New Star Steveson Stuns Petriashvili in Olympic 125kg; Mukaida Strikes Gold

Friday, August 6, 2021 - 13:27 By Ken Marantz

CHIBA, Japan (August 6) -- Gable STEVESON (USA) worked his way onto the global stage with a name harkening back to a bygone legend in the sport. The 21-year-old certainly made a name for himself at the Tokyo Olympics.

Steveson pulled off the most unlikely of victories, scoring a takedown in literally the final second to stun three-time world champion Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) in the freestyle 125kg final on Friday night.

"I don’t know what I’m really feeling right now," said Steveson. "It hasn’t hit, it hasn’t even soaked in. It is a crazy feeling that I’m sitting with a gold medal around my neck. This is something that will sit with me forever."

In other finals, Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) gave Japan its third women's gold at the Tokyo Olympics after also needing a comeback -- albeit not as dramatic as Steveson's -- to capture the women's 53kg title, while Zaurbek SIDAKOV (ROC) added the freestyle 74kg gold to the back-to-back world titles he won in 2018 and 2019.

Gable STEVESON (USA) with the gold medal at 125kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Steveson's performance at Makuhari Messe Hall A, in which he also knocked off defending Olympic champion Taha AKGUL (TUR) in the quarterfinals, was the stuff that legends are made of -- much like that of America's greatest wrestling hero, 1972 Olympic champion Dan GABLE.

It can only be called prescient that his parents gave their son Gable the middle name Dan. The Minnesota state native had given a taste of what was to come by winning consecutive world cadet titles in 2015-16 and the world junior title in 2017.

Coming into Tokyo, he had just one other senior international tournament under his belt, a victory at this year's Pan American Championships. While good preparation, it could hardly be regarded as an indicator of how he would fare against the world's best.

Steveson convinced any doubters with his quick single-leg lifts and acute awareness of how the international game is played, often a problem for Americans coming from folkstyle rules.

"I knew I had it in me," said Steveson, who became who the first American Olympic champion in the heaviest weight class since Bruce BAUMGARTNER (USA) at the 1992 Barcelona Games.

"Everybody talks about bringing home a gold medal, and I did it."

In the final, Steveson got an activity clock point, then opened eyes with a leg-lift and trip for a takedown and a 3-0 lead. The 27-year-old Petriashivili, certainly aware he needed to step up his game, got in on a single, but the American not only fought out of it, but reversed the situation and got a stepout to make it 4-0.

A disappointed Geno Petriashvili (GEO) at the 125kg medal ceremony. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

In the second period, Petriashvili took control. He and Akgul had combined to win every major global since 2014, and he was not going to let the streak end without a fight. Trailing 7-2, the Georgian got a single-leg takedown with 1:20 left, then added a gut wrench and tilt to take the lead for the first time, 8-7.

With time running out, Steveson forced Petriashvili down, then kept spinning around until he secured control with the last click on the clock. An unsuccessful challenge made the final score 10-8.

"I was guaranteed a medal, but I knew I could fire that last shot off and give him that last trick, and he bit it," Steveson said. "I looked at the clock, and it was like point-three. And I was like, no way, my head was just like flush with everything, my face was like, stunned."

After a hug with his coach and a lap with the American flag, Steveson celebrated his victory with a cartwheel and back flip, quite an impressive feat for such a large man who is only just showing what he is capable of doing.

Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) defeated Qianyu PANG (CHN) in the 53kg final. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Mukaida, a two-time world champion at 55kg, had formed a bad habit of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory with last-second losses in big matches. It is the reason for one of her two world silver medals at 53kg.

In Friday's final against Qianyu PANG (CHN), it was Mukaida who had to play catch-up, which she did for a 5-4 victory that returned the Olympic 53kg title to Japanese hands.

"I usually lead first, but my opponents overtake me quite often," Mukaida said. "This time it was the other way around, I was behind. I had the resolution to win at the end. The strong emotion is what made me win this match."

Pang, ignoring the fact that she had lost all four previous meetings with Mukaida, jumped out to a 4-0 lead with a snap-down, spin-behind takedown and a gut wrench. That's how the first period ended.

In the second period, Mukaida got fired up, and scored successive takedowns to go ahead on criteria with about 1:20 left. She didn't just sit on the lead, and went for a single leg which she held onto for dear life as Pang desperately tried to break the hold and get behind.

But Mukaida not only did not let go, she managed to score a stepout. After that, she held off the Chinese to secure the gold.

"First, I couldn’t tackle her like I always do," Mukaida said. "But in the six minutes I was able to do my style of wrestling with a very strong determination to win. She was very strong, I wanted to beat her, and I was determined to get a gold medal. I continued to have that feeling throughout the six minutes."

Mukaida has faced high expectations in Japan by being tabbed as the second coming of three-time Olympic champion Saori YOSHIDA (JPN), as she is from the same Mie Prefecture and wrestles in the same weight class.

After winning the first three golds when women's wrestling was added to the Olympic program [55kg at the time], Yoshida surrendered the 53kg title in Rio. Now Japan has it back.

"Yoshida won many times in a row so you can't compare me to her," Mukaida said. "But I was the one who was selected [for the Olympics], and however it happened, I wanted to win the gold."

Olympic champion at 74kg Zaurbek SIDAKOV (ROC). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Sidakov's 7-0 victory over Russian-born Mahamadkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (BLR) in the 74kg final may have lacked the drama of the other two, but it was no less impressive.

After the first period was limited to an activity clock point, Sidakov started off the second with a takedown and an exposure from a cradle off a tackle counter. He then sealed the deal with a pair of stepouts against his onetime comrade, who switched nationalities to Belarus in 2020.

"This gold just reminds me of all the hard work, all the sweat that I've dropped in training for this," Sidakov said. "I'd like to thank everyone who supported me through the hardest parts of the job....This gold medal means I've got the best success in my sport and I can't really express
my feelings right now."

In the bronze-medal matches, world 79kg champion Kyle DAKE (USA) assured he won't leave his first Olympics empty-handed when he defeated Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) 5-0 at freestyle 74kg, denying the Cuban-born Italian a second straight Olympic bronze.

Dake, bouncing back from a one-sided loss in the quarterfinals to Kadzimahamedau, put the pressure on early and scored a pair of stepouts, then added 2 with a counter lift for a 4-0 lead in the first period. In the second, he was never threatened and added a late stepout.

"I was able to bounce back and wrestle more like my old self today," Dake said. "A couple of hiccups here and there and you just battle through them.

"Frank is a beast, so for me to put in the performance I did, I just have to thank all of my training partners and coaches, my folks back in Hawaii, everyone who has got me here. I competed really well, didn’t give up any points, and I’m excited for the World Championships in a couple of months."

The other 74kg bronze went to Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB), who gave Uzbekistan its first wrestling medal of the Games with a 13-2 technical fall in the first period over Daniyar KAISANOV (KAZ).

Abdurakhmonov, a two-time world medalist who attended college in the United States, came out firing on all cylinders, scoring a takedown and two lace locks, then a takedown and exposure.

It was much easier going than Abdkurakhmonov's 3-2 win in the final at the 2018 Asian Games over Kaisanov, the 2019 and 2020 Asian champion who was upgraded to 2019 world bronze medalist after a doping disqualification.

At freestyle 125kg, Akgul, having already been dethroned as Olympic champion, came away with a bronze medal by scoring a takedown in each period of a 5-0 victory over Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL).

Amir ZARE (IRI), the 2019 world U-23 champion, took the other bronze in that weight class, also with a 5-0 win, although he did with three stepouts and two activity points against a defensive Zhiwei DENG (CHN).

Both of the women's 53kg bronze-medal matches, won by Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR) and Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL), ended in the first period. Kaladzinskaya, the 2018 world champion, caught 2019 world 55kg champion Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) in a headlock and ended the match by fall in 2:09.

Bat Ochir both scored and gave up a pair of takedowns against Joseph ESSOMBE TIAKO (CMR), but the Mongolian complimented hers with a succession of lace locks for a 14-4 technical fall in 2:37, giving her country its first wrestling medal in Tokyo.

Sadulaev, Snyder set up 3rd showdown

In semifinal action, another chapter will be added to the storybook rivalry between Rio Olympic champions Abdulrashid SADULAEV (ROC) and Kyle SNYDER (USA) after the two advanced to the freestyle 97kg final in oddly similar manners.

Sadulaev earned an activity point and three stepouts in beating a defensive Reineris SALAS PEREZ (CUB) 4-0, while Snyder did the same with 2020 European 92kg champion Suleyman KARADENIZ (TUR), except he had one more stepout in a 5-0 victory.

"I feel good, I’m looking forward to tomorrow," Snyder said. "I think about [Sadulaev] a good bit, but I’m just ready to wrestle again, ready to go....I've wrestled better each match and tomorrow night I will wrestle my best."

Sadulaev was just 20 when he won the 86kg gold at the Rio Olympics, where a 21-year-old Snyder triumphed at 97kg. Sadulaev moved up to 97kg the next year, and their paths first crossed in the final at the 2017 World Championships in Paris, where Snyder prevailed to take the gold.

But the tide turned Sadulaev's way after that, as he avenged the loss the next year in the final in Budapest. At the 2019 World Championships, a third clash never came about after Snyder lost in the semifinals to 2012 London Olympic champion Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE), whom Sadulaev beat for his second straight world title and fourth overall.

Leading up to the Tokyo Olympics, Sadulaev made it to the final at the Ranking Series Ali Aliev tournament in June, but defaulted the final to Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB) due to injury.

Sadulaev appears to be at full strength in Tokyo as, starting with a 5-0 win in the opening round against Sharifov, he did not concede a point in any of his matches.

It was very good day for the home team--albeit without spectators to see and cheer them on -- when former world champions Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) and Yui SUSAKI (JPN) both knocked off a reigning world titlist to make their respective finals.

Otoguro's run into the freestyle 65kg final has to be regarded as the more extraordinary, in that he needed to beat both of the wrestlers who defeated him at the 2019 World Championships.

Having gotten past Iszmail MUSAZUKAJEV (HUN), who beat him in the bronze-medal match in Nur-Sultan, his path to the final was blocked by world champion Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (ROC). The memory of the 8-1 pasting he was handed by the Russian in the first round has been a motivating factor ever since.

It was a very different outcome in Tokyo, as 2018 world champion Otoguro scored a first-period takedown and a second-period stepout, then held on despite giving up two penalty points for a 3-2 victory.

"This is my first Olympics final so I am so excited for that," Otoguro said. "After the Games were postponed, I worked on strategy with my coach to how to win the gold here. And now I am going to basics and keep following them."

In the final, Otoguro will face another familiar face from Nur-Sultan in Rio 2016 bronze medalist Haji ALIEV (AZE), who advanced with an impressive 12-5 victory over the ever-dangerous Bajrang PUNIA (IND). At the 2019 worlds, Otoguro defeated Aliev 11-9 in a wild and very tempestous repechage match.

Susaki, a two-time world champion who has never lost to a non-Japanese opponent, will look to achieve her dream of an Olympic gold medal when she faces Rio bronze medalist Yanan SUN (CHN) -- an opponent she has already beaten three times.

Susaki made the final with an 11-0 technical fall of reigning world champion Mariya STADNIK (AZE), who once again failed to scale a Japanese wall at the Olympics.

Susaki, who had beaten Stadnik in two previous meetings including the final of the 2018 worlds, broke open a conservative match in the second period with a 4-point front headlock roll, to which she added a succession of lace locks to end the encounter at 3:47.

"It’s a dream come true," Susaki said. "I have waited for this for 8 years. I was the flag bearer [at the opening ceremony] with the basketball player [Rui HACHIMURA] so it was huge honor and I am very proud to represent Japan. I can’t wait for tomorrow and will give my best."

The 33-year-old Stadnik will now go for her fourth Olympic medal in the bronze-medal match, without any of them being gold. She lost in the London 2012 final to Hitomi OBARA (JPN) and the Rio 2016 final to Eri TOSAKA (JPN).

Sun showed that no lead is safe against her as she pulled off a stunning comeback victory over Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA), scoring a 4-point lateral drop with 3 seconds left for a 10-7 victory.

"I'm very happy to get into the final," Sun said. "It was a high-tension match and this match told me I have to never give up during a match."

Hildebrandt, the 2018 world silver medalist, dominated the match against the three-time world medalist, building up a 7-1 lead in the first period. But Sun stormed back in the second, gradually cutting the gap with a front headlock roll and takedown before nailing her big move.

"My opponent became too passive because I knew she wanted not to lose any further points until the end of the match," Sun said. "I thought I still had plenty of time to make a comeback. To be honest, I was not considering the time so much, I just tried my best to stay calm and find my chance to win."

While Susaki is 3-0 head-to-head against Sun, their last encounter was close, a 3-2 by Susaki at the 2019 Women's World Cup.

Day 6 Results

Freestyle

65kg
SF1 - Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) df. Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (ROC), 3-2
SF2 - Haji ALIYEV (AZE) df. Bajrang PUNIA (IND), 12-5

74kg
GOLD - Zaurbek SIDAKOV (ROC) df. Mahamadkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (BLR), 7-0

BRONZE - Kyle DAKE (USA) df. Frank CHAMIZO (ITA), 5-0
BRONZE - Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB) df. Daniyar KAISANOV (KAZ) by TF, 13-2, 2:13

97kg
SF1 - Abdulrashid SADULAEV (ROC) df. Reineris SALAS PEREZ (CUB), 4-0
SF2 - Kyle SNYDER (USA) df. Suleyman KARADENIZ (TUR), 5-0

125kg
GOLD - Gable STEVESON (USA) df. Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO), 10-8

BRONZE - Amir ZARE (IRI) df, Zhiwei DENG (CHN), 5-0
BRONZE - Taha AKGUL (TUR) df. Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL), 5-0

Women's Wrestling

50kg
SF1 - Yui SUSAKI (JPN) df. Mariya STADNIK (AZE) by TF, 11-0, 3:47
SF2 - Yunan SUN (CHN) df. Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA), 10-7

53kg
GOLD - Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) df. Qianyu PANG (CHN), 5-4

BRONZE - Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR) df. Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) by Fall, 2:09 (4-0)
BRONZE - Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL) df. Joseph ESSOMBE TIAKO (CMR) by TF, 14-4, 2:37

#wrestlebishkek

Vinesh makes successful drop to 50kg, earns shot at 3rd Olympics

Saturday, April 20, 2024 - 17:33 By Ken Marantz

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 20) -- Two-time Olympian VINESH (IND) took the best remaining path available to her to the Paris Olympics and did her best impression of the storming of the Bastille.

Vinesh dropped down to 50kg for the first time since 2018 and rolled to three consecutive technical falls, the last over Laura GANIKYZY (KAZ), to secure one of India's three tickets to Paris in women's wrestling at the Asian Olympic Qualifier on Saturday in Bishkek.

"It was difficult," said Vinesh, a two-time world bronze medalist at 53kg who will be looking to make up for past disappointments at the 2016 Rio and 2021 Tokyo Olympics. "But when you win, everything becomes worth it. I will say that I will be at peace for four to five days, but my main target is the Olympics. I will try to do what I couldn’t do in the last two Olympics. I can do better at this Olympics."

It was also a good night for China and the DPR Korea, which secured three Paris berths each, as well as Uzbekistan, which earned the first-ever Olympic quota in women's wrestling in its history. Host Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia captured one each as the teams did not have to contend with the powerful Japanese, who had already gained spots in all six weight classes.

"Competition is competition," the 29-year-old Vinesh said. "It is not that only if China and Japan are competing alongside you that it becomes a competition. Everyone becomes strong on the mat."

Combined with the quotas won at the World Championships last year in Belgrade, China and India have four each, and Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan and DPR Korea have three apiece.

Two medalists from Tokyo, 53kg silver medalist Qianyu PANG (CHN) and 68kg bronze medalist Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ), were among the victors, as those who came up short will have a final chance at the World Olympic Qualifier in Istanbul on May 9-12.

Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) VINESH (IND) controls Laura GANIKYZY (KAZ) in their 53kg Paris Olympic qualification bout. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Vinesh, long one of the top wrestlers in the world at 53kg, put principles ahead of personal gain when she skipped the Indian trials for last year's World Championships to join in protests against the nation's wrestling federation, which had been suspended by the UWW (since lifted) for failing to address harassment allegations against a top official.

In her place, ANTIM (IND) won the bronze medal at 53kg to earn one of the five Paris quotas in the weight class. For Vinesh to ensure a trip to a third Olympics, she needed to either go up to 57kg or drop to 50kg. She briefly considered the former before opting for the latter. In her last appearance at 50kg, she won the 2018 Asian Games gold, then made the jump up to 53kg.

"I did the weight switch because I didn’t have any option, not out of happiness," said Vinesh, who underwent surgery last August on her left knee. "But I won a quota for my country in the 50kg category. I am happy that I can go to the Olympics. Whether I go in the 50kg category or in the 53kg category, that will be decided in the trials but whatever it is, I won a quota for my country."

Her accomplishments are remarkable and put her among the greats in the sport -- in addition to world bronzes from 2019 and 2022, she has seven Asian medals, including a gold from 2021. All that is missing is a medal from the Olympics, where she has experienced much pain, both physical and emotional.

In 2016, she left the mat in Rio on a stretcher after suffering a broken knee in the quarterfinals against Sun YANAN (CHN). At Tokyo, she was ranked No. 1 but was ousted in the quarterfinals by Vanessa KALADZINSKAYA (AIN). "My body is not broken, but truly I am," she told the Indian Express of her mental fatigue.

Vinesh competed sparingly after that, winning the gold at the Commonwealth Games and bronze at the World Championships in 2022.

"It’s taken so much hard work and struggle," Vinesh said. "I have been away from the mat for 1 1/2 years. I have come back after an operation. Many people have suggested that I should not go in the 50kg category because I could get re-injured.

"But I did not have any option. It was a do-or-die situation. I chose the die option."

On Sunday, she looked like she had never been away from the mat. Against Ganikyzy, who was making her senior international debut, Vinesh opened the scoring with a 2-point counter lift while on the activity clock, then added a double-leg takedown for a 4-0 lead at the break.

In the second period, Vinesh spun behind on a takedown attempt, then reeled off a pair of gut wrenches to end the match at 4:18.

Looking ahead to Paris, Vinesh knows what she needs to do to be prepared and avoid the pitfalls of the previous Olympics.

"Firstly, I will have to manage my weight a lot better," she said. "I have brought myself down to 50kg after so long so I will try and maintain this as much as I can. It’s not easy for me not to put on weight because my muscle mass is very high. Because of that, I gain weight easily. It doesn’t matter how fit I am, I still gain weight because I have a lot of muscle mass. I just want to control my weight. I have four months left, and every day is very important.

"I just want to try my best. It's been 20 years since I've been wrestling. I just want an Olympic medal. Everyone is working for that."

Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) celebrates after making history by becoming the first woman from Uzbekistan to clinch a spot in the Olympics. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Historic win for Uzbekistan

In the preceding 50kg bout, Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) made history by becoming the first woman from Uzbekistan to clinch a spot in the Olympics when she hung on desperately for a 4-2 victory over Meng Hsuan HSIEH (TPE). Keunimjaeva said she knew she was on the precipice of history going into the match.

"I knew that and I tried hard to achieve it," she said. "We’ve been training hard for three years now, we never had an Olympic spot and we wanted it so much. We worked so hard together with the coaches, together with the whole wrestling federation of Uzbekistan."

Keunimjaeva took a 3-0 lead with a single-leg takedown while Hsieh was on the activity clock. But her late shot for another was countered, and Hsieh slipped behind for 2 with five seconds left in the first period.

Keunimjaeva, who took a timeout for treatment on her knee, kept shooting in the second period, and although she could not finish one off, she ate away at the clock. In the final seconds, Keumjaeva clung onto Hsieh's toes for dear life to keep her from getting behind on a counter.

A challenge was unsuccessful, and Keunimjaeva reversed their meeting at the 2021 Asian Olympic Qualifier at 53kg which was won 16-8 by Hsieh, although neither wrestler ended up qualifying.

Like Vinesh, Keunimjaeva had moved down from 53kg and found success at the lower weight.

"I used to wrestle at 53kg," she said. "However, I wanted to compete at this Olympics so much, so I went down to 50kg. I know that this weight class is very competitive. There are many good wrestlers: the world and Olympic champion from Japan, there is a very strong Mongolian wrestler, also a Chinese one. I think they are the toughest opponents."

Hyogyong CHOE (PRK) and Qianyu PANG (CHN) qualified the DPR Korea and China for the Paris Olympics at 53kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

The DPR Korea will be back in the Olympics for the first time since 2016, having opted not to participate in the qualifying for the Tokyo Games. The country returned to the post-pandemic international stage for the first time in four years at last October's Asian Games in China, and its three victors on Saturday had all won medals there.

Hyogyong CHOE (PRK) got the ball rolling at 53kg with a 4-0 victory over ageless Zhuldyz ESHIMOVA (KAZ), an eight-time Asian medalist dating back to 2007 who was attempting to qualify for her third Olympics and first since 2016.

Choe, an Asian Games bronze medalist, gained an activity point in the first period, then scored a stepout in the second period while she was on the clock. She clinched the victory with a single-leg takedown.

In the other bout at 53kg, China's Pang cruised to a 10-0 victory over Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB) to deny Uzbekistan a second berth on its historic night.

Pang, the Zagreb Open champion and Asian Games silver medalist, forced her way behind for an opening takedown, then got a 2-point tilt and a pair of gut wrenches for an 8-0 lead. In the second period, Pang eluded a single-leg attempt and spun behind for the clinching takedown.

"I feel like my performance was much better than in previous tournaments," Pang said. "My goal never changed, I still want to be an Olympic champion. I still need to work hard enough. Every step is difficult, and I hope I can improve step by step."

Asked about the 53kg division, topped by current world champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN), Pang replied, "They [opponents] are very good, but I think the charm of competitive sports lies in this -- no matter how good they are, you still have a chance to win. I must believe that I can succeed."

Kexin HONG (CHN) pins In Sun JONG (PRK) to win at 57kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Pang's compatriot and fellow Zagreb Open champion Kexin HONG (CHN) followed by securing a Paris ticket at 57kg, but she needed a miracle victory over In Sun JONG (PRK) which also avenged a loss at the Asian Games. Hong managed to not only come back from an eight-point deficit to tie the match, but she secured a fall.

Jong opened the match with a single-leg takedown, then put on a fine display of counter wrestling with back-to-back counter-lifts to make it 6-0, then added another to take an 8-0 lead into the break.

But when Jong shot right off the whistle in the second period, Hong got behind for a takedown and added a lace-lock roll to cut the gap to 8-4. Hong then worked out of a deep single for a takedown, flipped Jong onto her back and secured the fall at 4:36, getting payback for a 4-2 loss to Hong in the Asian Games semifinals.

ANSHU (IND) confirmed a Paris Olympic quota for India at 57kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Tokyo Olympian ANSHU (IND), the 2021 world silver medalist at 57kg, earned a likely trip back to the Olympics with an 11-0 rout of Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB).

The three-time Asian medalist gained an opening takedown and added a pair of gut wrenches for a quick 6-0 lead. After that, she spun behind for a takedown, and just barely gained a 2-point tilt at the edge to end the match. An unsuccessful challenge of the exposure added the final point.

Anshu downplayed the fact that she was in the opposite bracket from Jong and Hong. "It feels great to have qualified for the Olympics," she said. "How the brackets are is not in my hands. My mindset was only that I have to qualify irrespective of who my opponent is. My bouts were good. If the wrestlers from China and the DPR Korea were on my side, I would have gone with the same mindset that I have to qualify."

Anshu prepared for the competition by traveling to Japan, where she trained with Fujinami and the rest of the team at the powerful Nippon Sports Science University.

"I did benefit by training there [with Fujinami at NSSU]," Anshu said. "I worked a lot on the mistakes I was making. There is always a mindset about Japanese wrestlers about how to wrestle them or tackle them. So if you are training with the top wrestlers and legends there and competing well, then you get a lot of confidence for your competitions."

Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL), right, and Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK) after winning the 62kg quotas for Mongolia and the DPR Korea. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At 62kg, former world champion Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) proved too much for unheralded Hanbit LEE (KOR), scoring a fall to earn a ticket to the Olympics for the first time since 2016.

Purevdorj, who won her lone Asian gold in Bishkek in 2018, used a single for a takedown, then applied an arm bar and plied her opponent over for the fall in 1:56.

Asian Games champion Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK) captured the other 62kg ticket by scraping out a 6-0 victory over 2022 world bronze medalist MANSI (IND).

Mun used a 2-on-1 arm drag for a takedown and a 2-0 first-period lead. In the second period, she got creative in countering a single-leg attempt, spinning over the back and getting behind before clinching the win with a spin-behind takedown.

Mun had advanced to the qualifying match with an impressive win over Tokyo Olympian Jia LONG (CHN), the 2023 Asian gold medalist at 65kg, taking a 4-0 lead before sending Long to her back with a headlock and winning by fall.

At the Asian Games, Mun famously defeated 2022 world champion Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) in the final to establish her credentials after placing fifth at the 2019 Asian Championships.

Both the 68kg and 76kg divisions had just seven entries, meaning the wrestlers were split into round-robin groups and some had to get through three matches before the final.

Sol Gum PAK (PRK) stopped this last-ditch attempt from Feng ZHOU (CHN) to win at 68kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At 68kg, Sol Gum PAK (PRK) gave the DPR Korea its third win in four matches with a thrilling 7-4 victory over three-time Asian Games champion and two-time Olympian Feng ZHOU (CHN).

Pak, who needed to beat Zhumanazarova in her final round-robin group match to pip NISHA (IND) for second place, opened with a takedown, but the lanky Zhou came back with a counter lift from a front body lock to lead 2-2 on criteria at the break.

In the second period, Pak went ahead with a single-leg takedown from an underhook. As the clock was ticking down, Zhou secured a front headlock and tried to muscle Pak over. Pak stopped the throw long enough to get a 2-point exposure before Zhou completed the roll, putting Pak up 6-4. An unsuccessful challenge upheld Pak's exposure.

Zhumanazarova, the 2021 world champion who is somewhat overshadowed by the exploits of popular compatriots Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) and Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ), lived up to the expectations of the home crowd, scoring five quick points late in the final seconds of the first period and easing to a 7-2 win over two-time Asian medalist Nabira ESENBAEVA (UZB).

REETIKA (IND) gave India its third Paris 2024 quota with an untroubled 7-0 victory over Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

At 76kg, world U23 champion REETIKA (IND) gave India its third win of the night with an untroubled 7-0 victory over Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE).

Reetika scored a pair of takedowns by spinning to the side off a front headlock, then added a stepout for a 5-0 lead. She used the same tactic to add another takedown in the second period, then kept Chang at bay to run out the clock in her fourth match of the day.

Asian Games bronze medalist Juan WANG (CHN) became the third Chinese winner with a 6-1 victory over Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), the losing finalist at the Asian Games where both lost to Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ).

Wang went ahead 1-1 on criteria with an activity point in the second period, then put the match away in the final seconds when she got behind Bakbergenova in the standing position, and fell backwards to roll her over her for 4. An unsuccessful challenge added the final point.

Paris 2024 Qualification Matches

Women's Wrestling

50kg
Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) df. Meng Hsuan HSIEH (TPE), 4-2
VINESH (IND) df. Laura GANIKYZY (KAZ) by TF, 10-0, 4:18

53kg
Qianyu PANG (CHN) df. Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB) by TF, 10-0, 4:03
Hyogyong CHOE (PRK) df. Zhuldyz ESHIMOVA (KAZ), 4-0

57kg
Kexin HONG (CHN) df. In Sun JONG (PRK) by Fall, 4:35 (8-6)
ANSHU (IND) df. Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB) by TF, 11-0, 2:48

62kg
Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) df. Hanbit LEE (KOR) by Fall, 1:56 (4-0)
Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK) df. MANSI (IND), 6-0

68kg
Sol Gum PAK (PRK) df. Feng ZHOU (CHN), 7-4
Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) df. Nabira ESENBAEVA (UZB), 7-2

76kg
REETIKA (IND) df. Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE), 7-0
Juan WANG (CHN) df. Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), 6-1

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Vinesh makes successful drop to 50kg, earns shot at 3rd Olympics