#WrestleZagreb

World Championships 2025 Day 3 FS 65kg, 97kg and WW 55kg, 59kg Highlights

By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (September 15) -- The World Championships day three will see the start of Women's Wrestling in Zagreb. Two weight classes -- 55kg and 59kg -- will be in action. Freestyle will continue in 65kg and 97kg with two Olympic champions in action.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 2 RESULTS

65kg semifinals
SF 1: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) vs Piabani (CAN)
SF 2: Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) vs. Umidjon JALALOV (UZB)

14:56: Peiman BIABANI (CAN) comes back from a 2-0 down to beat Andrii BILIICHUK (UKR) in the 65kg quarterfinals. Biabani scored three stepouts and a takedown to take the lead and held on to it to win the quarterfinals.

14:55: SUJEET (IND) gave it all against Olympic silver medalist Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) in the 65kg quarterfinals but Amouzad got a takedown in the final 20 seconds to be safe. Amouzad scored four stepout to lead 4-0 but struggled with conditioning. Sujeet scored a takedown and stepout to make it 4-3. Needing only one to win, Sujeet committed to a far leg attack and Amouzad countered with a takedown to make it 6-3. Sujeet scored a takedown with 4 seconds on the clock but could not get one point for the win. Amouzad reaches semifinal with a 6-3 win.

14:52: Olympic champ Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) fires out at the gun in his 65kg quarterfinal against Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (UWW), grabbing a single leg, snatching the other ankle and going straight to a lace-lock roll. The action, however, is so fast he is given just 2 points, which proves enough as he fends off Ibragimov to post a 3-0 victory. Kiyooka's final point came on an unsuccessful challenge after the buzzer when Ibragimov's side tried to get the Japanese penalized for fleeing, but the judges ruled he properly defended.

14:51: Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) breaks open a close match with a pair of takedowns in a 20-second span of the second period, then holds on for a 5-3 victory over Sebastian RIVERA (PUR) to advance to the 65kg semifinals. Jalolov held the criteria advantage after both had received an activity point, but scored a takedown at with 1:20 left, then added another a short time later. Rivera picked up a takedown with :22 to go, but it was too little, too late.

55kg semifinals
SF 1: Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) vs. Kyong Ryong OH (PRK)
SF 2: Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW) vs. Andreea ANA (ROU)

14:41: Kyong Ryong OH (PRK) uses her lace to great effect to deny any comeback from Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR) in the 55kg quarterfinals. Oh manages to go past Kamaloglu 14-7

14:40: Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) reaches the 55kg semifinals after beating Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) 10-5. It was a takedown masterclass from Uchida who led 8-0 before Khomenets had a big four pointer. But Uchida kept her cool and managed to win 10-5.

14:39: Andreea ANA (ROU) runs 2022 world bronze medalist Karla GODINEZ (CAN) out of the ring in the final minute for a stepout with a fleeing point tacked on, putting her into the 55kg semifinals with a 3-1 victory. Each wrestler had received an activity point, with the Canadian holding the last-point criteria.

14:39: European champion Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW) scores three takedowns, which is enough to trump the 4-point takedown that Yaynelis SANZ VERDECIA (CUB) chalked up and temporarily put her in the lead. Verbina walks away with a 6-4 victory in the 55kg quarterfinal, in which all of the points came in the first period.

59kg semifinals
SF 1: Altjin TOGTOKH (MGL) vs. Sakura ONISHI (JPN)

SF 2: Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN) vs. Maria VYNNYK (URK)

14:30: Elena BRUGGER (GER) and Altjin TOGTOKH (MGL) trade takedowns in the second period but Brugger leads 3-3 on criteria with a 2 minutes left. She makes it 5-3 with a takedown before two lace turns make it 9-3 with 1 minute left in the match. BUT TOGTOKH WITH A BIG MOVE AND FALL! She beats Brugger despite the latter leading 9-5 and advances to the 59kg semifinals.

14:26: After spotting Bediha GUN (TUR) a four-point lead, Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN) comes back to go ahead on criteria in the second period, only to fall behind again. But Beauregard comes up with a late takedown to win 6-6 on criteria and earn a spot in the 59kg semifinals.

14:25: Mariia VYNNYK (UKR)  hits the move of the day in the women's competition, tossing Othelie HOEIE (NOR) for 5 with a high-amplitude back suplex en route to a 11-0 victory to advance to the 59kg semifinals.

14:20: Sakura ONISHI (JPN) with an inside trip and the fall over Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (UWW) after a 12-0 lead. She advances to the 59kg semifinal and a step closer to the first senior world title. She is a two time world U20 champion, the second coming just a month ago in Samokov, Bulgaria.

97kg semifinals
SF 1: Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) vs Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI)
SF 2: Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) vs. Kyle SNYDER (USA)

14:15: Olympic champion Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) survives a huge scare against Magomed KURBANOV (UWW) in the 97kg quarterfinals. Kurbanov threated to run away with it when he began with two stepouts to lead 2-0. He made it 4-0 with a takedown but Tazhudinov got going in the second period with a takedown to cut the lead to 4-2. He used a front headlock move to score six more points to lead 8-2. A challenge, which was lost, from Kurbanov made it 9-4. But Kurbanov got a breather and then got a takedown to make it 9-6. In the final 15 seconds, he managed a front chestwrap exposure but Tazhudinov got a reversal as the score changed to 10-8. Tazhudinov gave up a stepout but still managed to win 10-9.

14:10: Young Arash YOSHIDA (JPN)  puts on an impressive display of power, scoring five stepouts in bulling to a 6-2 victory over Olympic silver medalist Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) to advance at 97kg. Yoshida's other point came on a rare reversal after he gave up a takedown. That sets up a rematch with Snyder of their semifinal encounter at the Tirana Ranking Series event in February won 5-5 by the Japanese.

14:09: Kyle SNYDER (USA) provides no openings for Zbigniew BARANOWSKI (POL) in their 97kg quarterfinal as the seven-time world medalist post a workmanlike 5-0 victory comprised of a takedown, two stepouts and an activity point.

14:05: The first semifinalist at 97kg is Olympic bronze medalist Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) who beats VICKY (IND) 10-0 in 3:30. A blast double in that match from Azarpira for four points.

13:55: Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) spends much of his 65kg match trying to chase down the elusive Ayub MUSAEV (BEL), but he manages to snatch an ankle enough to score three takedowns, with one thigh-lock roll added in for a 9-4 victory. There was one lapse of caution, when Kiyooka was thrown for 4 on a counter lift, but was otherwise in no danger.

13:40: Real WOODS' (USA) got on point in his match against Olympic silver medalist Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) and that was for a lost challenge from the Iranian. Otherwise, Amouzad showed why his underhooks are lethal, scoring 10 points from the move to win 12-1. A stepout and point for lost challenge from the United States were the other two points.

13:36: Three-time former European champion Andreea ANA (ROU) chalks up a 4-point move in the first period and two stepouts in the second and she's through to the 55kg quarterfinals with a 6-3 victory over 2024 world U20 champion Cristelle RODRIGUEZ (USA).

13:35: World silver medalist Sebastian RIVERIA (PUR) rolls to a 10-0 technical superiority win over Goderdzi DZEBISASHVILI (GEO) to secure his place in the 65kg quarterfinals.

13:28: SUJEET (IND) with a typical hard-working win over Kwang Jin KIM (PRK) at 65kg. A lot of stepout given up by a tired Kim. Sujeet into the quarterfinals.

13:25: Asian champion Kyong Ryong OH (PRK) looks like one to beat at women's 55kg as she storms to a 12-2 victory over Mihaela SAMOIL (MDA) to advance to the quarterfinals. Oh has a reply to all of Samoil's counter moves, and her victory in 2:36 includes a 4-point takedown off a double leg.

13:25: European champion Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW) with a fall over veteran Oleksandra KOGUT (AUT) at 55kg. Verbina is looking to win a first world medal at the senior level and she looks good to do it.

13:13: World silver medalist Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) warms up with a 10-0 technical superiority win over Hyerim LEE (KOR) at 55kg. Khomenets is looking find her old form after returning from an injury.

13:12: Less than a month after winning a second straight world U20 gold, Sakura ONISHI (JPN) begins her quest for a title in her senior world debut with a 10-0 rout of Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB) at 59kg.

13:09: European champion and Olympic silver medalist Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) eases by Shatlyk HEMELYAYEV (TKM) 4-0 in his opening match at 97kg as he looks to improve on his two career world bronze medals. A takedown in the first period and activity points in each half were all he needed.

13:10: Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) holds on to her 8-4 lead and beats NISHU (IND) at 55kg to advance to the quarterfinals at the World Championships. This is her debut at the senior level

12:59: Asian champion Arash YOSHIDA (JPN), looking to give Japan a rare medal in the upper weights, continues his run with a 10-0 victory over Ertugrul AGCA (GER) at 97kg. Yoshida, whose father is Iranian and runs the kids club in Japan where he started the sport, scores a takedown and lace-lock roll in the first period, then finishes up the match with three takedowns in the second.

13:00: Pyol HONG (PRK) and Elena BRUGGER (GER) waited and waited for some action. Brugger took a 2-1 lead when Hong was on the second activity period and did not score. In the final 10 seconds, Hong locks Brugger's arms and throws her for two points and wins 3-2. Germany challenges the call. There was no danger for Brugger in that throw and the scores are reversed to 2-1 and a victory for Brugger at 59kg.

12:53: In a contentious match at 97kg that included penalty points and a dressing down of both wrestlers from the match chairman, Olympic bronze medalist Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) comes away with a 6-3 victory over Akhmed MAGAMAEV (BUL).

12:42: Kyle SNYDER (USA), a 10-time world and Olympic medalist, begins his quest for an 11th one with a 10-0 victory over Cristian SARCO (VEN) at 97kg. He missed out on a medal in Paris, the first World or Olympics since 2015 that he failed to win a medal.

12:40: Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN), competing internationally for the first time since his triumph at 65kg at the Paris Olympics -- with a new, braided hair style -- opens with a 13-2 victory over Alibeg ALIBEGOV (BRN). It is Alibegov who strikes first, surprising the Olympic champion with a quick double-leg takedown. But Kiyooka replies with a single-leg takedown, then transitions to his patented thigh-lock with the head between the legs and rolls twice for a 6-2 lead. He adds a stepout before the buzzer. Kiyooka stays on the attack in the second period and gains a takedown and two traditional lace-lock rolls to end the match in 4:59.

12:32: Paris Olympic and 2023 world bronze medalist Sebastien RIVERA (PUR)appears to wake up after giving up an early stepout to Chouaib SAHRAOUI (ALG) at 65kg. He comes back with a takedown, then goes on a gut wrench spree to make it 12-1, at which point Sahraoui throws in the towel and it officially goes into the books as a fall at 1:57.

12:30: World and Olympic champion Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) faces Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD) in his first match at 97kg. He begins with a takedown and stepout to lead 3-0. A blast double for four to make it 7-0. Two points for exposure to make it 9-0 before he finishes the match with a stepout.

12:29: Budpest Ranking Series champion SUJEET (IND) storms out to a quick 6-0 lead against Cavit ACAR (TUR) at 65kg, but it suddenly begins to evaporate as Acar scores a pair of defensive exposures and the exchange reversals. That puts Sujeet up 7-5 at the break. But he pulls away in the second period, with a 4-point takedown when Acar attempts a reverse counter lift and an unsuccessful challenge gives Sujeet a 15-5 win.

12:25: Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) was leading 5-0 but Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK) hit a takedown and rallied a leg-lace to win to win 16-5. Tevanyan seems in some trouble with his knee. Armenia challenges and the last turn is removed. But down 14-5, Tevanyan managed only three more points as Kudiev wins 14-8.

12:18: Olympic silver medalist Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) wastes little time in getting his campaign for a second career world gold at 65kg off to roaring start, using a 4-point takedown to finish off a 13-0 whitewash in just under two minutes. over Ikromzhon KHADZHIMURODOV (KGZ).

12:15: Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (UWW) controls his bout against Gantulga BATBAATAR (MGL) throughout the six minutes to win 12-0 and advance at 65kg. Ibragimov is trying to win his first world medal

11:54: Real WOODS (USA) gives no chance to Maxim SACULTAN (MDA) in his 65kg opening bout. Woods with a gut-wrench to rack up those points but he wins 11-0

11:38: A victory for the Philippines. In a battle between wrestlers from countries trying to develop the sport, American-born Arian CARPIO (PHI) defeats Victoria CHHEN (AUS) 7-0 to advance at women's 59kg. Carpio, who competed for the U.S. until 2019, scores a takedown-lack lock combination and stepout in the first period, then caps the win with a second-period takedown.

11:35: Seems like Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) has recovered from an ankle injury she picked at the U20 World Championships. She starts her 55kg campaign with a 10-0 victory over Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL)

11:20: Paris Olympic bronze medalist Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) matches 2023 Asian Games bronze medalist Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL) with an activity point and stepout, but both of his come in the second period and that gives the Iranian a 2-2 victory on last-point criteria at 97kg.

11:20: Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA), a world 55kg champion in 2019, moved up to 59kg for this World Championships but Hong LIANG (CHN) shows Winchester that there are different levels to this. She pins Winchester

11:14: Asian champion Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) picks up a first-period fall against Domantas PAULIUSCENKO (LTU) at 97kg, a weight class that is absolutely packed

11:10: In the first of many high-profile matchups to come in the super-stacked 97kg division, 2023 world 92kg champion Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) gives up a takedown and the lead with just under two minutes left to Magomed KURBANOV (UWW), the 2021 silver medalist at 92kg. But Aitmukhan gets behind off a scramble with :48, then adds a stepout. But a second apparent stepout with :08 left is overturned on challenge and awarded to Kurbanov, suddenly giving him a 4-4 lead on criteria. A last-ditch challenge at the end is denied, giving Kurbanov a 5-4 win.

10:58: Asian bronze medalist Kwang Jin KIM (PRK) gets a first-period takedown and that holds up for a 2-0 victory over Junsik YUN (KOR) to clear his first hurdle at 65kg.

10:50: A match marred with multiple medical timeouts, Olympic bronze medalist and world silver medalist Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) has to be carried off the mat after he called for an injury. Magomedov and VICKY (IND) battled it out and the India wrestler led 5-0 before Magomedov woke up. The score was 9-7 with Vicky leading but Magomedov scored a takedown and turn to lead 11-9. But he failed to recover for a restart and the match was decided with Vicky as winner.

#JapanWrestling

Murayama upends Kiyooka, twice, to make Japan's world team

By Ken Marantz

TOKYO (June 21) -- When Paris Olympic champion Akari FUJINAMI announced she was moving up to 57kg, it seemed that everyone was ready to bequeath the opening at 53kg to
reigning world 55kg champion Moe KIYOOKA.

On Saturday, Haruna MURAYAMA said not so fast. Not once, but twice.

Murayama defeated Kiyooka in the women's 53kg final at the Meiji Cup All-Japan Championships in Tokyo, then came back a short time later and did it again in a playoff to earn a place on Japan's team and a shot at a fourth world gold at this year's World Championships.

"I only had two matches today, but I totally focused on each one in turn," said Murayama, whose previous world titles came under her maiden name of OKUNO.

"After that, it was important to win, but because I want to keep going at 53kg, this tournament had more meaning. Of course, I was aiming for a good result, but I wanted to get something out of this tournament."

Read More: Olympic champ vs Asian champ - Kiyooka vs Tanabe final at 65kg

Murayama and Kiyooka had beaten each other a number of times, but Kiyooka got the upper hand when she won a playoff last year for the Non-Olympic World Championships, where she succeeded Murayama as the gold medalist at 55kg.

With Fujinami was still on her post-Olympic hiatus, Kiyooka moved down to 53kg and won the Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships last December, the first of two domestic qualifiers for the World Championships along with the Meiji Cup.

Winning both tournaments secured an automatic place on the world team, while a playoff determined the spot if case of different winners.

Haruna MURAYAMA (JPN)Haruna MURAYAMA reacts after beating Moe KIYOOKA in the world team playoff at women's 53kg. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

Murayama won the 55kg title at the Emperor's Cup, but took a risk and dropped down to 53kg to challenge Kiyooka at the Meiji Cup, a move that paid off and left her young opponent in tears.

"Olympic weight classes and non-Olympic weight classes are completely different," Murayama said. "I've been in international tournaments as well as domestic meets at various weights, and, I can't really put it into words, but you can feel it in your skin.

"I won at a non-Olympic weight at the Emperor's Cup and if I had entered that weight here and won, I would have gone to the World Championships at 55kg. It would be rude to say it is meaningless, but in a career that is limited, you want to compete at the highest level. So I want to continue at 53kg from here."

The 26-year-old Murayama won her first world title at 55kg in 2017, added a second at 53kg in 2018, then went five years before adding a third at 55kg in 2023. In between she suffered the heartbreak of having her Olympic dreams smashed twice, first by Mayu MUKAIDA (now SHIDOCHI) before the Tokyo Olympics, and then by Fujinami in the runup to Paris.

Her performance at Tokyo Metropolitan Gym -- which included a quarterfinal victory over Shidochi, who was returning after a two-year layoff -- puts her smack in middle of discussions for the 2028 Los Angeles.

Murayama did it with nearly identical victories over Kiyooka, winning 3-1 in the Meiji Cup final and then 4-1 in the playoff.

In both matches, she gained an activity point in the first period, then scored a takedown off a low single in the second. Kiyooka, who wore a headgear after suffering a recent skull injury in practice, was constantly kept at bay and only launched one attack that Murayama fended off.

"The rules now favor the aggressor, and that also leads to activity points," Murayama said. "I'm not the type who goes for tackles much at the beginning. But I came up with a style where my tying up leads to tackles.

"Recently, it wasn't working so well. I've been having more chances to face younger opponents, and they like to go on the attack right away, which makes me feel pressure. There were many matches that went awry at the end that I couldn't finish off. This time, I was able to keep her under control in the first period, then wrestle my way to end the match."

Ironically, Murayama and Kiyooka were teammates at a pair of international tournaments earlier this year, where they had positive results. Murayama won the 55kg title and Kiyooka the 53kg gold at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series tournament in Tirana in February, then took a bronze and a silver, respectively, at the Asian Championships in March in Amman, Jordan.

"I recently was able to go to some international tournaments, and the overseas wrestlers have gotten better," Murayama said. "We're in an era where you can soon view a video of a match and I feel that I have been well scouted. I look forward to using my skills against them."

Ami ISHII (JPN)Ami ISHII secures a fall over Seia MOCHINAGA to secure her ticket at women's 68kg to the World Championships. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

Ishii cruises to world berth; Aoyagi bounces back in playoff

In other action on the third day of the four-day tournament, Ami ISHII, who won the women's 72kg gold at the non-Olympic worlds as consolation for missing out on the Paris Olympics, will be heading back to the regular World Championships at 68kg.

Ishii easily won out in a four-women field that was thinned to three by injury, finishing up with a victory by fall over Seia MOCHINAGA in her final round-robin match.

Ishii said she is looking forward to possibly facing Kennedy BLADES (USA), the Paris Olympic silver medalist at 76kg who recently won the U.S. trials at 68kg. And she wants to not only win, but win big.

"I won't be seeded, so I don't know when or if I will face her," Ishii said. "It doesn't have to be the final. I want it to be one of those matches where you go, 'Wow.' I want to win big with a technical fall like Masanosuke ONO. I don't want it to come down to the wire."

One other women's world team spot was filled, with Asian bronze medalist Nodoka YAMAMOTO beating Yasuha MATSUYUKI 3-1 to win the round-robin at 76kg as Paris Olympic champion Yuka KAGAMI continues to remain out of competition.

Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN)Yoshinosuke AOYAGI works to turn Shoya MIURA in the world team playoff at freestyle 70kg. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

Among the three world team playoffs in freestyle, world silver medalist Yoshinosuke AOYAGI bounced back from his stunning semifinal loss on Friday by romping to an 11-0 victory over Shoya MIURA.

Aoyagi chalked up a pair of takedown-roll combinations in the first period, then ended the match by using his leg to catch Miura on his back during a scramble.

"I was down [after the loss] and still felt that way today," Aoyagi said. "But to do it, I had to pull myself together. I got advice from various people, and keeping in mind all of those supporting me, I was finally able to come around."

Miura had won the title with a 6-5 victory over world U20 champion Ryoya YAMASHITA, who had stunned Emperor's Cup champion Aoyagi in the semifinals. Miura's win can be credited to a 4-point counter throw that could have gone either way but was awarded on challenge.

Aoyagi acknowledged that Miura presented a less formidable foe, although he would have liked to have had a chance to avenge his loss to Yamashita.

"I wanted to get revenge and of course I had come up with a plan and asked around for advice," Aoyagi said. "Next week, we're going to Nittaidai [Nippon Sport Science University] for joint practice and I'll ask him to spar with me. I lost and will be the challenger, but I will turn the tables."

There was one thing that Aoyagi did before the playoff that left many people befuddled.

Normally, a wrestler who goes to a playoff after losing before a final skips the bronze-medal match, which is held a few hours earlier.

But Aoyagi showed up for his match, which he won with an 11-0 victory in 3:44. Why even bother?

The 23-year-old Aoyagi, who joined the corporate team Clean-up out of Yamanashi Gakuin University, said he did it out of loyalty to his company and its employees, who formed a small supporting section in the stands.

"I thought that at the very least, I had to get a medal from the standpoint of my company," Aoyagi said. "There were many people from the company who came in support and I wanted them to know they could believe in me and I would give it my all. If I didn't do that match and only went to the World Championships, it might leave a bad impression."

Aoyagi, who won the Muhamet Malo tournament and finished third at the Asian Championships this year, said he will be confident but wary in Zagreb, which will be his last tournament at 70kg before making a planned move up to 74kg.

"Last year I finished second and I'm currently ranked No. 1, but it's not going to be so easy," Aoyagi said. "I placed third at the Asian Championships and strong opponents are constantly coming up. The luck of the draw is important, but I will practice harder and become a wrestler who doesn't present openings. If I prepare thoroughly for the World Championships, of course I can win the title."

In another playoff, Emperor's Cup champion Ryunosuke KAMIYA avenged a semifinal loss to Keyvan GHAREHDAGHI by beating him 3-0 for the freestyle 79kg ticket to Zagreb. Gharehdaghi had taken the title with a 2-2 win over Subaru TAKAHARA.

At 61kg, Takara SUDA, the Emperor's Cup champion who had to miss the tournament, scored a late takedown to defeat 2021 world bronze medalist Toshihiro HASEGAWA 4-3. Suda was not entered after his school, Yamanashi Gakuin University, reportedly missed the registration deadline.

Yuri NAKAZATO (JPN)Yuri NAKAZATO puts the pressure on Takahiro TSURUDA in the Greco 97kg final of the Meiji Cup. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

In Greco, Yuri NAKAZATO will get a chance to see if he can make a breakthrough for Japan in the upper weights after he defeated Takahiro TSURUDA 4-0 to take the 97kg crown and secure a place on the world team.

The Okinawa native, a 2023 world U23 bronze medalist, showed some potential by winning a silver medal at this year's Asian Championships. That made him the first Japanese to make the final in a weight class 90kg or over in 11 years, and just the ninth ever.

Mayu SHIDOCHI (JPN)Mayu SHIDOCHI, right, assured she would not go home empty-handed from her first tournament in two years by taking a bronze medal at women's 53kg. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

Shidochi finishes up comeback with bronze

Tokyo Olympic champion Shidochi bounced back from her loss to Murayama by winning her bronze-medal match at 53kg, beating Saki YUMIYA 5-0.

After gaining an activity point in the first period, Shidochi pulled away in the second with a takedown and gut wrench.

Shidochi was competing for the first time since losing to Fujinami in the semifinals at the 2023 Meiji Cup, giving birth to her first child in the interval.

"When it comes down do it, I lost yesterday and it's really hard to take," Shidochi said. "But I came back and won the third-place match, which I hope will lead to better things. I was able to bounce back and, although it wasn't the gold medal, I could still finish up with a medal."

Shidochi gives herself credit for not taking the easy path in her return to the mat.

"I decided to make a challenge at an Olympic weight and I realize that in reality, it is not so easy," she said. "In the second round I faced world champion Haruna. I had lost to her the last time and wanted to get revenge, but I wasn't able to do it and that's disappointing.

"It was my first tournament in two years. It comes down to getting that match sense again, and I was pretty nervous this time. There are many things I need to work on."

Day 3 Results

Freestyle

57kg (11 entries)
SF 1: Rin SAKAMOTO df. Rikuto NAGAI, 7-4
SF 2: Kento YUMIYA df. Rikuto ARAI, 2-1

61kg (12 entries)
GOLD: Toshihiro HASEGAWA df. Akito MUKAIDA by TF, 15-5, 4:51

BRONZE: Taichi YAMAGUCHI df. Aiki KAWAI, 7-0
BRONZE: Meiryu AKAMINE df. Takuto OSEDO, 5-3

World Team Playoff: Takara SUDA df. Hasegawa, 4-3

65kg (9 entries)
SF 1: Kaisei TANABE df. Ryuto SAKAKI, 5-0
SF 2: Kotaro KIYOOKA df. Yuto NISHIUCHI, 8-1

70kg (12 entries)
GOLD: Shoya MIURA df. Ryoya YAMASHITA, 6-5

BRONZE: Yoshinosuke AOYAGI df. Raita MATSUDA by TF, 11-0, 3:44
BRONZE: Makoto HOSOKAWA df. Yamato FUKUI by TF, 13-2, 3:46

World Team Playoff: Aoyagi df. Miura by TF, 11-0, 3:50

74kg (12 entries)
SF 1: Kota TAKAHASHI vs Hikaru TAKATA by TF, 12-2, 5:40
SF 2: Masaki SATO df. Toki OGAWA, 6-0

79kg (9 entries)
GOLD: Keyvan GHAREHDAGHI df. Subaru TAKAHARA, 2-2

BRONZE: Kohei KITAMURA df. Ryunosuke KAMIYA by Def.
BRONZE: Natsura OKAZAWA df. Hirotaka ABE by TF, 11-0, 3:39

World Team Playoff: Kamiya df. Gharehdaghi, 3-0

Greco-Roman

60kg (8 entries)
SF 1: Kaito INABA df. Seima TOKUHARA by TF, 11-1, 4:32
SF 2: Yu SHIOTANI df. Koto GOMI by TF, 10-0, 1:49

67kg (12 entries)
SF 1: Katsuaki ENDO df. Kensuke SHIMIZU, 7-3
SF 2: Kyotaro SOGABE df. Haruto YABE, 13-6

77kg (10 entries)
SF 1: Kodai SAKURABA df. Shu YAMADA by TF, 9-1, 4:50
SF 2: Nao KUSAKA df. Naoki KADODE by TF, 12-1, 2:04

87kg (7 entries)
GOLD: So SAKABE df. Tatsuya FUJII, 9-0, 2:18

BRONZE: Isshin ONITSUKA df. Genki YAHAGI by Fall, 2:27 (10-0)

97kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Yuri NAKAZATO df. Takahiro TSURUDA, 4-0

BRONZE: Masayuki AMANO df. Ryosei KATAMATSU by TF, 8-0, 1:51
BRONZE: Sorato KANAZAWA df. Asahi IMAMURA by TF, 9-0, 1:51

130kg (7 entries)
GOLD: Yuta NARA df. Sota OKUMURA, 3-1

BRONZE: Shion OBATA df. Ayumu IWASAWA, 6-1

Women's Wrestling

50kg (9 entries)
SF 1: Remina YOSHIMOTO vs Mai OGAWA by TF, 10-0, 5:27
SF 2: Umi ITO df. Miyu NAKAMURA, 6-0

53kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Haruna MURAYAMA df. Moe KIYOOKA, 3-1

BRONZE: Haruna MORIKAWA df. Natsumi MASUDA, 3-0
BRONZE: Mayu SHIDOCHI df. Saki YUMIYA, 5-0

World Team Playoff: Murayama df. Kiyooka, 4-1

57kg (10 entries)
SF 1: Himeka TOKUHARA df. Sara NATAMI, 3-1
SF 2: Sae NANJO df. Ichika ARAI, 9-0

62kg (11 entries)
SF 1: Nonoka OZAKI df. Misuzu ENOMOTO, 10-2
SF 2: Sakura MOTOKI df. Shirin TAKEMOTO by TF, 10-0, 2:23

68kg (4 entries)
GOLD: Ami ISHII (3-0)
SILVER: Seia MOCHINAGA (2-1)
BRONZE: Kaede MATSUYAMA (1-2)

Key match: Ishii df. Mochinaga by Fall, 2:06 (6-0), in Round 3

76kg (4 entries)
GOLD: Nodoka YAMAMOTO (3-0)
SILVER: Yasuha MATSUYUKI (2-1)
BRONZE: Mizuki NAGASHIMA (1-2)

Key match: Yamamoto df. Matsuyuki 3-1 in Round 3