Women's World Cup

Japan Storms Past U.S., Into All-Asian Clash for Gold with China

Saturday, March 17, 2018 - 19:49 By Ken Marantz

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The big showdown at the Women's World Cup turned into the big blowout, as host Japan powered into the final with a one-sided victory over the United States in the final preliminary group match.

Next up, an all-Asian clash with an impressive Chinese squad that absolutely decimated its group at Takasaki Arena.

Japan, getting an unexpectedly tough win from world champion Haruna OKUNO at 53kg and a surprisingly easy victory from erratic Katsuki SAKAGAMI at 57kg, earned a shot at a fourth consecutive title by routing the U.S. 8-2 and finishing 3-0 in Group A.

China capped its dominant run in Group B by crushing Belarus 10-0, with seven of the matches won by either fall or technical fall, and two by default or forfeit. Only the final match at 76kg went the distance as China lost only one match the entire day in finishing 3-0.

World and Olympic champion Risako KAWAI (JPN) by Max Rose-Fyne 

Japan's victory in the highly anticipated clash with the U.S. was clinched in the minimum of matches when world and Olympic champion Risako KAWAI (JPN) chalking up a solid but somewhat mediocre 5-0 victory over Mallory VELTE (USA) at 62kg to give Japan an insurmountable 6-0 lead.

"Against the U.S., that's like a bad habit I have," Kawai said. "I have the desire, and I want to do more, but I'm always thinking that the opponent will attack and I make it more complicated for myself. It happens all the time and things become difficult."

Still, she did enough to ensure the victory, scoring a takedown in the first period, then gaining an activity point in the second before capping the match with a late takedown.

"Winning is the most important thing, but with everyone thinking that it's only natural that I win all of the time, there are certain things I want to accomplish. The problem is not on the technical side."

Katsuki SAKAGAMI (JPN) defeated world silver medalist Allison RAGAN (USA), 10-0. Photo by Max Rose-Fyne. 

Sakagami showed her mental toughness by stepping up and showing the potential that had previously abandoned her on big stages. She was a bronze medalist at the 2017 Asian Championships where Japan won five of eight gold medals and two silvers, and was one of only two Japanese to fail to medal at that year's world championships in Paris.

With Japan leading 3-0, a loss to Paris 2017 silver medalist Allison RAGAN (USA) could have turned the tide. Instead, Sakagami came out like gang-busters, scored with a 4-point tackle in the opening seconds and rolled to a 10-0 technical fall in just under two minutes.

"In my first match, I didn't finish up my moves to the end," Sakagami said, referring a technical fall victory over Sweden in the opening session. "I scored points, but I didn't finish well, so my coach said, 'You're not going to die, so give it everything you've got.'"

Sakagami gained motivation after seeing Okuno, the Paris 2017 gold medalist at 55kg, struggle to eke out a 7-6 victory over Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) that could have gone either way.

"I thought the three before me would win handily one after the other, but the 53kg had a tough match," she said. "I thought, maybe America will change the momentum. I knew my opponent Ragan is strong, and that made me go that much harder."

For the United States, it was a bitter pill to swallow.

Adeline GRAY (USA) picked up one of two victories for the United States against Japan. Photo by Max Rose-Fyne. 

"I don't think we ever expected to get beat that bad," said Adeline GRAY (USA), the former three-time world champion whose 6-1 victory over Paris 2017 bronze medalist Hiroe SUZUKI (JPN) at 76kg left her 3-0 individually for the competition.

"For the most part, we came in ready for this day and it's so disappointing that we didn't live up to the expectations that we set for ourselves. It's a bummer for sure."

Gray acknowledged that the U.S. is still playing catch-up with Japan, the dominant force in women's wrestling since its inception.

"Japan is doing something excellent here and on home soil, when they get the momentum going, it's tough to stop," she said. "It's almost awesome to see from the unfortunate side. They have some motivation that comes from within that truly shines on the wrestling mat. It's unfortunate, but we're going to break through one of these days."

The pairing between Japan and China carries so much intrigue because of the incredible progress China has seemed to make in the half-year since hiring Bulgarian coach Simeon CHTEROV.

 

At the recent Asian Championships in Bishkek, China won six of 10 gold medals (five of those wrestlers are on the team in Takasaki), albeit with Japan entering a second-string team. Sunday's final, to be televised nationally, can be considered in some cases to be de facto Asian gold medal matches.

"The Chinese team now believes in themselves," Chterov said. "If they continue believing, I think they can win. This is very important, desire, to win."

For Kawai and Japan, the key to victory will be doing what they know they are capable of.

"I really don't know what's going to happen, but I know the Japanese team has practiced very hard," she said. "If everyone gives their full effort, the result will come."

As an independent but interested observer, Gray expects nothing short of fireworks in the clash between the Asian powers.

"They didn't have a tough match today at all, it looked like a technique practice going on the other mat," Gray said of China's rout of Belarus. "They went out there and executed. Those are some STRONG women. I'm looking forward to it....I'll be curious to see how they [Japan] matches up with China."

The U.S. will vie for the bronze medal against Mongolia which, like the final between Japan and China, is a repeat of the medal match pairings from the 2017 World Cup held three months ago in Russia. Mongolia won that clash.

In the other pairings for classification, it will be Canada and Belarus in the match for fifth place, while Sweden and Romania will battle for seventh place.

Canada finished up the group stage by crushing Sweden 9-1 (the lone loss was an injury-induced default), but one match stood out in particular---the clash at 72kg between Erica WIEBE (CAN), the Rio 2017 Olympic gold medalist at 75kg, and Jenny FRANSSON (SWE), who won a bronze at 69kg.

Fransson was holding a 4-0 lead in the second period when Wiebe scored a pair of takedowns, the second in the final 30 seconds to pull out a 4x-4 win and finish 3-0 in the group stage.

"That's like the trademark of my wrestling," Wiebe said. "I love being behind, and pulling out the win. That's when I really feel I'm able to wrestle---so I've got to work on that."

Wiebe had previously beaten Fransson in a second-round match at the 2013 world championships, and knew---and welcomed---the tough challenge facing her.

"Jenny Fransson is an incredible competitor, she's really tough. We know each other really well. As athletes, I think also as friends, I have a lot of respect for her. I knew it was going to be a tough match, and I always cherish those tough matches. I was excited to draw her, and excited to test out new things in my arsenal."

Asked what new moves she tried out, she said "I shot some high crotches today which I don't usually do. It's Year 2 of the quad [four-year Olympic cycle] and I'm trying to add some tools."

So she expects to be back in Japan for Tokyo 2020?

"That's the hope, that's the plan."

Final Day Pairings
Gold Medal: Japan vs China
Bronze Medal: United States vs Mongolia
5th Place: Canada vs Belarus
7th Place: Sweden vs Romania

Session 3
Group A


CANADA 9 SWEDEN 1
50 kg: Jessica MACDONALD (CAN) df. Malin LJUNGSTROEM (SWE) by Fall, 5:33 (4-0)
53 kg: Diana WEICKER (CAN) df. Linn LUNDSTROEM (SWE) by TF, 10-0, 4:27
55 kg: Jade PARSONS (CAN) df. Liliana JUAREZ ANDINO (SWE) by TF, 10-0, 3:49
57 kg: Samantha STEWART (CAN) df. Sara LINDBORG (SWE), 6-3
59 kg: Emily SCHAEFER (CAN) df. Emma JOHANSSON (SWE) by Fall, 3:58 (4-0)
62 kg: Jessica BROUILLETTE (CAN) df. Therese PERSSON (SWE) by Default
65 kg: Moa NYGREN (SWE) df. Braxton STONE (CAN) by Default
68 kg: Danielle LAPPAGE (CAN) df. Alexandra SANDAHL (SWE) by TF, 10-0, 3:25
72 kg: Erica WIEBE (CAN) df. Jenny FRANSSON (SWE), 4x-4
76 kg: Justina DI STASIO (CAN) df. Denise MAKOTA STROEM (SWE) by Fall, 5:07 (2-0)

JAPAN 8 UNITED STATES 2
50 kg: Yuki IRIE (JPN) df. Victoria ANTHONY (USA), 8-2
53 kg: Haruna OKUNO (JPN) df. Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA), 7-6
55 kg: Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) df. Becka LEATHERS (USA) by TF, 10-0, 3:26
57 kg: Katsuki SAKAGAMI (JPN) df. Allison RAGAN (USA) by TF, 10-0, 4:02
59 kg: Yukako KAWAI (JPN) df.  Kayla MIRACLE (USA) by TF, 12-1, 1:01
62 kg: Risako KAWAI (JPN) df. Mallory VELTE (USA), 5-0
65 kg: Ayana GEMPEI (JPN) df. Julia SALATA (USA), 5-2
68 kg: Tamyra MENSAH (USA) df. Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN), 8-2
72 kg: Masako FURUICHI (JPN) df. Victoria FRANCIS (USA), 9-2
76 kg: Adeline GRAY (USA) df. Hiroe MINAGAWA (JPN), 6-1

Group B

MONGOLIA 8 ROMANIA 2

50 kg: Alina VUC (ROU) df. Namuuntsetseg TSOGT OCHIR (MGL) by TF, 10-0, 5:14
53 kg: Otgonjargal GANBAATAR (MGL) df. Estera TAMADUIANU DOBRE (ROU) by Fall, 1:36 (9-8)
55 kg: Davaachimeg ERKHEMBAYAR (MGL) df. Simona PRICOB (ROU), 3-0
57 kg: Battsetseg ALTANTSETSEG (MGL)  df. Kateryna ZHYDACHEVSKA (ROU), 11-5
59 kg: Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL) by Forfeit
62 kg: Kriszta Tunde INCZE (ROU) df. Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) by Default
65 kg: Battsetseg SORONZONBOLD (MGL) df. Adina POPESCU (ROU) by Fall, 3:47 (9-0)
68 kg: Tumentsetseg SHARKHUU (MGL) df. Alexandra Nicoleta ANGHEL (ROU) by Fall, 2:16 (16-10)
72 kg: Nasanburmaa OCHIRBAT (MGL) df. Catalina AXENTE (ROU) by Fall, 4:59 (4-0)
76 kg: Chantsalnyamaa AMGALANBAATAR (MGL) by Forfeit

CHINA 10 BELARUS 0
50 kg: SUN Yanan (CHN) df. Kseniya STANKEVICH (BLR) by Fall, 4:54 (2-0)
53 kg: OUYANG Junling (CHN) df. Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR) by Default
55 kg: ZHANG Qi (CHN) df. Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR) by TF, 10-0, 4:14
57 kg: RONG Ningning (CHN) df. Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR) by TF, 10-0, 4:43
59 kg: PEI Xingru (CHN) df. Katsiaryna HANCHAR YANUSHKEVICH (BLR) by TF, 10-0, 4:11
62 kg: LUO Xiaojuan (CHN) df. Veranika IVANOVA (BLR) by Fall, 4:47 (4-0)
65 kg: TANG Chuying (CHN) df. Krystsina FEDARASHKA (BLR) by TF, 10-0, 3:55
68 kg: ZHOU Feng (CHN) df. Hanna SADCHANKA (BLR) by TF, 11-0, 3:21
72 kg: HAN Yue (CHN) by Forfeit
76 kg: ZHOU Qian (CHN) df. Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR), 3-2

#WrestleTirana

U23 Worlds: Iran, Moldova split Greco golds

Thursday, October 24, 2024 - 05:48 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (October 23) -- Iran and Moldova emerged as the top nations on the third day of the U23 World Championships in Tirana, Albania with them winning two gold medals each. Iran won the team title with 149 points with yet another incredible performance. Georgia followed with a second-place finish with 121 points and Armenia was third with 93 points.

Iran's first gold medal of the day came from U20 world champion Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) as he added the U23 world title to his growing resume. He won the U17 world title in 2022.

The 19-year-old was up against European silver medalist Rashad MAMMADOV (AZE) in the final but apart from par terre in the first period, he never looked in trouble. Mammadov got two points for a correct throw to lead 3-0 at the break.

Ahmadi Vafa got the par terre in the second period and scored two turns to lead 5-3. He went into defensive soon and was hit with the third passivity. But it proved fatal for Mammadov who was stopped in the middle of a turn from Ahmadi Vafa. With a 7-3 lead, Ahmadi Vafa hit a huge four-pointer on the edge to win the bout 11-3 and his third age-group gold medal.

"It was decided by the coaching staff to compete at the U23 World Championships after the U20 one," Ahmadi Vafa said. "Thank God, I was able to participate and return to Iran with a gold medal"

Ahmadi Vafa credits his training this year and his study of his opponents as the major factors for his improvement after suffering close losses in the age-group World Championships last year. 

"I worked really hard this year," he said. "I spent a full year in training camp and put in a lot of effort. A thorough analysis with the coaching staff made me win. I was able to reap the rewards of all my hard work over the past year."

In the 45-day break between the U20 and U23 World Championships, Ahmadi Vafa trained with the senior team. 

"A few days after we returned to Iran, we went to the senior camp," he said. "We were under a lot of physical strain, so the coaching staff decided to make our training sessions a bit lighter than the others.

"Our bodies responded well. I always felt deep inside that I could do it. I always say that I’m the best in my weight class."

To be on Iran's senior team, Ahmadi Vafa would have had to go through Poya DAD MARZ (IRI) who is the senior team member. However, the Iran federation has asked him to move to the 60kg weight class.

"He has a senior medal, and I have a lot of respect for him," he said. "We are from the same hometown. We’ve trained together several times at the senior camp, and he’s a really good opponent for me, and I might be a good opponent for him too.

"But the decision of the coaches is that I have to move up to the new weight category of 60kg, which will be a lot tougher. But I need to work harder to be able to win the gold medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics."

Multiple-time age-group world champion Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) added the U23 world title with a dominant run in Tirana. With three technical superiority victories, Hedayati won the final 6-0 against Dmitrii BABORYKO (AIN).

Hedayati, in which typical style, began attacking relentlessly and soon scored a couple of stepouts. He was also awarded the par terre but he could not score any points. After leading 6-0, Hedayati scored a takedown to finish the bout 8-0 but Baboryko challenged. On review, Hedayati was warned for pushing and the score was reversed to 6-0.

The 21-year-old managed to hang on to that lead and win the gold medal.

Alexandrin GUTU (MDA)Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) scores two points over Samuel BELLSCHEIDT (GER) in the 77kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostandin Andonov)

For Moldova, Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) defended his U23 world title at 77kg and Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) denied Japan's Komei SAWADA (JPN) in the 63kg final to win the gold medal.

Gutu, who has a U17 world title as well, was competing at his fourth U23 World Championships and has won medals in three of them with two golds. Wrestling Samuel BELLSCHEIDT (GER) in the final on Wednesday, Gutu used his signature front headlock to score exposure. That remained the difference as he clinched a 3-1 victory.

The win gave Gutu something to cherish after a disappointing season in which he failed to qualify for the Olympics and finished with only a bronze medal in four tournaments.

"This championships is very important for me," Gutu said. "As everyone knows, I lost at the Olympic qualifiers. I couldn’t even win the European Championships. This was the last tournament of the year. I needed to show a good performance here. I am really happy that I’ve won."

After dealing with the disappointment of failing just one win short of winning a ticket to the Paris Olympics, Gutu took some time to motivate himself to return to the mat.

"After the qualifiers in Baku, it was difficult to recover," he said. "I can’t even describe it. I was not just one step away, I was one percent away from that spot. It was very disappointing. 

"I’ve always had that motivation. The younger generation looks up to me. My family and my coaches are always there for me. I can’t let them all down. I will keep working until I get what I want."

Eriomenco added to the party with the 63kg gold as he defeated Swada in a very one-sided final. He got two turns from par terre to lead 5-0 at the break. Swada opened the second period with a stepout and then a point for par terre. As he was trying the gut-wrench, Eriomenco got out of the hold and scored a reversal to make it 6-2. Two easy turns made it 10-2, ending the match with technical superiority.

"I’ve been working so hard to reach this," Eriomenco said. "I’ve finished third three times at the European Championships and last year I was third at the Worlds. I was motivated to win this gold. I’ve never won even the European championships, but now I have won the World gold. I came here only for gold."

The difference between the physicality of the two wrestlers stood out and Eriomenco acknowledged that it worked to his advantage.

"From the beginning, I could feel that I was physically stronger," he said. "That’s when I got the confidence that I could win. The first match was the toughest one, then it was a bit easier. The final match was the most difficult. It was mentally tough to get ready for that match, because I really wanted the gold medal and no less."

Eriomenco is scheduled to compete at the Non-Olympic Weight Classes World Championships and is keen to leave an impression.

"It’s definitely going to be difficult to compete at two competitions in a raw," he said. "I won’t let the weight go up a lot. I will keep it down. I think everything is going to be ok. I know all my competitors. We’ve been training together at camps, we’ve been wrestling each other at competitions."

Fellow gold medalist Gutu also praised his compatriot and friend for his gold medal. 

"Eriomenco is my best friend," Gutu said. "I am so happy for him, because he was always so close, but he could never win. He became the World champion, I am really happy for him and it motivated me a lot to win my gold medal as well."

Anes GONIBOV (AIN)Anes GONIBOV (AIN) defeated Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) in the 87kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) had the chance to add a second title to his U20 one from 2021. However, he fell short and dropped his 87kg final against Anes GONIBOV (AIN) 4-0.

Gonibov got par terre position in both the periods which made his lead 2-0. Sterkenburg tried desperately for a takedown but failed and Gonibov managed to score and lead 4-0. The win for Gonibov gives him his second world tittle to along with his gold medal at the U23 World Championships at 82kg.

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) df. Rashad MAMMADOV (AZE), 11-3

BRONZE: Vishvajit MORE (IND) df. Adam ULBASHEV (AIN), 14-10
BRONZE: Kohei YAMAGIWA (JPN) df. William SULLIVAN (USA), 11-1

63kg
GOLD: Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) df. Komei SAWADA (JPN), 10-2

BRONZE: Erfan JARKANI (IRI) df. Arman VARDANYAN (ARM), 8-0
BRONZE: Mairbek SALIMOV (POL) df. Bekir ATES (TUR), via fall

77kg
GOLD: Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) df. Samuel BELLSCHEIDT (GER), 3-1

BRONZE: Khasay HASANLI (AZE) df. Temuri ORJONIKIDZE (GEO), 
BRONZE: Ali OSKOU (IRI) df. Doniyorkhon NAKIBOV (UZB), 6-4

87kg
GOLD: Aues GONIBOV (AIN) df. Marcel STERKENBURG (NED), 4-0

BRONZE: Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) df. Payton JACOBSON (USA), 9-0
BRONZE: Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) df. Yasin YAZDI (IRI), 4-4

130kg
GOLD: Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) df. Dmitrii BABORYKO (AIN), 6-0

BRONZE: Giorgi TSOPURASHVILI (GEO) df. Albert VARDANYAN (ARM), 1-1
BRONZE: Koppany LASZLO (HUN) df. Pavel HLINCHUK (AIN), 9-1

Women's Wrestling Semifinals

50kg
GOLD: Natalia PUDOVA (AIN) vs. Sage MORTIMER (USA)

SF 1: Natalia PUDOVA (AIN) df. Natallia VARAKINA (AIN), 8-2
SF 2: Sage MORTIMER (USA) df. Umi ITO (JPN), via fall (4-12)

55kg
GOLD: Zeltzin HERNANDEZ GUERRA (MEX) vs. Jonna MALMGREN (SWE)

SF 1: Zeltzin HERNANDEZ GUERRA (MEX) df. Amani JONES (USA), via fall (4-5)
SF 2: Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) df. Ekaterina KARPUSHKINA (AIN), 7-0

59kg
GOLD: ANJLI (IND) vs. Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR)

SF 1: ANJLI (IND) df. Aurora RUSSO (ITA), via fall (4-0)
SF 2: Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) df. Himeka TOKUHARA (JPN), 5-2

68kg
GOLD: Aues GONIBOV (AIN) vs. Marcel STERKENBURG (NED)

SF 1: Nesrin BAS (TUR) df. Alina SHAUCHUK (AIN), via fall (3-0)
SF 2: Ami ISHII (JPN) df. Xinze DU (CHN), 10-0

76kg
GOLD: Shuiyan CHENG (CHN) vs. Yelena MAKOYED (USA)

SF 1: Shuiyan CHENG (CHN) df. Zsofia VIRAG (HUN), 10-0
SF 2: Yelena MAKOYED (USA) df. Nodoka YAMAMOTO (JPN), via fall (13-2)