#WrestleUlaanbaatar

Live Blog: Asian Championships day three

Thursday, April 21, 2022 - 01:44 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

Share this article

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (April 21) -- Women's wrestling begins at the Asian Championships in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia with five weight classes.

The wrestlers from 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg and 76kg will be in action on day three of the championships which saw Greco-Roman on the first two days.

MATCH ORDER | WATCH LIVE

13:45: That's all from the morning session. Japan has clinched two gold already while two more are in the final. Kyrgyzstan's two superstars Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) and Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) are also in the final.

13:43: Namuuntsetseg TSOGTOCHIR (MGL) uses a big four-point move and then secures a fall over MANISHA (IND) at 50kg and she moves into the semifinal against Yoshimoto.

13:37: The 76kg final will be a rematch from the group stage as both Medet Kyzy and Kagami prevailed in their semifinals with one-sided wins. Medet Kyzy notched a 10-0 technical fall in 2:31 over Ganbat, while Kagami finished off an 11-0 win over Yerkebayeva in 4:58. 

13:32: Zhumanazarova starts off with a 4-point tackle to the back and makes her first Asian final with a 7-2 win in the other 68kg semifinal over Enkhsaikhan. 

13:30: Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) is giving nothing away. She moves into the 50kg final with another leg lace to a 10-0 win over Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZB)

13:28: A stunner in the 68kg semifinal, as Bakbergenova scores a takedown off a counter with 28 seconds left to beat Matsuyuki 3-3 on last-point criteria. 

13:14: Kagami concluded the group stage at 76kg with an 11-0 technical fall over Sushma SHOKEEN (IND) to finish second in Group A. She will face Yerkebayeva for a place in the final, while the other semifinal will be a clash between Medet Kyzy and Ganbat. 

13:10: Sarita MOR (IND) gets her second win of the day and is now back in the medal reckoning. She defeats Diana KAYUMOVA (KAZ) 5-2 at 59kg

12:57: The semifinals at 68kg are set: It will be Zhumanazarova against Enkhsaikhan, and Matsuyuki vs Bakberganova. In the final match of Group B, Matsuyuki scores a takedown early in the second period against Enkhsaikhan and that holds up for a 2-1 victory. 

12:50: Sara NATAMI (JPN) has all but secured the gold medal at 59kg as she wins 4-2 against Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL). All she has to do is win her Round 4 bout against Dilfuza AIMBETOVA (UZB)

12:35: Medet Kyzy wastes no time clinching the top spot in 76kg Group A, gaining a takedown and four consecutive lace locks for a 10-0 technical fall over Sudesh KUMARI (IND) in 56 seconds. A few minutes later, Yerkebayeva wins Group B with an 11-0 technical fall over Valentina TORENIYAZOVA (UZB)

12:25: Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) and Matsuyuki both won their second matches in 68kg Group B by technical falls to assure their spots in the semifinals. They will clash in the third match from now on Mat C to see who wins the group.

12:19: Zhumanazarova clinches the top spot in Group A at 68kg and a place in the semifinals with a 10-0 technical fall over Sujin PARK (KOR)

12:18: Umi IMAI (JPN) with another top-class win. It was not as easy as the first but she manages to beat Otgonjargal GANBAATAR (MGL) 12-3 and inch closer to the gold.

12:10: Sara NATAMI (JPN) works her way to a 6-0 lead before pushing Sarita MOR (IND) towards and sticking her to her back for four. She wins 10-0. Not the best start for defending champion Mor.

12:08: In one of the featured matches of the morning session, world bronze medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) scored a takedown and gut wrench in the final 20 seconds to defeat 2019 world junior champion Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) 7-3 in Group A at 76kg. 

12:00: Namuuntsetseg TSOGTOCHIR (MGL) thrills the local crowd with a 10-0 win over Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZB) at 50kg

11:55: Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA (KAZ) fought out of a 0-3 hole to defeat Ariunjargal GANBAT (MGL) in their Group B match at 76kg.  Yerkebayeva is looking to make the final after winning bronze medals in 2015, 2016 and 2017. 

11:53: World champion Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) breezes past Miran CHEON (KOR) at 50kg. She uses a leg lace to win 10-0 in 56 seconds.

11:50: World champion Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) launched her campaign for a first Asian title after previously winning two bronzes with a 5-0 victory at 68kg over Madina BAKBERGERNOVA (KAZ), a two-time Asian bronze medalist herself. The two are in Group A of the weight class. 

11:45: Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN), a silver medalist in 2020 and a 2019 world junior champion had her hands full in notching a 3-1 win over Sonika HOODA (IND) in Group B at 68kg. With 7 entries, the weight class is divided into two groups.

11:42: Sarita MOR (IND) and Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL) battle out a close one at 59kg. Mor got a point for passivity before Baatarjav scored one for stepout. Mor was passive and that gave the Mongolian a 2-1 lead and the win in the first round

11:40: Two contrasting first-round bouts at 55kg. Umi IMAI (JPN) comes out all guns blazing and leg laces her way to a 10-0 win over Sushma SHOKEEN (IND). On Mat B, Otgonjargal GANBAATAR (MGL) takes longer but ultimately beats Altyn SHAGAYEVA (KAZ) 11-1 using the same move.  

11:35: Good morning, another crisp, chilly day in Ulaanbaatar for Day 3 of the Asian Championships. Today the women take the mat with competition in three weight classes, 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg, and 76kg

#WrestleBudapest

Maroulis golden in Budapest; India wins two Ranking Series golds

Friday, July 18, 2025 - 23:55 By Vinay Siwach

Share this article

BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 18) -- Three pins, zero points given and only 10 minutes spend on the mat for four bouts.

Helen MAROULIS (USA) did not show any signs of a one-year break from international wrestling and won the 57kg gold medal at the Budapest Ranking Series on Friday.

The three-time Olympic medal had not wrestled since winning the bronze-medal at the Paris Games but when she stepped on the mat in Budapest, it felt as if Maroulis was never off it.

Maroulis was the lone gold medalist from the United States among the five World Championships team members competing on Friday. India captured two of the five gold medals on offer in Women's Wrestling as ANTIM (IND) won her second straight Ranking Series gold at 53kg while Asian U20 champion HARSHITA (IND) rose above her level to beat three-time world silver medalist Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) at 72kg.

Hosts Hungary also managed to get a gold, its third-ever in Women's Wrestling at Ranking Series events, as Erika BOGNAR (HUN) defeated Elena BRUGGER (GER) in the 59kg final. Turkiye won the 50kg gold medal through Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR).

Maroulis, who was coached by Paris Olympic champion Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA), drew compatriot Amanda MARTINEZ (USA) in the first round. She had beaten Martinez at the Final X last month to make the World Championships team.

It took Maroulis some time to pick up pace but once she did, the bout was over in two minutes as she pinned Martinez using her signature arm-bar technique.

In the only match she failed to pin her opponent, Maroulis defeated Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Iryna KURACHKINA (UWW), 7-0, keeping her position as solid as possible. In the semifinals, Tamara DOLLAK (HUN) was pinned using the same arm-bar after an 11-0 lead to reach the final.

Neha SANGWAN (IND), world U20 bronze medalist and Mongolia Open winner, reached the other side of the bracket with good wins. She got the taste of elite wrestling when Maroulis foot-swept her on the mat and then secured the fall in just 31 seconds.

Maroulis did her punch in the air celebrations after the final and felt ready for the World Championships in September when she can win her fourth world title.

Twin golds for India

Antim and Harshita were the two gold medal winners for India, the only country to achieve two golds on Friday in Women's Wrestling.

Antim picked up from where she had left off in Ulaanbaatar and won three of her four bouts via technical superiority including a 10-0 opening round victory over Zeynep YETGIL (TUR). Antim had lost 10-0 to Yetgil in the first round of Paris Olympics and left the mat in tears.

But Budapest was entirely different as she did not even let Yetgil reach her legs, forget scoring points on her. In the semifinal, she blanked Felicity TAYLOR (USA), 10-0, and booked a place in final against Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW).

In Ulaanbaatar, Antim had beaten Malysheva twice, both via technical superiority. While the final did not go how she planned, Antim still beat Malysheva 7-4 to win the gold medal for India.

Malysheva was on the activity clock after avoided a few attacks from Antim who scored a takedown soon after the activity period to lead 3-0 in the final. But she got a misdirection takedown in the second period to cut the lead to 3-2.

Antim performance a slide to go-behind and score another takedown and stretch the lead to 5-2. An ankle pick made it 7-2 before a last-second takedown from Malysheva cut the lead to 7-4.

But Antim would the win, two months before the World Championships where she is already has a bronze medal.

Harshita was a little more dominant at 72kg as she won gold over Bakbergenova by blanking the Kazakhstan wrestlers 10-0 in the Round 5 bout as this weight class had five wrestlers.

She opened the day with a fall over Pauline LECARPENTIER (FRA) in the first round. Lecarpentier was not happy with the fall and pushed Harhista as the Indian was trying to stand up after the whistle. Lecarpentier was disqualified for her actions.

Harshita was unfazed by that incident and continued her progress, winning the next bout against Kseniia BURAKOVA (UWW), again via fall. She got a walkover by Kristina BRATCHIKOVA (UWW) in Round 4.

The Round 5 bout against Bakbergenova became a virtual final and Harshita was the underdog against the former Asian champion.

Bakbergenova was put on the activity clock and after getting the one point, Harshita scored a double-leg takedown to make it 3-0. In the second period, Harshita got Bakbergenova in trouble using a double-leg attack but the Kazakhstan wrestler throw her using chest-wrap. Harshita defended it well and kept control on Bakbergenova which ultimately got her four points.

In the same sequence, Harshita rolled Bakbergenova for two more points to lead 9-0. A stepout finished the bout 10-0.

Hosts Hungary celebrated the gold medal at 59kg after Bognar defeated Brugger 2-1 in the 59kg final, with all three points begin activity clock points. Brugger got a passivity against her t o give Bognar the lead. Brugger took a 1-1 criteria lead when Bognar was called passive and put on the activity clock.

There was third passivity it was Brugger who was put on an activity clock. She once again failed to score and Bognar took a 2-1 lead and the victory.

Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) needed a late counterattack against Elizaveta SMIRNOVA (UWW) to win 50kg gold medal.

RESULSTS

50kg
GOLD: Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) df. Elizaveta SMIRNOVA (UWW), 9-6

BRONZE: Natalia PUDOVA (UWW) df. Erin GOLSTON (USA), 10-0
BRONZE: NEELAM (IND) df. Kseniya STANKEVICH (UWW), 6-3

53kg
GOLD: ANTIM (IND) df. Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW), 7-4

BRONZE: Felicity TAYLOR (USA) df. Zeynep YETGIL (TUR), 11-0
BRONZE: Seoyoung PARK (KOR) df. Vestina DANISEVICIUTE (LTU), 5-0

57kg
GOLD:  Helen MAROULIS (USA) df. NEHA (IND), via fall

BRONZE: Nilufar RAIMOVA (KAZ) df. Roza SZENTTAMASI (HUN), 7-4
BRONZE: Iryna KURACHKINA (UWW) df. Tamara DOLLAK (HUN), 10-3

59kg
GOLD: Erika BOGNAR (HUN) df. Elena BRUGGER (GER), 2-1

BRONZE: Nadzeya BULANAYA (UWW) df. Arian CARPIO (PHI), via fall
BRONZE: Abigail NETTE (USA) df. Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (UWW), 7-1

72kg
GOLD: HARSHITA (IND)
SIILVER: Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ)
BRONZE: Kseniia BRATCHIKOVA (UWW)