SALVADOR, Brazil (August 14) – The Japanese women’s wrestling team bounced back from a disappointing opening night of wrestling to capture the Junior Wrestling World team title Friday night in Brazil.

After a lackluster opening night on the mats that saw them only win one of three gold medal finals, the Japanese side earned a trio of titles on day two with Miho IGARISHI (48kg), Nanami IRIE (55kg) and Rino ABE (72kg) all capturing championships.

Japan finished the tournament with 66 points, followed by Azerbaijan and Russia each with 47 points. Azerbaijan took second after winning more gold medals (2) than Russia (1).

In a match that brought the crowd into a multination applause Igarishi bested Irina BORISSOVA (KAZ) 16-12.  The match was a high-flying, back-and-forth final that set a dramatic temp for the rest of the night’s finals, which would include five wins by fall.

Borissova opened the scoring in the first period utilizing an overhook toss to throw 2014 Cadet world champion Igarishi for four points. Undeterred, the young Japanese wrestler fought back and after exchanging several points had take the lead 8-7 at the break. The second period saw the duo exchange technically impressive four point throws, a handful of takedowns and spirited defenses to leg attacks.

Their 28-point finale was the highest-scoring match of the Junior world championships.

Irie followed at 55kg with a dominating performance, scoring two takedowns in the first minute before pinning Ramona GALAMBOS (HUN). The 2014 Junior bronze medalist was 5-0 on the day.

Japan finished off their golden night with Rino Abe who had a much tougher road to gold than her countrywomen, facing a powerful Sabira ALIYEVA (AZE) in the finals. The Azerbaijani wrestled powered to a 4-0 lead and looked dominating for the first 90 seconds. But Abe didn’t break and rattled off 12 unanswered points using an array of underhook attacks and overhook slips to frustrate and confounded Aliyeva to take the 72kg title, 12-4.

In the 63kg finals the gold went to Russia who earned their first title of the women’s competition with 2014 European Junior champion Liubov OVCHAROVA (RUS) repeating her continental conquest over Ragneta GURBANZADE (AZE), this time by technical fall, 10-0 in 2:58 seconds.

Women’s Wrestling -- 48kg

GOLD:  Miho IGARASHI (JPN) df. Irina BORISSOVA (KAZ), 16-12 
BRONZE:  Milena DADASHEVA (RUS) df. Cody PFAN (USA) by FALL, 4-0 
BRONZE:  Oksana LIVACH (UKR) df. Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR), 6-4 

Women’s Wrestling -- 55kg

GOLD:  Nanami IRIE (JPN) df. Ramona GALAMBOS (HUN) by FALL, 7-0 
BRONZE:  Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ) df. Yocleidy RAMIREZ (DOM) by FALL, 8-2 
BRONZE:  Becka LEATHERS (USA) df. Patrizia LIUZZI (ITA) by FALL, 6-0 

Women’s Wrestling – 63kg

GOLD:  Liubov OVCHAROVA (RUS) df. Ragneta GURBANZADE (AZE) by TF, 10-0 
BRONZE:  Braxton STONE-PAPADOPOULOS (CAN) df. Mallory VELTE (USA), 4-2 
BRONZE:  Therese PERSSON (SWE) df. Eliana SZABO (HUN), 3-0 

Women’s Wrestling – 72kg

GOLD:  Rino ABE (JPN) df. Sabira ALIYEVA (AZE), 12-4 
BRONZE:  Iselin Maria MOEN (NOR) df. Rachel WATTERS (USA) by FALL, 4-0 
BRONZE:  Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA (KAZ) df. Anastasia SHUTOVA (UKR) by TF, 10-0