Makhmudov becomes first male Kyrgyz world champion

Sunday, September 11, 2022 - 22:18 By Ken Marantz

BELGRADE, Serbia (September 11) -- A year ago, Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) came just short of becoming his country's first-ever Olympic gold medalist in any sport. On Sunday night, he never let his opponent come close to preventing him from becoming its first male world champion in wrestling.

Makhmudov emerged from a stacked Greco-Roman 77kg weight class to win the gold medal with a one-sided 8-0 technical fall over Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) on the first night of finals at the World Championships in Belgrade.

"I am very happy to get this opportunity to win the first Greco-Roman gold for the Kyrgyz people," Makhmudov said. "I dedicate this victory to my Kyrgyzstan."

The host country won two of the three other Greco-Roman golds at stake on Sunday, with Georgian-born Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) successfully defending his title at 87kg, and Iranian-born Ali ARSALAN (SRB) winning the 72kg in his first appearance at senior worlds.

European champion Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) capped off about as dominant a tournament as a wrestler can have by storming to 55kg gold with his fourth straight technical fall without conceding a point.

Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) uses a four-point exposure to win against Zoltan LEVAI (HUN). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

The 23-year-old Makhmudov, the silver medalist at last year's Tokyo Olympics, threw caution to the wind in scoring a pair of bold 4-point moves to blow away Levai in 2:06 of the final.

Makhmudov started with a daring back suplex with a headlock grip that put Levai straight to his back. When the Hungarian fought out of the predicament to his stomach, Makhmudov moved to the front, applied a front headlock and flipped Levai backward for the winning move.

"Yesterday I said that I wanted to show what Kyrgyz wrestling school was capable of," Makhmudov said. "I think I have shown it. I took revenge. Last time I lost to that wrestler and now I took revenge."

Makhmudov has been making waves since he won the gold at the 2018 Asian Championships hosted by Kyrgyzstan, a triumph that he repeated in April in Mongolia.

Only a knee injury that caused him to miss all of 2019 kept him from more titles.

In 2019, Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) beat him to the punch as Kyrgyzstan's first-ever world champion when she won the women's 62kg title in Nursultan. The country has had four male silver medalists, including Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) twice.

For Makhmudov, there are many others who share in the credit for his success.

"I know my family supports me a lot, thanks a lot to them, my coaches and my friends," he said. "And I would like to say something else. We have a coach Ulukbek Karacholokov, his father past away recently, and I would like to dedicate my victory to him because Ulukbek is one of the best coaches and thanks to his father for bringing up such a good son."

At the Tokyo Olympics, Makhmudov lost a heartbreaking 2-1 decision in the final to Tamas LORINCZ (HUN), with a second-period stepout providing the margin of victory. Still, the silver medal made him Kyrgyzstan's fifth Olympic medalist in history and a hero in the country.

"I know my country supports me a lot," he said. "We have a wrestling country. Everybody there loves wrestling and supports it. It gives me the energy to train, I always feel their support when I am on the mat even if they are not present in the wrestling hall."

Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) defended his 87kg world title. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

The Serbs in the finals could certainly hear the support of the partisan crowd in Stark Arena, particularly when Datunashvili ended the day's festivities with a thrilling 6-2 victory over Turpan BISULTANOV (DEN) in the final match of the night.

Bisultanov was looking to become his country's first-ever world champion but immediately fell into a 4-point hole when Datunashvili caught him with a nifty arm throw about one minute into the match.

"I had some tactics but I got the opportunity to get the throw and I did and I got four points," Datunashvili said.

In the second period, Bisultanov received a passivity point, but was unable to turn Datunashvili from par terre. The Serb then added a go-behind takedown to pad his lead, and was untroubled when he gave up a stepout.

"He is a young guy, he will get the gold later," Datunashvili said. "Maybe after three years he can beat me."

Datunashvili has been competing for Serbia since 2020 and appeared for the first time at the Olympics for his adopted country in Tokyo, where he took home a bronze medal. He also won the European title that year.

Ali ARSALAN (SRB) defeated Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) 4-3 in the 63kg final. (Photo: Martin Gabor)

In a clash between the European bronze medalists in the 72kg final, Arsalan was trailing 4-3 when he slammed Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) backward to the mat for 4 points, giving him a 7-4 victory and making him the fourth world champion in Serbia's young history.

Arsalan, a 2017 Asian bronze medalist for Iran, scored with a gut wrench from par terre to lead 3-0 going into the second period. But Ganizade tied the match with a passivity point and 2-point penalty, then went ahead 4-3 with a stepout.

"This is what I dreamt of and now I have changed that dream into fact," Arsalan said. "You don’t know the struggles to reach here. This is what it means to be a world champion. For all in Iran and Serbia who supported me, thank you."

Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) blanked Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) 8-0 in the 55kg final. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

At 55kg, Azizli maintained his domination over Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO), pummeling the 2019 world champion with an 8-0 technical fall to regain the world title he won in 2018.

Azizli, who had to settle for bronze medals in 2019 and 2021, scored an early stepout, then was put on top in par terre. That proved the beginning of the end for Tsurtsumia, also a bronze medalist last year. After a 2-point penalty, Azizli fired off two consecutive gut wrenches to end the match in 2:06.

"The Georgian wrestler is also a world champion, he was in 2019 and I was the world champion before him," Azizli said. "The match was great, thank God I won."

According to Azizli, he has now beaten Tsurtsumia nine consecutive times. Even so, he was not going to take his opponent lightly.

"This is wrestling," Azizli said. "Anything could happen. Every world championship I had a medal. But not always I was able to win."

Yusu BASAR (TUR) Yunus BASAR (TUR) won the bronze medal at 77kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Meanwhile, Turkey came away with three bronze medals after victories by Selcuk CAN (TUR) at 72kg, Yunus BASAR (TUR) at 77kg and Ali CENGIZ (TUR) at 87kg.

Can, a 2020 European bronze medalist, eked out a 3-3 win on last-point criteria over Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ), scoring a 2-point throw in the second period. Andrii KULYK (UKR) won the other 72kg bronze with a 4-3 win over Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA).

Basar, who won a second straight European silver medal this year, held on for a 4-1 victory over former world champion Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR), a two-time Olympic medalist who was aiming for his first world medal since 2018.

European champion Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM), the 72kg champion a year ago in Oslo, capped a busy day by defeating Viktor NEMES (SRB) 7-1 to take home the other 77kg bronze.

Amoyan, who lost a close 3-3 decision to Levai in the opening qualification match on Saturday, had to win three repechage matches.

At 87kg, Cengiz scored 4 points with a front lift in the second period to defeat two-time Asian champion Naser ALIZADEH (IRI) 7-1. The other bronze was won by David LOSONCZI (HUN), a 6-2 winner over Alex KESSIDIS (SWE).

At 55kg, Asian champion Yu SHIOTANI (JPN), who had to beat 2021 world champion Ken MATSUI (JPN) just to make the Japanese team, assured he would not leave Belgrade empty-handed when he defeated Max NOWRY (USA) 7-0. Shiotani opened with a 4-point arm throw, then added a stepout and a defensive takedown, all in the first period.

Asian bronze medalist Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB) picked up the other 55kg bronze by rallying from a 5-0 deficit, scoring a 4-point throw among nine second-period points to defeat Asian silver medalist Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ), 9-5.

Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) entered the 97kg final after beating defending champion Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI). (Photo : UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Aleksanyan returns to 97kg final by dethroning Saravi

In semifinal action in four other weight classes earlier in the session, Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) earned a shot at a fourth world title and first since 2017 when he defeated reigning world champion Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) 3-1 at 97kg.

Aleksanyan, scored a gut wrench during his turn in par terre to defeat rising star Saravi, a bronze medalist at last year's Tokyo Olympics and set up a final with European champion Kiril MILOV (BUL).

Milov spotted Arif NIFTULLAYEV (AZE) a 3-0 lead in the other semifinal but came alive in the second period when put in the par terre. First a classic gut wrench, then a 4-point throw to the back that set up a fall at 4:35.

Aleksanyan, who won a third career Olympic medal when he took the silver in Tokyo, has already assured himself of a sixth career world medal -- Milov is hoping to make it a third silver for the Armenian star.

Host Serbia had another good night, putting two of its wrestlers into the finals to match its results from the opening night. Sebastian NAD (SRB) will be going for the gold at 63kg and Mate NEMES (SRB), Viktor's twin brother, will follow at 67kg.

Nad, a 2019 European U23 silver medalist who is having a breakout tournament, scored a creative exposure from par terre in posting a 5-0 victory over European silver medalist Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE).

In Monday's final, Nad will try to ensure that Leri ABULADZE (GEO) leaves the World Championships with a silver medal for the second year in a row.

Abuladze, this year's European champion, scored a first-period stepout that proved the difference in a 2-1 win over 2019 world bronze medalist Ali Reza NEJATI (IRI).

Nemes, the other world bronze medalist in 2019, defeated a formidable Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) 5-2 in the semifinals. After trading first-period takedowns, Nemes received a passivity point, then got 2 for a penalty to clinch the victory.

For his efforts, Nemes gets a shot at the reigning world and Olympic champion Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI), who posted an unusual technical fall over Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO).

Geraei made the unusual choice of challenging a call in which he scored the points, but it paid off by giving him even more than he expected for an 8-0 technical fall.

From the par terre, Geraei lifted up Khetsuriani and dumped him onto his back. The original call was for 4, but Geraei insisted that his coach hit the challenge button, saying his opponent should also be assessed a leg penalty. He not only got the 2-point penalty but the throw was upgraded to 5 points, giving him the victory at 2:02.

Ironically, another semifinal also ended in a technical fall on a challenge call, but that one went against the one lodging the protest.

At 82kg, Asian silver medalist Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) hit a 4-point throw to take a 7-0 lead against Tamas LEVAI (HUN), who decided to take a chance and claim that the Uzbek used his legs. The judges didn't agree and that gave Berdimuratov the 8-0 victory at 2:23, denying a second Levai brother a place in the finals.

In the final, Berdimuratov will face last year's silver medalist Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR), who hit a 4-point throw at the edge in the second period to defeat Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR) 5-1.

Day 3 will see the start of competition in the final two Greco weight classes, 60kg and 130kg, as well as two women's divisions, 55kg and 62kg.

Day 2 Greco-Roman Results

55kg (18 entries)
Gold - Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) df. Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) by TF, 8-0, 2:06

Bronze - Yu SHIOTANI (JPN) df. Max NOWRY (USA), 7-0
Bronze - Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB) df. Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ), 9-5

63kg (30 entries)
Semifinal - Sebastian NAD (SRB) df. Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE), 5-0
Semifinal - Leri ABULADZE (GEO) df. Ali Reza NEJATI (IRI), 2-1

67kg (30 entries)
Semifinal - Mate NEMES (SRB) df. Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE), 5-2
Semifinal - Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) df. Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) by TF, 8-0, 2:02

72kg (25 entries)
Gold - Ali ARSALAN (SRB) df. Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE), 7-4

Bronze - Andrii KULYK (UKR) df. Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA), 4-3
Bronze - Selcuk CAN (TUR) df. Ibragim MAGOMADOV (KAZ), 3-3

77kg (33 entries)
Gold - Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) df. Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) by TF, 8-0, 2:06

Bronze - Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) df. Viktor NEMES (SRB), 7-1
Bronze - Yunus BASAR (TUR) df. Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR), 4-1

82kg (25 entries)
Semifinal - Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) df. Tamas LEVAI (HUN) by TF, 8-0, 2:23
Semifinal - Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) df. Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR), 5-1

87kg (30 entries)
Gold - Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) df. Turpan BISULTANOV (DEN), 6-2

Bronze - David LOSONCZI (HUN) df. Alex KESSIDIS (SWE), 6-2
Bronze - Ali CENGIZ (TUR) df. Naser ALIZADEH (IRI), 7-1

97kg (29 entries)
Semifinal - Kiril MILOV (BUL) df. Arif NIFTULLAYEV (AZE) by Fall, 4:35 (7-3)
Semifinal - Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) df. Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI), 3-1

#JapanWrestling

Yoshimoto continues to shine while in Susaki’s shadow

Saturday, December 21, 2024 - 15:41 By Ken Marantz

Remina YOSHIMOTO successfully defended her 50kg title with a win over Umi ITO. (Photo: Takeo YABUKI / JWF)

TOKYO (December 21) -- In a world without Yui SUSAKI, Remina YOSHIMOTO might have accumulated a stack of world and perhaps Olympic titles by now. But the reality is what it is, and Yoshimoto continues to pick up any golds that Susaki decides to forego.

Yoshimoto, who for five years now has not lost to an opponent not named Susaki, captured her second straight women's 50kg title at the Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships on Saturday in Tokyo.

The 2021 world champion scored the decisive takedown midway through the second period, then held on for a 3-2 victory over 2023 world U23 champion Umi ITO for her fourth career crown.

"I defended at the end when the match got tough," Yoshimoto said. "I realize that I need to be able to defend by breaking the opponent down. I'll keep that in mind at practice from now on."

In other highlights on the third day of the four-day tournament at Tokyo's Yoyogi No. 2 Gym, world U20 champion Sakura ONISHI captured her first Emperor's Cup title at 59kg in dramatic fashion, while Tatsuya SHIRAI picked up an elusive first crown two years after a historic victory at the world U23.

Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) Remina YOSHIMOTO tries to turn Umi ITO after scoring a second-period takedown in the women's 50kg final. (Photo: Takeo YABUKI / JWF)

In the women's 50kg final, an exchange of activity points had Yoshimoto ahead on criteria when she scored a double-leg takedown at the midpoint of the second period. Ito pressed ahead and scored a stepout with 12 seconds left, but a last-ditch shot was parried by Yoshimoto's sprawl, which is how the match ended.

From the start of 2020, the 24-year-old Yoshimoto has lost just four matches -- all to Susaki, the 2021 Tokyo Olympic gold medalist who took a bronze last summer in Paris after being dealt her first-ever loss by a non-Japanese.

Since then, along with her triumph at the 2021 worlds that Susaki skipped, Yoshimoto also captured international golds at the 2021 and 2022 Asian Championships, as well as the 2023 Asian Games.

There is speculation that Susaki, who has struggled to make weight at 50kg, might move up to 53kg in the run-up to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. That prospect was made more viable with the announcement by Akari FUJINAMI, the Paris gold medalist at 53kg, that she will move up to 57kg.

"I'm not thinking about that," Yoshimoto said. "Anyway, I'm aiming to go to the World Championships next year at 50kg. I'm looking at each and every match as they come and not thinking about what my weight class will be ahead."

Another reality of Japanese women's wrestling is that there always seems to be someone new coming down the pipe. Even if Susaki leaves, coming up behind Yoshimoto is red-hot teenager Yuu KATSUME, with whom she is well acquainted -- they are in the same training group.

Yoshimoto still trains at her alma mater of Shigakkan University, where members of the team from the affiliated high school, which Katsume attends, also practice. Katsume has put up Fujinami-like numbers, having won 18 straight tournaments, including the world U17 at 46kg this year, since a loss in the fifth grade of elementary school in 2019.

"She's really motivating me," Yoshimoto said. "It provides a great training environment.

As for someday finally getting the best of Susaki, Yoshimoto said, "She's really got my number and it's been tough. I want to find the strength and a way to win."

Sakura ONISHI (JPN) Sakura ONISHI forces Sena NAGAMOTO to her back before securing a fall in the women's 59kg final. (Photo: Takeo YABUKI / JWF)

Rising star Onishi pins down 1st title

At women's 59kg, Onishi was trailing 6-4 in the second period when she used a nifty move to take 2023 world U23 silver medalist Sena NAGAMOTO directly to her back and secure a fall at 4:50.

In the standing position, Onishi had an overhook on Nagamoto's right arm. But instead of going for an underhook on the other side, she twisted to her own right while applying pressure on the arm, crushing Nagamoto to the mat.

"I was trying for low singles, but she was ready for that," Onishi said. "Even if I got in, I couldn't get points from it. I thought, what should I do? My coach in the corner gave me advice and I had faith in it. At the end, the move I used is one that I thought I would use at some time. To do it on such a big stage gives me confidence."

The 18-year-old Onishi stole the spotlight last spring when she took down one of Japan wrestling's biggest names at the Meiji Cup All-Japan Invitational Championships, which, along with the preceding year's Emperor's Cup, serve as domestic qualifiers for the World Championships.

Onishi stunned two-time Olympic champion Risako KINJO (formerly KAWAI) en route to the 59kg title. Although she suffered a last-second loss to Kinjo in a playoff for the 59kg spot at the Non-Olympic Weight Category World Championships, Onishi's credentials were well established.

With world U17 and U20 titles already in her collection, Onishi can clinch a trip to her first senior World Championships with a victory at next year's Meiji Cup, which will be held in June.

"The Meiji Cup [last year] was my first [senior] national-level tournament, so I felt no pressure," Onishi said. "I went there to enjoy the experience and I kind of flew under the radar. This time I will be seeded and, even though I'm just 18, there will be pressure. I'm really grateful to all those who support me."

Onishi is currently a freshman at powerhouse Nippon Sports Science University, where Olympic champion Fujinami has taken her under her wing as a mentor. Like all but one of Japan's 11 Olympic medalists, Fujinami was not entered in the tournament, but she was on hand to cheer on her teammate.

"Akari was watching me from the stands and that gave me strength," Onishi said with reverence. "She's the person I admire the most. It's because of Akari that I am here now."

Tatsuya SHIRAI (JPN) Tatsuya SHIRAI, right, clamps down on Yudai TAKAHASHI in the freestyle 86kg final. (Photo: Takeo YABUKI / JWF)

Shirai finally breaks through at 86kg

Two years ago in Pontevedra, Spain, Shirai was on top of the world when he won the freestyle 86kg gold at the World U23 Championships, a feat that made him the heaviest Japanese in history to win a world title on any age level.

After that, things did not go so well, as Hayato ISHIGURO established himself as the top dog at 86kg and qualified for the Paris Olympics. Shirai failed to defend his world U23 title in 2023, losing the Aaron BROOKS (USA), who ironically would oust Ishiguro in Paris. Shirai also had to settle for a bronze at this year's Asian Championships.

In Saturday's final, Shirai grinded to a 3-0 victory over Yudai TAKAHASHI in a battle between two immovable blocks of granite and former NSSU teammates, scoring a stepout to go with a pair of activity points.

"We know each other pretty well," Shirai said.

To make the final, Shirai had to get past veteran Sohsuke TAKATANI, winning their semifinal clash 2-1, with all of those points coming on the activity clock.

"I think what Shirai needs to be concerned with is that he didn't score any technical points off me," Takatani said. "You can't leave winning or losing up to the referee. If he's going to aim for the Olympics, he needs to be more bold."

Takatani is a 12-time national champion who dropped back down to 86kg after spending the past three years at 92kg or 97kg -- and even taking a stab at Greco. Currently the head coach at Takushoku University, he won a world silver medal at 74kg in 2014, and made three Olympic appearances but never came home with a medal.

When younger brother Daichi won the 74kg silver in his Olympic debut last summer in Paris, it apparently lit a fire in Sohsuke.

He says his immediate goal is to get to the 2026 Asian Games, a tournament in which he has never taken part and which will be hosted by Japan. Long term, his eyes may also be on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, when he will be 39.

Godai MITANI (JPN) Godai MITANI scores the first of two quick-fire 4-point throws in the Greco 63kg final against Ayata SUZUKI. (Photo: Takeo YABUKI / JWF)

Soon-to-be-fireman goes out with a bang

Unheralded Ikuei University senior Godai MITANI pulled off the surprise of the day when he obliterated three-time Asian medalist Ayata SUZUKI with a pair of spectacular throws in the Greco 63kg final.

Mitani used an arm drag to lock up Suzuki's right arm, then reached around and grabbed his chin and twisted him back and down to the mat for a quick 4.

Suzuki came out of the scramble with a front headlock, but Mitani worked his way up to lock up Suzuki's head and arm, then, putting his schoolboy judo experience to work, hit a hip throw for another 4 to end the match in 28 seconds.

Mitani was unknown when he entered Ikuei, where he worked hard and managed to make his way onto some collegiate podiums, culminating with his first and only national collegiate championship this year.

Mitani has never competed overseas and, although he is halfway to earning a trip to next year's World Championships, he will not be going. Mitani said the All-Japan was his final tournament, as he has already committed to joining the fire department in his home Hiroshima Prefecture after graduating.

Also putting a cap on their career was Ikuei teammate Hanano SAKURAI, the younger sister of Paris Olympic 57kg champion Tsugumi SAKURAI. Hanano, who took a bronze medal at 50kg, will take a job as an elementary school teacher back home in Kochi Prefecture.

Day 3 Results

Freestyle

74kg (15 entries)
GOLD -- Hikaru TAKADA df. Iori KOSHIBA, 5-3
BRONZE -- Shuri ITO df. Kojiro SHIGA by TF, 12-0, 3:38
BRONZE -- Daiju SUZUKI df. Ryota UCHIYAMA, 8-3

79kg (16 entries)
GOLD -- Ryonosuke KAMIYA df. Ryuki YOSHIDA, 4-4
BRONZE -- Subaru TAKAHARA df. Hirotaka ABE, 5-0
BRONZE -- Kirin KINOSHITA df. Natsura OKAZAWA, 8-5

86kg (8 entries)
GOLD -- Tatsuya SHIRAI df. Yudai TAKAHASHI, 3-0
BRONZE -- Sohsuke TAKATANI df. Masakiyo YOSHIDA by TF, 11-0, 1:19
BRONZE -- Fumiya IGARASHI df. Daisuke MASUDA by TF, 10-0, 1:17

Greco-Roman

55kg (18 entries)
GOLD -- Yuhei YAMAGIWA df. Kenta OGUSU by TF, 9-0, 3:29
BRONZE -- Mizuki ARAKI df. Soken MASUDA, 9-5
BRONZE -- Ryuma KAWANO df. Taiga ONISHI, 10-3

63kg (20 entries)
GOLD -- Godai MITANI df. Ayata SUZUKI by TF, 8-0,: 28
BRONZE -- Komei SAWADA df. Kazuki YABE, 1-1
BRONZE -- Manato NAKAMURA df. Taishi NARIKUNI by TF, 8-0, :59

130kg (15 entries)
GOLD -- Yuta NARA df. Shion OBATA, 3-1
BRONZE -- Sota OKUMURA df. Koei YAMADA, 5-1
BRONZE -- Ayumu IWASAWA df. Naoto YAMAGUCHI, 7-1

Women's Wrestling

50kg (12 entries)
GOLD -- Remina YOSHIMOTO df. Umi ITO, 3-2
BRONZE -- Hanano SAKURAI df. Rinka OGAWA, 4-0
BRONZE -- Miyu NAKAMURA df. Mayo OTA, 7-0

59kg (12 entries)
GOLD -- Sakura ONISHI df. Sena NAGAMOTO by Fall, 4:50 (6-6)
BRONZE -- Yui SAKANO df. Sae NOGUCHI, 8-3
BRONZE -- Himeka TOKUHARA df. Minori ASANO by TF, 10-0, 1:41

76kg (6 entries)
GOLD -- Nodoka YAMAMOTO df. Yasuha MATSUYUKI by TF, 10-0, :56
BRONZE -- Mizuki NAGASHIMA df. Miku OTSUNA, 4-1

Makhmudov becomes first male Kyrgyz world champion

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Yoshimoto continues to shine while in Susaki’s shadow