World Championships day five semis set

Wednesday, September 14, 2022 - 06:38 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

BELGRADE, Serbia (September 14) -- An all women's wrestling day at the World Championships in Belgrade. The final four weight classes will be in action with world champion Helen MAROULIS (USA) taking the mat at 57kg. The 68kg is also guaranteed fireworks.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

The semifinals for the evening session are set

57kg
Helen MAROULIS (USA) vs. Davaachimeg ERKHEMBAYAR (MGL)
Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) vs. Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN)

59kg
Jowita WRZESIEN (POL) vs. Grace BULLEN (NOR)
Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) vs. Sakura MOTOKI (JPN)

68kg
Ami ISHII (JPN) vs. Nisha DAHIYA (IND)
Irina RINGACI (MDA) vs. Tamyra MENSAH STOCK (USA)

72kg
Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) vs. Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU)
Masako FURUICHI (JPN) vs. Amit ELOR (USA)

13:02: Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) and Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR) going back and forth on Mat C. The scrambles have resulted in a 9-7 lead for Kolawole. Challenge from Kolawole against a four-point move. She loses the challenge. They trade four-pointers with Kolawale leading 13-12. A go behind with just 8 seconds remaining as Aliyeva wins 14-13

13:01: Asian bronze medalist Davaachimeg ERKHEMBAYAR (MGL) clinches a 4-0 victory with a 2-point takedown to the back in defeating Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB) to make the 57kg semifinals.

12:57: Helen MAROULIS (USA), pursuing a fourth career world gold, advances to the 57kg semifinals Anhelina LYSAK (POL) with a 10-0 technical fall. Maroulis scores four takedowns, capping the final one with a lack lock roll to end the match at 3:22.

12:55: Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) and Alina HRUSHYNA (UKR) in the 57kg quarterfinals with the Ukraine wrestler leading 2-0 at the break. Excellent defense from Hrushyna so far but Sakurai gets a takedown. She gets on the leg again but Hrushyna is trying to expose her. No points. A 2-2 win for Sakurai as she joins her Ikuei University teammates Ami ISHII (JPN) and Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) in the semifinals for the evening session.

12:50: 2021 world U23 bronze medalist Nisha DAHIYA (IND) proves too much for Sofiya GEORGIEVA (BUL), charging to an 11-0 technical fall to secure a spot in the 68kg semifinals.

12:50: Taymara MENSAH STOCK faces a familiar opponent in Feng ZHOU (CHN) in the 68kg quarterfinals on Mat D. She was looking for the fall but Zhou manages to come out of it. She leads 6-0. No comebacks from Zhou this time as Mensah wins 10-0

12:48: Big 68kg quarterfinal as Irina RINGACI (MDA) is up against Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL). Both wrestlers get four points but it's Ringaci leading 7-4 after a takedown. In the second period, Ringaci hits a five before winning the match 14-4

12:46: Ami ISHII (JPN) fights off her back and comes back to score a fall over former world champion Linda MORAIS (CAN) and advance to the 68kg semifinals. Morais uses a barrel roll to put Ishii onto her back, then adds exposure for a 6-2 lead. Ishii shoots in on a double, and Morais uses a counter lift for 2 more. But Ishii keeps the legs, charges ahead and uses a half-nelson to put Morais directly to her back. The fall comes at 2:38.

12:40: Defending world champion Masako FURUICHI (JPN) gives up a takedown against Kendra DACHER (FRA) but answers with a takedown and lace to lead 4-2 at the break. A double from Dacher in the second period to lead 4-4. Furuichi struggling with her defense here. A double leg with 20 seconds remaining and she gets four while looking for the pin. Time runs out but she wins 8-4 at 72kg.

12:36: Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) makes the semifinals for the first time in her third appearance at senior worlds with an 11-0 technical fall at 72kg over Shauna KUEBECK (CAN).

12:34: Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), the silver medalist at 72kg a year ago in Oslo, simply overpowers Svetlana OKNAZAROVA (UZB) to make the semifinals with a 10-0 technical fall at 2:50.

12:30: A 40-second fall for U20 world champion Amit ELOR (USA) over Bose TOSUN (TUR) in the 72kg quarterfinals. That got the USA camp excited.

12:27: European silver medalist Jowita WRZESIEN (POL) scores a takedown and exposure in the final minute to rally into the 57kg semifinals with a 5-3 victory over Mansi AHLAWAT (IND).

12:22: On Mat D, Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) and Qi ZHANG (CHN) are involved in a battle on Mat D. Nichita leads 4-2 at the break. Zhang shoots for the leg but is defended by Nichita. Zhange tries to defend against an attack by Nichita but fails. Nichita with another single leg and she is now looking for the fall and it's confirmed.

12:21: Grace BULLEN (NOR), looking for her first world medal in her sixth appearance, gets one step closer by capping a 12-0 technical fall in the 59kg quarterfinals over Erdenesuvd BAT ERDENE (MGL) with a spectacular 5-point throw.

12:20: 59kg quarterfinals with Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) picking up a fall over Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE) on Mat C.

12:15: U23 world champion Alina HRUSHYNA (UKR) with a fall over Yongxin FENG (CHN) and making her way to the 57kg quarterfinals.

12:11: 2021 world U23 bronze medalist Esther KOLAWOLE, trailing 2-2 on criteria, scores a stepout with :28 left against European bronze medalist Sandra PARUSZEWSKI (GER) to book a place in the 57kg quarterfinals.

12:03: 55kg world champion Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) and Olympic bronze medalist Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL) wrestling on Mat C at 57kg. 1-0 lead for Sakurai at the break for a passivity. A takedown for Sakurai to start the second period, extending her lead to 3-0. Another takedown for her and it's 5-0. Nikolova is in danger of a pin but she lets go of the hold to give up two. 7-0 for Sakurai with one minute remaining. A big four confirmed for Sakurai as she wins 11-0 but Bulgaria challenges the call. Challenge lost and Nikolova will wait if Sakurai can reach the final

12:01: Anhelina LYSAK (POL), the 2021 world U23 champion at 59kg, advanced to the 57kg quarterfinals and a clash with top seed Helen MAROULIS (USA) with a victory by fall over Sarita MOR (IND).

11:56: Olympic champion Taymara MENSAH STOCK (USA) takes the lead against Alla BELINSKA (UKR) with a takedown. She went for another but looks like Bellinska has injured her shoulder. After some medical attention, she will continue but Mensah has the par terre advantage. A fall in the second period for Mensah.

11:54: Two-time European champion Irina RINGACI (MDA), yet another world champion in the stacked 68kg field, rolls to a 10-0 technical fall over Noemi SZABADOS (HUN) to advance to the quarterfinals. Ringaci won the 65kg title in Oslo last year.

11:51: Feng ZHOU (CHN) on Mat C against Ambar GARNICA (MEX) and she takes a 3-0 lead with a takedown and an inactivity point. Garnica on the shot and tries to expose Zhou but exceptional defense from the China wrestler. Zhou gives up two but scores a reversal before hitting a four to lead 8-2. But she hangs on for a 10-4 win.

11:48: Ami ISHII (JPN) sets up an intriguing quarterfinal clash at 68kg with Linda MORAIS (CAN) when the Japanese collegian chalks up a 3-0 win over European silver medalist Pauline LECARPENTIER (FRA).

11:47: Defending champion Helen MAROULIS (USA) needs less than 20 seconds to score a fall over Emma TISSINA (KAZ) and advance to the quarterfinals at 57kg.

11:45: Olympic silver medalist Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR), a 10-time African champion chasing a first world medal, loses a 2-2 heartbreaker at 68kg to Asian bronze medalist Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL). Oborududu leads 2-0 from a pair of stepouts, but Enkhsaikhan scores a takedown with 1:15 left to win by criteria.

11:34: In a clash of current and former world champions, 2019 titlist Linda MORAIS (CAN) assures that Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) will not be repeating her title run at 68kg in a nail-biter on Mat A. Morais, trailing 3-0 in the second period, goes ahead 4-3 with a takedown and exposure. When Zhumanazarova gets in on a single, Morais executes a lift for exposure for 2, but the Kyzgyz wrestler reverses her to her back to cut the lead to 6-5 with :20 left. Morais then resists a vicious gut wrench attempt to secure the win.

11:30: Sarita MOR (IND), a 2021 world bronze medalist at 59kg, wins her opening match at 57kg, scoring the decisive takedown midway through the second period for a 4-2 win over world U23 bronze medalist Hannah TAYLOR (CAN).

11:30: Alla BELINSKA (UKR) and Asian champion Madina BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) have been involved in a very close bout. The Kazakhstan wrestler was cautioned twice for grabbing the fingers before Belinska was warned for negative wrestling. But she gets a takedown to lead 5-1. Bakbergenova gets on the leg but Belinska is cautioned again. 5-2 win for the Ukraine wrestler.

11:25: Yongxin FENG (CHN) looks like a contender at 57kg. She gut wrenches her way to a technical superiority win over Bediha GUN (TUR). After not being able to participate in the World Championships last year, the China team has done well this year.

11:20: Ami ISHII (JPN), coming off a victory at the world U20, gets her first senior world campaign off to a good start with a 10-0 technical fall over Grabriela PEDRO (BRA), scoring the 10th point with a stepout at the first-period buzzer to advance to the 68kg quarterfinals. Ishii defeated 2021 world silver medalist Rin MIYAJI (JPN) en route to making the Japan team to Belgrade.

11:13: Defending champion Masako FURUICHI (JPN) survives a first-round scare at 72kg, holding on for a 4-3 victory over QIANDEGENCHAGAN (CHN), a 2016 Asian bronze medalist. Furuichi scores two first-period takedowns, only for the Chinese to come back with a takedown and activity clock point early in the second. Furuichi is one of only two wrestlers to have completed the “grand slam” of world senior, U23, junior and cadet titles.

11:10: Another U20 world champion Amit ELOR (USA) showing her class in her senior-level tournament. She has U23 world champion Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) but that doesn't matter as she completes a 10-0 win

11:00: U20 world champion Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) with a quick fall over Ebru DAGBASI (TUR) at 59kg. She moves into the quarterfinals against Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE).

10:55: Qi ZHANG (CHN), a 2019 Asian bronze medalist who returned to international action in Bucharest in July and won the gold, moves into the 59kg quarterfinals with a 10-0 technical fall over Elena BRUGGER (GER).

10:50: Grace BULLEN (NOR) looks to be on a mission. She works on Abigail NETTE (USA) to secure a 13-2 win at 59kg.

10:54: European champion Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) records the fall in the first period against Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN) to advance to the quarterfinals at 59kg.

10:29: Hello to all from sunny Belgrade for Day 5 and another morning session of high drama. Today, the last four women's weights will be up, with competition through the quarterfinals at 57kg, 59kg, 68kg and 72kg.

#JapanWrestling

Ono entered at 57kg, Susaki at 50kg for All-Japan Championships

Thursday, December 4, 2025 - 15:34 By Ken Marantz

TOKYO (December 4) -- After winning both the U20 and senior world titles at freestyle 61kg within a two-month span in the autumn of 2024, Masanosuke ONO all but disappeared from the Japanese wrestling scene.

That culminated with his announcement in March this year that, having left Yamanashi Gakuin University, he had committed to wrestle at U.S. collegiate powerhouse Penn State. He has not been seen on the mats of Japan since.

Ono will compete once again in his home country, dropping down from 61kg to 57kg for the upcoming Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships at Tokyo's Komazawa Gym, according to the entry list announced Thursday by the Japan Wrestling Federation.

The tournament, to be held December 18-21, will also serve as the domestic qualifier for next year's Asian Championships, and the first of two qualifiers for the Asian Games and World Championships in 2026.

Yui SUSAKI (JPN) will compete at 50kg at the Emperor's Cup. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Among other notable recent absentees appearing on the entry list is Yui SUSAKI, the 2021 Tokyo Olympic champion at 50kg who had to settle for a bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She will compete at 50kg, putting to bed speculation that she might move up to the 53kg division.

"This will be a tournament to start me anew on the road to the Los Angeles Olympics," Susaki said in an online press conference with the Japanese media, as reported by Wrestling-Spirits.jp.

"In order to reclaim the gold medal at the Los Angeles Olympics, as a challenger starting from scratch, I want to win in a Yui Susaki-esque way of wrestling."

The 21-year-old Ono had been a question mark with the tournament falling in the middle of the Penn State season. But the decision to redshirt Ono -- the system of allowing him to train with the team while withholding him from competition to maintain an extra year of eligibility -- opened the door for him to make the trip back to Japan.

Assuming he does not have trouble making weight, he should be the class of the 57kg field, with his toughest competition most likely coming from two-time Asian bronze medalist Rikuto ARAI.

One opponent he won't have to contend with is Paris Olympic champion Rei HIGUCHI, who decided to continue delaying his return to action. Also missing is defending champion Rin SAKAMOTO, who was injured at the World Championships. With Sakamoto also across the Pacific at Oklahoma State University, it prevents a rare clash of U.S.-based wrestlers.

Susaki only returned to action in September, and both of her forays were at 53kg. That, and the well-publicized move up to 57kg by Akari FUJINAMI, the 53kg champion in Paris, fueled conjecture that Susaki might also move up.

Susaki started at the National Sports Festival, where she competed at 53kg if for no other reason that it was one of only two women's weight classes in the competition. She lost a defensive-oriented 2-1 decision to 2024 world 55kg champion Moe KIYOOKA in the quarterfinals, marking her first loss to a Japanese opponent in six years.

"Losing at the National Sports Festival gave me the chance to look inside myself," Susaki said. "The result was really disappointing, but I'm glad I took part and was grateful for the opportunity."

Now 26, the four-time world champion is firmly determined to regain the Olympic gold that eluded her in Paris with a heart-breaking last-second loss to Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) in the opening round.

"I truly was shown just how difficult and challenging it was to win at the Paris Olympics. It also gave me a chance to reflect on the preparation process leading up to the competition and what was needed mentally for the Olympics. I will work hard to use that experience to make sure I win the gold medal at the Los Angeles Olympics."

Susaki's top challengers at the Emperor's Cup appear to be world U23 bronze medalist Umi ITO and Haruna MORIKAWA, the world U23 champion at 53kg.

Meanwhile the presence of Fujinami, who added the world U23 title in October to her burgeoning resume, has been immediately felt at 57kg. Despite being an Olympic weight class, the division drew just nine others who will look to end the 21-year-old superstar's 147-match winning streak.

Her most potentially dangerous opponent could be Asian champion Sara NATAMI. At the National Sports Festival, she was losing 8-1 at 62kg to world 59kg champion Sakura ONISHI when she countered a takedown attempt by slamming her to her back for a fall.

Paris Olympic and 2025 world champion Sakura MOTOKI (JPN). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Golden trio at women's 62kg; returns of Paris champs Fumita, Kagami

As with any Japan competition that has world or Olympic berths at stake, a number of weight classes could see clashes between multiple wrestlers with global successes as they jockey for position in the run-up to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

And in one case, there are three at once, while two other weight classes could have direct clashes of champions from this year's worlds in Zagreb, Croatia.

At women's 62kg, Paris and 2025 world gold medalist Sakura MOTOKI will renew her rivalry with two-time former world champion Nonoka OZAKI, while Onishi moves up from 59kg to join the mix and can't be overlooked.

At women’s 68kg, reigning world champion Ami ISHII could lock horns with Miwa MORIKAWA, the gold medalist at 65kg, while at freestyle 74kg, we could see a battle between Zagreb winner Kota TAKAHASHI and 70kg titlist Yoshinosuke AOYAGI.

Like Susaki, all of Japan's large group of Paris medalists took some time off to bask in the spotlight before gradually returning to the mat over the past two years.

Two of the remaining gold medalist holdouts -- Kenichiro FUMITA and Yuka KAGAMI -- will both take the mat for the first time since their Paris victories at the Emperor's Cup.

Fumita, who won an elusive gold medal in Paris at Greco 60kg after taking the silver at Tokyo 2021, is entered at 63kg, where he will aim for a fifth national title and first since 2022. Kagami is entered at her gold medal-winning weight of women's 76kg. Their own rustiness may be more of a factor then the opponents.

While away from competition, Fumita spent the ensuing time experimenting with different methods as he looks to expand his reportoire.

"I have some anxiety, but I'm also looking forward to it," Fumita told Wrestling-Spirits.jp. "I achieved my goal in Paris, and on top of that, I've been taking a good look at wrestling. it. It was a year and four months full of new experiences. This will be a battlefield to reveal my new wrestling. I want to show wrestling that is free and unrestrained."

Fumita said he observed the nerves shown by fellow Paris gold medalists Nao KUSAKA (Greco 77kg) and Kotaro KIYOOKA (freestyle 65kg) when they returned to mat ahead of him at the Meiji Cup All-Japan Invitational Championships last spring.

"Before their matches, both of them looked pale," Fumita said. "I want to focus on fighting without putting too much pressure on myself. For better or worse, I want to fight thinking of myself as a different person than I was in Paris."

Other intriguing weight classes include freestyle 65kg, where Kiyooka may have to contend with Asian champion Kaisei TANABE, Asian 61kg champion Takara SUDA and two-time world U20 champion Yuto NISHIUCHI.

Two gold medalists from Tokyo who took time off for marriage and childbirth are back, with Mayu SHIDOCHI (nee MUKAIDA) challenging Moe Kiyooka at women's 55kg and Yukako INAMURA (nee KAWAI) entered at 59kg.

In Greco, rising star Taizo YOSHIDA, a bronze medalist at both the U20 and senior worlds this year at 82kg, has moved up to 87kg, where he will challenge two-time defending champion So SAKABE.

World Championships day five semis set

Comments

Ono entered at 57kg, Susaki at 50kg for All-Japan Championships