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World Olympic Qualifier Freestyle Paris 2024 Qualification Bouts

Saturday, May 11, 2024 - 07:46 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

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ISTANBUL, Turkiye (May 11) -- Freestyle takes the stage at the World Olympic Qualifier in Istanbul. After the 18 quotas of Greco-Roman and 12 of Women's Wrestling were decided, 12 Freestyle Paris 2024 spots will be handed out on Saturday and 6 more on Sunday.

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The Paris 2024 Qualification bouts will begin at 2000 hours local time in Istanbul

18:24: Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) caps the 8 1/2-hour session with a 3-0victory over  JAIDEEP (IND) at 74kg. The three-time world medalist scores a takedown in the first period and gets an activity point in the second to move one win away from his first trip to the Olympics.

18:18: For once, it was Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) coming up on the short end of a dramatic, down-to-the-wire match. Chermen VALIEV (ALB) pulled off a stunning 5-5 win on criteria at 74kg over the Italian star, who had posted nail-biting wins in his previous two matches. With Chamizo leading 3-2 in the second period, Valiev scores a stepout off a scramble, but Chamizo goes back ahead 5-3 with a stepout and fleeing point. But with time running out, Valiev lunges for an ankle and latches on, which Chamizo responds to by heading out of Dodge. That gives Valiev a stepout and fleeing point to go up 5-5 on last point. In the final seconds, Chamizo forces Valiev to the edge, but the Albanian slips out of danger to clinch the win.

18:02: Viktor RASSADIN (TJK), aiming to become Tajikstan's first Olympic wrestler since 2012, keeps the pressure on and it pays off with two activity points and a 2-0 victory over Vadym TSURKAN  (UKR) at 74kg. He will face the winner of Frank CHAMIZO  (ITA)-Chermen VALIEV (ALB), which is next up on Mat B.

17:52: The dynamo known as Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) continues his impressive run at 65kg, shucking and spinning his way to a 9-0 victory over Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK). The Asian silver medalist scores a stepout and a takedown-gut wrench combo for a 5-0 lead in the first period and adds two takedowns in the second. He will face SUJEET (IND) for the ticket to Paris.

17:45: European champion Islam DUDAEV (ALB) saved by the challenge! Kwang Jin KIM (PRK) led 2-0 with Dudaev on his legs. Dudaev tried a takedown but the referees did not score it. However, Albania challenged it and won as Kim had three points touching on the mat with Dudaev in control. Dudaev wins 2-2 and advances at 65kg

17:41: Tokyo Olympian Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR), a two-time world bronze medalist at 79kg, scores the go-ahead takedown with 47 seconds left and adds a gut wrench to defeat Zushen LIN (CHN) 6-3 and advance to the qualification match at 86kg.

17:32: In a clash of the two losers of the Paris qualification matches at the Asian Qualifier, Zhiwei DENG (CHN) scores a takedown on a counter of his opponent's attack and holds on for a 3-0 victory over Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) at 125kg. Deng, a 2019 world bronze medalist, finished fifth in Tokyo in his second Olympic appearance.

17:22: Daniel LIGETI (HUN) moved one win away from earning a third Olympic appearance with a 4-0 victory over Zyyamuhammet SAPAROV (TKM) at 125kg. A second-period takedown with Saparov on the activity clock clinched the win for the 34-year-old Ligeti.

17:12: Chongsong HAN (PRK) advances to tonight's Paris qualification match at 57kg by outclassing Horst LEHR (GER) 16-4. Han's speed and strength ruled the day as he scored a takedown and gut wrench to lead 5-0 in the first period. Han scores a takedown, then pads the lead with four points in a scramble in which Lehr finally gets on the board. A 4-point takedown, in which Lehr scores 2 in the flow, ends the match.

17:05: Spencer LEE (USA) is in the Paris qualification bout at 57kg! He needs just 54 seconds to beat former European champion Vladimir EGOROV (MKD) 12-2 using a mix of lace and gut.

AMAN (IND) follows Lee into the Paris qualification bout after he beats Andri YATSENKO (UKR) 12-2. He will wrestle Chongsong HAN (PRK) for the spot

16:58: Rio 2016 bronze medalist Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) gives the home crowd another win, holding off Mohammad MOTTAGHINIA (ESP) for a 5-2 win at 74kg. Demirtas scores a takedown, a stepout and two activity points, with only a second-period takedown by his opponent marring an otherwise perfect performance.

16:50: Two-time Asian medalist Rakhat KALZHAN (KAZ) deals Iran a serious blow in its hopes of fielding a full freestyle lineup in Paris when he notches a solid 7-2 win over Alireza SARLAK (IRI) at 57kg. Kalzhan gains a lift-and-trip takedown in the first period and a smooth duck under in the second. Sarlak manages a pair of stepouts, but Kalzhan stops a late takedown with a pancake for his final 2.

16:55: Viktor RASSADIN (TJK) led Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) 5-3 in the last 30 seconds but Khadjiev scored exposure to make it 5-5. But he failed to get another point and dropped his 74kg bout 5-5. France challenged asking for two more points but lost which added one more point to Rassadin's score to make it 6-5. 

16:44: Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) must be relieved after that outcome. With 10 seconds left in his bout against Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ), Chamizo was down 1-1 on criteria but Toktomambetov, who had been warned for fleeing, was docked a caution and one point for fleeing again with 3 seconds left, giving Chamizo a 2-1 lead. Kyrgyzstan challenges the call but the fleeing call is held. Kyrgyzstan lose the challenge and Chamizo wins 3-1 to advance at 74kg.

16:38: SUJEET (IND), a 2022 world U20 bronze medalist, keeps the pressure on from the get-go and gradually piles up points while shutting his opponent down to score a 10-0 victory over Tokyo Olympian Junsik YUN (KOR) at 65kg. Next up for the Indian is Lachlan MCNEIL (CAN).

16:30: That will be a 7-2 win for Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL). 70 world champion Zain RETHERFORD (USA) was up 2-2 on criteria with the clock down to the final minute but Tumur Ochir hit a single leg and exposure to make the score 6-2. The U.S. challenged the call but lost the challenge.

16:17: Asian Games bronze medalist Kwang Jin KIM (PRK) scores three 4-point moves and defeats two-time world U23 bronze medalist Maxim SACULTAN (MDA) 12-4 to advance at 65kg. Kim will face Islam DUDAEV (ALB) for a place in the Paris qualification match, as the DPR Korea looks to gain an Olympic freestyle spot after being shut out at the Asian Qualifier.

15:42: Veteran Jose DIAZ (VEN), looking to get back to the Olympics after appearing at London 2012 and Rio 2016, pulls a stunner by beating Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Abraham CONYEDO (ITA) 4-1 at 125kg. Diaz is trailing 1-0 in the second period with Conyedo on the activity clock when the 35-year-old pancakes Conyedo to his back for 2, then clinch the win with a stepout.

15:29: Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN), who won a bronze medal at the Asian Championships before losing in the first round of the Asian Olympic Qualifier, advances at 125kg with a 5-2 win over Oleksandr KHOTSIANIVSKYI (UKR). Khotsianivskyi was on the activity clock in the first period when Sharipov scored a takedown and lace-lock roll to account for his points.

15:27: Two-time Olympian and five-time European medalist Daniel LIGETI (HUN) proves too much for Georgi IVANOV (BUL), finishing up a 12-1 win early in the second period at 125kg. Ligeti scores four takedowns in the first period, then ends the match with a 4-point counter throw as Ivanov drove him to the edge on a tackle attempt.

14:53: Ahmed BATAEV (BUL), a 2022 European silver medalist at 92kg, gets a low takedown with nine seconds left to stun young 2023 Asian champion Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) 4-3 at 97kg. In the first period, Yoshida gets in on a single and lifts it up, but Bataev reaches down and grabs Yoshida's ankle, then drives him back for a takedown. Yoshida avoids making the same mistake in the second period, then adds an activity point for a 3-2 lead. He seems to be on the way to victory Bataev makes a stab at the shoelaces and connects, tripping Yoshida backwards for the winning 2. 

14:53: 2023 Asian champion AMAN (IND) proves too agile and too elusive for Tokyo Olympian Georgi VANGELOV (BUL), as he piles up five takedowns in a 10-6 victory at 57kg. Aman was this year's Zagreb Open champion where Vangelov took a bronze, although they did not face each other.

14:45: 2021 world silver medalist Alireza SARLAK (IRI), looking to fill the only Paris berth in freestyle missing for Iran, advances with a workmanlike 9-3 win over European bronze medalist Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO) at 57kg. Sarlak gradually builds up a 5-0 lead in the first period with a stepout, activity point, go-behind takedown and stepout. In the second period, he adds two stepouts and a last-second gimme takedown, while giving up a stepout and takedown.

14:31: Spencer LEE (USA) appears almost unconcerned after finding himself in a 6-1 hole early in his 57kg bout with Wanhao ZOU (CHN). Lee just goes to work and, after gaining a stepout, he scores a takedown, then applies a lace lock and rolls three times, and suddenly he's up 10-6. In the second period, Zou scores a stepout and takedown within seconds of each other, but the clock runs out as he tries to turn Lee, who advances with a 10-9 win.  

14:24: Three-time world medalist Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK), who won his fourth straight European title earlier this year, gets off to a good start in his bid for an elusive first Olympics, storming past Arslan AMANMYRADOV (TKM) 11-0 at 74kg.

14:15: Chermen VALIEV (ALB), in his first outing for Albania, rallies to a 10-0 win over Hrayr ALIKHANYAN (ARM) at 74kg. Next up for him is Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO).

14:05: A week after Viktor RASSADIN (TJK) won a silver medal at the Asian Championships,  two-time Asian champion Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) came up one win short at 74kg at the Asian Olympic Qualifier. Now, Rassadin in on the inside track to Paris after scoring a takedown in each period in a 4-1 victory over the 2019 world silver medalist at 70kg.

14:00: Former U20 world bronze medalist SUJEET (IND) with a takedown during Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) activity clock to win 3-2 at 65kg. Jalolov was the U20 world champion when Sujeet won the bronze medal.

13:50: Rio 2016 bronze medalist and two-time former world champion Frank CHAMIZO (ITA), coming off a controversial loss at the European Qualifier as he aims to make a third Olympics, pulls off a miracle comeback to defeat 20-year-old Feng LU (CHN) 10-8 at 74kg. Lu opens the match with a takedown and two exposures before Chamizo reverses for a 6-1 lead. In the second period, Chamizo finally catches Lu for a takedown with Lu on the activity clock, then adds an exposure on a counter to make it 6-6, but he still trails on criteria. Chamizo gets a takedown, but Lu counter lifts for 2 to stay ahead 8-8. With the clock ticking down, Chamizo bulls a fatigued Lu down at the edge for a dramatic takedown with :02 on the clock.

13:41: Tokyo Olympian and two-time European silver medalist Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) pancakes Zagreb Open bronze medalist Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN) to his back for 4, but he won't need the points as he secures the fall at 74kg.

13:31: Zain RETHERFORD (USA) breezes into the next round at 65kg, using a hard cross-face for exposure points to finish off an 11-0 win over Ibrahim GUZAN (YEM) in 2:26.

13:29: Asian Games bronze medalist Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ), who came up one win short at the Asian Qualifier on home soil, caps a second-period rally from three points down by scoring a takedown with 1:10 left to defeat 2021 European silver medalist Ramazan RAMAZANOV (BUL) 5-3 at 74kg.

13:17: Tokyo Olympian Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL), a 2021 world bronze medalist coming off a silver-medal performance at the Asian Championships, opens with a slick 4-point arm throw against Alibeg ALIBEGOV (BRN) at 65kg. He adds two takedowns in the second period, getting an exposure after the second to finish a 10-0 victory with 5 seconds to spare.

13:07: Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO), a 2023 world bronze medalist at 79kg, notches three takedowns in the first period en route to a 9-1 victory over 2019 world bronze medalist and Tokyo Olympian Stefan REICHMUTH (SUI) at 86kg.

13:01: Tokyo fifth placer and Asian Games silver medalist Deepak PUNIA (IND) goes down to Zushen LIN (CHN) at 86kg. He led 3-0 at the break but Lin got on a single-leg before scoring a takedown. He added a gut-wrench to lead 4-3. Punia added a stepout but Lin held 4-4 criteria before he added a late takedown to win 6-4

12:50: Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR) , a world bronze medalist the last two years at 79kg, opens his campaign at 86kg with a 4-0 victory over Aimar ANDRUSE (EST). Mykhailov's points come off a front headlock roll and a single-leg takedown.

12:40: It was experience over youth as 32-year-old 2023 European bronze medalist Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL) takes the lead, loses it, then comes back to defeat two-time world U20 champion Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) 6-3 at 86kg. Jezierzanski goes ahead 2-1 in the second period with an activity point and a stepout, but Magamadov replies with a double-leg takedown with :58 left. But Jezierzanski isn't done, grabbing a takedown and transitioning to a gut wrench with 23 seconds on the clock.

12:17: Two-time reigning European champion Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) gets a takedown shortly after receiving an activity point with just over a minute left, giving him a 4-0 victory over 2022 world bronze medalist and Tokyo Olympian Boris MAKOEV (SVK) at 86kg.

11:45: Ahmet DUMAN (TUR), the 2022 world U23 silver medalist at 57kg, gets the home crowd revved up with an 11-0 victory over Besir ALILI (MKD) at 65kg.

11:43: Zain RETHERFORD (USA), a two-time world champion at 70kg who had to go through the grueling USA trials just to get to Istanbul, started what he hopes will be a long day at 65kg with a victory by fall over Stefan COMAN (ROU). Retherford, leading 3-2 in the second period, secures the fall after the second of two takedowns. With 37 entries at 65kg, Retherford will have to win five matches to clinch the Olympic spot today.

11:28: An early setback for an Indian team that was shut out in freestyle at both the World Championships and Asian Qualifier. Aaron JOHNSON (JAM) scores a stepout with five seconds left to defeat SUMIT (IND) 2-2 on criteria at 125kg. Jamaica has never had an Olympian in wrestling.

11:18: Georgi VANGELOV (BUL) must be very relieved after that 7-7 victory over Sunggwon KIM (KOR) at 57kg. He led 3-0 at the break when Kim called for a medical timeout for concussion. He returned to score his first point but another timeout later, he hit a duck under for takedown and gut wrench to make it 5-3 in the last minute. However, Vangelov scored a takedown and turn to take a 7-5 lead. Kim got on Vangelov's leg to score a takedown but managed only a stepout and one point for fleeing but Vangelov still held the criteria.

11:06: Arash YOSHIDA (JPN), the 20-year-old rising hope in the upper weights for Japan, scores three takedowns in the first period before finishing up an 11-1 win in the second over Nishan RANDHAWA (CAN) at 97kg. Yoshida, whose father is Iranian and runs the wrestling club in Japan where he started the sport, won the Asian gold and finished fifth at the World Championships last year at 92kg.

10:51: Veteran Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB) uses a lace lock to build up a 9-0 lead in the first period against Adlan VISKHANOV (FRA), then finishes him off with a takedown with just over a minute left to advance 11-0 at 97kg.

10:51: Two-time European bronze medalist Horst LEHR (GER), leading 5-0 in the second period, hits a slick 4-point arm throw, then adds a gut wrench for an 11-0 victory over Ilman MUKHTAROV (FRA) at 57kg.

10:46: Spencer LEE (USA), the one-time wunderkind of U.S. wrestling who world junior titles in 2015 and 2016 but was sidetracked by injuries and college commitments, wastes no time in getting his quest for a first trip to the Olympics started at 57kg. He gets a quick takedown against Ben TARIK (MAR), applies a lace lock and, with four rapid rolls, he's a 10-0 winner in 23 seconds. 

10:00: The six Freestyle weight classes will be in action today for the 12 Paris spots and also the women's wrestling playoff later in the evening.

#wrestlebishkek

Tynybekova continues dominance of Motoki for 6th Asian gold; Feng stuns Sakurai

Sunday, April 14, 2024 - 17:01 By Ken Marantz

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BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 14) -- Throughout a sparkling career that has made her a hero in her homeland, Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) has had a fierce rivalry with a number of Japanese wrestlers. The latest in the line has yet to find a way to break through and beat her.

Tynybekova continued her dominance of Sakura MOTOKI (JPN), using her counterattack style to maximum effect in a 9-6 victory in the women's 62kg final at the Asian Championships on Sunday in Bishkek, giving her a second straight gold and sixth of her career in front of an adoring home crowd.

"Throughout my career, I never got the chance to compete in Kyrgyzstan," Tynybekova said. "This year, when I found out the Asian Championships would be in Kyrgyzstan, I really wanted to compete in front of the home crowd. I am so happy that despite my physical condition, I could win the gold."

In the biggest upset of the tournament, Yongxin FENG (CHN) shocked three-time world champion Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) at 57kg as China came away with two of the four other golds at stake on the fourth day of competition at Bishkek Arena with Qian JIANG (CHN) prevailing at 72kg.

Ji Hyang KIM (PRK) gave DPR Korea its first gold medal in its return to the Asian Championships after a five-year absence with an impressive victory at 53kg, while Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN) triumphed at 65kg to ensure that the Japanese anthem would be played at least once on the night.

Japan, with four golds overall, barely won the team title for the third straight year with 173 points, just one point ahead of China and its three champions. Mongolia finished third with 138, three points ahead of India.

Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ)Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) uses a couter lift against Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) in the 62kg final during the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Tynybekova revealed that she got seriously ill after winning the title at last month's Yasar Dogu tournament in Antalya, Turkey, and even considered pulling out of the Asian Championships, where she now has 11 total medals.

"Two weeks before this continental championships, my coach Nurbek Izabekov proposed not to wrestle here because I didn’t fully recover," the three-time world champion said. "I spent two weeks lying in bed. Despite all this, I am so happy to be able to compete successfully."

Tynybekova, who made Kyrgyz history when she became the nation's first-ever wrestling world champion in 2019, has had her share of wins and losses contending with Japanese opponents through the years. First, there was Yukako KAWAI (JPN), who defeated her in the Tokyo Olympics final, then along came Nonoka OZAKI (JPN), who beat her in the 2022 Asian final.

Motoki, the 2022 world bronze medalist at 59kg, became the next in line when she moved up to 62kg and beat out Ozaki and Kawai in qualifying for the Paris Olympics. But Sunday's loss to Tynybekova was her third loss in three meetings over a seven-month span, and this was not as close as the first two.

"I would like to say that there are no easy or tough opponents," Tynybekova said. "It all depends on my physical condition on that exact day. That’s why me and my coaches will prepare to wrestle every single wrestler in my weight class."

In their first clash, Tynybekova pulled off a late 4-1 victory in the final at last year's World Championships in Belgrade. They met again in the semifinals at the Zagreb Open in January, where Tynybekova eked out a 3-3 win on criteria.

On Sunday, it was Tynybekova who took the early lead, gaining an activity point and then scoring a takedown after throwing Motoki off balance with a snap-down to go ahead 3-0.

In the second period, Motoki had no choice but to press for a takedown, but that was walking right into Tynybekova's trap. In a typical Tynybekova scramble, she initiated a counter lift from which she would score six points while conceding two to Motoki to go up 9-2.

Motoki managed a pair of consolation takedowns in the final 15 seconds, but could not gain additional exposures.

"I lost at the World Championships, then again in Croatia, and this time I wanted to get revenge," said a sobbing Motoki, whose father appeared in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. "I got various advice from a lot of people, and I came to this tournament with confidence. But my opponent was a level better than me today."

Yongxin FENG (CHN)Yongxin FENG (CHN) celebrates after beating world champion Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) in the 57kg final during the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Just as Yui SUSAKI (JPN) experienced the night before, Sakurai was dealt a wake-up call at a tournament that she was using as her final competition before the Paris Olympics. The difference is that Susaki held on to win the 50kg title, while Sakurai was dealt her first defeat in an international tournament in five years when she fell 5-2 to Feng.

Feng, a bronze medalist at the Zagreb Open this year, wrestled a strategically perfect match, grabbing an early lead and then all but neutralizing Sakurai's 2-on-1 attack. It would not be until the end of the match that Sakurai could get close to creating a scoring chance.

"First of all, I believed in my skills, and secondly, in terms of all aspects of my skills and physical condition, I am better than her, so I am more confident," Feng said.

Feng seemed to catch Sakurai flat-footed when she took a shot right off the opening whistle, scoring a takedown with a low single. Before Sakurai realized what had hit her, Feng added two more points with a gut wrench for a 4-0 lead.

"After I scored points in the first period, it made me more confident," Feng said. "Then in the second, I didn't try for many points because of my [earlier] points. I was thinking about being defensive. But I didn't think about defense throughout the whole process. I still want to score more points if I have the opportunity so that I can win for sure."

It would not be until the final minute that Sakurai finally got a clear shot and was able to get in on a double-leg takedown. As Feng reached over for a counter lift, Sakurai pressed ahead for a 2-point expoure.

But time ran out before she could add to the tally, and an unsuccessful challenge looking for a second exposure gave Feng her final point.

"The performance of the Chinese team has been very good," Feng said. "In terms of training, we train so hard, should we have such results? Yeah. I will train hard next and keep doing it. When I get off the podium, everything will be zero. I will continue to work hard."

Sakurai, last October's Asian Games champion and who had won the senior Asian title in her only other appearance in 2022, acknowledged that her opponents are doing their homework, and she will have to come up with a new strategy.

"I think everyone knows my style of wrestling," the 22-year-old Sakurai said. "I have to train so that even if I get stopped, I can still find a way to score points."

Sakurai won her first world title at 55kg in 2021, then moved up to the Olympic weight of 57kg and won back-to-back world golds. Just to get to last year's World Championships, where she secured her ticket to the Paris Olympics, she had to win out in a stacked domestic field that included two-time Olympic champion Risako KINJO (JPN). Her down-to-the-wire battles with Sae NANJO (JPN) were epic.

Now she needs to rebound from the shock of her first international defeat since losing 3-2 to Batbaatar ENKHTSETSEG (MGL) at the 2019 Asian U20 Championships.

"No matter the tournament, my objective is always to win the title," Sakurai said. "When you lose, there has to be a reason for the loss. I will look at this as I'm glad it wasn't the Olympics, and I will practice hard up to August."

Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN)Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN) won the 65kg final via fall. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

In the 65kg final, Yoshitake beat Enkhjin TUVSHINJARGAL (MGL) at her own game, winning by fall to improve on her silver medal from a year ago in Astana.

After gaining an activity point, Yoshitake was under pressure from Tuvshinjargal, but she used it to unleash a headlock throw late in the first period to go ahead 3-0.

In the second period, Tuvshinjargal shot in on the legs, and Yoshitake slipped in underhooks, then pancaked the Mongolian to her back for the fall in 3:05.

Yoshitake, a winner in Antalya last month, became the third wrestler from Nippon Sports Science University to win a gold in Bishkek, following Kento YUMIYA (JPN) and Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) in freestyle.

Ji Hyang KIM (PRK)Ji Hyang KIM (PRK) celebrates after beating ANJU (IND) in the 53kg final at the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

At 53kg, Kim capped a day of dominance with a quick 10-0 victory in the final over ANJU (IND), adding the senior gold to her Asian cadet title from 2019.

Kim shot right off the whistle for a low single which she converted into a takedown, then added an exposure. Back on their feet, she made it 8-0 with a shrug-by takedown and exposure, then finished the match with another shrug-by, all in just over a minute.

Kim won all four of her matches by either fall or technical fall in a weight class that was supposed to feature reigning world champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN), but who withdrew due to an elbow injury. The DPR Korea has entered a different wrestler in the Asian Olympic Qualifier that follows this event on April 19-21 in the same venue.

Qian JIANG (CHN)Qian JIANG (CHN) defeated HARSHITA (IND) in the 76kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

In the final bout of the night and the women's competition, China's Jiang, the 2019 Asian U20 champion at 76kg, scored a takedown in each period in defeating world U20 bronze medalist HARSHITA (IND) 5-2 for the 72kg gold.

Jiang took a 3-0 lead in the first period with a stepout and a snap-down takedown. In the second period, Harshita gained a 2-point exposure countering a takedown attempt. But Jiang came back with a spin-behind takedown to clinch the victory.

Mongolia claims 3 bronzes amid fall-fest

Of the 10 bronze-medal matches, only one went the distance, and Mongolia came away with three via falls by Otgontuya CHINBOLD (MGL) at 53kg, Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL) at 62kg and Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL) at 72kg, while India and Kazakhstan had two each.

Not everything went the Mongolians' way -- Gantuya ENKHBAT (MGL) was on the losing end of a technical fall at 57kg.

Chinbold, the silver medalist last year at 55kg, used a hip throw to send Thi My Trang NGUYEN (VIE) directly to her back and finish her off with a fall in 1:42.

Sukhee, a 2015 world silver medalist, took home her fourth Asian bronze and first in five years when, after a second takedown against Subeen JO (KOR), she trapped her opponent's leg against her chest, then pressed down from above for a pin in 2:42.

Zorigt took the longest of three, pancaking Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ), the Asian Games silver medalist at 68kg, in the second period to end the match in 3:49 with a 7-0 lead.

In the only match that went the full six minutes, Chun LEI (CHN) denied Sri Lanka its first-ever senior Asian medal when she scored a first-period takedown off a fireman's carry, then held on for a 2-0 victory over impressive teenager Nethmi AHINSA (SRI) at 53kg.

Ahinsa was the first-ever Sri Lankan woman to make it to a bronze-medal match, and just the third wrestler overall. Lei was the 2018 champion at 50kg.

India's bronzes came from MANISHA (IND), who recorded a fall in 1:30 at 62kg over Arian CARPIO (PHI) after a 4-point takedown, and ANTIM (IND) by forfeit from Soobin KIM (KOR), who suffered a knee injury in her opening match at 65kg in the afternoon session.

For Kazakhstan, Laura ALMAGANBETOVA (KAZ) needed just 55 seconds to throw Sezim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) to her back with a 4-point takedown and won by fall at 57kg, while Anastassiya PANASSOVICH (KAZ) scored five takedowns in a 10-0 technical fall over Ozoda ZARIPBOEVA (UZB).

Yaru WU (CHN) won China's second bronze of the night by pinning Irina KAZYULINA (KAZ) at 65kg. Wu had an 8-0 lead after a takedown and three tilts when Kazyulina came back with a takedown. But Kazyulina got careless trying for a reverse cradle, and Wu clamped down for a fall at 1:49.

Hyon Ju YUN (PRK) won the other bronze at 57kg when she broke open a close match with Mongolia's Enkhbat by scoring 10 points in the second period for a 12-1 win with five seconds left in the match.

df

Day 4 Results

Women's Wrestling

53kg (15 entries)
GOLD: Ji Hyang KIM (PRK) df. ANJU (IND) by TF, 10-0, 1:06

BRONZE: Otgontuya CHINBOLD (MGL) df. Thi My Trang NGUYEN (VIE) by Fall, 1:42 (4-0)
BRONZE: Chun LEI (CHN) df. Nethmi PORUTHOTAGE (SRI), 2-0

57kg (9 entries)
GOLD: Yongxin FENG (CHN) df. Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN), 5-2

BRONZE: Laura ALMAGANBETOVA (KAZ) df. Sezim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) by Fall, :55 (4-0)
BRONZE: Hyon Ju YUN (PRK) df. Gantuya ENKHBAT (MGL) by TF, 12-1, 5:55

62kg (10 entries)
GOLD: Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) df. Sakura MOTOKI (JPN), 9-6

BRONZE: Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL) df. Subeen JO (KOR) by Fall, 2:42 (4-0)
BRONZE: MANISHA (IND) df. Arian CARPIO (PHI) df. by Fall, 1:30 (5-0)

65kg (9 entries)
GOLD: Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN) df. Enkhjin TUVSHINJARGAL (MGL) by Fall, 4:03 (7-0)

BRONZE: ANTIM (IND) df. Soobin KIM (KOR) by inj. def.
BRONZE: Yaru WU (CHN) df. Irina KAZYULINA (KAZ) by Fall, 1:49 (10-2)

72kg (9 entries)
GOLD: Qian JIANG (CHN) df. HARSHITA (IND), 5-2

BRONZE: Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL) df. Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) by Fall, 3:49 (7-0)
BRONZE: Anastassiya PANASSOVICH (KAZ) df. Ozoda ZARIPBOEVA (UZB) by TF, 10-0, 4:51