#BudaWrestle2018

Susaki, Okuno Repeat as Japan Finishes With 4 Gold Medals in Women's Wrestling

Thursday, October 25, 2018 - 19:40 By Andrew Hipps

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (October 25) -- A pair of 19-year-olds repeated as world champions and closed out a dominating team performance for Japan in women's wrestling at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. 

Yui SUSAKI (JPN) and Haruna OKUNO (JPN) both won by technical fall in their gold-medal matches on Thursday to give team champion Japan two more gold medalists in women's wrestling and four overall in Budapest. 

Susaki made it two senior world titles in two tries as she dominated three-time Olympic medalist Mariya STADNIK (AZE) 10-0 in the gold-medal match at 50kg. She scored the first takedown by countering a Stadnik attack. Susaki then used a gut wrench to go up 4-0. Another takedown by Susaki made the score 6-0 at the break. She then ended the match with a takedown and gut wrench.  

Susaki completely dominated her competition in Budapest, winning by fall in her first match and then picking up three straight technical falls without surrendering a point. 

In addition to the two senior world titles, Susaki has won a junior world title and three cadet world titles. 

Okuno cruised to a 10-0 technical fall over top-seeded Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) in the gold-medal match at 53kg. The match was competitive early with Okuno leading 2-0 at the break. But Okuno turned it up in the second period, picking up three takedowns and a turn to close out the technical fall.

Taybe YUSEIN (BUL) denied Japan a third gold medal on Thursday as she defeated Yukako KAWAI (JPN) 6-2 in the gold-medal match at 62kg. It's Yusein's first world title after coming close multiple times. The 27-year-old previously won two world silver medals and two world bronze medals. 

Yusein scored a takedown a minute into the gold-medal match and used a trap-arm gut wrench to quickly go up 6-0. The score stayed that way until the final seconds when Kawai added a late takedown to avoid being shut out.

Ningning RONG (CHN) came through to win the world title at 57kg, edging top-seeded Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) in a battle of returning world fifth-place finishers. Dudova scored first off the shot clock, but Rong took the lead after scoring a point off a caution. The 21-year-old Rong added to her lead in the second period with a takedown. Dudova scored a late two but Rong held the criteria and captured the gold medal.

Yanan SUN (CHN) added her forth world-level medal, claiming a bronze medal at 50kg with a 10-0 technical fall over Sonhyang KIM (PRK). She now has world medals in each of the colors to go along with an Olympic bronze medal. 

Oksana LIVACH (UKR) won her first senior medal after winning three junior world medals and two cadet world medals. She topped Ritu RITU (IND) 10-5 for a bronze medal at 50kg. 

The bronze medals at 53kg were won by Diana WEICKER (CAN) and Qianyu PANG (CHN). Weicker defeated multiple-time world medalist Zhuldyz ESHIMOVA (KAZ) 3-2. Pang edged Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL) 2-1. 

At 57kg, Pooja DHANDA gave India its first women's freestyle world medal in six years by defeating Grace BULLEN (NOR), a junior world medalist and cadet world champion, 10-7 in the bronze-medal match. Dhanda used two four-point moves -- one in each period -- to pace her to the victory.

Emese BARKA (HUN) gave the Hungarian fans something to cheer about as she captured her third bronze medal by shutting out Kateryna ZHYDACHEVSKA (ROU) 6-0 at 57kg. 

Yuliia TKACH OSTAPCHUK (UKR) halted Hungary's bid for another medal in women's wrestling as she shut out 2013 world champion Marianna SASTIN (HUN) 2-0 in a bronze-medal match 62kg. Tkach has now won world medals in two straight years as she won a silver medal in Paris. 

Mallory VELTE (USA) defeated Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) 2-1 in the other bronze-medal match at 62kg to give USA its fourth medal in women's wrestling this week. Velte scored both of her points off the shot clock. 

Japan finished with 156 points to take the team title in women's wrestling. China finished second with 119, followed by the United States with 103. 

Finals Results

Women's Wrestling

50kg
GOLD: Yui SUSAKI (JPN) df. Mariya STADNIK (AZE) by VSU, 10-0
BRONZE: Yanan SUN (CHN) df. Sonhyang KIM (PRK) by VSU, 10-0
BRONZE: Oksana LIVACH (UKR) df. Ritu RITU (IND) by VPO1, 10-5

53kg
GOLD: Haruna OKUNO (JPN) df. Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) by VSU, 11-0
BRONZE: Qianyu PANG (CHN) df. Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL) by VPO1, 2-1
BRONZE: Diana WEICKER (CAN) df. Zhuldyz ESHIMOVA (KAZ) by VPO1, 3-2

57kg
GOLD: Ningning RONG (CHN) df. Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) by VPO1, 3-3
BRONZE: Pooja DHANDA (IND) df. Grace BULLEN (NOR) by VPO1, 10-7
Emese BARKA (HUN) df. Kateryna ZHYDACHEVSKA (ROU) by VPO, 6-0

62kg
GOLD: Taybe YUSEIN (BUL) df. Yukako KAWAI (JPN) by VPO1, 6-2
BRONZE: Mallory VELTE (USA) df. Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) by VPO1, 2-1
BRONZE: Yuliia TKACH OSTAPCHUK (UKR) df. Marianna SASTIN (HUN) by VPO, 2-0
 

Development

Wrestling Enters a New Era in Southern Africa with Namib Storm and SADC Open Championships

Wednesday, August 13, 2025 - 13:57 By United World Wrestling Press

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WINDHOEK, Namibia — July 2025 The Namibian Wrestling Federation (NWF), in partnership with United World Wrestling (UWW) and Olympic Solidarity, launched a landmark initiative to boost wrestling development in Southern Africa: the Namib Storm Wrestling Week and SADC Open Championships, held from 30 June to 5 July 2025 at the Windhoek Showgrounds.

Speaking at the official launch in Windhoek, NWF President Colin Steytler emphasized the significance of this new chapter for the sport:

“This is where everything comes together — grassroots, elite, and development levels. It’s the most important step we’ve taken to date in bringing our strategic goals to life.”

A New Benchmark for Regional Wrestling Development

The week-long event featured two core components:

  • REDT – Namib Storm Training Camp (30 June – 3 July)
    This high-performance camp delivered Level 3 Coaching and Level 2 Refereeing Certification under the guidance of UWW instructors — a first for Namibia and a major milestone for the region.

“You can’t grow grassroots wrestling without qualified coaches,” Steytler noted.
Coaches and officials from multiple countries, including Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Mauritius, took part in intensive technical sessions.

  • SADC Open Championships (4 July)
    This tournament gathered elite athletes from Angola, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and beyond — many of whom are continental medallists. Importantly, the SADC Open became the first UWW-rated event in Southern Africa, enabling both athletes and referees to earn international exposure without needing to travel abroad.

“This changes the game,” said Steytler. “We can now compete regionally and still gain global recognition — this saves costs and boosts participation.”

NAMAttendees go through the Level 3 Coaching and Level 2 Refereeing Certification under the guidance of UWW instructors. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

Beach Wrestling: Taking the Sport to New Shores

The week concluded on 5 July with a Beach Wrestling showcase, reinforcing UWW’s commitment to accessibility and outreach.

“Beach wrestling will be the only wrestling discipline featured at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Senegal,” Steytler reminded. “And we are proud to host Namibia’s first-ever beach wrestling event in Swakopmund on 7 December 2025.”

Beach wrestling, requiring only sand and a rope, offers a practical and inclusive way to expand the sport into rural and underserved communities — a cornerstone of UWW’s vision.

Towards a Self-Sustaining Wrestling Future

The REDT initiative and Namib Storm programme are part of the NWF’s five-year strategy to develop a self-sustainable wrestling ecosystem, bridging the gap between grassroots and elite competition and aiming for future Olympic qualification and medals.

“The Namib Storm Week and SADC Open pull all of our strategic elements together,” said Steytler. “From here, we take what we’ve built back to the regions and expand wrestling further than ever before.”

This event highlights Southern Africa’s growing role in the global wrestling community and reflects UWW’s dedication to regional empowerment, education, and international competition access.