#WrestleUlaanbaatar Asian Championships entries

Monday, April 11, 2022 - 16:46 By Vinay Siwach

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (April 11) -- For most participating nations, the Asian Championships in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia will be the first opportunity to return to the mat after a long break. The Continental Championships will be held from April 19-24. More than 270 wrestlers will aim to become Asian champions.

In freestyle, India and Iran are bringing strong teams with Tokyo medalists Ravi KUMAR (IND) and Bajrang PUNIA (IND) leading the charge for the former, while the latter will have Rahman AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI), Yones EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI), Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) and Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI).

Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan can surprise in a few weight classes. For Kyrgyzstan, Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ), Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (KGZ) and Uluukbek ZHODOSHBEKOV (KGZ) are the big names. Uzbekistan will bank upon Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB), veteran Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB) and Mukhammadrasul RAKHIMOV (UZB).

Rio silver medalist Rei HIGUCHI (JPN), 2019 Asian silver medalist Minghu LIU (CHN), Deepak PUNIA (IND) and Zhiwei DENG (CHN) are other names to keep an eye on.

The women's wrestling will see the return of Japan and China teams after six months. The two nations last competed at the Oslo World Championships. Both teams had missed last year's edition due to travel issues.

Japan is the favorite to win the team title as they are bringing five wrestlers, including three gold medalists, who were in Oslo. World champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) will be the star attraction of the competition as the 18-year-old wrestles at her second senior tournament.

Kyrgyzstan's world champions Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) and Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) will try to defend their titles from Almaty. Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) will be hoping to upgrade her Almaty silver to gold at 76kg.

Tokyo silver medalist Qianyu PANG (CHN), Ningning RONG (CHN), Jia LONG (CHN), World silver medalist Anshu MALIK (IND), two-time Asian champion Sarita MOR (IND) and Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) are other storylines to follow.

The Greco-Roman will be headlined by Tokyo silver medalist Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) and former World and Olympic champion Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR) at 77kg.

Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI), Ayata SUZUKI (JPN), Yernur FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ) and Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) are all entered at 60kg to make it one of the most stacked weight class.

Hansu RYU (KOR) will wrestle at 67kg. Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) has moved up to 97kg and will wrestle in Ulaanbaatar after winning the Ranking Series title in Istanbul.

Wrestling begins with Greco-Roman Tuesday followed by women's wrestling Thursday and freestyle will finish the competition.

All the action and recaps will be live on uww.org.

Mohammadian

Freestyle

57kg

Seeds
1. Ravi KUMAR (IND)
2. Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB)
3. Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ)
4. Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL)

Ravi KUMAR (IND)
Reza MOMENIJOUJADEH (IRI)
Rikuto ARAI (JPN)
Rakhat KALZHAN (KAZ)
Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ)
Sunggwon KIM (KOR)
Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL)
Muhammad BILAL (PAK)
Ali ABURUMAILA (PLE)
Gayan KATHURANGANA (SRI)
Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB)

61kg

Seeds:
1. Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ)
2. Alibeg ALIBEGOV (BRN)
3. Akbar KURBANOV (KAZ)
4. Mangal KADYAN (IND)

Alibeg ALIBEGOV (BRN)
Mangal KADYAN (IND)
Darioush HAZRATGHOLIZADEH (IRI)
Rei HIGUCHI (JPN)
Akbar KURBANOV (KAZ)
Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ)
Insang CHOI (KOR)
Ali ALMOHAINI (KUW)
Narankhuu NARMANDAKH (MGL)
Sampath BANDARA (SRI)
Muhamad IKROMOV (TJK)
Jahongirmirza TUROBOV (UZB)

65kg

Seeds:
1. Bajrang PUNIA (IND)
2. Alibek OSMONOV (KGZ)
3. Kaiki YAMAGUCHI (JPN)
3. Haji ALI (BRN)

Haji ALI (BRN)
Bajrang PUNIA (IND)
Rahman AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI)
Kaiki YAMAGUCHI (JPN)
Sanzhar DOSZHANOV (KAZ)
Alibek OSMONOV (KGZ)
Seonho YOO (KOR)
Tsogbadrakh TSEVEENSUREN (MGL)
Inayat ULLAH (PAK)
Abbos RAKHMONOV (UZB)

70kg

Seeds:
1. Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ)
2. Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ)

Naveen NAVEEN (IND)
Mohammadmehdi YEGANEHJAFARI (IRI)
Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN)
Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ)
Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ)
Yongseok JEONG (KOR)
Mohammed ABDULKAREEM (KUW)
Temuulen ENKHTUYA (MGL)
Begijon KULDASHEV (UZB)

74kg

Seeds:
1. Yones EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI)
2. Islambek OROZBEKOV (KGZ)
3. Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ)
4. Byambadorj BAT ERDENE (MGL)

Yash TUSHIR (IND)
Yones EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI)
Daichi TAKATANI (JPN)
Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ)
Islambek OROZBEKOV (KGZ)
Seungbong LEE (KOR)
Abdullah ABDALKAREEM (KUW)
Byambadorj BAT ERDENE (MGL)
Hong LOU (SGP)
Lakmal WIJESOORIYA (SRI)
Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB)

79kg

Seeds:
1. Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (KGZ)
2. Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI)
3. Zhiger ZAKIROV (KAZ)
4. Gourav BALIYAN (IND)

Gourav BALIYAN (IND)
Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI)
Yudai TAKAHASHI (JPN)
Zhiger ZAKIROV (KAZ)
Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (KGZ)
Bumgue SEO (KOR)
Abdullah HAIDAR (KUW)
Byambadorj ENKHBAYAR (MGL)
Shuhrat BOZOROV (TJK)
Jasurbek USMONOXUNOV (UZB)

86kg

Seeds
1. Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ)
2. Deepak PUNIA (IND)
3. Gwanuk KIM (KOR)
4. Saiakbai USUPOV (KGZ)

Deepak PUNIA (IND)
Mohsen MOSTAFAVI (IRI)
Shota SHIRAI (JPN)
Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ)
Saiakbai USUPOV (KGZ)
Gwanuk KIM (KOR)
Temuujin MENDBILEG (MGL)
Muhammad INAM (PAK)
Weng CHOW (SGP)
Bobur ISLOMOV (UZB)

92kg

Seeds:
1. Takuma OTSU (JPN)
2. Orgilokh DAGVADORJ (MGL)
3. Viky CHAHAR (IND)
4. Adilet DAVLUMBAYEV (KAZ)

Viky CHAHAR (IND)
Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI)
Takuma OTSU (JPN)
Adilet DAVLUMBAYEV (KAZ)
Mirlan CHYNYBEKOV (KGZ)
Jinmyeong KIM (KOR)
Orgilokh DAGVADORJ (MGL)
Ajiniyaz SAPARNIYAZOV (UZB)

97kg

Seeds:
1. Batzul ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL)
2. Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI)
3. Satywart KADIAN (IND)
4. Minwon SEO (KOR)

Satywart KADIAN (IND)
Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI)
Takashi ISHIGURO (JPN)
Mamed IBRAGIMOV (KAZ)
Minwon SEO (KOR)
Batzul ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL)
Mukhammadrasul RAKHIMOV (UZB)

125kg

Seeds:
1. Anirudh KUMAR (IND)
2. Taiki YAMAMOTO (JPN)
3. Sardorbek KHOLMATOV (UZB)
4. Alisher YERGALI (KAZ)

Anirudh KUMAR (IND)
Yadollah MOHEBI (IRI)
Taiki YAMAMOTO (JPN)
Alisher YERGALI (KAZ)
Yeihyun JUNG (KGZ)
Batmagnai ENKHTUVSHIN (MGL)
Rustam ISKANDARI (TJK)
Sardorbek KHOLMATOV (UZB)

Anshu

Women's Wrestling

50kg

Seeds:
1. Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN)
2. Namuuntsetseg TSOGT OCHIR (MGL)
3. Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZB)
4. Miran CHEON (KOR)

MANISHA (IND)
Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN)
Aigul NURALIM (KAZ)
Miran CHEON (KOR)
Namuuntsetseg TSOGT OCHIR (MGL)
Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZB)

53kg

Seeds:
1. Akari FUJINAMI (JPN)
2. Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB)

Swati SHINDE (IND)
Akari FUJINAMI (JPN)
Zhuldyz ESHIMOVA (KAZ)
Hyunyoung OH (KOR)
Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL)
Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB)

55kg

Seeds:
1. Altyn SHAGAYEVA (KAZ)

Sushma SHOKEEN (IND)
Umi IMAI (JPN)
Altyn SHAGAYEVA (KAZ)
Otgonjargal GANBAATAR (MGL)
Sarbinaz JIENBAEVA (UZB)

57kg

Seeds:
1. Anshu MALIK (IND)
2. Nilufar RAIMOVA (KAZ)
3. Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL)
4. Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB)

Anshu MALIK (IND)
Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN)
Nilufar RAIMOVA (KAZ)
Hyungjoo KIM (KOR)
Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL)
Danielle LIM (SGP)
Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB)

59kg

Seeds:
1. Sarita MOR (IND)
2. Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL)
3. Diana KAYUMOVA (KAZ)

Sarita MOR (IND)
Sara NATAMI (JPN)
Diana KAYUMOVA (KAZ)
Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL)
Dilfuza AIMBETOVA (UZB)

62kg

Seeds:
1. Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ)
2. Nonoka OZAKI (JPN)
3. Ayaulym KASSYMOVA (KAZ)

MANISHA (IND)
Nonoka OZAKI (JPN)
Ayaulym KASSYMOVA (KAZ)
Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ)
Hanbit LEE (KOR)
Khongorzul BOLDSAIKHAN (MGL)
Sachini SILVA (SRI)
Nabira ESENBAEVA (UZB)

65kg

Seeds:
1. Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN)
2. Ariukhan JUMABAEVA (UZB)
3. Dariga ABEN (KAZ)

RADHIKA (IND)
Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN)
Dariga ABEN (KAZ)
Purevsuren ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL)
Ariukhan JUMABAEVA (UZB)

68kg

Seeds:
1. Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ)
2. Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL)
3. Azoda ESBERGENOVA (UZB)

Sonika HOODA (IND)
Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN)
Madina BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ)
Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ)
Sujin PARK (KOR)
Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL)
Azoda ESBERGENOVA (UZB)

72kg

Seeds:
1. Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ)
2. Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL)

NIKKI (IND)
Sumire NIIKURA (JPN)
Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ)
Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL)
Svetlana OKNAZAROVA (UZB)

76kg

Seeds:
1. Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ)

Sudesh KUMARI (IND)
Yuka KAGAMI (JPN)
Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA (KAZ)
Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ)
Seoyeon JEONG (KOR)
Ariunjargal GANBAT (MGL)
Valentina TORENIYAZOVA (UZB)

Akzhol MAKHMUDOV

Greco-Roman

55kg

Seeds:
1. Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ)
2. Hyeokjin JEON (KOR)

Arjun HALAKURKI (IND)
Ali NOURBAKHSH (IRI)
Mostafa ALQADE (JOR)
Yu SHIOTANI (JPN)
Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ)
Balbai DORDOKOV (KGZ)
Hyeokjin JEON (KOR)
Davaabandi MUNKH ERDENE (MGL)
Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB)

60kg

Seeds:
1. Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ)
2. Gyanender DAHIYA (IND)
3. Ayata SUZUKI (JPN)
4. Yernur FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ)

Gyanender DAHIYA (IND)
Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI)
Ayata SUZUKI (JPN)
Yernur FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ)
Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ)
Hanjae CHUNG (KOR)
Baljinnyam TSEVEENRAVDAN (MGL)
Firuz TUKHTAEV (UZB)

63kg

Seeds:
1. Kensuke SHIMIZU (JPN)
2. Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB)

NEERAJ (IND)
Iman KHOONMOHAMMADI (IRI)
Kensuke SHIMIZU (JPN)
Mirambek AINAGULOV (KAZ)
Tynar SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ)
Jinseub SONG (KOR)
Baljinnyam DAMJIN (MGL)
Ahmad AL NAKDALI (SYR)
Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB)

67kg

Seeds:
1. Hansu RYU (KOR)
2. Makhmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB)
3. Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ)

Sachin SAHRAWAT (IND)
Shahin BADAGHIMOFRAD (IRI)
Katsuaki ENDO (JPN)
Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ)
Eldiiar SATAROV (KGZ)
Hansu RYU (KOR)
Nyamdorj BATTULGA (MGL)
Mohamad FAWAZ (SYR)
Makhmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB)

72kg

Seeds:
1. Mohammad MOKHTARI (IRI)
2. Jiyeon LEE (KOR)
3. Abylaikhan AMZEYEV (KAZ)
4. VIKAS (IND)

VIKAS (IND)
Mohammad MOKHTARI (IRI)
Shogo TAKAHASHI (JPN)
Abylaikhan AMZEYEV (KAZ)
Adilkhan NURLANBEKOV (KGZ)
Jiyeon LEE (KOR)
Khanburged GANKHUYAG (MGL)
Mirzobek RAKHMATOV (UZB)

77kg

Seeds:
1. Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ)
2. Kodai SAKURABA (JPN)
3. Sajan BHANWALA (IND)
4. Aram VARDANYAN (UZB)

Sajan BHANWALA (IND)
Aref HABIBOLLAHI (IRI)
Kodai SAKURABA (JPN)
Maxat YEREZHEPOV (KAZ)
Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ)
Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR)
Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL)
Aram VARDANYAN (UZB)

82kg

Seeds:
1. Dias KALEN (KAZ)
2. Harpreet SINGH (IND)

Harpreet SINGH (IND)
Rasoul GARMSIRI (IRI)
Sultan EID (JOR)
Yuya OKAJIMA (JPN)
Dias KALEN (KAZ)
Kalidin ASYKEEV (KGZ)
Sejin YANG (KOR)
Batzul DAMJIN (MGL)
Jafar KHAN (QAT)
Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB)

87kg

Seeds:
1. Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ)
2. Sunil KUMAR (IND)
3. Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB)

Sunil KUMAR (IND)
Naser ALIZADEH (IRI)
Masato SUMI (JPN)
Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ)
Melis AITBEKOV (KGZ)
Jinhyeok KIM (KOR)
Batbayar LUTBAYAR (MGL)
Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB)

97kg

Seeds:
1. Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB)
2. Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ)
3. Jewoo PARK (KOR)
4. Sanzhar SERIKKAN (KAZ)

RAVI (IND)
Mehdi BALIHAMZEHDEH (IRI)
Takahiro TSURUDA (JPN)
Sanzhar SERIKKAN (KAZ)
Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ)
Jewoo PARK (KOR)
Munkhbayar TSOGTBAYAR (MGL)
Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB)

130kg

Seeds:
1. Muminjon ABDULLAEV (UZB)
2. Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ)
3. Arata SONODA (JPN)
4. Minseok KIM (KOR)

PREM (IND)
Amir GHASEMIMONJEZI (IRI)
Arata SONODA (JPN)
Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ)
Roman KIM (KGZ)
Minseok KIM (KOR)
Khuderbulga DORJKHAND (MGL)
Timothy LOH (SGP)
Muminjon ABDULLAEV (UZB)

#JapanWrestling

Motoki stuns Ozaki with last-second win in Japan's world team playoff

Sunday, June 22, 2025 - 11:52 By Ken Marantz

TOKYO (June 22) -- Each second that ticked off the clock left Paris Olympic champion Sakura MOTOKI that much further from a trip back to the World Championships and a chance to take care of some unfinished business.

But the final second was just enough for her to post arguably the most dramatic win of her life.

Motoki finished up a takedown at the buzzer to stun Nonoka OZAKI 6-5 in a world team playoff, following a close 3-3 victory over her fellow Paris Olympic medalist in the women's 62kg final at the Meiji Cup All-Japan Championships on Sunday in Tokyo.

"When she took back the lead, there was still 30 seconds left," Motoki said. "I train hard in practice every day, and deep down I knew, or at least thought, I could definitely get it. At the end, I gave it a last shot and was able to finish it off. As long as I kept attacking, there was always a chance."

The Meiji Cup was the second of Japan's domestic qualifiers for this year's World Championships in Zagreb in September. As the winner at the first qualifier, the Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships last December, Ozaki could have secured her ticket to Zagreb by winning either the Meiji Cup final or the playoff.

Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) Sakura MOTOKI scores a match-winning takedown in the final second to defeat Nonoka OZAKI in the women's 62kg playoff. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

Instead it will be Motoki who will get a chance to make it to the top step of the world podium, after taking a bronze at 59kg in 2022 and a silver at 62kg in 2023 -- results that still leave a bad taste in her mouth that wasn't alleviated by her triumph in Paris.

Motoki and Ozaki already had a history when it comes to high-profile showdowns. At the start of the qualifying process for the Paris Olympics, Ozaki was the reigning world 62kg champion and the odd's-on favorite to secure the ticket to Paris.

But Motoki moved up from 59kg to 62kg and beat the odds and stunned the wrestling world by not only beating Ozaki at the 2022 Emperor's Cup, but also going on to qualify for Paris and take home a gold medal.

In the intervening years, Ozaki temporarily moved up to 65kg and won the world title at that weight in 2023. Then when the 68kg spot in Paris opened up, she took a shot at that, securing the berth with a last-second playoff win over Ami ISHII -- so unlike the one she experienced on Sunday with the shoe on the other foot.

Having taken a bronze in Paris, Ozaki was determined to regain the domestic throne at 62kg.

While all of Japan's Paris medalists took long post-Olympic hiatuses -- five of the eight gold medalists still haven't returned to competition -- Ozaki was the first one back in action, taking the title at the Emperor's Cup and a bronze at the Asian Championships in March.

Motoki returned to the mat for the Japan Junior Queen's Cup, but only needed one match to qualify for the World U23 Championships, taking just over a minute to win by fall. So she was still working out the kinks as she headed into the Meiji Cup.

"Compared to the Olympics, my wrestling is nowhere near as complete, and that made me a bit anxious," Motoki said. "But the wrestler I am now is stronger than the me of the past and I'm more confident going into matches. I was much stronger at the time of the Olympics. But I am still developing and from now will become a more complete wrestler and widen my range."

Motoki dug deep to defeat Ozaki as much on will as on technique.

Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) Sakura MOTOKI will get a chance to win a first world title after a dramatic victory over Nonoka OZAKI in the women's 62kg playoff. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

In the Meiji Cup final, Motoki received an activity point in the first period, then fell behind 3-1 when Ozaki scored a single-leg takedown while Motoki was on the clock. But with a minute to go, Motoki fended off a shot, launched a countershot and spun behind for a takedown that gave her a 3-3 win on last-point criteria.

Surprisingly or not, the playoff followed the exact same pattern. The only difference was that after Motoki went ahead 3-3, Ozaki came back and got a 2-point exposure during a single-leg attempt with 30 seconds left.

With :24 left, Motoki shot in on a low single that Ozaki stopped with a whizzer as the clockwound down. For all of the intricate movements involved, the final 10 seconds seemed to last forever:

-- Six seconds left. Motoki steps up and tries to drive forward, but Ozaki sits out and wriggles to the front, leaving Motoki in a double-leg position

-- Two seconds left. Motoki transitions to a single-leg, lifts up and drives with her left shoulder.

-- Ozaki lands on her side with a thud. The video replay on challenge shows her hitting the mat with "0.17" on the clock.

"She got out of it once and I wondered if I could get her leg," Motoki said. "At the end, I gave it everything I had and somehow managed to get it in time. It was just my body reacting."

Having won the world cadet (U17) title in 2017 and U20 in 2020, Motoki will get a chance to add the world u23 and senior titles in the coming months. That would make her just the third member of an elite group that has achieved the "Golden Grand Slam" of Olympic gold and all four world age-group titles, after Yui SUSAKI and Amit ELOR (USA).

But the gold in Zagreb is the one that most beckons. She has a reminder of it every morning to keep her from deviating from her mission.

"I have come up short at the World Championships twice, which is really vexing," Motoki said. "As the alarm on my smartphone to wake up in the morning, I use the music they play during the winning lap at the World Championships.

"Each time I hear it, it gives me an unpleasant feeling and makes me remember what happened. Even after I won at the Olympics, that sinking feeling never really went away."

Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) Remina YOSHIMOTO works to turn Umi ITO over during their women's 50kg playoff. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

Yoshimoto secures shot at world title

In other women's action on the final day at Tokyo Metropolitan Gym, Remina YOSHIMOTO took advantage of the absence of nemesis Susaki to win the 50kg gold and earn a shot at adding to the world title she won in 2021.

Yoshimoto went into the second period trailing 2023 world U23 champion Umi ITO, but got back on track and went ahead before ending the match by fall. It was the same pairing as the Emperor's Cup final, which Yoshimoto won 3-2.

Ito, who had lost all nine previous matches with Yoshimoto, took the lead with a takedown in the first period, countering a shot by getting on top and putting in a grapevine.

In the second period, Yoshimoto responded with a single-leg takedown, then used an arm bar to turn Ito over. Ito righted herself at one point, but Yoshimoto turned her over again and secured the fall at 4:19.

"At the start, Ito set the flow of the match and I didn't feel I was in control," Yoshimoto said. "This was the 10th time I've faced her, so we know each other and have each done our homework, and that made for a tough match. It was good that I kept my composure in the second period."

Since 2019, Yoshimoto has never been beaten either domestically and internationally by a wrestler not named Susaki, who has handed her all four of her losses in that span.

"It was frustrating that I couldn't get to the World Championships for four years," said Yoshimoto, who won a fourth Asian title this year. "I'm going to take advantage of this chance to get the gold medal. With the Los Angeles Olympics in mind, I want to practice so I can have a tournament that gives me confidence."

Himeka TAKUHARA (JPN) Himeka TOKUHARA launches a 4-point back suplex during her victory over Sae NANJO in the Meiji Cup final. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

At 57kg, 2022 world U23 champion Himeka TOKUHARA earned a ticket to her first senior worlds when she hit a 4-point roll through in defeating Emperor's Cup champion Sara NATAMI 7-1 in the playoff.

Tokuhara also had a 4-pointer with a masterful back suplex in the Meiji Cup final, in which she edged two-time former world U23 champion Sae NANJO 6-5. Tokuhara had defeated Natami, this year's Asian champion, 3-1 in the semifinals on Saturday.

Day 4 Results

Women's Wrestling

50kg (9 entries)
GOLD: Remina YOSHIMOTO df. Umi ITO by Fall, 4:19 (6-2)

BRONZE: Rinka OGAWA df. Mai OGAWA by TF, 10-0, 5:03
BRONZE: Miyu NAKAMURA df. Mako ONO by Def.

57kg (10 entries)
GOLD: Himeka TOKUHARA df. Sae NANJO, 6-5

BRONZE: Sara NATAMI df. Kanon YAMASHITA by Fall, 5:26 (6-7)
BRONZE: Ichika ARAI df. Momiji KIMURA, 8-0

World Team Playoff: Tokuhara df. Natami, 7-1

62kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Sakura MOTOKI df. Nonoka OZAKI, 3-3

BRONZE: Misuzu ENOMOTO df. Kiwa IWASAWA, 6-2
BRONZE: Yuzuka INAGAKI df. Shirin TAKEMOTO, 11-2

World Team Playoff: Motoki df. Ozaki, 6-5

#WrestleUlaanbaatar Asian Championships entries

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Motoki stuns Ozaki with last-second win in Japan's world team playoff