Junior Asian Championships

Iran Captures Freestyle Team Title on Final Day of Junior Asian C'ships

Sunday, July 14, 2019 - 13:49 By United World Wrestling Press

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CHON BURI, Thailand (July 14) - After winning the Greco-Roman team title on Wednesday, Iran captured the freestyle team title on the final day of the Junior Asian Championships in Chon Buri, Thailand.

For the second straight day, Iran won three gold medals in freestyle, bringing the gold-medal haul to six over the two-day freestyle competition. Iran finished with 201 points, 55 points ahead of runner-up Japan. India finished third in the team standings with 129 points. 

Iran's gold medalists on Sunday were Mahdi SHIRAZI (61kg), Ali Reza ABDOLLAHI (92kg) and Amir ZARE (125kg). 

Mahdi SHIRAZI (IRI) claimed a gold medal at 61kg. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Shirazi used a big first period to pace him to a 6-0 victory over Nodir RAKHIMOV (UZB) in the gold-medal match at 61kg. After scoring his first point from the activity clock, Shirazi picked up a four-point, feet-to-back takedown to build his lead to 5-0. He would add an additional point off a caution in the second period to win by six. 

Ali Reza ABDOLLAHI (IRI) scored with a big throw in the finals. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Abdollahi, a cadet world champion, was dominant in the 92kg finals, beating Ajiniyaz SAPARNIYAZOV (UZB) by 10-0 technical superiority in the first period. After scoring with a step out, Abdollahi executed a throw midway through the first period to score four points and go up 5-0. A short time later, he picked up a four-point, feet-to-back takedown. The call was challenged and upheld, giving the Iranian the gold medal. Last year Abdollahi won gold at the Cadet Asian Championships. 

Zare, also a cadet world champion, cruised to the gold medal at 125kg by beating Buheeerdun BUHEEERDUN (CHN) 11-1 in the finals. Zare got on the scoreboard first with a step out before Buheeerdun responded a short time later with a step out of his own to take the lead on criteria. But the Iranian dominated the rest of the way. He scored a couple takedowns to go up 5-1 and then used a gut wrench to turn Buheeerdun twice and build his lead to 9-1. Zare fired off a single leg late in the first period for another takedown, which closed out the technical superiority. 

Parveen MALIK (IND) won the gold at 74kg. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Parveen MALIK (IND) hung on to defeat Tu AHEIYOU (CHN) 4-2 in the gold-medal match at 74kg. He adds a junior Asian gold to his collection after winning a cadet Asian gold in 2017. Malik scored all four of his points in the first 30 seconds of the match off a four-point, feet-to-back takedown. Aheiyou battled his way back into the match, but ultimately fell short.

Tatsuya SHIRAI (JPN) defeated Baisal KUBATOV (KGZ) in the 86kg finals. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Tatsuya SHIRAI (JPN) edged Baisal KUBATOV (KGZ) 2-1 in the finals at 86kg. Shirai scored first off the activity clock and then with a step out to take a 2-0 lead at the break. Kubatov found his first point in the final 15 seconds, but Shirai would hang on to win. 

RESULTS

Final Freestyle Team Scores 
GOLD - Iran (201 points)
SILVER - Japan (146 points)
BRONZE - India (129 points)
Fourth - Kazakhstan (111 points)
Fifth - Korea (111 points)

61kg
GOLD - Mahdi SHIRAZI (IRI) df. Nodir RAKHIMOV (UZB), 6-0
BRONZE - Ikromzhon KHADZHIMURODOV (KGZ) df. Kodai OGAWA (JPN), 8-4
BRONZE - Adil OSPANOV (KAZ) df. Putawan SENAWAT (THA), 10-0

74kg
GOLD - Parveen MALIK (IND) df. Tu AHEIYOU (CHN), 4-2
BRONZE - Yu FUJITA (JPN) df. Jinwoo MOON (KOR), 11-0
BRONZE - Amirhossein KAVOUSI (IRI) df. Bayarsaikhan TSEDENBALJIR (MGL), 11-0

86kg
GOLD - Tatsuya SHIRAI (JPN) df. Baisal KUBATOV (KGZ), 2-1
BRONZE - Govind KUMAR (IND) df. Seyedabolfazl HASHEMIJOUYBARI (IRI), 8-4
BRONZE - Jeongwoo PARK (KOR) df. Teng ZHAO (CHN), 3-0

92kg
GOLD - Ali Reza ABDOLLAHI (IRI) df. Ajiniyaz SAPARNIYAZOV (UZB), 10-0
BRONZE - Haksu BAN (KOR) df. Enkh Orgil BEEJIN (MGL), 4-2
BRONZE - Symbat SULAIMANOV (KGZ) df. Bekzat URKIMBAY (KAZ), FALL

125kg
GOLD - Amir ZARE (IRI) df. Buheeerdun BUHEEERDUN (CHN), 11-1
BRONZE - Vishal VISHAL (IND) df. Gan Erdene SODBILEG (MGL), 7-0
BRONZE - Bakdaulet OSSERBAY (KAZ) df. Shogo MUTO (JPN), 10-0
 

#WrestleBelgrade

Japan puts four in World Championships finals

Tuesday, September 19, 2023 - 19:21 By Vinay Siwach

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BELGRADE, Serbia (September 19) -- A few legends of the sport have fallen at this World Championships in Belgrade and Adeline GRAY (USA) joined that unwanted list as Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) defeated her in the quarterfinals at 76kg.

Gray, coming back to wrestling after giving birth to twins, was looking to become a seven-time world champion which would have made her the United States' most successful wrestler. But Kagami ruined that plan by etching a 4-1 win after two takedowns against Gray's one point in the activity period.

Kagami then return to beat Milaimys MARIN (CUB) 5-1 and confirm her ticket to Paris Olympics as Japan will be sending the medalist from the World Championships directly to the 2024 Games.

"I was very excited and nervous for the Gray bout," Kagami said. "But I think I came prepared to win the match."

Kagami will take on Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) for the gold medal as the Kyrgyzstan wrestler defeated Tatiana RENTERIA (COL), another Pan-Am star, via fall in the other semifinal.

Yui SUSAKI (JPN)Yui SUSAKI (JPN) managed to win 4-2 against Ziqi FENG (CHN). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

While she did not lose, Yui SUSAKI (JPN) had a rare off day on the mat as her opponents managed to score three points on her in two bouts. The first was Alisson CARDOZO (ECU) who scored a stepout before Susaki punished her with a leg lace. Susaki pinned Emilia VUC (ROU) in the quarterfinals.

Ziqi FENG (CHN) pushed Susaki to the limits, even scoring exposure over Susaki, but the Tokyo Olympic champion hung on for a 4-2 win and an automatic ticket to Paris where she will look to defend her title.

Susaki, who failed to hold her tears back in an interview, said that it was a tough bout but she was prepared.

"The Chinese wrestler was strong in defense and power," Susaki said. "Before this tournament, I was in a difficult situation which I will talk about only after gold medal tournament."

In a repeat of last year's final, Susaki will take on Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) who now has a 2-1 head-to-head record over Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA).

Dolgorjav defeated Hildebrandt 7-5 in a rematch of last year's semifinal also won by Dolgorjav. Hildebrandt had won by technical superiority when the two met in the Ranking Series in Budapest.

Hildebrandt's loss also means that Mariya STADNIK (AZE), who lost to the USA wrestler, will have to travel to another Olympic Qualifiers to secure a trip to  Paris.

Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN)Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) beat Helen MAROULIS (USA) for the second straight year. (Photo: Amirreza Aliasgari)

In the third Olympic weight class of the day, Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) also confirmed her ticket to Paris after beating (and also spoiled her birthday) Rio Olympic champion Helen MAROULIS (USA) 6-0 in the semifinal. This was her second win over the American as Sakurai won the final last year over Maroulis.

But a tought test awaits her in the final as 59kg world champion Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) dropped to the Olympic weight and dominated her opponents.

She opened with a win over Olympic bronze medalist Evlina NIKOLOVA (BUL) and then went on to beat Odunayo ADEKUROYE (NGR) 10-0 in the quarterfinals. Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR) was no match as Nichita once again won 10-0.

Nonoka OZAKI (JPN)Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) reached the 65kg final at the World Championships. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

In the only non-Olympic weight class in action on Tuesday, 62kg world champion Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) returned to the world finals, this year at 65kg. She beat Tatsiana PAULAVA 10-0 in what was her third win of the day, all without giving up a point.

Macey KILTY (USA) will try to stop her from winning the gold for a second straight year.