Fujinami pinned: 155-match streak is over
Akari Fujinami had not lost a wrestling match in nine years. Il Sim Son of North Korea built a 10-0 lead at 57kg and then pinned her, and the longest active streak in the sport is gone.
The one that matters
Il Sim Son pins Fujinami, ending 155-match streak at Asian Games
Akari Fujinami lost for the first time internationally, pinned by North Korea's Il Sim Son at 57kg at the Asian Games. United World Wrestling says the streak ran nine years and 155 wins, and that Son, a World silver medalist, built a 10-0 lead before getting the fall. It is the first blemish of Fujinami's senior career.
loses a wrestling bout after 9 years and 155 wins. First-ever international loss
Why it matters: The 57kg women's freestyle class now has a live top end heading toward Worlds.
- Fujinami's next international entry after the Asian Games
On the mat
Sujeet rallies from 9-2 down, Iran takes 86 and 125
Sujeet won India's first Asian Games wrestling gold since 2018, beating his 65kg opponent 10-9 after trailing 9-2. United World Wrestling's champions list also has Mohammad Nokhodi at 86kg, Amir Hossein Zare at 125kg, Yui Susaki at 50kg and Yuka Kagami at 76kg. GlobalWrestOrder says Younes Emami went through Olympic champion Zhamalov and World champion Kaipanov before an 8-5 win over World champion Yoshinosuke Aoyagi.
Emami just went on a GOAT-tier run
Why it matters: Iran and Japan leave with the hardware, and Emami's run reshapes the 74kg pecking order.
Portal, commits and coaches
Protect College Sports Act sits in the House after 77-22 Senate vote
The Senate passed the Protect College Sports Act 77-22 and sent it to the House, per Justin Basch. The bill gives athletes one transfer without losing eligibility and makes a second transfer cost the following academic year, with exceptions for a head coach leaving, a sport being cut, grad transfers and sexual assault or harassment.
Transfer a SECOND time? You sit out the following academic year
Why it matters: A second portal move would cost a year, which changes how wrestling rosters get built.
- House vote still pending
- Kevin Claunch interview with Alex Clemsen coming
Iowa women land Huffman and Sturgill, 2027 class now four deep
Iowa added Ryleigh Sturgill to a 2027 class that already included the nation's top-ranked 190 pounder, Brooke Huffman. Ross Bartachek says the Tennessee product was ranked No. 5 overall at 105 pounds in the last MatScouts rankings, and that Huffman joins Eve Skrocki and Larra Mullin. Huffman announced on Tuesday.
Why it matters: Iowa is stacking both ends of the lineup in one women's recruiting class.
What they're arguing about
MatSavant: takedown battle picks the winner 95.6% of the time
MatSavant studied 14,494 matches from the last 11 NCAA tournaments and the major conference tournaments and found the wrestler who out-scored his opponent on takedowns won 95.6 percent of the time. A wrestler seeded 7 to 10 spots lower wins 30 percent of the time overall, but 93.5 percent when he wins the takedown battle.
Both my semis and finals the year I won NCAAs I gave up several more takedowns than I got in those matches
Why it matters: It reframes how fans read upsets and seeding in March.
Around the mat
National Duals Invitational finals back on main ESPN
The finals of the National Duals Invitational will air on main ESPN again this season, per MatBoy.
More than 100 gather in Ames for Bobby Douglas
Iowa State says more than 100 athletes, friends and colleagues paid respect to Bobby Douglas at his Celebration of Life in Ames on Sunday.
Frequently asked questions
How long was Akari Fujinami's winning streak before she lost?
Fujinami's streak lasted nine years with 155 consecutive international wins before she was pinned by Il Sim Son at the Asian Games.
What does the Protect College Sports Act allow for athlete transfers?
The act gives athletes one transfer without losing eligibility, but a second transfer costs the following academic year, with exceptions for when a head coach leaves, a sport is cut, for graduate transfers, or in cases of sexual assault or harassment.
What statistic did MatSavant find about takedowns in NCAA wrestling?
MatSavant found that the wrestler who out-scores their opponent on takedowns wins 95.6 percent of the time based on studying over 14,000 matches from the last 11 NCAA tournaments and major conference tournaments.
Who did Iowa women's wrestling add to their 2027 recruiting class?
Iowa added Ryleigh Sturgill, who was ranked No. 5 overall at 105 pounds, to join Brooke Huffman (the nation's top-ranked 190 pounder), Eve Skrocki and Larra Mullin.