Paris 2024: Saravi wins Iran's first gold after beating Aleksanyan

Wednesday, August 7, 2024 - 22:46 By Ken Marantz

PARIS (August 7) -- Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) notched his first win in four career meetings with superstar Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM), and it couldn't have come at a better time or place.

Saravi scored a late takedown against Aleksanyan in the Greco 97kg final on Wednesday at the Paris Olympics, giving him a 4-1 victory to improve on the bronze medal he won three years ago in Tokyo and assuring that the Armenian's fourth career Olympic medal would be a second straight silver.

"Thank God I got the first gold for Iran at Paris 2024, and my first gold at an Olympics after I took bronze at Tokyo 2020," Saravi said. "And thanks to my coaches. I’m so happy."

In other action at the packed Champs de Mars Arena, one day after Japan won its first Olympic Greco gold in 40 years, it got another when Nao KUSAKA (JPN) claimed the 77kg title, while Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) emerged victorious when the dust cleared on a chaotic day in the women's 50kg division.

Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) with his coach at the medal ceremony at the Paris Olympics. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Saravi, winner of three tournaments this year including the Asian Championships, looked confident against the veteran Aleksanyan, who had previously beaten him in the semifinals at the Tokyo Olympics and at both the 2019 and 2022 World Championships.

"It’s so sweet to win the gold medal after three attempts," Saravi said. "I have a lot of respect for my opponent in the final. He’s so professional, but I was able to beat him."

Both wrestlers were unable to score from the top in par terre, and Saravi held a 1-1 lead on criteria in the second period. In a quick flurry, Aleksanyan was knocked backward toward the ground, and Saravi spun behind for a takedown.

The Armenian side challenged that Saravi had gone out of bounds during the move, but the takedown was upheld, tacking another point onto the Iranian's tally. He then held on to become Iran's fifth Olympic Greco champion in its history.

"I had lost matches before, even though I still won medals, but now I won, and it is like getting revenge, and at the most important tournament to do that," said Saravi, the 2021 world champion who won bronzes in 2022 and 2023.

Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) tries to score on Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) in the 97kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Saravi knows that celebrations have started in his hometown of Amol in north central Iran.

"My city and province is the home of Greco-Roman wrestling in Iran," he said. "Everybody is really happy there and celebrates my medal, so I am really proud to have made this happen.”

Aleksanyan did not take the defeat very well. With a full collection of Olympic medals -- he also won a gold at Rio 2016 and bronze at London 2012 -- a second silver was not anything he desired.

Immediately after the medal was placed around his neck at the award ceremony, he took it off and kept it in his hand, even as the medalists were paraded around the arena for photo shoots. He did not attend the medalists' press conference.

Nao KUSAKA (JPN) celebrates after winning the 77kg final in Paris. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

In the other Greco final, world bronze medalist Kusaka scored a 4-point takedown in the second period that propelled him to the 77kg gold with a 5-2 victory over four-time Asian medalist Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ).

The victory came a day after Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN), Kusaka's predecessor at powerhouse Nippon Sports Science University, won the 60kg gold, ending Japan's 40-year Greco drought at the Olympics.

"I was in junior high and high school when Kenichiro won world titles and he was someone I always looked up to," the 24-year-old Kusaka said. "As my senior colleague, he was the one who pulled me along the most."

In the final, Zhadrayev struck first with a stepout and a passivity point, but he was unable to turn Kusaka from par terre and went into the second period leading 2-0.

Kusaka, who had beaten Zhadrayev in their only previous meeting at the 2023 German Grand Prix, turned the match around when he stuck the Kazakh with a pancake for 4. He then received a passivity point to make it 5-2 and held on to finish up the victory.

"To be honest, it didn't go according to my game plan," Kusaka said. "But all I could do was believe in myself all the way to the end. Once I got on the mat, there was nobody there to save me. I just believed in myself and all the training that I put in and kept putting the pressure on."

Nao KUSAKA (JPN) scores two points against Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) in the 77kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Three years ago in Tokyo, Japan got a surprising bronze medal in this weight class from Shohei YABIKU (JPN). But in the ensuing years, Kusaka seemed to come out of nowhere to not only depose Yabiku, but rise to a world-class level.

He first made himself known with a bronze medal at the 2023 World Championships. After going on his own to Germany and Hungary for intense training, he started this year off with a bronze at the Zagreb Open.

It got better from there, as he won the Asian Championships, beating reigning world champion Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) in the process, then the Budapest Ranking Series to suddenly make himself the top seed in Paris.

"It's like a dream," Kusaka said. "For this moment, from when I was little, I got through tough times and it's great that I became the champion."

Nao KUSAKA (JPN) celebrates with his mother after winning the gold medal at the Paris Olympics. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

It could be said that Kusaka was destined for Olympic success from the day he came into the world. He was born two months after Naoko TAKAHASHI (JPN) won the gold medal in the women's marathon at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, a feat that makes her among Japan's most beloved athletes to this day.

So impressed was Kusaka's mother that she used the same kanji character for "Nao" in Takahashi's first name for her newborn son.

Kusaka paid tribute to his namesake after his win. After Takahashi's won in Sydney, she famously said, "It was a really fun 42 kilometers."

After Kusaka won in Paris, he commented, "It was a really fun six minutes."

Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) celebrates after winning the gold medal at 50kg at the Paris Olympics. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Hildebrandt seemed to be having fun throughout the day, from the time she stood in the tunnel awaiting the women's 50kg final to the time she stood for the endless photos and hugged numerous well-wishes over her hard-earned gold medal.

Hildebrandt gave the U.S. two golds in two days of women's wrestling with a 3-0 victory over Yusneylis GUZMAN (CUB), who was not her opponent when everyone went to sleep the night before.

"My mind and body are not computing everything, especially with the chaotic morning I had with the change of opponent, so it's all been crazy," Hildebrandt said. "Mostly, I just feel gratitude and I just want to go squeeze my family."

Much of the wrestling world awoke to the shock of 50kg finalist Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) failing to make weight. Phogat had produced the surprise of the competition when she handed defending champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN) her first-ever international loss, and was aiming to give India its first-ever Olympic women's gold.

Under UWW rules, Guzman, as the losing semifinalist to Phogat, took her place in the final. At first, Hildebrandt and her team did not know how the disqualification would affect the competition.

"We get the news that she didn't make weight, and we were under the impression that it was a forfeit," Hildebrandt said. "So, there was a lot of celebrating. It was very strange, like 'Oh my god, I just won the Olympics.'

"Then an hour later, they were like, 'You did not win the Olympics.' I'm like, 'Oh, this is very weird.' So there had to be a reset. I took a nap, woke up, and it was like a fever dream."

Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) The four medalists at the 50kg weight class at the Paris Olympics. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Hildebrandt had beaten Guzman 10-0 in the semifinals of last year's Pan Am Championships, but the Cuban did a good job of keeping the Paris final close.

In the end, a takedown in the first period and an activity point in the second were all that three-time world medalist Hildebrandt could put on the scoreboard, but it was enough to add the Paris gold to her bronze from Tokyo.

For Hildebrandt, it marked a remarkable journey in which she made the drastic drop from 55kg down to the Olympic weight of 50kg.

"The weight cut has taken a lot of deliberate education and discipline," she said. "I actually started the weight cut for these Games back at the end of 2022. I was like, 'Everything I do, from
here on out, is going to feed into [Paris] 2024. So, it's going to be uncomfortable in 2023.'

"I'm so happy to say I've had the smoothest cut of my life for Paris 2024. It paid off."

Yui SUSAKI (JPN) defeated Oksana LIVACH (UKR) in the bronze medal bout in Paris. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Susaki, Makhmudov bounce back to bag bronzes

Susaki bounced back from her dethroning as Olympic champion by winning a bronze medal -- the first time in her life that she had ever taken part in a third-place match.

Putting on a display of the lightning-quick takedowns that had made her 94-0 against non-Japanese opponents prior to Tuesday's defeat, Susaki cruised to a 10-0 victory over Oksana LIVACH (UKR), finishing off the match 17 seconds into the second period.

"After losing in the first round yesterday, it's been a really rough two days," Susaki said. "But the people around me had my back and helped me get back on my feet. I am grateful to them from the bottom of my heart."

Susaki said she was moved by the many non-Japanese fans who cheered for her. "I had thought that without being 'Yui Susaki, Olympic champion,' I would have no value. But win or lose, I was encouraged by the cheers and I want them to see me again as an Olympic champion. I will fight hard over the next four years."

According to the Japan Federation website, a third place at the 2017 All-Japan Championships marks the only time Susaki finished out of the top two in any competition both at home and abroad, dating back to junior high school. In that tournament, the losing semifinalists received the bronze medals without a playoff.

World bronze medalist Ziqi FENG (CHN) picked up the other bronze at women's 50kg, storming to a six-point lead and holding on for a 6-4 vicory over world silver medalist Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL).

Feng opened with two slick takedowns, following the second with a gut wrench, before Dolgorjav struck back to make it 6-2 at the break. Dolgorjav kept the pressure on in the second period, but it wasn't until the final four seconds that she finally got behind for a takedown that was too little, too late.

At Greco 77kg, Makhmudov, the Tokyo silver medalist who looked bound for an Olympic gold in Paris after winning back-to-back world titles, also had to settle for a bronze, and it was no easy task at that.

Makhmudov, who fell to Zhadrayev in the quarterfinals, got a 4-point lift-and-throw early in the second period, and that made the difference in a 6-5 win over Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE), whose late rally came up just short.

Down 5-1, Suleymanov got a stepout and fleeing point, then scored a takedown with six seconds left. But Makhmudov had the criteria advantage, and a last-ditch challenge by the Azeri side only added an unneeded point.

European champion Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM), the bronze medalist at the last two World Championships, picked up the other bronze at Greco 77kg when he hung on for a 6-5 victory over Aram VARDANYAN (UZB).

Amoyan opened with a stepout that became an afterthought when he launched a 4-point throw from par terre for a 6-0 lead. But in the second period, Vardanyan hit a 4-point throw of his own from par terre using a front headlock, but that early stepout left him one point short.

Kyrgyzstan picked up a second bronze when five-time Asian medalist Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) edged Mohamad GABR (EGY) 2-1 at Greco 97kg. Dzhuzupbekov had the criteria advantage after each received a passivity point when Gabr had the option for a second par terre in the final minute, but opted to remain standing. After time ran out, Egypt made a dubious challenge that added a point to Dzhuzupbekov's tally.

The other 97kg bronze-medal match ended on a sad note when 40-year-old Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) was forced to default after injuring his shoulder early in his clash with reigning world champion Gabriel ROSILLO (CUB).

Assakalov landed on the shoulder as he tried an arm throw. He tried to continue, but after a few seconds realized it was not to be, awarding the victory to Rosillo.

It would be the two-time world medalist's last chance for an Olympic medal in three appearances, as he left his shoes on the mat after the match as a sign that he was retiring.

Day 3 Results

Greco-Roman

67kg
SF 1: Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) df. Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE), 3-3
SF 1: Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) df. Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM), 10-4

77kg
GOLD: Nao KUSAKA (JPN) df. Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ), 5-2

BRONZE: Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) df. Aram VARDANYAN (UZB), 6-5
BRONZE: Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) df. Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE), 6-5

87kg
SF 1: Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI) df. Zhan BELENIUK (UKR), 3-3
SF 1: Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) df. David LOSONCZI (HUN), 3-1

97kg
GOLD: Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) df. Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM), 4-1

BRONZE: Gabriel ROSILLO (CUB) df. Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) by Inj. Def., :42 (2-0)
BRONZE: Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) df. Mohamad GABR (EGY), 2-1

Women's Wrestling

50kg
GOLD: Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) df. Yusneylis GUZMAN (CUB), 3-0

BRONZE: Yui SUSAKI (JPN) df. Oksana LIVACH (UKR) by TF, 10-0, 3:17
BRONZE: Ziqi FENG (CHN) df. Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL), 6-4

53kg
SF 1: Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) df. Annika WENDLE (GER) by TF, 10-0, 4:29
SF 1: Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) df. Qianyu PANG (CHN) by TF, 10-0, 4:40

#wrestlebishkek

Vinesh makes successful drop to 50kg, earns shot at 3rd Olympics

Saturday, April 20, 2024 - 17:33 By Ken Marantz

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 20) -- Two-time Olympian VINESH (IND) took the best remaining path available to her to the Paris Olympics and did her best impression of the storming of the Bastille.

Vinesh dropped down to 50kg for the first time since 2018 and rolled to three consecutive technical falls, the last over Laura GANIKYZY (KAZ), to secure one of India's three tickets to Paris in women's wrestling at the Asian Olympic Qualifier on Saturday in Bishkek.

"It was difficult," said Vinesh, a two-time world bronze medalist at 53kg who will be looking to make up for past disappointments at the 2016 Rio and 2021 Tokyo Olympics. "But when you win, everything becomes worth it. I will say that I will be at peace for four to five days, but my main target is the Olympics. I will try to do what I couldn’t do in the last two Olympics. I can do better at this Olympics."

It was also a good night for China and the DPR Korea, which secured three Paris berths each, as well as Uzbekistan, which earned the first-ever Olympic quota in women's wrestling in its history. Host Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia captured one each as the teams did not have to contend with the powerful Japanese, who had already gained spots in all six weight classes.

"Competition is competition," the 29-year-old Vinesh said. "It is not that only if China and Japan are competing alongside you that it becomes a competition. Everyone becomes strong on the mat."

Combined with the quotas won at the World Championships last year in Belgrade, China and India have four each, and Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan and DPR Korea have three apiece.

Two medalists from Tokyo, 53kg silver medalist Qianyu PANG (CHN) and 68kg bronze medalist Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ), were among the victors, as those who came up short will have a final chance at the World Olympic Qualifier in Istanbul on May 9-12.

Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) VINESH (IND) controls Laura GANIKYZY (KAZ) in their 53kg Paris Olympic qualification bout. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Vinesh, long one of the top wrestlers in the world at 53kg, put principles ahead of personal gain when she skipped the Indian trials for last year's World Championships to join in protests against the nation's wrestling federation, which had been suspended by the UWW (since lifted) for failing to address harassment allegations against a top official.

In her place, ANTIM (IND) won the bronze medal at 53kg to earn one of the five Paris quotas in the weight class. For Vinesh to ensure a trip to a third Olympics, she needed to either go up to 57kg or drop to 50kg. She briefly considered the former before opting for the latter. In her last appearance at 50kg, she won the 2018 Asian Games gold, then made the jump up to 53kg.

"I did the weight switch because I didn’t have any option, not out of happiness," said Vinesh, who underwent surgery last August on her left knee. "But I won a quota for my country in the 50kg category. I am happy that I can go to the Olympics. Whether I go in the 50kg category or in the 53kg category, that will be decided in the trials but whatever it is, I won a quota for my country."

Her accomplishments are remarkable and put her among the greats in the sport -- in addition to world bronzes from 2019 and 2022, she has seven Asian medals, including a gold from 2021. All that is missing is a medal from the Olympics, where she has experienced much pain, both physical and emotional.

In 2016, she left the mat in Rio on a stretcher after suffering a broken knee in the quarterfinals against Sun YANAN (CHN). At Tokyo, she was ranked No. 1 but was ousted in the quarterfinals by Vanessa KALADZINSKAYA (AIN). "My body is not broken, but truly I am," she told the Indian Express of her mental fatigue.

Vinesh competed sparingly after that, winning the gold at the Commonwealth Games and bronze at the World Championships in 2022.

"It’s taken so much hard work and struggle," Vinesh said. "I have been away from the mat for 1 1/2 years. I have come back after an operation. Many people have suggested that I should not go in the 50kg category because I could get re-injured.

"But I did not have any option. It was a do-or-die situation. I chose the die option."

On Sunday, she looked like she had never been away from the mat. Against Ganikyzy, who was making her senior international debut, Vinesh opened the scoring with a 2-point counter lift while on the activity clock, then added a double-leg takedown for a 4-0 lead at the break.

In the second period, Vinesh spun behind on a takedown attempt, then reeled off a pair of gut wrenches to end the match at 4:18.

Looking ahead to Paris, Vinesh knows what she needs to do to be prepared and avoid the pitfalls of the previous Olympics.

"Firstly, I will have to manage my weight a lot better," she said. "I have brought myself down to 50kg after so long so I will try and maintain this as much as I can. It’s not easy for me not to put on weight because my muscle mass is very high. Because of that, I gain weight easily. It doesn’t matter how fit I am, I still gain weight because I have a lot of muscle mass. I just want to control my weight. I have four months left, and every day is very important.

"I just want to try my best. It's been 20 years since I've been wrestling. I just want an Olympic medal. Everyone is working for that."

Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) celebrates after making history by becoming the first woman from Uzbekistan to clinch a spot in the Olympics. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Historic win for Uzbekistan

In the preceding 50kg bout, Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) made history by becoming the first woman from Uzbekistan to clinch a spot in the Olympics when she hung on desperately for a 4-2 victory over Meng Hsuan HSIEH (TPE). Keunimjaeva said she knew she was on the precipice of history going into the match.

"I knew that and I tried hard to achieve it," she said. "We’ve been training hard for three years now, we never had an Olympic spot and we wanted it so much. We worked so hard together with the coaches, together with the whole wrestling federation of Uzbekistan."

Keunimjaeva took a 3-0 lead with a single-leg takedown while Hsieh was on the activity clock. But her late shot for another was countered, and Hsieh slipped behind for 2 with five seconds left in the first period.

Keunimjaeva, who took a timeout for treatment on her knee, kept shooting in the second period, and although she could not finish one off, she ate away at the clock. In the final seconds, Keumjaeva clung onto Hsieh's toes for dear life to keep her from getting behind on a counter.

A challenge was unsuccessful, and Keunimjaeva reversed their meeting at the 2021 Asian Olympic Qualifier at 53kg which was won 16-8 by Hsieh, although neither wrestler ended up qualifying.

Like Vinesh, Keunimjaeva had moved down from 53kg and found success at the lower weight.

"I used to wrestle at 53kg," she said. "However, I wanted to compete at this Olympics so much, so I went down to 50kg. I know that this weight class is very competitive. There are many good wrestlers: the world and Olympic champion from Japan, there is a very strong Mongolian wrestler, also a Chinese one. I think they are the toughest opponents."

Hyogyong CHOE (PRK) and Qianyu PANG (CHN) qualified the DPR Korea and China for the Paris Olympics at 53kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

The DPR Korea will be back in the Olympics for the first time since 2016, having opted not to participate in the qualifying for the Tokyo Games. The country returned to the post-pandemic international stage for the first time in four years at last October's Asian Games in China, and its three victors on Saturday had all won medals there.

Hyogyong CHOE (PRK) got the ball rolling at 53kg with a 4-0 victory over ageless Zhuldyz ESHIMOVA (KAZ), an eight-time Asian medalist dating back to 2007 who was attempting to qualify for her third Olympics and first since 2016.

Choe, an Asian Games bronze medalist, gained an activity point in the first period, then scored a stepout in the second period while she was on the clock. She clinched the victory with a single-leg takedown.

In the other bout at 53kg, China's Pang cruised to a 10-0 victory over Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB) to deny Uzbekistan a second berth on its historic night.

Pang, the Zagreb Open champion and Asian Games silver medalist, forced her way behind for an opening takedown, then got a 2-point tilt and a pair of gut wrenches for an 8-0 lead. In the second period, Pang eluded a single-leg attempt and spun behind for the clinching takedown.

"I feel like my performance was much better than in previous tournaments," Pang said. "My goal never changed, I still want to be an Olympic champion. I still need to work hard enough. Every step is difficult, and I hope I can improve step by step."

Asked about the 53kg division, topped by current world champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN), Pang replied, "They [opponents] are very good, but I think the charm of competitive sports lies in this -- no matter how good they are, you still have a chance to win. I must believe that I can succeed."

Kexin HONG (CHN) pins In Sun JONG (PRK) to win at 57kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Pang's compatriot and fellow Zagreb Open champion Kexin HONG (CHN) followed by securing a Paris ticket at 57kg, but she needed a miracle victory over In Sun JONG (PRK) which also avenged a loss at the Asian Games. Hong managed to not only come back from an eight-point deficit to tie the match, but she secured a fall.

Jong opened the match with a single-leg takedown, then put on a fine display of counter wrestling with back-to-back counter-lifts to make it 6-0, then added another to take an 8-0 lead into the break.

But when Jong shot right off the whistle in the second period, Hong got behind for a takedown and added a lace-lock roll to cut the gap to 8-4. Hong then worked out of a deep single for a takedown, flipped Jong onto her back and secured the fall at 4:36, getting payback for a 4-2 loss to Hong in the Asian Games semifinals.

ANSHU (IND) confirmed a Paris Olympic quota for India at 57kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Tokyo Olympian ANSHU (IND), the 2021 world silver medalist at 57kg, earned a likely trip back to the Olympics with an 11-0 rout of Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB).

The three-time Asian medalist gained an opening takedown and added a pair of gut wrenches for a quick 6-0 lead. After that, she spun behind for a takedown, and just barely gained a 2-point tilt at the edge to end the match. An unsuccessful challenge of the exposure added the final point.

Anshu downplayed the fact that she was in the opposite bracket from Jong and Hong. "It feels great to have qualified for the Olympics," she said. "How the brackets are is not in my hands. My mindset was only that I have to qualify irrespective of who my opponent is. My bouts were good. If the wrestlers from China and the DPR Korea were on my side, I would have gone with the same mindset that I have to qualify."

Anshu prepared for the competition by traveling to Japan, where she trained with Fujinami and the rest of the team at the powerful Nippon Sports Science University.

"I did benefit by training there [with Fujinami at NSSU]," Anshu said. "I worked a lot on the mistakes I was making. There is always a mindset about Japanese wrestlers about how to wrestle them or tackle them. So if you are training with the top wrestlers and legends there and competing well, then you get a lot of confidence for your competitions."

Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL), right, and Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK) after winning the 62kg quotas for Mongolia and the DPR Korea. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At 62kg, former world champion Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) proved too much for unheralded Hanbit LEE (KOR), scoring a fall to earn a ticket to the Olympics for the first time since 2016.

Purevdorj, who won her lone Asian gold in Bishkek in 2018, used a single for a takedown, then applied an arm bar and plied her opponent over for the fall in 1:56.

Asian Games champion Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK) captured the other 62kg ticket by scraping out a 6-0 victory over 2022 world bronze medalist MANSI (IND).

Mun used a 2-on-1 arm drag for a takedown and a 2-0 first-period lead. In the second period, she got creative in countering a single-leg attempt, spinning over the back and getting behind before clinching the win with a spin-behind takedown.

Mun had advanced to the qualifying match with an impressive win over Tokyo Olympian Jia LONG (CHN), the 2023 Asian gold medalist at 65kg, taking a 4-0 lead before sending Long to her back with a headlock and winning by fall.

At the Asian Games, Mun famously defeated 2022 world champion Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) in the final to establish her credentials after placing fifth at the 2019 Asian Championships.

Both the 68kg and 76kg divisions had just seven entries, meaning the wrestlers were split into round-robin groups and some had to get through three matches before the final.

Sol Gum PAK (PRK) stopped this last-ditch attempt from Feng ZHOU (CHN) to win at 68kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At 68kg, Sol Gum PAK (PRK) gave the DPR Korea its third win in four matches with a thrilling 7-4 victory over three-time Asian Games champion and two-time Olympian Feng ZHOU (CHN).

Pak, who needed to beat Zhumanazarova in her final round-robin group match to pip NISHA (IND) for second place, opened with a takedown, but the lanky Zhou came back with a counter lift from a front body lock to lead 2-2 on criteria at the break.

In the second period, Pak went ahead with a single-leg takedown from an underhook. As the clock was ticking down, Zhou secured a front headlock and tried to muscle Pak over. Pak stopped the throw long enough to get a 2-point exposure before Zhou completed the roll, putting Pak up 6-4. An unsuccessful challenge upheld Pak's exposure.

Zhumanazarova, the 2021 world champion who is somewhat overshadowed by the exploits of popular compatriots Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) and Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ), lived up to the expectations of the home crowd, scoring five quick points late in the final seconds of the first period and easing to a 7-2 win over two-time Asian medalist Nabira ESENBAEVA (UZB).

REETIKA (IND) gave India its third Paris 2024 quota with an untroubled 7-0 victory over Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

At 76kg, world U23 champion REETIKA (IND) gave India its third win of the night with an untroubled 7-0 victory over Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE).

Reetika scored a pair of takedowns by spinning to the side off a front headlock, then added a stepout for a 5-0 lead. She used the same tactic to add another takedown in the second period, then kept Chang at bay to run out the clock in her fourth match of the day.

Asian Games bronze medalist Juan WANG (CHN) became the third Chinese winner with a 6-1 victory over Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), the losing finalist at the Asian Games where both lost to Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ).

Wang went ahead 1-1 on criteria with an activity point in the second period, then put the match away in the final seconds when she got behind Bakbergenova in the standing position, and fell backwards to roll her over her for 4. An unsuccessful challenge added the final point.

Paris 2024 Qualification Matches

Women's Wrestling

50kg
Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) df. Meng Hsuan HSIEH (TPE), 4-2
VINESH (IND) df. Laura GANIKYZY (KAZ) by TF, 10-0, 4:18

53kg
Qianyu PANG (CHN) df. Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB) by TF, 10-0, 4:03
Hyogyong CHOE (PRK) df. Zhuldyz ESHIMOVA (KAZ), 4-0

57kg
Kexin HONG (CHN) df. In Sun JONG (PRK) by Fall, 4:35 (8-6)
ANSHU (IND) df. Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB) by TF, 11-0, 2:48

62kg
Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) df. Hanbit LEE (KOR) by Fall, 1:56 (4-0)
Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK) df. MANSI (IND), 6-0

68kg
Sol Gum PAK (PRK) df. Feng ZHOU (CHN), 7-4
Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) df. Nabira ESENBAEVA (UZB), 7-2

76kg
REETIKA (IND) df. Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE), 7-0
Juan WANG (CHN) df. Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), 6-1

Paris 2024: Saravi wins Iran's first gold after beating Aleksanyan

Comments

Vinesh makes successful drop to 50kg, earns shot at 3rd Olympics