Japanese Quartet Advance to Women's Gold Medal Matches at Wrestling World C'ships

PARIS (August 24) – National team newcomer Yui SUSAKI (JPN) notched three technical falls Thursday as Japan advanced all four of its entries to the gold medal round on the final day of women’s events at the Paris 2017 World Wrestling Championships.

Joining the 18-year-old Susaki in the gold medal matches at AccorHotels Arena will be Rio 2016 gold medalists Risako KAWAI (60kg) and Sara DOSHO (69kg) along with 2016 world champion Mayu MUKAIDA (53kg).

In the semifinals, Susaki needed a second period takedown to defeat Asian junior silver medalist KIM Son-Hyang (PRK), 5-2, and will face 2016 European runner-up Alina VUC (ROU). Vuc advanced to the final with a technical fall win in the semifinals over European U23 champ Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR).

At 53kg, Mukaida rallied in the second period for a 5-1 semifinal win over 2016 European bronze medal winner Roksana ZASINA (POL). In the gold medal bout, Mukaida takes on 2012 world champion Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR), who pinned 2016 European bronze medalist Estera DOBRE (ROU).

Kawai defeated Johanna MATTSSON (SWE), a European bronze medal winner in May, 6-0 to advance to the gold medal final at 60kg against 2016 world silver medalist Allison RAGAN (USA). Ragan pinned 2016 European champion Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (LAT) in the semifinals.

At 69kg, Dosho forged a 6-0 win over European U23 runner-up Martina KUENZ (AUT) in the semifinals to book a place opposite Aline FOCKEN (GER). The gold medal pairing will be a reprise of their world title match in 2014, when Focken won the crown with a takedown in the final 10 seconds. Focken edged junior world runner-up HAN Yue (CHN), 5-3, in the semifinals.

Meanwhile, championship hosts will have a chance to cheer more in the evening as French fan favorite Koumba LARROUQUE (FRA) advanced to the bronze medal matches at 69kg, rebounding from a first-round loss to Dosho for a chance at the championship hardware.

Larroque, winner of last year’s junior world title, needed to win one match in repechage to secure a place in a bronze medal final – but European champion Anastasia BRATCHIKOVA (RUS) stood in her way. Bratchikova defeated Larroque at the senior European championships in May on her way to the 69kg title.

On Thursday, Larroque avenged the loss with a takedown early in the second period to claim a 4-1 victory over the European champion. In the evening, she will square off with U23 silver medalist Martina KUENZ (AUT) for one of the bronze medals at 69kg.

Semifinal Results & Medal Final Pairings

Women’s Wrestling

48kg (27 entries)
Gold – Yui SUSAKI (JPN) v Alina VUC (ROU)
Bronze – Victoria ANTHONY (USA) v KIM Song-Hyang (PRK)
Bronze – Violeta CHYRYK (BLR) v Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR)
 
Semifinal – Yui SUSAKI (JPN) df. KIM Song-Hyang (PRK), 5-2 
Semifinal – Alina VUC (ROU) df. Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) by TF, 13-2, 4:34

53kg (25 entries)
Gold – Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR) v Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN)
Bronze – Maria PREVILARAKI (GRE) v Estera DOBRE (ROU)
Bronze – PAK Yong-Mi (PRK) v Roksana ZASINA (POL)

Semifinal – Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR) df. Estera DOBRE (ROU) by Fall, 6:00 (8-2)
Semifinal – Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) df. Roksana ZASINA (POL), 5-1

60kg (23 entries)
Gold – Allison RAGAN (USA) v Risako KAWAI (JPN)
Bronze – Luisa NIEMESCH (GER) v Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (LAT)
Bronze – BAATARJAV Shoovdor (MGL) v Johanna MATTSSON (SWE)
 
Semifinal – Allison RAGAN (USA) df. Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (LAT) by Fall, 4:36 (6-3)
Semifinal – Risako KAWAI (JPN) df. Johanna MATTSSON (SWE), 6-0

69kg (19 entries)
Gold – Sara DOSHO (JPN) v Aline FOCKEN (GER)
Bronze – Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) v Martina KUENZ (AUT)
Bronze – Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) v HAN Yue (CHN)
 
Semifinal – Sara DOSHO (JPN) df. Martina KUENZ (AUT), 6-0
Semifinal – Aline FOCKEN (GER) df. HAN Yue (CHN), 5-3