Meiji Cup

Takatani Takes Title at 86kg to Clinch World Team Spot; Minagawa Denies Kagami in Rematch

Friday, June 14, 2019 - 22:34 By Ken Marantz

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TOKYO (June 14)---Sosuke TAKATANI showed he could pull his weight by winning a third different weight class in three years, while Hiroe MINAGAWA avenged her previous day’s loss to teen star Yuka KAGAMI to join him on Japan’s team to the World Championships.

Takatani continued to settle into the Olympic freestyle weight class of 86kg, soundly defeating Masao MATSUSAKA 8-0 in the final on the second day of the four-day All-Japan Invitational Championships at Tokyo’s Komazawa Gym.

Takatani, a world silver medalist in 2014 at 74kg, won his third straight title at the tournament called the Meiji Cup and sixth overall. He won his fourth title at 74kg in 2017, then won the 79kg crown last year as he transitioned to 86kg. 

In his first foray at 86kg, Takatani won the gold at the All-Japan Championships (called the Emperor’s Cup) last December. That victory, combined with the Meiji Cup triumph, automatically earned him a place on Japan’s team to this year’s World Championships in Kazakhstan.

In the semifinals at the Emperor’s Cup, Takatani was stretched to the limit in scraping out a 2-1 win over Matsusaka. But on Friday, he was easily the superior wrestler, scoring takedowns with a pair of low tackles in the first period, then adding a 4-point takedown in the last 15 seconds.

Sosuke TAKATANI defeated Masao MATSUSAKA 8-0 in the 86kg finals. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

“I had a tough match with Matsusaka at the Emperor’s Cup, so to win so solidly in the final shows I’ve made progress,” the 30-year-old Kyoto native said. “I give it a 90 [out of 100]. The other 10 is room for improvement. I’ll start thinking about that from tomorrow.”

As Takatani continues to adjust to the increased power of his new opponents, the two-time Olympian said that not having to worry about weight control eliminates one source of stress.

“I felt no pressure at all,” he said. “Up to now, I had to fight with making weight. But after going up to 86kg, I don’t have to worry about weight and can focus entirely on my wrestling.”

Takatani can now focus on Nur-Sultan 2019, where, by proclamation by the Japan Wrestling Federation, winning a medal will earn a Japanese wrestler a highly desired place on the Tokyo 2020 Olympics team. 

“For the London and Rio Olympics, I made the team by winning a spot in the Asian qualifying tournaments,” Takatani said. “This year, I want to make the team for the Tokyo Olympics at the World Championships.”

Wrestlers who win the same weight class at both the Emperor’s Cup and Meiji Cup earn a ticket to Nur-Sultan. If the winners are different, the two will meet in a playoff set for July 6. 

Hiroe MINAGAWA avenged her previous day’s loss to teen star Yuka KAGAMI to join him on Japan’s team to the World Championships. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka) 

Minagawa, who won a second world bronze medal last year in Budapest, followed up on her victory at the Emperor’s Cup by defeating two-time world cadet champion Kagami 3-1 in the women’s 76kg final.

As the division had only six entries, the Nordic group system was employed, with two pools of three each. Minagawa and Kagami were drawn in the same group, and the 17-year-old Kagami came away with a 3-1 win Thursday over the veteran who is 14 years her senior. 

In the final, however, Minagawa turned the tables, although not without a scare in the closing seconds.

Minagawa scored an activity-clock point and a step-out to take a 2-0 lead into the second period. Kagami received a point with Minagawa on the activity clock with 15 seconds left, then went on the attack.

In an intense flurry at the edge, Kagami seemed to force out Minagawa with 2.6 seconds left on the clock. First, she was awarded a point, then it was taken away. The Kagami side then challenged, and upon further review it was found that the referee had prematurely blown the whistle, negating the final move and giving Minagawa a point for an unsuccessful challenge.

 “Yesterday, my match was pathetic,” Minagawa said. “It was the first time in a while that I lost to a Japanese opponent. The biggest problem was mental, but today I steadied my mind going into the match and I think that was a reason why I could win.”  

Kagami, as the Emperor’s Cup champ at 72kg, remains eligible to enter the world team playoff in that weight class. 

Naoya AKAGUMA won his second consecutive Emperor's Cup by defeating Takeshi YAMAGUCHI, 3-2 in the 97kg finals. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

In other finals, Naoya AKAGUMA repeated his Emperor’s Cup win in the freestyle 97kg final over Takeshi YAMAGUCHI, scoring a takedown in the last 20 seconds for a 3-2 win and a second trip to the World Championships.

In Greco-Roman, Masato SUMI (87kg) and Yuta NARA (97kg) booked places on the plane to Nur-Sultan, while Shohei YABIKU set up a playoff with Emperor’s Cup winner Naotsugu SHOJI at 77kg by beating him in the final, capping an 8-0 technical fall with a spectacular 5-point back suplex. 

World junior and U23 champion Saki IGARASHI won her first Meiji Cup title by beating Kana HIGASHIKAWA by fall in the 55kg final. She can make her first senior worlds by winning a playoff with Nao TANIYAMA, who missed the tournament due to injury.

Also coming away with her first title was Yumeka TANABE, a former world cadet champion who defeated Kiwa IWASAWA, 11-8, in a nail-biting 59kg final. Tanabe is the daughter of Athens 2004 bronze medalist Chikara TANABE.

Yuki TAKAHASHI, the 2017 57kg world champion, advanced to Saturday's finals. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Takahashi cruises into final; ailing Fujinami falls short

Meanwhile, former world champion Yuki TAKAHASHI remained on track to regain the world crown when he advanced to the freestyle 57kg final.

Takahashi, who had to settle for bronze medals at both last year’s World Championships and this year’s Asian Championships, showed a more aggressive side earlier than usual, and had no need to put on one of patented comebacks.

Takahashi scored takedowns in the opening seconds in both of his matches. He defeated Toshihiro HASEGAWA 7-4 in the semifinals to set up a repeat of the Emperor’s Cup final with Kaiki YAMAGUCHI.

“One thing I was doing was letting the opponent get to my legs too much,” Takahashi said. “In this tense situation with a connection to the Olympics, you can’t make even one mistake. 

Takahashi has long rued his failure to make it to Rio 2014. “I’ve been thinking about it for the last four years. If I win one more match, I’m on the team to the worlds, so I won’t let my guard down.”

Yuhi FUJINAMI, a 2017 world bronze medalist at 70kg, fell to Mao OKUI and will have to earn his ticket to the worlds via a playoff. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

For the second straight year, former world bronze medalist Yuhi FUJINAMI will have to earn his ticket to the worlds via a playoff, although this time he tried to put aside his injuries to compete at the Meiji Cup.

Fujinami showed that his determination to maintain his grip on the freestyle 74kg class could not overcome the effects of a recent back injury, combined with the knee injury he suffered at the Asian Championships.

Fujinami, hoping to cobble together the victories he needed to clinch his place at the World Championships, instead will need to return to action in three weeks for the playoff after losing by fall to Mao OKUI in the semifinals.

“It’s disappointing, and pitiful. It’s an important experience, and all I can do is try to see the positive in it,” Fujinami said. “I’ve just been continually injured. It’s my own responsibility to take care of myself, but I didn’t practice nearly enough, and I had a lot of worries going into this tournament. 

“To be honest, I had a feeling I could lose. It’s not an easy weight class to win. I don’t want to sound like I’m making excuses, but in terms of condition, I feel at about 20 percent.”

Fujinami, a 2017 world bronze medalist at 70kg, injured his right knee in winning his opening match at the Asian Championships in Xi’an, China. He withdrew from the tournament as a precaution in preparation for the Meiji Cup---only to wrench his back a week ago in practice.

His limited mobility could be clearly seen, and after giving up a go-ahead takedown to World University bronze medalist Okui in the second period, his desperation back suplex was easily stopped, leading to a fall at 4:23. 

Assuming he can recover in time, Fujinami, as Emperor’s Cup champion, will face either Okui or Jintaro MOTOYAMA in the playoff for the ticket to Nur-Sultan. Motoyama was a world U23 bronze medalist last year at 70kg.

Fujinami said he considered but decided against skipping the Meiji Cup and putting everything on the line in the playoff, which is what he did last year to make the team to Budapest 2018. 

“I did that last year, and I didn’t want it to seem like I was running away. I thought I would do what I could and see if I could get a good result.” 

Another factor might have been that, as a recent graduate of Yamanashi Gakuin University, he wanted to appear in the uniform of his new employer, Japan Beverage.

Budapest world silver medalist Yukako KAWAI advanced to the women’s 62kg final where she'll take on Yuzuka INAGAKI. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Meanwhile, world silver medalist Yukako KAWAI advanced to the women’s 62kg final, where she will face high schooler Yuzuka INAGAKI, the Emperor’s Cup champ at 59kg who is taking a shot at the Olympic weight class. 

Day 2 Results

Freestyle

57kg (12 entries)
Semifinals
Yuki TAKAHASHI df. Toshihiro HASEGAWA, 7-4
Kaiki YAMAGUCHI df. Daiki ARAKI by TF, 10-0, 5:35

61kg (11 entries)
Semifinals
Ken KIKUCHI df. Keita SHIMIZU, 6-4 
Yo NAKATA df. Wataru TADANO by TF, 10-0, 4:40

74kg (12 entries)
Semifinals
Mao OKUI df. Yuhi FUJINAMI by Fall, 4:23 (4-1) 
Jintaro MOTOYAMA df. Ken HOSAKA, 8-1

79kg (4 entries)
Round-Robin, Final Standings
1. Yudai TAKANASHI (3-0)
2. Komei KAWABATA (2-1)
3. Yuto IZUTSU (1-2)
Key match: Yudai TAKANASHI df. Komei KAWABATA, 5-4 in 2nd round

86kg (12 entries)
Final - Sosuke TAKATANI df. Masao MATSUSAKA, 8-0 
3rd place – Hayato ISHIGURO df. Yuya NISHIKIDO, 4-2 
3rd place – Takahiro MURAYAMA df. Shota SHIRAI by Def.

92kg (5 entries)
Round-robin (through 3 rounds)
1. Takuma OTSU (2-0); 2. Takumi TANIZAKI (2-1); 3. Koji YAMANE (1-2); 4. Akinobu TAKEUCHI (1-1); 5. Yudai SHIGYO (0-2) 

97kg (12 entries)
Final - Naoya AKAGUMA df. Takeshi YAMAGUCHI, 3-2 
3rd place – Keiwan YOSHIDA df. Yusuke FUJITA, 2-2 
3rd place – Taira SONODA df. Atsushi MATSUMOTO, 7-0

125kg (12 entries)
Final - Taiki YAMAMOTO df. Katsutoshi NAKAZAWA, 3-2
3rd place - Nobuyoshi ARAKIDA df. Masae TOMIE by Fall, :54 (4-0)
3rd place - Tetsuya TANAKA df. Yasuhiro YAMAMOTO by Def.

Greco-Roman

55kg (8 entries)
Semifinals
Shota OGAWA df. Hiromu KATAGIRI by TF, 9-0, 1:50
Hirokazu ONO df. Kazuto KATO, 5-0

63kg (9 entries)
Final - Yoshiki YAMADA df. Ichito TOKUHIGA, 2-0
3rd place - Kohei YOSHIKAWA df. Naoki GODA, 6-4 
3rd place - Masaki ISHIKAWA df. Ryota KOSHIBA by TF, 9-1, 2:30

67kg (12 entries)
Semifinals
Shogo TAKAHASHI df. Katsuaki ENDO, 2-1
Tsuchika SHIMOYAMADA df. Yamato UI by TF, 8-0, 1:58 

77kg (11 entries)
Final - Shohei YABIKU df. Naotsugu SHOJI by TF, 8-0, 2:24
3rd place - Amane SHIMOYAMADA df. Takeshi IZUMI by Fall, 5:06 (10-4) 
3rd place - Kodai SAKURABA df. Shoma YAMASAKI by TF, 8-0, 5:19 

87kg (7 entries)
Final - Masato SUMI df. Takahiro TSURUDA, 5-3 
3rd place – Ryota NASUKAWA df. Kanta SHIOKAWA, 9-4

Semifinals
Takahiro TSURUDA df. Ryota NASUKAWA by Fall, 2:07 (7-4)
Masato SUMI df. Kanta SHIOKAWA, 2-1

97kg (9 entries)
Final - Yuta NARA df. Masaaki SHIKIYA, 3-1
3rd place – Naoki MATSUMOTO df. Yoshiki SHIRATORI, 5-1
3rd place – Taichi OKA df. Yuri NAKAZATO, 4-1

130kg (8 entries)
Semifinals
Arata SONODA df. Shoma SUZUKI by TF, 8-0, :37
Keita BANCHI df. Sota OKUMURA, 3-1 

Women’s Wrestling 

55kg (6 entries)
Final - Saki IGARASHI df. Kana HIGASHIKAWA by Fall, 1:36 (8-0)
3rd place – Hikari HIGUCHI df. Mizuki ISHIMORI, 10-2 

Semifinals
Saki IGARASHI df. Mizuki ISHIMORI by Fall, 5:26 (6-1)
Kana HIGASHIKAWA df. Hikari HIGUCHI, 5-4

59kg (6 entries)
Final - Yumeka TANABE df. Kiwa IWASAWA, 11-8 
3rd place – Sena NAGAMOTO df. Ayami SUGIYAMA, 3-1

Semifinals
Kiwa IWASAWA df. Sena NAGAMOTO, 7-4
Yumeka TANABE df. Ayami SUGIYAMA by TF, 12-2, 5:08

62kg (12 entries)
Semifinals
Yukako KAWAI df. Kiwa SAKAE, 4-0
Yuzuka INAGAKI df. Kumi IRIE, 2-0

65kg (5 entries)
Round-Robin, Final Standings
1. Misuzu ENAMOTO (4-0)
2. Miki KAWAUCHI (3-1)
3. Saki KAWAUCHI (2-2)
Key match: Misuzu ENAMOTO df. Miki KAWAUCHI, 8-0 in 4th round 

72kg (4 entries)
Round-Robin (through 2 rounds)
1. Mei SHINDO (2-0); 2. Karen SUZUKI (1-1); 3. Mai HAYAKAWA (1-1); 4. Kanon KOBAYASHI (0-2)

76kg (6 entries)
Final - Hiroe MINAGAWA df. Yuka KAGAMI, 3-1 
3rd place – Yasuha MATSUYUKI df. Miki SAITO by Def.

Semifinals
Yuka KAGAMI df. Miki SAITO by Def.
Hiroe MINAGAWA df. Yasuha MATSUYUKI, 2-1 

#WrestleBelgrade

World C'ships: Tynybekova fends off latest Japanese challenge; Fujinami regains world crown

Thursday, September 21, 2023 - 23:54 By Ken Marantz

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BELGRADE, Serbia (September 21) -- Wily Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) found a way to beat the latest hot-shot wrestler that Japan threw at her and end a recent series of losses at the hands of the premier powerhouse in women's wrestling.

Tynybekova claimed her third world title and a ticket to her fourth Olympics by masterfully beating back the attack of Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) for a 4-1 victory in the 62kg final as women's wrestling at the World Championships wrapped up on Thursday night.

"The Japanese wrestlers are very strong," Tynybekova said. "We were preparing specifically for them. The coaches knew who I would have to wrestle at this World Championships, so they prepared a strategy for me.

"I just had to go up on the mat and follow all the instructions they had given me. I think I have met their expectations."

Superteen Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) regained the world title at 53kg to give Japan its sixth women's gold of the tournament, while Buse TOSUN (TUR) became the second Turkish women's champion in history with a dramatic victory at 68kg.

In the lone remaining non-Olympic weight, teen titan Amit ELOR (USA) successfully defended her 72kg title, giving the U.S. its lone gold in the women's competition.

The tournament is also serving as the first qualifying tournament for the 2024 Paris Olympics, with five berths available in each of the Olympic weight classes. Japan was the lone country to secure spots in all six divisions of women's wrestling.

Not surprisingly, with six champions Japan also captured its ninth straight team title, compiling 195 points to finish well ahead of the second-place United States with 135. Mongolia, with three silver medalists, finished third with 80.

Tynybekova, who became a national hero in Kyrgyzstan when she became its first-ever women's world champion and Olympic medalist, has had her share of victories and defeats against Japanese opponents.

In recent years, she lost to Yukako KAWAI (JPN) in the final of the Tokyo Olympics, and fell to Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) at last year's World Championships in Belgrade (she would avenge the latter loss at this year's Asian Championships).

"Some people were texting me that I would never be able to become the world champion again, Asian champion, world champion," Tynybekova said. "I just kept silent. I needed just a little time to prove that we are the best."

Facing her this time on the other side of the mat was Motoki, a bronze medalist at 59kg last year who had moved up to the Olympic weight and beat both Kawai and Ozaki to make the team to Belgrade.

Motoki was the aggressor from the get-go, launching her low single attacks. But each time, Tynybekova calmly sat back on Motoki's shoulder and forced a stalemate. It seemed little concern to Tynybekova when she gave up an activity point for the only point of the first period.

In the second period, Tynybekova suddenly and without warning took her first shot, and hit the target, scoring a takedown with a low single to take the lead.

Motoki increased the pressure, but that only played into Tynybekova's hands, as she scored 2 off a counter lift to pad the lead and put Motoki into a bigger hole. Tynybekova never let her get out of it.

"In order to win this gold, I had to work hard for two years, I had to have patience, overcome all the obstacles," Tynybekova said. "Together with the team, coaches, federation, all together we won this gold."

Amid the sting of the defeat, Motoki can be content with having achieved her objective of securing a ticket to the Paris Olympics. The Japan federation has ruled that any wrestler who wins a medal at the World Championships in an Olympic weight would automatically fill the spot without any further playoffs.

For Motoki, that holds even more significance. Her father, Yasutoshi, wrestled at the 2000 Sydney Olympics in Greco-Roman, and it has been her dream since childhood to join him as an Olympian.

Still, the stinging defeat offered a dose of reality, which she will surely use to motivate her in the years ahead.

"I came into the tournament confident that my wrestling could be competitive on the world level," a sobbing Motoki said. "But I'm still a long way away."

Making it to Paris was also the prime motivation for the 19-year-old Fujinami, who regained the 53kg title that she won in 2021 but was unable to defend when a foot injury kept her out of last year's World Championships.

"Last year an injury kept me from competing and it is a bitter memory," Fujinami said. "I thought, 'Next year, I will definitely win the title at the World Championships and later win the gold at the Paris Olympics.' I achieved one of them, the world title, so I'm really happy."

Facing two-time former champion Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (AIN) in the final, Fujinami was at her devastating best, scoring all of her points on takedowns off her lethal single-leg attack en route to a 10-0 technical fall in 4:43.

The victory, combined with her four wins in the preliminary round Wednesday, extended her current winning streak to 127 matches. She has not lost since the national junior high school championships in June 2017.

Although she secured her ticket to Paris when she won her semifinal on Wednesday, Fujinami kept her focus on the championship match.

"I clinched the spot in Paris, but I've been working the past year to become the world champion," she said. "I was happy yesterday, and I felt relieved. But I still had today to go, so I couldn't be too happy."

Like Tynybekova, Kaladzinskaya has an interesting history in relation to Japanese wrestlers. Both of the Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist's world titles came at the expense of Japanese who ironically would go on to win Olympic titles.

The 30-year-old defeated Eri TOSAKA (JPN) in the 48kg final in 2012 and scored a last-second victory over Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) at 53kg in 2017.

"I got advice from various people and I was able to do my wrestling," Fujinami said of facing Kaladzinskaya. "She's powerful, not a type you find in Japan."

While Fujinami again stamped herself as one of the most dominant wrestlers on the planet, she also showed a hint of vulnerability in her quarterfinal match on Wednesday against Lucia YEPEZ (ECU). But it only makes her more determined to improve.

Yepez opened the match by taking a 5-0 lead and finished with seven points overall, the most-ever scored on Fujinami by a non-Japanese opponent. Fujinami, who ended up winning the match by fall, regarded having to face adversity as a good experience.

"I think I'm still weak, but I want to be the one who stands out, so I have to get stronger and train harder," she said.

"Honestly speaking for this tournament I kept telling myself, 'Just have fun, just have fun.' In reality, it's not that it wasn't enjoyable, but I wasn't able to do much that was fun. I felt the pressure and I couldn't get my legs to move. It's the first time I experienced that, but I feel it's a sign I have also grown."

After her victory, Fujinami celebrated on the mat with her coach, who also happens to be her father Toshikazu and has been coaching her since she started wrestling as a toddler. After playfully tackling him, the two set out together on a victory lap around the mat carrying the Japanese flag.

At 68kg, Tosun made it to the top of the medal podium after twice winning bronze medals at 72kg with a spectacular victory by fall over Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) that left the Turk as stunned as her opponent.

Tosun took a 1-0 lead in the first period after scoring a stepout while on the activity clock. Mongolians are well known for their big throws, and in the opening moments of the second period, Enkhsaikhan hit a beauty for a 4-point move.

The only problem was that Tosun never stopped the momentum and rolled through, putting Enkhsaikhan onto her back before clamping down for the fall in 3:15.

With the triumph, Tosun joined Yasmin ADAR (TUR) as the lone woman to win world titles for Turkiye. Adar won 75/76kg golds in 2017 and 2022. She did not return this year to Belgrade to defend her title.

In the non-Olympic weight on the program, Elor kept a firm grip on the 72kg title by holding off the attacks of Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL), using her tremendous strength to power to an 8-2 victory.

"That was my game plan, I wanted to keep pressure on, I wanted to have close contact, and it looks like that's what she wanted also," Elor said. "So it was interesting, I think it's a really good match for me to look back on and learn from.

"I have a lot to work on, a lot to get better and improve at. But at the end of the day, I'm a world champion, which is amazing. I'm so happy."

Elor took a 3-0 lead in the first period with two stepouts sandwiched around an activity point. In the second period, the American scored a snap-down takedown before Enkh Amar finally broke through the armor and scored a takedown of her own, only to see Elor quickly gain a reversal. Elor then added her final points when she stopped a late throw attempt.

"I'm very confident with my hips," Elor said. "I love to rethrow, I like to score off of someone else's throw. But I need to work on my positioning. I shouldn't get in those positions. But it was a great match and I really enjoyed the fight."

The question now for the two-time world champion is what her plans are regarding the Paris Olympics.

"I don't know for sure yet, but most likely I'll go down [to 68kg]," she said. "We'll see because ever since a young age, I've never cut weight. And so if I do go down, it has to be in a healthy way. It has to be what feels best for me and my body."

Yepez gives Ecuador first medal

Another country joined the list of medal winners when Yepez gave Ecuador its first-ever world medal in any style by sweeping to a 10-3 victory over Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) in a bronze-medal match at 53kg.

In avenging a 14-4 loss to Prevolaraki in the bronze-medal match last year in the same venue, the lightning-quick Yepez blasted out to a 6-0 lead with three takedowns, then held off a late push to secure the historic bronze.

Another up-and-coming wrestler, world U20 champion ANTIM (UWW), took home the other 53kg bronze by beating Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) in arguably the most entertaining match of the night session, a freewheeling 16-6 technical fall completed as time expired.

The 19-year-old Antim, who had a 4-point barrel roll in the first period to lead 6-6 on criteria, went on a 10-point scoring spree in the second to put the match away and win a medal in her senior world debut.

The most dramatic match came at 68kg, where Irina RINGACI (MDA) squandered a 6-1 lead against 2022 silver medalist Ami ISHII (JPN) and fell behind with 45 seconds left, only to score the winning 2 with a counter-lift with 10 seconds for her second straight bronze.

Ishii, needing to win the match to clinch an Olympic berth for herself, gave up a 4-point counterthrow in the first period that would factor into criteria situations, so she worked to take the outright lead. She managed to do it with three takedowns in the second period.

But as she tried to hold off a late throw from Ringaci, the Moldovan reached over the top and lifted her up and over for 2 and a miracle finish. It was Ringaci's third world medal, having also won the gold at 65kg in 2021.

Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) gave the Olympic host country its first women's quota when she overwhelmed Emma BRUNTIL (USA) by a 10-0 technical fall for the other 68kg bronze and her fourth career world medal.

Larroque, a bronze medalist last year at 65kg, struck early with a 4-point arm throw in the first period, then reeled off three takedowns in the second to end the match in 5:13.

Grace BULLEN (NOR) earned a rare Olympic spot for Norway, scoring a takedown in the first period and a stepout in the second for a 3-0 victory over Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) at 62kg.

It was Bullen's second world medal, adding to the 59kg silver she won last year. Dudova was the gold medalist a year ago at 59kg.

The other 62kg bronze went to Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) with a 10-0 technical fall of Luisa NIEMESCH (GER), a repeat of her quarterfinal victory en route to the gold at the European Championships -- right down to the score.

Koliadenko got her first four points one at a time, with three stepouts and an activity point. Then she got a takedown and reeled off two gut wrenches to end the match at 4:29.

Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN), the 2022 world 65kg champion who was wrestling at 72kg for the first time in her life after failing to make Japan's team at 68kg, will return with a bronze medal after beating Kendra DACHER (FRA) 4-2.

Morikawa went ahead with an activity point and stepout in the first period, then added a stepout with a fleeing point to go up 4-0. Dacher managed a consolation takedown with five seconds left.

For what it's worth, Morikawa completed the collection of world medals, having also won a silver in 2021 at 65kg. But what will be of more concern for her was that Ishii's loss reopened the door for her to the Paris Olympics.

Three-time Asian champion Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), the world silver medalist the past two years, will take home the other 72kg bronze after notching a 4-1 win over Natalia STRZALKA (POL).

Bakbergenova seemed to get the spark she needed after giving up an activity point to fall behind 1-1 on criteria, immediately scoring a stepout and then adding a takedown.

Ishii rebounds

Ishii managed to come back from her heartbreaking defeat and secure the only quota in Paris that Japan had not yet clinched -- although to make it hers, she's going to have to go through the same domestic fight that she went through to get to Belgrade.

Ishii, who could barely move off the mat after her exhausting loss to Ringaci, scored a takedown on a low single in the first period and made that stand in a 2-0 victory over Bruntil in the fifth-place playoff at 68kg.

Sweden and Germany gained the other Olympic spots at stake, with Malmgren beating Prevolaraki by fall at 53kg and Niemesch gaining a second-period takedown to edge Dudova 3-2 at 62kg.

Day 6 Results

Women's Wrestling

53kg (31 entries)
GOLD: Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) df. Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (AIN) by TF, 10-0, 4:43

BRONZE: Luisa YEPEZ (ECU) df. Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE), 10-3
BRONZE: ANTIM (UWW) df. Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) by TF, 16-6, 6:00

5th-Place Playoff: Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) df. Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) by Fall, 2:09 (2-0)

62kg (34 entries)
GOLD: Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) df. Sakura MOTOKI (JPN), 4-1

BRONZE: Grace BULLEN (NOR) df. Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL), 3-0
BRONZE: Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) df. Luisa NIEMESCH (GER) by TF, 10-0 4:29

5th-Place Playoff: Luisa NIEMESCH (GER) df. Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL), 3-2

68kg (33 entries)
GOLD: Buse TOSUN (TUR) df. Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) by Fall, 3:14 (3-4)

BRONZE: Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) df. Emma BRUNTIL (USA) by TF, 10-0, 5:13
BRONZE: Irina RINGACI (MDA) df. Ami ISHII (JPN), 8-8

5th-Place Playoff: Ami ISHII (JPN) df. Emma BRUNTIL (USA), 2-0

72kg (18 entries)
GOLD: Amit ELOR (USA) df. Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL), 8-2

BRONZE: Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) df. Natalia STRZALKA (POL), 4-1
BRONZE: Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) df. Kendra DACHER (FRA), 4-2

Greco-Roman

55kg (20 entries)
GOLD: Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) vs. Poya DAD MARZ (IRI)

Semifinal: Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) df. Poya DAD MARZ (IRI), 3-2
Semifinal: Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) df. Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB), 7-4

77kg (45 entries)
GOLD: Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) vs. Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ)

Semifinal: Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) df. Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM), 5-0
Semifinal: Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) df. Nao KUSAKA (JPN), 7-5

82kg (24 entries)
GOLD: Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) vs. Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI)

Semifinal: Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) df. Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR), 5-5
Semifinal: Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI) df. Mihail BRADU (MDA), 5-1

130kg (30 entries)
GOLD: Riza KAYAALP (TUR) vs. Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI)

Semifinal: Riza KAYAALP (TUR) df. Lingzhe MENG (CHN), 3-1
Semifinal: Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) df. Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB), 1-1