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

Wednesday, August 18, 2021 - 19:59 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.

Amirhossein 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) 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 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 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

Susaki regains Asian crown but shows cracks in pre-Paris prep

Saturday, April 13, 2024 - 18:57 By Ken Marantz

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 13) -- Reigning world and Olympic champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN) finally showed some chinks in her armor. Not enough to suffer a first-ever loss to a non-Japanese opponent, but enough to give her something to think about with four months to go to the Paris Olympics.

Susaki faced the rare situation of trailing in a match in the women's 50kg final at the Asian Championships but managed to right the ship and defeat Ziqi FENG (CHN) 8-4 on Saturday at Bishkek Arena to regain the title she won in her last appearance in 2017.

"To go through such troubling matches before the Olympics is an important experience in order to win the gold in Paris," said Susaki, who earlier overcame a tough challenge from Yong Ok HWANG (PRK). "I want to make use of this feeling of regret so that after I win the gold, I can say it was good I had this experience."

Japan won two of the four other women's golds at stake on the third day of the competition, with two-time world champion Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) triumphing in her first international foray at the Olympic weight of 68kg and 2022 world U23 champion Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) winning the 55kg title in her senior Asian debut.

World silver medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) sent the home fans happy by rallying to a thrilling victory in the 76kg final to cap the night, which earlier saw world champion Qi ZHANG (CHN) storm to the 59kg gold to follow up her victory over two-time Olympic champion Risako KINJO (JPN) in the afternoon session.

Yui SUSAKI (JPN) attempts an unsuccessful front headlock roll against Ziqi FENG (CHN) in the 50kg final during the Asian Championships (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

For Susaki, the stop in Bishkek is part of her final preparations in the run-up to the Paris Olympics. Instead, it turned into a wake-up call, although she is trying to see it in a positive light.

"To be in a tough situation and still be able to come out with a victory gives me a boost of confidence," said the four-time world champion.

In the final against Feng, Susaki was facing an opponent she had beaten twice in the past seven months -- an 8-2 win in the semifinals at last year's World Championships in Belgrade and a 10-0 rout in the final of the Zagreb Open in January.

But it became obvious that her opponents are doing their homework on the superstar, who has only three losses in her entire career, all to the same Japanese opponent, Yuki IRIE (JPN).

Feng got on the scoreboard first with a counter lift for 2, but Susaki rolled through it and gained 2 of her own. But she lost the criteria advantage when Feng stuffed her on a front headlock roll for a 4-2 lead. It looked like it would stay that way to end the period, but Susaki came back with a driving takedown off a high crotch just seconds before the buzzer.

In the second period, Susaki kept her composure and scored a pair of takedowns to clinch the victory, which runs her current streak to 54 wins in a row.

"I wasn't trying for any specific tackle and I tried to hit a front headlock roll," Susaki said. "But I realize I can improve on the combination and it makes me want to quickly get back to practice."

Susaki's first bump in the road came in her opening match in the quarterfinals against Hwang, a 2019 bronze medalist who, like the rest of her compatriots, had been out of the international wrestling scene for much of the past five years.

Susaki received two activity points before Hwang came to life and scored a stepout late in the second period. She was close to scoring another when Susaki wriggled out of danger, then stopped a desperate front roll attempt to win 4-1.

"She came up with a strategy to keep the score low and put everything into deciding it at the end," Susaki said. "I allowed her to dictate the match. I'm going to go back to Japan and figure out how to deal with an opponent who avoids contact and saves it for the end."

Even with the close calls, Susaki remains among the most popular wrestlers on the circuit, as attested by the cheers for her from the Bishkek crowd.

"It was my first Asian Championships in seven years," Susaki said. "Seven years ago, it was my first challenge at a senior tournament. It was very moving to be back after seven years. The Kyrgyz people supported me and I was very happy to be able to compete with so many cheering for me. I'm very grateful to the fans."

Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) completes a takedown against world silver medalist Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) in the 68kg semifinals during the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Ozaki had her own issues to deal with, mainly handling a move from 62kg to 68kg over one year, with a stop at 65kg in between to win another world title. The extra weight proved to be no problem, at least on the continental level.

"My objective was winning the title, but it didn't matter if I lost as long I took something away from it," Ozaki said. "I wanted it to be a test of what level I am at."

Her level is quite high, to say the least. Ozaki won the gold with a 15-2 victory over 2022 Asian U23 champion RADHIKA (IND), her third consecutive technical fall of the day in which she was on the mat for a combined time of just over seven minutes.

"My transition from standing to the ground position was good and I could get big points," Ozaki said. "I want to continue working on that in practice."

Ozaki, the 2022 world champion at 62kg, suffered a devastating setback when she lost out on the place at the Paris Olympics in that weight class to Sakura MOTOKI (JPN). After moving up to 65kg for another chance to win a world title, which she accomplished, the opportunity to earn a ticket to Paris arose at 68kg, and she grabbed it by beating Ami ISHII (JPN) in a playoff in January.

As a natural 62kg wrestler, Ozaki has a speed advantage over her opponents. Since earning the Olympic spot, she has been spending time filling out into the heavier weight.

"I still have room to get bulkier and put on weight," she said. "I think I'll be much bigger the next time you see me."

Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) scores a two-point takedown in her 7-0 win over Kyong OH (PRK) in the 55kg final during the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At 55kg, Kiyooka pulled away in the second period for a 7-0 victory over Kyong OH (PRK), adding the senior Asian gold to the world U23 and U20 titles she won in 2022.

"Last year, I was supposed to be here, but I got injured and that was tough to take," the 20-year-old Kiyooka said. "This makes up for that."

In the final, Kiyooka received an activity point for the lone score of the first period. In the second period, she scored a pair of takedowns, sandwiched around an exposure for stopping a reverse fireman's carry that the Korean wrestlers use so effectively.

"The Japan team has many top-level wrestlers and I got power from them," Kiyooka said. "I was very nervous, but I was able to move just as I do in practice."

To earn a spot on the team to Bishkek, Kiyooka defeated former world champion Haruna OKUNO (JPN) for the first time at the All-Japan Championships in December. She said her goal now is to secure a ticket to this year's senior World Championships.

While Kiyooka's job is done in Bishkek, she still has a future interest in the city. Her older brother Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) will be coming in an attempt to earn an Olympic quota in freestyle 65kg at the Asian Olympic Qualifier, which follows on April 19-21.

"I wanted to create good momentum to pass off to my brother," Kiyooka said. "I didn't see him before I left, but he messaged me and said, 'If you stay relaxed, you can win.'"

Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) celebrates after winning the 76kg final during the Asian Championships in Bishkek on Saturday. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

For Medet Kyzy, her 10-7 victory over Yuanyuan HUANG (CHN) in the 76kg final was similar in nature to a match between them 10 months ago in Bishkek, but far more dramatic and with more at stake.

Medet Kyzy, who trailed 4-0 after the first period, bulled her way to a 4-point takedown -- her second of the match -- with 35 seconds left to regain the Asian title she won in 2022 in her fifth straight trip to the final.

"To be honest, the final match was a little hard for me, but you saw that there were lots of our fans in the stands and each of them needed to see my victory, so I did my best to win," Medet Kyzy said.

At the Bishkek Ranking Series tournament last June, Huang led 3-0 after the first period of the final when Medet Kyzy rallied to a 5-3 win, scoring the winning takedown with 23 seconds left.

Qi ZHANG (CHN) celebrates after beating two-time Olympic champion Risako KINJO (JPN) in the 59kg quarterfinal during the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

In the 59kg final, Zhang needed less than a minute to score a takedown, lock up an arm and score four straight rolls to vanquish Anudari BATKHUYAG (MGL) 10-0. That gave her her first Asian title after a pair of bronzes from 2017 and 2019.

It was Zhang's second straight 10-0 win after her victory over Kinjo. The Chinese beat the two-time Olympic champion by getting the latter of two activity points and win 1-1 on criteria.

Risako KINJO (JPN) won the bronze medal at 59kg at the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Kinjo rebounds to take bronze

Kinjo, a four-time world and Asian champion, made sure she would not leave Bishkek empty-handed, overwhelming Dilfuza AIMBETOVA (UZB) 13-2 in a 59kg bronze-medal match.

"Am I disappointed, or am I happy, I'm not even sure myself," said Kinjo, who capped her victory with a driving 4-point takedown that ended the match with five seconds left in the first period.

Kinjo was appearing in her first international competition since winning the 57kg gold at the Tokyo Olympics. After that, she got married, gave birth, and missed out on a place at the Paris Olympics at 57kg to world champion Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN), who will be in action on Sunday.

Still wanting to compete, Kinjo moved up to 59kg and won the national title to earn the ticket to Bishkek.

Asked about the loss to Zhang, Kinjo said, "The opponent is the world champion. I don't know if she even knew I had changed my name. She is not an opponent that I can't beat. But strategically the match went her way. I lost, but it was enjoyable six minutes."

Host Kyrgyzstan picked up two bronze medals, and both in dramatic fashion at the expense of opponents from rival neighbor Kazakhstan.

At 55kg, Aruuke KADYRBEK KYZY (KGZ) gave up what should have been a decisive 2-point arm throw to Zulfiya YAKHYAROVA (KAZ) with four seconds left, only to come away with a 5-3 win by managing to score a reversal with less than one second on the clock. An unsuccessful challenge accounted for the final score.

Gulnura TASHTANBEKOVA (KGZ) also gave up early points to Albina KAIRGELDINOVA (KAZ) at 68kg, but came back with a counter to the back and scored a fall at 2:09.

Diana KAYUMOVA (KAZ) took home the other bronze at 59kg with a wild 11-8 victory over Pushpa YADAV (IND). Kayumova was leading 7-7 on criteria when she clinched the win with her second 4-point move of the match -- a Greco-like back suplex.

In a surprise at 76kg, Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE) prevented Japan from having a medalist in every weight class when she overcame a four-point deficit to defeat 2022 world U23 bronze medalist Yasuha MATSUYUKI (JPN) 8-6.

Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ), whose defense of her 76kg title ended with a semifinal loss to Medet Kyzy, also worked her way out of a four-point hole, but did it by pancaking PRIYA (IND) and scoring a fall in the second period.

At 50kg, Shivani PAWAR (IND) used her counter style of wrestling to maximum effect, pulling off a last-second victory with a counter lift to stun three-time world medalist Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) 9-7.

In arguably the biggest victory of her career, Pawar, the 2021 world U23 silver medalist, had given up a go-ahead takedown to Dolgorjav with 20 seconds left.

Hwang, who won a bronze medal as a member of the last DPR Korea team to appear at the Asian Championships in 2019, will go home with another after defeating Thi Xuan NGUYEN (VIE) 4-2 at 50kg.

Min ZHANG (CHN), the 2023 Asian U23 champion, denied Dulguun BOLORMAA (MGL) a fourth senior Asian medal when she notched an entertaining 15-5 victory at 55kg.

Zhang led by a modest 2-1 in the second period when she scored a takedown and two rolls to go up 8-1. Bolormaa caught Zhang with a 4-point headlock throw, but her inability to secure the fall was her undoing, as Zhang came back with a 4-point takedown and gut wrench to finish the technical fall at 5:26.

World silver medalist Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) earned her fourth senior Asian medal -- still none gold -- when she edged Zelu LI (CHN) 2-1 for the other 68kg bronze, with all of the points coming on the activity clock.

Day 3 Results

Women's Wrestling

50kg (13 entries)
GOLD: Yui SUSAKI (JPN) df. Ziqi FENG (CHN), 8-4

BRONZE: Yong Ok HWANG (PRK) df. Thi Xuan NGUYEN (VIE), 4-2
BRONZE: Shivani PAWAR (IND) df. Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL), 9-7

55kg (10 entries)
GOLD: Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) df. Kyong OH (PRK), 7-0

BRONZE: Min ZHANG (CHN) df. Dulguun BOLORMAA (MGL) by TF, 15-5, 5:22
BRONZE: Aruuke KADYRBEK KYZY (KGZ) df. Zulfiya YAKHYAROVA (KAZ), 5-3

59kg (8 entries)
GOLD: Qi ZHANG (CHN) df. Anudari BATKHUYAG (MGL) by TF, 10-0, :50

BRONZE: Risako KINJO (JPN) df. Dilfuza AIMBETOVA (UZB) by TF, 13-2, 2:54
BRONZE: Diana KAYUMOVA (KAZ) df. Pushpa YADAV (IND), 11-8

68kg (9 entries)
GOLD: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) df. RADHIKA (IND) by TF, 15-2, 4:28

BRONZE: Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) df. Zelu LI (CHN), 2-1
BRONZE: Gulnura TASHTANBEKOVA (KGZ) df. Albina KAIRGELDINOVA (KAZ) by Fall, 2:09 (7-2)

76kg (9 entries)
GOLD: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) df. Yuanyuan HUANG (CHN), 10-7

BRONZE: Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) df. PRIYA (IND) by Fall, 4:25 (2-4)
BRONZE: Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE) df. Yasuha MATSUYUKI (JPN), 8-6

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

Comments

Susaki regains Asian crown but shows cracks in pre-Paris prep