Ono, Noguichi Golds Help Japan Win Team Title at U20 Worlds

Two gold medals confirmed that Japan will finish with the team title in Women’s Wrestling with 167 points. Japan reclaimed the title after losing it to India last year.

India finished second with 133 points while China was third with 132 points. That is despite Chenling SONG (CHN) beating Mansi LATHER (IND), 2-1, in the 68kg final to claim gold at the U20 World Championships in Bratislava on Friday.

Wrestling Konami ONO (JPN) Konami ONO (JPN) tackles Hunai HURBANOVA (AZE) during the 57kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Ono, the youngster sister of world champion Masanosuke ONO (JPN), was caught in two big throws from Hurbanova which gave the Azerbaijan wrestler a 6-6 criteria lead at one point in the final.

However, Ono switched her strategy and went for one takedown each time to not get caught by Hurbanova in a counter. That worked well as Ono secured a 16-6 victory and her first world title at any age group.

With her parents watching from the stands, Ono went on an emotional victory lap and event performance the Ono celebrations.

Wrestling Sae NOGUCHI (JPN) Sae NOGUCHI (JPN) celebrates after winning the 59kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Noguchi’s final was completely contrasting as she and Mammadova kept it close. Mammadova gave up two points in passivity while Noguchi gave only one.

But in the last 30 seconds, Mammadova caught Noguchi’s in a single-leg and tried to bring her down. However, Noguchi was not ready to give up and kept herself above the 90 degree bend. She managed to stand up and not give up a stepout as well as time expired.

At 68kg, U20 Asian champion Song won gold after denying Lather in a closer final. Song got two points in the first period but was called passive in the second which gave Lather a point.

Lather failed to find a way to score the winning point which would have given her the gold medal.

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RESULTS

57kg
GOLD: Konami ONO (JPN) df. Hiunai HURBANOVA (AZE), 16-6

BRONZE: Tanvi MAGDUM (IND) df. Agnia KRAKOVSKA (CAN), via fall
BRONZE: Xinyu WANG (CHN) df. Karlee BROOKS (USA), via fall

59kg
GOLD: Sae NOGUCHI (JPN) df. Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE), 3-1

BRONZE: Caley GRABER (USA) df. Gundegmaa ENKHBAATAR (MGL), via fall
BRONZE: KOMAL (IND) df. Eda BALAZS (HUN), 5-1

68kg
GOLD: Chenling SONG (CHN) df. Mansi LATHER (IND), 2-1

BRONZE: Oleksandra RYBAK (UKR) df. Uldana TILEUKHAN (KAZ), via fall
BRONZE: Taina FERNANDEZ (USA) df. Evangeliia BEREZHNOVA (RUS), 4-0