#WrestleOslo: Vlasov Makes Up for Tokyo Snub with 1st World Title Since 2015

Friday, October 8, 2021 - 19:49 By Ken Marantz

OSLO, Norway (October 8) -- Denied a chance to go for a third Olympic gold earlier this year, Roman VLASOV (RWF) made sure he would not miss out on a third world title and first in six years.

Vlasov chalked up a meticulous and hard-fought 2-1 victory over 2020 European champion Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) to take the 77kg gold in one of four Greco-Roman finals on the seventh day of the World Championships in Oslo on Friday night.

"I was super tired, I couldn't even celebrate as I usually do," Vlasov said. "I left all my power and energy on the mat."

Olympic bronze medalist Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) made a successful return to his natural weight of 82kg to take an elusive first world gold, while Armenia ended a four-year gold drought with a victory at 82kg and a Japanese took the lightest 55kg title.

Vlasov, a gold medalist at the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Olympics, was left devastated when he was passed over for a place on the Russian Olympic Committee team at the Tokyo Olympics after losing in the semifinals of the Poland Open in June.

Roman VLASOV (RWF) won his third world title in Oslo. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

He had considered ending his career. But the desire to achieve his dream of matching the legendary Alexander KARELIN (RWF) with three Olympic golds inspired him to reset his sights for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Like his hero Karelin, Vlasov is a native of Novosibirsk in southwestern Siberia and was mentored by the great coach Viktor KUZNETSOV.

Oslo would be the first stop on the long road to Paris, as it would provide confirmation that he could live up to his own expectations. A world champion in 2011 and 2015, he finished out of the medals in 2017 and 2019.

"The last time I won the world championships was in 2015, before in 2011. It’s been a long time," Vlasov said. "I missed these emotions. To be the best in the world is the thing I’ve been dreaming about. It’s the thing I think about when I wake up in the morning before going to training."

After barreling through the rounds, winning each of his four matches by at least seven points, Vlasov found a formidable foe in Suleymanov, this year's 2021 European bronze medalist and the 2019 world U23 silver medalist.

Vlasov, a four-time European champion who turned 31 on Wednesday, had the first chance in par terre, but could only get a 1-point stepout after walking the airborne Suleymanov over the edge.

But Suleymanov had no answer when the roles were reversed in the second period, and Vlasov clinched the win when he deftly evaded a stepout attempt in the final 20 seconds.

"The final match did not go as planned," Vlasov said. "I had to wrestle super hard to keep that one point scored. Patience brought the gold."

Patience and appreciation of each victory along the way are what will look to get him to the Paris Games, a lesson he learned from the Tokyo debacle.

"The last Olympic cycle I made the mistake of counting down the days to the Olympics," Vlasov said. "This time I just enjoy every title. Today I am the happiest man on Earth, tomorrow we’ll be the new day, the new qualification for the new world championships.

"The Olympics are the dream of every athlete. I’ve been there twice, and I want to become a three-time Olympic champion. But it’s better not to go ahead of time."

Rafiq HUSEYNOV (AZE) is now a three-time World medalist. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Huseynov had dropped down to 77kg to take a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, but returned to 82kg and improved on his silver medal at the 2019 World Championships in Nursultan.

In an intense defensive struggle, Huseynov held on for 2-1 victory over 2017 world U23 champion Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) in which an unsuccessful challenge provided the margin of victory.

"Finally, I am world champion," said Huseynov, the 2020 European champion. "I [said] two months ago that I wanted to create history, become world champion and I did it. Now I can wrestle to enjoy, like a hobby."

Both wrestlers received passivity points, Akbudak in the first period and Huseynov in the second. But Akbudak made a tactical error in the par terre position when he had Huseynov in the air at the edge, but failed to throw him before the two tumbled out of bounds.

The Turkish side made a challenge of the call, but it stood and Huseynov was awarded a point that would prove costly to Akbudak.

It was third straight one-point victory of the tournament for Huseynov, who also had a 2-1 in the semifinals the previous day over Adlan AKIEV (RWF).

"My semifinal was much harder than this because the Russian guy is the European champion," Huseynov said. "I think that the final was not as hard for me as the semifinal. It was easy for me. I won and I am very happy."

The multilingual Huseynov, who was born in Tashkent, said he had considered making a farewell to the sport at the Oslo worlds, but was told by his father to give it more time before making a decision.

"Before this match, I spoke to my father yesterday and I told him that I want to finish and get out the wrestling shoes," said Huseynov, referring to the tradition of a wrestler leaving their shoes on the mat after their last match. "But he says, hey man you will rest for five or six months, but after that you may want to wrestle.

"I understand that he doesn't want me to finish and that's why he said that. I don't know. I want to be the coach of the Azerbaijan team, but if the federation wants me to wrestle until the Olympic Games, I will wrestle. I love wrestling. It's not my job but my lifestyle."

Ken MATSUI (JPN) won the 55kg world title in Oslo. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 55kg, Ken MATSUI (JPN) won the gold in his senior world debut with a masterful 7-1 victory over European champion Emin SEFERSHAEV (RWF) that left no one more surprised than the Japanese collegian himself.

"I never thought I could win the title, I'm the most surprised," Matsui said. Asked why, he replied, "I watched YouTube video of my opponent, and he was someone I looked up to, but I was still able to compete with him."

Given, however, Japan's recent history in the lightweights and the tradition of his university to produce them, his triumph might not be so shocking after all.

Matsui is a student at Nippon Sports Science University, which counts among its alumni Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) and Shinobu OTA (JPN), both 2019 world champions and both Olympic silver medalists.

"NSSU provides a great environment for training," Matsui said. "The people around me are great, my teammates and coaches, and I am taught well. That's why I believe I was able to win."

Fumita won his silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics (Ota's came in Rio), but like all of the Japanese Olympians, he did not enter the two domestic qualifying tournaments used for the Oslo worlds, the Meiji Cup and Emperor's Cup. That opened the door for younger wrestlers to gain valuable experience.

Ken MATSUI (JPN) defeated 2020 Individual World Cup winner Emin SEFERSHAEV (RWF). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

The 20-year-old Matsui made the team by default after he won the Meiji Cup, and three-time national champion Hiromu KATAGIRI (JPN), the winner of the Emperor's, decided to retire after graduating from college and entering a company without a wrestling connection.

But Matsui was not a complete international novice, having won the 2017 world cadet title and finishing third at the 2019 world juniors.

"I know that the lightweight class is one that a Japanese can win," Matsui said of his thoughts before the final. "It's rare, but I thought I could become the one who won."

Matsui got a break when Sefershaev twice threw him from the par terre, but in both instances the points were waived off because his grip had slipped below the waist.

"In the ground position, [his throws] got called for legs, so that was lucky," Matsui said. "To keep him to no points on the ground was the key to the victory."

Down by a point in the second period, Matsui took advantage of the par terre and scored with a reverse lift for a 3-1 lead.

After Sefershaev had his second throw annulled, he tried a desperation over-the-top leap with a minute left, but Matsui reacted well and dumped him to the mat for another 2. A spin behind in the final seconds finished the scoring.

Asked if he felt pressure appearing in the final of his senior world debut, Matsui replied, "I thought just keep it simple and enjoy it, but it actually wasn't much fun. But it was good."

Following in Fumita's footsteps as a world champion only adds to the thrill. He has already surpassed the star in one aspect -- at 20 years 8 months, he becomes Japan's youngest-ever world Greco champion, exactly one year younger than Fumita was when he won the first of his two world titles in 2017.

"I've always thought he's so amazing, and to think I might be a little closer to him, I'm happy," Matsui said.

Malkas AMOYAN Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) claimed the 72kg after beating Sergei KUTUZOV (RWF). (Photo: UWW / Tony Rotundo)

At 72kg, European U23 champion Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) scored all of his points in the first period in the par terre position and made that lead stand up in a 3-0 victory over Sergei KUTUZOV (RWF).

"Honestly speaking, I don’t feel anything yet," said Amoyan, a 2018 world junior champion. "I’ve done it for my family, for my coaches, for my friends, for all those people who support me."

The victory, a repeat of Amoyan's 4-1 win over Kutuzov in the semifinals at the Euro U23 in May, gave Armenia its first world title since the legendary Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) won the last of his four straight at 98kg in 2017.

"The Russian wrestler is really strong," Amoyan said. "I wrestled him at the European U23 championship, I know his wrestling style. I talked to the coaches before the final match, they told me to be ready to wrestle for six minutes for my dream. I have done so and won."

Amoyan, a self-professed fan of Vlasov, credited losses in the finals at this year's European Championships and last year's Individual World Cup as providing the motivation to get him over the top.

"I lost 2 tournaments, the finals of the European championships and World Cup. If I hadn’t lost those finals, I wouldn’t win today’s final."

Amoyan said he plans to move up to the Olympic weight of 77kg. "My dream is to become an Olympic champion," he said.

In the bronze-medal matches, 2019 world champion Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) shook off his first-round loss to Sefershaev by taking home his third world medal at 55kg with a 9-0 technical fall over Norayr HAKHOYAN (ARM).

Tsurtsumia led 3-0 off the par terre before scoring an arm drag takedown, which he followed with a 4-point lift and dump to end the match at 2:21 and relegate Hakhoyan to a second world fifth-place finish.

The 24-year-old Tsurtsumia, the 2018 world U23 champion, also took a bronze at the 2018 senior worlds, and is a two-time European bronze medalist.

Azizli Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE), left, won a bronze medal at 55kg. (Photo: UWW / Tony Rotundo)

In the other 55kg match, 2018 world champion Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) scored a roll off the par terre in the first period and added a spin-behind takedown in the second to defeat European silver medalist Ekrem OZTURK (TUR) 5-2.

Kristupas SLEIVA (LTU) gave Lithuania its fourth world Greco medal in history and first since 2014 with an amazing array of throws in a 10-1 technical fall of Mohammad MOKHTARI (IRI) at 72kg.

Sleiva, a 2020 European 67kg bronze medalist, opened with an arm throw for 2, then added a front headlock lift for 2 more. Then, with the Iranian pressing forward, he launched a 4-point lateral drop before finishing off the match in 1:40 with a takedown off a flurry.

The other 72kg match was a much more staid affair, with Gevorg SAHAKYAN (POL) winning 1-1 on last-point criteria against Cengiz ARSLAN (TUR) after each scored a passivity point.

At 77kg, Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI) took a page from the playbook that Shohei YABIKU (JPN) used to beat him for the bronze at the Tokyo Olympics, flipping Tamas LEVAI (HUN) over for the first of two 4-point moves in quick 9-0 technical fall.

Geraei picked up his third world bronze, adding to the ones he took home in 2017 and 2019, by overwhelming Levai, the 2019 European champion and two-time European U23 silver medalist.

The other 77kg bronze went to 2019 European silver medalist Roland SCHWARZ (GER), who battled back from an 0-5 deficit to defeat Tsimur BERDYIEU (BLR) 10-5.

Schwarz scored six points with a pair of throws from the par terre in the second period to deny Berdyieu, who also finished fifth at the 2015 worlds.

The strangest ending to a match came at 82kg, when Adlan AKIEV (RWF) finished off an 8-0 technical fall when 2019 world silver medalist Alex KESSIDIS (SWE) was assessed a 2-point penalty for improper arm positioning on the bottom of par terre.

Akiev, this year's European champion, scored half of his points on penalties, as Kessidis was flagged for using the legs as he tried to defend against a throw by Akiev.

In the other 82kg match, Pejman POSHTAM (IRI) gave Iran a second bronze of the night when the Asian 77kg champion scored an early arm drag takedown, then received a pair of passivity points to down 2016 world bronze medalist Laszlo SZABO (HUN) 4-0.

Oslo Worlds The four medalists at the 82kg weight class in Oslo. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Day 7 Results

Greco-Roman

55kg (16 entries)
GOLD: Ken MATSUI (JPN) df. Emin SEFERSHAEV (RWF), 7-1

BRONZE: Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) df. Norayr HAKHOYAN (ARM), by TF 9-0, 2:21
BRONZE: Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) df. Ekrem OZTURK (TUR), 5-2

60kg (19 entries)
Semifinal: Victor CIOBANU (MDA) df. Gevorg GHARIBYAN (ARM), 9-7
Semifinal: Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) df. Mehrdad MAMMADOV (AZE), 4-2

72kg (27 entries)
GOLD: Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) df. Sergei KUTUZOV (RWF), 3-1

BRONZE: Gevorg SAHAKYAN (POL) df. Cengiz ARSLAN (TUR), 1-1
BRONZE: Kristupas SLEIVA (LTU) df. Mohammad MOKHTARI (IRI) by TF, 10-1, 1:40

77kg (31 entries)
GOLD: Roman VLASOV (RWF) df. Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE), 2-1

BRONZE: Roland SCHWARZ (GER) df. Tsimur BERDYIEU (BLR), 10-5
BRONZE: Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI) df. Tamas LEVAI (HUN) by TF, 9-0, 1:58

82kg (27 entries)
GOLD: Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) df. Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR), 2-1

BRONZE: Adlan AKIEV (RWF) df. Alex KESSIDIS (SWE) by TF, 8-0, 2:11
BRONZE: Pejman POSHTAM (IRI) df. Laszlo SZABO (HUN), 4-0

97kg (27 entries)
Semifinal: Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) df. Nikoloz KAKHESLASHVILI (GEO), 5-0
Semifinal: Alex SZOKE (HUN) df. Gangelo HANCOCK (USA), 4-4

130kg (22 entries)
Semifinal: Zurabi GEDEKHAURI (RWF) df. Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO), 2-1
Semifinal: Aliakbar YOUSOFIAHMADCHALI (IRI) df. Yasmani ACOSTA (CHI), 2-1

#WrestleAmman

Choe crushes Kiyooka to become frontrunner at 53kg

Friday, March 28, 2025 - 21:28 By Ken Marantz

AMMAN, Jordan (March 28)--It can be said that with a victory in the 53kg final at the Asian Championships, Hyogyong CHOE (PRK) has become the favorite to fill the hole left by the move up to 57kg by Paris Olympic champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN).

Choe, a Paris bronze medalist herself, powered to a comprehensive 12-1 victory over world 55kg champion Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) at the Asian Championships on Friday in Amman, Jordan, establishing herself as the one to beat in the runup to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Choe had an answer for everything Kiyooka threw at her, and seemed to score at will both offensively and defensively to give the DPR Korea its lone win in three finals on the final day of the women's competition.

"Our national wrestling team has trained together as one united group, supporting each other along the way," Choe said. "I was only focused on training to raise our national flag high on the world stage."

Japan picked up golds by Sara NATAMI (JPN) at 57kg and Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) at 65kg to finish with four overall -- a somewhat disappointing showing for the preeminent women's powerhouse -- and win the team title with 186 points. China finished second with 157, two ahead of DPR Korea in third.

The other golds at stake Friday went to MANISHA (IND), who won the 62kg title to end a streak of three consecutive bronzes, and four-time world medalist Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), who took home her fourth career gold at 72kg.

In the 53kg final, Kiyooka, who moved down to the Olympic weight with eyes firmly on Los Angeles, scored first with an activity point, but who would have thought that would be the extent of her efforts for the rest of the match?

Choe got onto the scoreboard by getting in on a single, raising the leg into the air and, after a struggle, finishing off the takedown to lead 2-1 at the break.

In the second period, Choe took advantage of some anxiousness on Kiyooka's part. Choe layed in wait for Kiyooka to take a shot, then sprung the trap by reaching back and whipping Kiyooka onto her back for 2.

From there, Kiyooka failed to properly set up two tackle attempts and it cost her when Choe had little trouble fending off the attacks and spinning behind for takedowns. After the second one, Choe latched onto the laces and rolled twice to finish off the win with 39 seconds to spare.

Hyogyong CHOE (PRK) completes the lace against Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) in the 53kg final during the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

"Our team, led by our esteemed Supreme Commander, had absolute confidence in victory and felt no fear at all," said Choe, who took home a third career continental medal, having won an Asian bronze at 55kg in 2010 and an Asian Games bronze in 2023.

It was an eye-opening setback -- and just her third loss ever to a non-Japanese -- for the 21-year-old Kiyooka, whose older brother Kotaro won the freestyle 65kg gold at the Paris Olympics. She had preceded her world title by winning the Asian gold last year at 55kg, and came into Amman coming off a victorious run at the Tirana Ranking Series event in February.

The match-winning sequence between Sara NATAMI (JPN) and Il Sim SON (PRK) during the 57kg final at the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

In the 57kg final, 2023 world U23 champion Sara NATAMI (JPN) learned from an early mistake and avoided giving up the same points to Il Sim SON (PRK) to preserve a hard-earned 2-2 victory on last-point criteria.

"I gave everything I had to win," Natami said. "Without thinking about how much time was left, I tried to put together moves to create a chance that would lead to points all the way up to the end."

Natami, the 2022 Asian champion at 59kg, gave up a takedown in the first period when Son spun out of an underhook and got behind for a 2-0 lead. In the second period, Natami emerged from a scramble by flipping Son onto her back to go ahead 2-2 on criteria.

With Natami desperately clinging to the lead, Son once again spun out of an underhook, but this time the Japanese was ready and managed to keep Son from getting behind.

Sara NATAMI (JPN) secured her second career title at the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

"She was very powerful, and I didn't want to give in to the pressure," said Natami, who earlier advanced to the final with a victory by fall over Paris Olympics bronze medalist Kexin HONG (CHN). "In the first period, my aim was to see how far I could keep her from scoring points."

Natami now faces the daunting task of trying to knock off Fujinami when the young superstar returns for her first individual competition at the All-Japan Invitational Championships [Meiji Cup] in June, a qualifier for the World Championships.

"Akari Fujinami will be entered, and although it's not just her, my goal right now is to beat Fujinami," Natami said. "If I can do that, next will be the World Championships."

MANISHA (IND) defends an arm-spin attempt from Ok Ju KIM (PRK) In the 62kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

The match of the finals came at 62kg, where MANISHA (IND) rallied from a five-point deficit for a thrilling 8-7 victory over Ok Ju KIM (PRK) for her first Asian gold after winning three consecutive bronzes.

"At every competition my start is very slow. Even at the World Championships you must have seen this last year," Manisha said, referring to her fifth-place finish in Tirana. "I am working on it. Today, I had this positive feeling about myself that I will perform my best."

After giving up an activity point to Kim, Manisha came back with a nice ankle pick for a takedown to take a 2-1 lead into the second period. That's where the action really got going.

Manisha constantly used an underhook offense, which Kim countered with a sitout spin that enabled her to get behind. She used the technique to score three takedowns of different variations to move in front 7-2.

But Manisha finally wised up and avoided the same mistake, opting for a snapdown attack that led to two takedowns to cut the gap to one. With 20 seconds left, she pancaked Kim for a 2-point exposure to clinch the victory.

"I was trailing in the first period but I could feel that she was tired," Manisha said. "As wrestlers we know when our opponent is tired. When the second period began, I could feel she was very tired. I had worked on it and I wanted to be pushing at full force all the time. So it was easy to cover."

Manisha said that tribulation of making the Indian team served as good preparation for the tournament in Amman.

"The competition in India is also tough," Manisha said. "But I did my best there and when I won, I realized that I can do well here as well. I was very positive from the start. Maybe the hard work of previous years will help me in 2025."

Kim made the final in her senior international debut with a stunning victory by fall in the semifinals over Paris Olympic 68kg bronze medalist and two-time world champion Nonoka OZAKI (JPN).

Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) works to finish a takedown against Enkhjin TUVSHINJARGAL (MGL) in the 65kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 65kg, Morikawa added to her gold from 2022 with a solid 6-2 victory over Enkhjin TUVSHINJARGAL (MGL), who had to settle for the silver for the second straight year.

"I won the title and was able to do a victory lap for the first time in awhile, so I am happy about that," said Morikawa, a three-time world medalist, including a gold in 2022. "But this time, the opponents were not so strong, so there are some things I need to look back on about how I wrestled. Most of all, I won the gold, so that's good."

Morikawa, coming off a victory at the Tirana Ranking Series, scored a takedown with Tuvshinjargal on the activity clock, then forced her over for a 2-point exposure to take a 5-0 lead into the break.

Tuvshinjargal mounted a comeback of sorts with a takedown in the second period, but couldn't further break through the defenses of Morikawa, who added a stepout on a counter. It was the second straight year that Tuvshinjargal lost to a Japanese in the final, having fallen to Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN) last year in Bishkek.

Morikawa lamented the fact that the DPR Korea had no entry in the weight class as she prepares for her next shot at a world title.

"At first, it had an entry but was withdrawn, so I had to fight who was here," Morikawa said. "I felt like there's no way I would be allowed to lose. My goal this year is to win the gold at the World Championships, so first of all to win in Asia is a good step.

"But globally, there are many strong opponents...I am well aware that the level around the world is continually getting better, so to keep from losing, I want to practice harder and harder, keep improving and make it so that people will still say that Japan is the strongest."

In the 72kg final, Bakbergenova capped the women's competition by scoring all of her points in the second period to forge a 4-1 victory over world U20 silver medalist and Asian U20 champion Yuqi LIU (CHN) for her fourth Asian gold and sixth medal overall.

There were plenty of shots in the first period, but none of them connected and an activity point for Liu was the lone score going into the break.

In the second period, Bakbergenova received an activity point, then pulled ahead with a 2-point exposure from a single-leg attack, which she followed by forcing a stepout. In the waning seconds, Bakbergenova defended against a single-leg attack to secure the victory.

Olympic medalists Hong, Ozaki settle for bronzes

In bronze-medal matches, the two Olympic bronze medalists who suffered stunning losses by fall in the semifinals, Hong and Ozaki, swallowed their pride and came back to secure some consolation from their trip to Amman with quick wins.

At 57kg, Kexin HONG (CHN) took little time in finishing off a not-so-easy opponent in two-time Asian medalist Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL), scoring a takedown and going straight to the lace lock, whipping off four rolls for a 10-0 win in :59.

Three matches later, Ozaki made it look like an instant replay, although she needed just 28 seconds to overwhelm local teenager Tala ABUKHEIT (JOR) in the exact same way for a 62kg bronze and her fourth career Asian medal.

Coming off the mat, Ozaki could only manage a wry smile over a tournament that went awry. Ozaki, who won the bronze in Paris and last year's Asian gold at 68kg after losing out to Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) at 62kg, earned her ticket to Amman by winning the All-Japan [Emperor's Cup] title in her return to 62kg.

"I was defeated [here], but after the Olympics, I moved back to this weight class, so I see it as an experience," Ozaki said. "It's a disappointing memory here, but I'm going to do what I can to be a contender again."

Ozaki said the psychological effect of cutting weight was bigger than the physical.

"I had to drop some weight, but mentally it was really tough," she said. "After the Olympics, where I had taken the bronze, i was really nervous about coming back, more nervous than I've ever been. But I look at it all as an experience."

The other bronze at 57kg went to Youngjin KWON (KOR), who picked up her first major medal when she survived a dangerous situation and went on to notch a victory by fall over Pei Ying LIAO (TPE).

Kwon came out like gangbusters with a 4-point headlock throw and a 2-point roll, but when she went for a gut wrench, Liao stepped over and put her on her back. Kwon escaped the predicament, and in the second period, put Liao onto her back during a counter takedown and secured the fall in 5:13.

Kalmira BILIMBEK KYZY (KGZ) gave Kyrgyzstan its lone medal of the night and her second career bronze at 62kg, breaking open a stepout-a-thon to build a 10-3 lead before defeating Tynys DUBEK (KAZ) by fall.

Bilimbek Kyzy led at one point 4-3, with all of the points coming on stepouts, then finally connected on three takedowns before securing the fall.

At 53kg, Asian U23 bronze medalist Zeinep BAYANOVA (KAZ) scored in a variety of ways to grind out a 10-6 victory over world U23 bronze medalist Otgontuya CHINBOLD (MGL).

Bayanova employed an arm drag, an inside leg trip and a counter tilt among her techniques to deny a third Asian bronze to Chinbold, whose three stepouts in the second period left her on the short end of the decision.

ANTIM (IND) earned her second career Asian medal with powerful 10-0 win over Meng Hsuan HSIEH (TPE) in the other 50kg bout, getting a 4-point takedown in an eight-point first period, then ending the match 25 seconds into the second with a double-leg takedown.

At 65kg, Qi ZHANG (CHN), last year's 59kg champion, earned her fourth career Asian medal dating back to 2017 with a 10-0 victory over Gaukhar MUKATAY (KAZ).

Zhang opened with a 4-point takedown and went to the gut wrench for three rolls or tilts to end the match in 1:43.

Shakhzoda ALLANIYAZOVA (UZB) claimed her first-ever major medal by winning the other 65kg bronze, scoring a juicy 4-point takedown off an arm drag early in the second period and then defending well to defeat Jeongae BARK (KOR) 5-1.

At 72kg, former world champion Masako FURUICHI (JPN), denied a chance for a first-ever Asian title with a close loss to Bakbergenova in the semifinals, rolled to a 10-0 win over teenager Sehee KIM (KOR) as she settled for a third continental medal in her first appearance since 2018.

Furuichi, who has completed the "Grand Slam" of all four world age-group golds, spun behind on a takedown counter, then reeled off four gut wrenches this way and that for the victory in 1:37. The victory added to her silver in 2017 and bronze in 2018.

In the other 72kg match, veteran Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL) added a second straight Asian bronze and fifth overall to her collection with a victory by fall over two-time Asian U23 medalist Svetlana OKNAZAROVA (UZB).

Zorigt, who also has an Asian gold from 2021 --the year Japan did not participate -- pancaked Oknazarova for a 2-point exposure, then twisted her onto her back for the fall in 52 seconds.

Day 4 Results

Women's Wrestling

53kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Hyogyong CHOE (PRK) df. Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) by TF, 12-1, 5:21

BRONZE: Zeinep BAYANOVA (KAZ) df. Otgontuya CHINBOLD (MGL), 10-6
BRONZE: ANTIM (IND) df. Meng Hsuan HSIEH (TPE) by TF, 10-0, 3:25

57kg (12 entries)
GOLD: Sara NATAMI (JPN) df. Il Sim SON (PRK), 2-2

BRONZE: Kexin HONG (CHN) df. Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL) by TF, 10-0, :59
BRONZE: Youngjin KWON (KOR) df. Pei Ying LIAO (TPE) by Fall, 5:13 (12-2)

62kg (10 entries)
GOLD: MANISHA (IND) df. Ok Ju KIM (PRK), 8-7

BRONZE: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) df. Tala ABUKHEIT (JOR) by TF, 10-0, :48
BRONZE: Kalmira BILIMBEK KYZY (KGZ) df. Tynys DUBEK (KAZ) by Fall, 5:38 (10-3)

65kg (12 entries)
GOLD: Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) df. Enkhjin TUVSHINJARGAL (MGL), 6-2

BRONZE: Qi ZHANG (CHN) df. Gaukhar MUKATAY (KAZ) by TF, 10-0, 1:43
BRONZE: Shakhzoda ALLANIYAZOVA (UZB) df. Jeongae BARK (KOR), 5-1

72kg (8 entries)
GOLD: Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) df. Yuqi LIU (CHN), 4-1

BRONZE: Masako FURUICHI (JPN) df. Sehee KIM (KOR) by TF, 10-0, 1:37
BRONZE: Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL) df. Svetlana OKNAZAROVA (UZB) by Fall, :52 (4-0)

#WrestleOslo: Vlasov Makes Up for Tokyo Snub with 1st World Title Since 2015

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Choe crushes Kiyooka to become frontrunner at 53kg