ZAGREB – Japan’s women won three gold medals at the wrestling world championships on Thursday, led by Sakura Motoki as the Paris Olympics gold medalist once again prevailed in the 62-kilogram category.
In a rollercoaster final, Motoki triumphed against Kim Ok Ju, taking 3-0 lead only to see the North Korean score four points to turn the tables with just over 20 seconds left in Zagreb.
Despite her desperate late attacks, Motoki appeared to have run out of time, but a video replay on challenge showed her headlock throw with just seconds left was valid, awarding her two points for a 5-4 victory and her first worlds title.
“The result was reversed when I thought I was about to lose, and I was tearing up with relief. I’m really happy to have won,” Motoki said. “The Los Angeles Olympics will start to be forefront in my mind once I overcome my all of my issues.”
Haruna Murayama won the 53-kg title by defeating Lucia Yepez of Ecuador 5-0 in the final, adding to her previous wins in the same category in 2018 as well as in the non-Olympic 55 kg category in 2017 and 2023.
“I had almost given up on myself, thinking I would never make it to the Olympic level,” she said. “Achieving a result like this is unfathomable compared to where I was two or three years ago.”
Ami Ishii was the winner at 68 kg after seeing off Yuliana Yaneva of Bulgaria 4-2 in the final.
“I had my mind set on the title. But I can’t celebrate my poor performance. This isn’t my final goal,” said Ishii, who missed a Paris Olympics berth with a playoff defeat.
“I’ll give it my all until I win at the Los Angeles Olympics in an dominating fashion,” she added.
AloJapan.com