#Zagreb2018

Shilson Knocks Off Nazarova, Japan Wins Four Women’s Titles on Thursday at #Zagreb2018

By Taylor Miller

ZAGREB, Croatia – The first five Cadet World champions in women’s freestyle were crowned on Thursday night in Zagreb, Croatia.

Highlighting the night was 2017 Cadet World silver medalist Emily Shilson, who knocked off last year’s 38 kg World champion Shahana NAZAROVA (AZE).

Trailing 4-0, Shilson maneuvered her way on top and picked up six gut wrenches for a tech fall and the 2018 Cadet World title at 43 kg.

The rest of the night was dominated by Japan. The nation picked up the next four gold medals with repeat World title performances coming from 2017 World champs Honoka NAKAI (JPN) at 65 kg and Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) at 73 kg.

The closest bout of the night came at 65 kg, where Nakai, the 2018 Cadet Asian champion, picke up a first-period takedown, which was all that would be scored in her 2-0 win over Cadet Asian runner-up Xinru ZHOU (CHN) for a second-consecutive Cadet World title.

Asian champion Kagami wrapped up the night for Japan at 73 kg, where she scored five takedowns on two-time Cadet Asian medalist Qian JIANG (CHN) to claim an 11-0 tech fall for another World gold.

At 49 kg, Cadet Asian champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) won Japan’s first gold medal of the night with a first-period fall over Polina LUKINA (RUS).

Already up 7-0, Fujinami capitalized off an attempted throw from Lukina and pinned the Russian in 1:45.

In the 57 kg final, Cadet Asian champion Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) scored a fast takedown and four leg laces for a 10-0 technical fall over Anna SZEL (HUN) in the first 40 seconds.

The tournament continues tomorrow with women’s freestyle repechage and Greco-Roman preliminaries at 4:30 a.m. ET on unitedworldwrestling.com.

Women’s freestyle team scores going into final day (top 10)
1. Japan - 110
2. Russia - 70
3. Ukraine - 54
4. China - 50
5. United States - 48
6. Belarus - 45
7. India - 31
8. Hungary - 30
9. Azerbaijan - 20
10.
Mongolia - 20

Finals results
43 kg
GOLD - Emily SHILSON (USA)
SILVER - Shahana NAZAROVA (AZE)
BRONZE - Viktoriia ALEKSANDROVA (RUS)
BRONZE - Amina PONOMAROVA (UKR)

1st - Emily Shilson (USA) TF Shahana Nazarova (AZE), 14-4
3rd - Viktoriia Aleksandrova (RUS) fall Simran Simran (IND), 1:05
3rd - Amina Ponomarova (UKR) dec. Anna Ueno (JPN), 6-4

49 kg
GOLD - Akari FUJINAMI (JPN)
SILVER - Polina LUKINA (RUS)
BRONZE - Tiare IKEI (USA)
BRONZE - Natallia VARAKINA (BLR)

1st - Akari Fujinami (JPN) fall Polina Lukina (RUS), 1:45
3rd - Tiare Ikei (USA) fall Munkhgerel Munkhbat (MGL), 1:17
3rd - Natallia Varakina (BLR) dec. Lucia Yepez Guzman (ECU), 9-2

57 kg
GOLD - Nonoka OZAKI  (JPN)
SILVER - Anna Hella SZEL (HUN)
BRONZE - Aryna MARTYNAVA (BLR)
BRONZE - Irina RINGACI (MDA)

1st - Nonoka Ozaki (JPN) TF Anna Hella Szel (HUN), 10-0
3rd - Aryna Martynava (BLR) dec.
Anastasiia Sidelnikova (RUS), 6-4
3rd - Irina Ringaci (MDA) dec. Yaping Zhu (CHN), 11-3

65 kg
GOLD - Honoka NAKAI  (JPN)
SILVER - Xinru ZHOU (CHN)
BRONZE - Ekaterina GLUKHAREVA (RUS)
BRONZE - Sonam SONAM (IND)

1st - Honoka Nakai (JPN) dec. Xinru Zhou (CHN), 2-0
3rd - Ekaterina Glukhareva (RUS) dec. Noémi Szabados (HUN), 7-0
3rd - Sonam Sonam (IND) dec. Oksana Chudyk (UKR), 1-1

73 kg
GOLD - Yuka KAGAMI (JPN)
SILVER - Qian JIANG (CHN)
BRONZE - Elina PYSHKINA (UKR)
BRONZE - Kseniya DZIBUK (BLR)

1st - Yuka Kagami (JPN) TF Qian Jiang (CHN), 11-0
3rd - Elina Pyshkina (UKR) dec. Marion Bye (NOR), 4-4
3rd - Kseniya Dzibuk (BLR) dec. Valeriia Trifonova (RUS), 5-0

Obituary

Japan legend Hanahara passes away at 84

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (February 9) -- United World Wrestling and the Japanese Wrestling Federation, with heavy hearts, announce the passing of Mr. Tsutomu HANAHARA, a revered Olympic champion who etched his name in history through his extraordinary feats in the realm of Greco-Roman wrestling.

Mr. Hanahara, at the age of 84, passed away February 5th, 2024, at approximately 23:00, succumbing to illness.

Mr. Hanahara's crowning achievement came at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games, where he captured the hearts of a nation by defeating Angel KERESOV (BUL), clinching the 52kg Greco-Roman gold medal.

Following his career on the mat, Mr. Hanahara continued to shape the landscape of Greco-Roman wrestling in Japan, assuming the role as Chairman of the Strengthening Committee of the Japanese Wrestling Federation. His leadership was instrumental in propelling the Japanese wrestling team to new heights, notably steering them at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games.

As a coach, Mr. Hanahara led his alma mater, Nippon Sports Science University, to 18 consecutive East Japan Student League Championships, spanning from 1979 to 1996.

Mr. Hanahara's passion for wrestling carried over to his son and grandson. His son, Daisuke HANAHARA (JPN), finished in 11th place at the 1992 Olympic Games, where he competed in the 57kg Greco-Roman bracket. Furthermore, his grandson, Hiroto HANAHARA (JPN), clinched a 57kg freestyle bronze medal at the 2023 U15 Asian Championships.

UWW and the Japan Wrestling Federation mourn the passing Mr. Hanahara and express our deepest sympathies to the Hanahara family.