#WrestleSofia

Nakai wins third Cadet World title, Ozaki and Sakurai claim second gold at #WrestleSofia

Friday, August 2, 2019 - 19:30 By Taylor Miller

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SOFIA, Bulgaria – Honoka NAKAI (JPN), Nonoka OKAZI (JPN) and Hanano SAKURAI (JPN) repeated as World champions on Friday night to help Japan to the team title at the 2019 Cadet World Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Nakai won her third-consecutive World title, winning the 69 kg bracket. A tough match for gold, Nakai outlasted 2019 Cadet Asian bronze medalist Cun LIU (CHN) with a 3-0 decision to cap off the night for Japan.

Her teammate Ozaki, also a 2018 Youth Olympic Games champion, wrapped up her second Cadet World title in just >>> seconds, defeating 2019 Cadet European champion Yulia LESKOVETS (UKR), 10-0.

Winning her second Cadet World title and first since 2017 was Sakurai, who edged out Xueing LIANG (CHN), 6-4, in the gold-medal match at 46 kg.

Overall, Japan claimed six World champions and won the team title with 195 points. China finished second with 127 points and also earned a World champion on Friday.

Zhaojing SHI (CHN), a 2018 Cadet World bronze medalist, topped the podium at 53 kg with a dominating performance over 2018 fifth-place finisher Kalmira BILIMBEK (KGZ).

Shi came out and ended the match in 37 seconds, recording a pin.

The other World champion came at 40 kg as Komal KOMAL (IND) mounted a comeback over 2018 Cadet World bronze medalist Sterling DIAS (USA) for the crown.

Trailing 2-0 at the break, Komal, a 2018 Cadet Asian runner-up, tallied two second-period takedowns for a 4-4 win on criteria.

USA finished third in the team race with 106 points. Rounding out the top-five was Russia in fourth and India in fifth.

Finals matchups
40 kg
GOLD: Komal KOMAL (IND) dec. Sterling DIAS (USA), 4-4
BRONZE: Mushtariy TOLIPBEKOVA (UZB) dec. Alina KURYLENKA (BLR), 4-2
BRONZE: Miu OBATA (JPN) df. Michela CHESSA (ITA), 10-0

46 kg
GOLD: Hanano SAKURAI (JPN) dec. Xueing LIANG (CHN), 6-4
BRONZE: Kumari HANNY (IND) df. Adriana HERNANDEZ SANCHEZ (USA), forfeit
BRONZE: Sitora TOLIPBEKOVA (UZB) df. Serena Rosa DI BENEDETTO (CAN), 11-0

53 kg
GOLD: Zhaojing SHI (CHN) df. Kalmira BILIMBEK (KGZ), fall 0:37
BRONZE: Seira NEMOTO (JPN) dec. Polina LUKINA (RUS), 4-3
BRONZE: Alesia HETMANAVA (BLR) dec. Altyn SHAGAYEVA (KAZ), 6-1

61 kg
GOLD: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) df. Yulia LESKOVETS (UKR), 10-0
BRONZE: Eva FORSBERG (SWE) dec. Bhagyashree FAND (IND), 5-0
BRONZE: Kylie WELKER (USA) df. Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB), fall 0:58

69 kg
GOLD: Honoka NAKAI (JPN) dec. Cun LIU (CHN), 3-0
BRONZE: Amit ELOR (USA) df. Zaineb SGHAIER (TUN), 10-0
BRONZE: Alina MAKSIMAVA (BLR) dec. Anastasia KOZLOVA (RUS), 3-1

Team rankings
1. Japan – 195
2. China – 127
3. USA – 106
4. Russia – 101
5. India – 95
6. Uzbekistan – 71
7. Belarus – 70
8. Ukraine – 66
9. Kyrgyzstan – 44
10. Turkey - 43

 

#WrestleBratislava

Adar, the woman of firsts in Turkiye wrestling, retires

Friday, April 11, 2025 - 09:17 By Vinay Siwach

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BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (April 10) -- Turkiye's first-ever Olympic medalist, first-ever world and European champion in Women's Wrestling, Yasemin ADAR (TUR)retired Thursday after 16 years of international wrestling.

A winner of seven gold medals at the European Championships did not have a fairytale ending as she lost the 76kg final against Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) on Thursday at the European Championships in Bratislava.

Despite the loss, Adar undoubtedly retires the trailblazer in Women's Wrestling for Turkiye. In 2016, she won her first European title to create history before adding the world title in 2017. In 2021, she became the first Turkish wrestler in Women's Wrestling to win the bronze medal when she pinned Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) to claim the medal at the Tokyo Olympics.

"I had an incredible career in the 76kg category," Adar said after the European Championships final. "I had many successes and many firsts. I became a two-time world champion. I was at the Olympics with bronze medal. So I have an incredibly beautiful career and I am proud of myself. I can't believe it. It's very difficult to describe. I am very emotional today."

Adar, who had tears in her eyes while was taking off her shoes on the mat to mark her retirement, is aptly called the "woman of firsts" in Türkiye. With her teammates and family in the stands cheering for her, the final match became even more emotional for Adar.

"I finished my wrestling and believe me it was not easy at all," she said. "I even rehearsed it many times before coming here. I said this is where I will finish my career. In my speech, I always wanted to be considered as the legend of 76kilograms. This match was more nervous for me. I had planned it beforehand, I knew that this match was the last match. Even though I couldn't earn the gold medal, I ended it with silver. But believe me, there are really great successes in my career."

On how she came to the decision of retiring at the European Championships, Adar was clear that she wanted to pass on the baton to the younger generation.

"Even if you don't want it, wrestling starts to leave you," she said. "Although there are those who say I am very good, I try to compare it to a situation like this. I am 34-years-old with an 18-year-old athlete and unfortunately we cannot have the same performance."