#WrestleSofia

Perfect Japan sweeps 5 golds at U20 Worlds

Thursday, August 18, 2022 - 21:44 By Vinay Siwach

Share this article

SOFIA, Bulgaria (August 18) -- Japan has won every women's team title at the U20 Worlds they have participated in. But when the USA won the team title in Ufa last year in Japan's absence with Russia finishing second and India third, talks of other nations catching up with Japan were ripe.

But on Thursday, Japan once again reminded the world about the gulf in class between them and other nations in women's wrestling.

In what was a day of utter dominance on the mat, Japan swept all five gold medals on offer on Thursday at the U20 World Championships in Sofia, astonishingly only in 14 minutes and 45 seconds.

While Umi ITO (JPN), Moe KIYOOKA (JPN), Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) and Ami ISHII (JPN) finished their bouts in a total of eight minutes 45 seconds, only Ayano MORO (JPN) wrestled the full six minutes.

Moreover, all five wrestlers did not let any of their opponents score a single attacking point with Moro giving up a passivity point in the final.

U20 Asian champion Ito got it going with a 10-0 technical superiority over Audrey JIMENEZ (USA) in the 50kg final. Like all other of her bouts, she never looked in any kind of trouble.

Ito and Jimenez scrambled for the initial takedown but it was the former who got the upper hand. She then added another before getting a roll to lead 4-0.  Two go-behinds got her the win in just two minutes and 22 seconds.

The 2017 U17 world champion was injured in the semifinal loss against world champion Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) at the Meiji Cup. But Ito said that the injury healed just in the nick of time for the U20 Worlds.

"I had the injury two months ago," Ito said. "But I overcame the injury, so like I did in the final, I was able to move well in my matches. Anyway, I'm relieved."

Wrestling at her first U20 Worlds, Ito did not feel any pressure whatsoever to win the title or begin the session with gold for Japan.

"I didn't feel any pressure," she said. "I was able to stay relaxed and I fought without feeling pressure."

With the win, Ito continued her unbeaten record internationally, extending back to 2017.

Moe KIYOOKA (JPN)Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) scored a 10-0 win over Albina RILLIA (UKR) in the 55kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Returning to Sofia for her second age-group World Championships, Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) repeated as the champion, this year at 55kg. Wrestling U20 European bronze medalist Albina RILLIA (UKR), Kiyooka finished the bout in three minutes and 36 seconds.

Aware of how the world looks up to Japan as the gold standard in women's wrestling, Kiyooka wanted to keep it the same way.

"Japan [women], of course, every year in international tournaments wins team titles," Kiyooka said. "Every country looks at Japan as a strong team. More than pressure, I'm aware that my country is strong so I prepare to go out and give everything in matches."

And she had a special motivation all the way from Japan going into the gold medal bout on Thursday.

Kiyooka's brother, Kotaro, won his first national collegiate title for Nippon Sports Science University at freestyle 65kg earlier on Thursday. Before his sister's final, he sent a text saying 'ganbatte', which translates to fight hard.

"It motivated me that my brother was watching," she said. "I heard that my older brother had won the title. I was very happy. It made me want to fight hard and achieve the goal of having us siblings win double gold. It became a source of energy and it made me twice as powerful."

Evident on the mat as she did not let Rillia even come close to finishing an attack. For Kiyooka, the performance was similar to any even if it was not the World Championships.

"No matter the tournament, I go into it thinking I will definitely win the title," she said. "More than being concerned about my opponents, I focus on putting out an effort that makes use of what I did in training up to now, and to have matches that I have no regrets about."

Sakura MOTOKI (JPN)Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) secures the fall over Viktoria BORSOS (HUN) in the 59kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Two senior world team members gave a peek into what to expect from them at the senior World Championships in Belgrade as both outclassed their opponents in the final.

At 59kg, Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) secured a fall over Viktoria BORSOS (HUN) using a cradle in just one minute and 11 seconds. After the final, Motoki said she learned the move recently.

"I thought I would try a new technique that I was taught, and it was really good that I did it well," Motoki said.

While she secured a fall in the final, her semifinal was a tight affair as she scraped past Ebru DAGBASI (TUR) 2-2 after a late takedown. Motoki said it was the nervousness of wrestling at a World Championships that got to her.

"I had a very disappointing match [semifinal on Wednesday]," she said. "I had to put that behind me and clear my head [for the final]. I felt the pressure. I'm also going to the [senior] World Championships, so yesterday [Wednesday, the nervousness and anxiety caused me to not wrestle so well."

Taking lessons from the U20 Worlds, Motoki, whose father Yasutoshi competed in Greco-Roman 63kg at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, will now train for Belgrade.

"In my training, I want to add new moves and develop more patterns of attack," she said.

Ami ISHII (JPN)The four medalists at 68kg including gold winner Ami ISHII (JPN), second from left. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan) 

Ami ISHII (JPN) was the second senior world team member to win the gold on Thursday. She was the quickest of the lot to finish her final, taking just a minute and 36 seconds. She pinned Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) for the gold.

The former U17 Asian champion had to beat world silver medalist Rin MIYAJI (JPN) in the semifinal of the Meiji Cup and Naruha MAYSUYUKI (JPN) in the final and playoff to make the senior world team.

"Yes, there was [pressure]. I am going to the [senior] World Championships, so I thought that I absolutely have to win this tournament," she said.

Ishii is aware that the competition in Belgrade will be much tougher, especially at 68kg. Olympic champion Taymra MENSAH STOCK (USA), world champion Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ), Olympic silver Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR), 65kg world champion Irina RINGACI (MDA), Feng ZHOU (CHN), and Alla BELINSKA (UKR) are expected to be in Belgrade. But Ishii is up for the challenge.

"I know that the matches will be a lot tougher, so in the short time remaining until then, I will do everything that I need to do to be prepared," she said.

Ayano MORO (JPN)Ayano MORO (JPN) extending her unbeaten streak to 35 bouts. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

The final gold was won by Ayano MORO (JPN) who had to work hard for a 3-1 win against two-time U17 world champion Priya MALIK (IND) in the 76kg final.

Moro was called passive in the first period but she scored a stepout to lead 1-1 on criteria at the break.

Malik shot for Moro's legs on a few occasions in the second period but failed to score. Moro, however, hit a low double and scored a takedown and defended her 3-1 lead till the time expired.

With the win, she extended her unbeaten record to 35 bouts, a streak that began in 2017. Her last loss was to Ishii in the 57kg final at the National Junior High School Invitational 2017. 

Out of her 35 wins, the bout against Malik was only the second in which she did not secure a fall or technical superiority. The final did leave Moro in tears as she was surprised that it took her six minutes to win the gold medal in Sofia.

"These tears are not for winning gold but for not dominating the final," Moro said. "I want to be at the Olympics and win it but not with this performance. I wrestled very poorly here."

ANTIM (IND)ANTIM (IND) ended Japan's winning run in Sofia. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Antim stops Japan

Japan had the chance to put all 10 of its wrestlers in the final but ANTIM (IND) pinned Ayaka KIMURA (JPN) in the 53kg quarterfinals to dash its hopes. Japan, however, still has the chance to win 10 medals as Antim reached the final by beating Nataliia KLIVCHUTSKA (UKR), 11-2, in the semifinal.

Altyn SHAGAYEVA (KAZ) will try to stop Antim from becoming India's first woman to be U20 world champion after she defeated Shaimaa MOHAMED (EGY) via fall. The bout was closer than the scoreline shows as Shagayeva was almost pinned by Mohamed when the referees stopped the bout as the Egypt wrestler pulled Shagayeva's singlet.

The bout began in par terre and the Kazakhstan wrestler got the gut wrench to make it 5-1 before a final-second fall.

Sofia MACALUSO (USA)Sofia MACALUSO (USA) reached the final at 57kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 57kg, Sofia MACALUSO (USA) entered the finals after three wins via fall. She defeated two returning medalists and Melda DERNEKCI (TUR) in the semifinals.

Macaluso will have Ruka NATAMI (JPN) in the final. The Japanese wrestler defeated Zeinep BAYANOVA (KAZ), 7-1 after trailing for most of the bout. Bayanova kept 1-1 criteria lead and Natami was called passive for the second but she scored an underhook for four.

The second USA wrestler to reach the final was returning U20 world champion Amit ELOR (USA), who moved past REETIKA (IND) 12-1 with ease. With a win away from her second U20 title, Elor will face Anastassiya PANASSOVICH (KAZ) in the final.

Panassovich was the second wrestler to beat a wrestler from Japan in a thrilling semifinal. Sumire NIIKURA (JPN) led 6-5 with just 15 seconds but Panassovich hit a double leg and scored a takedown to win 7-6. A lost challenge added one more point.

Nonoka OZAKI (JPN)Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) is a win away from becoming a U20 world champion. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

A battle between two former U17 world champions will be seen in the 62kg final as Asian champion and senior world bronze medalist Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) reached the final and Tokyo Olympian Sonam MALIK (IND) made it to the gold bout from the other side.

Ozaki defeated Birgul SOLTANOVA (AZE), 10-0, using a leg lace while Malik scored a fall over Bermet NURIDIN KYZY (KGZ).

Another India-Japan final will take place as PRIYANKA (IND) booked the spot against Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN) at 65kg.

Priyanka used an armbar to pin Dilnaz SAZANOVA (KGZ) while Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN) defeated Khadija JLASSI (TUN), 10-0.

sf

RESULTS

50kg
GOLD: Umi ITO (JPN) df. Audrey JIMENEZ (USA), 10-0

BRONZE: Priyanshi PRAJAPAT (IND) df. Munkhgerel MUNKHBAT (MGL), via fall
BRONZE: Gultakin SHIRINOVA (AZE) df. Natalia WALCZAK (POL), 10-0

55kg
GOLD: Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) df. Albina RILLIA (UKR), 10-0 

BRONZE: Roza SZENTTAMASI (HUN) df. Pei LIAO (TPE), via fall
BRONZE: Tuba DEMIR (TUR) df. MANJU (IND)

59kg
GOLD: Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) df. Viktoria BORSOS (HUN), via fall

BRONZE: Ebru DAGBASI (TUR) df. Bhagyashree FAND (IND), 3-1 
BRONZE: Madina AMAN (KAZ) df. Aleksandra WITOS (POL), 4-1

68kg
GOLD: Ami ISHII (JPN) df. Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ), via fall

BRONZE: Nesrin BAS (TUR) df. ARJU (IND), 6-4
BRONZE: Sophia SCHAEFLE (GER) df. Luciana BEDA (MDA), 5-1

76kg
GOLD: Ayano MORO (JPN) df. Priya MALIK (IND), 3-1 

BRONZE: Veronika NYIKOS (HUN) df. Melisa SARITAC (TUR), 7-5
BRONZE: Tristan KELLY (USA) df. Daniela TKACHUK (POL), via fall

Semifinals

53kg
GOLD: ANTIM (IND) vs. Altyn SHAGAYEVA (KAZ)

SF 1: ANTIM (IND) df. Nataliia KLIVCHUTSKA (UKR), 11-2
SF 2: Altyn SHAGAYEVA (KAZ) df. Shaimaa MOHAMED (EGY), via fall (7-1)

57kg
GOLD: Ruka NATAMI (JPN) vs. Sofia MACALUSO (USA)

SF 1: Ruka NATAMI (JPN) df. Zeinep BAYANOVA (KAZ), 7-1
SF 2: Sofia MACALUSO (USA) df. Melda DERNEKCI (TUR), via fall (12-3)

62kg
GOLD: Sonam MALIK (IND) vs. Nonoka OZAKI (JPN)

SF 1: Sonam MALIK (IND) df. Bermet NURIDIN KYZY (KGZ), via fall (8-0)
SF 2: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) df. Birgul SOLTANOVA (AZE), 10-0

65kg
GOLD: PRIYANKA (IND) vs. Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN)

SF 1: PRIYANKA (IND) df. Dilnaz SAZANOVA (KGZ), via fall (5-0)
SF 2: Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN) df. Khadija JLASSI (TUN), 10-0

72kg
GOLD: Anastassiya PANASSOVICH (KAZ) vs. Amit ELOR (USA)

SF 1: Anastassiya PANASSOVICH (KAZ) df. Sumire NIIKURA (JPN), 8-6
SF 2: Amit ELOR (USA) df. REETIKA (IND), 12-1

#WrestleTirana

Muhamet Malo 2025 Ranking Series Day 5 Recap

Sunday, March 2, 2025 - 09:59 By Vinay Siwach

Share this article

TIRANA, Albania (March 2) -- The final day of Muhamet Malo 2025 Ranking Series will see Greco-Roman action in six weight classes. 55kg, 60kg, 72kg, 82kg, 97kg and 130kg wrestlers will be on the mat.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 4 RESULTS

16:15: Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) and Hamza BAKIR (TUR) enter the final at 130kg. Mirzazadeh scores a gut wrench from par terre against Wenhao JIANG (CHN) to lead 3-0 at the break. Jiang gets the forced par terre advantage in the second period but no points from the position for him. Mirzazadeh wins 3-1.

Bakir had Tokyo silver medalist Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO) in the semifinal. Kajaia gets the par terre in first period but doesn't turn Bakir, who got the par terre position in the second period but can't turn. Bakir holds the 1-1 criteria lead for the win.

16:00: Kiril MILOV (BUL) with a front headlock exposure for two and he led Alex SZOKE (HUN) 3-1. Szoke got the third passivity and as he tried to gut wrench Milov, he got stuck on the mat and Milov pinned him to enter the 97kg final.

He will take on Giorgi MELIA (GEO) in final after the Georgian defeated Markus RAGGINGER (AUT) 5-2. Melia blocked a turn from Ragginger and got two points. Ragginger got both the passivity calls and led 2-0 before the defended throw from Melia. Ragginger challenged for a defensive foul but lost it as Melia got another point and lead 3-2 with 1:30 remaining on the clock. Ragginger needs two points for a win. Melia with a stepout with 54 seconds remaining to lead 5-2. Ragginger fails to breakthrough and drops the semifinal.

15:50: Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) defends from par terre when Ramon BETSCHART (SUI) got the third passivity and keep his 2-1 lead to enter the 82kg final. He will face Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) in the final after he got a gift from Svetoslav NIKOLOV (BUL) who committed two offensive leg fouls and was cautioned out of the semifinal.

15:35: Mehmet SAHIN (TUR) enters the 72kg final with a 9-0 technical superiority win over Yryskeldi KHAMZAEV (KGZ). He will face Iuri LOMADZE (GEO) who beat Otar ABULADZE (GEO) 6-3 which may give him a look in the Georgian team for the European Championships.

15:20: Quick finishes to the 60kg semifinals! Amiran SHAVADZE (GEO) with two headpinch front throws to beat Haodong TAN (CHN) 8-0 and enter the final.

Yu SHIOTANI (JPN) brings out two reverse suplexes from par terre to beat Akyl SULAIMANOV (KGZ) 9-0. Lost challenge from Kyrgyzstan makes it 10-0

15:10: Emre MUTLU (TUR) with a huge four-point throw and then a turn from par terre as he leads Yerassyl MAMYRBEKOV (KAZ) 7-0 at the break in the 55kg semifinals. But Mamyrbekov storms back with two suplexes for two points each to make it 7-5. A challenge from Kazakhstan asking for a foul from Mutlu but there isn't any. A lost challenge makes it 8-5 for Mutlu with a minute remaining. Mutlu defends his lead and wins 8-5.

In the other semifinal, Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO) was attacking from the start and earned two turns from par terre to lead 6-0 at the break Yersin ABYIR (TUR). Lolua also pulls out a good defense to keep it 6-1 when he was put on par terre in the second period. Abyir scores three points but a 6-4 win for Lolua.

The semifinals begin at 15:00 hours local time

14:40: Two turns from par terre for Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) to lead 5-1 and he may have thought that it was enough for a win. However, Shahin BADAGHI (QAT), of Iranian origin, scores a takedown to make it 5-4. Bolkvadze scores a stepout however Badaghi challenges and wins as Bolkvadze pulled his singlet. Badaghi down 5-4 with 1:21 left in the 82kg quarterfinal. Badaghi challenges for a headbutt but this time loses the challenge which makes Bolkvadze's score 6-4 whihc is also the winning score.

14:30: Yu SHIOTANI (JPN) with a five-pointer as he moves into the semifinals at 60kg! Shiotani blanks Ziyue XI (CHN) 11-0. 

14:20: Iuri LOMADZE (GEO) with a grand-amplitude over Kristupas SLEIVA (LTU) for five points. Sleiva blocked with his hands which gives to more to Lomadze who leads 7-0 at the break. Sleiva can manage only two points in the second period as Lomadze wins 7-2

14:10: Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) pulls out his best defense from par terre and stops Mantas KNYSTAUTAS (LTU) from turning him in the second period. A turn would have surely given Knystautas a 3-3 criteria lead. But Mirzazadeh wins 3-1

14:00: China has brought some hammers here! Haodong TAN (CHN) pins Paris Olympian Enes BASAR (TUR) at 60kg. Tan got the third passivity [no points are awarded for third passivity in Greco] and got a defensive foul from Basar. He then turned him and held Basar on the mat for a fall.

13:45: Ziyue XI (CHN) takes out Victor CIOBANU (MDA) at 60kg! What a performance from Xi. He defended his par terre position before scoring a correct throw from par terre in the second period to lead 3-1. Ciobanu gave up a stepout with 40 seconds remaining to fall behind 4-1. Ciobanu challenged so a foul but there was none. Xi gets a 5-1 lead. Ciobanu could not find a way to break Xi who wins 5-1 at 60kg.

13:35: Hamza BAKIR (TUR) scores an 8-0 win over Yuta NARA (JPN) at 130kg. Bakir has been impressive so far as he prepares himself for the big challenge at the European Championships. 

13:25: Tokyo Olympic silver medalist at Greco-Roman 130kg Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO) turns Elias KUOSMANEN (FIN) from par terre to lead 3-0 at the break before defending his position from forced par terre in the second and win 3-1 at 130kg.

13:10: The world is missing out on Yu SHIOTANI (JPN). A series of reverse lifts from par terre and Shiotani has Ergi UKU (ALB) in all sorts of trouble. An 11-0 win for Shiotani.

13:07: Kristupas SLEIVA (LTU) brings out a reverse lift slam on Ji LENG (CHN) to score four points and snatch the win 4-2 against Leng who is a little dumbfounded with that move. Top move from Sleiva

13:05: Ali ARSALAN (SRB) can't find a way to break Iuri LOMADZE's (GEO) defense and drops his 72kg bout 5-1. Lomadze with a defensive block when Arsalan was trying to score on him.

12:50: Kyrgyzstan wrestlers are out here demoralising big star. Yryskeldi KHAMZAEV (KGZ) takes out Selcuk CAN (TUR) at 72kg. After leading 5-0, Khamzaev defended well from par terre and gave up only two points. Can made it 5-5 with a push out but Khamzaev keeps the criteria win.

12:40: Former European champion Kiril MILOV (BUL), who wrestled at Paris Olympics at 130kg, drops down to his natural 97kg, and he dominates Tyrone STERKENBURG (NED) 6-1. He scored two turns from par terre in the first period while Sterkenburg failed to do so in the second.

12:05: Hamza BAKIR (TUR) gets two par terre positions in the match and he scored three turns to beat 8-0 Laga BAYI (CHN) at 130kg. He expected to be the heir apparent to Riza KAYAALP (TUR) for Turkiye

11:50: Olympic bronze medalist Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) using his aggressive style against Heiki NABI (EST) for a 4-0 win at 130kg. While he did the par terre in the first period, he asked for standing in the second.

11:45: Yu SHIOTANI (JPN) gives a reality check to U20 world champion Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) of the senior level. Shiotani was in forced par terre in the first period but he didn't let Ahmadi Vafa score. The referees were about to give Ahmadi Vafa the second par terre which may have made Ahmadi Vafa relax as he gave up a takedown. A reversal in the same sequence was scored one point for Ahmadi Vafa. But Shiotani with a big lift and throw for two points. Shiotani challenges and gets two more points for a foul from Ahmadi Vafa to lead 6-2. From par terre, Shiotani would score three more points and lead 9-4 with 35 seconds on the clock.

Ahmadi Vafa threatened to cause an upset as he scored a takedown and a turn to make it 9-6 before Shiotani blocked the next turn for two points. He then score another exposure and held Ahmadi Vafa on the mat for a fall.

11:35: Ali ARSALAN (SRB), world bronze medalist at 72kg, impresses with a 4-4 win over Levente LEVAI (HUN). Levai led 3-0 at the break but Arsalan with a headpinch for four. Levai blocked his second attempt. A stepout in the end gave Levai another point but Arsalan won 4-4 on criteria.

11:31: Selcuk CAN (TUR), wrestling at 72kg, with an impressive 7-3 win against Mikko PELTOKANGAS (FIN). Can with a top defense from par terre to keep Peltokangas at bay

11:25: Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) needed two successful challenges to remaining in the opening match at 97kg against Alex SZOKE (HUN) who committed two offensive leg fouls. Szoke still had a 7-1 lead at the break. Savolainen managed two points in the second period but failed get a move on. Szoke with a 7-3 win.

11:00: Greco-Roman all day as the final day of the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series is here. Long day ahead but some classic match ups in various weight class. By the way, rain is back in Tirana.