Tynybekova rises again to win 62kg Asian title; Fujinami repeats

Wednesday, April 12, 2023 - 16:42 By Ken Marantz

ASTANA, Kazakhstan (April 12) -- To paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of the sporting demise of Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) have been an exaggeration.

The former two-time world champion Tynybekova showed she was alive and kicking in the athletic sense when she captured the gold medal in a formidable 62kg weight class as women's wrestling concluded at the Asian Championships on Wednesday in Astana.

Tynybekova came away with her fifth career Asian gold and 10th medal overall with a gutsy 9-5 victory over former world champion Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) in the final at the Zhaksylyk Ushkempirov Martial Arts Palace.

That victory came hours after Tynybekova eked out a 2-2 victory in the semifinals over defending champion and reigning world champ Nonoka OZAKI (JPN), avenging a pair of losses to the young Japanese in 2022 that included the final at last year's Asian Championships.

"I am very proud of myself," Tynyvekova said. "Last year was super tough for me. Right from the beginning of the year, it was super tough. Now I am happy that I was able to overcome it all. I wish everyone to keep dreaming and believing in themselves."

While Tynybekova was re-establishing her status as a world elite, teen phenom Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) was solidifying her credentials as a budding superstar by storming to her second straight title at 53kg, racking up three one-sided victories that extended her winning streak in domestic and international competitions to 119 in a row.

Japan, which won three titles on Tuesday, also got a gold medal from Sae NANJO (JPN) at 57kg but saw its wrestlers in the two heaviest of the five weight classes in action both fall in the finals.

World silver medalist Jia LONG (CHN) gave China its second gold in Astana with a victory over Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN) at 65kg, while hometown favorite Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) successfully defended her 76kg title by beating Sumire NIIKURA (JPN) in a rematch of the 2022 championship bout.

Not surprisingly, Japan ran away with the team title with 205 points, while China finished second with 149 and India, with no champions overall but five medalists on Wednesday, edged host Kazakhstan by two points for third with 143.

Tynybekova, who had been recovering from a knee injury suffered during a loss to Ozaki at last year's Asian Championships in Mongolia, struggled to fifth place at the 2022 World Championships. She then started this year with a first-round loss at the Zagreb Open to Xiaojuan LUO (CHN), who would lose a bronze-medal match here on Wednesday.

Tynybekova showed some of her old form three weeks later by winning the Ranking Series tournament in Egypt with a win over Luo in the final, but there were questions about how she would perform when the stakes were higher in Astana.

The 29-year-old national hero wiped away the doubts with a vintage performance, keeping her cool in desperate situations and relying on her experience to take advantage of every opening.

In the 62kg final, Tynybekova twice gave up points to counters by Purevdorj that would put her behind, but quickly scrambled for a reversal after each, with the second one putting her ahead 5-4. She put the match away with a double-leg takedown and 2-point exposure in the last minute.

"I am very happy to be back at the top of the podium," Tynybekova said. "I am glad this day had finally come. I also would like to note that I have become a five-time Asian champion. Maybe there was no one before. I am proud to be the first one in our country."

Tynybekova was denied her dream of striking Olympic gold when she lost to Japanese rival Yukako KAWAI (JPN) in the final at the 2021 Tokyo Games. As Kawai went on hiatus, Tynybekova regained the world title later that year that she previously won in 2019. Her first-round opponent at the 2021 Worlds was the then-teenaged Ozaki, whom she beat in a struggle.

Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) scoring a counter over Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) which proved crucial in the win. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Fast-forward to April last year in Mongolia, where Ozaki gained revenge with a victory over Tynybekova by injury default in a match the Japanese seemed to be dominating. Ozaki made sure it was no fluke in their next meeting at the 2022 Worlds in Belgrade, posting a one-sided 11-5 win in the semifinal.

In their clash in the afternoon session on Wednesday, Tynybekova made a 2-point counter lift in the first period hold up for a 2-2 win over Ozaki. In the second period, Ozaki received an activity point, then nearly got the go-ahead takedown, but Tynybekova fought to limit it to a stepout.

"I am happy I managed to beat Ozaki, to whom I lost twice last year," Tynybekova said. "Also, back in 2018, I lost to the Mongolian wrestler in the final match in Indonesia at the Asian Games. That was a 10-0 loss. Today I proved to myself that I deserve this gold."

Ozaki was left to rue her missed opportunities.

"I got in on a high crotch tackle and she turned me over for the first two points," the 20-year-old Ozaki said. "It's very disappointing in one aspect because I was the aggressor and she scored off it. The fact that I couldn't finish it off is something I have to fix. It was the first time a foreign wrestler had countered for points against me."

Ozaki added that having to settle for a stepout after getting in so deep on the takedown attempt "was really big."

Looking ahead, Ozaki has other issues to address besides Tynybekova. Back home, she faces a difficult path in a bid to get back to the World Championships, where the first berths at the 2024 Paris Olympics will be up for grabs.

Japan has two domestic qualifiers for the world team, and Ozaki lost last December to Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) at the first one, the All-Japan Championships. The second qualifier will be the All-Japan Invitational Championships, also known as the Meiji Cup, which Ozaki will need to win to force a playoff.

At 53kg, Fujinami methodically piled up points against the fellow teenager and world U20 champion Antim PANGHAL (IND) en route to a 10-0 technical fall in 3:11 in the final. It was Fujinami's third technical fall of the day, but the first that made it into the second period.

"I wanted to try things other than my specialty of low tackle," Fujinami said. "I found some good things and some things I want to work on. I want to put what I gained here to use going into the Meiji Cup and the World Championships."

Fujinami is set on regaining the world crown that she won in 2021 but was forced to abdicate last year due to a foot injury, then winning the gold in Paris.

At the Meiji Cup, she faces a possible clash with Olympic champion Mayu SHIDOCHI (JPN), who won the gold in Tokyo under her maiden name of MUKAIDA.

On top of her amazing streak, Fujinami has now not given up a point in 29 matches over a span of more than two years. The last opponent to score on her was Nanami IRIE (JPN), who managed to get a takedown in the final at the All-Japan Championships in December 2020 -- a match that Fujinami still won 8-2 for her first national title.

In Japan, the streak takes more importance because it now equals that of one of the country's most beloved sporting legends, three-time Olympic champion and fellow Mie Prefecture native Saori YOSHIDA (JPN). Yoshida put together 119 wins from 2001 to 2008.

Japan's longest winning streak is held by four-time Olympic gold medalist Kaori ICHO (JPN), who won 189 straight from 2003 to 2016 before losing to Purevdorj at the Yarygin Grand Prix.

Her mark comes with a caveat, however, as it does not include a loss by default that she purposely took at the 2007 Asian Championships, when she was injured but had to enter the tournament to be eligible for that year's World Championships.

In the 57kg final, Nanjo added to the Asian gold she won in 2017 with a victory by fall in 2:16 over Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB). Nanjo was leading 11-4 when she ended the match.

Nanjo, last year's world bronze medalist and world U23 champion, was up 8-0 when she got a little overexuberant in trying to gain the clinching points. She got in deep with a duck under, only for Sobirova to use her momentum for a 4-point counter lift. But Nanjo quickly recovered, gaining a reversal then locking up both of Sobirova's arms and levering her over for the fall.

Like her compatriots, Nanjo is looking ahead to the road to the Olympics. "This year, the Meiji Cup is an important domestic tournament heading to the Olympics," she said. "I only looked at this as a step toward the Meiji Cup, so from that aspect, it is not so important."

Nanjo advanced to the final with a 5-1 victory in the semifinals over 2022 silver medalist Anshu MALIK (IND), a match that she had been looking forward to.

"At the last World Championships, I was third and she was second, so I had wanted to have one match against her," Nanjo said. "When I actually faced her, she was tough."

Jia LONG (CHN) won her first Asian title. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 65kg, Long scored a reversal and two back exposures in the second period for a 5-3 win over Yoshitake, the world U20 champion who was coming off a victory at the Zagreb Open.

Long, who won all three of her Nordic group matches and her semifinal by 10-0 technical falls, gave up an activity point in the first period, then fell behind in the second when Yoshitake caught her with an elbow roll. But the Chinese squirmed out for a reversal, then scored with a gut wrench and tilt to go ahead 5-3.

The match ended with Long using a whizzer to stave off a double-leg takedown attempt by Yoshitake, who last December won her first national title after world champion Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) moved up to the Olympic weight of 68kg.

Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) defended her 72kg gold medal in Astana. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Bakberbergenova gave the host country a sweep of the two heaviest weights when she scored all of her points in the second period to defeat Niikura 5-1 and retain the 72kg title.

After Niikura received an activity point in the first period, Bakberbergenova went ahead when she scored a takedown off a single-leg attempt after fighting off a counter-lift by Niikura. An activity point made it 3-1 and then Bakberbergenova put it away with exposure as Niikura attempted another counter-lift.

Her victory followed the gold-medal run at 76kg of compatriot Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) the previous night, much to the delight of the partisan crowd.

Ozaki settles for bronze; India takes home 4

Ozaki will not leave Astana empty-handed, as she bounced back from her disappointing loss to Tynybekova by winning a bronze medal that likely will be less than satisfying.

Ozaki went out the back door on a single-leg attempt against Dilfuza AIMBETOVA (UZB) and ended up between her legs, then simply pressed forward to score a fall in 40 seconds.

The other bronze at 62kg went to world U20 silver medalist Sonam MALIK (IND), one of four won by India along with Malik at 57kg, MANISHA (IND) at 65kg and Reetika HOODA (IND) at 72kg.

Sonam scored a 4-point double-leg tackle to the back in the first period of a 5-1 victory over China's Luo, a two-time former Asian champion and last year's world bronze medalist.

Malik, shrugging off a knee injury suffered during her semifinal loss to Nanjo, had no trouble cruising to a 10-0 technical fall over Erdenesuvd BAT ERDENE (MGL).

Nilufar RAIMOVA (KAZ) won the other 57kg bronze, scoring 4 with a spinning arm throw in the second period to defeat Bermet NURIDIN KYZY (KGZ) 7-0.

Manisha won her second straight bronze and the only one at stake in the seven-woman 65kg weight class by overwhelming Albina KAIRGELDINOVA (KAZ), building up a six-point lead before stuffing a lateral drop attempt and clamping down for a fall in 2:15.

Hooda, a world U20 bronze medalist, scored a takedown in each period in posting a 5-1 victory over Svetlana OKNAZAROVA (UZB).

Mongolia picked up a pair of bronze medals as Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL) and Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) both crushed Taiwanese opponents with 11-0 technical falls. Bat Ochir crushed Meng HSIEH (TPE) at 53kg and Enkh Amar took the other 76kg bronze with a shellacking of Ping HUNG (TPE).

Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) picked up the third Asian bronze of her career when she rallied from a five-point deficit to defeat Li DENG (CHN) 9-6 at 53kg, going ahead with a 4-point driving takedown with 1:30 left.

Day 4 Results

Women's Wrestling

53kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) df. Antim PANGHAL (IND) by TF, 10-0 (2:48)

BRONZE: Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) df. Li DENG (CHN), 9-6
BRONZE: Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL) df. Meng HSIEH (TPE) by TF, 11-0 (3:53)

Semifinal: Antim PANGHAL (IND) df. Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) by Fall, 5:52 (8-1)
Semifinal: Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) df. Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL) by TF, 10-0 (2:32)

57kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Sae NANJO (JPN) df. Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB) by Fall, 2:16 (11-4)

BRONZE: Nilufar RAIMOVA (KAZ) df. Bermet NURIDIN KYZY (KGZ), 7-0
BRONZE: Anshu MALIK (IND) df. Erdenesuvd BAT ERDENE (MGL) by TF, 10-0 (3:20)

Semifinal: Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB) df. Bermet NURIDIN KYZY (KGZ) by TF, 11-0, 1:22
Semifinal: Sae NANJO (JPN) df. Anshu MALIK (IND), 5-1

62kg (10 entries)
GOLD: Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) df. Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL), 9-5

BRONZE: Sonam MALIK (IND) df. Xiaojuan LUO (CHN), 5-1
BRONZE: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) df. Dilfuza AIMBETOVA (UZB) by Fall, :40 (2-0)

Semifinal: Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) df. Xiaojuan LUO (CHN), 7-3
Semifinal: Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) df. Nonoka OZAKI (JPN), 2-2

65kg (7 entries)
GOLD: Jia LONG (CHN) df. Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN), 5-3

BRONZE: MANISHA (IND) df. Albina KAIRGELDINOVA (KAZ) by Fall, 2:15 (8-0)

Semifinal: Jia LONG (CHN) df. Albina KAIRGELDINOVA (KAZ) by TF, 10-0 (1:38)
Semifinal: Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN) df. Manisha MANISHA (IND) by Fall, 4:07 (2-1)

72kg (8 entries)
GOLD: Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) df. Sumire NIIKURA (JPN), 5-1

BRONZE: Reetika HOODA (IND) df. Svetlana OKNAZAROVA (UZB), 5-1
BRONZE: Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) df. Ping HUNG (TPE) by TF, 11-0 (1:44)

Semifinal: Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) df. Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) by TF, 11-1, 4:23
Semifinal: Sumire NIIKURA (JPN) df. Reetika HOODA (IND) 5-4

#wrestlebishkek

Susaki Marks Post-Paris Reformation with Asian Gold

Thursday, April 9, 2026 - 18:51 By Ken Marantz

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 9) -- To hear Yui SUSAKI (JPN) speak of it, she is a new version of the wrestler who had stormed to every major title on offer before her unexpected and devastating downfall at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Having made serious changes to both her lifestyle and wrestling style in the ensuing years, she made a golden return in her first international competition since Paris.

Susaki made sure there would be no lapses or surprises when she defeated Son Hyang KIM (PRK) 6-0 in the women’s 50kg final at the Asian Championships on Thursday in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

“I’m genuinely happy, and I’m so glad to be back here and to have won,” Susaki said. “After Paris was over, I experienced various setbacks and I made various changes over the two years. The results of my new lifestyle in the two years since Paris and the daily practice I put in all came out in the four matches at these Asian Championships.”

In the four other women’s finals on the fourth day of competition, the host country had mixed results, as Olympic silver medalist Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) won the gold in a stacked 68kg division, while Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) stunned defending champion Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) at 76kg.

The powerful Japanese squad had three other finalists besides Susaki, but only got a title from teenager Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) at 55kg, while Mengyu XIE (CHN) triumphed at 59kg for her first Asian gold.

Yui SUSAKI (JPN) hits a leg-attack on Son Hyang KIM (PRK) during the 50kg final at the Asian Championships. (Photo: Untied World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Susaki had established herself as one of the new faces of the sport in the wake of the retirements of legends Saori YOSHIDA (JPN) and Kaori ICHO (JPN) with her triumph at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

That victory had made her the founding member of the “Golden Grand Slam” club for those who had won an Olympic gold as well as titles on all four levels of World Championships – senior, U23, U20 and U17.

But leading up to the defense of her Olympic title in Paris, she had shown chinks in the armor, first with some near-misses at the 2024 Asian Championships, which she still won but in less-than-convincing fashion.

It then all came crashing down at the Champs de Mars Arena, where she was dealt a stunning last-second loss by Vinesh PHOGAT (IND), marking her first-ever loss to a non-Japanese wrestler. Susaki ended up taking home a bronze, but that was small consolation.

After taking some time off, Susaki decided that some changes were in order, from altering her diet to make cutting weight easier to revising her match strategy.

“Along with Vinesh in Paris, I also learned much from my first-round match against the DPR Korean [Yong Ok HWANG] at the Asian Championships before Paris,” Susaki said, referring to an unusually difficult victory. “After that, I lost at the National Games [to Moe KIYOOKA], making it really a difficult two years.

“But thanks to those experiences, I have grown considerably. I definitely want to win the gold at the Los Angeles Olympics, and taking it one step at a time, I will take each title along the way.”

An emotional Yui SUSAKI (JPN) at the medal ceremony. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

The final at the Zhastyk Arena on Thursday, which brought her to tears on the medal podium, was a reunion of sorts. Susaki and Kim had faced each twice way back in 2017, first in the final at the Asian Championships and again in the semifinals of the World Championships. Susaki won both encounters.

Given her Paris experience, Susaki knew she could not underestimate Kim, and set up her moves deliberately and without anxiousness. She broke through with a go-behind takedown in the first period, then added a stepout for a 3-0 lead.

In the second period, Susaki got in deep on a tackle, but could only manage a stepout, then padded the lead with a snapdown takedown to make it 6-0. Down the stretch, she kept calm and on alert as Kim tied up, looking for an opportunity for a last-ditch throw that never came.

“It’s been nine years since I faced Kim Son Hyang, so it’s been quite awhile,” Susaki said. “She has achieved good results. I think I myself have changed and grown a lot over these past nine years.”

Susaki seemed unconcerned about a potential future encounter with the current world 50kg champion, Myong Gyong WON (PRK).

“The country and the opponent does not matter,” she said. “My objective is to assure I win by giving 100 percent.”

Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) won her second Asian title. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 68kg, Zhumanazarova spun behind for a first-period takedown and held on for a 2-1 victory over Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN), last year’s world and Asian champion at 65kg who has moved up to the Olympic weight.

The victory gave Zhumanazarova her second Asian gold, after previously winning in 2021, and fifth medal overall.

“This is my second gold medal at the Asian Championships, but it means just as much to me as the first one,” Zhumanazarova said. “I’m just as happy, because I’ve worked very hard for it and this is the result.”

Like Susaki and Kim, Zhumanazarova and Morikawa have a history that goes back some time. The two had met in the quarterfinals of the 2016 World Cadet (U17) Championships, where Morikawa won 4-0 en route to the silver medal. Zhumanazarova took a bronze.

Since then, they have both achieved varying levels of success. Zhumanazarova has two Olympic medals, including a bronze from Tokyo, and a world title from 2021. Morikawa has medals from five consecutive World Championships from 2021 to 2025, including two golds, and two Asian titles.

Morikawa needed to beat reigning world champion Ami ISHII (JPN) at the Japan national championships just to make the team to Bishkek.

Davaansan ENKH AMAR (MGL) defeated home favorite Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) in the 76kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

While the home crowd was still buzzing over Zhumanazarova’s win, compatriot Medet Kyzy was dealt a come-from-behind 4-2 loss by Enkh Amar in the 76kg final.

With no real attacks and lots of mutual pushing, Medet Kyzy had taken a 2-0 lead on an activity point in the first period and a face-shoving penalty in the second. After Enkh Amar received an activity point, the match finally started to heat up in the final minute.

Enkh Amar used a headlock to get Medet Kyzy off balance and slipped behind her with the two on their feet, then proceeded to march her over the edge for a stepout with :13 left. Medet Kyzy’s lack of a resistance led to a 1-point fleeing penalty to put the Mongolian ahead 3-2.

“I was very calm, and my coach also said to me to stay very calm, and that's why I made the correct decision at the last moment,” said Enkh Amar, the 2023 world silver medalist at 72kg.

As the clock ticked down, Medet Kyzy powered Enkh Amar to the edge and slammed her to the mat, sending the crowd into a frenzy. But the move failed to beat the clock, and an unsuccessful challenge made the final score 4-2.

Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN), red, turns Yuxuan LI (CHN) during the 55kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

In the 55kg final, Japan’s Uchida spotted Yuxuan LI (CHN) a six-point lead, only to storm back for a 10-6 victory that relegated the Chinese to a silver medal for the second straight year.

Li gained a takedown off a counter and proceeded with two gut wrenches. But on an attempt at a third, Uchida stepped over for a 2-point exposure.

Uchida’s next attack hit the mark for a single-leg takedown, to which she added two rolls of her own for an 8-6 lead. Uchida then sewed up the victory with a takedown for the lone points of the second period.

“Right away, I gave up a go-behind takedown and she rolled me, so I was really panicking,” Uchida said. “It made me uneasy that I couldn’t finish off my single-leg tackle, which is my specialty, and I gave up points off of it.

“But I have a variety of moves, and I know the hardships I went through to get here. I believed in myself and remembered to keep attacking to the end.”

Uchida said that when she noticed her opponent appeared to be running out of gas, she applied more pressure.

“I realized that my opponent was getting winded and even though it was tough for me, too, mentally I was feeling a bit at ease,” she said. “Even though I came back, it was still only a two-point difference. I made sure not to let up through the end.”

For the 19-year-old Uchida, a recent world U17 and U20 champion who had to settle for a bronze medal at last year’s World Championships in her first major senior-level tournament, the win in Bishkek had special meaning.

“I definitely wanted to win my first [major] senior tournament, but I lost convincingly at the World Championships in September,” Uchida said. “It was really tough to take, so I was really determined to win here.

“This is my last international tournament as a teenager, so I really wanted to finish with a win. Even if it was messy, I just wanted to be able to smile at the end.”

Mengyu XIE (CHN) won the 59kg gold medal with an 8-6 victory over Sena NAGAMOTO (JPN). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At 59kg, China’s Xie won her first Asian gold by surviving a fierce battle with Sena NAGAMOTO (JPN), hanging on for an 8-6 victory after holding a five-point lead in the second period.

“I know the opponent, the Japanese wrestler is very strong and tough,” Xie said. “I knew it would be a difficult final, but I didn't put too much burden on my shoulders. I just followed my mood and tactics and what the coach told me to do.”

Xie, a bronze medalist last year, struck first with a duck under for a takedown, but Nagamoto used a low single for a takedown in the final seconds of the first period to make it 2-2.

Xie broke the match open with a stepout and two takedowns to lead 7-2, but Nagamoto was not prepared to give up the fight. The 2023 world U23 silver medalist gained a 2-point exposure from a reverse headlock, which Xie slipped out of for a reversal.

Nagamoto picked up a late takedown, but Xie held on for the win.“I needed to be more careful to do all the actions because the opponent will try her best to attack,” Xie said. “But I cannot only think about defense, but also find a chance to do counterattack or attack.”

Xie, who also has a world 55kg bronze won in 2022, reveled in triumphing in her first trip to a major final.

“I never had this experience before,” she said. “It’s the first time in the final and I won gold the first time. So it’s like a dream.”

Returning champion at 68kg, Zelu LI (CHN) had to settle for a bronze medal in Bishkek. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

All 5 Chinese make medal podium

Zelu LI (CHN), dethroned as the 68kg champion by Zhumanazarova in the semifinals, was among a trio of Chinese who won bronze-medal matches to ensure that all five of the country’s wrestlers made it to the podium on Thursday.

Li, a 2025 world bronze medalist at 72kg, had little trouble rolling to a 10-0 victory in 1:25 against an overmatched Thi Linh DANG (VIE) to take home a 68kg bronze.

Li twice combined a takedown with two rolls – using an intriguing technique in which she locked Dang’s heel against the back of her leg in lieu of the more common lace lock.

In the other 68kg match, Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) picked up her second straight bronze and fifth Asian medal overall by ending what had been a close match with Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ) with a fall 47 seconds into the second period.

With the score tied 1-1, Enkhsaikhan powered the 37-year-old Shalygina straight to her back and secured the fall, denying the veteran another major medal in a vast collection that includes a bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

At 50kg, Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) denied Sri Lanka its first-ever Asian medal, scoring an activity point and a takedown off a barrel roll in the first period to edge Nipuni HEWA PEDIGE (SRI) 3-0. Hewa Pedige became the fourth wrestler overall and second woman from the island nation to make it to a bronze-medal match, and the fourth to come away empty-handed.

Olympic bronze medalist Ziqi FENG (CHN) earned her third career Asian medal by taking the other 50kg bronze with a quick 10-0 win over Maral TANGIRBERGENOVA (KAZ), scoring a takedown and four rolls in 1:16.

At 76kg, Wenji LI (CHN) secured China’s third bronze of the night, scoring a takedown and three stepouts in a 5-0 victory over Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE).

Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA (KAZ) became a five-time Asian bronze medalist – dating back to 2015 – when she defeated Eunju HWANG (KOR) 5-1 for the other 76kg bronze.

The 30-year-old Yerkebayeva scored a takedown in the first period and added another in the last 10 seconds of the match to clinch the victory.

The wildest match of the day came at 59kg, in which Ulmeken ESENBAEVA (UZB) squandered a nine-point lead to fall behind by three points, only to throw down Sezim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) and secure a fall with 23 seconds left.

Esenbaeva had a 4-point takedown as she raced to a 9-0 lead in the first period. But Zhumanazarova came to life, scoring a takedown and then piling up points in a scramble that included a 2-point penalty against Esebaeva for grabbing the head. When the dust was cleared on challenge, Zhumanazarova had a 12-9 lead at the break.

In the second period, Esenbaeva cut the gap with a backwards trip for a takedown. With time running out, she secured a headlock and took Zhumanazorova to her back for a 13-12 lead that became irrelevant when the fall was confirmed.

The other 59kg match has its share of drama as well, as NEHA (IND) rallied from a 4-1 deficit with second-period surge that gave her a 10-4 victory over two-time Asian medalist Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL).

Neha won her first Asian medal after moving up to 59kg, having finished second at the Zagreb Ranking Series at 57kg, the weight class in which she won a world U17 gold and U23 bronze in 2024.

That was India’s second bronze of the night, after Hansika LAMBA (IND) scored all of her points in the second period of a 6-1 victory over 2024 bronze medalist Aruuke KADYRBEK KYZY (KGZ) at 55kg.

Ariunzaya ODONCHIMEG (MGL) received the other 55kg bronze when Jeongbin OH (KOR) defaulted due to injury.

Day 4 Results

Women’s Wrestling

50kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Yui SUSAKI (JPN) df. Son Hyang KIM (PRK), 6-0

BRONZE: Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) df. Nipuni HEWA PEDIGE (SRI), 3-0
BRONZE: Ziqi FENG (CHN) df. Maral TANGIRBERGENOVA (KAZ) by TS, 10-0, 1:16

53kg (11 entries)
SF 1: Jin ZHANG (CHN) df. Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) by Fall, 2:33 (2-2)
SF2: MEENAKSHI (IND) df. Seoyoung PARK (KOR), 4-2

55kg (8 entries)
GOLD: Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) df. Yuxuan LI (CHN), 10-6

BRONZE: Ariunzaya ODONCHIMEG (MGL) df. Jeongbin OH (KOR) by Inj. Def.
BRONZE: Hansika LAMBA (IND) df. Aruuke KADYRBEK KYZY (KGZ), 6-1

57kg (11 entries)
SF 1: Kexin HONG (CHN) df. Youngjin KWON (KOR) by TS, 10-0, :30
SF2: Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) df. Sara NATAMI (JPN) by Fall, 3:20 (8-1)

59kg (8 entries)
GOLD: Mengyu XIE (CHN) df. Sena NAGAMOTO (JPN), 8-6

BRONZE: NEHA (IND) df. Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL), 10-4
BRONZE: Ulmeken ESENBAEVA (UZB) df. Sezim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) by Fall, 5:37 (13-12)

62kg (11 entries)
SF 1: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) df. Nigina SABIROVA (UZB) by Fall, 1:55 (8-0)
SF2: Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK) df. Tynys DUBEK (KAZ) by TS, 11-0, 3:20

65kg (9 entries)
SF 1: LILI (CHN) df. Firuza ESENBAEVA (UZB) by Fall, 2:09 (4-0)
SF2: Nana IKEHATA (JPN) df. Hanbit LEE (KOR), 4-0

68kg (10 entries)
GOLD: Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) df. Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN), 2-1

BRONZE: Zelu LI (CHN) df. Thi Linh DANG (VIE) by TS, 10-0, 1:25
BRONZE: Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) df. Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ) by Fall, 3:47 (3-1)

72kg (8 entries)
SF 1: Jia LONG (CHN) df. Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) by TS, 11-1, 4:31
SF2: Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN) df. HARSHITA (IND) by Fall, 5:59 (7-2)

76kg (9 entries)
GOLD: Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) df. Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) 4-2

BRONZE: Wenji LI (CHN) df. Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE), 5-0
BRONZE: Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA (KAZ) df. Eunju HWANG (KOR), 5-1

Tynybekova rises again to win 62kg Asian title; Fujinami repeats

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Susaki Marks Post-Paris Reformation with Asian Gold