Women's World Cup

Japan, U.S. Set to Clash; China All But Through

Saturday, March 17, 2018 - 06:41 By Ken Marantz

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Host Japan and the United States will clash in the evening session for a place in the final of the Women's World Cup after the two powerhouses handily disposed of the two other group opponents on the opening day at Takasaki Arena.

Japan, aiming for its fourth straight title, swept past overmatched Sweden 10-0 before putting away Canada 8-2 in Group A. The United States opened with an 8-2 win over Canada, then topped Sweden 9-1.

In Group B, China moved to the brink of a berth in Sunday's final by topping Asian rival Mongolia 9-1, then whitewashing Romania 10-0. In the night session, China, the 2017 runner-up, will face Belarus, a 7-3 winner over Romania that lost 6-4 to Mongolia in most competitive match of the first two sessions.

"We were moving very well," Japan head coach Hideo SASAYAMA said of his team, which liberally used all of its members to keep the top wrestlers fresh for the impending battle with the U.S. "If we do out on the mat what we have done in practice, I think we will be able to win."


(Yukako KAWAI (JPN) looks for the fall against Emma JOHANSSON (SWE) //Photo: Max Rose-Fyne)

Japan, despite a lineup of world and Olympic champions, looks vulnerable in the heavier weight classes, where it suffered both of its losses to Canada and had several close calls with Sweden. 

Complicating matters is that world and Olympic champion Sara DOSHO (JPN) appeared to suffer a left shoulder injury during her match with Danielle LAPPAGE (CAN), in which she took an early 2-1 lead and did just enough to make that score stick to the end. 

On a positive note, Masako FURUICHI (JPN), a bronze medalist at the recent Asian Championships in Bishkek, pulled off a surprise by scoring a takedown with :30 left to beat Rio 2017 Olympic bronze medalist Jenny FRANSSON (SWE), 2x-2. 

Getting off to an early lead will be the key for Japan---in the six weight divisions up to 62kg, Japan won every match by fall or technical fall, while only conceding a total of six points. 

U.S. head coach Terry STEINER said his squad has prepared well and is ready for the challenge of beating Japan on its home mat. That would avenge a close loss in the group stage at the 2017 World Cup three months ago in Russia, when the two sides split eight matches, and Japan won by virtue of having a fall and two technical falls among its victories.

"We know that Japan is going to throw their best at us," Steiner said. "They're not going to get beat by an American team without fighting with their best people. We know we've got to be on our game tonight.

"I want to see us compete hard, I want to see us fight, I want to see us be aggressive. And that's the main thing. If I see that out of them, I think we have a chance."


(Ningning RONG (CHN) looks for the double leg against Battsetseg ALTANTSETSEG (MGL) // Photo: Max Rose-Fyne)

China, which won five gold medals in Bishkek, switched the weight classes of champions RONG Ningning and PEI Xingru, moving Rong down to 57kg and Pei up to 59kg. 

Against Mongolia, Pei was pitted against Shoovdor BAATARJAV, who lost to Rong in Bishkek and came away with a bronze medal. Pei had her hands full on Saturday, needing a takedown with :04 left to pull out a 3x-3 victory.

The comeback of the day so far, however, belongs to Bishkek 2018 bronze medalist Davaachimeg ERKHEMBAYAR (MGL). 

In her 55kg match against Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR), Erkhembayar was losing 5-0 when she scored with a step-out with 20 seconds to go. A desperate attempt for a tackle was thwarted, but with the clock ticking down, she launched a barrel roll of sorts for a miracle 4-point move as time expired and a 5x-5 victory.


(Davaachimeg ERKHEMBAYAR (MGL) celebrates her last second victory against Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR), Photo: Max Rose-Fyne)

That victory became key in Mongolia's win over Belarus, as it kept the Asian nation in contention for a medal---particularly after its top wrestler suffered a stunning defeat. 

World and Asian champion Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) was thrown to her back early in her 62kg match with Veranika IVANOVA (BLR), only to fight out of the predicament and build an 11-4 lead herself. But Ivanova stuck the Mongolian on her back again, and this time finished her off for a fall in with 1:49 remaining. 

That loss came after Mongolian coaches allowed Purevdorj to default her earlier match against China, after the Chinese had built up a insurmountable lead. Her default to LUO Xiaojuan (CHN) prevented a rematch of the final in Bishkek, which Purevdorj had won 12-4. 

"That's a tactic," Mongolian coach Byambajov BATTULGA said. "Just to keep power."

Two matches later, however, a rematch of a final did become reality, as ZHOU Feng (CHN) repeated her victory over Tumentsetseg SHARKHUU (MGL), again by technical fall.


(ZHOU Feng led China in the opening two sessions of the 2018 Women's World Cup in Takasaki // Photo: Max Rose-Fyne)

In another intriguing matchup, there was a clash of Paris 2017 world bronze medalists, with Justina DI STASIO (CAN) defeating Hiroe MINAGAWA (JPN) by the narrowest of margins. Di Stasio scored a takedown with :24 left, then survived two step-outs to win 3x-3.

Rio 2016 champion Erica WIEBE (CAN) stood out as the only wrestler to chalk up wins over both Japan and U.S. opponents, topping Victoria FRANCIS (USA) by fall and Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN), 8-0.

In her lone match, Rio 2016 and Paris 2017 gold medalist Risako KAWAI (JPN) . stormed to a 10-0 technical fall of Jessica BROUILLETTE (CAN) in just under two minutes.
 

Group A

Session 1


UNITED STATES 8 CANADA 2

50 kg:  Victoria ANTHONY (USA) df. Jessica MACDONALD (CAN), 8-4
53 kg:  Diana WEICKER (CAN) df. Haley AUGELLO (USA), 6-1 
55 kg: Becka LEATHERS (USA) df. Jade PARSONS (CAN) by Fall, 5:31 (4-0) 
57 kg: Allison RAGAN (USA) df. Samantha STEWART (CAN) by TF, 10-0, 3:17
59 kg: Kayla MIRACLE (USA) df. Emily SCHAEFER (CAN) by TF, 17-6, 1:46
62 kg:  Mallory VELTE (USA) df. Jessica BROUILLETTE (CAN) by TF, 11-0, 2:06 
65 kg:  Julia SALATA (USA) df. Braxton STONE (CAN) by TF, 10-0, 0:30
68 kg:  Tamyra MENSAH (USA)  df. Olivia DI BACCO (CAN), 5-2
72 kg:  Erica WIEBE (CAN) df. Victoria FRANCIS (USA) by Fall, 1:43 (10-0) 
76 kg: Adeline GRAY (USA) df. Justina DI STASIO (CAN), 10-2


JAPAN 10 SWEDEN 0

50 kg: Miho IGARASHI (JPN) vs Malin LJUNGSTROEM (SWE) by Fall, 5:24 (4-0) 
53 kg:  Haruna OKUNO (JPN) df.  Linn LUNDSTROEM (SWE) by TF, 10-0, 4:27 
55 kg:  Saki IGARASHI (JPN) df. Liliana JUAREZ ANDINO (SWE) by TF, 10-0, 4:34
57 kg:  Katsuki SAKAGAMI (JPN) df. Sara LINDBORG (SWE) by TF, 10-0, 2:30
59 kg:  Yukako KAWAI (JPN) df. Emma JOHANSSON by Fall, 5:13 (3-2)
62 kg:  Yurika ITO (JPN) df. Therese PERSSON (SWE) by TF, 10-0, 2:31
65 kg:  Kiwa SAKAE (JPN) df. Moa NYGREN (SWE), 4-2
68 kg:  Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) df. Alexandra SANDAHL (SWE), 5-1
72 kg:  Masako FURUICHI (JPN) df. Jenny FRANSSON (SWE), 2x-2
76 kg:  Yasuha MATSUYUKI (JPN) df. Denise MAKOTA STROEM (SWE) by Fall, 0:03 (6-4)

Session 2


UNITED STATES 9 SWEDEN 1

50 kg: Erin GOLSTON (USA) df. Malin LJUNGSTROEM (SWE) by Fall, 4:57 (4-0) 
53 kg: Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) df. Linn LUNDSTROEM (SWE) by TF, 10-0, 3:41 
55 kg: Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) df. Liliana JUAREZ ANDINO (SWE) by Fall, 5:12 (4-0) 
57 kg:  Allison RAGAN (USA) df. Sara LINDBORG (SWE) by TF, 10-0, 3:33 
59 kg: Kayla MIRACLE (USA) df. Emma JOHANSSON (SWE) by Fall, 4:57 (4-0) 
62 kg: Mallory VELTE (USA) df. Therese PERSSON (SWE) by Default
65 kg: Forrest MOLINARI (USA) df. Moa NYGREN (SWE), 4-0 
68 kg: Tamyra MENSAH (USA) df. Alexandra SANDAHL (SWE) by TF, 10-0, 2:40 
72 kg: Jenny FRANSSON (SWE) df. Victoria FRANCIS (USA) by TF, 10-0, 0:24
76 kg: Adeline GRAY (USA) df. Denise MAKOTA STROEM (SWE) by Fall, 4:47 (2-0)


JAPAN 8 CANADA 2

50 kg: Yuki IRIE (JPN) df. Jessica MACDONALD (CAN) by Fall, 1:33 (13-2)
53 kg: Yu MIYAHARA (JPN) df. Diana WEICKER (CAN) by Fall, 0:34 (9-2)
55 kg: Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) df.  Jade PARSONS (CAN) by TF, 10-0, 3:23
57 kg:  Sae NANJO (JPN) df. Samantha STEWART (CAN) by TF, 10-0, 4:39
59 kg: Yuzuru KUMANO (JPN) df. Emily SCHAEFER (CAN) by TF, 10-0, 2:10
62 kg: Risako KAWAI (JPN) df. Jessica BROUILLETTE (CAN) by TF, 10-0, 4:08
65 kg: Ayana GEMPEI (JPN) df. Braxton STONE (CAN) by Default
68 kg: Sara DOSHO (JPN) df. Danielle LAPPAGE (CAN), 2-1 
72 kg: Erica WIEBE (CAN) df. Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN), 8-0 
76 kg: Justina DI STASIO (CAN) df. Hiroe MINAGAWA (JPN), 3x-3

Group B

Session 1


CHINA 9 MONGOLIA 1

50 kg: SUN Yanan (CHN) df. Namuuntsetseg TSOGT OCHIR (MGL) by VSU, 10-0
53 kg: Sumiya ERDENECHIMEG (MGL) df. OUYANG Junling (CHN) by VFA, 8-7
55 kg: ZHANG Qi  (CHN) df. Davaachimeg ERKHEMBAYAR (MGL), 6-5
57 kg: RONG Ningning (CHN) df. Battsetseg ALTANTSETSEG (MGL), 9-1
59 kg: PEI Xingru (CHN) df. Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL), 3x-3
62 kg: LUO Xiaojuan (CHN) df. Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) by Default
65 kg: TANG Chuying (CHN) df. Battsetseg SORONZONBOLD (MGL), 6-4
68 kg: ZHOU Feng (CHN) df. Tumentsetseg SHARKHUU (MGL) by TF, 16-5, 1:11
72 kg: HAN Yue (CHN) df. Nasanburmaa OCHIRBAT (MGL) by TF, 15-4, 1:50
76 kg: ZHOU Qian (CHN) df. Chantsalnyamaa AMGALANBAATAR (MGL) by TF, 14-0, 1:25 


BELARUS 7 ROMANIA 3

50 kg: Alina VUC (ROU) df. Kseniya STANKEVICH (BLR) by Fall, 0:10 (14-7) 
53 kg: Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR) df. Estera TAMADUIANU DOBRE (ROU) by Fall, 4:30 (9-0)
55 kg: Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR) df. Simona PRICOB (ROU) by Fall, 0:26 (10-0)
57 kg: Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR) df. Kateryna ZHYDACHEVSKA (ROU) by Fall, 4:21 (4-0)
59 kg: Katsiaryna HANCHAR YANUSHKEVICH (BLR) by Forfeit
62 kg: Veranika IVANOVA (BLR) df. Kriszta INCZE (ROU), 3-0
65 kg: Krystsina FEDARASHKA (BLR) df. Adina POPESCU (ROU), 1x-1
68 kg: Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) df. Hanna SADCHANKA (BLR), 6-0 
72 kg: Catalina AXENTE (ROU) by Forfeit
76 kg: Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR) by Forfeit

Session 2


CHINA 10 ROMANIA 0

50 kg: ZHU Jiang (CHN) df. Emilia Alina VUC (ROU) by TF, 10-0, 3:38 
53 kg: OUYANG Junling (CHN) df. Estera TAMADUIANU DOBRE (ROU) by Fall, 2:17 (11-0)  
55 kg: ZHANG Qi (CHN) df. Simona PRICOB (ROU) by TF, 10-0, 1:39 
57 kg: YANG Nan (CHN) df. Kateryna ZHYDACHEVSKA (ROU), 8-4
59 kg: Lingling BAO (CHN) by Forfeit
62 kg: LUO Xiaojuan (CHN) df. Kriszta INCZE (ROU), 3-2
65 kg: TANG Chuying (CHN) df. Adina Elena POPESCU (ROU) by TF, 10-0, 4:43 
68 kg: ZHOU Feng (CHN) df. Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) by Fall, 2:29 (11-0) 
72 kg: WANG Juan (CHN) df. Catalina AXENTE (ROU) by TF, 11-0, 4:53 
76 kg: Paliha PALIHA (CHN) by Forfeit


MONGOLIA 6 BELARUS 4 

50 kg: Narangerel ERDENESUKH (MGL) df. Kseniya STANKEVICH (BLR), 10-6 
53 kg: Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR) df. Otgonjargal GANBAATAR (MGL), 7-6
55 kg: Davaachimeg ERKHEMBAYAR (MGL) df. Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR) 5x-5 
57 kg: Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR) df. Battsetseg ALTANTSETSEG (MGL), 2-1 
59 kg: Shoovdor BAATARJAV df. Katsiaryna HANCHAR YANUSHKEVICH (BLR) by TF, 14-3, 1:48 
62 kg: Veranika IVANOVA (BLR) df. Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) by Fall, 4:11 (6-11)
65 kg: Battsetseg SORONZONBOLD (MGL) df. Krystsina FEDARASHKA (BLR) by TF, 10-0, 4:32
68 kg: Tumentsetseg SHARKHUU (MGL) df. Hanna SADCHANKA (BLR) by Fall, 1:16 (11-2) 
72 kg: Nasanburmaa OCHIRBAT (MGL) by Forfeit
76 kg: Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR) df. Chantsalnyamaa AMGALANBAATAR (MGL), 4-1
 

#JapanWrestling

Two-time Olympic champ Risako Kinjo brings curtain down on stellar career

Sunday, October 12, 2025 - 23:14 By Ken Marantz

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TOKYO, Japan (October 12) -- Risako KINJO (JPN), who won two Olympic gold medals under her maiden name of Kawai before capturing a fourth world title last year after giving birth, officially announced her retirement over the weekend.

"I felt that I had experienced everything that was good about being a wrestler," the 31-year-old Kinjo told the Japanese media Sunday on bringing down the curtain on one of wrestling's most sterling careers. "I felt fulfilled and happy with a life in which wrestling was my passion."

Kinjo also revealed that she is pregnant with her second child as she spoke to the media at the Japan Women's Open in Akitsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, where she was coaching younger sister Yukako TSUNEMURA (JPN), who was returning to the mat for the first time since becoming a mother herself.

Kinjo first announced her retirement on her Instagram account on Saturday night, stating that in the 24 years since she started wrestling at age 7, "I have had good experiences and bad, highs and lows. But to win four world championships and two consecutive Olympics was all due to the support and encouragement of many people. I thank them all."

Kinjo first struck Olympic gold at 63kg at Rio in 2016, then won out in a duel that captivated the wrestling world with fellow Rio and four-time Olympic champion Kaori ICHO (JPN) for the 57kg spot at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, where she took home a second gold.

Of the clash of the titans with Icho, Kawai remarked, "I had no more difficult period than that. I'm glad I was able to experience it."

In the Tokyo semifinals, Kinjo had to face yet another Rio gold medalist in Helen MAROULIS (USA), who had moved up from 53kg. Kinjo came away with a 2-1 win, then defeated Iryna KURACHKINA (UWW) 5-0 for the gold.

With Yukako also winning the 62kg gold, it elevated the Kawai sisters to celebrity status in the host country. The two got their start in the sport at the kids' club run by their mother. Both of their parents were national-level wrestlers.

Soon after Tokyo, Risako married former wrestler Kiryu KINJO, and in May 2022, gave birth to a baby girl. Instead of settling down to a domestic life, motherhood lit a fresh flame to continue the sport.

"I had originally planned to win the Tokyo Olympics and then retire gracefully," Kinjo said. "I even told people around me that I would quit after the Tokyo Olympics. But when I got married and got pregnant, I felt that my body wasn't only my own, and I wanted to continue wrestling.

"While I was pregnant, I watched Yukako's matches and thought to myself, 'If it were me, I would do it like this,' so after my child was born, I decided to try it again."

Her bid to win a third straight Olympic gold in Paris, however, was derailed by the reigning world 57kg champion Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN), who went on to triumph in the French capital.

Rebuffing speculation that the loss would mark her swan song, she showed her passion for the sport by sticking around. With the incentive of wanting to have her daughter see her compete and make some history, she had no qualms about moving into the non-Olympic weight of 59kg.

She suffered a setback of sorts at the Asian Championships in April 2024, when she lost to Qi ZHANG (CHN) in the semifinals and had to settle for a bronze medal.

But she righted the ship at the Non-Olympic Weight World Championships in October that year in Tirana, Albania, where she cruised into the 59kg final and defeated Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL) 4-2.

"No one from Japan had ever achieved becoming a 'world No. 1 as a mama', and it would be ideal if I could do it," Kinjo recalled thinking. "When I accomplished it at the World Championships last October, as soon as it was over I thought there is nothing else that I want."

That victory added to the three consecutive senior world golds that she won from 2017 to 2019. She also has a silver from 2015, and her laurels include a world cadet (U17) gold and two world junior (U20) titles, and she was a four-time Asian champion.

Kinjo was a star at Shigakkan University during its golden era as the elite powerhouse of women's wrestling in Japan, also producing such greats as Icho, Saori YOSHIDA (JPN), Eri TOSAKA (JPN), Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) and Sara DOSHO (JPN).

Looking ahead, she says her focus will be on raising her new baby while staying involved in the sport.

"Right now I am eight months pregnant, and first and foremost I will put my full efforts into proper childcare. And at the same time, I will be Yukako's coach and always maintain a link to wrestling," she said.

At the Japan Women's Open, a second-tier event that offers qualifying spots at the All-Japan Championships, Yukako showed she still has some rust to be knocked off. Entered at 59kg, she won her first two matches before falling to high schooler Miuna KIMURA (JPN) 4-1 in the semifinals.

The tournament also saw the return of Sakurai for her first competition since winning the gold in Paris. She needed three wins to take the 57kg title, defeating collegian Himeka HASEGAWA (JPN) 5-0 in the final.