Japanese Women Close Out Junior Worlds with Eight Golds

Friday, August 16, 2019 - 19:15 By Eric Olanowski

TALLINN, Estonia (August 16) --- Japan jabbed the competition on Thursday night by winning three junior world titles, then threw the knock out punch on Friday night -- closing out the women’s wrestling portion of the Junior World Championships with five additional gold medals. In total, Japan went eight-for-eight in gold-medal bouts and stockpiled medals in all ten weights.

Haruna OKUNO (JPN) kicked off the day for the Japanese women by winning her fifth overall world gold medal.

Okuno said she keeps all of her world title belts at her parent's house. Well, their house gained an additional world championship belt after their daughter claimed her fifth world gold in as many tries. The reigning two-time senior-level world champion added her first junior world title to her long list of accomplishments after expelling Anudari NANDINTSETSEG (MGL), 7-2 in the 53kg gold-medal bout.

By watching Okuno’s four matches, where she outscored her opponents 35-2, you would've never guessed that she was dealing with extreme neck pain on her right side throughout the entire competition. After her finals match, she talked about having to work through her counter-offensive attacks because of her pain, saying “Now I feel neck pain, so I didn’t try to attack. In this tournament, the counterattack was very nice for me.”

In her finals match, the always stoic Okuno shot a low-level attack and picked up the early two-point lead. Her counter offense came into play later in the period when she stopped a Nandintsetseg attack and used a fluid arm-drag to a head outside single leg to pick up four points – improving her lead to 6-0. She surrendered an inactivity point and a stepout in the closing period but was awarded a brutality point after her Mongolian opponent was warned several times for hands-to-the-face. Okuno closed out her run to her first junior world title with a 7-2 victory.

When asked if there’s a difference between winning a junior world title and a senior world title, Okuno said, “There isn’t a difference between junior and senior because it means the same. It's a world championship. I’m always feeling very happy to (wrestle) against the world’s best wrestlers.”

Akie HANAI (JPN) picked up a 9-0 win over Alina AKOBIIA (UKR) in the 57kg finals. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Akie HANAI (JPN) was Japan’s second wrestler who won a gold medal on Friday night.

Hanai, last year’s U23 world runner-up, scored four points from two open double legs in the first period and tacked on a four-point double leg and a failed challenge point in the second period to slide past Alina AKOBIIA (UKR), 9-0 for her first career world title.

Yuzuka INAGAKI (JPN) scored an 8-2 win over China’s WU Yaru in the 62kg finals. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

The third Japanese Friday night gold-medal winner was Yuzuka INAGAKI (JPN).

Inagaki came to Estonia with an unblemished resume, and that's how she’s leaving. She won her second career world title and first since winning the 2017 cadet world title in Athens, Greece, with an 8-2 win over China’s WU Yaru. In the gold-medal bout, Inagaki struck first with a takedown, but gave up a judo-esk whip over and went into the second period trailing 2-2 on criteria. In the second period, the lack of defensive adjustment from Wu allowed Inagaki to pick up back-to-back sweep singles to the left leg of her Chinese opponent. When Wu finally adjusted, Inagaki switched up her tactics and shot a double -- picking up her third takedown of the match to win her second age-group world title, 8-2.

Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) celebrates after winning her first world title. She defeated 2018 cadet world champion Macey KILTY (USA), 2-1. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

The fourth wrestler to stand atop of the podium while listening to the Japanese national anthem was Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN).

Morikawa, who was wrestling in her third world-title bout, won her first world gold with a hard-fought 2-1 win over 2018 cadet world champion Macey KILTY (USA). The match deciding points came in the second period when Morikawa shot five seconds into the period and drove Kilty out of bounds for the stepout point. Shortly after, the Japanese wrestler snuck behind Kilty, but the American tried to get away, but in the process of doing so, fled the hold and was dinged one point – giving Morikawa the outright lead, 2-1, and ultimately the 65kg gold medal.

Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) won Japan's eighth gold medal of the Junior World Championships with a 10-6 win over Evgeniia ZAKHARCHENKO (RUS). (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) closed out the day with Japan’s fifth gold medal.

The two-time cadet world champion came out on top of the high-entertaining 72kg finals against Evgeniia ZAKHARCHENKO (RUS) with a 10-6 victory. The pair traded blows the entire match, but it was Kagami who trailed 6-4 with 30 seconds left in the second period. The Japanese wrestler jolted to a takedown, then quickly jumped into a pair of leg laces and scored the four-point victory over last year’s junior world runner-up.

Japan closed out the Junior World Championships with the team title. They had 230 points, which was double the amount of points that second-place Russia had. Ukraine rounded out the top-three with 91 points.

The last full day of wrestling kicks off tomorrow morning at 10:30 (local time) and can be followed live on www.unitedworldwrestling.org.

RESULTS
Final Women’s Wrestling Team Scores
GOLD – Japan (230 points)
SILVER – Russia (115 points)
BRONZE – Ukraine (91 points)
Fourth – Poland (86 points)
Fifth – China (85 points)

53kg
GOLD - Haruna OKUNO (JPN) df. Anudari NANDINTSETSEG (MGL), 7-2
BRONZE - Mariia TIUMEREKOVA (RUS) df. Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB), 7-2
BRONZE - Meiduolaji MEIDUOLAJI (CHN) df. Assylzat SAGYMBAY (KAZ), via fall

57kg
GOLD - Akie HANAI (JPN) df. Alina AKOBIIA (UKR), 9-0
BRONZE - Nuraida ANARKULOVA (KGZ) df. Bharti BAGHEL (IND), 3-3
BRONZE - Magdalena Urszula GLODEK (POL) df. Youmei WU (CHN), 7-6

62kg
GOLD - Yuzuka INAGAKI (JPN) df. Yaru WU (CHN), 8-2
BRONZE - Magdalena Weronika KISIELINSKA (POL) df. Mariia LACHUGINA (RUS), 7-6
BRONZE - Ana Paula GODINEZ GONZALEZ (CAN) df. Irina RINGACI (MDA), 13-2

65kg
GOLD – Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) df. Macey KILTY (USA), 2-1
BRONZE - Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) df. Hanna SADCHANKA (BLR), 2-0
BRONZE - Yue ZHANG (CHN) df. Oksana CHUDYK (UKR), 9-4

72kg
GOLD - Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) df. Evgeniia ZAKHARCHENKO (RUS), 10-6
BRONZE - Shuiyan CHENG (CHN) df. Svetlana OKNAZAROVA (UZB), 3-1
BRONZE - Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) df. Alyvia Nicole FISKE (USA), 3-3

#WrestleBudapest

Long Tops Stacked 68kg Field for Budapest Ranking Series Gold

Friday, July 17, 2026 - 21:46 By Vinay Siwach

BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 17) -- In hindsight, Jia LONG's (CHN) failure to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games looks even more surprising. She was at the Tokyo Olympics, won a world silver in 2022 and was an Asian champion in 2023. Yet, she failed to book a ticket to Paris.

However, since missing the Paris Games, Long has put together one of the strongest runs in Women's Wrestling with a world title, a world bronze and an Asian title.

Entering the Budapest Ranking Series at 68kg, Long was among the favorites. The field, however, was one of the toughest assembled for a Ranking Series event, featuring European silver medalist Alina SHAUCHUK (BLR), Olympic silver medalist and Asian champion Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ), European bronze medalist Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU), European champion Nesrin BAS (TUR), among others.

Jia LONG (CHN) won gold at 68kg in Budapest. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Long opened with a 10-0 win over compatriot Zelu LI (CHN) but was quickly tested by young Sophia SCHAEFLE (GER), escaping with a close 4-2 win. Shauchuk awaited her in the quarterfinals and the Belarus wrestler got the first takedown to lead 2-0. However, Long used her powerful gut-wrench to complete an 8-2 win.

European champion Bas also managed to score two points on Long but could not sustain the pressure as Long won 7-2 to set up a final against Zhumanazarova, who had a simpler path to the final.

Aptly, the marquee match between Zhumanazarova and Long, Asian champions at 68kg and 72kg respectively, was scheduled as the last match of the session.

Long was aware of Zhumanazarova's defensive tactics but gave a taste of her own medicine in the gold medal bout. In the first period, Long got on a single leg attack and finished with a takedown. She then used her trademark high gut-wrench to expose Zhumanazarova and open up a 4-0 lead.

The second period went scoreless as Long shut down Zhumanazarova's offense, whatever little there is, keeping her lead for the win as the clock expired.

The gold medal capped an impressive campaign for Long as she builds towards 2026 World Championships and the 2028 Olympic Games, the only major event at which she is yet to win a medal.

Neha Strikes Gold

NEHA (IND) captured her second straight Ranking Series gold medal at 59kg, edging Abigail NETTE (USA), 6-4, in the final. Nette struck first with a stepout to take a 1-0 lead, but it was short-lived as Neha responded with a double-leg takedown for two points.

Just before the break, Neha used a snap to score a go-behind before adding a turn. Although Nette managed a reversal, Neha still carried a 6-2 lead at the break. Nette completed a single-leg takedown in the second period to cut the lead to 6-4, but Neha closed out the bout without giving her another opening, upgrading the silver medal she won in Budapest last year to gold.

Reese LARRAMENDY (USA) defeated compatriot Jennifer PAGE ROGERS (USA), 7-1, in the 65kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

The United States secured the 65kg gold medal after an all-American final. Unheralded Reese LARRAMENDY (USA) upset her senior teammate Jennifer PAGE ROGERS (USA), 7-1, to claim her first international medal.

The two were involved in an early scramble, with Larramendy emerging on top for the opening takedown and a 2-0 lead. Page was then put on the activity clock but failed to score, giving Larramendy a 3-0 advantage at the break.

Page opened the second period with a stepout to cut the deficit to 3-1 and continued to pressure Larramendy toward the zone. During one exchange, Page appeared to force Larramendy out of bounds, but the action was allowed to continue as the officials did not award a stepout. Larramendy capitalized by scoring a takedown to extend her lead to 5-1.

Larramendy sealed the victory when Page attacked the legs but was countered for two points, completing a 7-1 victory and earning the first international medal of her career.

Ana GODINEZ (CAN) pulled off a thrilling 7-6 victory over Grace BULLEN (NOR). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Godinez Stuns Bullen

Ana GODINEZ (CAN) claimed the 62kg gold medal after MANSI (IND) was forced to withdraw through injury in the final. However, her toughest test came much earlier against European champion Grace BULLEN (NOR), who had defeated Godinez, 11-0, in the bronze medal bout at the Paris Olympics.

Trailing 6-4, Bullen scored a takedown and secured the fall but Godinez challenged the call. While the takedown was upheld, the fall was overturned after it was evident that Bullen had locked her hands behind Godinez's head.

Bullen held a 6-6 criteria advantage and needed only to protect it for the final 12 seconds. Godinez, however, scored a late stepout to secure a 7-6 victory and advance to the semifinals, where she defeated Veranika IVANOVA (BLR), 13-7.

Moustafa ALAMELDIN (EGY) made a successful run at 77kg and won the gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Alameldin Shines at 77kg

The two Greco-Roman finals on Friday both ended in 1-1 criteria victories, with Dinislam BAMMATOV (RUS) winning at 67kg and Moustafa ALAMELDIN (EGY) taking the 77kg title.

In Greco-Roman, when a wrestler is called passive, his opponent receives one point and a par terre opportunity. If both wrestlers score only from passivity and the bout ends 1-1, the wrestler who scored first wins on criteria.

Alameldin, the 2024 U20 world champion at 67kg, completed a successful move up to 77kg. He claimed a 1-1 criteria victory over former U17 world champion Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA) in the final. But before the final, Alameldin completed a stunning 8-0 victory over Levente LEVAI (HUN) in the quarterfinals and then held off Sergei KUTUZOV (RUS), 2-2, in the semifinals.

At 67kg, Bammatov faced U23 world champion Mohamed ABDELREHIM (EGY) in the final and earned the first passivity point. Abdelrehim received par terre in the second period, but neither wrestler scored from the position, allowing Bammatov to retain the criteria advantage and secure the title.

RESULTS

Women's Wrestling

59kg
GOLD: NEHA (IND) df. Abigail NETTE (USA), 6-4

BRONZE: Othelie HOEIE (NOR) df. Altyn SHAGAYEVA (KAZ), 3-3
BRONZE: Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) df. Alexis JANIAK (USA), 8-1

62kg
GOLD: Ana GODINEZ (CAN) df. MANSI (IND), via inj. def.

BRONZE: SAVITA (IND) df. Irina KUZNETSOVA (KAZ), 14-5
BRONZE: Grace BULLEN (NOR) df. Veranika IVANOVA (BLR), 6-4

65kg
GOLD: Reese LARRAMENDY (USA) df. Jennifer PAGE ROGERS (USA), 7-1

BRONZE: Gulnura TASHTANBEKOVA (KGZ) df. Virginia JIMENEZ (CHI), 8-2
BRONZE: Birgul SOLTANOVA (AZE) df. Miki ROWBOTTOM (CAN), via fall (10-0)

68kg
GOLD: Jia LONG (CHN) df. Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ), 4-0

BRONZE: Noémi SZABADOS (HUN) df. Alina SHEVCHENKO (RUS), 5-3
BRONZE: Zelu LI (CHN) df. Nesrin BAS (TUR), 5-4

Greco-Roman

67kg
GOLD: Dinislam BAMMATOV (RUS) df. Mohamed ABDELREHIM (EGY), 1*-1

BRONZE: Ruslan BICHURIN (RUS) df. Tsuchika SHIMOYAMADAA (AUS), 13-6
BRONZE: Din KOSHKAR (KAZ) df. Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM), via inj. def.

77kg
GOLD: Moustafa ALAMELDIN (EGY) df. Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA), 1*-1

BRONZE: Danil GRIGOREV (RUS) df. Aleksa ILIC (SRB), 1*-1
BRONZE: Sergei KUTUZOV (RUS) df. Levente LEVAI (HUN), 6-2