#WrestleZagreb

Rzazade, Aliyev lead Azerbaijan charge at European Championships

By Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (April 18) -- Since the turn of the century, Azerbaijan has been struggling to find a world-beating lightweight.

Barring Olympic champion Namik ABDULLAEV (AZE), no wrestler has been able to stamp his authority in the 55kg-57kg weight class. Giorgi EDISHERASHVILI (AZE) did win the European Championships twice in 2017 and 2018, but he was well past his prime by then and never looked threatening at the world level. Haji ALIYEV (AZE) won a bronze medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics but has spent most of his career at 61kg or above.

Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE) may change that now. Having won the U23 world title in 2021, the 25-year-old reached the final of the European Championships last year and taking a step further, became the champion on Tuesday, beating two-time European champion Suleyman ATLI (TUR).

Rzazade led Azerbaijan's charge on day two of the European Championships in Zagreb as the nation took a comfortable seat at the top of the team rankings. Aliyev added a fourth European title and his first since 2019 to make it two golds for the night for his country.

For day two semifinal results, click here: Akgul vs Petriashvili, Round 11

Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR) ended the country's 10-year wait for a European champion as he defeated Georgios KOUGIOUMTISDIS (GRE) to capture the 79kg gold medal while Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) scored a late takedown to deny Magomedkhan MAGOMED (AZE) a repeat at 97kg.

Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) added a senior European title to his U17, U20 and U23 titles as he defeated Mikyay NAIM (BUL) in the 65kg final.

Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE)Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE) throws Suleyman ATLI (TUR) in the final move of the bout. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

But it was Rzazade who came out all guns blazing and etched his name in history as he won the 25th gold medal for Azerbaijan at the European Championships.

Atli was looking for his third after suffering three losses in the finals in the last five years but little did he know that Rzazade will hit an arm throw five seconds into the final.

And as Atli was settling down after that throw, Rzazade dropped to his knees to which Atli reacted by throwing himself backward. Rzazade made it look like he was going for a leg attack but hit another arm throw, this time earning himself two points.

A 6-0 was always difficult to cover. Atli did try and cut it to 6-2 at the break but Rzazade came out even more aggressive in the second period. Atli tried tipping him but Rzazade was solid and threw Atli to his back for four and turned for a 12-2 win. Rzazade was off for the celebrations.

Turkiye challenged the call claiming it was only two points on the throw and won. The wrestlers had to restart with the score at 10-2. But it just delaying the inevitable.

Rzazade and Atli body-locked each other but it was the former who managed to get the throw. This time, there was no one stopping the Azerbaijan wrestler from celebrating his first European title.

"I came here to be a champion," Rzazade said. "I was very ambitious coming here. It's a great feeling and I am proud that I was able to raise the Azerbaijan flag. This is one of the best days of my life."

For the 17 years he has been wrestling, beginning in the town of Astara in south Azerbaijan, walking distance from the border of Iran which also has an Astara bordering Azerbaijan, the first senior title could feel that way.

Tuesday's final was in contrast to the one he had last year when Vladimir EGOROV (MKD) defeated him 8-6. Rzazade fell behind 8-0 but rallied to score six points and as he was about to get a turn for the win, the time ran out. He did not leave anything to chance this year and captured the gold medal.

"Last year in the final, I lost a very close bout," he said. "Today I was able to win gold and it's a very different feeling than the previous one. I am very happy that I was able to win the gold.”

That loss allowed Rzazade to put things into perspective and grow as a wrestler moving forward.

"Now I am an ambitious athlete," he said. "This is my year and this is my day. I think I am not that weak and everyone sees me as a tough opponent. It won't be easy as good and strong opponents are waiting for me.”

His opponents too will have to work hard to beat the newly minted European champion. A lethal underhook and strong gut wrench make him a threat. Add to that a solid defense, both in par terre and standing.

“I am looking forward to the next championships -- the World Championships in Serbia,” he said. “As we can obtain the license for the Olympic Games, I will like to get one in Serbia. I want to be an Olympic champion.”

Haji ALIYEV (AZE)Haji ALIYEV (AZE) became the first male wrestler from Azerbaijan to win four European gold medals. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Aliyev made it two for Azerbaijan as he won the 70kg gold after beating Ramazan RAMAZANOV (BUL) in the gold medal bout. With him turning 32 years old on April 21, Aliyev gifted him an early birthday present.

The Tokyo Olympics silver medalist became the first male from Azerbaijan to win four European titles as he went past Abdullaev who had three titles. Greco-Roman star Rafiq HUSEYNOV (AZE) has three titles as well and will get a chance to make it four in the coming days. Mariya STADNIK (AZE) still leads the way with seven titles.

“This is a very important win for me,” Aliyev said. “In the history of Azerbaijan, I am the first [male] one to win four European golds. This is very good for me.”

On Monday Aliyev had said that he is wrestling at 70kg which has stronger wrestlers than him. But he outsmarts them to win.

Against Ramazanov, he did use various tricks to capture the gold medal. Instead of waning himself out, Aliyev decided to rack up stepouts instead of indulging in scrambles.

He got three stepouts and a takedown to lead 5-1 at the break. He continued to put the pressure on Ramazanov and scored another stepout. Ramazanov scored a stepout and got an extra caution point to cut the lead to 8-3. Aliyev added a late takedown to win 10-3.

“We’ve been preparing a lot,” he said. “We had a lot of training camps this year. We are on the right way. That’s why we are winning.”

For his future plans, Aliyev said he is still chasing that elusive Olympic gold, a medal the 31-year-old missed by a whisker in Tokyo.

“I already have an Olympic bronze and silver, but I need the gold,” he said. “I will try hard. I do my best for this gold. I think it doesn’t matter if I am 32 or 34 years old, it only matters to work hard and become a champion.”

But Aliyev also knows that winning a medal in 65kg will be a herculean task as it is the deepest category in the world.

“This weight class is the toughest,” he said. “There are many good opponents and there are usually around 4-5 world champions. I think I know their wrestling styles. This is my last chance and I have to win the Olympic gold and then retire.”

Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO)Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) scoring a takedown on Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) in the final. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Azerbaijan could have won three gold medals but world bronze medalist Matcharashvili pulled off a late takedown to beat fellow world bronze medalist Magomedov 4-3 in the final at 97kg.

Magomedov, the defending champion, began with a stepout and always looked to attack even as Matcharashvili continued to stall in the first period. He got a takedown on the edge to lead 3-0 at the break.

After five minutes of no action from Matcharashvili, he got going in the final minute, scoring a takedown via single-leg. In the final 20 seconds, Magomedov managed to go behind but slipped, giving Matcharashvili the opportunity to score another takedown as he won 4-3.

It was the first European gold medal for the former U23 world champion who also has a silver medal from European Games.

Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM)Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) celebrates after winning the 65kg gold medal in Zagreb. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Tevanyan, Mykhailov win first titles

Tevanyan waited four years to be back at the European Championships and he made it memorable by winning the gold medal at 65kg.

In 2019, Tevanyan finished 11th but won the U23 world title, wrestled at the Olympics and World Championships and has wins over Aliyev and Izsmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) since.

Though he got the first point of the final, Naim, hoping to become his country's first freestyle European champion in 18 years, failed to challenge a strong Tevanyan.

In the gold medal bout, it was in the second period that Tevanyan scored the first takedown using an arm drag but he failed to get any turns. 

Naim kept coming back at Tevanyan who countered one of those attempts and got a roll to make it 6-1. He added another takedown to extend the lead before a slip-by takedown and gut got him the gold 12-1.

“I am very happy because this is a very long-awaited medal,” he said. “Since 2018 [2019], I could not participate in the European Championships, which is why I am very happy, I have a lot of emotions and I am in an amazing mood.”

Though he has U17, U20 and U23 European titles, his resume lacked the senior title that Tevanyan believes is the most important.

“The senior is very different from other age categories because for me this is the real sport. My plans are to get to the Olympic Games and become the champion of the world. There will be training camps and we will get back in shape. I will do everything to achieve the best physical shape.”

The first opportunity to win a ticket to Paris will be the World Championships in Belgrade in September and Tevanyan will be one of the favorites to win a medal, perhaps a gold. And if he reaches the final, which opponent will he like to wrestle?

“No difference [to me],” he said. “If I'm in the final, it doesn't matter.”

Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR)Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR) won the gold medal at 79kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Mykhailov ended a decade-long wait for Ukraine to have a freestyle European champion as he extended his unbeaten record against Georgis KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) who was the defending champion.

Pavlo OLIYNYK (UKR), who later represented Hungary, was the last European champion as he won the 96kg gold in 2013 in Tbilisi.

Kougioumtsidis, who became Grecee's first-ever champion last year, was hoping to repeat but Mykhailov shut him out completely.

The Ukrainian defeated Kougioumtsidis twice last year and was the favorite. He got a stepout and a takedown against the Greek's stepout. Despite the effort from Kougioumtsidis, Mykhailov remained in control.

He later explained why this win was low-scoring while his previous two were both technically superiorities before adding that this is just the beginning.

“The final is always very important so I didn’t risk a lot,” Mykhailov said. “This is very emotional. I’ve been going for the gold for a long time. But this is not the time to stop. This is the pre-Olympic year, we have to qualify.”

The gold was precious for the Ukrainian as he has been impacted by the war in his country.

“How to say, we train with no electricity,” he said. “There was a time when we trained with no electricity and no light for 6 months. I couldn’t train for about half a year. It was not possible at all. These are really tough moments. Not possible to explain.”

On his plans before the World Championships, Mykhailov didn't reveal much but he did say how he quenches his thirst after a grueling bout and a winner's interview.

“I’ll wrestle at some tournaments, we will make decisions with the coaches,” he said. “For now, I just want to drink some coke.”

sf

RESULTS

57kg
GOLD: Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE) df. Suleyman ATLI (TUR), 12-2

BRONZE: Georgi VANGELOV (BUL) df. Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO), 10-0
BRONZE: Horst LEHR (GER) df. Simone PIRODDU (ITA), 2-2

65kg
GOLD: Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) df. Mikyay NAIM (BUL), 12-1

BRONZE: Edemi BOLKVADZE (GEO) df. Stefan COMAN (ROU), 2-2
BRONZE: Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR) df. Ali RAHIMZADA (AZE), 7-6

70kg
GOLD: Haji ALIYEV (AZE) df. Ramazan RAMAZANOV (BUL), 10-3

BRONZE: Ihor NYKYFORUK (UKR) df. Patryk OLENCZYN (POL), via fall
BRONZE: Vasile DIACON (MDA) df. Kevin HENKEL (GER), 7-2

79kg
GOLD: Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR) df. Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE), 3-1

BRONZE: Ahmad MAGOMEDOV (MKD) df. Arman AVAGYAN (ARM), 7-4
BRONZE: Hetik CABOLOV (SRB) df. Sabuhi AMIRASLANOV (AZE), via injury default

97kg
GOLD: Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) df. Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE), 4-3

BRONZE: Vladislav BAITCAEV (HUN) df. Benjamin HONIS (ITA), 10-6
BRONZE: Ibrahim CIFTCI (TUR) df. Murazi MCHEDLIDZE (UKR), 12-3

#WrestleAmman

Choe crushes Kiyooka to become frontrunner at 53kg

By Ken Marantz

AMMAN, Jordan (March 28)--It can be said that with a victory in the 53kg final at the Asian Championships, Hyogyong CHOE (PRK) has become the favorite to fill the hole left by the move up to 57kg by Paris Olympic champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN).

Choe, a Paris bronze medalist herself, powered to a comprehensive 12-1 victory over world 55kg champion Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) at the Asian Championships on Friday in Amman, Jordan, establishing herself as the one to beat in the runup to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Choe had an answer for everything Kiyooka threw at her, and seemed to score at will both offensively and defensively to give the DPR Korea its lone win in three finals on the final day of the women's competition.

"Our national wrestling team has trained together as one united group, supporting each other along the way," Choe said. "I was only focused on training to raise our national flag high on the world stage."

Japan picked up golds by Sara NATAMI (JPN) at 57kg and Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) at 65kg to finish with four overall -- a somewhat disappointing showing for the preeminent women's powerhouse -- and win the team title with 186 points. China finished second with 157, two ahead of DPR Korea in third.

The other golds at stake Friday went to MANISHA (IND), who won the 62kg title to end a streak of three consecutive bronzes, and four-time world medalist Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), who took home her fourth career gold at 72kg.

In the 53kg final, Kiyooka, who moved down to the Olympic weight with eyes firmly on Los Angeles, scored first with an activity point, but who would have thought that would be the extent of her efforts for the rest of the match?

Choe got onto the scoreboard by getting in on a single, raising the leg into the air and, after a struggle, finishing off the takedown to lead 2-1 at the break.

In the second period, Choe took advantage of some anxiousness on Kiyooka's part. Choe layed in wait for Kiyooka to take a shot, then sprung the trap by reaching back and whipping Kiyooka onto her back for 2.

From there, Kiyooka failed to properly set up two tackle attempts and it cost her when Choe had little trouble fending off the attacks and spinning behind for takedowns. After the second one, Choe latched onto the laces and rolled twice to finish off the win with 39 seconds to spare.

Hyogyong CHOE (PRK)Hyogyong CHOE (PRK) completes the lace against Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) in the 53kg final during the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

"Our team, led by our esteemed Supreme Commander, had absolute confidence in victory and felt no fear at all," said Choe, who took home a third career continental medal, having won an Asian bronze at 55kg in 2010 and an Asian Games bronze in 2023.

It was an eye-opening setback -- and just her third loss ever to a non-Japanese -- for the 21-year-old Kiyooka, whose older brother Kotaro won the freestyle 65kg gold at the Paris Olympics. She had preceded her world title by winning the Asian gold last year at 55kg, and came into Amman coming off a victorious run at the Tirana Ranking Series event in February.

Sara NATAMI (JPN)The match-winning sequence between Sara NATAMI (JPN) and Il Sim SON (PRK) during the 57kg final at the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

In the 57kg final, 2023 world U23 champion Sara NATAMI (JPN) learned from an early mistake and avoided giving up the same points to Il Sim SON (PRK) to preserve a hard-earned 2-2 victory on last-point criteria.

"I gave everything I had to win," Natami said. "Without thinking about how much time was left, I tried to put together moves to create a chance that would lead to points all the way up to the end."

Natami, the 2022 Asian champion at 59kg, gave up a takedown in the first period when Son spun out of an underhook and got behind for a 2-0 lead. In the second period, Natami emerged from a scramble by flipping Son onto her back to go ahead 2-2 on criteria.

With Natami desperately clinging to the lead, Son once again spun out of an underhook, but this time the Japanese was ready and managed to keep Son from getting behind.

Sara NATAMI (JPN)Sara NATAMI (JPN) secured her second career title at the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

"She was very powerful, and I didn't want to give in to the pressure," said Natami, who earlier advanced to the final with a victory by fall over Paris Olympics bronze medalist Kexin HONG (CHN). "In the first period, my aim was to see how far I could keep her from scoring points."

Natami now faces the daunting task of trying to knock off Fujinami when the young superstar returns for her first individual competition at the All-Japan Invitational Championships [Meiji Cup] in June, a qualifier for the World Championships.

"Akari Fujinami will be entered, and although it's not just her, my goal right now is to beat Fujinami," Natami said. "If I can do that, next will be the World Championships."

MANISHA (IND)MANISHA (IND) defends an arm-spin attempt from Ok Ju KIM (PRK) In the 62kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

The match of the finals came at 62kg, where MANISHA (IND) rallied from a five-point deficit for a thrilling 8-7 victory over Ok Ju KIM (PRK) for her first Asian gold after winning three consecutive bronzes.

"At every competition my start is very slow. Even at the World Championships you must have seen this last year," Manisha said, referring to her fifth-place finish in Tirana. "I am working on it. Today, I had this positive feeling about myself that I will perform my best."

After giving up an activity point to Kim, Manisha came back with a nice ankle pick for a takedown to take a 2-1 lead into the second period. That's where the action really got going.

Manisha constantly used an underhook offense, which Kim countered with a sitout spin that enabled her to get behind. She used the technique to score three takedowns of different variations to move in front 7-2.

But Manisha finally wised up and avoided the same mistake, opting for a snapdown attack that led to two takedowns to cut the gap to one. With 20 seconds left, she pancaked Kim for a 2-point exposure to clinch the victory.

"I was trailing in the first period but I could feel that she was tired," Manisha said. "As wrestlers we know when our opponent is tired. When the second period began, I could feel she was very tired. I had worked on it and I wanted to be pushing at full force all the time. So it was easy to cover."

Manisha said that tribulation of making the Indian team served as good preparation for the tournament in Amman.

"The competition in India is also tough," Manisha said. "But I did my best there and when I won, I realized that I can do well here as well. I was very positive from the start. Maybe the hard work of previous years will help me in 2025."

Kim made the final in her senior international debut with a stunning victory by fall in the semifinals over Paris Olympic 68kg bronze medalist and two-time world champion Nonoka OZAKI (JPN).

Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN)Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) works to finish a takedown against Enkhjin TUVSHINJARGAL (MGL) in the 65kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 65kg, Morikawa added to her gold from 2022 with a solid 6-2 victory over Enkhjin TUVSHINJARGAL (MGL), who had to settle for the silver for the second straight year.

"I won the title and was able to do a victory lap for the first time in awhile, so I am happy about that," said Morikawa, a three-time world medalist, including a gold in 2022. "But this time, the opponents were not so strong, so there are some things I need to look back on about how I wrestled. Most of all, I won the gold, so that's good."

Morikawa, coming off a victory at the Tirana Ranking Series, scored a takedown with Tuvshinjargal on the activity clock, then forced her over for a 2-point exposure to take a 5-0 lead into the break.

Tuvshinjargal mounted a comeback of sorts with a takedown in the second period, but couldn't further break through the defenses of Morikawa, who added a stepout on a counter. It was the second straight year that Tuvshinjargal lost to a Japanese in the final, having fallen to Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN) last year in Bishkek.

Morikawa lamented the fact that the DPR Korea had no entry in the weight class as she prepares for her next shot at a world title.

"At first, it had an entry but was withdrawn, so I had to fight who was here," Morikawa said. "I felt like there's no way I would be allowed to lose. My goal this year is to win the gold at the World Championships, so first of all to win in Asia is a good step.

"But globally, there are many strong opponents...I am well aware that the level around the world is continually getting better, so to keep from losing, I want to practice harder and harder, keep improving and make it so that people will still say that Japan is the strongest."

In the 72kg final, Bakbergenova capped the women's competition by scoring all of her points in the second period to forge a 4-1 victory over world U20 silver medalist and Asian U20 champion Yuqi LIU (CHN) for her fourth Asian gold and sixth medal overall.

There were plenty of shots in the first period, but none of them connected and an activity point for Liu was the lone score going into the break.

In the second period, Bakbergenova received an activity point, then pulled ahead with a 2-point exposure from a single-leg attack, which she followed by forcing a stepout. In the waning seconds, Bakbergenova defended against a single-leg attack to secure the victory.

Olympic medalists Hong, Ozaki settle for bronzes

In bronze-medal matches, the two Olympic bronze medalists who suffered stunning losses by fall in the semifinals, Hong and Ozaki, swallowed their pride and came back to secure some consolation from their trip to Amman with quick wins.

At 57kg, Kexin HONG (CHN) took little time in finishing off a not-so-easy opponent in two-time Asian medalist Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL), scoring a takedown and going straight to the lace lock, whipping off four rolls for a 10-0 win in :59.

Three matches later, Ozaki made it look like an instant replay, although she needed just 28 seconds to overwhelm local teenager Tala ABUKHEIT (JOR) in the exact same way for a 62kg bronze and her fourth career Asian medal.

Coming off the mat, Ozaki could only manage a wry smile over a tournament that went awry. Ozaki, who won the bronze in Paris and last year's Asian gold at 68kg after losing out to Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) at 62kg, earned her ticket to Amman by winning the All-Japan [Emperor's Cup] title in her return to 62kg.

"I was defeated [here], but after the Olympics, I moved back to this weight class, so I see it as an experience," Ozaki said. "It's a disappointing memory here, but I'm going to do what I can to be a contender again."

Ozaki said the psychological effect of cutting weight was bigger than the physical.

"I had to drop some weight, but mentally it was really tough," she said. "After the Olympics, where I had taken the bronze, i was really nervous about coming back, more nervous than I've ever been. But I look at it all as an experience."

The other bronze at 57kg went to Youngjin KWON (KOR), who picked up her first major medal when she survived a dangerous situation and went on to notch a victory by fall over Pei Ying LIAO (TPE).

Kwon came out like gangbusters with a 4-point headlock throw and a 2-point roll, but when she went for a gut wrench, Liao stepped over and put her on her back. Kwon escaped the predicament, and in the second period, put Liao onto her back during a counter takedown and secured the fall in 5:13.

Kalmira BILIMBEK KYZY (KGZ) gave Kyrgyzstan its lone medal of the night and her second career bronze at 62kg, breaking open a stepout-a-thon to build a 10-3 lead before defeating Tynys DUBEK (KAZ) by fall.

Bilimbek Kyzy led at one point 4-3, with all of the points coming on stepouts, then finally connected on three takedowns before securing the fall.

At 53kg, Asian U23 bronze medalist Zeinep BAYANOVA (KAZ) scored in a variety of ways to grind out a 10-6 victory over world U23 bronze medalist Otgontuya CHINBOLD (MGL).

Bayanova employed an arm drag, an inside leg trip and a counter tilt among her techniques to deny a third Asian bronze to Chinbold, whose three stepouts in the second period left her on the short end of the decision.

ANTIM (IND) earned her second career Asian medal with powerful 10-0 win over Meng Hsuan HSIEH (TPE) in the other 50kg bout, getting a 4-point takedown in an eight-point first period, then ending the match 25 seconds into the second with a double-leg takedown.

At 65kg, Qi ZHANG (CHN), last year's 59kg champion, earned her fourth career Asian medal dating back to 2017 with a 10-0 victory over Gaukhar MUKATAY (KAZ).

Zhang opened with a 4-point takedown and went to the gut wrench for three rolls or tilts to end the match in 1:43.

Shakhzoda ALLANIYAZOVA (UZB) claimed her first-ever major medal by winning the other 65kg bronze, scoring a juicy 4-point takedown off an arm drag early in the second period and then defending well to defeat Jeongae BARK (KOR) 5-1.

At 72kg, former world champion Masako FURUICHI (JPN), denied a chance for a first-ever Asian title with a close loss to Bakbergenova in the semifinals, rolled to a 10-0 win over teenager Sehee KIM (KOR) as she settled for a third continental medal in her first appearance since 2018.

Furuichi, who has completed the "Grand Slam" of all four world age-group golds, spun behind on a takedown counter, then reeled off four gut wrenches this way and that for the victory in 1:37. The victory added to her silver in 2017 and bronze in 2018.

In the other 72kg match, veteran Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL) added a second straight Asian bronze and fifth overall to her collection with a victory by fall over two-time Asian U23 medalist Svetlana OKNAZAROVA (UZB).

Zorigt, who also has an Asian gold from 2021 --the year Japan did not participate -- pancaked Oknazarova for a 2-point exposure, then twisted her onto her back for the fall in 52 seconds.

Day 4 Results

Women's Wrestling

53kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Hyogyong CHOE (PRK) df. Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) by TF, 12-1, 5:21

BRONZE: Zeinep BAYANOVA (KAZ) df. Otgontuya CHINBOLD (MGL), 10-6
BRONZE: ANTIM (IND) df. Meng Hsuan HSIEH (TPE) by TF, 10-0, 3:25

57kg (12 entries)
GOLD: Sara NATAMI (JPN) df. Il Sim SON (PRK), 2-2

BRONZE: Kexin HONG (CHN) df. Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL) by TF, 10-0, :59
BRONZE: Youngjin KWON (KOR) df. Pei Ying LIAO (TPE) by Fall, 5:13 (12-2)

62kg (10 entries)
GOLD: MANISHA (IND) df. Ok Ju KIM (PRK), 8-7

BRONZE: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) df. Tala ABUKHEIT (JOR) by TF, 10-0, :48
BRONZE: Kalmira BILIMBEK KYZY (KGZ) df. Tynys DUBEK (KAZ) by Fall, 5:38 (10-3)

65kg (12 entries)
GOLD: Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) df. Enkhjin TUVSHINJARGAL (MGL), 6-2

BRONZE: Qi ZHANG (CHN) df. Gaukhar MUKATAY (KAZ) by TF, 10-0, 1:43
BRONZE: Shakhzoda ALLANIYAZOVA (UZB) df. Jeongae BARK (KOR), 5-1

72kg (8 entries)
GOLD: Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) df. Yuqi LIU (CHN), 4-1

BRONZE: Masako FURUICHI (JPN) df. Sehee KIM (KOR) by TF, 10-0, 1:37
BRONZE: Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL) df. Svetlana OKNAZAROVA (UZB) by Fall, :52 (4-0)