PARIS (August 24) – Former world champion Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR) spoiled Japan’s hopes for a sweep of the gold medals on Thursday, the final day of women’s events at the Paris 2017 World Wrestling Championships.

European champion Kaladzinskaya spotted returning world champion Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) at 6-0 lead in the gold medal final at 53kg but chipped away at the deficit until near the end of the bout. Then, a takedown attempt by Kaladzynskaya took Mukaida to her back for four points and an 8-6 triumph.

Kaladzhinskaya won her first world title in 2012 at 48kg with a win over future Rio 2016 gold medalist Eri TOSAKA (JPN) and now has collected her second world crown with another victory over one of Japan’s marquee mat corps.

Mukaida, meanwhile, suffered her first loss since the finals of the 2016 Klippan Open, winning the 2016 junior and senior world titles at 55kg, followed by the Yarygin Grand Prix in January and Asian Championship title in May.

Despite the loss, three Japanese rallied for individual gold medals and the team title with a hefty 60-38 margin over Belarus and the United States, which remained tied through all tie-breaking criteria and were designated co-runners-up.

In the evening’s bouts at AccorHotels Arena, Rio 2016 gold medalist Sara DOSHO (69kg) kicked off gold medal finals with a 3-1 win over Aline FOCKEN (GER) for her first world title. The victory reversed a last-second loss to Focken in the 2014 world championship finals.

In the bronze medal bouts at 69kg, fan favorite Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) fashion a 2-0 lead over the first five minutes and then added an exclamation point with a single-leg that she drove out of bounds for four points and a 6-0 win over Martina KUENZ (AUT).

HAN Yue (CHN) dropped Rio 2016 bronze medalist Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) with a front headlock for four points in the first period and added a pair of double-leg takedowns for a 10-2 win.

At 48kg, European bronze medalist Alina VUC (ROU) dropped Asia champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN) to her back for four points early in the bout before Susaki roared back with takedowns and gut wrenches for 14-4 technical fall at 3:42.

In the bronze medal bouts, Asia runner-up KIM Son-Hyang (PRK) racked up a series of double-leg attacks to claim and 11-1 technical fall over Victoria ANTHONY (USA).  European under-23 champion in 2016 Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) spun behind Violeta CHYRYK (BLR) early in the second period for a takedown and made it stand for a 3-1 win.

In the bronze medal bouts at 53kg, Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) scored a quick single-leg takedown on Estera DOBRE (ROU) and converted for the fall at 2:49 Roksana ZASINA (POL) slipped behind PAK Yong-Mi (PRK) in the closing seconds of their bout for a 4-2 win.

In the evening’s finale at 60kg, Rio 2016 gold medalist Risako KAWAI (JPN) dropped 2016 world silver medalist Allison RAGAN (USA) to her back for four points and a 13-0 technical fall at 5:26.
 
In the bronze medal bouts, European silver medalist Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (LAT) tripped up Luisa NIEMESCH (GER) an outside leg hook in the final seconds of the bout for a 3-2 win. Johanna MATTSSON (SWE), a European bronze medal winner, dropped BAATARJAV Shoovdor (MGL) to her back for four points in the second and kept the pressure on for an 8-3 victory.

Championship wrestling continues on Friday with the first day of freestyle events at 57kg, 61kg, 86kg and 125kg. 

Results of Gold & Bronze Medal Matches

Women’s Wrestling

48kg (27 entries)
Gold – Yui SUSAKI (JPN) df. Alina VUC (ROU) by TF, 14-4, 3:42
Bronze – KIM Son-Hyang (PRK) df. Victoria ANTHONY (USA) by TF, 11-1, 5:05 
Bronze – Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) df. Violeta CHYRYK (BLR), 3-1

53kg (25 entries)
Gold – Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR) df. Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN), 8-6
Bronze – Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) df. Estera DOBRE (ROU) by Fall, 2:49 (2-1)
Bronze – Roksana ZASINA (POL) df. PAK Yong-Mi (PRK), 4-2

60kg (23 entries)
Gold – Risako KAWAI (JPN) df. Allison RAGAN (USA) by TF, 13-0, 5:26
Bronze – Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (LAT) df. Luisa NIEMESCH (GER), 3-2 
Bronze – Johanna MATTSSON (SWE) df. BAATARJAV Shoovdor (MGL), 8-3

69kg (19 entries)
Gold – Sara DOSHO (JPN) df. Aline FOCKEN (GER), 3-0
Bronze – Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) df. Martina KUENZ (AUT), 6-0
Bronze – HAN Yue (CHN) df. Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ), 10-2

Team Rankings (Top Six)
1. Japan, 60 points (4 gold medals, 1 silver, 1 bronze)
2. Belarus, 38 (1-1-1)
2. United States, 38 (1-1-1)
4, Mongolia, 25 (1-0-0)
5. Turkey, 24 (1-0-1)
6. Canada, 24 (0-0-2)