Fujinami pinned by Il Sim Son, 155-match streak ends
United World Wrestling calls it the Japanese star's first ever international loss, nine years into the run.
Akari Fujinami lost, and she lost by fall. United World Wrestling reported that World silver medalist Il Sim Son of North Korea pinned the Japanese star at 57kg at the Asian Games, ending a winning streak that had reached 155 matches. UWW called it Fujinami's first ever international loss after nine years.
The scoreboard was not close before the fall either. Per UWW, Son had already built a 10-0 lead when she put Fujinami on her back. That is not a scramble gone wrong or a late giveaway, that is a one-sided period followed by the finish.
What UWW said
The governing body posted the result as breaking news, framing it around the number that made Fujinami the sport's most reliable name in women's freestyle. One hundred and fifty five wins, nine years, no international defeats, and then a pin in an Asian Games bracket.
UWW has not said anything further about how the match unfolded beyond the 10-0 lead and the fall, and there is no comment from Fujinami or from Son in either post. Nobody has offered a reason for the result.
Why it matters at 57kg
Fujinami's streak had turned 57kg into a weight where the only real question was who finished second. Son, already a World silver medalist, just answered that question in the most emphatic way available, with six points on the board and then back exposure.
Our take, the number everyone will quote is 155, but the detail that should travel is 10-0. Son did not edge her, and that is the part that changes how the rest of the weight looks at a rematch.
What to watch, whether Fujinami and Son meet again on the senior freestyle circuit, and what Fujinami says about a loss she had never had to answer for before.
Akari FUJINAMI 馃嚡馃嚨 loses a wrestling bout after 9 years and 155 wins. First-ever international loss
Il Sim Son 馃嚢馃嚨 pins her after 10-0 lead