Junior Asian Championships

Trio of Junior World Champs Propel Japanese Women to Team Title at Junior Asian C'ships

Friday, July 12, 2019 - 15:10 By United World Wrestling Press

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CHON BURI, Thailand (July 12) - A trio of junior world champions helped propel Japan to the team title in women's wrestling on Friday at the Junior Asian Championships in Chon Buri, Thailand.

Umi IMAI (53kg), Andoriahanako SAWA (57kg) and Atena KODAMA (62kg), all returning junior world champions, captured gold medals on the final day of women's wrestling at the Junior Asian Championships.

Japan finished with 200 points and earned medals in all 10 weight categories. The medal haul included four gold medals, two silver medals and four bronze medals. China finished second in the team standings with 157 points, while India was third with 123 points. 

Umi IMAI (JPN) was dominant in the finals. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Imai, a Klippan Lady Open champion, won her second straight title at the Junior Asian Championships, beating Anudari NANDINTSETSEG (MGL) by 10-0 technical superiority in the finals at 53kg. She went up 4-0 in the first period. In the second period she added two takedowns before ending the match with a gut wrench. 

Andoriahanako SAWA (JPN) cruised to a 10-0 technical superiority in the finals. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Sawa cruised to the gold medal at 57kg with a 10-0 victory over Nuraida ANARKULOVA (KGZ). She built a 6-0 lead after a takedown followed up by two gut wrenches. Sawa then took Anarkulova down to her back late in the first period, nearly securing the fall before settling with a technical superiority. 

Kodama claimed her gold medal at 62kg by defeating Yaru WU (CHN) 15-5 in the finals. She used two first-period takedowns to go up 4-0 at the break. Kodama added another takedown to go up 6-0 before Yu scored a reversal, which she followed up with two consecutive gut wrenches to get within a point at 6-5. But Kodama would dominate the rest of the way, scoring nine consecutive points on her way to a technical superiority. 


Yue ZHANG (CHN) celebrates after her finals victory. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Japan's gold-medal run was halted by Yue ZHANG (CHN), who defeated Shion MASUYAMA (JPN) by fall in the finals at 65kg. The two wrestlers traded four-point moves in the opening period, and Zhang held a 5-4 lead at the break. With just under two minutes remaining in the match, Zhang threw Masuyama to her back and secured a fall. 

Tsz CHANG (TPE) came from behind to win at 72kg. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

At 72kg, Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE) came back to defeat Svetlana OKNAZAROVA (UZB) to earn the gold medal. Oknazarova took a 2-0 lead into the break after a first-period takedown. She added to her lead in the second period with another takedown to go up 4-0 before Chang turned the tables, scoring with an exposure and then a takedown to take the lead on criteria with just over a minute and 30 seconds remaining. She would then hang on for the narrow victory. 

The freestyle competition at the Junior Asian Championships begins on Saturday. Action is set to begin at 10 a.m. local time.

RESULTS

Final Women's Wrestling Team Scores 
GOLD - Japan (200 points)
SILVER - China (157 points)
BRONZE - India (123 points)
Fourth - Uzbekistan (113 points)
Fifth - Kazakhstan (89 points)

53kg
GOLD - Umi IMAI (JPN) df. Anudari NANDINTSETSEG (MGL), 10-0
BRONZE - Song Ok KIM (PRK) df. Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB), 10-0
BRONZE - Pooja POOJA (IND) df. Thi Oanh NGUYEN (VIE), 4-0

57kg
GOLD - Andoriahanako SAWA (JPN) df. Nuraida ANARKULOVA (KGZ), 10-0
BRONZE - Bharti BAGHEL (IND) df. Thi My Trang NGUYEN (VIE), 3-1
BRONZE - Youmei WU (CHN) df. Madina USMONJONOVA (UZB), 9-0

62kg
GOLD - Atena KODAMA (JPN) df. Yaru WU (CHN), 15-5
BRONZE - Irina KUZNETSOVA (KAZ) df. Aibike ARTYKALI KYZY (KGZ), 11-9
BRONZE - Ariukhan JUMABAEVA (UZB) df. Phimsuphak AINPHEN (THA), FALL 

65kg
GOLD - Yue ZHANG (CHN) df. Shion MASUYAMA (JPN), FALL
BRONZE - Hsin Ping PAI (TPE) df. Assiya ALIBEK (KAZ), 7-2
BRONZE - Tina TINA (IND) df. Jeumeun KWON (KOR), FALL

72kg
GOLD - Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE) df. Svetlana OKNAZAROVA (UZB), 4-4 
BRONZE - Dieu Thuong LAI (VIE) df. Dokyung (Hyerim) YUN (KOR), 10-0
BRONZE - Kanon KOBAYASHI (JPN) df. Gulnaz ZHAPPAROVA (KAZ), 5-5
 

#WrestleUlaanbaatar

Young Indian team hauls four WW golds at Ulaanbaatar Open

Friday, May 30, 2025 - 17:56 By Vinay Siwach

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ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (May 30) -- A young Indian team captured four out of five gold medals on offer in Women's Wrestling at the Ulaanbaatar Open on Friday.

Three teenagers -- NEHA (IND), MUSKAN (IND) and HARSHITA (IND) -- defeated opponents much experienced than them to win gold at 57kg, 59kg and 72kg.

Paris Olympian and Asian bronze medalist ANTIM (IND) captured the gold medal at 53kg after beating Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW), 10-0, in the final. 

The fifth Indian in action on Friday, NEELAM (IND), won bronze medal at 50kg after she lost her semifinal but returned to beat Munkhnar BYAMBASUREN (MGL) in the bronze-medal bout.

Natalia PUDOVA (UWW) defeated Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR), 7-6, in a thrilling 50kg final to clinch gold medal.

Neha, a former world U17 champion and world U20 bronze medalist, was the most impressive wrestler of the lot, winning gold in her debut senior international tournament.

In a Nelson bracket format, Neha got European silver medalist Elvira SULEYMAN KAMALOGLU (TUR) in the first bout and showed nerves, taking a 7-0 lead. Kamaloglu hit a four-pointer in the second period but Neha managed to keep herself calm and clinched the victory. She pinned Munkhchimeg URJIN (MGL) in her next bout before beating Ana PEREIRA (BRA), 11-0, in the semifinal. In the final, Neha wrestled Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL) and kept it simple with a 4-0 victory.

"I was little hesitant because this is my first-ever senior tournament," Neha said. "But the competition was very similar to a U20 level competition."

Neha has lost only to Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) in her international career, once at World U17 Championships and then at the World U20 Championships. However, this year she wants to win the champion belt at the World U20 Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria.

"I want beat her and win the belt," she said.

MUSKAN (IND)MUSKAN (IND), blue, won gold medal at 59kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Muskan, 17, won bronze medal at the Asian Championships this year in Amman and has now added gold medal at the Ranking Series in the 59kg weight class, winning four bouts.

The weight had five wrestlers which meant all wrestlers had to wrestle each other. Muskan began with a fall over Anudari BATKHUYAG (MGL) before a tough 5-4 win over European silver medalist Bediha GUN (TUR) in Round 2.

Both wrestler were put on activity clocks and both failed to score. Gun led 1-1 on criteria in the second period when Muskan tried a takedown but Gun used the momentum and threw Muskan on her back for two points. Muskan recovered and got two points of her won to lead 3-3 on criteria.

Soon after, Muskan scored a takedown to make it 5-3 with a minute left in match. In the final second, Gun got a step out but Muskan hung on for the win.

In her next two bouts, Muskan posted controlled wins over Gantuya ENKHBAT (MGL), 8-2, and Altjin TOGTOKH (MGL), 9-0, to win the gold medal.

HARSHITA (IND)HARSHITA (IND) posted four wins to capture gold medal at 72kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Another former world U17 champion and Asian silver medalist, HARSHITA (IND), won gold medal at 72kg after winning four one-sided bouts.

After receiving a walkover in her first bout, Harshita blanked Kristina BRATCHIKOVA (UWW) 11-0 in the second bout and pinned Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL) in the next one after building a 13-0 lead.

In the evening session, Harshita got taken down and turned by Tsogzolmaa DORJSUREN (MGL) but she was already leading 6-0 by then. Ultimately, she defeated Dorjsuren 14-4 to win the gold medal.

ANTIM (IND)ANTIM (IND) outscored her opponents 37-0 in four bouts to win gold at 53kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Antim, world and Asian bronze medalist, was at her best on Friday, winning four bouts without giving up a point. She pinned Namuuntsetseg TSOGTOCHIR (MGL) in the first bout before leg-lacing Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW) for an 11-0 win.

In the semifinal, she managed a 10-0 win over Ariunzaya ODONCHIMEG (MGL) before she got Malysheva in the final again as the weight class had only seven wrestlers divided in two group. Top two wrestlers from each group enter the semifinal where they clash in cross, making it possible for wrestlers from same group to reach the final.

The final against Malysheva was no different than the group stage bout as Antim used the leg-lace again and won the gold medal after another 10-0 win.

Natalia PUDOVA (UWW)Natalia PUDOVA (UWW) defeated Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) to win gold medal at 50kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At 50kg, Natalia PUDOVA (UWW) held on for a 7-6 victory over Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) to claim the gold medal.

Pudova got on board first in the final after Demirhan was called for passivity. Demirhan took the lead in the second period by tripping Pudova with a knee-pinch for four points.

As Pudova tried to pressure for an attack, Demirhan was docked a caution point for singlet-grabbing, making the score 4-2. The Turkish wrestler tried an arm throw but was blocked by Pudova who managed to get a takedown to make it 4-4. A reversal for Demirhan kept the lead for her 5-4.

The next attempt for a headlock throw from Demirhan was awarded two points for Pudova which the Türkiye corner challenged but on review, it was seen that Pudova was attacking and Demirhan made only a defense attempt to throw which was not awarded a slip throw.

Pudova now led 7-5 and was given the par terre advantage but she failed to score any points from that position. A stepout got Demirhan closer but she still dropped the bout 7-6.

Photo

RESULTS

50kg
GOLD: Natalia PUDOVA (UWW) df. Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR), 7-6

BRONZE: NEELAM (IND) df. Munkhnar BYAMBASUREN (MGL), 9-1

53kg
GOLD: ANTIM (IND) df. Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW), 10-0

BRONZE: Otgontuya CHINBOLD (MGL) df. Ariunzaya ODONCHIMEG (MGL), 5-2

57kg
GOLD: NEHA (IND) df. Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL), 4-0

BRONZE: Elvira SULEYMAN KAMALOGLU (TUR) df. Ana PEREIRA FRANCA (BRA), via fall

59kg
GOLD: MUSKAN (IND)
SILVER: Altjin TOGTOKH (MGL)
BRONZE: Gantuya ENKHBAT (MGL)

72kg
GOLD: HARSHITA (IND)
SILVER: Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL)
BRONZE: Kristina BRATCHIKOVA (UWW)