#WrestleBudapest19

Japan and China Dominate Field in First Day of Women's Freestyle at #BudapestWrestle

Thursday, October 31, 2019 - 08:56 By Taylor Miller

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Photo of Masako FURUICHI (JPN) by Sachiko Hotaka.

BUDAPEST, Hungary – Japan and China combined for eight of Thursday night’s 10 women’s freestyle finalists at the 2019 U23 World Championships.

Japan sent all five of its Wednesday competitors to the gold medal match, all of which have won World titles previously, while China put three into the finals.

Leading the way for Japan is three-time Junior World champion, three-time Cadet World champion and 2019 Senior World bronze medalist Masako FURUICHI (JPN) at 68 kg.

For gold, Furuichi will face 2018 Cadet World champion and two-time Junior World silver medalist Macey KILTY (USA).

Japan and China will have gold-medal head-to-head matchups at 50 kg, 55 kg and 76 kg.

At 50 kg, Kika KAGATA (JPN), a 2017 Junior World champion and two-time Cadet World champion, will go against Ziqi FENG (CHN) for the title.

Photo of Macey KILTY (USA) by Kadir Caliskan. 

Representing Japan in the 55 kg final is reigning U23 World champion and 2018 Junior World champion Saki IGARASHI (JPN). On Thursday night, she will face 2018 Senior Asian Championships bronze medalist Lannuan LUO (CHN).

It will be a battle of World champions at 76 kg as 2019 Junior World champion Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) will challenge returning U23 World champion and 2019 Senior World bronze medalist Pahlia PAHLI (CHN).

Kagami is also a two-time Cadet World champion and a 2018 Youth Olympic Games champ.

In the other final, two-time Cadet World champion Yumeka TANABE (JPN) will face Anastasia NICHITA (MDA), who is a 2018 Junior World champion and three-time age-group World silver medalist.

Medal matches begin Thursday at 6 p.m. local time (noon ET) live on unitedworldwrestling.org.

Semifinals results
50 kg
Ziqi FENG (CHN) df. Mariia VYNNYK (UKR), 10-0
Kika KAGATA (JPN) df. Jyoti JYOTI (IND), 15-4

55 kg
Lannuan LUO (CHN) df. Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ), 12-2
Saki IGARASHI (JPN) df. Khrystyna Zoryana DEMKO (UKR), 4-3

59 kg
Yumeka TANABE (JPN) df. Alena SANGADIEVA (RUS), fall
Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) df. Yuliya PISARENKA (BLR), 8-3

68 kg
Masako FURUICHI (JPN) df. Natalia STRZALKA (POL), 11-0
Macey KILTY (USA) df. Yingying WANG (CHN), 11-0

76 kg
Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) df. Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ), 8-3
Paliha PALIHA (CHN) df. Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE), 6-3

Finals matchups
50 kg: Ziqi FENG (CHN) vs. Kika KAGATA (JPN)
55 kg: Lannuan LUO (CHN) vs. Saki IGARASHI (JPN)
59 kg: Yumeka TANABE (JPN) vs. Anastasia NICHITA (MDA)
68 kg: Masako FURUICHI (JPN) vs. Macey KILTY (USA)
76 kg: Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) vs. Paliha PALIHA (CHN)

#development

Bringing Asia Together: OCA-UWW Wrestling Camp Concludes in China

Thursday, July 16, 2026 - 16:14 By United World Wrestling Press

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GUANGZHOU, China (July 15) -- The 2026 Olympic Council of Asia and United World Wrestling Asian Wrestling Youth Camp and Course for Coaches concluded at the Guangzhou Polytechnic of Sports on Wednesday, bringing together 62 athletes and 30 coaches from 30 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) across Asia.

Held from July 8-15, the camp also included 40 student wrestlers from the Guangzhou Polytechnic of Sports, providing additional training opportunities and a valuable platform for athletes and coaches to exchange knowledge and experience.

At the closing ceremony, participants received certificates of participation and commemorative gifts from representatives of the OCA, UWW and the Guangzhou Polytechnic of Sports.

Wrestling UWW

OCA Director of Family Relations & Development Programs Wissam TRKMANI thanked all those involved in organising the camp.

“This has been a wonderful camp and I would like to thank everyone who has made it possible," Trkmani said. "Wrestling is one of the oldest Olympic sports. It builds mental resilience, physical strength and personal discipline, providing a strong foundation for athletic development. The UWW educators have truly inspired the young athletes, and everyone worked hard to make this camp a success.”

Trkmani encouraged the athletes, aged 14 to 17, to continue pursuing their sporting ambitions and thanked the coaches for their commitment to developing young wrestlers across the continent.

Speaking on behalf of UWW, Bureau member, Olympic silver medallist and Chair of the UWW Athletes Commission Arsen JULFALAKYAN described the camp as amazing and encouraged coaches to share the knowledge and experience gained in Guangzhou with their wrestling communities at home.

Wrestling UWW

UWW Development Director Deqa NIAMKEY highlighted the importance of the camp for the future development of wrestling in Asia.

“This is the biggest youth camp we have hosted in Asia, thanks to the support of the OCA and all the National Olympic Committees and National Federations," Niamkey said. "Youth development is one of the main pillars of UWW development, and coaches are fundamental to that mission. This event not only provided an opportunity to improve technical standards but also allowed athletes to make friends and coaches to exchange experience and expertise, helping to build a stronger wrestling community across Asia.”

The camp combined athlete training sessions with a dedicated education programme for coaches, reinforcing the commitment of the OCA and UWW to developing wrestling through athlete pathways, coach education and international cooperation.