Archive · 3 Oct 2026
North Korea’s Son Ends Fujinami’s 155-Win Streak
Akari Fujinami is a Japanese wrestler who had won 155 international matches in a row.
At the 2026 Asian Games, she faced North Korea’s Il Sim Son in a semifinal.
Son scored early and led 6-0 at the break.
She then pinned Fujinami at 3:52, ending Fujinami’s long winning streak.
Fujinami said Son was very strong and said she wants to improve.
Son advanced toward the gold-medal bout, while Fujinami was set to wrestle for bronze.
Another Olympic champion, Razambek Jamalov, also lost on a dramatic day of wrestling.
North Korea’s Il Sim Son pinned Japan’s Akari Fujinami in the women’s 57kg semifinal at the Asian Games 2026.
Son led 6-0 at the break and secured the fall at 3:52.
Fujinami’s loss ended a run of 155 consecutive international victories dating back to 2017.
Son advanced to a gold-medal opportunity, while Fujinami was set to compete in the bronze-medal contest.
Paris Olympic champion Razambek Jamalov also exited after losses to Iran’s Yones Emami and India’s Sagar Jaglan.
- Who
- North Korea’s Il Sim Son and Japan’s Akari Fujinami.
- What
- Son pinned Fujinami in the women’s 57kg semifinal, ending Fujinami’s 155-match international winning streak.
- When
- Saturday at the Asian Games 2026; the fall came at 3:52.
- Where
- Nagoya, at the Asian Games wrestling competition.
- Why
- Son controlled the match, scoring early and preventing Fujinami from mounting a comeback.
Son’s Performance
Fujinami’s Response
How the semifinal unfolded
Son’s Performance
Son took control early, built a 6-0 lead, denied Fujinami’s attacks and won by fall.
Fujinami’s Response
Fujinami could not reproduce the comeback she had made in an earlier round and acknowledged that Son had outmatched her.
What comes next
Son’s Performance
Son earned a gold-medal opportunity after the victory.
Fujinami’s Response
Fujinami was left to compete for bronze and said she intended to get stronger while continuing to wrestle in her own style.
- Event
- Asian Games 2026
- Bout
- Women’s 57kg semifinal
- Result
- Il Sim Son won by fall at 3:52
- Break score
- Son led 6-0
- Fujinami streak
- 155 consecutive international victories
- Fujinami’s next contest
- Bronze-medal contest
- Son’s next opportunity
- Gold-medal opportunity