2014.07.19

TANABE, IGARASHI LEAD JAPAN TO GIRLS’ TEAM TITLE AT CADET WORLD C’SHIPS

HUMENNE, Slovakia (July 18) – Yumeka TANABE and Miho IGARASHI defeated two of Ukraine’s top hopes for gold medals while Haruno OKUNO and Yukako KAWAI won bronze medals to lead Japan to the girls’ team title at the Cadet Wrestling World Championships.

In two days of girls’ events, Japanese wrestlers won the five lightest weight categories and grabbed bronze in the next three to take team honors with 77 points. Russia was second with one champion and 65 points, while Ukraine came third with a champion and 62 points.

Klippan Open cadet winner Tanabe recorded a fall and three technical falls at 40kg, including a 12-2 dismantling of returning world champion Oksana LIVACH (UKR) in the final, to take the 40kg crown.

Igarashi, a bronze medal winner in last year’s world meet, pinned European champion Turkan NASIROVA (AZE) in the quarterfinals and defeated Euro runner-up Maryana KOLOS (UKR) in the 46kg final for Japan’s fifth gold medal.

Meanwhile, Haruno OKUNO rebounded from a 6-4 loss in the quarterfinals to 2013 silver medalist Alina KAZYMOVA (RUS) for the bronze medal at 52kg, and Yukako KAWAI overcame a loss by fall to Grace BULLEN (NOR) in the semifinals for a bronze medal at 60kg.

Japan did not have an entry at 70 as 2013 silver medalist Mei SHINDO injured her knee before the competition.

Results of bouts involving Japanese entries:

Female Wrestling

40kg – TANABE, Yumeka (Gold, 13 entries)

R1 – df. Stefanuia PRICEPUTU (ROU) by fall, 1:47 (6-2)

R2 – df. Srishti SRISHTI (IND) by TF, 10-0=0:37

SF – df. Dinura SULAIMANOVA (KGZ) by TF, 11-0=2:17

F1 – df. Oksana LIVACH (UKR) by TF, 12-2=2:52

46kg – IGARASHI, Miho (Gold, 17 entries)

R1 – bye

R2 – df. Yulia ZHAUNERYK (BLR) by fall, 1:26 (5-0)

R3 – df. Turkan NASIROVA (AZE) by fall, 1:57 (6-0)