china, Women's Wrestling, japan women's wrestling, wrestling, United World Wrestling, asian championships, asia wrestling, Taiwan, chinese taipei

China Wins Women’s Team Title as Japan Stumbles

Saturday, June 17, 2017 - 13:36 By Tim Foley

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Team Japan headed into Saturday night’s finals at the Asian Junior Championships in Taiching, with three chances for gold, but when the curtain came down on the night’s finals world’s most dominant women’s wrestling nation would be left holding a trio of silver medals.

The gold medal finals kicked off at 48kg where Chihiro SAWADA (JPN) seemed to have the upper hand on China’s Jiang ZHU (CHN) late into the second period, holding steady with a 2-0 lead and controlling the tie-ups. But the Chinese wrestler closed the distance and kept up her attacks to find a high double leg late to snag the equalizing takedown. After a scramble and challenge by Sawada the final score tallied, 4-2 in favor of Zhu.

The two nations battled again in the 55kg final with Jing LIANG (CHN) taking on Tomoha UCHIJO (JPN) in a thrilling back-and-forth contest. The match got off to a slow and defensive start, but in the second period Liang and Uchijo traded takedowns, turns and lifts for a total of three lead changes. Liang sealed the match late with a late hi-crotch and lift for two that sealed China’s second gold medal of the night.

Japan’s final hope for gold came with Misuzu ENOMOTO facing off against Aina TEMIRTASSOVA of Kazakhstan. The taller Temirtassova had spent the day throwing her opponents and off the whistle pummeled in for position. Enomoto staved off the Kazakh’s attack for the first period, but in the second Temirtassova managed to launch Enomoto for a 4-1 lead.

The Japanese middleweight fought back, striking on an outside single to make the match 4-3 heading into the final minute, but Temirtassova held strong, winning the match 5-3 and keeping Team Japan off the top of the podium.

Tsetsegbayar BYAMBADORJ (MGL) took the 72kg final over Chuchu YAN (CHN) via forfeit.

China took the team title with 73 points followed by Japan with 56 and India with 52.

Mongolia Goes One for Two in Freestyle Finals

They might have been the smallest competitors, but Nasanbuyan NARMANDAKH (MGL) and Darkhan KALKENOV (KAZ) provided giant action during the 50kg finals Saturday night in Taichung. The pair combined for more than 30 points in one of the most awe-inspiring and energetic displays of offense this year.

After six minutes of throws, trips, takedowns and reversals it was Narmandakh who would prevail 17-13.

At 120kg Khasanboy RAKHIMOV (UZB) cemented his position as world’s best heavyweight prospect with a crushing thirty second pin against Mongolia’s Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR. The Uzbek bruiser is expected to compete at the Junior World Championships this August in Finland.

#WrestleTirana

Takara Suda, Ono's training partner and Japan's new star

Wednesday, February 26, 2025 - 19:19 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (February 26) -- World champion Masanosuke ONO (JPN) has a rival and he knows him too well.

Takara SUDA (JPN), Ono's training partner since high school, won the Ranking Series gold medal at the Muhamet Malo in Tirana, Albania. Incidentally, it was in Tirana last year at the World Championships that an unheralded Ono rose to become the world champion.

READ MORE: Masanosuke Ono Takes Over Wrestling

Suda and Ono went to the same high school -- Tosu Tech -- and trained together before both joined the Yamanashi Gaikun University. Both training partners are quickly turning into rivals as Ono charts his own path while Suda can become the first choice at the university.

While the Ranking Series isn't the same as the stacked World Championships, Suda's style and quick movements can trouble even the best as it was evident on Wednesday.

Suda's quick movement aided his attacking style. Over the course of his four bouts, Suda made his opponents uncomfortable with forward pressure and catching them off guard. While defending, he was able to turn around from the zone.

Takara SUDA (JPN)Takara SUDA (JPN) defeated Nachyn MONGUSH (UWW) in the 61kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

In the 61kg final, Suda was up against former U23 world champion Nachyn MONGUSH (UWW) and despite a late comeback from Mongush, Suda held on to a very impressive 8-8 win and the gold medal.

"I feel happy," Suda said after his win. "Most of all I'm really grateful to all the people who support me on a daily basis, including my family, the manager and coaches, and my friends who practiced with me."

Suda was quick off the blocks and scored a stepout and then hit a double leg for a 3-0 lead. Mongush stopped Suda with a chestwrap and then exposed him for two points. A reversal made it 4-2 before Suda got a takedown to lead 6-2 at the break.

Mongush began the second period with an attempted headpinch but Suda blocked it and pinned Mongush on the mat for two points to lead 8-2. Just when it seemed like he will run away with the gold medal, Mongush mounted a comeback. He scored a stepout and Suda was cautioned for fleeing.

With the score 8-4, Mongush scored another stepout and managed a takedown with 31 seconds left on the clock. A stepout without fleeing made it 8-8 but Suda kept the criteria lead for four two-point moves. He held on for the remaining 11 seconds and won the gold medal.

Takara SUDA (JPN)Takara SUDA (JPN) with the gold medal after winning at 61kg in Tirana. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

This was the second time Suda was wrestling a final at the international level. He won a silver medal at the U15 Asian Championships in 2019 but had not wrestled internationally since.

Perhaps the rust over the years of being away from international wrestling was visible as his conditioning worsened in the second period. 

"It's been a long time since I last played a final," he said. "It was my first overseas match in five [six] years. I was already taking on this match with a sense of challenge. I really didn't expect it to turn out like this."

The 20-year-old is now waiting for the Ono, who is in the United States for more than a month now, to return so he can train with the world champion.

"I train with Ono as a teammate not only at the university but also at the high school. Now he is in America but I want to train when he comes back."