OSAKA (May 17-18) – Tokuyama University swamped first division newcomer Kyushu Kyoritsu University, 6-1, in the final to claim it first title in four tournaments and 18th overall in the west Japan collegiate wrestling championships.
Tokuyama advanced to the final with three wins in its preliminary group at Kanaoka Park Gymnasium in Sakai, while KKU qualified on individual wins criteria, 13-12, after KKU, defending champion Chukyo Gakuin and Doshisha all finished with two wins and one loss in the preliminaries.
KKU won the second division crown in last year’s spring tournament and wrestled for the first time in the top division in the autumn tourney.
In the championship final, Tokuyama dropped its first bout but roared back with six straight wins for the title. Fukuoka University defeated Chukyo Gakuin, 4-3, for third place, while Doshisha edged Kinki University, 4-3, for fifth place.
Kansai University finished last in the eight-team first division and was relegated to the second division while second-tier winner Nihon Bunri University won promotion by racking up five wins without a loss.
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