2013.07.15

SUGAWARA, DOSHO WIN GOLD IN UNIVERSIADE WRESTLING

KAZAN, Russia (July 15) – Shigakkan University duo Hikari SUGAWARA (JPN) and Sara DOSHO (JPN) grabbed gold medals and provided Japan with an upbeat conclusion to the women’s wrestling events at the Universiade.

SUGAWARA defeated Erdenechimeg SUMIYA (MGL) in the 51kg final for her first gold medal in an international event. DOSHO, meanwhile, edged Asia champion Nasanburmaa OCHIRBAT (MGL), 4-3, final for her fifth triumph overseas and her first since winning the Ivan Yarygin tourney in January 2012.

The two wins gave Japan three gold medals and a bronze in the women’s competition, which is still short of the four gold, one silver and one bronze won at the 2005 Universiade in Izmir, Turkey.

On her way to the 51kg final, SUGAWARA opened with technical fall over Golden Grand Prix Final runner-up Angela DOROGAN (AZE) and then stopped European bronze medal winner Yuliya BLAHINYA (UKR) in the semifinals.

At 67kg, DOSHO defeated Pan American champion Stacie ANAKA (CAN) in the quarterfinals after a first-round bye, then rolled to a win by technical superiority over Austrian Ladies Open winner Natalya PALAMARCHUK (AZE) in the semifinals.

At 59kg, Ayaka ITO (JPN), also from Shigakkan University in Aichi, lost her opening bout to junior world bronze medalist Allison RAGAN (USA). In the consolation bracket, ITO reached the bronze medal final but had to settle for fifth place after a loss to Emese BARKA (HUN).

Women’s freestyle

51kg – SUGAWARA, Hikari (Gold, 11 entries)

R1 – df. Angela DOROGAN (AZE) by TF, 7-0

R2 – df. Diana FORD (CAN) by fall (time not available)

SF – df. Yuliya BLAHINYA (UKR), 7-2

F1 – df. Erdennechimeg SUMIYA (MGL), 7-2

59kg – ITO, Ayaka (5th, 14 entries)

R1 – lost to Allison RAGAN (USA), 2-4

c1 – df. Elizabeth MILOVITCH-SERA (CAN) by fall (tna)

F3 – lost to Emese BARKA (HUN), 3-7

67kg – DOSHO, Sara (Gold, 11 entries)

R1 – bye