#WrestleTallinn

Marin Portille Wins Cuba’s First Women’s Junior World Gold; Susaki Strikes World Gold for Seventh Time

By Eric Olanowski

TALLINN, Estonia (August 15) -- Milaimys de la Caridad MARIN POTRILLE (CUB) claimed Cuba’s first-ever women’s wrestling junior world titlle, while Yui SUSAKI (JPN) added a second consecutive junior world title to her resume that’s now littered with seven world gold medals. 

In the 76kg gold-medal bout, Marin Portille stopped Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE) from winning Chinese Taipei’s first-ever junior world title with a 10-6 victory. 

In the finals, Marin Portille trailed by three points late into the second period after giving up a four-point headlock, but quickly rebounded and gained two exposure points -- cutting Chang’s lead to one point. In dramatic fashion, Marin Portille scored a takedown with seven seconds left in the match and became Cuba’s first-ever women’s wrestling junior world gold medalist. Smiling from ear-to-ear, Marin Portille said, “I dedicate this win to the Cuban people. This win is very important because Cuba is a small island and I prepared very hard for this.” 

Still gleaming with joy, Marin Portille added, “I’m so emotional. I feel so good -- so nice. We won three medals at the Pan-Americans, but this is a step forward for Cuban women’s wrestling.” 

The newly minted junior world champion closed by saying she’ll be wrestling at the September’s Nur-Sultan World Championships.

Yui SUSAKI (JPN) downed Daria KHVOSTOVA (RUS), 10-0, and won her seventh world title. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Meanwhile, Yui Susaki claimed back-to-back junior world titles after seizing a 10-0 victory over 2016 cadet world silver medalist Daria KHVOSTOVA (RUS). 

With her win on Thursday night, Susaki brought her grand total to seven overall world gold medals since appearing at her first World Championships in 2014. When asked where this world title stacks up on her list, Susaki said, “My final goal is an Olympic gold medal. I will do my best and I will try to practice towards my final goal.” 

Susaki's world championship record is now 31-0 – with 29 of those wins being shutout victories. Perhaps a more impressive stat is Susaki has now outscored her 31 world championship opponents 290-6 and only gave up points in two matches en route to reaching the top of the podium seven times.

She believes the reason she’s so successful is because of her strength and mind. She said, “The reason why I get the championships is my own strength and mind.” 

Sae NANJO (JPN) gets emotional after winning the 59kg world title with a 12-1 win over reigning junior world champion Anastasia NICHITA (MDA). (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Japan Collects Two Additional World Titles
In addition to Susaki’s gold medal, Sae NANJO (JPN) and Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN) also won gold medals at 59kg and 68kg, respectively. 

In a rematch of last year’s 59kg junior world finals, Nanjo unseated reigning junior world champion Anastasia NICHITA (MDA), 12-1. 

Last year, Nichita scored a pair of takedowns -- which trumped Nanjo’s takedown and two one-point exchanges to win her first world title, 4-4.

But, Nanjo authored a much different story on Thursday night.

Much like last year, Nanjo surrendered the matches’ first points, but that was the last time the Moldovan wrestler would score. After Nanjo was hit with that inactivity point, she scored back-to-back takedowns and closed out the opening period in front by three points (4-1).  

Early in the second period, Nanjo stopped a Nichita duck under attempt and secured a takedown with a high crotch and led by five points (6-1). The Japanese wrestler quickly transitioned into a pair of leg laces off the right-sided high crotch and commanded the 10-1 lead. A flurry ending with Nanjo locking up in a cradle handed Japan their second gold medal of the day with the 12-1 victory. 

With her win on Thursday night, Nanjo now has two junior world titles on her resume. She also won the 2017 junior world title in Tampere, Finland. 

Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN) was the third Japanese wrestler to claim gold on Thursday night. She took out Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ), 4-2 in the 68kg finals. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Naruha Matsuyuki scored the match-deciding takedown with 31 seconds left in the 68kg finals to stop Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) from winning Kyrgyzstan second-ever junior world gold medal. 

Matsuyuki, who represented Japan at the junior, U23 and senior World Championships last season, improved on her 2018 junior world bronze medal with a clutch counter offensive attack to give Japan their third gold medal of the day. 

Patrycja GIL (POL) gave Poland their first women's wrestling junior world title since 1999 with a 6-2 win over Ekaterina VERBINA (RUS) in the 55kg finals. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Gil Gives Poland First Junior World Title Since 1999
Patrycja GIL (POL) became Poland’s third woman to win a junior world title and first gold medalist since Edyta WITKOWSKA (POL) won the 1999 Junior World Championships in Bucharest, Romania. 

On Friday night, Gil grabbed a first-period takedown, but conceded a takedown and trailed 2018 junior world bronze medalist Ekaterina VERBINA (RUS), 2-2. Mid-way through the second period, while trailing on criteria, the Polish wrestler picked up four points from a double leg takedown and closed out the match, 6-2, to win her country’s first junior world title in 20 years. 

RESULTS
50kg 
GOLD - Yui SUSAKI (JPN) df. Daria KHVOSTOVA (RUS), 10-0 
BRONZE - Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) df. Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU), 9-9 
BRONZE - Maria LEORDA (MDA) df. Natallia VARAKINA (BLR), 4-2

55kg
GOLD - Patrycja GIL (POL) df. Ekaterina VERBINA (RUS), 6-2 
BRONZE - Saki IGARASHI (JPN) df. Eunyoung PARK (KOR), 4-0 
BRONZE - Sezen Behchetova BELBEROVA (BUL) df. Anastasia BLAYVAS (GER), 8-0 

59kg
GOLD - Sae NANJO (JPN) df. Anastasia NICHITA (MDA), via fall
BRONZE - Kateryna ZELENYKH (UKR) df. Anshu ANSHU (IND), 12-1 

BRONZE - Morena DE VITA (ITA) df. Nazira MARSBEK KYZY (KGZ), 6-6 

68kg
GOLD - Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN) df. Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ), 4-2 
BRONZE - Khanum VELIEVA (RUS) df. Jayden Leigh LAURENT (USA), 9-1 
BRONZE - Ewelina Weronika CIUNEK (POL) df. Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL), 4-2 

76kg
GOLD - Milaimys de la Caridad MARIN POTRILLE (CUB) df. Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE), 10-6
BRONZE - Yasuha MATSUYUKI (JPN) df. Qian JIANG (CHN), 2-1 
BRONZE - Bernadett NAGY (HUN) df. Eleni PJOLLAJ (ITA), 10-0  

2026 U17 World Championships

U17 World Championships 2026 Day 2 Greco-Roman Results & Highlights

By United World Wrestling Press

BAKU, Azerbaijan (July 28) -- The second day of the U17 World Championships will see five Greco-Roman weight classes in action -- 45kg, 51kg, 60kg, 71kg and 92kg till the semifinals before the medal bouts of the Monday's five weights -- 48kg, 55kg, 65kg, 80kg and 110kg.

Use code BUNDLE20 to get 20 precent off on UWW+ to watch the U17, U20 and U23 World Championships. Click here.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 1 RESULTS

15:30: Tomasz MITAL (POL) with a turn from par terre and Sandor ANTALY (HUN) doesn't have any as the Poland wrestler wins 3-1 at 92kg and enters the semifinals.

15:15: Another world champion reaches the semifinals. Janes NAZARYAN (ARM) takes only a minute and 13 seconds to punish Ervin CZUCZOR (HUN), 9-0, and move into the last-four at 71kg.

15:00: Denys KIRYK (UKR) has no answers to the constant pressure of returning world champion Bunyod HASANOV (UZB) at 51kg. The Uzbekistan wrestler takes a 6-0 lead before the break and Kirkyk manages only two points in the second period as Hasanov wins 6-2.

14:52: Into the semifinals for the hosts Azerbaijan, Abdurrahman HUSEYNLI (AZE). He hangs on for a 6-4 win over Gevorg HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) at 51kg. Harutyunyan threatened to take away the match in the second period with a few stepouts but Huseynli kept it clam.

14:22: Bunyod HASANOV (UZB), a returning world champion, sees off Artem TKACHENKO (RUS) with a 10-2 technical superiority win at 51kg. Leading 3-2 at the break, Hasanov went all out in the second period, scoring a stepout, front headlock throws and a takedown for the win.

14:15: Incredible bout between Ali IPEK (TUR) and Ahmad BADRADDINI (IRI) at 51kg. The Iranian raced to a 6-0 lead but Ipek took a criteria 6-6 lead with two turns after a takedown. But Badradinni countered him and scored a exposure and turn to lead 10-6 at the break. Badraddini comes out with a takedown and turn in the second period to win 14-6 

14:08: U17 European champion Tomasz MITAL (POL) moves into the quarterfinal at 92kg with a 7-1 win over Matti EICHMANN (SUI). Mital is hoping to become Poland's first World Championships finalist in Greco-Roman since 2017.

14:00: U17 European bronze medalist Mark KOT (BLR) rolls to a 9-0 technical superiority win over Ahmed ELGENDI (EGY) after four turns from par terre at 92kg.

13:40: Amirreza TAHMASBPOUR (IRI), U17 Asian champion, continues his march after another good win, this time 7-1 over Darpan CHAUDHARI (IND) at 60kg. Chaudhari had good defense but he failed to finish his counters. Tahmasbpour managed to craftly come out of the scrambles and post the win to enter the quarterfinals.

13:38: U17 European silver medalist at 92kg Aleksan SHALJYAN (ARM) had all the chances to win against Yusuf AKSU (TUR) in their match as he got the par terre and almost turned Aksu has well. But he gave up two points in the same move and Aksu won 3-1. Shaljyan was clearly not happy after the loss and both wrestlers exchanged some heated moments.

13:30: Amirreza MEHRITALARPOSHTI (IRI), the U17 Asian champion, led 2-2 on criteria against Hlib YEVSIEIEV (UKR), but the Ukrainian throws him for four and then holds the Iranian for a fall for a shock win at 92kg.

13:05: Rematch of the 1/8 final from U17 European Championships between Christiano LIEBZEIT (GER) and Elmir CHARKAZOV (AZE) at 60kg. Leibzeit, who won that match in Samakov, gets put in par terre first which gives Charkazov a 1-0 lead. However, he fails to score anymore points. Liebzeit too cannot score from par terre in the second period and Charkazov leads 1-1 on criteria with a minute remaining. Charkazov wins 1-1 and avenges his loss against the U17 European silver medalist.

12:52: Aslan DZUEV (RUS), the U17 European champion at 65kg, wrestling at 71kg in Baku, needed a late takedown to complete at 6-3 win over Alinur TOLEUGALI (KAZ) and advance to the 1/16 finals

12:50: U17 Asian champion Baiel NURALIEV (KGZ) has no trouble seeing off Parnam SINGH (IND), 7-1, in their 71kg bout. He scored three turns from par terre and then defended his position for the win.

12:45: Returning champion from 65kg, Janes NAZARYAN (ARM) needs only a minute and 24 seconds to finish his 71kg bout against Martin LETVIK (NOR), 8-0, and start his quest for another world title with a technical superiority win.

12:40: Vadim TARELUNGA (MDA), a 2025 bronze medalist at 45kg, has moved up to 51kg and he pins Georgios CHONDRONASIOS (GRE) to advance to the quarterfinals in Baku.

12:15: Returning bronze medalist Abdurrahman HUSEYNLI (AZE) sends the crowd into a frenzy after a 9-0 win over U17 Asian champion Kuanyshbek ZHANGAZHOL (KAZ) at 51kg. He scores a four-point throw and Zhangazhol is hit with a foul caution. The bout restarts in par terre with Huseynli leading 7-0 and he turns Zhangazhol for the win 

12:05: U17 European champion Tomasz MITAL (POL) opens his campaign at 92kg with a 10-0 blanking of Sanjar STALBEKOV (KGZ). Mital gets the par terre and then launches Stalbekov for four points. Poland challenges for a leg foul and gets it correct. Leading 7-0, Mital turns Stalbekov for a 9-0 win and then one more point for a lost challenge from Kyrgyzstan

Another round of repechage bouts ongoing

11:22: U17 Asian champion Amirreza TAHMASBPOUR (IRI) wastes no time in finishing his 60kg qualification bout against Pavlos TSENTIDIS (GRE), 8-0. He scores a takedown but a throw for four points. He adds two stepouts to win in a minute.

11:18: Christiano LIEBZEIT (GER), a U17 European silver medalist, hangs on for a 1-1 criteria win over Vlad DANILA (MDA) at 60kg. Liebzeit was in trouble when Danila hit an arm throw in the final five seconds but it was given no points

11:08: U17 Pan-Am champion Rylen WAX (USA) with a 4-1 win over Vazgen VARDANYAN (ARM), the U17 European bronze medalist, at 45kg. He got par terre in the second period and scored three points off the position to win

11:00: U17 Asian champion Armin ESMAEILI (IRI) begins with a 9-1 technical superiority win over Kerem DERMAN (TUR) at 45kg. He scores a throw from par terre but gives up a reversal. His 5-1 lead becomes 7-1 when he brings Derman down with a takedown. He then turns the Turkiye wrestler to finish the bout.

10:30: Soon after the repechage bouts, the qualification rounds will begin in five weight classes. The matches will continue till the quarterfinals and the semifinals will be held at 17:00 hours. The medal bouts of Monday's weight classes will be at 18:00 hours