#Bishkek2018

Kaur Gives India Historic 1st Asian Title

Friday, March 2, 2018 - 18:56 By Ken Marantz

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While back home, India is currently celebrating the Festival of Colors, Navjot KAUR (IND) ended nearly two decades of futility for the women's wrestling team by securing the medal of the most important color.

Kaur became the first Indian woman in history to win a gold medal at the Asian Championships when she captured the 65kg crown with a 9-1 victory in the final over Miyu IMAI (JPN) at the Kozhomkul Sports Palace.

"This is the best day of my life since I started wrestling," said a jubilant Kaur, who was carried for a victory lap around the mat by two coaches while hoisting the Indian flag.

In other finals, the Chinese added two more golds to the four they won the previous day with victories by Budapest 2016 world champion PEI Xingru (57kg) and Paris 2017 world bronze medalist HAN Yue (72kg).

But Paris 2017 world champion Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) prevented the Chinese from going 7-for-7 in finals when she overcame a 4-1 deficit to storm past LUO Xiaojuan (CHN) 12-4 for the 62kg crown.

PAK Yongmi (PRK) raises her hands in excitement after winning the 53kg gold medal. Photo by Max Rose-Fyne.

North Korea came away with its first gold medal of the tournament when PAK Yongmi put on a takedown clinic in the 53kg final and handily defeated Sumiya ERDENECHIMEG (MGL) 11-5.

China, despite not having entries in two weight classes because of injury withdrawals, easily captured the team title with 185 points. Mongolia, which had medalists in eight of the 10 divisions, finished second with 167, six points ahead of third-place Japan, which had sent a young, generally inexperienced squad and won just one gold.Navjot KAUR (IND) wins India's first ever Asian championship. Photo by Max Rose-Fyne.

Since Indian women starting participating in the Asian Championships in 2001, 13 wrestlers had previously made the finals without a single one coming away with a victory. Kaur herself was among that group, having finished runner-up at the 2013 tournament in New Delhi. 

"This pressure was something that every athlete was having at the Asian Championships," Kaur said. "But this time, I decided, No, I will compete without pressure. I have just one chance to prove myself, so I was prepared. I won't feel any pressure, let me go and play my natural game.

"Now I have won and I'm proud to become the first woman from India to win a gold at the Asian Championships."

She achieved that feat by twice scoring 4-point throws on counters to single-leg takedown attempts by Imai, who had earlier beaten the Indian 4x-4 on criteria during the round-robin group stage used because the weight class had only six entries.

Imai, a third-place finisher at the Japan championships in December with scarce international experience, was hurt by a questionable challenge initiated by her coach. After Kaur threw Imai onto her side in the first period for 2 points, the Japanese side challenged the decision--only to see it changed to a 4-point move. The additional point for the unsuccessful challenge put Imai into a 5-0 hole.

In the second period, Imai stepped up the pressure and gained a point on a step-out. But the next time she had a grasp of Kaur's leg, she was suddenly sent whirling onto her back for another 4-pointer that clinched the match.

India's coaches Navjot KAUR (IND) celebrates India's first ever Asian championship. Photo by Max Rose-Fyne.

The 27-year-old Kaur acknowledged she was nervous, but also confident.

"I have been preparing for this and waiting for this for very long," she said. "At the national camp, I was supported and motivated by the whole team, including the coaches and the medical staff.

"I was a bit nervous, being on this platform and you have a lot of load on your shoulders. But I was confident. I was being boosted, 'No, you can do it, you can beat Japan, it's not something that you can't achieve.'"

Kaur considers it fortuitous that her victory coincides with the important Hindi Festival of Colors, called Holi. "I believe I got a blessing from the whole of India, and I dedicate the medal to the whole country. That is how I will celebrate, a gift of Holi to the country."

Photo of PEI Xingru (CHN) by Max Rose-Fyne 

China's Pei had her hands surprisingly full with unheralded high schooler Sara NATAMI (JPN), who was making her international senior debut. Pei broke a 1-1 tie, with both points scored on the activity clock, with a snapdown-and-drag takedown in the final minute for a 3-1 victory.

"I wasn't in 100 percent condition, so I was a little nervous," Pei said. "I should have wrestled much better."

For the 17-year-old Natami, the future is bright, but only time will tell if she can break into the Japanese elite.

"I didn't get in on even one tackle, so that was disappointing," Natami said. "This result will give me confidence. But now it's over, and I have to work hard for the next one."

Yue HAN (CHN) gets her hand raise after picking up the 11-0 technical superiority victory over Nasanburmaa OCHIRBAT (MGL). Photo by Max Rose-Fyne.

In the 72kg final, Han had no trouble handling Nasanburmaa OCHIRBAT (MGL), building up a 7-0 lead after the first period before ending the match with a takedown and roll combination for an 11-0 win with 1:34 remaining.

The highlight of the bronze-medal matches came at 65kg, in which LEE Hanbit (KOR) overcame a 6-0 deficit with less than a minute to go to win 6x-6 on criteria. It was one of two bronzes captured by South Korea on the night.

Japan added three bronze medals to its tally from Yu MIYAHARA (53kg), Yurika ITO (62kg) and Masako FURUICHI (72kg).  Miyahara and Ito both won by fall after leading 6-0, while Furuichi posted a 10-0 technical fall.

The remaining bronze medals went to Kazakhstan, Mongolia and India. As with the 65kg class, 72kg only had six entries, so there was only one bronze-medal match in each of those divisions.

The fifth day of competition on Saturday marks the start of men's freestyle with action in five weight classes.

Women's Wrestling
53kg (10 entries)
Gold - PAK Yongmi (PRK) df. Sumiya ERDENECHIMEG (MGL), 11-5

Bronze –  Yu Miyahara (JPN) df. Thi Hang VU (VIE) by Fall, 3:34 (6-0)
Bronze – Zhuldyz Eshimova (KAZ) df. CHIU Hsin Ju (TPE), 5-0

57kg (10 entries)
Gold - PEI Xingru (CHN) df. Sara NATAMI (JPN), 3-1

Bronze –  KIM Yeseul (KOR) df. Thi Huong DAO (VIE), 4-3
Bronze – Baltsetseg ALTANTSETSEG (MGL) df. JONG In Sun (PRK), 7-4

62kg (10 entries)
Gold - Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) df. LUO Xiaojuan (CHN), 12-4

Bronze –  Yurika ITO (JPN) df. Khalbazar NARBAEVA (UZB) by Fall, 4:02 (6-0)
Bronze – Sakshi MALIK (IND) df. Ayaulym KASSYMOVA (KAZ), 10-7

65kg (6 entries)
Gold - Navjot KAUR (IND) df. Miya IMAI (JPN), 9-1

Bronze –  LEE Hanbit (KOR) df. Tsevegmed ENKHBAYAR (MGL), 6x-6

72kg (6 entries)
Gold - HAN Yue (CHN) df. Nasanburmaa OCHIRBAT (MGL) by TF, 11-0, 1:34

Bronze –  Masako FURUICHI (JPN) df. Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) by TF, 10-0, 0:35

#WrestleZagreb

World Championships 2025: Day 4 WW 50kg, 57kg, 65kg, 76kg Highlights

Tuesday, September 16, 2025 - 08:29 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

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ZAGREB, Croatia (September 16) -- The fourth day of the Women's Wrestling will see all Women's Wrestling action. Weight classes on the mat are 50kg, 57kg, 65kg and 76kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 3 RESULTS

The 2026 World Championships will be held in Bahrain from September 5 to 13.

13:44: Welker got to Medet Kyzy's legs and then converts it to a takedown. Welker scores a stepout to start the second period and extender her lead to 3-0. Medet Kyzy gets the takedown to make it 3-2 with a minute remaining. The Asian champion tries to find a way to get the one point and tries a pushout. Welker blocks it but Medet Kyzy slips her arm out and scores a takedown. She continues the action with a turn and leads 6-3 with 10 seconds remaining. An easy go-behind and she wins 8-3 to enter the semifinals.

13:41: Genesis REASCO (ECU) goes right to the lace lock in a first-period attack and before Enrica RINALDI (ITA) knows what hit her, she's behind 6-0. Reasco then gets behind and levers her over for an exposure to make it 10-0. A bit of a delay for a challenge, but nothing changes and officially Reasco wins 11-0 to advance to the 76kg semifinals.

13:37: European champion Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) uses the leg lace to great effect and wins her 76kg semifinal against Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL), 10-0.

13:36: Milaimy MARIN (CUB) bulls her way into the 76kg semifinals with a one-sided 10-0 win over Nodoka YAMAMOTO (JPN). Marin gets behind for the takedown, then reels off four gut wrenches to end the match in 57 seconds.

50kg semifinals
SF 1: Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) vs. Myonggyong WON (PRK)
SF 2: Munkhnar BYAMBASUREN (MGL) vs. Yu ZHANG (CHN)

13:32: Yu ZHANG (CHN) scores a takedown in the first period, then adds two more and a thigh-lock roll to secure a semifinal spot at 50kg with an 8-0 win over Emanuela LIUZZI (ITA).

13:31: Munkhnar BYAMBASUREN (MGL) gets a stepout while on the activity clock in the second period to put her up 2-0, then makes that score hold up to defeat Nohalis LOYO JIMENEZ (VEN) and advance at 50kg.

13:28: Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) gets a takedown and lace turn on Oksana LIVACH (UKR) to open the scoring in their 50kg quarterfinal. After the 4-0 lead, she adds two different takedowns to lead 8-0 at the break. Livach with a big throw out of nowhere but Yoshimoto survives the attempted pin and scores a reversal. An exposure to make it 11-4 which was the winning score for her.

13:25: Asian bronze medalist Myonggyong WON (PRK) catches Madison PARKS (CAN) in a lace and finishes her quarterfinal 12-0. Parks just could not stop Won's powerful turns.

57kg semifinals
SF 1: Helen MAROULIS (USA) vs. Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (UWW)
SF 2: Il Sim SON (PRK) vs. Kexin HONG (CHN)

13:19: Tamara DOLLAK (HUN) found a way to takedown Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (UWW) in the final 20 seconds of their 57kg semifinal. Down 6-1, she scored two points from that takedown and then turned Khoroshavtseva for two more points to make it 6-5. She needed one more turn for a win but the 10 seconds ran off and Khoroshavtseva booked her spot in the semifinal with a 6-5 win.

13:15: Il Sim SON (PRK) is looking sharp at 57kg, as she finishes off a 12-0 victory over Iryna KURACHKINA (UWW) with a 4-point fireman's carry throw in the second period to book her place in the semifinals later today.

13:13: Kexin HONG (CHN) learns her lesson after giving up a counter-lift 2-pointer to Evelina HULTHEN (SWE) in their 57kg quarterfinal. Hong is more deliberate as she drives to three takedowns, going into the lace lock after the final one and reeling off three rolls to win 13:2 in 2:49.

13:12: Helen MAROULIS (USA) pins Himeka TOKUHARA (JPN) in the 57kg quarterfinals! She trips Tokuhara and holds her for a fall and enter the semifinals at 57kg.

65kg semifinals
SF 1: Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) vs Irina RINGACI (MDA)
SF 2: Enkhjin TUVSHINJARGAL (MGL) vs. Alina KASABIEVA (UWW)

13:05: Irina RINGACI (MDA) with a suplex for four against Kadriye KOCAK AKSOY (TUR) in the 65kg quarterfinals. She then adds a two-pointer to make it 6-0. Aksoy seems to have hurt herself during that throw. A stepout for Ringaci but it is challenged by Turkiye and it is awarded four points to Aksoy to cut it to 6-4. A takedown and turn for Ringaci in the second period as she extends to 10-4. Aksoy tries to comeback but Ringaci with a lace and she wins 16-6.

13:01: Grace BULLEN (NOR) sees her bid for an elusive first world title when she falls behind 8-3 in the second period off a scramble with Alina KASABIEVA (UWW), then in a desperation attack, gets slammed to her back for a fall with :08 left in their 65kg quarterfinal.

13:00: Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) gets a stepout to get on board after Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) scored the opening takedown in their 65kg quarterfinal. In the second period, Morikawa with a leg attack and comes out on top with a takedown and leads 3-2. She manages to turn Koliadenko to make it 5-2 with 50 seconds left. She scores a stepout and hangs on to her 6-2 lead to win and enter the semifinals.

12:59: After the two trade two points in a first-period scramble, Enkhjin TUVSHINJARGAL (MGL) catches Vaishnavi PATIL (IND) with a counter directly to her back and secures a fall to advance to the 65kg semfinals.

Quarterfinals

12:48: Asian bronze medalist Nodoka YAMAMOTO (JPN), holding the fort at 76kg for Japan as Olympic champion Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) remains on hiatus, survives a dangerous situation to edge QIANDEGENCHAGAN (CHN) 6-5. With the Chinese leading 1-0 but on the activity clock in the second period, Yamamoto drives forward for a 4-point takedown that is upheld on challenge. The activity point gives her a 6-1 lead. But Qiandegenchagan catches her in a headlock and Yamamoto spends some anxious time fighting off her back. Qiandegenchagan then gains a stepout and a late takedown, but can't turn the Japanese in the final seconds.

12:35: Genesis REASCO (ECU) scores two takedowns in the first period to lead 4-0 at the break against PRIYA (IND) at 76kg. Priya gets on back in the second period but that is all in the bout and Reasco wins 4-2 and advance to the 76kg quarterfinals.

12:28: Former world U20 champion Yu ZHANG (CHN) worked on two takedowns and a roll before launching a big attack on Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) at 50kg. She gives up two exposure points but manages six points from the exchange to win 12-2 and reach the 50kg quarterfinals.

12:18: Asian bronze medalist Myonggyong WON (PRK) storms into the 50kg quarterfinals with a 10-0 victory over Svetlana ANKICHEVA (KAZ). After a stepout, Won gains a takedown with Ankicheva on the clock and whips off two lace-lock rolls. Another takedown and that's all she wrote.

12:10: Paris Olympic bronze medalist Milaimy MARIN (CUB) makes short work of Anastasiya ZIMIANKOVA (UWW), getting a takedown and gut wrench, then coming back and doing it again, with an added roll to finish off a 10-0 victory in their 76kg match in just over a minute.

12:07: Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) shrugs off giving up an early takedown by coming back to take Ozoda ZARIPBOEVA (UZB) down directly to her back and securing a fall at 76kg.

12:04: World U20 silver medalist Audrey JIMENEZ (USA) finds the going tough in her senior world debut at 50kg, as Emanuela LIUZZI (ITA) grabs a stepout for the lone point of the first period. But Jimenez gets in gear and opens the second period with a takedown, only to get flagged for fleeing, giving Liuzzi a point and the top position of par terre -- from which she hits a gut wrench. In the final seconds, Liuzzi scores a 2-point counter exposure as Jimenez gets behind, but time runs out, giving the Italian a 6-3 win.

11:55: She had a slow start in the first bout but Himeka TOKUHARA (JPN) wins via technical superiority against Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) at 57kg. Tokuhara with a big four-pointer in that bout.

11:50: A wild one on Mat C as European bronze medalist Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) and Paris Olympic bronze medalist Kexin HONG (CHN) trade 4-point moves in a non-stop thriller at 57kg that sees Hong go from a 4-0 deficit to a 7-6 lead at the break. Hong gets two more takedowns off a single in which she fights off Vynnyk's counter attempts, and adds an exposure after the second one to go up 13-7. Another takedown and an exposure gives her a 17-6 with 18 seconds to spare.

11:45: Paris Olympic bronze medalist and two-time reigning European champion Grace BULLEN (NOR) absolutely devastates 2023 world 59kg champion  Qi ZHANG (CHN) in their opener at 65kg, scoring two takedowns in the first period, then starting the second with a 4-point throw. A double-leg takedown gives her an 11-0 victory.

11:40: Helen MAROULIS (USA) with her trademark arm-bar to get the fall against Emine CAKMAK (TUR) at 57kg. Maroulis is looking to add to her world medal collections.

11:35: Olympic silver medalist at 62kg Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) has no trouble in seeing off Alexis GOMEZ (MEX), 10-0, in 46 seconds at 65kg.

11:31: 2024 world U23 silver medalist Alina KASABIEVA (UWW) scores 4 with a reverse throw against two-time world medalist Macey KILTY (USA) at 65kg. The two then trade takedowns to put Kasabieva up 6-2 at the break. But Kilty goes on the attack and scores two takedowns, but Kasabieva has the big-point criteria, and she holds on for a 6-6 win.

11:21: A historic moment for wrestling, as Aylah MAYALI (PLE) becomes the first Palestinian woman to take the mat at a World Championships. Unfortunately, the (un)luck of the draw at 65kg put her against three-time world medalist Irina RINGACI (MDA), who is looking to regain the world title she won in 2021. Ringaci proved too much for the Canadian-born Mayali, using a back-trip twice and a throw to score three 4-point moves and win 12-0 in 1:03. Mayali, who won a silver medal at the 2021 Pan Am Championships, first appeared for Palestine at this year's Asian Championships, where she placed eighth.

11:20: World champion Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) just started off with a 10-0 technical superiority win over Miki ROWBOTTOM (CAN) at 65kg. She is looking for her second world title. Morikawa finished with a bronze medal last year at 65kg

11:12: Tokyo Olympic silver medalist and four-time world medalist Iryna KURACHKINA (UWW) breaks open a close match with a takedown and gut wrench in the second period, then goes on to post a 10-2 victory over Magdalena GLODEK (POL) at 57kg.

11:05: Myonggyong WON (PRK) built an 8-2 lead and tried defending it against Elizaveta SMIRNOVA (UWW) at 50kg. But Smirnova kept coming back against Won. However, it was Won who managed to score another takedown and win 10-8. 

10:55: Himeka TOKUHARA (JPN), a former world U23 champion, handles her match against Samantha STEWART (CAN) with great strategy. She works slowly before getting two takedowns in the second period to win 5-0 at 57kg.

10:30: Welcome to day four of the World Championships with all women's wrestling action. The weight classes in action are 50kg, 57kg, 65kg and 76kg.