#WrestleFaenza

All Ten Russian Women Reach Podium At Cadet European Championships, Six Strike Gold

By Eric Olanowski

FAENZA, Italy (June 21) – It's almost unthinkable to imagine that Russia could repeat their Day 4 output that saw all five wrestlers win a cadet European medal -- including three of which were golds. But they were able to get the Russian national anthem played on the loudspeaker three times after Valeriia KHAIDAROVA, Viktoriia KHUSAINOVA, and Viktoriia PEREVOZKINA each dominated their way to a Cadet European title. 

On Thursday, they won three golds, a silver, and a bronze, with their three gold-medal winners outscoring their opponents by a combined score of 25-2. On Friday, they also won three golds, a silver, and a bronze, but their three gold medalists one-upped their teammates and scored two falls and one technical superiority victory. 

Valeriia Khaidarova and Viktoriia Pervozkina were the two Russian wrestlers who picked up falls, while Viktoriia Khusainova forged an 11-1 victory on her way to a continental title. 

Valeriia Khaidarova cinched up Russia's first gold of the day, planting Zozan AKAR (TUR) on her back for the fall in the opening period of the 40kg finals. Up until Khaidarova scored the fall, she was trailing 6-5, but stepped over a Turkish gut wrench attempt and won her second European title and first since she won the 2017 U15 European Championships in Belgrade, Serbia. 

Viktoriia PEREVOZKINA was one of two Russian women to stick their finals opponent on Day 5. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

The second Russian to stick her finals opponent was Viktoriia Perevozkina. She scored four takedowns in the first period and carried the 8-0 lead into the second period before head locking her Swiss opponent for the fall while leading 12-2. 

Pervozkina's gold-medal win on Friday night was her first European title and an improvement from her second-place finish from last year's U15 European Championships. 

Viktoriia KHUSAINOVA (RUS) handed Russia their third gold medal of the day with an 11-1 technical superiority victory over Germany's Amory Olivia ANDRICH (GER)  in the 61kg finals. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Viktoriia Khusainova easily handled Amory Olivia ANDRICH (GER) in the 53kg finals. She was up 7-1 before ending the match with a pair a trapped arm gut wrenches to win the title with an 11-1 technical superiority victory. 

Russia also had a silver medalist and a bronze-medal finisher on Day 5. Tatiana KABANOVA (RUS) fell to Yuliia LESKOVETS (UKR), 2-1 in the 61kg finals, and Anastasia KOZLOVA (RUS) stuck Patrycja Monika SLOMSKA (POL) for the bronze medal at 69kg. 

With their ten Cadet European medals, Russia (220 points) finished the women's wrestling competition with the team title, 80 points ahead of second place Ukraine (140 points). Italy had 72 points and rounded out the top three in the team race. 

With Greco-Roman and women's wrestling behind us, freestyle takes over tomorrow morning. The action begins at 11:30 (local time) and can be followed on www.unitedworldwrestling.org. 

RESULTS

Final Women's Wrestling Team Scores
GOLD - Russia (220 points)
SILVER - Ukraine (140 points)
BRONZE - Belarus (83 points) 
Fourth - Germany (79 points)
Fifth - Italy (74 points)

40kg 
GOLD - Valeriia KHAIDAROVA (RUS) df. Zozan AKAR (TUR), via fall 
BRONZE - Violetta SEMCHOVA (UKR) df. Alisa BORA (ROU), 6-5 
BRONZE - Michela CHESSA (ITA) df. Alina KURYLENKA (BLR), 4-1

46kg
GOLD - Viktoriia PEREVOZKINA (RUS) df. Svenja JUNGO (SUI), via fall 
BRONZE - Georgiana Lavinia ANTUCA (ROU)  df. Siria PERRONE (ITA), 4-4 
BRONZE - Tatsiana PERTSAVA (BLR) df. Daryna MATSOLA (UKR), 4-1 

53kg
GOLD - Viktoriia KHUSAINOVA (RUS) df. Amory Olivia ANDRICH (GER), 11-1 
BRONZE - Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE) df. Patrycja Ewa STRZELCZYK (POL), 3-0 
BRONZE - Alesia HETMANAVA (BLR) df. Flora VIZI (HUN), 4-0 

61kg
GOLD - Yuliia LESKOVETS (UKR) df. Tatiana KABANOVA (RUS), 2-1 
BRONZE - Aurora RUSSO (ITA) df. Derya Nur KARADUMAN (TUR), 12-0
BRONZE - Iva GERIC (CRO) df. Chadia AYACHI (FRA), 4-3 

69kg
GOLD - Lili UJFALVI (HUN) df. Alina MAKSIMAVA (BLR), 4-3
BRONZE - Sophia SCHAEFLE (GER) df. Paula Aurelia Izabela ROTARU (ROU), 9-6
BRONZE - Anastasia KOZLOVA (RUS) df. Patrycja Monika SLOMSKA (POL), via fall 

#WrestleTirana

World Championships: Kinjo wins fourth world gold as Japan wins three

By Ken Marantz

TIRANA, Albania (October 30) -- For two-time Olympic champion Risako KINJO (JPN), it wasn't just winning a fourth world title and first in five years that made her latest triumph so special. It was because of where she is at in her life at the moment.

"This is my fourth world title, but the first since I became a mother," Kinjo said after winning the women's 59kg gold at the Non-Olympic Weight Categories World Championships on Wednesday in Tirana. "So it makes me happier than at any other tournament."

Kinjo was one of three Japanese to take one of the four women's golds up for grabs, as Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) became the sixth wrestler in history to win world titles on all four age-group levels when she triumphed at 55kg, and Ami ISHII (JPN) claimed the 72kg title to add to the world U23 gold at 68kg she won a week ago in the same venue.

Jia LONG (CHN) captured the other title at stake with a victory by fall in the 65kg final to improve on her silver medal from 2022.

Kinjo, who got married and gave birth to her first child after winning the gold at the Tokyo Olympics under her maiden name of KAWAI, missed out on qualifying for the Paris Games, but decided against retiring and was content to seek further success in the non-Olympic weight.

It hasn't been an easy journey, as her time away from the mat left her quite rusty. Just to get to Tirana, she had to score a last-second victory in the domestic qualifier over teenager Sakura ONISHI (JPN).

Now 30 and having to juggle training with the responsibilities of motherhood, Kinjo tries to get the most out of her body in the most efficient way. There are no wasted motions, and that came out during her 4-2 victory in the final against Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL).

"I get help from my family and make the best use of my time," Kinjo said. "Every day, I put together a schedule that allows me to sufficiently train."

Kinjo fell behind when Sukhee scored a stepout off Kinjo's takedown attempt in the first period. An activity point for Kinjo put her ahead on criteria in the second period, and then she scored a stepout countering a rare attack by Sukhee.

Kinjo remained patient and forced Sukhee to take the initiative. And when she did, Kinjo was ready with a quick counter to spin behind for a takedown. Sukhee added a late stepout that was too little, too late. Her points were the only ones scored on Kinjo in three matches.

Asked to assess her performance, Kinjo replied, "I've done everything I could do and I'm at my strongest right now, so I'm satisfied."

Kinjo and Sukhee had met once before, with Kinjo winning 10-0 in their first-round match at the 2019 World Championships, where she won the last of three consecutive golds. She also has a world silver from 2015.

While Japan did not sweep the women's golds here nor at the Paris Olympics (where the country won four of six), Kinjo sees that as a good thing. "The fact that we don't monopolize all of the golds, I think that shows that the level of women's wrestling is getting better, and I think that's great."

Kiyooka came into Tirana with a slight chip on her shoulder. The 21-year-old had watched with mixed emotions as her older brother Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) and her Ikuei University teammates Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) and Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) took home gold medals from the Paris Olympics.

"I really supported my brother and was happy when he won, but half of me was thinking that I too am an athlete who is aiming for the Olympics, so it was tough to take," Kiyooka said. "I want to quickly catch up to my brother, and he gives me good motivation. I practice with the feeling that the next time will be my time."

In the final, Kiyooka never took her foot off the gas as she stormed to a 10-0 technical fall over world U20 champion Jin ZHANG (CHN).

Kiyooka took an 8-0 lead in the first period, scoring three takedowns and adding a 2-point roll after the first. In the second period, she spun behind for a fourth and decisive takedown to end the match at 4:22 and complete a run of outscoring four opponents 32-0.

With her first senior championship, Kiyooka joined the elite group that has achieved the "Grand Slam" of world titles, having won the cadet (U17) gold in 2019 and adding both the U20 and U23
crowns in 2022. She was preceded by Haruna OKUNO (JPN), Masako FURUICHI (JPN), Yui SUSAKI (JPN), Amit ELOR (USA) and Nonoka OZAKI (JPN).

"From U17, I went up one level at a time and now I was able to win as a senior," Kiyooka said. "I feel that all I have left [to accomplish] is the Olympics."

Ishii, also a teammate of Kiyooka's at Ikuei University, earned her first senior world title when she rallied to an 8-6 victory over three-time world medalist Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) in the 72kg final.

Ishii, who finished second at 68kg in 2022, scored an opening takedown in the first period, but got sloppy on an attempt in the second period and Bakbergenova scored 4 with a counter lift.

Ishii spun behind for a takedown, but then allowed the Kazakh to score again off her attack with a counter, this time for 2 to fall behind 6-4.

Ishii, who missed out on the Paris Olympics when she lost in the last second of a playoff at 68kg to Ozaki, was not about to give up the fight and scored a takedown and a go-ahead 2-point exposure with 50 seconds left to seal the victory.

In the 65kg final, Long took down European silver medalist Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU) with a double-leg lift to her back and secured a fall in 1:19.

It was the same outcome as in their only previous meeting, but could not have been more different. The two put on quite a show in the final of the 2022 Women's World Cup, when Zelenykh was competing for Ukraine. In that match, Zelenkyh led 8-2 at one point when Long launched an amazing comeback, tying the score at 12-all (but trailing on criteria) when she secured a fall with :02 left.

American pair add senior bronzes to U23 medals
In the bronze-medal matches, Macey KILTY (USA) and Kylie WELKER (USA) added senior medals to the ones they won at the last week's World U23.

Kilty, who won the world U23 silver at 65kg, picked up a bronze in that weight class when she stormed back from a five-point deficit to defeat Valeriia DONDUPOVA (AIN) 16-5.

Welker, the world U23 champion at 72kg, stayed at that weight and scored a takedown in each period to defeat 2023 world bronze medalist Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) 5-2.

Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN), the world 65kg champion in 2022, picked up her fourth world medal by taking the other bronze in that weight class with an 8-2 victory over MANISHA (IND).

Morikawa took a 4-0 lead into the second period and, after Manisha cut the gap with two stepouts, came back with a stepout and takedown to clinch the victory as she rebounded from a loss in the semifinals to Long that avenged a defeat in the 2022 final.

The other bronze at 72kg went to Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE), who scored a victory by fall over Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL). Hanzlickova shot in on a takedown and, as Zorigt defended, the Czech locked her arms and twisted her over onto her back.

At 55kg, Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Iryna KURACHKINA (AIN) secured her third career bronze medal and first since 2019 by defeating Ramona GALAMBOS (HUN) 5-3. Kurachkina scored two takedowns in the first period and held on for the win.

The other 55kg bronze was won by 2023 European bronze medalist Tatiana DEBIEN (FRA), who picked up her first world medal at age 33 when she scored the second of two second-period takedowns with 25 seconds left for a 4-3 victory over Areana VILLAESCUSA (USA).

At 59kg, 2022 world U23 bronze medalist MANSI (IND) became the eighth Indian woman in history to win a senior world medal when she scored a takedown in each period in a 5-0 victory over Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN).

Elena BRUGGER (GER) won a battle between two-time European bronze medalists when she got two lace-lock rolls off a takedown in the second period to down Svetlana LIPATOVA (AIN) 6-3 for the other bronze at 59kg.

Women's Results

55kg (18 entries)
GOLD: Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) df. Jin ZHANG (CHN) by TF, 10-0, 4:22

BRONZE: Tatiana DEBIEN (FRA) df. Areana VILLAESCUSA (USA), 4-3
BRONZE: Iryna KURACHKINA (AIN) df. Ramona GALAMBOS (HUN), 5-3

59kg (22 entries)
GOLD: Risako KINJO (JPN) df. Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL), 4-2

BRONZE: MANSI (IND) df. Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN), 5-0
BRONZE: Elena BRUGGER (GER) df. Svetlana LIPATOVA (AIN), 6-3

65kg (19 entries)
GOLD: Jia LONG (CHN) df. Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU) by Fall, 1:19 (2-1)

BRONZE: Macey KILTY (USA) df. Valeriia DONDUPOVA (AIN) by TF, 16-5, 3:53
BRONZE: Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) df. MANISHA (IND), 8-2

72kg (18 entries)
GOLD: Ami ISHII (JPN) df. Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), 8-6

BRONZE: Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) df. Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL) by Fall, 1:56 (2-0)
BRONZE: Kylie WELKER (USA) df. Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU), 5-2