Weekly FIVE!

Weekly FIVE! October 1, 2019

By Eric Olanowski

Discussing the #WrestleNurSultan World Championships and October's Veteran and U23 World Championships. 

1. Russia Wins Second Consecutive Freestyle World Title After Five Individuals Claim Gold
The Russian Federation strengthened its stronghold on the freestyle competition by winning its second consecutive team world title. Led by their four-time world and Olympic champion Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS), Russia finished 83 points ahead of second-place Kazakhstan. They medaled in nine of ten weights and capped off the World Championships with five freestyle gold medalists. They also had a silver-medal finisher and three wrestlers who won bronze medals. More importantly, five of Russia's nine medals came in Olympic weight classes -- which helped them qualify five of the six freestyle weights for the 2020 Olympic Games.

Zaur UGUEV (57kg), Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (65kg), David BAEV (70kg), Zaurbek SIDAKOV (74kg) and Abdulrashid Sadulaev (97kg) were the five Russian champions.

Uguev, Sidakov and Sadulaev each repeated their title-winning performances from the 2018 Budapest World Championships, while Rashidov and Baev captured their first career world golds. 

Uguev, the 57kg champ, went 5-0 and rounded out his tournament with a 13-3 routing of European champion Suleyman ATLI (TUR) in the gold-medal match. He also scored a 4-3 win over European Games champion Mahir AMIRASLANOV (AZE) -- avenging his only loss of the season. 

Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS) scored a step out against four-time world and Olympic champion Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) en rout to winning his second consecutive 74kg title. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

At 74kg, for the second consecutive year, Zaurbek Sidakov forged back-to-back wins over four-time world and Olympic champion Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) and two-time world champion Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) on his road to claiming the 74kg world title. 

Abdulrashid Sadulaev reached the top of the world podium for the fourth time in his career with a 4-0 shutout win over fellow Olympic champion Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE) in the 97kg finals. Sadulaev's win over Sharifov came after the Azeri halted #SnyderLaev3 by stopping the two-time world and Olympic champion Kyle SNYDER (USA) in the semifinals. 

Gadzhimurad Rashidov and David Baev also claimed freestyle world titles in Nur-Sultan. 

After a pair of deflating losses in the previous two world finals (Paris and Budapest), Rashidov finally captured his long-awaited world title. Two of Rashidov's wins came against former world champions. In the opening round, Rashidov edged three-time world champion Haji ALIYEV (AZE), 4-2. Then, he stopped 2018 world champion Takuto OTOGURO (JPN), 8-1, in the third round. Finally, Rashidov carried the Russian flag around the mat after thumping Daulet NIYAZBEKOV (KAZ), 11-0, in the 65kg finals. 

Baev won the 70kg title with a 14-2 routing of Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) in the 70kg gold-medal match. 

The lone weight Russia failed to medal at was 125kg. Their expected world representative was Anzor KHIZRIEV (RUS). But the European Games champion was injured two weeks before the first whistle in Nur-Sultan and forced to pull out of the World Championships. 

J'den COX (USA) defeated Alireza KARIMIMACHIANI (IRI), 4-0, in the 92kg and claimed his second world title. (Photo: Tony Rotundo)

The host nation of Kazakhstan finished in second place with 103 points -- which came from a pair of second-place finishes and a bronze medalist.  

The United States ended the team race in third place with 94 points. America's Kyle DAKE (79kg) and J'den COX (92kg) won gold for the second consecutive year and are now expected to drop down to Olympic weight classes. 

Though it's not official, but Dake is expected to drop down to 74kg to challenge Jordan Burroughs, and Cox is expected to move to 86kg to square off with David TAYLOR (USA) for the Tokyo Olympic spot. 

Iran's Olympic champion Hassan Yazdani came into the World Championships heavily favored and won his second world title and first since 2017. In addition to scoring an injury default win in the finals over India's Deepak PUNIA, Yazdani scored two wins via fall and a pair of technical superiority victories. 

At 125kg, Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) defeated Olympic champion Taha AKGUL (TUR) in an epic heavyweight battle for the second time in the last three years. Petriashvili took down Akgul with under 20 seconds left to grab the 6-6 lead on criteria. The Georgian ultimatly held on to win his third consecutive world title. 

RESULTS (Click link to watch gold-medal matches)
57kg - Zavur UGUEV (RUS) df. Suleyman ATLI (TUR), 13-3 
61kg - Beka LOMTADZE (GEO) df. Magomedrasul IDRISOV (RUS), 12-2 
65kg - Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (RUS) df. Daulet NIYAZBEKOV (KAZ), 11-0 
70kg - David BAEV (RUS) df. Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ), 14-2 
74kg - Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS) df. Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ (ITA), 5-2 
79kg - Kyle DAKE (USA) df. Jabrayil HASANOV (AZE), 10-4 
86kg - Hassan YAZDANICHARATI (IRI) df. Deepak PUNIA (IND), via injury default 
92kg - J'den COX (USA) df. Alireza KARIMIMACHIANI (IRI), 4-0 
97kg - Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) df. Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE), 4-0 
125kg - Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) df. Taha AKGUL (TUR), 6-6 

Musa EVLOEV (RUS) (Photo: Tony Rotundo)

2. Evloev's Second World Title Helps Russia Claim Team Gold  
Though the Russian Federation failed to match their six gold-medal performance from last year’s Budapest World Championships, they did win two titles and had three wrestlers fall in gold-medal matches. Russia won the team title with 132 points -- which was 52 points ahead of second-place Uzbekistan. Russia's two Greco-Roman champions were Abuiazid MANTSIGOV (72kg) and Musa EVLOEV (97kg).

Of the five returning world champions that graced Russia’s Nur-Sultan lineup, Evloev was the only wrestler to win back-to-back world titles. He was handed the gold medal after three-time world and Olympic champion Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) injury defaulted out of the finals due to an apparent rib injury he suffered during his semifinals match. 

Mantsigov took down Aram VARDANYAN (UZB), 9-0, in the gold-medal match in the non-Olympic weight of 72kg.  

Uzbekistan had a silver medalist, a pair of bronzes and two fifth-place finishers and wrapped up their tournament in second place with 80 points.

Georgia rounded out the top three in the Greco-Roman team standings. Though they were at non-Olympic weights, Georgia’s Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) and Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) claimed titles -- catapulting their nation to the third spot in the final standings with 79 points.

In the 55kg finals, Tsurtsumia dominated Khorlan ZHAKANSHA (KAZ), 9-0, and won his first career world title at the senior level after winning the U23 world title a year ago. Gobadze, the winner of the 82kg gold medal, edged Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE), 5-3, and won his first career world title in any division after medaling four times at age-group World Championships.

Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) will represent Japan at 60kg at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo: Tony Rotundo)

Japan matched Russia's Greco-Roman gold-medal output by winning a pair of titles over reigning world champions.

Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) locked up his spot on Japan's Olympic team after upsetting the reigning world champion Sergey EMELIN (RUS) ,10-5, in the 60kg finals. Shinobu OTA (JPN) gave Japan their second upset win over a reigning world champion when he defeated Stepan MARYANYAN (RUS), 10-4, in the 63kg finals. 

With Fumita locking up his spot on Japan's Olympic team at 60kg, Ota will be forced to move up to the Olympic weight of 67kg if he has hopes of bettering his Olympic silver medal from the Rio Olympic Games. 

In arguably the most impressive run to a world title, Olympic champion Ismael BORRERO MOLINA (CUB) knocked off four world champions to establish himself as the best in the world at 67kg. The Cuban's Nur-Sultan gold-medal run went through three-time world champion Frank STAEBLER (GER), two-time world champion RYU Hansu (KOR), U23 world champion Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY), and finally, reigning world champion Artem SURKOV (RUS). 

Borrero is now a two-time world and Olympic champion. 

Turkey’s Riza KAYAALP won his fourth world title. The Turkish superstar improved on his 15th-place finish from last year’s World Championships where he was fell in the opening round. On his way to a fourth world title, Kayaalp navigated a road that went through three world medalists, Yasmani ACOSTA FERNANDEZ (CHI), Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO) and Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB). Kayaalp topped off the finals with a 3-1 win over Cuba’s now-two-time world medalist Oscar Pino Hinds. 

RESULTS (Click link to watch gold-medal matches)
55kg - 
Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) df. Khorlan ZHAKANSHA (KAZ), 9-0 
60kg - Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) df. Sergey EMELIN (RUS), 10-5 
63kg - Shinobu OTA (JPN) df. Stepan MARYANYAN (RUS), 10-4
67kg - Ismael BORRERO MOLINA (CUB) df. Artem SURKOV (RUS)  , 3-1 
72kg - Abuiazid MANTSIGOV (RUS) df. Aram VARDANYAN (UZB), 9-0 
77kg - Tamas LORINCZ (HUN) df. Alex KESSIDIS (SWE), 8-0 
82kg Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) df. Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE), 5-3 
87kg  Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) df. Viktor LORINCZ (HUN), 2-1 
97kg Musa EVLOEV (RUS) df. Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM), via injury default 
130kg Riza KAYAALP (TUR) df. Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB), 3-1 

Rio Olympic champion Risako KAWAI (JPN) celebrates winning her third world title. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

3. Kawai's Third World Title Pushes Japan Past Russia in Women's Wrestling Team Race 
Per usual, Japan won the women’s wrestling team title. But it wasn’t in normal Japanese fashion. Usually, the most dominant women’s wrestling nation walks away with the team title, but they had to fight and claw their way to the team title in Nur-Sultan. Last year in Budapest, Japan had four champs and cruised to a 37 points advantage over second-place China. But this year, the margin of victory narrowed to only 29 points ahead of second-place Russia. 

Risako KAWAI (JPN) was the lone Japanese woman to win a world title in Nur-Sultan. She furthered her case to be included in the discussion as the pound-for-pound top-ranked wrestler in the world. Since dropping the 2015 world finals, Kawai has won three world titles and a gold medal at the Rio Olympic Games. This is in addition to defeating four-time Olympic champion and arguably the greatest women’s wrestler ever, Kaori ICHO (JPN), to secure her spot on Japan’s Nur-Sultan world team. 

Meanwhile, the United States had a trio of champions in Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA), Tamyra MENSAH (USA) and Adeline GRAY (USA). For Winchester (55kg) and Mensah (68kg), it was their first time winning a world title. But for Gray, this was the fifth time that she cemented herself as the top wrestler in the world at her respective weight class. 

Mariya STADNIK (AZE), one of the most credentialed women’s wrestlers ever, finally won her second world title. Her win in Nur-Sultan came one decade after winning her first world title. The three-time Olympic medalist and six-time world medalist tallied a 13-0 win over Emilia VUC (ROU) in the 50kg finals. 

RESULTS (Click link to watch gold-medal matches)
50kg - 
Mariya STADNIK (AZE) df. Emilia Alina VUC (ROU), 13-0 
53kg - Yong Mi PAK (PRK) df. Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN), 12-1 
55kg - Jacarra Gwenisha WINCHESTER (USA) df. Nanami IRIE (JPN), 5-3 
57kg - Risako KAWAI (JPN) df. Ningning RONG (CHN), 9-6 
59kg - Linda MORAIS (CAN) df. Liubov OVCHAROVA (RUS), via fall
62kg - Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) df. Taybe Mustafa YUSEIN (BUL), 5-3 
65kg - Inna TRAZHUKOVA (RUS) df. Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR), 13-0 
68kg - Tamyra MENSAH (USA) df. Jenny FRANSSON (SWE), 8-2
72kg - Natalia VOROBEVA (RUS) df. Alina BEREZHNA STADNIK MAKHYNIA (UKR), 4-2 
76kg - Adeline Maria GRAY (USA) df. Hiroe MINAGAWA SUZUKI (JPN) , 4-2 

4. Five History-Making Performances From Nur-Sultan
The World Championships were filled with countless memorable moments, but there were five that top all others -- mainly because they were history-making performances.

In women’s wrestling, Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) and Yong Mi PAK (PRK) defeated reigning world champions and became their nation’s first-ever women’s wrestling world champions. Pak reached the top of the podium at 53kg and Tynybekova won the 62kg gold medal.

Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) defeated reigning world champion Taybe YUSEIN (BUL) and became Kyrgyzstan’s first-ever women's wrestling world champion. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Tynybekova became Kyrgyzstan’s first medalist in Paris when she finished with a bronze medal. In Nur-Sultan, Tynybekova upset reigning world champion Taybe YUSEIN (BUL) with a late takedown and became Kyrgyzstan’s first world champion. 

Yong Mi Pak also picked up an upset win over a reigning world champion to win her country’s first world title. Pak scored the stunning 12-1 win over two-time world champion Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) in the 53kg finals and handed the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s their first women’s wrestling world title.

Myles AMINE (SMR) finished in fifth place at 86kg and locked up San Marino's first freestyle trip to the Olympic Games. (Photo: Tony Rotunod)

In freestyle, the duo of best friends who attend the University of Michigan, Stevan MICIC (SRB) and Myles AMINE (SMR), sealed up their nation’s first-ever freestyle Olympic Games berths after finishing in fifth place at 57kg and 86kg, respectively. Micic locked up Serbia's spot at the Olympic Games with an 8-0 win over Givi DAVIDOVI (ITA) in the repechage round. He ultimately fell short in the bronze-medal bout against reigning world runner-up Nurislam SANAYEV (KAZ). Amine handed San Marino their first trip to the Olympic Games with a 4-2 quarterfinals win over Germany's Ahmed DUDAROV.

Also in freestyle, Stefan REICHMUTH (SUI) made history for Switzerland after defeating Carlos IZQUIERDO (COL), 3-0, in the bronze-medal bout at 86kg. With his win over the Colombian wrestler, Reichmuth became the first Swiss wrestler to ever medal at a World Championships. 

5. October to Feature Veteran and U23 World Championships  
The Cadet, Junior and Senior World Championships are well behind us, but October is set to feature the Veteran and U23 World Championships. The Veteran World Championships will be up first. The six-day freestyle and Greco-Roman tournament will start on October 8 in Tbilisi, Georgia. The fifth and final World Championships, the U23 World Championships, will begin on October 23 in Budapest, Hungary. 

As always, the final two World Championships can be followed live on www.unitedworldwrestling.org. 

Weekly FIVE! In Social Media

1. Freestyle Olympic qualifiers 
2. Women's Wrestling Olympic qualifiers 
3. Greco-Roman Olympic qualifiers 
4. Big Move Monday -- @melonin_97 (FRA) -- Senior Worlds 2019
5. #TBT - Olympic Champs SHARIFOV (AZE) and SNYDER (USA) Battle

#WrestleAmman

Medet Kyzy pulls off late miracle for 3rd Asian gold

By Ken Marantz

AMMAN, Jordan (March 27) -- Winning the tight ones is a sign of a true champion, and Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) couldn't have cut it any closer in retaining her Asian crown and becoming a three-time champion.

Medet Kyzy thwarted an upset bid from REETIKA (IND) with a takedown and gut wrench in the dying seconds for a 7-6 victory in the 76kg final at the Asian Championships on Thursday as women's wrestling took the stage on the third day in Amman, Jordan.

"I prepared for the Asian Championships really well," said Medet Kyzy, who will turn 26 on Sunday. "In the last 20 seconds, I said to myself, 'Aiperi, you have to win.'"

Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) also became a three-time champion at 50kg, while young compatriot Sakura ONISHI (JPN) had a miracle victory of her own at 59kg as the powerful Japanese squad was limited to two of the five titles at stake, albeit they lost a world champion to a last-minute withdrawal due to injury.

The two other finals were match-ups between wrestlers from China and the DPK Korea, which they split as Kyong Ryong OH (PRK) and Zelu LI (CHN) became first-time champions at 55kg and 68kg, respectively.

Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ)Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) scores the winning turn against REETIKA (IND) in the 76kg final at the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

In the 76kg final, Medet Kyzy, a two-time world medalist, was facing an opponent bent on avenging a close 1-1 loss in the quarterfinals at last year's Paris Olympics.

And for much of the match, it looked like it was payback time for 2023 world U23 champion Reetika, an Asian bronze medalist a year ago in Bishkek.

After Medet Kyzy opened with a counter for a takedown, Reetika scored a single-leg takedown to go into the break up 2-2 on criteria. In the second period, Reetika twisted Medet Kyzy over in a scramble for a 2-point exposure, then added a double-leg takedown to make it 6-2.

It looked bleak for Medet Kyzy when, in the final seconds, she managed to get behind for a takedown, then barely muscled Reetika's shoulders past the 90-degree point with a gut wrench with :02 left on the clock. The 2-point exposure was upheld on challenge.

Medet Kyzy said she was inspired by her Kyrgyzstan teammates, including Greco-Roman brothers Zholaman and Tynaar SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) cheering her on from the stands.

"They cheered so badly for me I couldn’t lose," she said. "I worked till the very end." Medet Kyzy said that she and her coaches have been working on improving her quickness on the mat, which paid off on Thursday.

"After the Olympics, I sat down with the coaches and we did a full analysis of my wrestling," she said. "Now I’m more efficient compared to before."

Medet Kyzy, who finished fifth at the Paris Olympics, had also previously struck gold in 2022 and now has a total of eight Asian medals, along with a gold and bronze from the Asian Games.

"The Olympics were half a year ago," Medet Kyzy said. "It was very hard for me, because I ended up being fifth. All this time my friends, family, and coaches supported me a lot. Now we have started preparation for the 2028 Olympics."

At 50kg, Yoshimoto, taking advantage of a chance to compete internationally with high-profile rival Yui SUSAKI (JPN) still on hiatus, put on a takedown clinic in an 8-0 victory over world U20 champion Yu ZHANG (CHN).

Yoshimoto chalked up two takedowns in each period with a combination of single-leg attacks and counters to outclass the Chinese teen and add to her previous Asian golds from 2022 and 2023 -- she also has gold from the 2023 Asian Games.

"I didn't make the team last year, but I went into my third [Asian Championships] with a new feeling and not thinking about it too deeply," said Yoshimoto, the 2021 world champion in Susaki's absence. "I feel like the opponents came up with a strategy against me, so it wasn't so easy.

"I wasn't looking to win in any particular way, but I wasn't moving like I wanted. It was different from the first and second times and there is much I need to reflect on."

Yoshimoto has not lost to a non-Japanese opponent since 2019, when she was defeated by Chun LEI (CHN) at the test event for the Tokyo Olympics. Her only other international loss was to two-time Olympic medalist Yun SUNAN (CHN) in the final of the Klippan Lady earlier that year.

Next up for Yoshimoto is the Meiji Cup in June, the second of two domestic qualifiers for this year's World Championships where she will likely have to encounter Susaki, who has not competed since taking a bronze at the Paris Olympics.

Onishi, one of Japan's brightest rising stars, looked to be headed to just her second defeat in seven international tournaments when she pulled off a last-second 6-4 victory over Pyol HONG (PRK) in the 59kg final, thanks to a favorable call.

"This is my first time at the senior Asian Championships, and I knew it would not be easy to win," Onishi said. "That's exactly how it was. The final was a tough match. There was a moment when I thought I was going to lose. But I stayed strongly determined to win."

The reigning world U20 champion took a 3-0 lead with a single-leg takedown, to which a 1-point penalty was tacked on for grabbing the wrists.

In the second period, all of Onishi's tackle attempts were well thwarted by Hong, who spun behind after one counter for a takedown, after which she added a gut wrench to go up 4-3.

With the clock ticking down, Onishi launched a desperate surge forward that forced Hong over the edge for a stepout with :02 left that, by itself, would not have been enough. But the referee signaled an additional point for fleeing that was upheld by the side judges, leaving Hong stunned and Onishi elated.

"There was only a little time left, but I thought I had to do something and just go for it," the 19- year-old Onishi said. "All I thought was that I wanted to win. I have no recollection of what I actually did."

The match marked Onishi's first encounter with an opponent from the DPR Korea. "She was very powerful and she was able to keep me from doing my usual winning pattern. I couldn't get in on a tackle, and honestly speaking, I was panicking a little. But it was a good experience."

Onishi, the world U17 champion at 53kg in 2023, prepped for Amman by winning the Tirana Ranking Series event in February. She was dealt her lone international loss in the final at the 2022 U17 worlds to Maria YEFREMOVA (UKR).

Oh, the losing finalist at 55kg last year, moved up to the top of the medal podium by grinding out an 8-1 victory over Yuxuan LI (CHN), who finished third in Tirana.

Oh gained a takedown off a counter, then went to a lace lock, but was limited to one roll through by Li to make it 4-0. In the second period, Oh padded her lead with a single-leg takedown and added another lace lock roll. As she tried another, Li managed to execute a switch and scored a reversal for her lone point.

Oh had earned her place in the final for the second year in a row by knocking off three-time world champion Haruna MURAYAMA OKUNO (JPN) with a nail-biting 6-5 win in the semifinals. Last year, she lost in the final to Moe KIYOOKA (JPN), who will be going for the 53kg gold on Friday.

Zelu LI (CHN)Zelu LI (CHN) works a cradle against Sol Gum PAK (PRK) in the 68kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostandin Andonov)

The 68kg final was a quick affair when Zelu Li defeated Sol Gum PAK (PRK) by fall in just 35 seconds.

Li forced in a half-nelson from the standing position, then slammed Pak directly to her back and clamped down for the fall.

Li finished second at the Tirana Ranking Series to world 72kg champion Ami ISHII (JPN), who was entered at 68kg in Amman but withdrew prior to the competition due to a knee injury she suffered a week ago in training.

Murayama Okuno bounces back to take bronze

In the bronze-medal matches, Murayama Okuno assured she would not leave her first Asian Championships empty-handed, while two Indian teenagers made it onto the medal podium in their international senior debuts.

Murayama Okuno bounced back from her semifinal loss to Oh by shutting out Dilshoda MATNAZAROVA (UZB) 8-0 at 55kg.

Murayama Okuno jumped out to a 4-0 lead with a takedown and a stepover exposure. In the second period, she broke through Matnazarova's defenses to get a late takedown off a counter and a gut wrench for her final points.

The other 55kg bronze went to two-time Asian U23 champion Otgontuya BAYANMUNKH (MGL), who got behind countering a takedown attempt by NISHU (IND), applied a chicken wing and turned her over for a fall in 2:13.

At 50kg, Myonggyong WON (PRK), last seen on the continental stage winning a bronze at the Asian juniors (U20) in 2019, now has a senior medal after overwhelming Miran CHEON (KOR) 10-0.

Won twice went out the back door for a takedown, and after the second one, secured a high- thigh lock and executed one roll, then moved down to the laces and ripped off two more to end the match at 2:01.

Munkhnar BYAMBASUREN (MGL), in her second appearance at the Asian Championships five years after placing fifth, came away with the other 50kg bronze after scoring a deep double-leg takedown late in the first period and making that hold up in a 3-0 victory over Svetlana ANKICHEVA (KAZ).

At 59kg, teenager MUSKAN (IND), a 2024 world U17 bronze medalist at 53kg, received two activity points and scored a late takedown to defeat Altjin TOGTOKH (MGL) 4-0.

Mengyu XIE (CHN) made short work of Guldana BEKESH (KAZ), storming to a 10-0 technical fall in :48 to add the other 59kg bronze to the gold she won back in 2019.

Xie, a 2022 world bronze medalist at 55kg, opened with a takedown-gut wrench combination, then did it again, adding a second roll to finish off Asian U23 bronze medalist Bekesh.

In a battle between last year's bronze medalists at 68kg, 2023 world silver medalist Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) added to her extensive collection of Asian medals by finishing off Gulnura TASHTANBEKOVA (KGZ) 14-2 with a driving 4-point takedown in the final seconds.

Enkhsaikhan scored three takedowns in the first period to lead 6-2, then added two more and looked headed for a 10-2 win. But she got in deep on a double-leg, lifted up and drove Tashtanbekova to the mat for a 4-pointer.

Enkhsaikan now has five Asian medals, all bronze save for a silver from 2021.

The second Indian teen, world U17 champion Mansi LATHER (IND), used a snap-down, spin-behind attack to maximum effect to rout Irina KAZYULINA (KAZ) 12-2 for the other bronze at 68kg.

In an entertaining bout at 76kg, YANGLA (CHN) twice threw Mi Hyang KIM (PRK) to her back, only to be reversed to her own back, but scored a late takedown to clinch an 8-5 victory. Yangla got the big move of the match with a back suplex for 4.

Nodoka YAMAMOTO (JPN) added to the Japanese medal tally, showing surprising speed and agility for a heavyweight in charging to a 10-0 win over Seoyeon JEONG (KOR) for the other 76kg bronze.

Yamamoto opened with a single-leg takedown and two gut wrenches, added a snap-down, go-behind takedown, then finished things off at 2:00 with a single-leg takedown at the edge.

Photo

Day 3 Results

Women's Wrestling

50kg (13 entries)
GOLD: Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) df. Yu ZHANG (CHN), 8-0

BRONZE: Munkhnar BYAMBASUREN (MGL) df. Svetlana ANKICHEVA (KAZ), 3-0
BRONZE: Myonggyong WON (PRK) df. Miran CHEON (KOR) by TF, 10-0, 2:01

55kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Kyong Ryong OH (PRK) df. Yuxuan LI (CHN), 8-1

BRONZE: Haruna MURAYAMA OKUNO (JPN) df. Dilshoda MATNAZAROVA (UZB), 8-0
BRONZE: Otgontuya BAYANMUNKH (MGL) df. NISHU (IND) by Fall, 2:13 (4-0)

59kg (10 entries)
GOLD: Sakura ONISHI (JPN) df. Pyol HONG (PRK), 6-4

BRONZE: MUSKAN (IND) df. Altjin TOGTOKH (MGL), 4-0
BRONZE: Mengyu XIE (CHN) df. Guldana BEKESH (KAZ) by TF, 10-0, :48

68kg (10 entries)
GOLD: Zelu LI (CHN) df. Sol Gum PAK (PRK) by Fall, :35 (4-0)

BRONZE: Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) df. Gulnura TASHTANBEKOVA (KGZ) by TF, 14-2, 6:00
BRONZE: Mansi LATHER (IND) df. Irina KAZYULINA (KAZ) by TF, 12-2, 4:43

76kg (10 entries)
GOLD: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) df. REETIKA (IND), 7-6

BRONZE: YANGLA (CHN) df. Mi Hyang KIM (PRK), 8-5
BRONZE: Nodoka YAMAMOTO (JPN) df. Seoyeon JEONG (KOR) by TF, 10-0, 2:00