#WrestleUlaanbaatar

WATCH: 10 women's wrestling final from Asian Championships

Friday, April 29, 2022 - 06:36 By Vinay Siwach

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (April 29) -- Japan came out all guns blazing at the Asian Championships after missing the previous edition due to travel restrictions. The women's team won the team title comfortably.

Its medal haul included seven gold medals, two silver and one fourth-place finish. Host nation Mongolia finished second in the race while Kazakhstan went home with the third spot.

Here are the 10 finals from the women's wrestling at the Asian Championships.

GOLD - 50kg: Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) vs Namuuntsetseg TSOGTOCHIR (MGL)

GOLD - 53kg: Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) vs. Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL)

Round 5 - 55kg: Umi IMAI (JPN) vs. Sarbinaz JIENBAEVA (UZB)

GOLD - 57kg: Anshu MALIK (IND) vs Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN)

Round 5 - 57kg: Diana KAYUMOVA (KAZ) vs. Sara NATAMI (JPN)

GOLD - 62kg: Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) vs. Nonoka OZAKI (JPN)

Round 5 - 65kg: Dariga ABEN (KAZ) vs. Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN)

GOLD - 68kg: Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) vs. Madina BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ)

Round 4 - 72kg: Sumire NIIKURA (JPN) vs. Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ)

GOLD - 76kg: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) vs. Yuka KAGAMI (JPN)

#BeachWrestling

Sakurai swaps mat for sand, wins Beach Wrestling gold

Wednesday, May 14, 2025 - 09:01 By Vinay Siwach

TOKYO (May 13) -- Paris Olympic champion Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) made a return to competition for the first time since August last year. However, it was not on the mat.

Sakurai, who won gold medal at 57kg in Paris, returned to compete in beach wrestling. She wrestled at the Japan Beach Wrestling National Team Qualifying Tournament held in Tachikawa, Tokyo on Sunday and won gold at 60kg

"It may sound strange for me to say it, but I felt that I was suited to it," Sakurai was quoted by Japan Olympic Committee.

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Sakurai, who is not entered for the June 19-22 Meiji Cup, Japan's qualifying tournament for the World Championships in September, is now qualified to compete for Japan in Beach Wrestling this year.

"Since I am qualified for the international tournament, I will try to participate," she said. "I want to be number one. I'll practice on the sandy beaches of Kochi [Prefecture]."

The three-time world champion, however, did not rule out the possibility of returning to the mat soon.

"I am still practicing on the mat and when I feel like I am ready, I will be back on the mat," she said.