ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (May 30) -- A young Indian team captured four out of five gold medals on offer in Women's Wrestling at the Ulaanbaatar Open on Friday.
Three teenagers -- NEHA (IND), MUSKAN (IND) and HARSHITA (IND) -- defeated opponents much experienced than them to win gold at 57kg, 59kg and 72kg.
Paris Olympian and Asian bronze medalist ANTIM (IND) captured the gold medal at 53kg after beating Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW), 10-0, in the final.
The fifth Indian in action on Friday, NEELAM (IND), won bronze medal at 50kg after she lost her semifinal but returned to beat Munkhnar BYAMBASUREN (MGL) in the bronze-medal bout.
Natalia PUDOVA (UWW) defeated Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR), 7-6, in a thrilling 50kg final to clinch gold medal.
Neha, a former world U17 champion and world U20 bronze medalist, was the most impressive wrestler of the lot, winning gold in her debut senior international tournament.
In a Nelson bracket format, Neha got European silver medalist Elvira SULEYMAN KAMALOGLU (TUR) in the first bout and showed nerves, taking a 7-0 lead. Kamaloglu hit a four-pointer in the second period but Neha managed to keep herself calm and clinched the victory. She pinned Munkhchimeg URJIN (MGL) in her next bout before beating Ana PEREIRA (BRA), 11-0, in the semifinal. In the final, Neha wrestled Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL) and kept it simple with a 4-0 victory.
"I was little hesitant because this is my first-ever senior tournament," Neha said. "But the competition was very similar to a U20 level competition."
Neha has lost only to Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) in her international career, once at World U17 Championships and then at the World U20 Championships. However, this year she wants to win the champion belt at the World U20 Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria.
"I want beat her and win the belt," she said.
MUSKAN (IND), blue, won gold medal at 59kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)
Muskan, 17, won bronze medal at the Asian Championships this year in Amman and has now added gold medal at the Ranking Series in the 59kg weight class, winning four bouts.
The weight had five wrestlers which meant all wrestlers had to wrestle each other. Muskan began with a fall over Anudari BATKHUYAG (MGL) before a tough 5-4 win over European silver medalist Bediha GUN (TUR) in Round 2.
Both wrestler were put on activity clocks and both failed to score. Gun led 1-1 on criteria in the second period when Muskan tried a takedown but Gun used the momentum and threw Muskan on her back for two points. Muskan recovered and got two points of her won to lead 3-3 on criteria.
Soon after, Muskan scored a takedown to make it 5-3 with a minute left in match. In the final second, Gun got a step out but Muskan hung on for the win.
In her next two bouts, Muskan posted controlled wins over Gantuya ENKHBAT (MGL), 8-2, and Altjin TOGTOKH (MGL), 9-0, to win the gold medal.
HARSHITA (IND) posted four wins to capture gold medal at 72kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)
Another former world U17 champion and Asian silver medalist, HARSHITA (IND), won gold medal at 72kg after winning four one-sided bouts.
After receiving a walkover in her first bout, Harshita blanked Kristina BRATCHIKOVA (UWW) 11-0 in the second bout and pinned Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL) in the next one after building a 13-0 lead.
In the evening session, Harshita got taken down and turned by Tsogzolmaa DORJSUREN (MGL) but she was already leading 6-0 by then. Ultimately, she defeated Dorjsuren 14-4 to win the gold medal.
ANTIM (IND) outscored her opponents 37-0 in four bouts to win gold at 53kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)
Antim, world and Asian bronze medalist, was at her best on Friday, winning four bouts without giving up a point. She pinned Namuuntsetseg TSOGTOCHIR (MGL) in the first bout before leg-lacing Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW) for an 11-0 win.
In the semifinal, she managed a 10-0 win over Ariunzaya ODONCHIMEG (MGL) before she got Malysheva in the final again as the weight class had only seven wrestlers divided in two group. Top two wrestlers from each group enter the semifinal where they clash in cross, making it possible for wrestlers from same group to reach the final.
The final against Malysheva was no different than the group stage bout as Antim used the leg-lace again and won the gold medal after another 10-0 win.
Natalia PUDOVA (UWW) defeated Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) to win gold medal at 50kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)
At 50kg, Natalia PUDOVA (UWW) held on for a 7-6 victory over Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) to claim the gold medal.
Pudova got on board first in the final after Demirhan was called for passivity. Demirhan took the lead in the second period by tripping Pudova with a knee-pinch for four points.
As Pudova tried to pressure for an attack, Demirhan was docked a caution point for singlet-grabbing, making the score 4-2. The Turkish wrestler tried an arm throw but was blocked by Pudova who managed to get a takedown to make it 4-4. A reversal for Demirhan kept the lead for her 5-4.
The next attempt for a headlock throw from Demirhan was awarded two points for Pudova which the Türkiye corner challenged but on review, it was seen that Pudova was attacking and Demirhan made only a defense attempt to throw which was not awarded a slip throw.
Pudova now led 7-5 and was given the par terre advantage but she failed to score any points from that position. A stepout got Demirhan closer but she still dropped the bout 7-6.
RESULTS
50kg
GOLD: Natalia PUDOVA (UWW) df. Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR), 7-6
BRONZE: NEELAM (IND) df. Munkhnar BYAMBASUREN (MGL), 9-1
53kg
GOLD: ANTIM (IND) df. Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW), 10-0
BRONZE: Otgontuya CHINBOLD (MGL) df. Ariunzaya ODONCHIMEG (MGL), 5-2
57kg
GOLD: NEHA (IND) df. Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL), 4-0
BRONZE: Elvira SULEYMAN KAMALOGLU (TUR) df. Ana PEREIRA FRANCA (BRA), via fall
59kg
GOLD: MUSKAN (IND)
SILVER: Altjin TOGTOKH (MGL)
BRONZE: Gantuya ENKHBAT (MGL)
72kg
GOLD: HARSHITA (IND)
SILVER: Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL)
BRONZE: Kristina BRATCHIKOVA (UWW)
 df. Vahe POGHOSYAN (ARM) -by VSU, 9 - 0-.jpg)
Egor KADIROV (RUS) is one of two Russian wrestlers who made the Greco-Roman finals on the opening day of the 2018 European Junior Championships. (Photo by Max Rose-Fyne) 
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