Enkhzul BATBAATAR (MGL) df Zehra DEMIRHAN (TUR), 9-4
SF 2: Emily SHILSON (USA) df SIMRAN (IND), 10-0

55kg
GOLD: Alesia HETMANAVA (BLR) vs Kalmira BILIMBEK KYZY (KGZ)

SF 1: Alesia HETMANAVA (BLR) df Melda DERNEKCI (TUR), via fall
SF 2: Kalmira BILIMBEK KYZY (KGZ) df Anastasiia IANDUSHKINA (RUS), via fall

59kg
GOLD: Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (RUS) vs Aryna MARTYNAVA (BLR)

SF 1: Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (RUS) df Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE), 10-0
SF 2: Aryna MARTYNAVA (BLR) df Anna SZEL (HUN), 13-2

68kg
GOLD: Elizaveta PETLIAKOVA (RUS) vs Amit ELOR (USA)

SF 1: Elizaveta PETLIAKOVA (RUS) df Nesrin BAS (TUR), via fall
SF 2: Amit ELOR (USA) df Zsuzsanna MOLNAR (SVK), 11-0

76kg
GOLD: BIPASHA (IND) vs Kylie WELKER (USA)

SF 1: BIPASHA (IND) df Odbag ULZIIBAT (MGL), 9-4
SF 2: Kylie WELKER (USA) df Kseniya DZIBUK (BLR), via fall

#wrestlebishkek

Tynybekova continues dominance of Motoki for 6th Asian gold; Feng stuns Sakurai

By Ken Marantz

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 14) -- Throughout a sparkling career that has made her a hero in her homeland, Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) has had a fierce rivalry with a number of Japanese wrestlers. The latest in the line has yet to find a way to break through and beat her.

Tynybekova continued her dominance of Sakura MOTOKI (JPN), using her counterattack style to maximum effect in a 9-6 victory in the women's 62kg final at the Asian Championships on Sunday in Bishkek, giving her a second straight gold and sixth of her career in front of an adoring home crowd.

"Throughout my career, I never got the chance to compete in Kyrgyzstan," Tynybekova said. "This year, when I found out the Asian Championships would be in Kyrgyzstan, I really wanted to compete in front of the home crowd. I am so happy that despite my physical condition, I could win the gold."

In the biggest upset of the tournament, Yongxin FENG (CHN) shocked three-time world champion Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) at 57kg as China came away with two of the four other golds at stake on the fourth day of competition at Bishkek Arena with Qian JIANG (CHN) prevailing at 72kg.

Ji Hyang KIM (PRK) gave DPR Korea its first gold medal in its return to the Asian Championships after a five-year absence with an impressive victory at 53kg, while Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN) triumphed at 65kg to ensure that the Japanese anthem would be played at least once on the night.

Japan, with four golds overall, barely won the team title for the third straight year with 173 points, just one point ahead of China and its three champions. Mongolia finished third with 138, three points ahead of India.

Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ)Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) uses a couter lift against Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) in the 62kg final during the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Tynybekova revealed that she got seriously ill after winning the title at last month's Yasar Dogu tournament in Antalya, Turkey, and even considered pulling out of the Asian Championships, where she now has 11 total medals.

"Two weeks before this continental championships, my coach Nurbek Izabekov proposed not to wrestle here because I didn’t fully recover," the three-time world champion said. "I spent two weeks lying in bed. Despite all this, I am so happy to be able to compete successfully."

Tynybekova, who made Kyrgyz history when she became the nation's first-ever wrestling world champion in 2019, has had her share of wins and losses contending with Japanese opponents through the years. First, there was Yukako KAWAI (JPN), who defeated her in the Tokyo Olympics final, then along came Nonoka OZAKI (JPN), who beat her in the 2022 Asian final.

Motoki, the 2022 world bronze medalist at 59kg, became the next in line when she moved up to 62kg and beat out Ozaki and Kawai in qualifying for the Paris Olympics. But Sunday's loss to Tynybekova was her third loss in three meetings over a seven-month span, and this was not as close as the first two.

"I would like to say that there are no easy or tough opponents," Tynybekova said. "It all depends on my physical condition on that exact day. That’s why me and my coaches will prepare to wrestle every single wrestler in my weight class."

In their first clash, Tynybekova pulled off a late 4-1 victory in the final at last year's World Championships in Belgrade. They met again in the semifinals at the Zagreb Open in January, where Tynybekova eked out a 3-3 win on criteria.

On Sunday, it was Tynybekova who took the early lead, gaining an activity point and then scoring a takedown after throwing Motoki off balance with a snap-down to go ahead 3-0.

In the second period, Motoki had no choice but to press for a takedown, but that was walking right into Tynybekova's trap. In a typical Tynybekova scramble, she initiated a counter lift from which she would score six points while conceding two to Motoki to go up 9-2.

Motoki managed a pair of consolation takedowns in the final 15 seconds, but could not gain additional exposures.

"I lost at the World Championships, then again in Croatia, and this time I wanted to get revenge," said a sobbing Motoki, whose father appeared in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. "I got various advice from a lot of people, and I came to this tournament with confidence. But my opponent was a level better than me today."

Yongxin FENG (CHN)Yongxin FENG (CHN) celebrates after beating world champion Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) in the 57kg final during the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Just as Yui SUSAKI (JPN) experienced the night before, Sakurai was dealt a wake-up call at a tournament that she was using as her final competition before the Paris Olympics. The difference is that Susaki held on to win the 50kg title, while Sakurai was dealt her first defeat in an international tournament in five years when she fell 5-2 to Feng.

Feng, a bronze medalist at the Zagreb Open this year, wrestled a strategically perfect match, grabbing an early lead and then all but neutralizing Sakurai's 2-on-1 attack. It would not be until the end of the match that Sakurai could get close to creating a scoring chance.

"First of all, I believed in my skills, and secondly, in terms of all aspects of my skills and physical condition, I am better than her, so I am more confident," Feng said.

Feng seemed to catch Sakurai flat-footed when she took a shot right off the opening whistle, scoring a takedown with a low single. Before Sakurai realized what had hit her, Feng added two more points with a gut wrench for a 4-0 lead.

"After I scored points in the first period, it made me more confident," Feng said. "Then in the second, I didn't try for many points because of my [earlier] points. I was thinking about being defensive. But I didn't think about defense throughout the whole process. I still want to score more points if I have the opportunity so that I can win for sure."

It would not be until the final minute that Sakurai finally got a clear shot and was able to get in on a double-leg takedown. As Feng reached over for a counter lift, Sakurai pressed ahead for a 2-point expoure.

But time ran out before she could add to the tally, and an unsuccessful challenge looking for a second exposure gave Feng her final point.

"The performance of the Chinese team has been very good," Feng said. "In terms of training, we train so hard, should we have such results? Yeah. I will train hard next and keep doing it. When I get off the podium, everything will be zero. I will continue to work hard."

Sakurai, last October's Asian Games champion and who had won the senior Asian title in her only other appearance in 2022, acknowledged that her opponents are doing their homework, and she will have to come up with a new strategy.

"I think everyone knows my style of wrestling," the 22-year-old Sakurai said. "I have to train so that even if I get stopped, I can still find a way to score points."

Sakurai won her first world title at 55kg in 2021, then moved up to the Olympic weight of 57kg and won back-to-back world golds. Just to get to last year's World Championships, where she secured her ticket to the Paris Olympics, she had to win out in a stacked domestic field that included two-time Olympic champion Risako KINJO (JPN). Her down-to-the-wire battles with Sae NANJO (JPN) were epic.

Now she needs to rebound from the shock of her first international defeat since losing 3-2 to Batbaatar ENKHTSETSEG (MGL) at the 2019 Asian U20 Championships.

"No matter the tournament, my objective is always to win the title," Sakurai said. "When you lose, there has to be a reason for the loss. I will look at this as I'm glad it wasn't the Olympics, and I will practice hard up to August."

Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN)Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN) won the 65kg final via fall. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

In the 65kg final, Yoshitake beat Enkhjin TUVSHINJARGAL (MGL) at her own game, winning by fall to improve on her silver medal from a year ago in Astana.

After gaining an activity point, Yoshitake was under pressure from Tuvshinjargal, but she used it to unleash a headlock throw late in the first period to go ahead 3-0.

In the second period, Tuvshinjargal shot in on the legs, and Yoshitake slipped in underhooks, then pancaked the Mongolian to her back for the fall in 3:05.

Yoshitake, a winner in Antalya last month, became the third wrestler from Nippon Sports Science University to win a gold in Bishkek, following Kento YUMIYA (JPN) and Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) in freestyle.

Ji Hyang KIM (PRK)Ji Hyang KIM (PRK) celebrates after beating ANJU (IND) in the 53kg final at the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

At 53kg, Kim capped a day of dominance with a quick 10-0 victory in the final over ANJU (IND), adding the senior gold to her Asian cadet title from 2019.

Kim shot right off the whistle for a low single which she converted into a takedown, then added an exposure. Back on their feet, she made it 8-0 with a shrug-by takedown and exposure, then finished the match with another shrug-by, all in just over a minute.

Kim won all four of her matches by either fall or technical fall in a weight class that was supposed to feature reigning world champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN), but who withdrew due to an elbow injury. The DPR Korea has entered a different wrestler in the Asian Olympic Qualifier that follows this event on April 19-21 in the same venue.

Qian JIANG (CHN)Qian JIANG (CHN) defeated HARSHITA (IND) in the 76kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

In the final bout of the night and the women's competition, China's Jiang, the 2019 Asian U20 champion at 76kg, scored a takedown in each period in defeating world U20 bronze medalist HARSHITA (IND) 5-2 for the 72kg gold.

Jiang took a 3-0 lead in the first period with a stepout and a snap-down takedown. In the second period, Harshita gained a 2-point exposure countering a takedown attempt. But Jiang came back with a spin-behind takedown to clinch the victory.

Mongolia claims 3 bronzes amid fall-fest

Of the 10 bronze-medal matches, only one went the distance, and Mongolia came away with three via falls by Otgontuya CHINBOLD (MGL) at 53kg, Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL) at 62kg and Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL) at 72kg, while India and Kazakhstan had two each.

Not everything went the Mongolians' way -- Gantuya ENKHBAT (MGL) was on the losing end of a technical fall at 57kg.

Chinbold, the silver medalist last year at 55kg, used a hip throw to send Thi My Trang NGUYEN (VIE) directly to her back and finish her off with a fall in 1:42.

Sukhee, a 2015 world silver medalist, took home her fourth Asian bronze and first in five years when, after a second takedown against Subeen JO (KOR), she trapped her opponent's leg against her chest, then pressed down from above for a pin in 2:42.

Zorigt took the longest of three, pancaking Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ), the Asian Games silver medalist at 68kg, in the second period to end the match in 3:49 with a 7-0 lead.

In the only match that went the full six minutes, Chun LEI (CHN) denied Sri Lanka its first-ever senior Asian medal when she scored a first-period takedown off a fireman's carry, then held on for a 2-0 victory over impressive teenager Nethmi AHINSA (SRI) at 53kg.

Ahinsa was the first-ever Sri Lankan woman to make it to a bronze-medal match, and just the third wrestler overall. Lei was the 2018 champion at 50kg.

India's bronzes came from MANISHA (IND), who recorded a fall in 1:30 at 62kg over Arian CARPIO (PHI) after a 4-point takedown, and ANTIM (IND) by forfeit from Soobin KIM (KOR), who suffered a knee injury in her opening match at 65kg in the afternoon session.

For Kazakhstan, Laura ALMAGANBETOVA (KAZ) needed just 55 seconds to throw Sezim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) to her back with a 4-point takedown and won by fall at 57kg, while Anastassiya PANASSOVICH (KAZ) scored five takedowns in a 10-0 technical fall over Ozoda ZARIPBOEVA (UZB).

Yaru WU (CHN) won China's second bronze of the night by pinning Irina KAZYULINA (KAZ) at 65kg. Wu had an 8-0 lead after a takedown and three tilts when Kazyulina came back with a takedown. But Kazyulina got careless trying for a reverse cradle, and Wu clamped down for a fall at 1:49.

Hyon Ju YUN (PRK) won the other bronze at 57kg when she broke open a close match with Mongolia's Enkhbat by scoring 10 points in the second period for a 12-1 win with five seconds left in the match.

df

Day 4 Results

Women's Wrestling

53kg (15 entries)
GOLD: Ji Hyang KIM (PRK) df. ANJU (IND) by TF, 10-0, 1:06

BRONZE: Otgontuya CHINBOLD (MGL) df. Thi My Trang NGUYEN (VIE) by Fall, 1:42 (4-0)
BRONZE: Chun LEI (CHN) df. Nethmi PORUTHOTAGE (SRI), 2-0

57kg (9 entries)
GOLD: Yongxin FENG (CHN) df. Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN), 5-2

BRONZE: Laura ALMAGANBETOVA (KAZ) df. Sezim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) by Fall, :55 (4-0)
BRONZE: Hyon Ju YUN (PRK) df. Gantuya ENKHBAT (MGL) by TF, 12-1, 5:55

62kg (10 entries)
GOLD: Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) df. Sakura MOTOKI (JPN), 9-6

BRONZE: Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL) df. Subeen JO (KOR) by Fall, 2:42 (4-0)
BRONZE: MANISHA (IND) df. Arian CARPIO (PHI) df. by Fall, 1:30 (5-0)

65kg (9 entries)
GOLD: Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN) df. Enkhjin TUVSHINJARGAL (MGL) by Fall, 4:03 (7-0)

BRONZE: ANTIM (IND) df. Soobin KIM (KOR) by inj. def.
BRONZE: Yaru WU (CHN) df. Irina KAZYULINA (KAZ) by Fall, 1:49 (10-2)

72kg (9 entries)
GOLD: Qian JIANG (CHN) df. HARSHITA (IND), 5-2

BRONZE: Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL) df. Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) by Fall, 3:49 (7-0)
BRONZE: Anastassiya PANASSOVICH (KAZ) df. Ozoda ZARIPBOEVA (UZB) by TF, 10-0, 4:51