#WrestleAmman

History at U17 Worlds: India wins first title, Canada crowns champion

By Vinay Siwach

AMMAN, Jordan (August 22) -- The country had been pushing towards the top of the podium in Women's Wrestling at the U17 World Championships for many years but it finally took an impressive 2024 batch for India to claim the women's team title.

India has consistently placed in the top five starting in 2016 and come particularly close to winning the title in 2021 in the absence of Japan. But the United States had sealed the title with the final bout of the competition.

India finished the women's competition at the U17 Worlds in Amman with five gold medals, one silver, two bronzes and a fifth-place finish to win the title with 185 points. Japan finished second with 146 points and Kazakhstan took the third spot with 79 points.

IndiaIndia won the team title in women's wrestling at the U17 World Championships in Amman. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

The country won four gold medals on Thursday and KAJAL (IND) added a fifth by winning the final at 69kg against Oleksandra RYBAK (UKR). After taking a 5-0 lead at the break using a big counter throw for four, Kajal added two more takedowns in the second period to win 9-2.

The other Indian in the final, Shrutika PATIL (IND), failed to go past the Japanese hurdle in Yuu KATSUME (JPN). The Japanese dominated the final and won 11-0, becoming the first and only gold medalist in women's wrestling for Japan, an odd sentence to write.

India's impressive victory as a team follows a good show at the U17 Asian Championships in which it claimed the crown over China and Japan. Last year, it had won its first U20 World Championships team title as well, incidentally, in Amman.

Kaura COLES (CAN)Kaura COLES (CAN) pins Nana KOZUKA (JPN) in the 53kg final to win the gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

More history was created in Amman as Canada crowned its first-ever world champion in women's wrestling at this level. Kaura COLES (CAN) won the 53kg gold medal with an impressive fall over Nana KOZUKA (JPN) in the final.

Coles took the opening lead but Kozuka answered with a big four to make it 4-2. An exposure from Coles gave criteria to Kozuka who was constantly finding openings for attacks. In the second period, Coles came up with a four-pointer using headlock to take an outright lead. At one point, Kozuka cut the lead to 9-7 but Coles hit another headlockk for four and secured the fall to win the final.

The Canadian has been impressive over the two days, winning three of her five bouts via fall. Only MUSKAN (IND) and Isabelle GONZALES (USA) were able to stop her from pinning them.

Historically, no Canadian had reached the final in women's wrestling and Coles' medal is only the second in the tournament's history. Canada has had a world champion in all other World Championships.

Taina FERNANDEZ (USA)Taina FERNANDEZ (USA) celebrates after winning gold at 61kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

The United States crowned a champion as well. Taina FERNANDEZ (USA) pinned Sae NOGUCHI (JPN) in the 61kg final to make sure the U.S. goes home with at least one gold in women's wrestling. Her tournament run of four wins included three falls and one technical superiority win and only one bout -- the final -- going into the fourth minute of the match.

The final began with Fernandez getting the first point for Noguchi's passivity. The American added a stepout and takedown to make it 4-0. Fernandez got the fall with 38 seconds remaining in the match.

At 40kg, Aleksandra FEDOROVA (AIN) won the gold in a low-scoring final against Kamila KUCHMA (UKR). She won 4-1.

Iran, Kyrgyzstan best in FS semis

Freestyle action began at the U17 World Championships with five weight classes. The United States had four wrestlers in the semifinals but only one made it to the finals. Iran had three and two made it to the gold medal bouts. Kyrgyzstan also shone as it put two wrestlers in the final.

Uzbekistan, Puerto Rico, Georgia and Kazakhstan also had a finalist each while one Individual Neutral Athlete made it to the final.

World ChampionsAll 10 women's wrestling world champions in Amman. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

RESULTS

40kg
GOLD: Aleksandra FEDOROVA (AIN) df. Kamila KUCHMA (UKR), 4-1

BRONZE: Raj BALA (IND) df. Monaka UMEKAWA (JPN), 11-5
BRONZE: Nazrin AHMADLI (AZE) df. Vivien SZENTPAL (HUN), 11-6

46kg
GOLD: Yuu KATSUME (JPN) df. Shrutika PATIL (IND), 11-0

BRONZE: Morgan TURNER (USA) df. Jessica TUOMINEN (FIN), via fall (8-0)
BRONZE: Medina KUANYSHBEK (KAZ) df. Yevheniia DRUZENKO (UKR), via fall (6-5)

53kg
GOLD: Kaura COLES (CAN) df. Nana KOZUKA (JPN), via fall (11-7)

BRONZE: MUSKAN (IND) df. Isabella GONZALES (USA), 12-2
BRONZE: Lisette BOETTKER (EST) df. Olesia MALAKHOVA (AIN), via fall (2-4)

61kg
GOLD: Taina FERNANDEZ (USA) df. Sae NOGUCHI (JPN), via fall (6-0)

BRONZE: Hiunai HURBANOVA (AZE) df. RAJNITA (IND), via fall (6-2
BRONZE: Ozdenur OZMEZ (TUR) df. Zhaidar MUKAT (KAZ), 4-0

69kg
GOLD: KAJAL (IND) df. Oleksandra RYBAK (UKR), 9-2

BRONZE: Ako UCHIYAMA (JPN) df. Rahma BEDIWY (EGY), via fall (9-1)
BRONZE: Zahra KARIMZADA (AZE) df. Ilayda CIN (TUR), 6-4

sd

Freestyle Semifinals

48kg
GOLD: Ulugbek RASHIDOV (UZB) vs. Amirabbas ALIZADEH (IRI) 

SF 1: Amirabbas ALIZADEH (IRI) df. Henry ASLIKYAN (USA), 6-4
SF 2: Ulugbek RASHIDOV (UZB) df. Chingis SARYGLAR (AIN), 7-5

55kg
GOLD: Joseph BACHMANN (PUR) vs. Kursantbek ISAKOV (KGZ)

SF 1: Kursantbek ISAKOV (KGZ) df. Keanu DILLARD (USA), 10-2
SF 2: Joseph BACHMANN (PUR) df. Huseyn HUSEYNOV (AZE), 5-2

65kg
GOLD: Ramazan ABDULKADYROV (AIN) vs. Rustamzhan KAKHAROV (KGZ) 

SF 1: Rustamzhan KAKHAROV (KGZ) df. Bakdaulet AKIMZHAN (KAZ), 12-5
SF 2: Ramazan ABDULKADYROV (AIN) df. Umut USLU (TUR), 4-4

80kg
GOLD: Reza AFSHAR (IRI) vs. Nikoloz MAISURADZE (GEO) 

SF 1: Nikoloz MAISURADZE (GEO) df. Artur KOSTIUK (UKR), 4-0
SF 2: Reza AFSHAR (IRI) df. Emmitt SHERLOCK (USA), 8-0

110kg
GOLD: Michael MOCCO (USA) vs. Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ)

SF 1: Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) df. Abolfazl MOHAMMAD NEZHAD (IRI), 4-3
SF 2: Michael MOCCO (USA) df. Gigia LUKUNIDZE (GEO), 10-0

#Grappling

Genge strikes double gold for Great Britain at U20 World Grappling Championships

By Vinay Siwach

ASTANA, Kazakhstan (October 10) -- Great Britain has not participated in the World Grappling Championships for the last 16 years. But Elizabeth GENGE (GBR) ended that trend and won double gold at the U20 World Grappling Championships in Astana.

Genge won gold medals in the 64kg weight class, both via submission. In Grappling, she defeated Adrianna MAZUR (POL) via submission, and in Grappling Gi, she defeated Veronika KARAKHONOVA (AIN) in the final.

Participating in her first Grappling World Championships, the 20-year-old Genge won all her bouts in two competitions via submission. Only Veronika KARAKHONOVA (AIN) could hold Genge to a decision victory.

Genge is the British champion in wrestling and has participated in the Faltz Open as well, finishing fifth this year.

Overall, Kazakhstan emerged as the best team in the U20 World Grappling Championships. Like the U17 event, Kazakhstan won all bout team titles -- two in men's and two in women's. 

RESULTS

Men's U20 Grappling Gi

58kg
GOLD: Iskander YULDASHEV (KAZ) df. Sargis VIRABYAN (ARM), via submission (2-2)

BRONZE: Bohdan CHORNEI (UKR) df. Alikhan KHAIRLIYEV (KAZ), 3-2
BRONZE: Ilia ABRAMENKO (AIN) df. Daniel GONZALEZ (ESP), 5-2

62kg
GOLD: Bekzat KAZTAYEV (KAZ) df. Emil VERDIYEV (AZE), 5-0

BRONZE: Magomed IUSUPOV (AIN) df. Wassim CHAINE (FRA), 4-4
BRONZE: Andrii TSVYK (UKR) df. Javier FRANCO (ESP), via submission (2-2)

66kg
GOLD: Nursultan KUSHTARBEK UULU (KGZ) df. Mani GRIMAUDO (FRA), 8-2

BRONZE: Vincenzo BUSSOLOTTI (ESP) df. Gafur UZHAKHOV (KAZ), 3-3
BRONZE: Nurassyl TURUSPEKOV (KAZ) df. Tigran GHAZAKHYAN (ARM), via submission (5-2)

71kg
GOLD: Said ZAIPULAEV (AIN) df. Elman ASGAROV (AZE), 7-5

BRONZE: Maksim KURZHONKOV (AIN) df. Vladyslav SIZOV (UKR), 13-7
BRONZE: Stefanos VAVILIS (GRE) df. Kacper GARCZYNSKI (POL), 5-2

77kg
GOLD: Natan SAP (POL) df. Denis SHELUKHANOV (AIN), via submission (0-2)

BRONZE: Suleiman MAMUTOV (UKR) df. Karim ADEM (FRA), 6-2
BRONZE: Imam AMAGAEV (AIN) df. Renat BOCHKARYOV (KAZ), 4-0

84kg
GOLD: Pawel JAWORSKI (POL) df. Dzhabrail ISRAPILOV (AIN), via submission (7-2)

BRONZE: Maxat TOLENDI (KAZ) df. Didar NURTASSOV (KAZ), via submission (2-0)
BRONZE: Arslan GADZHIEV (AIN) df. Lorinc NAGY (HUN), 2-0

92kg
GOLD: Stefan LOBODA (ROU) df. Aliiar NAGIEV (AIN), 2-1

BRONZE: Ilyas ABDULLAYEV (KAZ) df. Andrei LIASHKO (AIN), 0-0
BRONZE: Ivan POREMCHUK (UKR) df. Nurassyl UTEPOV (KAZ), via submission (0-2)

100kg
GOLD: Yevhenii MURADOV (UKR)
SILVER: Ibrahim MANARBEK (KAZ) 
BRONZE: Ruslan HRUSHEUSKI (AIN)

130kg
GOLD: Ivan BELIAEV (AIN)
SILVER: Arystan AITMOLDIN (KAZ)
BRONZE: Khalimalav BAZIKHOV (AIN)

Women's U20 Grappling Gi

49kg
GOLD: Zhibek KULUMBETOVA (KAZ) df. Yuliia ZASULSKA (UKR), via submission (0-2)

BRONZE: Arina ZHIGACHEVA (AIN) df. Gaukharay YERSEIIT (KAZ), 9-6

53kg
GOLD: Radomira OSTANINA (AIN)
SILVER: Zuzanna KOWALSKA (POL)
BRONZE: Evelina FLORIAK (UKR)

58kg
GOLD: Nuraiym MUNAITBAS (KAZ) df. Alva PANNWITZ (GER), via submission (2-0)

BRONZE: Nuraiym RUSLANBEKOVA (KGZ) df. Ailin SANTANA (ESP), 7-3
BRONZE: Maria BARNA (POL) df. Aruzhan MARATOVA (KAZ), via submission (10-2)

64kg
GOLD: Elizabeth GENGE (GBR) df. Adrianna MAZUR (POL), via submission (7-0)

BRONZE: Veronika KARAKHONOVA (AIN) df. Raushan ABDIGAZY (KAZ), via submission (9-0) 

71kg
GOLD: Aleksandra PLEMIASHOVA (AIN)
SILVER: Yerkezhan YERLANOVA (KAZ)
BRONZE: Maja SALAMON (POL)

90kg
GOLD: Vlada BOIAKHCHIEVA (AIN) df. Hanifa EIVAZI (IRI), 19-2

Men's U20 Grappling

58kg
GOLD: Sargis VIRABYAN (ARM) df. Ilia ABRAMENKO (AIN), via submission (4-2)

BRONZE: Illia SHTANKO (UKR) df. Sharah NADAKKAV (IND), via submission (2-0)
BRONZE: Bohdan CHORNEI (UKR) df. Bakdaulet AUYEZ (KAZ), 6-2

62kg
GOLD: Andrii TSVYK (UKR) df. Adil IKHLAZOV (FRA), via submission

BRONZE: Madiyar SERIKBAY (KAZ) df. Omar MEDZHIDOV (AIN), 3-0
BRONZE: Wassim CHAINE (FRA) df. Rakhat ZHAXYBAYEV (KAZ), via submission (2-1)

66kg
GOLD: Said ZAIPULAEV (AIN) df. Vincenzo BUSSOLOTTI (ESP), 6-1

BRONZE: Gafur UZHAKHOV (KAZ) df. Duta SETURIDZE (GEO), 10-2
BRONZE: Nursultan KUSHTARBEK UULU (KGZ) df. Tigran GHAZAKHYAN (ARM), via submission (11-0)

71kg
GOLD: Magomedrasul BOLOTSILAEV (AIN) df. Zhassulan ZHETPISBAY (KAZ), 6-0

BRONZE: Artem KHVAN (KAZ) df. Bilel BOULAMA (FRA), via submission (5-2)
BRONZE: Kacper GARCZYNSKI (POL) df. Ethan FORREZ (FRA), 6-4

77kg
GOLD: Daniil TSITSORIN (AIN) df. Andrii SOFRONII (UKR), 7-1

BRONZE: Ouassim ADREUACH (ESP) df. Ilyas SAIDULLAYEV (KAZ), 2-0
BRONZE: Natan SAP (POL) df. Doman VANCSIK (HUN), via submission

84kg
GOLD: Pawel JAWORSKI (POL) df. Dzhabrail ISRAPILOV (AIN), 9-4

BRONZE: Ilyas ABDULLAYEV (KAZ) df. Viktor SHEENKO (AIN), 5-4
BRONZE: Maxat TOLENDI (KAZ) df. Robert STOIAN (ROU), via submission (0-1)

92kg
GOLD: Alikhan TUFANOV (KAZ) df. Nikita BABAEV (AIN), 2-0

BRONZE: Stefan LOBODA (ROU) df. Patryk REKMAN (POL), 2-0
BRONZE: Ivan POREMCHUK (UKR) df. Andrei LIASHKO (AIN), 2-2

100kg
GOLD: Yevhenii MURADOV (UKR) df. Rodrigo BLANCO TERAN (ESP), 10-3

BRONZE: Dmitriy ROMANENKO (KAZ) df. Shyngyskhan TURSUNKHANOV (KAZ), 0-0 

130kg
GOLD: Arystan AITMOLDIN (KAZ)
SILVER: Ivan BELIAEV (AIN)
BRONZE: Dinmukhamed KUANGALIYEV (KAZ)

U20 Women's Grappling

49kg
GOLD: Zhibek KULUMBETOVA (KAZ) df. Yuliia ZASULSKA (UKR), via submission

BRONZE: Arina ZHIGACHEVA (AIN) df. Julia BELTRAN MARUENDA (ESP), 4-3

53kg
GOLD: Radomira OSTANINA (AIN)
SILVER: Zuzanna KOWALSKA (POL)
BRONZE: Evelina FLORIAK (UKR)

58kg
GOLD: Maria BARNA (POL) df. Nuraiym MUNAITBAS (KAZ), 10-8

BRONZE: Kenzhe UZBEKOVA (KAZ) df. Maya FLORIAN (ROU), 2-2
BRONZE: Varvara MASHKINA (AIN) df. Nuraiym RUSLANBEKOVA (KGZ), 6-2

64kg
GOLD: Elizabeth GENGE (GBR) df. Veronika KARAKHONOVA (AIN), via submission (11-0)

BRONZE: Adrianna MAZUR (POL) df. Victoria ISIDRO (ESP), via submission (8-0) 

71kg
GOLD: Aleksandra PLEMIASHOVA (AIN)
SILVER: Maja SALAMON (POL)
BRONZE: Yerkezhan YERLANOVA (KAZ)
 
90kg
GOLD: Vlada BOIAKHCHIEVA (AIN) df. Hanifa EIVAZI (IRI), 9-0