2026 U17 World Championships

Athimni Wins Historic Medal for Tunisia, Now Chases World Title

Thursday, July 30, 2026 - 15:05 By Vinay Siwach

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BAKU, Azerbaijan (July 30) -- Tasmin ATHIMNI (TUN) has the chance to become Tunisia's first-ever world champion in wrestling. She has already created history by reaching the 40kg final at the U17 World Championships in Baku on Thursday.

Before Athimni, no other U17 wrestler from Tunisia had won a medal at the tournament. Moreover, she is only the second ever world finalist for the country, nine years after Tunisian legend Marwa AMRI (TUN) did it at the 2017 Paris World Championships at the senior level.

Tunisia Wrestling Tasmin ATHIMNI (TUN)Tasmin ATHIMNI (TUN): 40kg wrestler from Tunisia. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

In the 40kg semifinal, Athimni managed to compose a 6-3 win over Sirin ASKARA (TUR), but her dream run began in Baku began with a 5-0 win over Azzaya BATTULGA (MGL), before she pinned home favorite Gulkhanim SHIRINOVA (AZE) in the quarterfinals.

Standing between her and the historic gold medal is Natsumi SASAKI (JPN) who managed a close 4-2 win against Sophia VALDEZ (USA). Sasaki fell 2-2 behind on criteria but scored a stepout to take a 3-2 lead before adding another for the win.

Three falls in three bouts and Taina FERNANDEZ (USA) made it to her third U17 World Championships final. She is hoping to become the first non-Japanese wrester to three U17 world titles. Her first two came at 61kg but Fernandez is now at 69kg.

She picked up a 33-second fall against Maja WEJCHAN (POL) in the semifinal and will now face U17 European champion Kiymet TEZCAN (TUR) who posted a controlled 5-1 win over Milana ULANOVA (KGZ) in the other 69kg semifinal.

Two other wrestlers from the United States made it to the finals on Thursday, giving the country a strong position in the team title race. Marlee SOLOMON (USA) and Landri VON GONTEN (USA) will wrestle for the gold medal on Friday at 53kg and 61kg respectively.

Solomon secured a fall over Alejandra SERRANO (COL) in the semifinal while Von Gonten survived a battle against Aruzhan BAKYTNUR (KAZ) and win 7-6, thanks to a slight exposure when Bakytnur was trying a leg-lace in the final 20 seconds. Von Gonten will now face U17 European champion Ozdenur OZMEZ (TUR) in the 61kg final after the Turkiye wrestler blanked Graciela ENINGO (ESP), 6-0.

AKSHARA (IND) will try to stop Solomon in the 53kg final after she picked up a quick fall over Rion OGAWA (JPN) in the other semifinal.

At 46kg, Sandhya VISHNOI (IND) and Kokona MAKINO (JPN) will face each other for the gold medal after both picked up dominant wins in the semifinals. Vishnoi defeated Inzhu BAKKOZHA (KAZ) via fall while Makino secured a 10-0 technical superiority win over Vivien SZENTPAL (HUN).

RESULTS

40kg
SF 1: Natsumi SASAKI (JPN) df. Sophia VALDEZ (USA), 4-2
SF 2: Tasmin ATHIMNI (TUN) df. Sirin ASKARA (TUR), 6-3

46kg
SF 1: Sandhya VISHNOI (IND) df. Inzhu BAKKOZHA (KAZ), via fall
SF 2: Kokona MAKINO (JPN) df. Vivien SZENTPAL (HUN), 10-0

53kg
SF 1: AKSHARA (IND) df. Rion OGAWA (JPN), via fall
SF 2: Marlee SOLOMON (USA) df. Alejandra SERRANO (COL), via fall

61kg
SF 1: Landri VON GONTEN (USA) df. Aruzhan BAKYTNUR (KAZ), 7-6
SF 2: Ozdenur OZMEZ (TUR) df. Graciela ENINGO (ESP), 6-0

69kg
SF 1: Taina FERNANDEZ (USA) df. Maja WEJCHAN (POL), via fall
SF 2: Kiymet TEZCAN (TUR) df. Milana ULANOVA (KGZ), 5-1

UWW Opens Dedicated Office for Grappling, MMA, Pankration in Lausanne

Monday, July 6, 2026 - 17:15 By United World Wrestling Press

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LAUSANNE, Switzerland (July 6) -- United World Wrestling marked a significant milestone for Grappling, MMA and Pankration on Monday with the official opening of its dedicated office for the three associated styles at the Maison du Sport International in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The new office will serve as the operational hub for the continued development and governance of Grappling, MMA and Pankration within the UWW family.

The official opening was attended by UWW President Nenad LALOVIC, President of the UWW Committee of Associated Styles and UWW Vice President Rodica YAKSI, UWW Committee for Grappling, MMA and Pankration Vice President Adrian BAKOS, and UWW Committee for Grappling, MMA and Pankration Member Gaji GAJIYEV.

Michal BUCHEL has been appointed Head of the office and Tolegen KUMAROV, who was appointed Head of Grappling at United World Wrestling on February 21 in Baku, will also be part of the new office. He will be responsible, within the framework of the UWW Committee for Grappling, MMA and Pankration, for the strategic development of grappling worldwide.

Lausanne

In the coming days, a working group will be formed and will begin implementing key projects aimed at developing these disciplines.

The main objectives set by UWW for the committee will be the systematic development of Grappling, MMA and Pankration, the unification and strengthening of international cooperation, the support of national federations, as well as the creation of new opportunities for athletes around the world.

The office for the three styles is open to constructive cooperation with all organisations that are sincerely interested in the development of these disciplines, the promotion of a healthy lifestyle, and the education of the younger generation.

I is important for all international, continental and national organisations developing Grappling, MMA and Pankration to build relationships based on mutual respect, open dialogue and partnership. Sport has always been a universal language that brings people together regardless of nationality, culture or political views. 

By bringing together the experience, knowledge and collective efforts of the global sports community, it’s possible to ensure the sustainable development of Grappling, MMA and Pankration, strengthen their international standing, and open a new chapter in the history of combat sports.