Women's World Cup

Japan Edges China for World Cup Gold

By Eric Olanowski

CHEBOKSARY, Russia (December 2) - The 2017 Women’s World Cup championship session wrapped up this morning. After two days of exciting action, it was Japan winning the gold medal bout, Mongolia taking home the bonze, host nation Russia placing fifth, and Azerbaijan taking seventh.  

The gold medal bout between Japan and China was kicked off with 2017 world champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN) taking on Olympic bronze medalist SUN Yanan (CHN). Sun’s crotch lift gave her the 2-2 lead on criteria as time expired. After Japan challenged the call, two points were awarded to Susaki and she was victorious 4-2.

SUN Yanan (CHN) argues a last-second call in her match with 2017 world champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN). Susaki won 4-2.

At 53kg, world champion Mayu MUKAIDA’s two takedowns in the first period were enough to hold on to the 4-0 win over PANG Qianyu (CHN).

RONG Ninging (CHN) gave China their first victory of the finals as she defeated Momoka KADOYA (JPN), 4-3.

Akie HANAI (JPN) and Yukako KAWAI (JPN) picked back-to-back wins, including a fall at 60kg by Kawai which gave Japan the commanding 4-1 lead.

Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) looks to finish a shot before picking up a fall in the Wome's World Cup finals. 

After leading 1-0 at the end of the first period, LUO Xiaojua's (CHN) six points in the second period solidified her the 7-1 victory at 63kg. This helped cut Japan’s lead to within two with only two matches remaining. 

ZHOU Feng (CHN) broke the 1-1 with Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) halfway through the second period with a takedown and gut wrench, giving her the the 5-1 lead. After a Morikawa step out and another takedown, Zhou won the match 8-1.

At 75kg, it was ZHOU Qian (CHN) who picked up the win via injury default after Masako FURUICHI (JPN) was unable to compete due to an apparent shoulder injury.

This left the dual tied 4-4, but it was Japan’s 17 classification points to China’s 16 that gave them victory in the gold medal match.

ZHOU Qian (CHN) shows excitment after Masako FURUICHI (JPN) was no longer able to compete due to a shoulder injury.

In the bronze medal bout, after dropping the first match, Mongolia went on to win three straight and five of the final seven bouts to defeated the United States. It was S. ERDENECHIMEG (MGL) at 55kg who sparked the Mongolian’s with a fall after being down 8-0 to USA Sarah HILDEBRANDT.

In the fifth place match, Russia and Ukraine traded a pair of wins and were tied after the first four matches. It was Yulia PRONTSEVITCH ​​​​​​(RUS) who broke the tie with a 1-0 victory over Sofiia BODNAR (UKR). From there, Russia took control of the match, winning two of the final three matches. Anastasia BRATCHIKOVA’S (RUS) 10-2 victory over Alla BELINSKA (UKR) gave Russia the 5-2 lead heading into 75kg, which ultimately sealed the fifth place bout for the host nation.

Yulia PRONTSEVITCH ​​​​​​(RUS) looks to finish a double leg in the fifth place bout.

Azerbaijan controlled the seventh place bout, winning six of the eight matches. Aside from the forfeit that Denise Sabina MAKOTA STROE picked up at 75kg, Sweden’s lone win came from Emma Siri Linnea BROCECK at 53kg.

RESULTS

Championship Final: Japan df. China, 4-4
48 kg Y. SUSAKI  (JPN) df. Y. SUN (CHN), 4-2
53 kg M. MUKAIDA (JPN) df. Q. PANG (CHN),4-0
55 kg N. RONG. (CHN) df. M. KADOYA  (JPN), 4-3
58 kg HANAI A. (JPN) df. Y. SUN (CHN), 6-2
60 kg Y. KAWAI  (JPN) df. X. CHEN (CHN), via FALL (2:07)
63 kg X. LUO (CHN) df. Y. ITO (JPN), 7-269 kg F. ZHOU (CHN) df. M. MORIKAWA (JPN), 8-1
75 kg Q. ZHOU Q. (CHN) df. M. FURUICHI (JPN), via INJ DEF

Third-Place: Mongolia df. United States, 5-3
48 kg V. ANTHONY  (USA) df. C. BUYANDALAI  (MGL), via FALL
53 kg O. GANBAATAR df. (MGL) H. AUGELLO (USA), 11-6
55 kg S. ERDENECHIMEG (MGL) df. S. HILDEBRANDT (USA), FALL
58 kg  B. ALTANTSETSEG (MGL) df. K. MIRACLE (USA), 6-1
60 kg A. RAGAN (USA) df. G. ENKHBAT (MGL), 4-4
63 kg O. PUREVDORJ (MGL) df. M. VELTE (USA), via FALL
69 kg B. SORONZONBOID  (MGL) df. T. MENSAH (USA), 8-7.
75 kg GRAY A. (USA) df. U. GAN OCHIR (MGL), via FALL.

Fifth-Place: Russia df. Ukraine, 5-3
48 kg I. SEMKIV (UKR) df. CHEPSARAKOVA (RUS), via FALL
53 kg S. ORSHUSH (RUS) df. O. SHNAIDER (UKR), 12-1
55 kg M. GUROVA (RUS) vs O. KREMZER (UKR), 8-2
58 kg I. CHYKHRADZE (UKR) df. K. MURTUZALIEVA (RUS), 10-0
60 kg Y. PRONTSEVITCH (RUS) df. S. BODNAR (UKR), 1-0
63 kg A. FOMENKO (RUS) df. I. KOLIADENKO (UKR), 2-2
69 kg A. BRATCHIKOVA (RUS) df. A. BELINSKA (UKR), 10-2
75 kg A. SHUSTOVA (UKR) df. J. MAKSIMOVA (RUS),10-2

Seventh-Place: Azerbaijan df. Sweden, 6-2
48 kg T. NASIROVA (AZE) df. M.  LJUNGSTROEM (SWE), 10-0
53 kg E. BROBECK (SWE)  df. S. QAMZOCLZADE S. (AZE), 7-4
55 kg S. HASHIMZADA (AZE) df. S. PETER (SWE) , 4-3
58 kg A. KOLESNIK (AZE) df. E. NILSSON (SWE), 6-4
60 kg T. OMELCHENKO (AZE) df. X X (SWE), via FORFEIT
63 kg E. GAMBAROVA (AZE) df. M. NYGREN (SWE), 5-4
69 kg E. MANOLOVA (AZE), A. SANDAHL (SWE), 3-2
75 kg D.  MAKOTA STROE (SWE) v. G. ZUTOVA (AZE), via FORFEIT

 

 

#Grappling, #Pankration

Grappling, AMMA 2026 European C'ships in Armenia, Asians in Vietnam

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (February 10) -- United World Wrestling has announced the dates and host cities for its 2026 Grappling, Pankration and Amateur MMA continental championships.
 
The 2026 Grappling, Pankration & AMMA European Championships will take place in Yerevan, Armenia from May 24 to 31. The event will feature competitions in the U15, U17, U20, Senior and Veteran age categories, bringing together top athletes from across the Europe.

Shortly after, the 2026 Grappling, Pankration & AMMA Asian Championships will be held Da Nang, Vietnam, from June 4 to 9 June. The competition will be in all age categories barring the Veterans.

European Championships Schedule:
- 2026 Senior, U20, U17, U15 & Veteran Grappling European Championships, May 24-27 (Yerevan, Armenia)
- 2026 Senior, U20, U17 & U15 AMMA & Pankration European Championships, May 28-31 (Yerevan, Armenia)

Asian Championships Schedule:
- 2026 Senior, U20, U17 & U15 Grappling Asian Championships, June 4-6 (Da Nang, Vietnam)
- 2026 Senior, U20, U17 & U15 AMMA & Pankration Asian Championships, June 7-9 (Da Nang, Vietnam)

Importantly, both Championships will be held in only Grappling style and will not have Grappling Gi style.

Open Grappling Tournament

Vietnam will also host an open Grappling international tournament, 2026 Tri-Titans Grappling Open, from June 2 to 3. The tournament will be open to athletes of all ages from around the world.

Further information regarding event regulations, entry deadlines, and logistical details will be communicated in due course by UWW. National Federations are encouraged to mark the dates and contact UWW for any queries.