Ozaki leads strong Japan team; USA, Ukraine eye U20 Worlds glory

Friday, August 12, 2022 - 23:00 By Vinay Siwach

SOFIA, Bulgaria (August 10) -- Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) has competed in three World Championships so far in her career. At the two U17 World Championships, she was unperturbed and claimed gold with much ease.

In 2019, she debuted at the senior World Championships and hoped to continue her unbeaten international record. But her opening round opponent, the defending champion Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) came from behind to hand Ozaki her first international loss and second overall since 2017.

Before she makes another run for the senior world title in Serbia in September, Ozaki will make a pit spot in Sofia, Bulgaria at the U20 Worlds.

Ozaki, who defeated Tynybekova in the Asian Championships final, will be leading a talented Japan squad into the tournament which begins August 15.

Like the U17 World Championships, Japan skipped the 2021 edition due to travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. But the nation is primed to win the women's team title in Sofia. The USA claimed it in Japan's absence in Ufa, Russia last year.

The USA has once again entered a strong team hoping to repeat the title-winning performance. Ukraine, which also missed the Worlds in Ufa, will be one of the favorites as well with India hoping to build on its U17 success.

Apart from Ozaki, two other senior world team members -- Ami ISHII (JPN) and Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) -- are also taking the trip to Sofia. All three would hope to warm up for Belgrade with gold medals at the U20 level.

Former U17 world champions Umi ITO (JPN), Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) and Ruka NATAMI (JPN) and senior Asian Championships silver medalist Sumire NIIKURA (JPN) add depth to the squad.

Ozaki, undoubtedly, will be the favorite to win the 62kg weight class but it not be a cakewalk.

Returning bronze medalist Birgul SOLTANOVA (AZE) won the U20 European Championships in Rome and would be keen on adding a world title to her name. At the Euros, she pulled off an upset by pinning Iryna BONDAR (UKR) who was leading 11-4. Bondar will look to avenge that loss in Sofia.

Luisa SCHEEL (GER) will be another wrestler hoping to reverse the result against Soltanova as she finished second to her in Rome.

Two-time U17 world champion and Tokyo Olympian Sonam MALIK (IND) will also be making her U20 debut and hope to become India's first woman to be a world champion in this age group.

Amit ELOR (USA), red, is a returning U20 world champion. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

The USA will be led by returning world champion Amit ELOR (USA) who is hoping to become the nation's first two-time U20 world champion. Elor won the U17 and U20 world titles last year and like Ozaki, will represent the USA in Belgrade.

In the four competitions she has wrestled internationally, Elor has suffered only one loss when Honoka NAKAI (JPN) defeated her in the semifinals of the '19 U17 Worlds, incidentally in Sofia.

She will face a packed field at 72kg with Niikura leading the contenders. Her experience at the senior level will give her an upper hand against Elor but the American is one of the most composed wrestlers around the world.

Others in the pack include U20 European champion Iryna ZABLOTSKA (UKR), silver medalist Nazar BATIR (TUR), U20 Asian champion REETIKA (IND) and Tokyo Olympian Zaineb SGHAIER (TUN).

Katie GOMEZ (USA) will hope to add a U20 world to her U17 one she won in 2021. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Another world champion for the USA is Katie GOMEZ (USA) who won the U17 title last year. She will try to win the gold medal at 53kg which also has the returning silver medalist Mihaela SAMOIL (MDA) who also won the silver at U20 Europeans this year.

Gomez may run into ANTIM (IND), a wrestler she defeated at the U17 Worlds in a controversial ending to all but clear her path to the gold. ANTIM has since won the U20 Asian title and claimed the Ranking Series gold medal in Tunis.

U20 European champion Amory ANDRICH (GER), who outscored her opponents 38-1, will hope to carry her form in Sofia and challenge the other stars. Returning bronze medalist Emine CAKMAK (TUR) has a chance to upgrade her medal as well.

Japan is sending Ayaka KIMURA (JPN) at this weight class. Kimura was second to world champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) at the Junior Queen's Cup and will be making her international debut.

As the winner of the Junior Queen's Cup, Fujinami was in the Japan team but the 18-year-old decided to skip the tournament.

Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) will try to win her first world title in Sofia. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Leading the Ukraine star is World Championships bronze and European silver medalist Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR). The experienced international star won the U20 European Championships and will be the favorite to win the 57kg gold.

The category has three returning medalists in silver Aurora RUSSO (ITA) and both bronze winners -- SITO (IND) and Sezim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ).

But the biggest threat to Khomentes hopes of winning the gold is Ruka NATAMI (JPN) who is trying to add a U20 world title to the 2019 U17 title she won in Sofia, the last time she was competing internationally.

Natami also has a U17 Asian silver medal from 2018 after she lost the final to now world silver medalist Anshu MALIK (IND).

Two-time U20 European champion at 59kg Yulia LESKOVETS (UKR) is aiming to win her first world title after being denied by Ozaki at 61kg in 2018.

The Ukraine wrestler has been on a serious run since that loss. She won '21 Euro gold and defended it without conceding a point in her five bouts in Rome.

But it won't be an easy road to gold in Sofia as Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) will be returning to international competition for the first time since winning the '18 U17 world title at 46kg. She defeated Asian champion Sara NATAMI (JPN) twice at the Meiji Cup to win the spot on Japan's team for the senior World Championships.

The weight class also has returning bronze medalist Madina AMAN (KAZ), who also finished with a silver at the U20 Asian Championships and Ebru DAGBASI (TUR) who was second to Leskovets at the U20 Euros.

Umi ITO (JPN) is entered at 50kg. (Photo: UWW / Sachiko Hotaka)

Unbeaten internationally over six tournaments, Umi ITO (JPN) is back at the World Championships, the first time since winning the U17 title in 2017 at 43kg. She was injured during the Meiji Cup semifinal against world champion Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) but has recovered in time for Sofia.

Ito has won the Klippan Lady Open twice with the second coming in 2020. But since then, she has not been able to venture out of Japan due to the pandemic.

Her biggest competitor may turn out to be U20 European champion Sevval CAYIR (TUR) as she continues to gain international experience. The 17-year-old is a two-time U17 Worlds bronze medalist with her second one coming in Rome two weeks ago.

Munkhgerel MUNKHBAT (MGL) won the bronze medal at the '21 U20 Worlds and will return with the aim of upgrading her medal.

Former U17 world bronze medalist Audrey JIMENEZ (USA) would like to put her disappointing experience at the U17 Worlds behind and look to win a medal in Sofia.

U20 European champion Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE) is eyeing her first World Championships medal. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 55kg, Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE) is the most accomplished wrestler with experience in various senior-level events. The U20 European champion has never won a medal at any World Championships but Sofia will present her with another chance. Since finishing 12th at the previous U20 Worlds, Mammadova has won gold at U20 Euros and silver at the U23 continental level.

Another wrestler with a wealth of experience is Tuba DEMIR (TUR) who finished second to Mammadova at the U20 European Championships. Just 16 years of age, Demir won the U17 continental title and a bronze medal at the U17 Worlds as well.

But 2019 U17 world champion Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) will be returning to Sofia once again with the hope of winning another world title in the same arena. Recently, she finished second to Olympic champion Mayu SHIDOCHI (JPN) at the Meiji Cup in June.

Two continental champions can potentially collide at 65kg as PRIYANKA (IND) and Manola SKOBELSKA (UKR) are both entered for the competition.

Priyanka won the U20 Asian title in some style in Manama, Bahrain in June while two-time U20 European champion Skobelska was dominant during her golden run in Rome. She did not concede a single point during her four bouts.

Last year's U17 world champion and second to Skobelska in Rome, Eniko ELEKES (HUN) will be another threat to the gold medal.

Priya MALIK (IND) is a two-time U17 world champion. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Two of the most stacked weight classes in Sofia are the 68kg and 76kg as they have some of the most accomplished wrestlers in the field.

At 76kg, U20 Euro champion Veronika NYIKOS (HUN) is joined by silver medalist Mariia ORLEVYCH (UKR) who is likely to play a crucial role in the team race.

2021 U20 European champion Melisa SARITAC (TUR) is also entered in the field. She lost her opening bout via fall to Elena MARGAS (ROU) in 2022.

But Ayano MORO (JPN) may prove to be the dark horse and win the gold. She won gold at the 2018 and 2019 U15 Asian Championships and those runs are part of her 32-bout winning streak which began in 2017.

Two-time U17 world champion Priya MALIK (IND) will now test herself at the U20 level and become India's first-ever wrestler to hold three world titles. Malik has lost only once in her entire career -- a 3-2 loss to Nodoka YAMAMOTO (JPN) at the Asian Championships.

Pan-Am champion Vianne ROULEAU (CAN) is also joining the field and can make the run for the gold which will be Canada's first since 2013.

Ami ISHII (JPN) is Japan's respresentative for U20 and senior World Championships. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation / Takeo Yabuki)

The 68kg field offers Ami ISHII (JPN) who has qualified for the senior world team for Japan. She impressed with her title-winning run at the Meiji Cup in June and defeated world silver medalist Rin MIYAJI (JPN) in the final.

Returning bronze medalist Nesrin BAS (TUR) won the U20 European Championships and will be hoping to reach the final this year, especially after gaining senior-level experience.

ARJU (IND) lost the bronze medal bout in Budapest but she has since won the U20 Asians and finished with a silver at the U23 level to put her name in the mix.

Silver to Arju in Bishkek, Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) is another wrestler to keep an eye on along with U20 European silver medalist Luciana BEDA (MDA) and '21 U17 world silver Yevheniia SIEDYKH (UKR)

Sophia SCHAEFLE (GER), who has managed to reach the medal bouts of all her five international competitions, will be the dark horse of the weight class.

Women's wrestling begins on August 17 and the 10 champions will be crowned by August 17. All the action will be live on uww.org.

#WrestleSofia

Nakaev wins Germany's first U20 Worlds gold in 23 years

Saturday, August 20, 2022 - 17:05 By Vinay Siwach

SOFIA, Bulgaria (August 20) -- More than two hours after the final, Deni NAKAEV (GER) was still processing the win.

Nakaev was not the favorite but won the 77kg gold medal at the U20 World Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria to give Germany its first Greco-Roman world champion in this age group in 23 years.

"I can't even explain how it feels," Nakaev said. "I haven't yet processed it or thought about it. I used the momentum and time when I got the opportunity to win."

Over the two days in Sofia, Nakaev scripted two comebacks and managed to win the 77kg gold over Yuksel SARICICEK (TUR). The German wrestler defeated Saricicek 9-4 in the final after trailing 4-0.

The two U20 European bronze medalists met in the final on Saturday and Nakaev fell behind early as Saricicek led 2-0 at the break. He added a takedown 15 seconds into the second period.

"When I was 4-0 down, I was thinking if I don't do it now, then when," he said. "You don't get too many opportunities to wrestle in the World Championships, forget in the final."

So he went for arm spin and scored the four points to take a 4-4 criteria lead. But he was not done yet. Nakaev broke Saricicek in the final minute and scored points via stepouts and takedown to secure the win.

"I did not know if it was a four-point move," he said. "But I saw it. So I was safe but then I thought if I lose from here, it will be because of my mentality. If I give up any points it will be my mental weakness."

He has been in situations like this before. Back in 2017, he wrestled at a tournament in North Macedonia and led 7-0. But he allowed the opponent to make a comeback and lost the bout. Since, Nakaev has felt that he needs to improve his mental strength.

"I remember at the earlier tournaments, there was one step missing," he said. "I had too much stress, mentally weak, tiny issues. But I worked hard especially between the U20 Europeans and Worlds now."

In Rome, Nakaev lost to (GEO) but came back to win the bronze medal. But since then, he was eager to win the World Championships.

"I was concentrated on myself," he said. "I had beat everyone to reach the final. I knew that the Asian champion was coming. I won that bout after being 4-0 down. I had to decide for myself if I wanted to wrestle for bronze or gold."

Nakaev began wrestling when he was nine years old when his father found a wrestling gym for his hyper-active son.

"I used to fight a lot on the streets," he said.

While he won't be on the flight to Serbia, Nakaev wants to make the senior team as soon as possible.

"I still want to keep working and beat [Idris] IBAEV in Germany," he said. "So I have to step up like him and then move next."

Mykhailo VYSHNYVETSKYI (UKR) defeated Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) in the 130kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

In other finals, Mykhailo VYSHNYVETSKYI (UKR) enthralled the fans in the stands after a 6-4 win against Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) in the 130kg final.

Hedayati tried hard to keep Vyshnyvetskyi quiet in the first period and even took a 4-2 lead. But he was called passive in the second period and Vyshnyvetskyi scored a gut wrench to lead 5-4.

Hedayati almost got the stepout late in the bout but the referee saw the Iran wrestler pull the singlet when pushing the Ukraine wrestler. Iran challenged the call but lost.

"The final match was tough," he said. "The quarterfinal against the Egypt wrestler wasn’t good enough. In the first period, I made a lot of mistakes, but in the second one I improved and got what I was supposed to."

In the quarterfinals, Fekry EISSA (EGY) almost pinned Vyshnyvetskyi but failed to hold him on the ground. Eissa countered every attack but Vyshnyvetskyi kept coming back to win 9-7.

The U20 European champion took a lesson from the U20 tournament in Rome which helped him in Sofia, especially to make comebacks.

"At the European championships, I realized that I can’t give up points for no reason," he said. "Because it is hard to make them up as all the wrestlers are the best representatives of their countries. So, I had to wrestle till the very last point."

A European final rematch was expected in the semifinal when Vyshnyvetskyi met Adolf BAZSO (HUN) but Aden ATTOO (USA) pinned Bazso.

"I was expecting the Iranian guy in the final because he is the Asian champion," Vyshnyvetskyi said. "I checked all his matches and I knew he is not an easy one. I tried to find the right way to wrestle him. The first period was a bit tough, but in the second period I got the par terre and made it work."

Iman Khoon MOHAMMADI (IRI) won the 63kg gold medal in Sofia. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

At 63kg, Iman Khoon MOHAMMADI (IRI) controlled the final against Baiaman KARIMOV (KGZ) with ease and won 6-1, most of the points coming via stepouts.

Khoon Mohammadi, who also has a senior Asian bronze medalist, scored the first three points via steptouts before Karimov was called for passivity. At the break, he led 5-0.

Nihad GULUZADE (AZE) won the 55kg gold after beating Denis MIHAI (ROU) in the final. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

A rematch of the U20 European final occured at 55kg as both Nihad GULUZADE (AZE) and Denis MIHAI (ROU) made it to the gold medal bout. But like the Rome final, Guluzade defeated Mihai 6-1 to become Azerbaijan's U20 world champion.

Guluzade got the advantage when Mihai was called passive. The Azerbaijan wrestler scored two turns from par terre and led 5-0. He was called passive in the second period but Mihai was not able to level the score.

In a dramatic final, Vigen NAZARYAN (ARM) denied Abolfazl CHOUBANI (IRI) at 87kg. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Iran sent three in the finals but only won one. Vigen NAZARYAN (ARM) denied Abolfazl CHOUBANI (IRI), 1-1 at 87kg. The two exchanged passivity points but with just three seconds remaining on the clock, Choubani dragged Nazaryan towards the zone and pushout.

But Armenia challenged the call and in the review, it appeared that Choubani moved his hands below Nazaryan's waist while pushing him out. That prompted the jury to rule the decision in Armenia's favor.

While the Iran corner was not happy about it, Nazaryan won the bout 1-1 and become the U20 world champion, the first for Armenia since 2018.

The final five gold medals of the U20 World Championships will be handed out on Sunday.

RESULTS

Greco-Roman

55kg
GOLD: Nihad GULUZADE (AZE) df. Denis MIHAI (ROU), 6-1

BRONZE: Nuristan SUIORKULOV (KGZ) df. Tamazi GLONTI (GEO), 5-1
BRONZE: Taiga ONISHI (JPN) df. Karapet MANVELYAN (ARM), via fall

63kg
GOLD: Iman Khoon MOHAMMADI (IRI) df. Baiaman KARIMOV (KGZ), 6-1

BRONZE: Chiezo MARUYAMA (JPN) df. Azat SARIYAR (TUR), 5-2
BRONZE: Oleh KHALILOV (UKR) df. Arman VARDANYAN (ARM), 5-0

77kg
GOLD: Deni NAKAEV (GER) df. Yuksel SARICICEK (TUR), 9-4

BRONZE: Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) df. Khasay HASANLI (AZE), 11-5
BRONZE: Samandar BOBONAZAROV (UZB) df. Michal ZELENKA (CZE), 9-8

87kg
GOLD: Vigen NAZARYAN (ARM) df. Abolfazl CHOUBANI (IRI), 1-1

BRONZE: Lachin VALIYEV (AZE) df. Donghyun YUN (KOR), 9-0
BRONZE: Maksat SAILAU (KAZ) df. Mykyta ALIEKSIEIEV (UKR), via fall

130kg
GOLD: Mykhailo VYSHNYVETSKYI (UKR) df. Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI), 6-4

BRONZE: Aden ATTAO (USA) df. Fekry EISSA (EGY), 11-3
BRONZE: Temurbek NASIMOV (UZB) df. Albert VARDANYAN (ARM), 11-5

Semifinals

60kg
GOLD: Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) vs. Suren AGHAJANYAN (ARM)

SF 1: Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) df. Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE), 1-1
SF 2: Suren AGHAJANYAN (ARM) df. SUMIT (IND), via fall

67kg
GOLD: Kanan ABDULLAZADE (AZE) vs. Nika BROLADZE (GEO)

SF 1: Kanan ABDULLAZADE (AZE) df. Din KOSHKAR (KAZ), 9-2
SF 2: Nika BROLADZE (GEO) df. Seyed SOHRABI (IRI), via fall

72kg
GOLD: Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) vs. Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA)

SF 1: Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) df. Irfan MIRZOIEV (UKR), 5-0
SF 2: Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA) df. Amir ABDI (IRI), 5-2

82kg
GOLD: Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) vs. Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI)

SF 1: Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) df. Ruslan ABDIIEV (UKR), 5-1
SF 2: Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI) df. Alperen BERBER (TUR), 8-2

97kg
GOLD: Ali ABEDIDARZI (IRI) vs. Iussuf MATSIYEV (KAZ)

SF 1: Ali ABEDIDARZI (IRI) df. Richard KARELSON (EST), 1-1
SF 2: Iussuf MATSIYEV (KAZ) df. Nurmanbet RAIMALY UULU (KGZ), 11-2

Ozaki leads strong Japan team; USA, Ukraine eye U20 Worlds glory

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Nakaev wins Germany's first U20 Worlds gold in 23 years