2026 U17 World Championships

U17 World Championships 2026 Day 5 Freestyle Video Highlights

Friday, July 31, 2026 - 06:20 By Vinay Siwach

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BAKU, Azerbaijan (July 31) -- The U17 World Championships enters day five with five Freestyle weight class -- 48kg, 55kg, 65kg, 80kg and 110kg. The matches will go on till semifinals before the Women's Wrestling medal bouts at 18:00 hours.

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WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 4 RESULTS

Freestyle semifinals will begin at 17:00 hours local time

14:50: Amirhossein ESMALI (IRI) needed a four-pointer to steer clear of Behruz ASHIROV (UZB) and win 7-4 at 110kg and advance to the semifinals.

14:35: A 10-0 blanking of Hanto HAYASHI (JPN) by Magomed OMAROV (RUS) as he moves into the 110kg semifinals. Can the U17 European champion double up with a U17 world title?

14:30: AARYAN (IND) with another comeback at 48kg to beat Kooper DEPUTY (USA) in the quarterfinals. Deputy led 4-2 before Aaryan with a duckunder for four and then two more for exposure to lead 8-4. He got another exposure for two more points but Deputy was working on an armbar for a fall. But Aaryan managed to defend it and win 10-7

14:10: Jakhongir TULKUNOV (UZB) downs U17 Asian champion Arman ELAHI (IRI) at 55kg. Elahi, who had beaten Tulkonov, 9-6, at the U17 Asians failed to find any openings and Tulkunov was right in it to win 5-1

13:58: Amirhossein ESMALI (IRI) storms past Sergko CHOUTSISVILI (GRE) at 110kg after a 10-0 win. No issues for Esmali. He will face Behruz ASHIROV (UZB) in the quarterfinals.

13:40: First quarterfinal and Sam ARSHAD (IRI) comes from behind to beat Tymur ABUMISLIMOV (UKR) 13-6 at 65kg. Abumislimov just could not match Arshadgh in his pace

13:20: High stake match at 48kg as U17 European champion Huseyn RZAZADE (AZE) and AARYAN (IND) square off. Rzazade with an early takedown before a stepout from Aaryan. Rzazade leads 2-1 at the break. He continues to add stepouts in the second period and even got a point for lost challenge to lead 5-1. But Aaryan continued the pressure and got a stepout and point for fleeing, making it 5-3 with 18 seconds left. He goes a duckunder for his last move and gets the takedown for a 5-5 criteria lead and the win. Azerbaijan challenges to find its saviour but there is none. Aaryan moves on with a 6-5 win

13:10: Amirali FERASATI (IRI) in complete control of his 80kg bout against Kantemir ELMESOV (RUS). He scores a takedown on edge before getting an activity point. He scored a stepout to lead 4-0. Elmesov missed his attack which gave Ferasati chances to jump over for takedowns. The Iranian wins 8-2

12:52: Arsenii KIKINIOU (USA), who won silver and bronze medals last year in Greco-Roman and Freestyle, has lost his 65kg bout against Jovani SOLIS (PUR). Solis got a takedown and turn to get a 5-1 lead in the second period which changed the match. The U.S. challenged the two and two call but lost it which gave Solis a 6-1 win. Kikiniou did not win a medal in Greco-Roman this year but still has a chance to win bronze in Freestyle if Solis reaches the final

12:50: Chase KARENBAUER (USA) with a very tactical match against Kyosuke IKEDA (JPN) for a 6-4 win at 55kg. He got a takedown and turn in the second period and despite giving up a takedown, he comes out as a winner

12:45: Arman ELAHI (IRI) wrestles till the last second and is rewarded with a thrilling win against Temirlan MURAT (KAZ) at 55kg. Murat led 3-1 thanks to two stepouts and one passivity point. But Elahi scored a stepout to make it 3-2 with around 30 seconds left. He then caught Murat but failed to bring him down so went the other way to throw Murat and get two points for the win. Kazakhstan challenges and on review, the two is changed to four with a reversal for Murat. Elahi wins 6-4

12:35: Magomed IBRAGIMOV (RUS) with another second period show to beat Erik PAPIKYAN (ARM), 8-1, at 65kg. Papikyan led 1-0 at the break but Ibragimov with two takedowns to lead 4-1. He then launches Papikyan for a four

12:10: Returning bronze medalist Hakim TAGHIYEV (AZE) falls 3-2 against Behruz ASHIROV (UZB) at 110kg. Ashirov was up 2-1 when he got put on activity clock. The one point gave Taghiyev a 2-2 criteria but Ashirov with a stepout with 5 seconds left to win 3-2

12:00: Returning bronze medalist at 80kg Ayubjon BOZORZODA (TJK) completes an 8-6 victory over Jayden OFARRILL (USA). He was leading 5-2 at the break but was struggling with his conditioning. However, he still managed to defend the late attacks from Ofarrill

11:58: AARYAN (IND) with a 10-0 technical superiority win over Amirali RAGHEB (IRI) at 48kg. Aaryan with some beautiful duckunders to score his takedowns as Ragheb looked clueless in that bout

11:48: Deepanshu KHOKHAR (IND) was down 6-1 until the final 15 seconds against Layden ACEVEDO (PU). But he scores a four-pointer to make it 6-5 with 9 seconds left. Using all he got, Khokhar gets a stepout with less than two seconds left and wins 6-6 on criteria at 80kg

11:42: Chase KARENBAUER (USA) uses cradles to score exposure points on Valentin DELEANU (MDA) and completes a 10-0 win in the first period at 65kg.

11:33: KRISHAN (IND) and Magomed IBRAGIMOV (RUS) with an electric bout at 65kg. Leading 6-2, Krishan gave up a stepout. Ibragimov then hit a headlock throw which was initially scored two point, then a headpinch for two more before Krishan got the reversal making the score 7-7 on criteria. But India challenged perhaps because of all the confusion on the scoreboard. On review, the two for headlock was changed to four and Ibragimov got a 9-7 lead with 16 seconds left. Ibragimov got a double-arm lock and two rolls in that time to win 11-7

11:30: Saba MINDIASHVILI (GEO) with a 3-2 victory over Mustafa BERSANUKAEV (RUS) at 55kg. It needed a challenge from Mindiashvili to remove the a takedown that was awarded to Bersanukaev. With 3-1 lead and 36 seconds left, Mindiashvili gave up a stepout but held on to win the match.

11:10: Erik PAPIKYAN (ARM) was called passive in the first period Rashid NAZAROV (AZE) got one point. But in the second period, Papikyan scored a takedown on a missed shot from Nazarov, turned him three times using the gut-wrench and take an 8-1 lead. He also scored a stepout and in 9-1 and advance at 65kg.

10:55: Arseni KIKINIOU (USA) opens his Freestyle campaign at 65kg with a 7-0 blanking of Bidzina JINTCHARADZE (GEO). While he won't be a medalist in both styles this year, he can still repeat as Freestyle medalist

10:30: Freestyle will take centrestage in Baku with five weight classes. Russia, Iran and the U.S. will be eyeing the team title as well with hosts Azerbaijan also in with an outside chance.

#WrestleTirana

Vynnyk Wins First Career Gold Amid Ukraine Gold Rush

Friday, April 24, 2026 - 10:05 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (April 23) -- Eight years. 23 competitions. Three silver medals. Nine bronze medals. 11 medalless tournaments.

Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) spent all these years watching others win the gold medals at various tournaments. She was close to winning a few herself but never could

She reached her first final in 2022 at the Ranking Series in Rome, then at the U23 European Championships in 2024. She fell short both times. Then in 2025, she reached the final of the World Championships in Zagreb before dropping the final 17-8 against Sakura ONISHI (JPN).

 

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But Vynnyk ended her wait for a gold medal in Tirana on Thursday by winning her career's first-ever gold medal at the European Championships.

"It’s actually been a very tough road to this victory," Vynnyk said. "I’ve been training since I was eight and I’ve always pictured myself on the podium with a gold medal. Today that dream came true. I’m absolutely delighted. I was certain I’d win. And it happened."

Vynnyk was one of the three Ukraine wrestlers who won gold medals in Tirana. Defending champion Oksana LIVACH (UKR) at 50kg and Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) at 76kg successfully managed to retain their titles.

Andreea Beatrice ANA (ROU) denied Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR) and Ukraine a fourth gold medal after beating her 10-0 in the 55kg final and winning her fourth gold European gold medal.

At 68kg, Nesrin BAS (TUR) won gold after defending champion Alina SHAUCHUK (UWW) withdrew due to an injury, giving Bas her second European title.

Mariia VYNNYK (UKR)Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) at the medal ceremony for 59kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Vynnyk won two matches on Wednesday to reach the final in which she faced veteran Jowita WRZESIEN (POL). Both wrestlers began on a slow note and Wrzesien was put on the activity clock first. Vynnyk hit a low single as soon as the clock start and scored a takedown. A powerful gut-wrench added two more points to score before the activity clock finished and Vynnyk led 5-0.

The next takedown came in the second period when Wrzesein hit a half-hearted attack and Vynnyk easily brought her down to the mat for two points and extend her lead to 7-0. Wrzesien managed to get a takedown to cut the lead to 7-2 and later Vynnyk was cautioned one point for blocking action.

Wrzesien tried a desperate throw but Vynnyk fell on top of her, earning herself two points. But Poland challenged the call and won it. The score was reset to 7-3 with four seconds remaining. Wrzesien got a point for Vynnyk's fleeing but failed to score any takedown in the final seconds. Poland challenged again but lost it this time, giving Vynnyk a 8-4 win and finally, a golden celebration for the first time in eight years.

"The most important thing, in my opinion, is mental preparation," she said about what changes she made to finally win the gold medal. "I’m sure it plays the most crucial role in this."

Mariia VYNNYK (UKR)Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) hits an attack on Jowita WRZESIEN (POL) during the 59kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Born in Chernivtsi, a city in south-west Ukraine close to the Romanian border, Vynnyk was introduced to wrestling, along with her other siblings, by her mother. While her brothers stopped wrestling, the Vynnyk sisters, Mariia and Solomiia, continued.

"My two older brothers used to wrestle, but they gave it up, whilst my sister and I carried on, striving for results and winning gold medals together," she said.

The two sisters couldn't win gold together but Mariia will cheer for Solomiia, who also doubles up as her friend and training partner, when she takes the mat for her bronze-medal bout on Friday at 57kg.

"I can’t imagine my journey without her, and I only want to win alongside her," Mariia said. "I was really upset that she lost. It was really hard for me to get in the right frame of mind for this final, but I’m sure my sister and I have a bright future ahead of us, and that there are plenty of gold medals in store for us. We never compete against each other, because I couldn’t bring myself to compete against my sister. But in training, we don’t let each other off the hook."

Oksana LIVACH (UKR)Oksana LIVACH (UKR) won her third European title at 50kg on Thursday. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Ukraine's Gold Rush

Livach began the mini gold rush for Ukraine by defending her 50kg gold medal against Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) in what was a rematch of the final from last year.

While last year Livach did not complete a technical superiority victory over Demirhan, she managed to dominate the final in Tirana on Thursday, winning her final 11-0.

At 76kg, Alpyeyeva controlled her final against Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) to post a 6-2 victory and defend her title. She scored three different takedowns while giving up one in the final.

Andreea ANA (ROU)Andreea ANA (ROU) celebrates winning the 55kg gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Ukraine could have won four gold medals but three-time European champion Ana denied Malanchuk, 10-0, in the 55kg final.

Ana had a slow start and but was the first to get a point when Malanchuk was warned for pulling hair. Ana's lead went 2-0 when Malanchuk failed to score in the 30-second activity period. Just before the break, Ana snapped Malanchuk and scored a takedown and a turn to make it 6-0.

In the last 20 seconds, Ana caught Malanchuk's leg and brought her down for a takedown and two more points for exposure to finish the bout 10-0 just before time expired. Ana's gold is her sixth European medal -- four golds, one silver and one bronze.

Defending champion at 68kg Shauchuk gave the final against Bas a miss due to an injury, giving a walkover to Bas, who is now a two-time European champion.

Photo

RESULTS

50kg
GOLD: Oksana LIVACH (UKR) df. Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR), 11-0

BRONZE: Elizaveta SMIRNOVA (UWW) df. Svenja JUNGO (SUI), 4-0
BRONZE: Emilia GRIGORE VUC (ROU) df. Agata GOLUCHOWSKA WALERZAK (POL), 11-8

55kg
GOLD: Andreea Beatrice ANA (ROU) df. Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR), 10-0

BRONZE: Anastasia BLAYVAS (GER) df. Mihaela SAMOIL (MDA), 4-3
BRONZE: Tuba DEMIR (TUR) df. Veronika KONSEVICH (MKD), 5-2

59kg
GOLD: Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) df. Jowita WRZESIEN (POL), 8-4

BRONZE: Svetlana LIPATOVA (UWW) df. Othelie HOEIE (NOR), via fall (6-1)
BRONZE: Hiunai HURBANOVA (AZE) df. Marta HETMANAVA (UWW), 7-5

68kg
GOLD: Nesrin BAS (TUR) df. Alina SHAUCHUK (UWW), via inj. def.

BRONZE: Tindra SJOEBERG (SWE) df. Alina SHEVCHENKO (UWW), 10-0
BRONZE: Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU) df. Noemi SZABADOS (HUN), 5-4

76kg
GOLD: Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) df. Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU), 6-2

BRONZE: Martina KUENZ (AUT) df. Valeriia TRIFONOVA (UWW), 4-0
BRONZE: Kendra DACHER (FRA) df. Enrica RINALDI (ITA), 9-8

Semifinals

53kg
SF 1: Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) df. Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (UWW), 9-3
SF 2: Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) df. Roksana ZASINA (POL), 6-6

57kg
SF 1: Magdalena GLODEK LISZEWSKA (POL) df. Evelina HULTHEN (SWE), 3-3
SF 2: Elvira SULEYMAN (TUR) df. Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE), 6-2

62kg
SF 1: Amina TANDELOVA (UWW) df. Naemi LEISTNER (GER), 9-0
SF 2: Grace BULLEN (NOR) df. Johanna LINDBORG (SWE), 7-6

65kg
SF 1: Alina KASABIEVA (UWW) vs. Birgul SOLTANOVA (AZE), 11-10
SF 2: Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) df. Natalia KUBATY (POL), 11-01

72kg
SF 1: Nadiia SOKOLOVSKA (UKR) df. Kristina BRATCHIKOVA (UWW), via fall (8-0)
SF 2: Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) df. Buse TOSUN (TUR), 8-2