2 upsets in women’s wrestling dent Japan’s hopes
GUANGZHOU, China (AP)—Two upset defeats uggs sale dented Japan’s reputation as the powerhouse in women’s wrestling, with world champions Kyoko Hamaguchi and Mio Nishimaki out of contention after being pinned in their second-round matches Friday at the Asian Games.
That came on top of a loss the previous day for seven-time world champion Hitomi Sakamoto.
“All of us came here for gold medals,” said Saori Yoshida, who advanced in the 55-kilogram class. “Although I can’t predict results tonight, I will get the gold medals for them.”
The women’s wrestlers are celebrities in Japan, which needed a flurry of gold on the last two days of competition to cut the margin on the standings to second-place South Korea.
China has already beaten the records for gold medals at the Asian Games, surpassing the 183 it collected when hosting the 1990 Asiad at Beijing when Feng Lanlan won the 68-kilogram division in women’s karate for title No. 184.
China’s only aim for Guangzhou was to beat the 166 gold medals it won at Doha, Qatar in the 2006 edition. Now, the hosts are closing in on 200—already with 185 by noon on day 14.
South Korea had 72 gold medals in second place, still 30 in front of Japan, which picked up golds in men’s single and double kayak over 200 meters and Shinobu Kitamoto win the women’s single kayak on Friday morning.
Afghanistan and Bangladesh were each aiming for their first ever gold medals at the Asian Games later Friday, with the surprise finalists lining up in cricket’s deciding match. Cricket is making its debut on the Asian Games sports program at Guangzhou, but the final is missing any of the region’s powerhouse teams.
India didn’t field a team in the women’s or men’s UGG Adirondack Boots competitions. Hot favorite Pakistan was upset in the semifinals by Afghanistan. Bangladesh advanced over Sri Lanka.
Pakistan, which won the women’s T20 cricket final earlier in the program, beat Sri Lanka for the men’s bronze medal.
The final night of track competition features 10 finals at Aoti main stadium. The two marathons are set for Saturday morning, the final day of the games.
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