#WrestleIstanbul

World Olympic Qualifier Women's Wrestling Bouts Set

Friday, May 10, 2024 - 07:16 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

Share this article

ISTANBUL, Turkiye (May 10) -- The World Olympic Qualifier enters day two with women's wrestling in six weight classes. 12 Paris Olympic spots are on offer in six weight classes by the end of the day. The repechage in Greco-Roman and bronze medal bouts will also happen today.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER

 

16:27: Anastasiya ZIMIANKOVA (AIN) closes the session with a 2-2 last-point victory over Francy RAEDELT (GER) at 76kg. Zimiankova is on the activity clock for a second time and just as it runs out to put her behind, she scores a stepout to take a 2-2 lead on criteria. We will see her later tonight in a clash with Catalina AXENTE (ROU).

16:17: Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) defeats Enrica RINALDI (ITA) 4-0 at 76kg to earn a clash with Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) in tonight's qualification match.

16:12: Nesrin BAS (TUR) thrills the home crowd by pulling off a nail-biting 4-4 victory over Johanna LINDBORG (SWE) at 62kg. A first-period takedown gives Bas a 2-1 lead going into the break, but Lindborg goes ahead with a takedown to open the second. Bas is not deterred and goes on the attack, getting in a on single and fighting out of Lindborg's fierce whizzer to complete the takedown to go up 4-3 with 1:02 to go. Lindborg gets a stepout with :03 left, but it's not enough and Bas screams out in delight. She will face Astrid MONTERO (VEN) for the ticket to Paris.

15:56: Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) likes to go right to work off the whistle, and  Elma ZEIDLERE (LAT) will tell you better be ready. Anghel, who scored a 4-point takedown in the early seconds of the first period, comes storming out in the second with a driving takedown to the back and scores a fall over Zeidlere to advance to the qualification match at 68kg.

15:56: Asian Games bronze medalist Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB) snatches a victory from the jaws of defeat when she comes back from six points down to score a fall over Yaynelis SANZ (CUB) 57kg. Sanz looked to be well on her way to the qualification match when she opened with a 4-point takedown in the first period, then adds another takedown in the second. But when Sanz shoots for a double-leg, Sobirova hits a hard whizzer, pulls in the far arm and puts Sanz on her back. The outcome had seemed even more unlikely when Sobirova appeared to twist her right knee late in the first period and took a timeout for treatment.

15:47: Alina AKOBIIA (UKR) uses a combination of muscle and finesse to chalk up a 10-4 victory over home favorite Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR) at 57kg and move one win away from Paris. Akobiia gains four points during a second-period scramble that begins with her counter to a seemingly sure takedown

15:45: Entertaining 68kg quarterfinal between Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) and NISHA (IND). Hanzlickova almost got the pin in the first period but Nisha managed to keep her one shoulder up. She scored two counters to take a 6-3 lead but Hanzlickova managed to hit a head lock which scored one as Nisha had stepout first. Hanzlickova challenges asking for four points but to no avail and Nisha will wrestle for a spot for the Paris Olympics.

15:30: Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) chalks up an impressive 6-1 victory over three-time Olympian Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) to make the qualification match at 53kg. Batkhuyag fights off a whizzer for a takedown, then scores a stepout with a fleeing point tacked on to lead 4-1 at the break. In the second period, Batkhuyag shucks Prevolaraki by for another takedown, then keeps the Greek from ever launching an effective attack. She will face Yetgil for the Olympic spot.

15:21: Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) scores all of her points in a quick span of the first period and moves one win away from an Olympic berth at 53kg by beating Jowita WRZESIEN (POL) 7-0. With Wrzesien on the activity clock, Yetgil spins behind for a takedown and immediately locks an arm, then adds a pair of rolls. 

15:20: Mariya STADNIK (AZE) is so brutal! She manages to throw Viyaleta CHYRYK (AIN) for a five in her 11-0 win in just under three minutes to win 11-0 at 50kg

15:10: Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL), a double Asian bronze medalist at 72kg, handles the extra weight and two-time Olympian and world medalist Samar HAMZA (EGY) with a 6-1 win at 76kg. After receiving an activity point, Enkh Amar stops a lateral drop attempt for 2 to go up 3-0. In the second period, Enkh Amar gains a takedown at the edge, with an additional point for an unsuccessful challenge added on.

15:03: Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA) advances to the qualification match at 53kg with a tough 9-7 victory over Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB). Dragutan trails 4-2 going into the second period but goes ahead with a low-single takedown, a driving takedown to the back, and an exposure.

14:47: In perhaps a sign of a changing of the guard, Pauline LECARPENTIER (FRA) scores a takedown in each period and knocks off the venerable Epp MAE (EST) 4-1 at 76kg.

14:44: A slimmed down Nesrin BAS (TUR) continues to thrill the home crowd, getting a pair of first-period takedowns in a 6-4 victory over Natalia KUBATY (POL) at 62kg. Bas won the European gold at 72kg, then moved down to the only weight class available to her because Turkiye had already qualified at 68kg and 76kg.

14:29: Four-time European medalist Kriszta INCZE (ROU) uses an inner thigh block for a 4-point takedown that puts her in position for a victory by fall at 62kg over Nachi MASUDA (AUS), a rare example of a native Japanese who switched nationality.

14:12: Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) follows a 4-point whizzer throw by hitting Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ) with a headlock throw for a fall at 68kg. Shalygina, a 2008 Olympic bronze medalist and three-time world medalist, famously returned to the sport in 2022 from a 10-year absence.

14:27: Johanna LINDBORG (SWE) was leading 5-0 before she pins Lais NUNES (BRA) in the 68kg 1/8 finals. Sweden is looking for its second Paris spot in women's wrestling. The one it has is at 53kg.

14:12: Three-time European bronze medalist Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) advances at 68kg with a victory by fall at Tindra SJOEBERG (SWE). Hanzlickova is looking to get back to the Olympics after appearing at Rio 2016.

14:10:  Yaynelis SANZ (CUB) continues to establish herself as one to beat at 57kg, staying constantly on the attack and using a lightning-quick single leg to defeat Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL) 15-4. Sanz builds up a 13-4 lead in the first period, then finishes it off with a takedown 20 seconds into the second.

14:03: Two-time Olympian Feng ZHOU (CHN) needs just 27 seconds to take down Ohyoung HA (KOR) and secure a fall at 68kg.

14:00: Sezim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) gets the takedown, then it's four quick rolls and she's a 10-0 winner in 27 seconds over Ester ABRAHAM (NAM) at 57kg.

13:59: Two-time European champion Alina AKOBIIA (UKR) stays on track for her first Olympic appearance at 57kg, building up a 7-0 lead before securing a fall over  Graciela SANCHEZ (ESP).

13:49: Miesinnei Mercy GENESIS (NGR) hangs on for an impressive 3-0 victory over 2022 world bronze medalist Anna LUKASIAK (POL) to advance at 50kg.

13:46: Superstar Mariya STADNIK (AZE), coming off a stunning loss at the European Olympic Qualifier as she shoots for an unprecedented fifth Olympic medal, starts with a one-sided 10-0 win over Meng Hsuan HSIEH (TPE) at 50kg.

13:43: Veteran two-time world bronze medalist Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) prevails for a nail-biting 6-5 victory at 53kg over Karla GODINEZ (CAN) that featured two challenges in the final 15 seconds. Both challenges came when Prevolaraki used a counter lift roll off a Godinez takedown attempt, and both resulted in each wrestler getting 2 points--which gave a relieved Prevolararki the win as she aims to appear in a third straight Olympics.

13:27: Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) scrapes by at 53kg with a 3-2 victory over Annika WENDLE (GER) that ended in a bit of chaos. Yetgil was leading 2-1 from a first-period takedown when Wendle launched a late takedown attempt that was interrupted by the mat chairman throwing the stuffed animal into the ring to get the mat referee's attention. The action was stopped before Wendle could be awarded points. The German side challenged, and when it was sorted out, Yetgil was assessed a 1-point penalty for grabbing fingers, and received a point for the lost challenge. The clock was reset to 10 seconds, but Wendle's last-ditch front headlock throw came just too late.

13:16: Tokyo Olympian Jowita WRZESIEN (POL) gets past Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ) with a fall at 53kg with 25 seconds left. Wrzesien takes a 5-0 lead into the second period, when she scores a takedown to the back before securing the fall.  She will face the winner of Annika WENDLE(GER)-Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) currently underway on the adjacent mat.

12:59: In a clash of wrestlers who recently won bronze medals at 55kg at their respective continental championships, Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA) pours it on in the second period and advances at 53kg with an 11-1 win over Aruuke KADYRBEK KYZY (KGZ). Down 1-0 going into the second period and with Kadyrbek Kyzy on the activity clock, Dragutan scores a counter takedown and gut wrench, then gets another takedown which she tops off with two rolls.

12:41: Yuliana YANEVA (BUL), moving up to the heaviest weight of 76kg after medaling at the last four European Championships at either 68kg or 72kg, wins a barn-burner 7-5 over Martina KUENZ (AUT). Yaneva falls behind on criteria 3-3 when she gives up a stepout with 56 seconds left, but comes back with a 4-point takedown with :33 to go, then holds on for the win.

12:27: The randomness of the draw put two of the most decorated wrestlers in the tournament against each other, as Epp MAE (EST) and Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) meet in the first round at 76kg. Both are 32, and both are looking to appear in a third straight Olympics. It is the four-time world medalist Mae who comes out on top, getting an activity point and stepout in the second period for a 2-1 win. Syzdykova came into Istanbul after winning her eighth career Asian medal.

12:22: 72kg U23 world champion Nesrin BAS (TUR), almost forced to go down to 62kg in a bid to be at the Olympics, begins his road to Paris with a 6-1 win over Ameline DOUARRE (FRA).

12:19: Former world 59kg champion Linda MORAIS (CAN), looking to bounce back from a stunning loss at the Pan American Qualifier, starts her quest at 68kg by putting away Danute DOMIKAITYTE (LTU) 10-0.    

12:13: In a battle of three-time European medalists, Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) gets a takedown in each period to defeat Dalma CANEVA (ITA)  5-1 at 68kg.

12:10: Tokyo Olympian Elis MANOLOVA (AZE) drops her first bout at 68kg 10-2 against Nicoll PARRADO (COL). Manolova never had similar results in the new weight class after she moved to it from 62kg

11:50: Anna LUKASIAK (POL), a 2022 world bronze medalist, advances at 50kg with a 10-0 rout of Marina KARAPANAGIOTIDOU (GRE).

11:49: Alina AKOBIIA (UKR), looking to add an Olympic medal to a world bronze and two European golds, starts her quest for Paris at 57kg with a victory by fall over In Sun JONG (PRK). With Akobiia leading 3-1 in the second period, Song gets treatment on a heavily taped right knee, then takes a shot that Akobiia counters with a cradle for 2 and apparent fall. A meeting of the judges after the action stopped would indeed confirm it was a fall.  

11:28: Son Hyang KIM (PRK), a world bronze medalist in 2017 who returned to the global stage to win a silver medal at last September's Asian Games, but suffered a close first-round loss at last month's Asian Olympic Qualifier, avoids any mistakes in a 6-0 victory over  Julie Martine SABATIE (FRA) at 50kg.

11:10: Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) thrills the home crowd with a 7-0 win over Maria BAEZ (ESP) at 53kg. Turkiye has qualified for three weight classes but is looking for three more from this tournament.

11:05: In a doozy on Mat C, Laura HERIN AVILA (CUB) scores a stepout with 22 seconds left to finish up a wild 18-8 win at 53kg over two-time world U20 bronze medalist Gultakin SHIRINOVA (AZE). 

11:03: Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA), a 2023 world bronze medalist at 55kg, begins her quest for an Olympic spot at 53kg by using a reverse pancaked to build up an 8-0 lead over Oleksandra KOGUT (AUT). Kogut fights back for a takedown and turn, but Dragutan holds on to walk off an 8-4 winner.

10:53: With the Greco repechage matches finished on Mat B, Zineb ECH CHABKI (MAR)  starts the women's competition with a nicely timed 4-point headlock throw against Irena BINKOVA (BUL) at 53kg. But Binkova comes back with a takedown to cut the gap. In the second period, Binkova again gets a takedown, then follows it up by bulling Ech Chabki over for a fall. 

10:00: We will start the day with Greco-Roman repechage bouts. The winners will go into the second round of repechage and then the bronze-medal bouts in the evening.

#JapanWrestling

Rising star Onishi closes in on ticket to first World Championships

Thursday, June 19, 2025 - 13:28 By Ken Marantz

Share this article

TOKYO (June 19) -- A year after coming up just short of knocking off one of Japan's greatest stars that left her out of the senior World Championships, Sakura ONISHI is determined there will be no slip-ups this year. And certainly not another playoff.

Onishi, the reigning world U20 champion and one of Japan's top rising female wrestlers, moved one win away from securing a ticket to her first senior worlds when she advanced to the final at women's 59kg at the Meiji Cup All-Japan Invitational Championships on Thursday in Tokyo.

The 19-year-old Onishi chalked up a pair of 10-0 victories to make Friday's final, where she will face 2023 world U23 silver medalist Sena NAGAMOTO in a rematch of her gold-medal match victory at the Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships in December.

Others of note making their respective finals were unrelated namesakes and Asian champions Arash YOSHIDA at Freestyle 97kg and Taizo YOSHIDA at Greco 82kg, while four-time world medalist Miwa MORIKAWA went undefeated through four rounds of the round-robin at women's 65kg.

The two All-Japan tournaments are serving as qualifiers for the senior World Championships to be held September 13-21 in Zagreb. Victories at both tournaments automatically clinches a place on the team to Croatia; if the winners are different, a playoff will be held at the end of that day's session.

Only three of Japan's eight gold medalists at the Paris Olympics -- Sakura MOTOKI at women's 62kg, Nao KUSAKA at Greco 77kg and Kotaro KIYOOKA at Freestyle 65kg -- are entered in the four-day tournament at Tokyo Metropolitan Gym and thus eligible for the world team. Motoki could face a showdown with Nonoka OZAKI, a Paris 68kg bronze medalist, on the final day.

Although entries are limited, the tournament is organized to replicate the World Championships with each weight class run through the semifinals on the first day, and repechage and medal matches on the following day.

Sakura ONISHI (JPN)Sakura ONISHI attempts to get behind against high schooler Sae NOGUCHI during their women's 59kg semifinal match. (Photo: wrestling-spirits.jp)

Onishi, who will defend her world U20 crown in August and has victories this year at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series tournament and Asian Championships, was a virtual unknown and just out of high school last year when she stunned two-time Olympic champion Risako KINJO in the semifinals before going on to win the title.

But in the world team playoff, Kinjo fought back from a 5-0 deficit and scored a dramatic exposure in the last 10 seconds, then barely held off a near stepout in the last second to beat Onishi 6-6 on criteria. Kinjo then won her fourth world gold at the non-Olympic World Championships in Tirana.

This time, Onishi wants to avoid a playoff at all costs.

"Last year, I lost in the playoff to Kinjo, and that was really disappointing," Onishi said. "I really respect Risako. But it was hard to take that she went on to become the world champion. This time, I'm determined that I will win the title and get the ticket to the World Championships, without there being a playoff. This has been constantly on my mind for the past year."

For Onishi, it is a new challenge to go from newcomer to the one with the target on her back.

"Last year, this tournament is where I made my All-Japan debut," Onishi said. "So nobody was keeping an eye on me. Then I won the title, so from the Emperor's Cup to here, I know that I'm being targeted. Listening to those in the corners of the opponents, I get the feeling that they've been studying me.

"For my own part, I've only been watching videos of my own matches. I hardly watched any of the opponents. More than scouting my opponents, I want to exceed that with my own techniques and continue to progress. That I did that [today] to be honest is a relief."

There's also a chance Onishi might have familiar company in Zagreb. Her older brother, 2022 world U20 bronze medalist Taiga ONISHI, made the final at Greco 55kg, where he will face Sanshiro TAKAHASHI. Takahashi defeated Emperor's Cup and Asian champion Kohei YAMAGIWA in the semifinals, assuring there will be a playoff in the weight class.

Arash YOSHIDA (JPN)Arash YOSHIDA has Takuma TATEOKA in trouble during their freestyle 97kg semifinal. (Photo: wrestling-spirits.jp)

In freestyle, Arash Yoshida continued his dominance as Japan's biggest hope in the men's upper weights in decades, storming into the 97kg final with an 11-0 victory over Takuma TATEOKA that he finished at the first-period buzzer. It was his third win by fall or technical fall on the day.

"I was able to wrestle as usual and came out with wins," the Emperor's Cup and two-time Asian champion said. "It was good that there was nothing particularly bad about how I won."

Noah LEIBOWITZ (JPN)High schooler Noah LEIBOWITZ earned a place in the 97kg final with a win by technical fall over collegian Yuta SASAKI. (Photo: wrestling-spirits.jp)

In the final, Yoshida will face powerful high schooler Noah LEIBOWITZ, who advanced to the gold-medal match with three technical falls.

Leibowitz is also the product of a mixed marriage, having been born to an American father and Japanese mother in the southern U.S. city of Atlanta. The family moved to Japan when he was 4.

"Just like today, I want to steadily score points, not take too much risk and notch a win without problems," Yoshida said.

Yoshida has been on a tear of sorts since finishing fifth at 92kg at the 2023 World Championships before moving up to 97kg and missing out on qualifying for the Paris Olympics.

The 21-year-old Nihon University student, whose Iranian father runs the kids club where he got his start in the sport, started the year with a victory at the Petko Sirakov-Ivan Iliev U23
tournament in Bulgaria, and followed that by taking the gold at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series.

He then won the Japan qualifier for the world U23 team, before striking gold at the Asian Championships in Amman in March, adding to his Asian gold from 2023.

"My objective is to compete internationally, so what I want to do here is put out on the mat what I have been working on in practice," Yoshida said. "My goal is to become the world champion."

Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN)Taizo YOSHIDA scores a takedown in his Greco 82kg semifinal win over Tesshin HIGUCHI. (Photo: wrestling-spirits.jp)

The other prominent Yoshida, Taizo, has been electrifying crowds since he won the senior Asian title as a high schooler in 2024, just a year removed from winning the world U17 crown. A fifth-place finish at last year's senior worlds further boosted his stock, although he was dealt a setback in Amman when he failed to medal in his Asian title defense.

On Thursday, Yoshida made the 82kg final with a pair of 8-0 victories in a combined time of 2:38, and will face Reon KAKEGAWA with a chance to clinch his ticket to Zagreb outright.

"In today's matches, I went on the offensive and was able to score technical falls, which I feel shows that I'm at a good level," Yoshida said. "When the situation got a little messy, I was able to get the points in the end. More specifically, my body movement was good."

Yoshida, a freshman at Nippon Sports Science University, has never had to look far for a positive role model. He has been following in the footsteps of fellow Kagawa Prefecture native Kusaka since he first put on wrestling shoes.

"I have followed the same path as Nao-sempai from kids club to junior high school, high school and now college," Yoshida said, using the honorific for a respected predecessor. "He is entered for the first time since the Olympics, and I hope we can become fellow champions."

At women's 65kg, which has just five entries, Morikawa will aim to take the title in a de facto final on Friday against Nana IKEHATA. Both wrestlers won all three of their round-robin matches by 10-0 technical falls.

The 25-year-old Morikawa is aiming to regain the world title she won at 65kg in 2022. She also has a silver from 2021 and a bronze from last year, as well as a 72kg bronze from 2023 after she missed out on making Japan's Olympic team at 68kg. She won a second career Asian gold in March.

Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN)Hayato ISHIGURO, left, fends off Yudai TAKAHASHI for a dramatic 5-4 victory at freestyle 86kg. (Photo: wrestling-spirits.jp)

Another sparse but highly competitive weight class is freestyle 86kg, where Paris Olympian and two-time world team member Hayato ISHIGURO went 3-0 in the five-man round robin.

Ishiguro notched a nail-biting 5-4 win over 2024 world U23 bronze medalist Yudai TAKAHASHI, who had previously defeated 2022 world U23 champion Tatsuya SHIRAI 5-0.

Ishiguro and Shirai face each other in the final round of a matches, and a win for Shirai, who is the Emperor's Cup champion, could leave the three of them with 3-1 records and the title decided by criteria.

A playoff is also on the cards at Greco 72kg, where Taishi NARIKUNI, still looking to add an elusive Greco world gold to the one he won at freestyle 70kg in 2022, knocked off Emperor's Cup champion Issei HONNA 6-0.

Narikuni will face Ryoma HOJO in the final, with the winner taking on Honna for the ticket to Zagreb.

At women's 72kg, 2022 world U20 champion Ayano MORO defeated Emperor's Cup and former world champion Masako FURUICHI by fall in their preliminary group match, and the two will go at it again after both advanced to the final.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by PINFALL JAPAN (@pinfall_jp)

Day 1 Results

Freestyle

86kg (5 entries)
Standings through 4 rounds: 1. Hayato ISHIGURO, 3-0; 2. Yudai TAKAHASHI, 2-1; Tatsuya SHIRAI, 2-1; Hiroto NINOMIYA, 1-2; Satoshi MIURA, 0-4.

92kg (10 entries)
SF 1: Takashi ISHIGURO df. Shuichiro SATO by TF, 13-0, 3:40
SF 2: Takato UCHIDA df. Rintaro MOTOHASHI, 3-1

97kg (7 entries)
SF 1: Arash YOSHIDA df. Takuma TATEOKA by TF, 11-0, 3:00
SF 2: Noah LEIBOWITZ df. Yuta SASAKI by TF, 11-0, 4:22

125kg (10 entries)
SF 1: Taiki YAMAMOTO df. Hosei FUJITA, 4-4
SF 2: Hibiki ITO df. Ryusei FUJITA, 4-1

Greco-Roman

55kg (11 entries)
SF 1: Sanshiro TAKAHASHI df. Kohei YAMAGIWA, 5-3
SF 2: Taiga ONISHI df. Taketo NINOMIYA, 3-3

63kg (11 entries)
SF 1: Ayata SUZUKI df. Yuto NAGASAWA by TF, 10-1, 4:04
SF 2: Manato NAKAMURA df. Shoya ITO by TF, 9-0, 1:48

72kg (11 entries)
SF 1: Taishi NARIKUNI df. Issei HONNA, 6-0
SF 2: Ryoma HOJO df. Daigo KOBAYASHI, 4-3

82kg (9 entries)
SF 1: Taizo YOSHIDA df. Tesshin HIGUCHI by TF, 8-0, 1:58
SF 2: Reon KAKEGAWA df. Yudai KOBORI by Fall, :49 (5-0)

Women’s Wrestling

55kg (7 entries)
SF 1: Sowaka UCHIDA df. Narumi NAKAMURA by TF, 11-0, 4:28
SF 2: Umi IMAI df. Karina HONDA by TF, 11-0, 4:11

59kg (9 entries)
SF 1: Sakura ONISHI df. Sae NOGUCHI by TF, 10-0, 4:46
SF 2: Sena NAGAMOTO df. Miuna KIMURA by Fall, 5:21 (7-0)

65kg (5 entries)
Standings through 4 rounds: 1. Miwa MORIKAWA, 3-0, and Nana IKEHATA, 3-0; 3. Akari ASAI, 1-2; 4. Ayana HISHINUMA, 1-3; 5. Nana MOROHOSHI, 0-3.

72kg (7 entries)
SF 1: Ayano MORO df. Chisato YOSHIDA by TF, 16-4, 5:12
SF 2: Masako FURUICHI df. Mahiro YOSHITAKE, 5-2