#WrestleCoralville

Japan banks on youngsters to win sixth straight World Cup

Wednesday, December 7, 2022 - 13:51 By Vinay Siwach

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CORALVILLE, Iowa (December 5) -- Of all the World Cups, the 2022 one may see the most depleted Japan women's squad. However, it is still the favorite to win the title next week.

The 10-member team is without a senior world champion and U23 world champion Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) is leading the squad which aims to win the sixth straight title for Japan dating back to 2014.

The 2022 World Cup will be held at the Xtreme Center in Coralville, Iowa with the five best teams from the Belgrade World Championships joined by an All-World Team. The six teams are divided into two groups each with Japan paired with Ukraine and Mongolia while the host US is clubbed with China and the All-World team.

China will also be hoping to win the title but has a tough road to the final with both the USA and All-World team placed in the same group. Ukraine is bringing a full-strength squad to the World Cup to challenge Japan while Mongolia will be the underdog.

Historically, China and Japan have dominated the World Cup but with the former's absence from the global competition due to various reasons, the USA has emerged as a strong team in women's wrestling.

Bolortuya BAT-OCHIR (MGL)Bolortuya BAT-OCHIR (MGL) will wrestle at 55kg at the World Cup. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Group A match-ups

In the opening round at 50kg, Hanano SAKURAI (JPN) will be up against world silver medalist Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) who finished second to Yui SUSAKI (JPN) in Belgrade. Sakurai is the younger sister of 57kg world champion Tsugumi and has two U17 world titles.

Another world silver medalist Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) will be the favorite against Rino KATAOKA (JPN) who has experience but last competed internationally at the Klippan Lady Open, winning the gold at 53kg.

Olympic bronze medalist Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL) will be the wrestler to beat if Japan wants an early advantage and it will be up to Kiyooka. Riding on the confidence after winning the two age-group world titles, Kiyooka should be able to match with Bat Ochir.

With Japan's dominance in the lower weight classes, U20 world champion Ruka NATAMI (JPN) will have the upper hand against Erdenesuvd BAT ERDENE (MGL) who finished fifth in Belgrade at 57kg.

U23 world champion Himeka TOKUHARA (JPN) will have to challenge Oslo bronze medalist Davaachimeg ERKHEMBAYAR (MGL) and give Japan a chance for an outright win and ease some pressure on Yui SAKANO (JPN) who has tons of experience and was the U23 world champion in 2017. She will face 2014 world champion Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL) who has an exceptional 2022.

In the upper weight classes, Japan has two U20 Asian champions at 72kg and 76kg. Yuka FUJIKURA (JPN) will look to upset Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) while  Nodoka YAMAMOTO (JPN) will face Ariunjargal GANBAT (MGL) at 76kg.

At 65kg, Miyu IMAI (JPN), a U20 world champion in 2018, has the experience to beat Purevsuren ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL). Mongolia can capitalize at 68kg Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) favored beating Kumi KOBAYASHI (JPN).

Ukraine will be waiting for Mongolia in the afternoon session and if it does win, it will have to raise its level to fight Japan later in the day.

Ruka NATAMI (JPN)U20 world champion Ruka NATAMI (JPN) will challenge at 57kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Oksana LIVACH (UKR) and Sakurai bout has the potential to be a humdinger before Kataoka takes on Albina RILLIA (UKR) at 53kg. At 55kg, Kiyooka will face a stern test against Alina HRUSHYNA (UKR) at 55kg and Natami faces Tkach. Even if the two nations are tied at two wins each after four bouts, Iryna BONDAR (UKR) will find it tough to beat Tokuhara. But Ukraine will hope Tokyo medalist Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) wins her bout against Sakano at 62kg.

A real battle at the remaining four weight classes will ensue with Kateryna ZELENYKH (UKR) taking on Imai at 65kg and Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR) expected to beat Kobayashi. Alla BELINSKA (UKR) and Anastasiia SHUSTOVA (UKR) will be expected to clear the Fujikura and Yamamoto hurdles at 72kg and 76kg respectively.

The match-ups make it clear that Japan will have to win five out of the first seven bouts, an achievable feat, if they need to win against Mongolia and stand any chance of advancing to the final.

Jia LONG (CHN)Jia LONG (CHN) will lead a strong Chinese squad at the World Cup. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Group B match-ups

In Group B, the USA will bank on a bunch of senior world medalists to deal with China and the All-World Team. China is bringing a strong team that can challenge the USA on its home turf.

Opening the show will be Jiang ZHU (CHN) against former U23 world champion Emily SHILSON (USA). In an even match-up, both teams will be looking for the opening win before home wrestler Felicity TAYLOR (USA) faces Li DENG (CHN) at 53kg.

A huge bout will be at 55kg when former world champion Winchester faces Olympic silver medalist Qianyu PANG (CHN) who will be returning to competition after 17 months. Pang will be a huge favorite but it is yet to be seen how rusty Pang is after the break.

Yongxin FENG (CHN) finished ninth in Belgrade but she will be keen on getting the against Alexandra HEDRICK (USA) at 57kg to help her team towards the win before Qi ZHANG (CHN), who finished fifth at the World Championships, faces Lexie BASHAM (USA) at 59kg.

Xiaojuan LUO (CHN) will look to avenge her Belgrade loss to Kayla MIRACLE (USA). Luo suffered a 4-1 defeat in Belgrade but will get a good chance to upset Miracle and seal the deal for China.

World silver medalist Jia LONG (CHN) will have her task cut out against bronze medalist Mallory VELTE (USA) at 65kg with a cracking bout expected. The 68kg bout between Feng ZHOU (CHN) and Sienna RAMIREZ (USA) should give China a big boost for a win.

The USA would hope that world champion Amit ELOR (USA) pulls one back against  QIANDEGENCHAGAN (CHN) at 72kg before U23 world silver medalist Dymond GUILFORD (USA) ends on a high note against Juan WANG (CHN).

Anastasia NICHITA (MDA)Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) had defeated Qi ZHANG (CHN) at the World Championships. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

The winner of the USA-China match will not have an easier path ahead as the All-World team has the capability of beating any team.

China will be the first one against the All-World team with Zhu taking on Anna LUKASIAK (UWW). A win will give China an advantage as Deng faces world bronze medalist Maria PREVOLARAKI (UWW) at 53kg in an exciting battle.

Pang, who is coming after a long break, has her task cut out against Karla GODINEZ (UWW) at 55kg and cannot take the Canadian lightly. Zhala ALIYEVA (UWW) may fall short on experience against Feng but world champion Anastasia NICHITA (UWW) is the favorite against Zhang at 59kg and so is Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (UWW) against Luo at 62kg. Long has the chance to take the lead for China as she faces Mimi HRISTOVA (UWW) at 65kg but the real twist in the match can come at 68kg Irina RINGACI (UWW) faces Zhou who has revenge on her mind from the World Championships.

Two-time world silver medalist Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (UWW) and world champion Yasemin ADAR (UWW) winning at 72kg and 76kg should steer the team clear.

 

The USA and All-World team then clash in the final match on Saturday and it may all come down to the final bout at 76kg between Adar and Guilford. Barring any surprises, Prevolaraki, Nichita, Tynybekova, Ringaci should win their bouts and Adar will have to win to give a chance to her team to advance.

For the USA, Shilson, Winchester, Hedrick, Velte and Elor should be winners.

But Winchester will face Godinez who defeated the American in the Pan-Am final in May. If Godinez wins that bout, it will put extra pressure on Guilford to beat Adar. But if it's the other way, the USA will have a better chance as Adar will have to beat Guilford by a big margin.

While the group stages are expected to be real fireworks, the final of the World Cup will be even more tense. While Japan is the favorite to win from Group A, all three teams in Group B stand a chance to make it to the final.

#WrestleBratislava

European history for Serbia; Matcharashvili makes 3rd straight final

Monday, April 7, 2025 - 17:44 By Vinay Siwach

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BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (April 7) -- Paris silver medalist and defending 97kg champion Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) posted his photo on Instagram last week and captioned it: "I declare the hunting season open."

Two weeks later, Matcharashvili is doing exactly that. He marked the start of the season at 97kg by making it to his third European Championships final in Bratislava.

The first day of the European Championships, which got underway at the X-Bionic Sphere on Monday, turned out to be historic for Serbia as it got its first-ever Freestyle finalist at the European Championships and France ended its drought of missing out on the finals.

Matcharashvili, who participated in the Zagreb Open at 125kg, returned to his preferred 97kg and spent only 4 minutes and 45 seconds in his two bouts in Bratislava to make the final.

In the semifinal, Richard VEGH (HUN) failed to challenge Matcharashvili who scored a takedown and four gut-wrenches to post 10-0 technical superiority in just a minute and 24 seconds.

Matcharashvili has never lost at the European Championships, winning two back-to-back golds in 2023 and 2024. He is a step closer to a third straight gold medal and will take on Magomed KURBANOV (UWW) for it.

Kurbanov, a former European champion at 92kg, had to tougher path to the final. He scored a 5-2 win over Radu LEFTER (MDA) in the other semifinal. He was ahead 3-0 but got surprised by a Lefter front headlock exposure for two. However, Kurbanov recovered and scored a match-winning takedown to win and book a spot in the final.

Kurbanov was a late replacement for Abdulrashid SADULAEV (UWW) at 97kg after Sadulaev failed to travel to Bratislava with the team

Azamat TUSKAEV (SRB)Azamat TUSKAEV (SRB) became the first Serbian Freestyle wrestler to enter final of European Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

History for Serbia

Azamat TUSKAEV (SRB) created history for Serbia when he reached the 57kg final, becoming the first Freestyle wrestler from the country to make it to the final.

The 2020 European champion for Russia, Tuskaev switched to Serbia in 2024 and returned to the final after five years. He will face Nachyn MONGUSH (UWW) for the gold medal bout at 57kg.

In the semifinal, Tuskaev defeated Aryian TIUTRIN (UWW), 3-1, after the two were put on 30-second activity clocks. Tuskaev scored a stepout in addition to the activity clock point to take the lead in the final minute of the bout. Tiutrin tried to get the one point for a criteria win but failed to break Tuskaev's defense.

Mongush blanked Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE) 5-0 in the other semifinal which he controlled for full six minutes. He got on the scoreboard when Bazarganov as cautioned for one point for hitting him with open hands.

Bazarganov was on activity clock when he was cautioned and as the clock expired, Mongush led 2-0. Mongush added two stepouts to make it 4-0 at the break before another activity lock point in the second period was enough for a 5-0 win for Mongush.

Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA)Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA) tries to defend an attack from Ali RAHIMZADA (AZE) in the 65kg semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

France also had something to rejoice as two wrestlers reached the finals, ending a four-year drought of a finalist in Freestyle. Young star Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA) and veteran Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) booked finals spot for France at 70kg and 79kg respectively, putting the nation in the finals for the first time since 2021.

However, their path to gold will be tricky.

Arsamerzouev will have the repeat of the European U23 Championships from 2024 and face two-time world U23 champion Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (UWW) for the 65kg gold medal. Ibragimov won that bout 6-2 for the gold medal.

The French wrestler barely made it to the final as Ali RAHIMZADA (AZE) had him in a tangle in the final 10 seconds and scored an exposure. However, Arsamerzouev also got two points for exposure to win 4-3.

Rahimzada had fallen behind 2-1 earlier when challenged for a stepout but lost the challenge, denying him any other opportunity to challenge in the match.

Ibragimov rolled into the 65kg final on his senior European Championships debut with a stunning 11-0 win over Goga OTINASHVILI (GEO) in the semifinal. He led 1-0 at the break for Otinashvili's passivity but second period saw Ibragimov break into action as he defended a leg attack and countered with a takedown. He scored two turns using gut-wrench and leg lace to lead 7-0. A go-behind takedown put him 9-0 ahead before an easy turn got him into the final 11-0.

While this was a dominant win, Ibragimov pulled off an incredible comeback against former European champion Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) in the quarterfinal, beating him 3-2. Tevanyan led 2-1 with 90 seconds remaining on the clock but Ibragimov hit a collar-tie snap to score a takedown and take a 3-2 lead which he defended till the end.

Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA)Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) defeated Ion MARCU (MDA) 7-0 in the 79kg semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

For Khadjiev, a two-time silver medalist, world 79kg champion Akhmed USMANOV (UWW) stands between him and the gold medal which Khadjiev lost in 2018 and 2019 after losing in two straight finals.

The 30-year-old broke Ion MARCU (MDA) down with his attacking style and claimed a 7-0 victory in the semifinal. Khadjiev had two stepouts, an activity clock point and two takedowns in his win.

"It was really tough," Khadjiev said. "Three years ago I went to Oklahoma State [University] to train and even young wrestlers were beating easily. But I didn’t give up. I wanted to win something."

While there have been many instances of Khadjiev losing in the final seconds earlier in his career, the 2025 season has begun on a positive note for the French.

He won the Zagreb Open in January and is now a win away from his first gold medal at the European Championships. Khadjiev put the success on wrestling more 'professionally.'

"I can say that now my wrestling in more mature," he said. "I don’t risk it or do something aimlessly. I even watch the matches of my opponents, try to analyze them. I never did that before. I would say I wrestle more professionally now."

Akhmed USMANOV (UWW)Akhmed USMANOV (UWW) defends an attack from Mohammad MOTTAGHINIA (ESP) in the 79kg semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

If he watched Usmanov's wrestling videos from Monday, Khadjiev may think he has a chance. Usmanov was a shadow of himself from the 2023 World Championships. Though he reached the final, Usmanov never got going, winning the final 7-0 against Mohammad MOTTAGHINIA (ESP) with his counter wrestling.

In the quarterfinal, Usmanov barely managed to sneak through against former European champion Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR). Usmanov was trailing 1-1 on criteria after the two wrestlers failed to score in the activity periods. In the final minute of the bout, Mykhailov was put on the activity clock for the second time. He failed to score, giving Usmanov a 2-1 lead which he defended for the final 28 seconds and secured the win.

European Championships debutant David BAEV (UWW), wrestling internationally for the first time since winning the world gold in 2019, booked spot in the 70kg final with a cautious 3-0 win over Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE) in the semifinal.

In his opening bout, he defeated world 65kg champion Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) rather easily with a score of 10-0.

Baev will take on defending champion Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM) for the gold medal after the Armenian managed to hang on for a 3-1 win over Akaki KEMERTELIDZE (GEO).

Andreasyan scored takedown and got a point for Kemertelidze's passivity which took him to his third European final.

Photo

RESULTS

Freestyle Semifinals

57kg
GOLD: Azamat TUSKAEV (SRB) vs. Nachyn MONGUSH (UWW)

SF 1: Nachyn MONGUSH (UWW) df. Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE), 5-0
SF 2: Azamat TUSKAEV (SRB) df. Aryian TIUTRIN (UWW), 3-1

65kg
GOLD: Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (UWW) vs. Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA)

SF 1: Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA) df. Ali RAHIMZADA (AZE), 4-3
SF 2: Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (UWW) df. Goga OTINASHVILI (GEO), 11-0

70kg
GOLD: Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM) vs. David BAEV (UWW)

SF 1: David BAEV (UWW) df. Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE), 3-0
SF 2: Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM) df. Akaki KEMERTELIDZE (GEO), 3-1

79kg
GOLD: Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) vs. Akhmed USMANOV (UWW)

SF 1: Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) df. Ion MARCU (MDA), 7-0
SF 2: Akhmed USMANOV (UWW) df. Mohammad MOTTAGHINIA (ESP), 7-0

97kg
GOLD: Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) vs. Magomed KURBANOV (UWW)

SF 1: Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) df. Richard VEGH (HUN), 10-0
SF 2: Magomed KURBANOV (UWW) df. Radu LEFTER (MDA), 5-2