MACON, France (September 2) – Defending champions Miho IGARASHI (JPN) and Masako FURUICHI (JPN) led the charge Friday with three wins each as all four Japanese entries advanced to the women’s finals at the Junior World Wrestling Championships.

Igarashi pinned three-time European junior champion Miglena SELISHKA (BUL) for a berth in the 48kg finals while Furuichi, who has already won two world titles at 67kg, flattened European junior bronze medal winner Evgenia ANDREICHYKAVA (BLR) for a berth in the 72kg final.

Igarashi will face another European champion in Nadezhda SOKOLOVA (RUS) in the Friday evening’s first gold medal match, while Furuichi will bring the curtain down on the women’s events in Macon taking on 2014 Youth Olympic Games gold medalist Daria SHISTEROVA (RUS).

Meanwhile, Japan’s own YOG gold medalist Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) notched four technical falls to advance to the finals at 55k and three-time Asian junior champion Ayana GEMPEI (JPN) gets her first chance at a world title at 63kg against Nadezhda DRAGUNOVA (BLR), wrestling in her first international gold medal bout.

Earlier in Friday’s morning session, Mukaida rolled over European under-23 champion Olena KREMZER (UKR) by technical fall in the preliminary bouts.

Kremzer, however, bounced back with a fall and technical fall in repechage and will face Asia champion PAN Tinling (CHN) for a bronze medal at 55kg.

-- Results -- 

Women’s Wrestling

48kg (20 entries)

Gold – Miho IGARASHI (JPN) v Nadezhda SOKOLOV (RUS)
Bronze – XIE Ya (CHN) v Miglena SELISHKA (BUL)
Bronze – Jade DUFOUR (CAN) v Evelin SOSA (ARG)

Semifinals – Miho IGARASHI (JPN) df. Miglena SELISHKA (BUL) by Fall, 3:25 (9-2)
Semifinals – Nadezhda SOKOLOV (RUS) df. Evelin SOSA (ARG) by TF, 10-0, 2:54

55kg (22 entries)

Gold – Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ) v Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN)
Bronze – Debora LAWNITZAK (GER) v Ramona GALAMBOS (HUN)
Bronze – Olena KREMZER (UKR) v PAN Tinglin (CHN)

Semifinals – Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ) df. Ramona GALAMBOS (HUN), 8-6
Semifinals – Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) df. PAN Tinglin (CHN) by TF, 13-0, 2:53

63kg (17 entries)

Gold – Nade DRAGUNOVA (BLR) v Ayana GEMPEI (JPN)
Bronze – Devi POOJA (IND) v YAN Hongli (CHN)
Bronze – Maya NELSON (USA) v Maria KUZNETCOVA (RUS)

Semifinals – Nade DRAGUNOVA (BLR) df. YAN Hongli (CHN), 8-3
Semifinals – Ayana GEMPEI (JPN) df. Maria KUZNETCOVA (RUS), 6-2

72kg (17 entries)

Gold – Masako FURUICHI (JPN) v Anastasia SHUSTOVA (UKR) v  Daria SHISTEROVA (RUS)
Bronze – Gracelynn DOOGAN (CAN) v Evgneia ANDREICHYKAVA (BLR)
Bronze – YAN Chuchu (CHN) v Anastasia SHUSTOVA (UKR)

Semifinals – Masako FURUICHI (JPN) df. Evgneia ANDREICHYKAVA (BLR) by Fall, 2:58 (9-0)
Semifinals – Daria SHISTEROVA (RUS) df. Anastasia SHUSTOVA (UKR), 8-4