#WrestleOslo: Intrepid Geraei Adds World 67kg Greco Title to Olympic Gold

Sunday, October 10, 2021 - 23:31 By Ken Marantz

OSLO, Norway (October 10) -- Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) ended the World Championships just as did at the Tokyo Olympics two months ago. At the top of the medal podium.

Geraei was one of two Iranian champions on the final night of the nine-day tournament in Oslo, winning the 67kg gold with a 5-2 victory over Nazir ABDULLAEV (RWF) as the last three titles in Greco-Roman were decided on Sunday night at the Jordal Amfi arena.

"After the lockdown, I was able to win the gold medal at the Olympics and World Championships, so 2021 is the best year of my life," Gereai said.

Meysam DALKHANI (IRI) preceded his fellow Shiraz city native as a world champion by taking the title at 63kg, while Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) capped the tournament with a dazzling 5-point throw that gave him the 87kg title and a long-awaited world gold.

The Russian Wrestling Federation, which earlier won the freestyle team title, had already clinched its fifth straight Greco-Roman crown heading into the final night. With Iran's two golds, the final tally put the RWF on top with 152, followed by Iran with 146. Azerbaijan was third with 107.

Geraei, the 2019 world U23 champion at 72kg, had a pair of very close calls in the opening rounds, but never wavered nor panicked as he battled his way to his first final on the senior level.

Against 2020 European silver medalist Abdullaev, Geraei was unable to score off the par terre in the first period and took a tenuous 1-0 lead into the second.

But the 25-year-old took matters into his own hands, transitioning from a body lock to a headlock and throwing Abdullaev to the mat for 4. Abdullaev, the 2020 Individual World Cup, picked up 2 points countering a throw attempt at the edge, but that was all he could muster against the cagey Iranian.

Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) scored four points through a headlock. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Geraei's triumph came two days after older brother Mohammadali won a bronze at 77kg. "I want to thank everyone from my hometown Shiraz as we won medals," he said.

If Mohammadali is nicknamed "The Falcon," then Mohammadreza could be called "The Phoenix" for how he continually arose from the ashes of near-defeat.

In his opening match, Geraei fell behind 1-6 against Asian champion Tsuchika SHIMOYAMADA (JPN), only to pull off a miracle comeback and score a fall with a bear hug. In the semifinals, a pair of 2-point fleeing penalties and an unsuccessful challenge in the final seconds gave him a 7- 6 win over Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO).

"I know most of my victories were last-second, but I believed in myself and thank God that I was able to pull it off," Geraei said.

The 30-year-old Abdullaev made the final despite coming to Oslo without a long list of honors. He had a triumph at the Individual World Cup, however, that was noteworthy in that his quarterfinal victory over Davor STEFANEK (SRB) ended up being the final match of the 2016 Rio Olympic champion's career.

Meysam DALKHANI (IRI) won the 63kg in Oslo. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

In a seesaw battle between young, upcoming stars at 63kg, 2019 world U23 champion Dalkhani scored a decisive stepout with 1:08 left to defeat European bronze medalist Leri ABULADZE (GEO) 5-4.

"I am very happy and I was expected to get this gold," Dalkhani said. "It's been difficult since the corona pandemic and it's been an endeavour to get this title and I am happy that I would reach the expectations of my coaches and country. I am just a soldier for my country."

Dalkhani, this year's Asian silver medalist, took a 3-1 lead when he scored with a gut wrench from the par terre, off of which Abuladze gained a reversal. Abduladze then went up 4-3 in the second period when he mirrored Dalkhani with a gut wrench from par terre.

Meysam DALKHANI (IRI) won one of the four gold medalists from Iran. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

With the clock winding down, Dalkhani kept the pressure on, and just managed to force Abuladze to step outside the ring before the Georgian slapped him down and spun behind, putting the Iranian ahead on criteria.

The Georgian side challenged the call but was rejected, giving Dalkhani a fifth point, and he held on for the win. Abuladze flopped to the mat in misery, while Dalkhani's coach flung him to the mat in celebration.

The 24-year-old Dalkhani won a bronze medal at the 2016 world juniors, and finished fifth in his senior world debut in Nursultan in 2019. Abuladaze, 22, was a world junior silver medalist in 2019, and has a full set of European junior medals with a 2017 gold, 2019 silver and 2018 bronze.

"I was in Nursultan and I did not manage to get anything, but I thank God that I managed to get gold here," Dalkhani said.

Zaurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) won the 87kg gold medal after a big five point throw. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

The final match of the tournament ended with a bang, or more specifically, a thud -- the sound of Kiryl MASKEVICH (BLR) hitting the mat after being majestically tossed for 5 by four-time European champion Datunashvili in the 87kg final.

"It was a hard match but I had the strategy," Datunashvili said. "Me and my coach worked it out."

Datunashvili scored all of his points in the second period, capped with his arching 5-point throw that finished off a 9-1 technical fall at 3:46 and made his first medal in four senior world appearances a gold one.

Behind 0-1 in the second period, the Georgian-born Datunashvili stopped a lateral drop attempt for 2, then got 2 more when Maskevich was penalized for fleeing by bridging out of bounds. That also put Datunashvili into par terre, and he thrilled the crowd with the spectacular throw.

"I know a lot about him, his wrestling," Datunashvili said. "He made a mistake and I won at that moment."

Zaurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) is the third Greco-Roman world champion from Serbia. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

The two met twice before over the past 10 months, with each winning one. Maskevich won 11-3 in the semifinals en route to the gold at the 2020 Individual World Cup, while Datunashvili avenged the loss with a 5-1 win in the European final this past April.

"He is one of the best wrestlers in our weight category," Datunashvili said. "He won, then I won, and now I won. It was now the final. I am king."

The European gold preceded Datunashvili's run to the Olympic bronze, where he lost in the first round to eventual champion Zhan BELINIUK (UKR) but worked his way back through the repechage.

"In Tokyo, I won bronze and my psychology was very good after that," Datunashvili said. "I rested for one month and prepared for Oslo for one month."

Datunashvili, who began competing for Serbia in 2020, had qualified for his third Olympics at the last-chance qualifier by defeating 2016 Olympic champion Davit CHAKVETADZE (RUS).

Maskevich also qualified for Tokyo, but was eliminated after a first-round loss. The 2019 world U23 bronze medalist had been hoping to become Belarus' first senior world champion since 2011.

In the bronze-medal matches, Lasha GOBADZE (GEO), unable to win a second straight world gold, came away with a second career bronze by defeating Turpan BISULTANOV (DEN) 5-2 at 87kg.

Gobadze, the 2019 world champion at 82kg, scored 4 points with a crafty move from the par terre position to avenge a 4-3 loss to the 20-year-old Bisultanov in the 2019 European final.

Gobadze lifted Bisultanov into the air, but finding he could not get enough leverage for a throw, he just fell forward and dumped him onto his back for 4. Bisultanov scrambled behind for a 1-point reversal, but could not get points from par terre himself in the second period, sealing the win for Gobadze.

Bisultanov, just three years removed from winning a bronze at the world cadets, had lost in the bronze-medal match at this year's European Championships to Milad ALIRZAEV (RWF) -- who Gobadze defeated in the repechage earlier in the night.

In the other 87kg match, Arkadiusz KULYNYCZ (POL) took the lead in the second period, then scored a fall at 4:54 when he stuffed a desperate lateral drop attempt by Istvan TAKACS (HUN).

The unheralded Kulynycz, who had notched only one win at two previous World Championships, trailed 2-0 in the second period when he received a passivity point. From the par terre, he scored a 2-point exposure from a front reverse lock to go ahead 3-2.

The two had met earlier this year at the Poland Open in June, where Takacs defeated Kulynycz in the quarterfinals en route to taking the silver medal.

At 63kg, 2017 world junior champion Kensuke SHIMIZU (JPN) scored six points off the par terre position en route to a 10-1 technical fall over 2020 European bronze medalist Erik TORBA (HUN).

After Torba scored an early stepout, Shimizu received a passivity point. The 22-year-old made the most of the par terre, launching a 4-point throw, then adding a 2-point roll. He finished the match with a takedown at 2:47.

Shimizu hails from the northern island of Hokkaido, where winter sports hold sway, and his family is a household name in Japan for speed skating. His uncle, Hiroyasu SHIMIZU, was a three-time Olympic medalist, including a gold in the 500 meters at the 1998 Nagano Games, and former world record-holder.

Shimizu took a somewhat curious path to Oslo. He won the first of the two national championships that serve as domestic qualifiers for the world championships, and would have clinched his ticket outright with a win at the second. But he missed the tournament because his entry form was submitted too late, and he was forced to defeat the champion in a playoff.

At this year's Asian Championships, Shimizu was hampered by a knee injury suffered two weeks before the tournament and lost in the quarterfinals, making him the only Japanese in the four lightest weight classes to fail to win a medal.

Ironically, Sultan ASSUTULY (KAZ), whom Shimizu beat 4-1 in the repechage on Sunday, went on to win the Asian gold by fall over Dalkhani.

In the other 63kg match, Lenur TEMIROV (UKR) won his second career world bronze, going ahead in the second period with an arm-drag takedown and defeating European silver medalist Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE) 5-4.

Temirov, a two-time European bronze medalist who finished fifth at the Tokyo Olympics, fell behind 4-2 in the first period, but went ahead on criteria with the takedown in the second. He received a passivity point to account for the final score as he added to the world bronze he won in 2018.

Mammodov came up short of the medals in his fourth World Championships, with his highest previous finish a seventh place in 2018.

At 67kg, Zoidze took teenager Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) to task, blasting his way to a quick-fire 8-0 technical fall to rebound from a fifth-place finish in Tokyo with his first senior world medal.

Zoidze used a slick arm throw for a 4-0 lead, then got 2 points tacked on when Jafarov, this year's world junior champion, was called for fleeing while on bottom. At the restart from par terre, Zoidze quickly executed a gut wrench to finish the match in 1:24.

Zoidze had previous success on the age-group levels, winning a world U23 silver and a European U23 gold, two world junior golds, and world cadet gold and silver medals.

Veteran Almat KEBISPAYEV (KAZ) captured his fourth world bronze over an 11-year span by rallying to a 7-4 victory over European bronze medalist Murat FIRAT (TUR) in the other 67kg match.

The 33-year-old Kebispayev, who won his third Asian silver medal this year, fell into a three-point hole after Firmat scored with a gut wrench from par terre in the first period.

But in his chance on the ground in the second, Kebispayev resourcefully changed direction after being unable to execute a roll, shifting to a front headlock and scoring a 4-point throw that he followed with a 2-point exposure.

Kebispayev, a two-time Olympian who missed out on Tokyo, and Firat had previously met in the semifinals at the 2018 Takhti Cup, with the Kazakh coming out on top 4-2.

Kebispayev previously won world bronzes in 2010, 2015 and 2019, and also has a silver medal from 2011. He was the Asian champion in 2011 and 2018.

RWF Russian Wrestling Federation won the Greco-Roman team title. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Results

Greco-Roman

63kg (21 entries)
GOLD: Meysam DALKHANI (IRI) df. Leri ABULADZE (GEO), 5-4

BRONZE: Kensuke SHIMIZU (JPN) df. Erik TORBA (HUN) by TF, 10-1, 2:47
BRONZE: Lenur TEMIROV (UKR) df. Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE), 5-4

67kg (27 entries)
GOLD: Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) df. Nazir ABDULLAEV (RWF), 5-2

BRONZE: Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO) df. Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) by TF, 8-0, 1:24
BRONZE: Almat KEBISPAYEV (KAZ) df. Murat FIRAT (TUR), 7-4

87kg (25 entries)
GOLD: Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) df. Kiryl MASKEVICH (BLR) by TF, 9-1, 3:46

BRONZE: Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) df. Turpan BISULTANOV (DEN), 5-2
BRONZE: Arkadiusz KULYNYCZ (POL) df. Istvan TAKACS (HUN) by Fall, 4:54 (5-2)

#wrestlebishkek

Susaki Marks Post-Paris Reformation with Asian Gold

Thursday, April 9, 2026 - 18:51 By Ken Marantz

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 9) -- To hear Yui SUSAKI (JPN) speak of it, she is a new version of the wrestler who had stormed to every major title on offer before her unexpected and devastating downfall at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Having made serious changes to both her lifestyle and wrestling style in the ensuing years, she made a golden return in her first international competition since Paris.

Susaki made sure there would be no lapses or surprises when she defeated Son Hyang KIM (PRK) 6-0 in the women’s 50kg final at the Asian Championships on Thursday in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

“I’m genuinely happy, and I’m so glad to be back here and to have won,” Susaki said. “After Paris was over, I experienced various setbacks and I made various changes over the two years. The results of my new lifestyle in the two years since Paris and the daily practice I put in all came out in the four matches at these Asian Championships.”

In the four other women’s finals on the fourth day of competition, the host country had mixed results, as Olympic silver medalist Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) won the gold in a stacked 68kg division, while Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) stunned defending champion Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) at 76kg.

The powerful Japanese squad had three other finalists besides Susaki, but only got a title from teenager Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) at 55kg, while Mengyu XIE (CHN) triumphed at 59kg for her first Asian gold.

Yui SUSAKI (JPN) hits a leg-attack on Son Hyang KIM (PRK) during the 50kg final at the Asian Championships. (Photo: Untied World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Susaki had established herself as one of the new faces of the sport in the wake of the retirements of legends Saori YOSHIDA (JPN) and Kaori ICHO (JPN) with her triumph at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

That victory had made her the founding member of the “Golden Grand Slam” club for those who had won an Olympic gold as well as titles on all four levels of World Championships – senior, U23, U20 and U17.

But leading up to the defense of her Olympic title in Paris, she had shown chinks in the armor, first with some near-misses at the 2024 Asian Championships, which she still won but in less-than-convincing fashion.

It then all came crashing down at the Champs de Mars Arena, where she was dealt a stunning last-second loss by Vinesh PHOGAT (IND), marking her first-ever loss to a non-Japanese wrestler. Susaki ended up taking home a bronze, but that was small consolation.

After taking some time off, Susaki decided that some changes were in order, from altering her diet to make cutting weight easier to revising her match strategy.

“Along with Vinesh in Paris, I also learned much from my first-round match against the DPR Korean [Yong Ok HWANG] at the Asian Championships before Paris,” Susaki said, referring to an unusually difficult victory. “After that, I lost at the National Games [to Moe KIYOOKA], making it really a difficult two years.

“But thanks to those experiences, I have grown considerably. I definitely want to win the gold at the Los Angeles Olympics, and taking it one step at a time, I will take each title along the way.”

An emotional Yui SUSAKI (JPN) at the medal ceremony. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

The final at the Zhastyk Arena on Thursday, which brought her to tears on the medal podium, was a reunion of sorts. Susaki and Kim had faced each twice way back in 2017, first in the final at the Asian Championships and again in the semifinals of the World Championships. Susaki won both encounters.

Given her Paris experience, Susaki knew she could not underestimate Kim, and set up her moves deliberately and without anxiousness. She broke through with a go-behind takedown in the first period, then added a stepout for a 3-0 lead.

In the second period, Susaki got in deep on a tackle, but could only manage a stepout, then padded the lead with a snapdown takedown to make it 6-0. Down the stretch, she kept calm and on alert as Kim tied up, looking for an opportunity for a last-ditch throw that never came.

“It’s been nine years since I faced Kim Son Hyang, so it’s been quite awhile,” Susaki said. “She has achieved good results. I think I myself have changed and grown a lot over these past nine years.”

Susaki seemed unconcerned about a potential future encounter with the current world 50kg champion, Myong Gyong WON (PRK).

“The country and the opponent does not matter,” she said. “My objective is to assure I win by giving 100 percent.”

Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) won her second Asian title. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 68kg, Zhumanazarova spun behind for a first-period takedown and held on for a 2-1 victory over Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN), last year’s world and Asian champion at 65kg who has moved up to the Olympic weight.

The victory gave Zhumanazarova her second Asian gold, after previously winning in 2021, and fifth medal overall.

“This is my second gold medal at the Asian Championships, but it means just as much to me as the first one,” Zhumanazarova said. “I’m just as happy, because I’ve worked very hard for it and this is the result.”

Like Susaki and Kim, Zhumanazarova and Morikawa have a history that goes back some time. The two had met in the quarterfinals of the 2016 World Cadet (U17) Championships, where Morikawa won 4-0 en route to the silver medal. Zhumanazarova took a bronze.

Since then, they have both achieved varying levels of success. Zhumanazarova has two Olympic medals, including a bronze from Tokyo, and a world title from 2021. Morikawa has medals from five consecutive World Championships from 2021 to 2025, including two golds, and two Asian titles.

Morikawa needed to beat reigning world champion Ami ISHII (JPN) at the Japan national championships just to make the team to Bishkek.

Davaansan ENKH AMAR (MGL) defeated home favorite Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) in the 76kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

While the home crowd was still buzzing over Zhumanazarova’s win, compatriot Medet Kyzy was dealt a come-from-behind 4-2 loss by Enkh Amar in the 76kg final.

With no real attacks and lots of mutual pushing, Medet Kyzy had taken a 2-0 lead on an activity point in the first period and a face-shoving penalty in the second. After Enkh Amar received an activity point, the match finally started to heat up in the final minute.

Enkh Amar used a headlock to get Medet Kyzy off balance and slipped behind her with the two on their feet, then proceeded to march her over the edge for a stepout with :13 left. Medet Kyzy’s lack of a resistance led to a 1-point fleeing penalty to put the Mongolian ahead 3-2.

“I was very calm, and my coach also said to me to stay very calm, and that's why I made the correct decision at the last moment,” said Enkh Amar, the 2023 world silver medalist at 72kg.

As the clock ticked down, Medet Kyzy powered Enkh Amar to the edge and slammed her to the mat, sending the crowd into a frenzy. But the move failed to beat the clock, and an unsuccessful challenge made the final score 4-2.

Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN), red, turns Yuxuan LI (CHN) during the 55kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

In the 55kg final, Japan’s Uchida spotted Yuxuan LI (CHN) a six-point lead, only to storm back for a 10-6 victory that relegated the Chinese to a silver medal for the second straight year.

Li gained a takedown off a counter and proceeded with two gut wrenches. But on an attempt at a third, Uchida stepped over for a 2-point exposure.

Uchida’s next attack hit the mark for a single-leg takedown, to which she added two rolls of her own for an 8-6 lead. Uchida then sewed up the victory with a takedown for the lone points of the second period.

“Right away, I gave up a go-behind takedown and she rolled me, so I was really panicking,” Uchida said. “It made me uneasy that I couldn’t finish off my single-leg tackle, which is my specialty, and I gave up points off of it.

“But I have a variety of moves, and I know the hardships I went through to get here. I believed in myself and remembered to keep attacking to the end.”

Uchida said that when she noticed her opponent appeared to be running out of gas, she applied more pressure.

“I realized that my opponent was getting winded and even though it was tough for me, too, mentally I was feeling a bit at ease,” she said. “Even though I came back, it was still only a two-point difference. I made sure not to let up through the end.”

For the 19-year-old Uchida, a recent world U17 and U20 champion who had to settle for a bronze medal at last year’s World Championships in her first major senior-level tournament, the win in Bishkek had special meaning.

“I definitely wanted to win my first [major] senior tournament, but I lost convincingly at the World Championships in September,” Uchida said. “It was really tough to take, so I was really determined to win here.

“This is my last international tournament as a teenager, so I really wanted to finish with a win. Even if it was messy, I just wanted to be able to smile at the end.”

Mengyu XIE (CHN) won the 59kg gold medal with an 8-6 victory over Sena NAGAMOTO (JPN). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At 59kg, China’s Xie won her first Asian gold by surviving a fierce battle with Sena NAGAMOTO (JPN), hanging on for an 8-6 victory after holding a five-point lead in the second period.

“I know the opponent, the Japanese wrestler is very strong and tough,” Xie said. “I knew it would be a difficult final, but I didn't put too much burden on my shoulders. I just followed my mood and tactics and what the coach told me to do.”

Xie, a bronze medalist last year, struck first with a duck under for a takedown, but Nagamoto used a low single for a takedown in the final seconds of the first period to make it 2-2.

Xie broke the match open with a stepout and two takedowns to lead 7-2, but Nagamoto was not prepared to give up the fight. The 2023 world U23 silver medalist gained a 2-point exposure from a reverse headlock, which Xie slipped out of for a reversal.

Nagamoto picked up a late takedown, but Xie held on for the win.“I needed to be more careful to do all the actions because the opponent will try her best to attack,” Xie said. “But I cannot only think about defense, but also find a chance to do counterattack or attack.”

Xie, who also has a world 55kg bronze won in 2022, reveled in triumphing in her first trip to a major final.

“I never had this experience before,” she said. “It’s the first time in the final and I won gold the first time. So it’s like a dream.”

Returning champion at 68kg, Zelu LI (CHN) had to settle for a bronze medal in Bishkek. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

All 5 Chinese make medal podium

Zelu LI (CHN), dethroned as the 68kg champion by Zhumanazarova in the semifinals, was among a trio of Chinese who won bronze-medal matches to ensure that all five of the country’s wrestlers made it to the podium on Thursday.

Li, a 2025 world bronze medalist at 72kg, had little trouble rolling to a 10-0 victory in 1:25 against an overmatched Thi Linh DANG (VIE) to take home a 68kg bronze.

Li twice combined a takedown with two rolls – using an intriguing technique in which she locked Dang’s heel against the back of her leg in lieu of the more common lace lock.

In the other 68kg match, Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) picked up her second straight bronze and fifth Asian medal overall by ending what had been a close match with Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ) with a fall 47 seconds into the second period.

With the score tied 1-1, Enkhsaikhan powered the 37-year-old Shalygina straight to her back and secured the fall, denying the veteran another major medal in a vast collection that includes a bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

At 50kg, Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) denied Sri Lanka its first-ever Asian medal, scoring an activity point and a takedown off a barrel roll in the first period to edge Nipuni HEWA PEDIGE (SRI) 3-0. Hewa Pedige became the fourth wrestler overall and second woman from the island nation to make it to a bronze-medal match, and the fourth to come away empty-handed.

Olympic bronze medalist Ziqi FENG (CHN) earned her third career Asian medal by taking the other 50kg bronze with a quick 10-0 win over Maral TANGIRBERGENOVA (KAZ), scoring a takedown and four rolls in 1:16.

At 76kg, Wenji LI (CHN) secured China’s third bronze of the night, scoring a takedown and three stepouts in a 5-0 victory over Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE).

Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA (KAZ) became a five-time Asian bronze medalist – dating back to 2015 – when she defeated Eunju HWANG (KOR) 5-1 for the other 76kg bronze.

The 30-year-old Yerkebayeva scored a takedown in the first period and added another in the last 10 seconds of the match to clinch the victory.

The wildest match of the day came at 59kg, in which Ulmeken ESENBAEVA (UZB) squandered a nine-point lead to fall behind by three points, only to throw down Sezim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) and secure a fall with 23 seconds left.

Esenbaeva had a 4-point takedown as she raced to a 9-0 lead in the first period. But Zhumanazarova came to life, scoring a takedown and then piling up points in a scramble that included a 2-point penalty against Esebaeva for grabbing the head. When the dust was cleared on challenge, Zhumanazarova had a 12-9 lead at the break.

In the second period, Esenbaeva cut the gap with a backwards trip for a takedown. With time running out, she secured a headlock and took Zhumanazorova to her back for a 13-12 lead that became irrelevant when the fall was confirmed.

The other 59kg match has its share of drama as well, as NEHA (IND) rallied from a 4-1 deficit with second-period surge that gave her a 10-4 victory over two-time Asian medalist Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL).

Neha won her first Asian medal after moving up to 59kg, having finished second at the Zagreb Ranking Series at 57kg, the weight class in which she won a world U17 gold and U23 bronze in 2024.

That was India’s second bronze of the night, after Hansika LAMBA (IND) scored all of her points in the second period of a 6-1 victory over 2024 bronze medalist Aruuke KADYRBEK KYZY (KGZ) at 55kg.

Ariunzaya ODONCHIMEG (MGL) received the other 55kg bronze when Jeongbin OH (KOR) defaulted due to injury.

Day 4 Results

Women’s Wrestling

50kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Yui SUSAKI (JPN) df. Son Hyang KIM (PRK), 6-0

BRONZE: Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) df. Nipuni HEWA PEDIGE (SRI), 3-0
BRONZE: Ziqi FENG (CHN) df. Maral TANGIRBERGENOVA (KAZ) by TS, 10-0, 1:16

53kg (11 entries)
SF 1: Jin ZHANG (CHN) df. Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) by Fall, 2:33 (2-2)
SF2: MEENAKSHI (IND) df. Seoyoung PARK (KOR), 4-2

55kg (8 entries)
GOLD: Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) df. Yuxuan LI (CHN), 10-6

BRONZE: Ariunzaya ODONCHIMEG (MGL) df. Jeongbin OH (KOR) by Inj. Def.
BRONZE: Hansika LAMBA (IND) df. Aruuke KADYRBEK KYZY (KGZ), 6-1

57kg (11 entries)
SF 1: Kexin HONG (CHN) df. Youngjin KWON (KOR) by TS, 10-0, :30
SF2: Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) df. Sara NATAMI (JPN) by Fall, 3:20 (8-1)

59kg (8 entries)
GOLD: Mengyu XIE (CHN) df. Sena NAGAMOTO (JPN), 8-6

BRONZE: NEHA (IND) df. Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL), 10-4
BRONZE: Ulmeken ESENBAEVA (UZB) df. Sezim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) by Fall, 5:37 (13-12)

62kg (11 entries)
SF 1: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) df. Nigina SABIROVA (UZB) by Fall, 1:55 (8-0)
SF2: Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK) df. Tynys DUBEK (KAZ) by TS, 11-0, 3:20

65kg (9 entries)
SF 1: LILI (CHN) df. Firuza ESENBAEVA (UZB) by Fall, 2:09 (4-0)
SF2: Nana IKEHATA (JPN) df. Hanbit LEE (KOR), 4-0

68kg (10 entries)
GOLD: Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) df. Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN), 2-1

BRONZE: Zelu LI (CHN) df. Thi Linh DANG (VIE) by TS, 10-0, 1:25
BRONZE: Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) df. Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ) by Fall, 3:47 (3-1)

72kg (8 entries)
SF 1: Jia LONG (CHN) df. Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) by TS, 11-1, 4:31
SF2: Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN) df. HARSHITA (IND) by Fall, 5:59 (7-2)

76kg (9 entries)
GOLD: Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) df. Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) 4-2

BRONZE: Wenji LI (CHN) df. Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE), 5-0
BRONZE: Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA (KAZ) df. Eunju HWANG (KOR), 5-1

#WrestleOslo: Intrepid Geraei Adds World 67kg Greco Title to Olympic Gold

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Susaki Marks Post-Paris Reformation with Asian Gold