Japan’s women’s wrestling scene witnessed another blockbuster chapter as Nonoka Ozaki defeated Paris Olympic gold medalist Sakura Motoki 8-2 in the women’s 62kg semifinal at the Meiji Cup All-Japan Invitational Championships in Tokyo. The victory booked Ozaki’s place in the final, where she will face U20 world champion Sakura Onishi.
Ozaki Turns the Match Around in Second Period
The highly anticipated semifinal between Ozaki and Motoki lived up to expectations early on, with both wrestlers locked in a tactical battle. However, Ozaki shifted gears in the second period and controlled the momentum to secure a convincing six-point win.
Motoki, who captured Olympic gold in Paris in the 62kg category, entered the tournament as one of the favourites. But Ozaki’s aggressive second-half attack proved too strong for the reigning Olympic champion.
Final Against Rising Talent Sakura Onishi
Ozaki will now take on Sakura Onishi in the final after the youngster continued her impressive rise in Japanese wrestling. Onishi, already a U20 world champion and Asian champion, has quickly emerged as one of the country’s brightest prospects.
Interestingly, the semifinal clash between Ozaki and Motoki came earlier than expected after Onishi stunned Motoki 9-7 during the Nordic round-robin stage.
Japan’s Wrestling Depth on Full Display
The Meiji Cup once again highlighted Japan’s extraordinary depth in women’s wrestling. Ozaki, a two-time world champion and Olympic bronze medalist, now stands one win away from earning selection for both the World Championships and the Asian Games.
The tournament also featured several Olympic medalists, including Akari Fujinami, Yui Susaki, Kotaro Kiyooka and Nao Kusaka progressing strongly in their respective divisions.
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