#WrestleUlaanbaatar

Live Blog: Asian Championships day four

Friday, April 22, 2022 - 02:34 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

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ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (April 22) -- The Asian Championships enters day four and women's wrestling continues with more exciting matchups. The biggest of them is the potential 62kg final between two-time world champion Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) and Nonoka OZAKI (JPN).

Akari FUJINAMI (JPN), Anshu MALIK (IND) and Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) will also be in action.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

13:54: Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) scores all of her points in the first period of her 53kg semifinal against Zhuldyz ESHIMOVA (KAZ) and holds on for a 3-0 victory in the last match of the morning session. That puts the Mongolian into the final against Fujinami -- who beat her by technical fall in the group stage, although she took the match into the second period.

13:42: Anshu MALIK (IND) is stepping on the mat for the first time since the silver medal at Worlds in Oslo and she looks dominant. She begins her semifinal against Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL) with four points and then she builds on it to win 11-0. She will face 55kg world champion Sakurai who goes past Akhmedov 12-2 and also had a four-point tackle in her win.

13:36: Can anyone or anything stop Fujinami. The freshman at Nippon Sports Science University, with her father and coach in her corner, rolled into the final with a 10-0 technical fall over Keunimjaeva. Fujinami scored the final six points with three exposures using a cross-face with legs. Her opponent in the final will be decided in the final match of the session

13:35: Ozaki and Tynybekova have set up a rematch of the 2021 world opening round. Ozaki will be well-rested for the final; she needed just 40 seconds to get a takedown and rip off four straight lace locks in a 10-0 technical fall over Manisha. Tynybekova took 2:24 to record a fall over Esinbaeva. 

13:15: Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) thrilled the home crowd when, while trailing, she slammed Swati SHINDE (IND) to the mat and clamped down for a fall to finish second in 53kg Group B. That puts her into the semifinals against Group B winner Eshimova. In the other semifinal, Fujinami will face Keunimjaeva.

13:15: Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) and Sumire NIIKURA (JPN) are on Mat B wrestling for a gold medal at 72kg. Bakbergenova will win the gold if she wins the match here. But she is trailing 1-0 at the break. In the second period, she is once again put on the clock but she gets a four-point throw. Niikura with a takedown to make it 4-4 but the Kazak wins on criteria.

13:03: Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) is wrestling Dargis ABEN (KAZ) for the gold medal at 65kg. He gets exposure and then in the same action gets a leg lace going. She beats Aben 10-0 to win the gold medal at 65kg

12:55: Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) is wrestling Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL) to confirm the top spot in Group B at 57kg. She begins with a stepout and then adds a takedown to lead 3-0 at the break

12:43: Fujinami was at her dominant best in swiftly putting away Swati SHINDE (IND) 10-0 in 43 seconds to clinch the top spot in 53kg Group A. The Japanese star got a takedown, then twisted Shinde like a pretzel twice for a 6-0 lead, then a pair of lace locks ended the proceedings.

12:42: RADHIKA (IND) was in some trouble early but then secures the fall over Ariukhan JUMABAEVA (UZB) at 65kg. This gives her a chance to return and still be in silver medal contention

12:36: In one of the surprises of the session, unheralded Hyungyoung OH (KOR) jumped out to an 8-0 lead against veteran Eshimova in their 53kg Group B match, only to see the 34-year-old Kazakh storm back with nine points in the final minute. The winning points came on a gut wrench with 8 seconds on the clock. 

12:28: Sumire NIIKURA (JPN) may not have been ready for that. Davaanasan ENKHAMAR (MGL) came back every time Niikura scored a takedown with stepout added with cautions to make it 6-6. But she was not able to break the criteria.

12:22: Anshu MALIK (IND) notches up another 10-0 win. She gut wrenches Danielle LIM (SGP) at 57kg. She confirms her spot in the semifinals as the topper of the group

12:21: Dariga ABEN (KAZ) keeps her gold medal hopes alive as she wins 10-0 against Ariukhan JUMABAEVA (UZB). All she needs to do is beat world silver medalist Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN)

12:20: Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) gets the cradle against Nilafur RAIMOVA (KAZ) and secures the fall as well at 57kg.

12:11: Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) wins her Round 2 bout against Svetlana OKNAZAROVA (UZB) 13-2 which included a big four-pointer from the Kazak wrestler

12:10: Mira MORIKAWA (JPN) was looking for a pin leading 6-0 but RADHIKA (IND) manages to survive. Morikawa begins the second period with a takedown which was an attempted throw from Radhika. She finishes off with another takedown to win 10-0

12:04: In a match that will likely decide who avoids Fujinami in the semifinals, veteran Zhuldyz ESHIMOVA (KAZ) got the second of the two passivity points awarded, giving her a 1-1 victory on criteria over Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB ). Keunimjaeva might be bound for a third straight Asian bronze medal. 

12:01: Super-teen and world champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) needed a little time to break down the defenses of Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) in her opening group match at 53kg, but capped a 10-0 technical fall in 3:24 with a 4-point tackle to the back. The weight class has six entries, and Fujinami is in Group A of the two groups. 

11:55: At 57kg, Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) begins with a 10-0 win over Hyungjoo KIM (KOR) and on Mat A, world silver medalist Anshu MALIK (IND) beats Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB) 10-0

11:50: The 62kg division has eight entries, so it is in the usual knockout format. In the semifinals, Tynybekova will face Nabira ESENBAEVA (UZB ), whom she beat by TF at the 2019 Asian Championships in Xi'an. Ozaki will next face Manisha MANISHA (IND)

11:45: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN), aiming to avenge her loss in the 2021 world final to Tynybekova, followed her on Mat A with a quick-fire 10-0 technical fall over Hanbit LEE (KOR). Time of victory: 28 seconds. 

11:40: World silver medalist Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) is wrestling Davaanasan ENKH-AMAR (MGL). She gives up a point for passivity and gets one as well. But Ekhamar scores a takedown to lead 3-1. Bakbergenova counters with a takedown as well. It's 3-3 Kazakhstan lead and she hangs on to it.

11:35: World champion and Olympic silver medalist Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) launched her campaign for a fifth Asian title with a steady 7-3 over a tough Khongorzul BOLDSAIKHAN (MGL), a fifth-place finisher at the Tokyo Olympics.

11:30: We're all set for the start of Day 4 of the Asian Championships by finishing up the women's competition at 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 65kg, 72kg. Mat C will be in the early spotlight, with Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN), Sumire NIIKURA (JPN), Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) and Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) up in succession from the second match. 

#WrestleSamokov

Onishi repeats as U20 world champ; Blaze wins 61kg gold

Wednesday, August 20, 2025 - 21:52 By Vinay Siwach

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SAMOKOV, Bulgaria (August 20) -- Four bouts, a combined score of 40-0, and a total time on the mat of five minutes and 24 seconds -- all matches finished inside the first period.

Sakura ONISHI (JPN) put on one of the most dominant performances at the World U20 Championships, becoming a two-time world champion by winning the 59kg gold in Samokov, Bulgaria, on Wednesday.

The Japanese wrestling phenom spent less time on the mat than a full six-minute wrestling match and won all bouts with a 10-0 score, just like she did in 2024. Onishi has now outscored her opponents 80-0 over the two tournaments.

After three wins on Tuesday, Onishi faced Karin SAMUELSSON (SWE) in the final. She locked Samuelsson's legs around her head, turning her four times after the takedown. She used the technique on three of her four wins.

"I didn't want to finish quickly. I wanted to focus on winning each point and play the match with that focus," Onishi said.

Onishi feels that she has improved technically since last year, especially after winning the senior Asian Championships in which she faced stiff competition.

"I've been working on improving in various ways," she said. "I wanted to aim even higher in terms of technique and physical strength. The fact that I wasn't defeated in the senior category boosted my confidence. Winning the Asian Championships and Ranking Tournament in Tirana also boosted my confidence."

Sakura ONISHI (JPN)Sakura ONISHI (JPN) uses her trademark lace against Karin SAMUELSSON (SWE) in the 59kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Next for Onishi is the senior World Championships in September as she prepares to win the world title in Zagreb as well. To prepare for that she wanted to test herself again in this age group.

"The World Championships are coming up, and I think this category is just one step in the process," she said. "I think I've taken a good step forward, and I definitely want to win the senior World Championships."

Ray HOSHINO (JPN)Ray HOSHINO (JPN) works on a takedown against SRISHTI (IND) in the 68kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Japan won its second gold medal through Ray HOSHINO (JPN), who also won her second World U20 title. Hoshino, the 2023 world U20 champion, showed no signs of rust in her 7-0 hammering of SRISHTI (IND) in the 68kg final in Samokov.

Srishti, a returning bronze medalist, tried to score on Hoshino, but the Japanese wrestler overpowered her and clearly had a better game plan for the final bout.

Hoshino scored the first takedown of the final and then added a step-out to take a 3-0 lead. She then scored a go-behind to extend her lead to 5-0 at the break. An ankle pick during Srishti's attack gave Hoshino her third takedown of the match and a 7-0 lead she kept until the end.

India crowned one champion on Wednesday when TAPSYA (IND) defeated the European U20 champion, Felicitas Domajeva (NOR), 5-2, to win the 57kg gold medal.

In a match decided by a single move, Tapsya scored a takedown and used an arm-bar to pin Domajeva, who survived the attempt but fell behind 5-0 as she had already conceded a point for passivity.

In the final seconds of the bout, Domajeva scored a takedown, but it was harmless to Tapsya, who defended any turn attempts to win 5-2 and India's first gold in Samokov.

The loss ended hopes for Domajeva to win the first world U20 gold medal for Norway in 37 years. She had became the first Norway wrestler to enter the World U20 Championships final in Women's Wrestling in 15 years.

Marcus BLAZE (USA)Marcus BLAZE (USA) celebrates, like his roommate at Penn State Masanosuke ONO (JPN), after winning the 61kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

U.S. defends Freestyle title

Marcus BLAZE (USA) upgraded his bronze medal from last year to a gold medal, and Maxwell MCENELLY (USA) won the gold medal in the 86 kg weight class as the United States successfully defended its freestyle team title at the World U20 Championships. With five gold medals, the U.S. had its best showing in the competition's history since 1984.

Blaze, who lost to the Japanese world champion Masanosuke ONO (JPN) last year, defeated a former world U17 champion Ahora KHATERI (USA), 10-0, in the final, his fourth win via technical superiority.

With his gold medals at the World U17 and U20 Championships, Blaze joins an elite group of wrestlers who have won world titles at both the U17 and U20 levels.

In Samokov, Blaze demonstrated that he will be a formidable opponent at the senior level as well. He wrestled with solid positioning and scored with various techniques. In the final match, he wrestled Khateri patiently, scoring five stepouts in the first period. A caution against Khateri made it 6-0, and then a go-behind and turn by Blaze made it 10-0.

"I feel good," Blaze said. "I wrestled pretty well. Throughout the tournament, I just kept getting better and better. I feel good about it. Our coaches gave me a game plan, and I stuck to it."

Before the final match, Blaze received a text message from his high school coach, Scott BURNETT, who explained Khateri's wrestling style and told Blaze to "suffocate" his opponent.

"When I was really young, my coach always said to be in a great position the whole time," he said. "Before the final, he told me to suffocate my opponent, and I feel like that's what I did out there."

Marcus BLAZE (USA)Marcus BLAZE (USA) is now a world U17 and U20 champion. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

In his international career, Blaze has lost only once — to Ono in 2024 — but now, both wrestlers train at Penn State in the United States. After winning the gold medal, Blaze imitated Ono's 2024 celebration after the Japanese had won gold at the U20 World Championships.

"I live with Ono; he's my roommate," Blaze said. "He's a great person. At that time, he was just way better. I'm thankful to be able to wrestle with him every single day."

The second gold medal for the U.S. came from McEnelly, who defeated Bozigit ISLAMGEREEV (UWW) 8-0 at 86 kg.

McEnelly prevented Islamgereev from attacking his legs and wrestled at a fast pace throughout the final. He scored four takedowns to shut out Islamgereev.

RESULTS

Women's Wrestling

57kg
GOLD: TAPSYA (IND) df. Felicitas DOMAJEVA (NOR), 5-2

BRONZE: Dolzhon TSYNGUEVA (UWW) df. Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN), via inj. def.
BRONZE: Anna STRATAN (KAZ) df. Tindra DALMYR (SWE), 9-3

59kg
GOLD: Sakura ONISHI (JPN) df. Karin SAMUELSSON (SWE), 10-0

BRONZE: Hiunai HURBANOVA (AZE) df. Ella FINDING (CAN), 4-1
BRONZE: Yifan ZHU (CHN) df. Aubre KRAZER (USA), 5-3

68kg
GOLD: Ray HOSHINO (JPN) df. SRISHTI (IND), 7-0

BRONZE: Eduarda RODRIGUES BATISTA (BRA) df. Laura KOEHLER (GER), via fall
BRONZE: Odzaya ERDENEBAT (MGL) df. Oleksandra RYBAK (UKR), 9-8

Freestyle

61kg
GOLD: Marcus BLAZE (USA) df. Ahora KHATERI (IRI), 10-0

BRONZE: Omar AYOUB (PUR) df. Adlan SAITIEV (UWW), 8-6
BRONZE: Magomedkhan MAGAMEDKHANOV (UWW) df. Sargis BEGOYAN (ARM), 12-11

86kg
GOLD: Maxwell MCENELLY (USA) df. Bozigit ISLAMGEREEV (UWW), 8-0

BRONZE: Abolfazl RAHMANI (IRI) df. Razmik YEPREMYAN (ARM), 4-2
BRONZE: Ahmet YAGAN (TUR) df. Ryogo ASANO (JPN), 9-3