XI'AN, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese wrestlers Rong Ningning and Luo Xiaojuan added two golds for China on Friday at the Asian Championships being held here from April 23-28.
The two gold medalists helped the hosts hold a 4-4 draw in the individual gold competition against the Asian women's wrestling powerhouse Japan.
Japanese wrestling legend Icho Kaori said before the competition that she regarded it as a measure of the current level in Asia. The four-Olympic-gold-owner retired in 2016 but has decided to fight for her fifth Olympic title on her home soil in 2020.
But the 34-year-old suffered a setback today, losing to Democratic People's Republic of Korea 57kg player Jong Myong Suk 7-4 in the semis.
Rong, Chinese newly-promoted world champion of the weight, almost failed to enter the last four. Rong edged Mongolia's Tserenchimed Sukhee 4-3 and then defeated India's Pooja Dhanda, earning the chance to reach the highest position of the podium.
At the 65kg qualification round, the host wrestler Luo smashed her first two rivals by consecutive rolling bridges and an early takedown, meaning that two of China's five wrestlers in action make it to the gold medal matches.
Jong led Rong 2-0 in the first period of the final, but the DPRK player held a solid defense in the second period which stopped Rong from scoring.
Rong caught Jong's leg with 10 seconds remaining on the clock and gave Jong a takedown, claiming the Asian title and throwing the crowds into a frenzy.
"I want to thank the audience and my teammates, their sounds encouraged me to turn the tables in the final," Rong said.
"Icho is a great wrestler, I want to compete her in the 2020 Olympics," Rong added.
In the 65kg final, Japan's Ruike Naomi almost turned the table in the second period against China's Luo. The 2017 Chinese National Games finalist attacked with great determination, giving Ruike a late takedown and defeating her 3-0.
China and Japan got four golds each in the women's wrestling events till Friday. Japan remained the bellwether on the team standings, while China narrowed the gap for the silver.
