All Japan Championships

End of 2020 Olympic Road for Rio Medalists Tosaka, Ota; Susaki, Irie Set up Latest Showdown

Saturday, December 21, 2019 - 17:07 By Ken Marantz

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TOKYO (Dec. 21)—Looking to add to the medals they won at the Rio 2016 Olympics, Eri TOSAKA and Shinobu OTA faced difficult paths to Tokyo 2020. The road came to a disappointing and official end for both on Saturday.

Rio champion Tosaka fell in the women’s 50kg semifinals at the All Japan Championships to a determined Yui SUSAKI, who set up yet another showdown with nemesis Yuki IRIE in her rejuvenated bid for a place at Tokyo 2020. 

Ota, denied at Greco-Roman 60kg, moved up two weight classes to 67kg in a desperate attempt to make it to Tokyo 2020, but the Rio silver medalist at 59kg was dealt an unceremonious thrashing in his first-round match. 

Meanwhile, the Olympic ambitions of two other Rio medalists—Sara DOSHO and Rei HIGUCHI—remained alive for now, but after very different outcomes on the third day of action at Tokyo’s Komazawa Olympic Park Gym.

Following her triumph at 48kg at Rio, Tosaka missed two years after being plagued by injuries and undergoing foot surgery. During her time off, Susaki emerged as the new star in the lightest weight class, taking senior world titles in 2017 and 2018 while still a teenager. 

Yui SUSAKI, a two-time world champion, defeated Olympic champion Eri TOSAKA, 6-0, in the 50kg semifinals and will meet rival Yuki IRIE in the gold-medal bout. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

For Susaki, Tosaka had been a role model. 

“She was an athlete I really looked up to,” Susaki said of Tosaka after beating her 6-0 on Saturday. “Whenever something appeared in the newspaper about her, I always read it closely. When things got tough, I would think about how Tosaka would deal with it, and that I should do the same.”

But the 20-year-old Susaki, who won the last of three consecutive world cadet titles in 2016, quickly went from fan to rival. 

“The moment that the [match at the] Rio Olympics ended and she was on the medal podium, she changed from an athlete I admire to the athlete I want most to beat,” Susaki said.

Susaki, who had beaten Tosaka by technical fall at the All-Japan Invitational Championships in June, came out aggressively in Saturday’s match. 

In the first period, she scored with a powerful double-leg takedown, then added a step-out for a 3-0 lead that she padded with a spin-behind takedown and another step-out in the second.

“There was some fear and uneasiness, but my feeling of wanting to win was so strong, it overcame that,” Susaki said. “That’s why I kept attacking at the end.”

Tosaka said she was better prepared, both mentally and physically, for this encounter.

“In June, I had the desire to win, but I didn’t think I could,” a tearful Tosaka said. “After a half year, I thought, I want to win and I believe I can win. I wrestled with the same mentality hat I had at the Rio Olympics.”

While Susaki moved a step closer to the Olympics, she is far from out the woods. She will have to find a way to get past Irie, the defending champion in the tournament also referred to as the Emperor’s Cup. In the other semifinal, Irie defeated Remina YOSHIMOTO 4-1.

Her recent battles with Irie have been epic, and are indirectly the reason Japan did not gain a spot at Tokyo 2020 at the World Championships in Nur-Sultan in a weight class it has dominated for more than a decade.

Irie remains the only wrestler on the planet to have ever beaten Susaki, and the third time she did it was in a playoff in July for a place on the team to the Nur-Sultan. 

A medal there, regarded as a foregone conclusion, would have automatically earned Irie a spot at Tokyo 2020. But when she failed to finish even in the top six, the door reopened for Susaki and the others. 

“I am back at the starting line, and I am absolutely determined to get revenge for the playoff, win [in the final of] the Emperor’s Cup and get to the Tokyo Olympics,” Susaki declared. 

In that and the other Olympic weight classes in which Japan did not qualify for Tokyo 2020 at the worlds, the Emperor’s Cup winner will get a chance to earn a berth at the Asian Olympic qualifying tournament in Xi’an, China, in March. 

Ota was hoping to be on that flight, but will now only be an observer to the Olympic process. 

Ota had been beaten out at 60kg for a place on the team to Nur-Sultan by Kenichiro FUMITA, who clinched the Tokyo 2020 spot by winning the gold medal. Ota gained some consolation by moving up to 63kg and impressively winning his first world title. 

But the Olympics were always his goal, and the only opening was at 67kg. He had hoped to gain some experience at that weight class at the World Cup, but the event was canceled due to political unrest in host Iran. 

Still, he felt he was well prepared, although things could hardly have gone worse. 

Looking ahead to a second-round clash with fellow world team member Shogo TAKAHASHI, Ota was taken to task by his unheralded first-round opponent, Takayuki INOGUCHI, a fifth-place finisher at the 2018 Asian Championships at 63kg. 

Inoguchi stuffed Ota when the Olympic medalist attempted a reverse arm throw, sticking him onto his back and making him fight desperately to avoid a fall. A somewhat mysterious 2-point caution put Ota into a 4-0 hole.

Less than a minute into the second period, Inoguchi caught Ota with the same move that Ota had botched in the first period, a 4-point throw that sent him to his back again. When Ota avoided the fall, it only served to make the official result an 8-0 technical fall at 3:50.  

“From the mistake I made on the first throw, and I don’t know why I got the caution, that changed the complexion of the match,” Ota said. “I panicked a little. The throw that he executed he timed perfectly.”

Ota admits that looking ahead to the next match contributed to his downfall.

“I thought too much about the second-round match with Takahashi, and this was the result,” he said. 

Despite the loss, Ota said he didn’t feel a physical difference in the higher weight class, having prepared by training in Russia with heavier wrestlers. 

“I prepared my body to compete at 67kg,” he said. “I didn’t feel a difference in weight class. That will not be an excuse. It was a match I feel I should have won.”

Miwa MORIKAWA upset Olympic champion Sara DOSHO, 9-2, in the semifinals at 68kg. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Dosho in decline; Higuchi on a high
Dosho hardly looked like an Olympic champion in losing 9-2 to World Cup teammate Miwa MORIKAWA in the semifinals at women’s 68kg, which puts up another barrier for her to get to Tokyo 2020. 

Dosho secured a berth for Japan by placing fifth at Nur-Sultan, and would have filled it herself with a victory in the Emperor’s Cup. Now she will have to win a playoff on Feb. 1 against the winner of the final between Morikawa and Naruha MATSUYUKI , who knocked off world 72kg bronze medalist Masako FURUICHI, 3-0 in the other semifinal.

Dosho could be considered fortunate to even get to the semifinals, after barely squeezing out a 5-3 win over world 72kg junior champion Yuka KAGAMI in her previous match. 

With Dosho leading 2-1, with all points scored on the activity clock, Kagami shot for a single and, with Dosho atop her back, she cleverly rose up and fell backwards, so that Dosho landed on her back, giving her 2 points with :17 left. After scrambling back to her knees, Dosho started trying to lever Kagami over, and finally got her past a 90-degree angle in the last five seconds for the win.  

Higuchi, the Rio 2016 silver medalist at freestyle 57kg, had also shifted two weight classes in a bid to get to Tokyo 2020. But in direct contrast to Ota, Higuchi went down two divisions. 

The 2018 U-23 world champion at 65kg, he had attempted but failed to unseat that year’s senior world champion Takuto OTOGURO for a ticket to Nur-Sultan. So he went down to 57kg, the division in which 2017 world gold medalist Yuki TAKAHASHI was unable to secure an Olympic berth. 

On Saturday, Higuchi advanced to the final by scoring a takedown in the final half-minute to edge Kaiki YAMAGUCHI 3-2. That sets up a clash with Takahashi, who chalked up a fall and two technical falls en route to earning a chance for a fourth straight national title. 

Takuto OTOGURO will square off with Rinya NAKAMURA in the 65kg. If Otoguro wins, he'll earn the Tokyo 2020 berth outright at 65kg. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Otoguro brothers stay in Olympic chase
Otoguro, also a fifth-place finisher at Nur-Sultan, kept his chances of earning the Tokyo 2020 berth outright at 65kg when he made it to the final against Rinya NAKAMURA, whom he beat by fall at last year’s Emperor’s Cup.

The other Japanese wrestler who clinched an Olympic berth at Nur-Sultan but did not medal, Mao OKUI at freestyle 74kg, will have to take the playoff route to Tokyo 2020 after losing 4-3 in the first round to Yuto MIWA. 

Miwa subsequently lost to Keisuke OTOGURO, Takuto’s older brother, who had moved up from 70kg and kept his long-shot Olympic dream alive by making the 74kg final. 

His opponent will be Daichi TAKATANI, who will be looking for revenge of sorts. Takatani had tried to make the worlds at 65kg, but lost to Takuto Otoguro in last year’s Emperor’s Cup final. 

Takatani had an eventful day to say the least, using his bold and somewhat unorthodox counters to score four straight technical falls. That included a dramatic 15-5 win in the quarterfinals over Yuhi FUJINAMI, a 2017 world bronze medalist at 70kg who has returned from an injury-plagued season.  

Haruna OKUNO captured the 53kg title with a 3-2 win over Nanami IRIE. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Okuno gains revenge, 2nd national title
Former world champion Haruna OKUNO, squeezed out of the Tokyo 2020 chase during the scramble into the Olympic weight classes, picked up her second national title at 53kg with a 3-2 victory over Nanami IRIE. 

That win avenged a loss to Irie in a playoff in July for the world team to Nur-Sultan at 55kg, in which Irie went on to win the silver medal. Okuno, the 2018 world champion at 53kg, had been beaten out at that weight class by 55kg world gold medalist Mayu MUKAIDA.  

In the final, Okuno scored a first-period takedown, but Irie went ahead on criteria with a takedown of her own early in the second period. Pressing to get the winning points, Okuno forced Irie out for a 1-point stepout with 1:03 left and held on for the win. 

Sosuke TAKATANI, a 2014 world silver medalist at freestyle 74kg and Daichi’s older brother, will get another shot to qualify for his third Olympics after defending his 86kg crown, his ninth straight national title overall. 

Takatani scored a takedown in each period in rolling to a 6-0 victory over Hayato ISHIGURO to earn his ticket to the Asian qualifying tournament after failing to secure an Olympic berth at Nur-Sultan. 

In two Olympic weight classes in Greco with tickets to Xi’an on the line, the representative in Nur-Sultan came out on top, with Masato SUMI winning at 87kg for his third straight title and fourth overall, and Arata SONODA making it six straight at 130kg. 

High schooler Yudai TAKAHASHI nearly grabbed the 79kg title but fell short on criteria against Shinkichi OKUI. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

High school hex strikes again
The high school hex continued in the men’s styles at the Emperor’s Cup when Yudai TAKAHASHI had the freestyle 79kg title ripped from his grasp in the final seconds by Shinkichi OKUI.

Okui’s spin-behind takedown at the buzzer, awarded on challenge, gave him a 3-3 win on last-point criteria over Takahashi, who was bidding to become the first high schooler to win a freestyle championship since Yuji ISHIJIMA won the 52kg gold exactly 30 years ago. 

On Friday, two high schoolers attempting to become the first-ever Emperor’s Cup champs in Greco-Roman both lost in their respective finals, as well as another in a freestyle final. 

Day 3 results

Freestyle

57kg (25 entries)
Semifinals
Yuki TAKAHASHI df. Kotaro KIYOOKA by TF, 11-1, 5:48
Rei HIGUCHI df. Kaiki YAMAGUCHI, 3-2

65kg (21 entries)
Semifinals
Takuto OTOGURO df. Ryoma ANRAKU, 8-1
Rinya NAKAMURA df. Takuma TANIYAMA by TF, 11-0, 4:21 

74kg (26 entries)
Semifinals
Keisuke OTOGURO df. Ken HOSAKA, 3-3
Daichi TAKATANI df. Jintaro MOTOYAMA by TF, 12-2, 4:42 

79kg (11 entries)
Final - Shinkichi OKUI df. Yudai TAKAHASHI, 3-3 
3rd Place - Taro UMEBAYASHI df. Yoshiaki NARABU by Def.
3rd Place – Yuta Abe df. Katsuya MURASHIMA by TF, 11-0, 3:47

86kg (11 entries)
Final - Sosuke TAKATANI df. Hayato ISHIGURO, 6-0
3rd Place - Shutaro YAMADA df. Takahiro MURAYAMA, 6-4
3rd Place - Shota SHIRAI df. Masao MATSUSAKA, 7-6

92kg (9 entries)
Final - Takuma OTSU df. Ryoichi YAMANAKA, 9-1
3rd Place - Koji YAMANE df. Yudai YOKOTA, 3-0 
3rd Place - Takumi TANIZAKI df. Akinobu TAKEUCHI, 5-0

Greco-Roman

63kg (15 entries)
Final - Yoshiki YAMADA df. Masaki ISHIKAWA by TF, 9-1, 4:09
3rd Place - Harushi SHIMAYA df. Yusuke KITAOKA by TF, 8-0, 2:16
3rd Place - Ichito TOKUHIGA df. Shinsei YAMAMOTO by TF, 10-0, :56

67kg (21 entries)
Semifinals
Shogo TAKAHASHI df. Katsuaki ENDO by TF, 9-0, 4:01
Tsuchika SHIMOYAMADA df. Yuji UEGAKI by Fall, 1:18 (7-0) 

77kg (17 entries)
Semifinals
Shohei YABIKU df. Tomohiro INOUE, 5-1
Kodai SAKURABA df. Takeshi IZUMI by TF, 13-5, 4:41

87kg (12 entries)
Final - Masato SUMI df. Takahiro TSURUDA, 6-1
3rd Place - Kanta SHIOKAWA df. Ryota NASUKAWA, 3-1
3rd Place - Ryosei OGATA df. Kaito MIYAMOTO by Fall, 2:27 (2-5) 

130kg (10 entries)
Final - Arata SONODA df. Ryota KONO by TF, 9-0, 1:52
3rd Place - Shoma SUZUKI df. Tsuyoki HISAKA, 5-1
3rd Place - Sota OKUMURA df. Keita BANCHI by Def. 

Women’s Wrestling

50kg (25 entries)
Semifinals
Yuki IRIE df. Remina YOSHIMOTO, 4-1
Yui SUSAKI df. Eri TOSAKA, 6-0 

53kg (14 entries)
Final - Haruna OKUNO df. Nanami IRIE, 3-2
3rd Place - Umi IMAI df. Yuka YAGO, 7-5
3rd Place - Yumi SHIMONO df. Yu MIYAHARA by Def.

57kg (8 entries)
Final - Sae NANJO df. Akie HANAI, 4-0 
3rd Place - Sena NAGAMOTO df. Chiho HAMADA, 7-6 
3rd Place - Hanako SAWA df. Wakana OTA by TF, 10-0, 5:09

62kg (11 entries)
Final - Ami ISHII df. Atena KODAMA, 4-2 
3rd Place - Yuzuru KUMANO df. Suzu YABIKU by Fall, 1:22 (4-0) 
3rd Place - Kumi IRIE df. Yui SAKANO, 4-1 

68kg (9 entries)
Semifinals
Miwa MORIKAWA df. Sara DOSHO, 9-2 
Naruha MATSUYUKI df. Masako FURUICHI, 3-0

72kg (3 entries)
Round-Robin, Final Standings
1. Mei SHINDO (2-0)
2. Kanon KOBAYASHI (1-1)
3. Mai HAYAKAWA (0-2).
Key match: Mei SHINDO df. Kanon KOBAYASHI by Fall, 2:20 (5-0) 

#WrestleZagreb

World Championships 2025 Day 3 FS 65kg, 97kg and WW 55kg, 59kg Highlights

Monday, September 15, 2025 - 08:39 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

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ZAGREB, Croatia (September 15) -- The World Championships day three will see the start of Women's Wrestling in Zagreb. Two weight classes -- 55kg and 59kg -- will be in action. Freestyle will continue in 65kg and 97kg with two Olympic champions in action.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 2 RESULTS

65kg semifinals
SF 1: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) vs Piabani (CAN)
SF 2: Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) vs. Umidjon JALALOV (UZB)

14:56: Peiman BIABANI (CAN) comes back from a 2-0 down to beat Andrii BILIICHUK (UKR) in the 65kg quarterfinals. Biabani scored three stepouts and a takedown to take the lead and held on to it to win the quarterfinals.

14:55: SUJEET (IND) gave it all against Olympic silver medalist Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) in the 65kg quarterfinals but Amouzad got a takedown in the final 20 seconds to be safe. Amouzad scored four stepout to lead 4-0 but struggled with conditioning. Sujeet scored a takedown and stepout to make it 4-3. Needing only one to win, Sujeet committed to a far leg attack and Amouzad countered with a takedown to make it 6-3. Sujeet scored a takedown with 4 seconds on the clock but could not get one point for the win. Amouzad reaches semifinal with a 6-3 win.

14:52: Olympic champ Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) fires out at the gun in his 65kg quarterfinal against Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (UWW), grabbing a single leg, snatching the other ankle and going straight to a lace-lock roll. The action, however, is so fast he is given just 2 points, which proves enough as he fends off Ibragimov to post a 3-0 victory. Kiyooka's final point came on an unsuccessful challenge after the buzzer when Ibragimov's side tried to get the Japanese penalized for fleeing, but the judges ruled he properly defended.

14:51: Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) breaks open a close match with a pair of takedowns in a 20-second span of the second period, then holds on for a 5-3 victory over Sebastian RIVERA (PUR) to advance to the 65kg semifinals. Jalolov held the criteria advantage after both had received an activity point, but scored a takedown at with 1:20 left, then added another a short time later. Rivera picked up a takedown with :22 to go, but it was too little, too late.

55kg semifinals
SF 1: Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) vs. Kyong Ryong OH (PRK)
SF 2: Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW) vs. Andreea ANA (ROU)

14:41: Kyong Ryong OH (PRK) uses her lace to great effect to deny any comeback from Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR) in the 55kg quarterfinals. Oh manages to go past Kamaloglu 14-7

14:40: Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) reaches the 55kg semifinals after beating Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) 10-5. It was a takedown masterclass from Uchida who led 8-0 before Khomenets had a big four pointer. But Uchida kept her cool and managed to win 10-5.

14:39: Andreea ANA (ROU) runs 2022 world bronze medalist Karla GODINEZ (CAN) out of the ring in the final minute for a stepout with a fleeing point tacked on, putting her into the 55kg semifinals with a 3-1 victory. Each wrestler had received an activity point, with the Canadian holding the last-point criteria.

14:39: European champion Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW) scores three takedowns, which is enough to trump the 4-point takedown that Yaynelis SANZ VERDECIA (CUB) chalked up and temporarily put her in the lead. Verbina walks away with a 6-4 victory in the 55kg quarterfinal, in which all of the points came in the first period.

59kg semifinals
SF 1: Altjin TOGTOKH (MGL) vs. Sakura ONISHI (JPN)
SF 2: Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN) vs. Maria VYNNYK (URK)

14:30: Elena BRUGGER (GER) and Altjin TOGTOKH (MGL) trade takedowns in the second period but Brugger leads 3-3 on criteria with a 2 minutes left. She makes it 5-3 with a takedown before two lace turns make it 9-3 with 1 minute left in the match. BUT TOGTOKH WITH A BIG MOVE AND FALL! She beats Brugger despite the latter leading 9-5 and advances to the 59kg semifinals.

14:26: After spotting Bediha GUN (TUR) a four-point lead, Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN) comes back to go ahead on criteria in the second period, only to fall behind again. But Beauregard comes up with a late takedown to win 6-6 on criteria and earn a spot in the 59kg semifinals.

14:25: Mariia VYNNYK (UKR)  hits the move of the day in the women's competition, tossing Othelie HOEIE (NOR) for 5 with a high-amplitude back suplex en route to a 11-0 victory to advance to the 59kg semifinals.

14:20: Sakura ONISHI (JPN) with an inside trip and the fall over Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (UWW) after a 12-0 lead. She advances to the 59kg semifinal and a step closer to the first senior world title. She is a two time world U20 champion, the second coming just a month ago in Samokov, Bulgaria.

97kg semifinals
SF 1: Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) vs Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI)
SF 2: Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) vs. Kyle SNYDER (USA)

14:15: Olympic champion Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) survives a huge scare against Magomed KURBANOV (UWW) in the 97kg quarterfinals. Kurbanov threated to run away with it when he began with two stepouts to lead 2-0. He made it 4-0 with a takedown but Tazhudinov got going in the second period with a takedown to cut the lead to 4-2. He used a front headlock move to score six more points to lead 8-2. A challenge, which was lost, from Kurbanov made it 9-4. But Kurbanov got a breather and then got a takedown to make it 9-6. In the final 15 seconds, he managed a front chestwrap exposure but Tazhudinov got a reversal as the score changed to 10-8. Tazhudinov gave up a stepout but still managed to win 10-9.

14:10: Young Arash YOSHIDA (JPN)  puts on an impressive display of power, scoring five stepouts in bulling to a 6-2 victory over Olympic silver medalist Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) to advance at 97kg. Yoshida's other point came on a rare reversal after he gave up a takedown. That sets up a rematch with Snyder of their semifinal encounter at the Tirana Ranking Series event in February won 5-5 by the Japanese.

14:09: Kyle SNYDER (USA) provides no openings for Zbigniew BARANOWSKI (POL) in their 97kg quarterfinal as the seven-time world medalist post a workmanlike 5-0 victory comprised of a takedown, two stepouts and an activity point.

14:05: The first semifinalist at 97kg is Olympic bronze medalist Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) who beats VICKY (IND) 10-0 in 3:30. A blast double in that match from Azarpira for four points.

13:55: Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) spends much of his 65kg match trying to chase down the elusive Ayub MUSAEV (BEL), but he manages to snatch an ankle enough to score three takedowns, with one thigh-lock roll added in for a 9-4 victory. There was one lapse of caution, when Kiyooka was thrown for 4 on a counter lift, but was otherwise in no danger.

13:40: Real WOODS' (USA) got on point in his match against Olympic silver medalist Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) and that was for a lost challenge from the Iranian. Otherwise, Amouzad showed why his underhooks are lethal, scoring 10 points from the move to win 12-1. A stepout and point for lost challenge from the United States were the other two points.

13:36: Three-time former European champion Andreea ANA (ROU) chalks up a 4-point move in the first period and two stepouts in the second and she's through to the 55kg quarterfinals with a 6-3 victory over 2024 world U20 champion Cristelle RODRIGUEZ (USA).

13:35: World silver medalist Sebastian RIVERIA (PUR) rolls to a 10-0 technical superiority win over Goderdzi DZEBISASHVILI (GEO) to secure his place in the 65kg quarterfinals.

13:28: SUJEET (IND) with a typical hard-working win over Kwang Jin KIM (PRK) at 65kg. A lot of stepout given up by a tired Kim. Sujeet into the quarterfinals.

13:25: Asian champion Kyong Ryong OH (PRK) looks like one to beat at women's 55kg as she storms to a 12-2 victory over Mihaela SAMOIL (MDA) to advance to the quarterfinals. Oh has a reply to all of Samoil's counter moves, and her victory in 2:36 includes a 4-point takedown off a double leg.

13:25: European champion Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW) with a fall over veteran Oleksandra KOGUT (AUT) at 55kg. Verbina is looking to win a first world medal at the senior level and she looks good to do it.

13:13: World silver medalist Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) warms up with a 10-0 technical superiority win over Hyerim LEE (KOR) at 55kg. Khomenets is looking find her old form after returning from an injury.

13:12: Less than a month after winning a second straight world U20 gold, Sakura ONISHI (JPN) begins her quest for a title in her senior world debut with a 10-0 rout of Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB) at 59kg.

13:09: European champion and Olympic silver medalist Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) eases by Shatlyk HEMELYAYEV (TKM) 4-0 in his opening match at 97kg as he looks to improve on his two career world bronze medals. A takedown in the first period and activity points in each half were all he needed.

13:10: Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) holds on to her 8-4 lead and beats NISHU (IND) at 55kg to advance to the quarterfinals at the World Championships. This is her debut at the senior level

12:59: Asian champion Arash YOSHIDA (JPN), looking to give Japan a rare medal in the upper weights, continues his run with a 10-0 victory over Ertugrul AGCA (GER) at 97kg. Yoshida, whose father is Iranian and runs the kids club in Japan where he started the sport, scores a takedown and lace-lock roll in the first period, then finishes up the match with three takedowns in the second.

13:00: Pyol HONG (PRK) and Elena BRUGGER (GER) waited and waited for some action. Brugger took a 2-1 lead when Hong was on the second activity period and did not score. In the final 10 seconds, Hong locks Brugger's arms and throws her for two points and wins 3-2. Germany challenges the call. There was no danger for Brugger in that throw and the scores are reversed to 2-1 and a victory for Brugger at 59kg.

12:53: In a contentious match at 97kg that included penalty points and a dressing down of both wrestlers from the match chairman, Olympic bronze medalist Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) comes away with a 6-3 victory over Akhmed MAGAMAEV (BUL).

12:42: Kyle SNYDER (USA), a 10-time world and Olympic medalist, begins his quest for an 11th one with a 10-0 victory over Cristian SARCO (VEN) at 97kg. He missed out on a medal in Paris, the first World or Olympics since 2015 that he failed to win a medal.

12:40: Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN), competing internationally for the first time since his triumph at 65kg at the Paris Olympics -- with a new, braided hair style -- opens with a 13-2 victory over Alibeg ALIBEGOV (BRN). It is Alibegov who strikes first, surprising the Olympic champion with a quick double-leg takedown. But Kiyooka replies with a single-leg takedown, then transitions to his patented thigh-lock with the head between the legs and rolls twice for a 6-2 lead. He adds a stepout before the buzzer. Kiyooka stays on the attack in the second period and gains a takedown and two traditional lace-lock rolls to end the match in 4:59.

12:32: Paris Olympic and 2023 world bronze medalist Sebastien RIVERA (PUR)appears to wake up after giving up an early stepout to Chouaib SAHRAOUI (ALG) at 65kg. He comes back with a takedown, then goes on a gut wrench spree to make it 12-1, at which point Sahraoui throws in the towel and it officially goes into the books as a fall at 1:57.

12:30: World and Olympic champion Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) faces Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD) in his first match at 97kg. He begins with a takedown and stepout to lead 3-0. A blast double for four to make it 7-0. Two points for exposure to make it 9-0 before he finishes the match with a stepout.

12:29: Budpest Ranking Series champion SUJEET (IND) storms out to a quick 6-0 lead against Cavit ACAR (TUR) at 65kg, but it suddenly begins to evaporate as Acar scores a pair of defensive exposures and the exchange reversals. That puts Sujeet up 7-5 at the break. But he pulls away in the second period, with a 4-point takedown when Acar attempts a reverse counter lift and an unsuccessful challenge gives Sujeet a 15-5 win.

12:25: Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) was leading 5-0 but Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK) hit a takedown and rallied a leg-lace to win to win 16-5. Tevanyan seems in some trouble with his knee. Armenia challenges and the last turn is removed. But down 14-5, Tevanyan managed only three more points as Kudiev wins 14-8.

12:18: Olympic silver medalist Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) wastes little time in getting his campaign for a second career world gold at 65kg off to roaring start, using a 4-point takedown to finish off a 13-0 whitewash in just under two minutes. over Ikromzhon KHADZHIMURODOV (KGZ).

12:15: Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (UWW) controls his bout against Gantulga BATBAATAR (MGL) throughout the six minutes to win 12-0 and advance at 65kg. Ibragimov is trying to win his first world medal

11:54: Real WOODS (USA) gives no chance to Maxim SACULTAN (MDA) in his 65kg opening bout. Woods with a gut-wrench to rack up those points but he wins 11-0

11:38: A victory for the Philippines. In a battle between wrestlers from countries trying to develop the sport, American-born Arian CARPIO (PHI) defeats Victoria CHHEN (AUS) 7-0 to advance at women's 59kg. Carpio, who competed for the U.S. until 2019, scores a takedown-lack lock combination and stepout in the first period, then caps the win with a second-period takedown.

11:35: Seems like Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) has recovered from an ankle injury she picked at the U20 World Championships. She starts her 55kg campaign with a 10-0 victory over Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL)

11:20: Paris Olympic bronze medalist Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) matches 2023 Asian Games bronze medalist Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL) with an activity point and stepout, but both of his come in the second period and that gives the Iranian a 2-2 victory on last-point criteria at 97kg.

11:20: Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA), a world 55kg champion in 2019, moved up to 59kg for this World Championships but Hong LIANG (CHN) shows Winchester that there are different levels to this. She pins Winchester

11:14: Asian champion Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) picks up a first-period fall against Domantas PAULIUSCENKO (LTU) at 97kg, a weight class that is absolutely packed

11:10: In the first of many high-profile matchups to come in the super-stacked 97kg division, 2023 world 92kg champion Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) gives up a takedown and the lead with just under two minutes left to Magomed KURBANOV (UWW), the 2021 silver medalist at 92kg. But Aitmukhan gets behind off a scramble with :48, then adds a stepout. But a second apparent stepout with :08 left is overturned on challenge and awarded to Kurbanov, suddenly giving him a 4-4 lead on criteria. A last-ditch challenge at the end is denied, giving Kurbanov a 5-4 win.

10:58: Asian bronze medalist Kwang Jin KIM (PRK) gets a first-period takedown and that holds up for a 2-0 victory over Junsik YUN (KOR) to clear his first hurdle at 65kg.

10:50: A match marred with multiple medical timeouts, Olympic bronze medalist and world silver medalist Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) has to be carried off the mat after he called for an injury. Magomedov and VICKY (IND) battled it out and the India wrestler led 5-0 before Magomedov woke up. The score was 9-7 with Vicky leading but Magomedov scored a takedown and turn to lead 11-9. But he failed to recover for a restart and the match was decided with Vicky as winner.