In the 43 kilograms event, Nagisa Harada defeated Luchana Bekbaulova of Russia 3-0 for the first Japanese gold of the day at the Armeets Arena in the Bulgarian capital. 

Bronze went to Turkey's Zerda Demir, who beat Nazik Mirlan Kyzy from Kyrgyzstan, and Aida Kerymova of Ukraine, who easily saw off Madhuri Patel of India.

There was further Japanese gold in the 49kg, as Moe Kiyooka beat Cristelle Noelle Rodriguez of the United States, winning 5-2.

The bronze medals went to Mongolia's Munkhgerel Munkhbat for beating China's Xiaomin Xie, and to Valeryia Kapustsina, the Belarus wrestler winning against Taiwan's Yung Hsun Lin.

The third Japanese gold medal was earned by Ruka Natami in the 57kg category, as she beat American Skylar Grace Hattendorf 4-0.

Completing the podium were Krystyna Sokolovska, the Ukrainian beating Chinese wrestler Yifan Tang, and Russia's Alina Kasabieva, who defeated Birgul Soltanova from Azerbaijan.

The 65kg gold medal went to India, as Sonam Sonam beat China's Binbin Xiang 7-1.

Third place went to Uzbekistan's Rushana Abdirasulova, who defeated Italy's Veronica Braschi, and to Ekaterina Glukhareva of Russia, as she defeated Tunisia's Khadija Jlassi.

Olga Kozyreva took the 73kg gold, the Russian winning 4-3 in the heaviest female category, over China's Yifeng Lia, as all four Chinese fighters involved in gold medal bouts suffered defeats.

Bronze medals went to Nodoka Yamamoto for another Japanese medal – she beat Turkey's Nazar Batir – and Swedish fighter Julia Hanna Ellinor Fridlund, who beat India's Pooja Pooja.

Competition is due to continue tomorrow in Sofia with more women's wrestling, in the 40kg, 46kg, 53kg, 61kg and 69kg categories.