#Bishkek2018

China, Mongolia Put 3 Wrestlers Each into Asian Women's Finals

By Ken Marantz

Coming off a haul of four gold medals from the previous day in women's wrestling at the Asian Championships, China put three wrestlers into the five remaining finals---a number limited by the fact that that was all China had in action on day four.

Paris 2017 world bronze medalist HAN Yue (CHN) won both of her matches by fall to advance to the 72kg final against Nasanburmaa OCHIRBAT (MGL), one of three Mongolians to earn spots in the gold-medal matches at the Kozhomkul Sports Palace.

There will also be a China-Mongolian duel at 62kg, in which Paris 2017 world champion Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) will take on LUO Xiaojuan (CHN), a 2015 Asian champion who ousted Rio 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Sakshi Malik in the qualification round.

PEI Xingru (CHN), a 2016 world champion, sees her path to gold blocked by Sara NATAMI (JPN), an unheralded high schooler who marked her debut in a senior international tournament by recording a fall and a technical fall.

China's entries at 53kg (PANG Qianyu) and 65kg (XU Rui) are both injured and withdrew from the tournament, according to the team's Bulgarian coach Siemon CHTEREV.

"I am content with this result," Chterev said. "I'm very happy with the Chinese team. For six months, they have been getting better. They believe in themselves. This is very important."

PICTURED: Navjot KAUR (IND)

Meanwhile, two-time Asian medalist Navjot KAUR (IND) will try to end India's hex in Asian women's finals---the country stands 0-13 dating back to 2001---when she takes on Miyu IMAI (JPN) in the 65kg final.

The Kaur-Imai showdown will be a rematch of a group stage match earlier in the day, which Imai won 4x-4 on criteria.

The possibility of a rematch came about because there were only six entries in both the 65kg and 72kg categories. The competitors were drawn into two groups of three. After a round robin, the top two in each group advanced to the semifinals.

PICTURED: Sumiya ERDENECHIMEG (MGL)

PAK Yongmi (PRK) will try to give North Korea its first gold of the tournament with a victory in the 53kg final against Sumiya ERDENECHIMEG (MGL), a 2013 world bronze medalist.

Pak advanced to the final with a nail-biting 4-3 victory over Yu MIYAHARA (JPN), who was coming off victories at the Dave Schultz Memorial and Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix tournaments.

"Our wrestlers who are on the level of being finalists didn't make it," said Japan women's coach Hideo SASAYAMA, also referring to four-time Asian medalist Yurika ITO (62kg) and New Delhi 2017 silver medalist Masako FURUICHI (72kg).

Asked about the performance of 17-year-old Natami, whose lone international experience was a silver medal in the cadet class at the 2016 Klippan Open, Sasayama reserved judgment.

"She had a good draw, and as a third-year high schooler, she still needs to go on the attack more," he said.

Women's Wrestling
53kg (10 entries)
Gold - PAK Yongmi (PRK) v Sumiya ERDENECHIMEG (MGL)

Bronze –  Thi Hang VU (VIE) v Yu Miyahara (JPN)
Bronze – Zhuldyz Eshimova (KAZ) v CHIU Hsin Ju (TPE)

Semifinal – PAK Yongmi (PRK) df. Yu Miyahara (JPN), 4-3
Semifinal – Sumiya ERDENECHIMEG (MGL) df. CHIU Hsin Ju (TPE) by Fall, 5:18 (4-1)

57kg (10 entries)
Gold - Sara NATAMI (JPN) v PEI Xingru (CHN)

Bronze –  KIM Yeseul (KOR) v Thi Huong DAO (VIE)
Bronze – Baltsetseg ALTANTSETSEG (MGL) v JONG In Sun (PRK)

Semifinal – Sara NATAMI (JPN) df. Thi Huong DAO (VIE) by TF, 10-0, 3:15
Semifinal – PEI Xingru (CHN) df. JONG In Sun (PRK) by Fall, 4:11 (2-2)

62kg (10 entries)
Gold - Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) v LUO Xiaojuan (CHN)

Bronze –  Khalbazar NARBAEVA (UZB) vs Yurika ITO (JPN)
Bronze – Sakshi MALIK (IND) v Ayaulym KASSYMOVA (KAZ)

Semifinal – Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) df. Yurika ITO (JPN), 9-1
Semifinal – LUO Xiaojuan (CHN) df . Ayaulym KASSYMOVA (KAZ), 5-1

65kg (6 entries)
Gold - Miya IMAI (JPN) v Kaur NAVJOT (IND)

Bronze –  LEE Hanbit (KOR) v Tsevegmed ENKHBAYAR (MGL)

Semifinal – Miya IMAI (JPN) df. LEE Hanbit (KOR), by TF, 10-0, 1:52
Semifinal – Kaur NAVJOT (IND) df. Tsevegmed ENKHBAYAR (MGL), 2-1

72kg (6 entries)
Gold - Nasanburmaa OCHIRBAT (MGL) v HAN Yue (CHN)

Bronze –  Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) v Masako FURUICHI (JPN)

Semifinal – Nasanburmaa OCHIRBAT (MGL) df. Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) by Fall, 2:11 (9-4)
Semifinal – HAN Yue (CHN) df. Masako FURUICHI (JPN) by TF, 10-0, 5:18

#BeachWrestling

Pan-Am Beach Wrestling: Colombia, Ecuador Win 2 Golds Each

By United World Wrestling Press

LIMA, Peru (June 17) -- Ten nations competed at the Pan-American Beach Wrestling Championships in Lima, Peru. In the men's category, Ecuador, Honduras, Guatemala and Argentina won gold medals while in women's, Colombia won two golds, and Ecuador and Chile won one each.

Former Pan-Am champion Luisa VALVERDE (ECU) won the gold medal at 60kg in women's after a victory via fall over Jania DUNIGAN (PUR) in the final. She used a beautiful headlock throw for the win.

At 50kg, Natalia PERDOMO (COL) pinned Genesis RAMIREZ (PUR) to win gold and the second gold medal for Colombia came when Alexa CUERO (COL) blanked Ruth JIMENEZ (PUR), 3-0, in the 70kg final.

Chile got its gold medal at +70kg when Melanie SANCHEZ (CHI) both her bouts in round-robin. She defeated Aomi RIQUES (PER) and Gabriella REID (PUR), who finished with silver and bronze, respectively.

Ricardo GOMEZ (ARG)Ricardo GOMEZ (ARG), left, won the +90kg gold medal for Argentina. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Osvaldo Aguilar)

Jeremy PERALTA (ECU) was the first gold medal at men's 70kg as he secured a victory via fall over Alex PICHUCHO (ECU) in the final in just 55 seconds.

The second gold medal was claimed by Luis BARRIOS (HON) who blanked Sixto AUCCAPINA (PER), 3-0, in the 80kg final. He scored three different point to win the bout three seconds before the clock expired.

Three wrestlers posted three wins at 90kg but it was Cristhoper PEREZ (GUA) who emerged as the gold medalist as he had more classification points. Apart from Perez, Jesus LANDA (PER) and Carlos ESPINOZA (PER) also had three wins each. Perez managed eight classification points, Landa had seven and Espinoza had five.

In +90kg weight class, Ricardo GOMEZ (ARG) held on to a close 2-1 victory in the final over Jean ZAMBRANO (ECU) to clinch the gold medal.

RESULTS

Men's BW

70kg
GOLD: Jeremy PERALTA (ECU) df. Alex PICHUCHO (ECU), via fall

BRONZE: Arnoldo PROBOSTE (ARG) df. Caleb NEGRON (PUR), 1-0

80kg
GOLD: Luis BARRIOS (HON) df. Sixto AUCCAPINA (PER), 3-0

BRONZE: Yael PEREZ AKE (MEX) df. Adrian MAYNARD (BAR), 3-1

90kg
GOLD: Cristhoper PEREZ (GUA)
SILVER: Jesus LANDA (PER)
BRONZE: Carlos ESPINOZA (PER)

+90kg
GOLD: Ricardo GOMEZ (ARG) df. Jean ZAMBRANO (ECU), 2-1

BRONZE: Glean GONZALEZ (ECU) df. Kensil GRAJALES (PER), 3-1

Women's BW

50kg
GOLD: Natalia PERDOMO (COL) df. Genesis RAMIREZ (PUR), via fall

BRONZE: Vicky LEON (ECU) df. Nathaly HERRERA (PER), via inj. def.

60kg
GOLD: Luisa VALVERDE (ECU) df. Jania DUNIGAN (PUR), via fall

BRONZE: Meissy VALDEZ (GUA) df. Andrea AVELINO (MEX), via fall

70kg
GOLD: Alexa CUERO (COL) df. Ruth JIMENEZ (PUR), 3-0

BRONZE: Cielo FAJARDO (PER) df. Karla PAICO (PER), via fall

+70kg
GOLD: Melanie SANCHEZ (CHI)
SILVER: Aomi RIQUES (PER)
BRONZE: Gabriella REID (PUR)