Women's World Cup

Japan and China Win Group Stage, Finals Set

Friday, December 1, 2017 - 20:25 By Eric Olanowski

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CHEBOKSORY, Russia (December 1) – Japan and China both started the day on a hot streak, winning all eight of their opening round bouts at the Women's World Cup. Both teams ended with three victories, as they were undefeated on the opening day. This set up Saturday's 2017 Women’s World Cup Championship finals matchup between Japan and China. Japan was the winner of Group A and China was the winner of Group B. This will be their first championships meeting since 2007 and third overall. They are currently tied with one win apiece.

Japan, led by world champions Yui SUSAKI (JPN) and Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) kicked the day off by defeating Sweden, 8-0. The highlight of the match came when A. HANAI (JPN) defeated No.5 E. NILSSON (SWE), 3-1. Hanai secured two step outs, and received her final point from Nilsson’s lost challenge.

In round two, the Japanese continued their winning ways by picking up five victories against host nation Russia.

Japan etched their way into their third straight Women’s World Cup finals by defeating the United States, 4-4 on criteria in round number three. It was Y. KAWAI'S (JPN) victory over 2017 world finalist and No.2 ranked Ali RAGAN (USA) that helped seal the dual. Ragan had a 2-0 lead in the second period when Kawai picked up a takedown and three leg laces, giving her the 8-1 victory.

It took China twenty matches until they saw their first defeat of the day, as they shut out Azerbaijan and Ukraine in the first two rounds. In round three, No.15 B. ALTANTSETSEG (MGL) was able to put Mongolia on the board by defeating Y. SUN (CHN), 7-2, but China eventually locked up their first finals spot since 2013 with a 5-3 victory.

Saturday’s third place bout features the United States and Mongolia, who were both 2-1 on the opening day of competition.

With their backs against the wall, the United States called on three-time world champion A. GRAY. In order for the USA to win the dual against Russia, Gray would have to pick up a fall over Russia’s A. PEREPELKINA. Gray picked up the 57-second fall, which gave the USA the 4-4 victory on criteria.

In addition, the United States picked up a 7-1 victory over Sweden. K. MIRACLE (USA) gave the United States their fifth straight win of the dual with a victory over No.5 E. Nilsson.

Mongolia finished the day with victories in Group B over Azerbaijan (6-2) and Ukraine (6-2). Mongolia's biggest win of the day came when No.15 B. Altansetseg put on a show and defeated No.8 I. CHYKHRADZE KHARIV (UKR), 9-1.

Finishing with 1-2 records, the fifth place bout will be wrestled between Russia and Ukraine.

Russia locked up their spot in the fifth place match with a 5-3 victory over Sweden. Ukraine’s lone victory over Azerbaijan came by way of 4-4 tie that was broken on classification points.

Rounding out the placement matches will be the seveth place bout between Azerbaijan and Sweden, who were both 0-3 on the day.

Medal and Placement Matches (December 2)

7th Place: Sweden v. Azerbaijan || 1pm/5am ET
5th Place: Russia v. Ukraine|| 1pm/5am ET
3rd Place: United State v. Mongolia || 2pm/6am ET
1st Place: Japan v. China || 3pm/7am ET

RESULTS

Japan df. Sweden, 8-0
48kg    Y. SUSAKI (JPN) df. M. LJUNGSTROEM (SWE), 10-0
53kg    M. MUKAIDA (JPN) df. E. BROBECK (SWE), 10-0
55kg    M. KADOYA (JPN) df. S. PETER (SWE), 10-0
58kg    A. HANAI (JPN) df. E. NILSSON (SWE), 3-1
60kg    Y. KAWAI (JPN) df. T. PERSSON (SWE), FORFEIT
63kg    Y. ITO (JPN) df. M. NYGREN (SWE), 10-0
69kg    M. MORIKAWA (JPN) df. A. SANDAHL (SWE), 5-1
75kg    M. FURUICHI (JPN) df. D. MAKOTA STROEM (SWE), 6-6

China df. Ukraine, 8-0                       
48kg    Y. SUN (CHN) df. I. SEMKIV (UKR), 12-2
53kg    Q. PANG (CHN) df. O. SHNAIDER (UKR), 8-0
55kg    N. RONG (CHN) df. O. KREMZER (UKR), FALL
58kg    X. CHEN (CHN) df.  I. CHYKHRADZE KHARIV (UKR), 12-8
60kg    Q. LI (CHN) df. S. BODNAR (UKR), 6-1
63kg    R. XU (CHN) df. Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR), 7-6
69kg    F. ZHOU (CHN)  df. A. BELINSKA (UKR), FALL
75kg    Q. ZHOU (CHN) df. A.SHUSTOVA (UKR), 10-4

United States df. Russia, 4-4.
48kg    V. ANTHONY df. (USA) df. V. CHEPSARAKOVA (RUS), 3-2
53kg    S. ORSHUSH (RUS) df. H. AUGELLO (USA), 10-0
55kg    S. HILDEBRANDT (USA) df. M. GUROVA (RUS), 6-3
58kg    V. CHUMIKOVA (RUS) df.. K. MIRACLE (USA), 8-6
60kg    Yulia PRONTSEVITCH (RUS) df. A. RAGAN (USA), 3-2
63kg    A. FOMENKO (RUS) df. M. VELTE (USA), 4-2
69kg    T. MENSAH (USA) df. A. BRATCHIKOVA (RUS), 10-0
75kg    A. GRAY (USA) df. A. PEREPELKINA (RUS), via FALL (0:57)

Mongolia df, Azerbaijan, 6-2
48kg    T. NASIROVA (AZE) df. C. BUYANDALAI (MGL), 12-10
53kg    Leyla GURBANOVA (AZE) df. Otgonjargal GANBAATAR (MGL), 4-0
55kg    B. BAT OCHIR (MGL) df. S. HASHIMZADA (AZE), 5-0
58kg    B. ALTANTSETSEG (MGL) df. A. KOLESNIK (AZE), 14-10
60kg    T. OMELCHENKO (AZE) df.. G. ENKHBAT (MGL), 5-2
63kg    B. KHURELKHUU (MGL) df. E. GAMBAROVA (AZE), 8-1
69kg    P. GANBAATAR (MGL) df. E. MANOLOVA (AZE), 6-4
75kg    O. GAN OCHIR (MGL) df. G. ZUTOVA (AZE), via FORFEIT

USA df. Sweeden, 7-1
48kg    V. ANTHONY (USA) df.  M. LJUNGSTROEM (SWE), 10-0
53kg    H. AUGELLO (USA) df.  E. BROBECK (SWE), via fall.
55kg    S. HILDEBRANDT (USA) df. S PETER (SWE), 12-1.
58kg    K.  MIRACLE (USA) df. E.NILSSON (SWE), 5-0
60kg    A. RAGAN (USA) df. T. PERSSON (SWE), via FORFEIT
63kg    A MOLINARI (USA) df. M. NYGREN (SWE), 4-2.
69kg    T. MENSAH (USA) df. A.  SANDAHL (SWE), 10-0
75kg    D. MAKOTA STROEM (SWE) df. V. FRANCIS (USA), 10-0

Mongolia df. Ukraine, 6-2
48kg    I. SEMKIV (UKR) df. C. BUYANDALAI (MGL), 6-0
53kg    O. GANBAATAR (MGL) df. O. SHNAIDER (UKR), 6-2
55kg    B. BAT OCHIR df. (MGL) O. KREMZER (UKR), 10-4
58kg    B. ALTANTSETSEG (MGL) df. I. CHYKHRADZE KHARIV (UKR), 9-1
60kg    G. ENKHBAT (MGL) df. S BODNAR (UKR), 11-0
63kg    O. PUREVDORJ (MGL) df. I. KOLIADENKO (UKR), 11-0
69kg    A. BELINSKA (UKR) df. B. SORONZONBOID. (MGL), via FALL
75kg    O. GAN OCHIR (MGL) df. Anastasiia SHUSTOVA  (UKR), 10-6

Japan df. Russia, 5-3
48kg    Y. SUSAKI (JPN) df. A. VETOSHKINA(RUS), 10-0
53kg    M. MUKAIDA (JPN) df. Stalvira ORSHUSH (RUS), 10-0
55kg    M. GUROVA (RUS) df. M. KADOYA (JPN), 4-4
58kg    A.HANAI (JPN) df. V. CHUMIKOVA (RUS), 4-2
60kg    Y. KAWAI (JPN) df. Y. PRONTSEVITCH (RUS),6-0      
63kg    A. FOMENKO (RUS) df. Y. ITO (JPN),7-0
69kg    A. BRATCHIKOVA (RUS) df.  M. MORIKAWA (JPN), 4-1
75kg    M. FURUICHI (JPN) df. K. SHUMOVA (RUS), 3-1

China df. Azerbaijan, 8-0
48kg    J.NI (CHN) df. T. NASIROVA (AZE), 10-0
53kg    Q. PANG (CHN) df. L. GURBANOVA (AZE), 10-0
55kg    N. RONG (CHN) df. S. HASHIMZADA, (AZE), 12-2
58kg    Y. SUN (CHN) df. A. KOLESNIK (AZE), 7-4
60kg    X. CHEN (CHN) df. T. OMELCHENKO (AZE), 10-6
63kg    X. LUO (CHN) df. E. GAMBAROVA (AZE),10-0
69kg    F. ZHOU (CHN) df. E. MANOLOVA (AZE), 10-0
75kg    P. PALIHA (CHN df.. G.l ZUTOVA (AZE), via FORFEIT

China df. Mongolia, 5-3
48kg    Y. SUN (CHN) df. C. BUYANDALAI (MGL), 10-0.
53kg    Q. PANG (CHN) df. O GANBAATAR (MGL), 10-0
55kg    N. RONG (CHN) df.. S. ERDENECHIMEG (MGL), 12-1
58kg    B. ALTANTSETSEG (MGL) df. Y. SUN (CHN), 7-2.
60kg    X. CHEN (CHN) df. G. ENKHBAT (MGL), 12-1.
63kg    O. PUREVDORJ (MGL) df. X. LUO (CHN), 11-6.
69kg    F. ZHOU (CHN) df. P. GANBAATAR  (MGL), 4-0
75kg    N. ORCHIRBAT (MGL) df. P. PALIHA (CHN), 5-0

Russia df. Sweden , 5-3
48kg    V. CHEPSARAKOVA (RUS) df. M. LJUNGSTROEM (SWE), 10-0.
53kg    N. MALYSHEVA (RUS) df. E. BROBECK (SWE), 10-0
55kg    M. GUROVA (RUS) df. S. PETER (SWE), 11-0.  
58kg    E. NILSSON (SWE) df. K. MURTUZALIEVA (RUS), via FALL (3:52).
60kg    Y. PRONTSEVITCH (RUS) df. T. PERSSON (SWE), via FORFEIT
63kg    M. NYGREN (SWE) df. A. FOMENKO (RUS) via FALL.
69kg    A. BRATCHIKOVA (RUS) df. A. SANDAHL (SWE), 10-0.
75kg    D. MAKOTA STROEM (SWE) df. K. SHUMOVA (RUS), 4-0

Azerbijian df. Ukraine, 4-4
48kg    I. SEMKIV (UKR) df. T. NASIROVA (AZE), 10-0           
53kg    O. SHNAIDER (UKR), df. S. QAMZOCLZADE (AZE),14-2       
55kg    O KREMZER (UKR) df. S. HASHIMZADA (AZE), 10-0.
58kg    A.KOLESNIK  (AZE)  df. I. CHYKHRADZE KHARIV (UKR), 6-3
60kg    T. OMELCHENKO (AZE) df. S. BODNAR (UKR)
63kg    E. GAMBAROVA (AZE) df. I. KOLIADENKO (UKR)
69kg    E. MANOLOVA (AZE) df. A. BELINSKA (UKR)
75kg    A. SHUSTOVA (UKR) df. G. ZUTOVA (AZE), via FORFEIT

Japan df. USA 4-4
48kg    Y. SUSAKI (JPN), df. V. ANTHONY (USA), 11-0
53kg    M. MUKAIDA (JPN) df. H. AUGELLO (USA), 10-0.
55kg    S. HILDEBRANDT(USA)  df. M. KADOYA (JPN), 6-3
58kg    K. Kiyoko MIRACLE  (USA) df. Akie HANAI (JPN), 4-2
60kg    Y. KAWAI (JPN) df. A RAGAN (USA), 8-1         
63kg    Y. ITO (JPN) df. Mallory Maxine VELTE (USA), via FALL (1:36)            
69kg    T. MENSAH  (USA) df. M. MORIKAWA (JPN), 5-0
75kg    Adeline Maria GRAY (USA)  df. Masako FURUICHI (JPN), 6-0

 

 

 

 

 

 

#WrestleBudapest

Takahashi marks return from injury with Ranking Series gold

Friday, July 18, 2025 - 20:08 By Vinay Siwach

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 18) -- The last memories of Kota TAKHASHI (JPN) on the mat were painful. He had a heavily strapped right knee and was wrestling at the Non-Olympic World Championships in Tirana last year. He was torn.

A surgery and nine months later, Takahashi returned to international wrestling at the Budapest Ranking Series on Friday and captured the 74kg gold medal.

The world U23 champion was the third gold medalist from Japan in Budapest after Takara SUDA (JPN) and Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) won at 61kg and 70kg, respectively.

In the other two weight classes that were in action on Friday, Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) and Trent HIDLAY (USA) captured the gold medal at 86kg and 92kg as Freestyle came to a close at the Ranking Series.

Takahashi, who won the Asian Championships gold in 2024, made himself a gold-medal threat for the World Championships in Zagreb with an impressive performance that saw him score wins over Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) and David CARR (USA).

"This was my first international competition since my right knee surgery, and I wanted to show my true abilities," Takahashi said. "I'm very happy that I was able to win by thoroughly executing my tackles and aggressive wrestling style."

Takahashi was up against Salkazanov in his first match and began by blasting two double-leg attacks to race to a 4-0 lead. But the second period was not the same as he was put on the activity clock and Salkazanov cut the lead with a takedown during that.

Just when it seemed that Salkazanov can take the lead, Takahashi hit a low leg-attack and converted it into takedown to make the gap 6-3. Salkazanov did not let it go and scored a stepout with nine seconds left.

Takahashi was happy to not engage in those nine seconds, and happily gave a stepout and a caution. He won 6-6 and set up a quarterfinal against Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN). He did not need any of those attacks as he managed a 3-0 win.

The semifinal against Carr was a challenging one as Takahashi struggled to keep his conditioning for six minutes. He opened with a stepout and Carr was called for fleeing. As Carr used a chest wrap to stop Takahashi's double-leg attack, he fell on his back with hand opens. Only Takahashi was awarded two points which made his lead 4-0. Two stepouts later, it was 6-0.

Carr got going in the final two minutes as he scored two takedowns inside 20 seconds to make it 6-4. So far, Takahashi had remained low in his stance and cancelled Carr's long reach. However, his defense began to break up.

As Carr tried to turn Takahashi after the second takedown, Takahashi blocked the turn and got two points. Carr scored a reversal to make it 8-5. He then made it 8-7 with 10 seconds remaining but that was the final scoring action of the bout.

"Car is very aggressive, and I am also good at aggressive wrestling, but in the second half, my opponent's attacks were superior to mine. I ended up conceding points," he said. "I think that was my mistake. In the second period, I tried to attack, but the opponent kept attacking repeatedly. I ended up just defending, and that was the reason I lost points. I need to be more aggressive and attack more."

Takahashi's aggressive wrestling was once again on show in the final against another former world U23 champion Magomed KHANIEV (AZE). He scored two takedowns and defending so well that Khaniev was not able to score a point and Takahashi won gold medal, 4-0.

But the Japanese accepted the chinks in his armor and has decided to work on them before the World Championships where he knows that the competition will be even tougher.

"Similar story against Salkazanov. I want to review my stamina to maintain an aggressive attack throughout the six minutes without breaking my stance, and keep solid stance," he said. "In the second half, my desire to attack weakened, and I ended up being attacked by the opponent, leading to them scoring points. I need to improve on that."

Carr returned for the bronze medal bout and defeated Salkazanov 4-4, avenging his previous to the Slovak from Zagreb.

Trent HIDLAY (USA)Trent HIDLAY (USA) defeated Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) 7-2 in the 92kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Trent HIDLAY (USA), a 86kg silver medalist last year in Budapest, upgraded to gold medal after beating world silver medalist Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO), 7-4, in the 92kg final.

Hidlay was in red-hot form the whole day as he began with a win over Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE)  and then posted a 10-0 win over Krizstian ANGYAL (HUN) in the quarterfinal. He began the semifinal against Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) with a powerful double-leg takedown.

As Kurugliev fell, he landed on his knee and suffered an injury so bad that he was unable to walk off the mat. Hidlay reached the final after the injury forced Kurugliev to stop.

It was Maisuradze who opened the scoring in the final with a snapdown to takedown for two points but Hidlay answered with two stepouts and the Georgian led 2-2 on criteria at the break.

Hidlay opened the second period with a takedown to take a 4-2 lead and then continued to put pressure on Maisuradze. It paid off as he scored another takedown on the edge to lead 6-2. Georgia challenged that both wrestlers were already out of the zone and it should be one point. But the challenge was lost, making it 7-2 for Hidlay with 1:47 left on the clock.

That was all in the bout as Hidlay captured the gold and put his name in contention for the gold medal at the upcoming World Championships.

At 86kg, Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) was the gold medalist after European silver medalist Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW) pulled out of the final injured.

Kadzimahamedau suffered a knee injury in the semifinal against Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI) as the Iranian did not let go off his knee despite it turning more than 90 degrees.

RESULTS

74kg
GOLD: Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) df. Magomed KHANIEV (AZE), 4-0

BRONZE: David CARR (USA) df. Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK), 4-4
BRONZE: Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN) df. Yeldos KUANYSHBAY (KAZ), 8-2

86kg
GOLD:  Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) df. Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW), via inj. def.

BRONZE: Osman GOCEN (TUR) df. Boris MAKOEV (SVK), 3-2
BRONZE: Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI) df. Nurzhan ISSAGALIYEV (KAZ), 3-0 

92kg
GOLD: Trent HIDLAY (USA) df. Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO), 7-4

BRONZE: Benjamin HONIS (ITA) df. Musza ARSUNKAEV (HUN), via fall (5-5)
BRONZE: Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE) df. Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE), via inj. def.