U17 World Wrestling Championships 2025 Preview

Friday, July 25, 2025 - 16:28 By Vinay Siwach

ATHENS, Greece (July 23) -- Eight years after it last hosted the World U17 Championships, Greece gears up for another.

The 2025 World U17 Championships will be held in Athens from July 28 to August 3 at the Ano Liosia Olympic Hall, the historic venue where wrestling competition during the 2004 Olympics was held.

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While the wrestlers will be making new memories, one former wrestler will be reliving old memories. Four-time Olympic champion Kaori ICHO (JPN) will be revisiting Athens, this time as Japan’s team coach, 21 years after she won her first gold medal at the Games in 2004.

Japan is expected to reclaim the Women's Wrestling team title it lost to India in 2024. The United States, Ukraine and China are also sending strong teams.

In Freestyle, the U.S. will battle it out with Iran, the top two countries last year. Meanwhile, in Greco-Roman, Iran will face challenges from Asian counterparts and Azerbaijan.

The competition will begin with Greco-Roman on July 28 with five weight classes and will follow a two-day format. Women's Wrestling will begin July 30 and Freestyle on August 1. The repechage and medal bouts of each weight category will be held the next day.

The action from the World U17 Championships will be live on UWW+ on uww.org and the UWW App. Follow United World Wrestling on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, YouTube.

Samuel SANCHEZ (USA) is one of the returning world U17 champions in Athens. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Freestyle

The defending team champion the U.S. boasts a quality line-up including world champ Samuel SANCHEZ (USA) and four Pan-Am champions from 2025 -- Ariah MILLS (USA), Alexander TAYLOR (USA), Jayden JAMES (USA) and Arseni KIKINIOU (USA).

Iran, which missed the Asian U17 Championships, has wrestlers who have previous success at Asian level and in ISF Gymnasiade. It won only two gold medals last year, but it hopes Morteza HAJ (IRI), Amirali ALIZADEH (IRI), Arian MEHRALIZADEH (IRI) and Amirhossein NAGHDALIPOUR (IRI) will help it better that number this year.

Said PASHAYEV (AZE) is the European champion at 92kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Six out of the 10 European champions from 2025 are set to be in Athens with Azerbaijan entering three. Ravan HASANZADE (AZE) at 48kg, Ruslan ALIZADA (AZE) at 55kg and Said PASHAYEV (AZE) at 92kg will be the biggest hopes for Azerbaijan to win gold, a medal the country was denied last year.

The other European champs are Zorab ALOIEV (UKR) at 61kg, Artur KOSTIUK (UKR) at 80kg and Magomedrasul OMAROV (UWW) at 110kg.

Bekassyl ASSAMBEK (KAZ) won the 60kg gold at the Asian U17 Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan had a successful Asian U17 Championships in Vietnam after the no-show of Iran and Japan's subdued performance.

Kazakhstan won two gold medals in Vietnam and both wrestlers, Ibrahim YSKAKBEK (KAZ) at 55kg and Bekassyl ASSAMBEK (KAZ) at 60kg, will be in Athens and try to win a world gold, a medal the country has not won since 2022.

Kyrgyzstan also had two gold medalists, Arnur NURSAIDOV (KGZ) at 45kg and Dovudbek BAKHADIROV (KGZ) at 48kg, at Asian Championships. The onus will be on these to lead the team as it looks for a second straight top-three finish. Last year, it placed third, the highest for the country at the world level.

Uzbekistan won only one gold in Vietnam but every wrestler competed for a medal, helping it finish third. Japan and India, fourth and fifth in Vietnam, are likely to be the dark horses in Greece.

A few others who can surprise the field including returning silver medalist Frederick BACHMANN (PUR) at 60kg, returning champ Ulugbek RASHIDOV (UZB) at 51kg, Abdumalik JALOLDINOV (UZB) at 55kg, returning silver medalist Huseyn ISMAYILOV (AZE) at 65kg and Hasan HASANOV (AZE) at 60kg.

KAJAL (IND) was one of India's five world U17 champions in 2024. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

Women's Wrestling

Japan will undoubtedly be favored to win the team title but in the last few years, Japan's supremacy has been challenged by both the United States and India.

India won the team title last year for the first time with an incredible performance, winning five gold medals while Japan only won one.

Can Japan bounce back? Certainly.

Yu KATAOKA (JPN) at 49kg and Rion OGAWA (JPN) at 53kg have dominated the continental level and have been unbeaten internationally. They will lead a team that also includes An NAKANISHI (JPN), Sayuki HIBARINO (JPN) and Hanano OYA (JPN).

Japan will have to step up when it comes to heavier weight classes if it wants to capture the trophy. The presence of Icho as coach should serve as motivation for the young wrestlers, who take on the world.

India will have six current and former continental champions in Athens. KAJAL (IND), world champ at 69kg, will be at 73kg this year but will still be the favorite to win the gold medal. She was dealt a shock loss at the Asian Championships by Wenjin QIU (CHN) in the final. Qiu will also be in Athens and a potential clash with Kajal is on the cards.

Asian champ RACHANA (IND), who has silver from 2023 Worlds, will be at 43kg hoping to win gold. Kasish GURJAR (IND) was the Asian champion in 2023, MONI (IND) is the Asian champ at 57kg while Ashvini VISHNOI (IND) is a two-time continental champion at 65kg. MANISHA (IND), who won gold in Vietnam, will lead India's charge at 69kg.

Former world u17 champion Morgan TURNER (USA) is one of the favorites to win at 49kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

The U.S. is bringing a host of Pan-American champions but its biggest star will be 2023 world champ Morgan TURNER (USA), who also won the bronze medal in 2024. She will be at 49kg, a weight class in which she won the Pan-Am gold this year.

At 40kg, Maisie ELLIOTT (USA) is a Pan-Am champion and so is Emma BACON (USA) at 57kg, Taina FERNANDEZ (USA) at 61kg, Violette LASURE (USA) at 65kg, Cassandra GONZALES (USA) at 69kg and Ella Jo POALILLO (USA) at 73kg.

Jaclyn BOUZAKIS (USA), who also won Pan-Am gold at 46kg, is a returning bronze medalist and will be one of the favorites for the gold medal this year.

From Europe, nine 2025 continental champions are entered for Athens. European champion at 40kg Valia HARSAN (ROU) will test herself against Asian champion Shokhista SHONAZAROVA (UZB) along with other big names in the field including European silver medalist Polina TIMSINA (EST), European bronze medalist Finja STRAUCH (GER) and Daria MASLENNIKOVA (UWW), who is three-time European U15 champion.

Raniia RAKHMANOVA (UWW) was the champion at 43kg and will be the favorite for the gold medal as well.

At 46kg, Nazrin AHMADLI (AZE) is a returning bronze medalist from 40kg but will contend with Janka SILLEI (HUN) in the weight class. Sillei is unbeaten internationally and won the European gold in Skopje. Local wrestler and world silver from 43kg Maria GKIKA (GRE) will hope to win a medal for the hosts. Additionally, Gurjar, Hanano OYA (JPN), world silver from 40kg Kamila KUCHMA (UKR), Bouzakis and European silver Irina TSYDEEVA (UWW) will have their eyes on gold.

A battle between Kataoka and Turner is expected at 49kg which also has Asian silver medalist Saniya SOLTANGALI (KAZ) and returning bronze medalist and European champ Polina BOCHKAREVA (UWW).

SAARIKA (IND) won the Asian U20 Championships gold medal after a close win over Mihoko TAKEUCHI (JPN), a Klippan Lady Open champion and 2022 World U17 Championships silver medalist. But for success in Athens, Saarika will have to battle it out with European champion at 53kg Mariia ZHYTOVOZ (HUN), Japanese star Ogawa, two-time European silver Fatma YILMAZ (TUR) and Euro U15 champ Yuliia HOLHOVSKA (UKR), who is 15 years old and Elison.

Japan has unheralded Sayuki TANADA (JPN) at 57kg which also has Asian champion MONI (IND), Asian silver Madkhiya USMANOVA (KAZ), European silver Ivanna LUKIANENKO (UKR) and Bacon. This is the only weight class in which the European champion has not entered.

Miranda KAPANADZE (GEO) is Georgia's first-ever European champion in Women's Wrestling. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

At 61kg, history-maker for Georgia's Miranda KAPANADZE (GEO) has entered hoping to win a world medal for Georgia in Women's Wrestling. She was the first European champ for Georgia in Women's Wrestling. But she will face resistance from Asian champ Zhaidar MUKAT (KAZ), European silver Ozdenur OZMEZ (TUR) and European champ Zalina TOTROVA (UWW).

Germany's Feenja HERMANN (GER) finished seventh at 57kg last year but managed to win the European silver medal at 65kg this year. She will be hoping for a world medal as well. Ashvini VISHNOI (IND) is a two-time Asian champ at this weight class and Japan has Mitsuki OKAWA (JPN). Lasure and European champ Lilia ERMOKHINA (UWW) will also be presenting their challenges.

Another of Germany's big hope is Ayla SAHIN (GER) who won the gold medal at the Europeans at 69kg. She was 10th last year at the Worlds at 65kg. But Asian champ MANISHA (IND), Mao TERAOKA (JPN), Pan-Am silver Linda MARTINEZ (MEX), Pan-Am champ Gonzales and European silver medalist Zukhra KAZULAEVA (UWW) are also in the mix.

Apart from the Kajal-Qiu match-up at 73kg, European silver medalist Greta TVERSKYTE (LTU), European champion Eylem ENGIN (TUR), a returning medalist from 57kg, returning fifth-placer Khrystyna DEMCHUK (UKR) and Pan-Am champ Poalillo will make this category worth a watch.

Behruzbek VALIEV (UZB) is one of the three Asian U17 champions for Uzbekistan in Athens. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Greco-Roman

Last year, Uzbekistan was a standout in Greco-Roman at the U17 level, winning the Asian U17 team title and finishing second at the World Championships. It continued this success at the Asian level this year, with each wrestler winning a medal, including three golds.

Uzbekistan will once again be in the team race and threaten Iran, the defending champions.

All three of its Asian champs -- Behruzbek VALIEV (UZB) at 71kg, Abdulaziz KHOLMIRZAEV (UZB) at 80kg and Fakhrikamol KOMILJONOV (UZB) at 92kg -- will compete in Athens.

Iran will rely heavily on its heavyweights Amirsam MOHAMMADI (IRI) at 92kg and Yazdan Reza DELROUZ (IRI) at 110kg for gold medals.

Last year's 15th-placer Hossein KAZEMI (IRI) at 71kg will be a handful for his opponents and Amirreza TAHMASBPOUR (IRI) will be the favorite at 55kg. Amir HAJIVAND (IRI) at 48kg and Amirmohammad HAJI (IRI) at 51kg will compete in the gold-medal hunt as well.

Azerbaijan is another country that is bringing a strong squad to Athens. It has three European champions and three medalists from Skopje making the trip.

While the lighter and heavier weight classes have seen Asian wrestlers do well, the middle weight classes have been dominated by European wrestlers, especially at 65kg, 71kg and 80kg.

Since the weight classes were shuffled in 2018, only three Asian wrestlers have managed to win gold medals at 65kg, 71kg and 80kg. Reza SAKI (IRI) won at 71kg in 2022 and Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN) claimed gold at 80kg in 2023. In 2024, Amir SAEIDI (IRI) broke the jinx at 65kg.

Erekle TAVBERIDZE (GEO) is the European 65kg champion. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

In Athens, at 65kg, European champ Erekle TAVBERIDZE (GEO) will lead the charge. Other key European wrestlers include silver medalist Janes NAZARYAN (ARM), bronze medalist Kyliane EDDOUH (FRA), home favorite Iason MARGARITIDIS (GRE) and many other strong competitors from the European Championships in Skopje.

Asian champion Dosbol SHAMIL (KAZ), who finished seventh at 60kg at the last World Championships, will look to break European dominance at this weight class. So will Pan Am champ Arseni KIKINIOU (USA), who is competing in Freestyle as well.

At 71kg, it can very well end up being a European champion vs Asian champion match to decide it all. Giorgi GOGELASHVILI (GEO) will look to add a world title to his European one while Behruzbek VALIEV (UZB), the Asian champion, will have a chance to upgrade his bronze medal from last year to gold.

Despite his 14th-place finish this year at the European Championships, Yusif AHMADLI (AZE) is a strong contender for gold. He finished seventh at the World Championships last year and has a silver medal in 2023 at 65kg. European silver medalist Ignat MEICO (MDA) and bronze medalist Matias ONNENLEHTO (FIN) are also entered.

European U17 champion Senik VARDANIAN (UWW) will look to add a world title to his name. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

As many as 12 European wrestlers from Skopje are entered at 80kg for Athens. Senik VARDANIAN (UWW) was the champion and will be the favorite to win gold in Athens. He is joined by silver medalist Benediktas BUBELEVICIUS (LTU) and bronze medalists Nijat YEYLAGALIYEV (AZE) and Ismail BEREKET (TUR).

Abdulaziz KHOLMIRZAEV (UZB), the Asian champ, and Pan-Am champion Isai FERNANDEZ (USA) have a big task ahead of them to capture the gold medal.

An interesting entry at 92kg is Said PASHAYEV (AZE), the European Freestyle champ, who will also compete in Greco-Roman. He finished 16th in Skopje. He may not be the favorite but has a chance to trouble the likes of European champion Vadim DRAGUSHAN (UWW) and Asian champion Fakhrikamol KOMILJONOV (UZB), who also is a returning bronze medalist.

Filling the line-up are Amirsam MOHAMMADI (IRI), Asian silver medalist Adilet TOISHY (KAZ), European silver medalist Tymur LARIN (UKR) and Kanstantsin KASYAN (UWW), who will be the dark horse at this weight class. The hosts Greece will bank on European bronze medalist Ioannis MOUTOUSIDIS (GRE) to win a medal at home.

Iran has been denied the 110kg gold since 2019 but it hopes that Yazdan Reza DELROUZ (IRI) will bring it back. Although, it won't be easy. The field includes European champion Rihad IBRAHIMLI (AZE) and silver medalist Denis LAZAROV (BUL). Asian champion HARDEEP (IND) may trouble the Iranian and so can Emrullah CAPKAN (TUR), who finished fifth last year.

European silver medalist Ali NAZAROV (AZE) will be the favorite at 60kg as he dominated the European field barring the final. His biggest challenge can come from Asian champ Damir AKAN (KAZ) in an otherwise weak weight class.

At 45kg, Abdurrahman HUSEYNLI (AZE) is the European champ and he has a good chance to win the world title as well. But the lowest weight class always has a surprise in store. Saba ABASHIDZE (GEO) will look to avenge his European final's loss to Huseynli while Ararat AVETISYAN (ARM), European bronze medalist, is also entered. But can Kuanyshbek ZHANGAZHOL (KAZ), the Asian champion, spoil their party?

Another Asian champion from Kazakhstan, Nurdaulet KUMARULY (KAZ), will be challenging the 48kg field that includes European champion Stanislav IVANOV (BUL), silver medalist Martin MANJIKYAN (ARM), and bronze medalist Gurban MAJNUNOV (AZE).

Marat ATSHEMYAN (ARM), left, and Aslanbek KOSTOEV (UWW) are likely to face each other at 51kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Armenia's gold at the World Championships can come from Marat ATSHEMYAN (ARM), who won the European Championships gold medal at 51kg and a world silver medal at 45kg last year. He will also have a chance to avenge his 2024 Worlds final's loss to Aslanbek KOSTOEV (UWW), who is also entered at 51kg.

The 55kg category is again dominated with European entries including champion Danil LOZHKIN (UWW) and silver medalist Giorgi CHACHUA (GEO). Asian Championships finalists are also entered with champion Alkham ABDIRASULOV (KGZ) and silver medalist Sadriddin TULKINBOEV (UZB).

#JapanWrestling

Fujinami survives scare to take 57kg title, extend streak to 150 wins

Sunday, December 21, 2025 - 14:24 By Ken Marantz

TOKYO (December 21) -- It was one of those unimaginable scenes that suddenly appears like a mirage. Was that really Akari FUJINAMI, the Paris Olympic champion and two-time world champion who had not lost since 2017, on her back and fighting to prevent an upset of epic proportions?

Alas, Fujinami being Fujinami, she managed to avoid the fall, then came back with a late takedown to escape with a 4-2 victory over a gutsy Himeka TOKUHARA in the women's 57kg final at the Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships on Sunday.

"I came up against reality at this tournament," said Fujinami, who extended her current winning streak to 150 matches dating back to junior high school, while continuing to make the tough adjustment from 53kg up to 57kg.

"To give up those points isn't a good thing, but it shows I have room for growth. Close matches like this are exciting. This down-to-the-wire, thrilling wrestling was really fun. I came out of this tournament with the feeling that I will become even stronger."

The final day of the four-day tournament at Tokyo's Komazawa Gym spotlighted much of the cream of the Japanese crop, with six medalists from the Paris Olympics in action and one weight class featuring a clash of reigning world champions.

Among the other Paris gold medalists, the lone one to taste defeat was Sakura MOTOKI, who fell to nemesis and Paris bronze medalist and defending champion Nonoka OZAKI 3-3 in a nail-biting women's 62kg final. Kotaro KIYOOKA triumphed amid a stacked field at freestyle 65kg, while Nao KUSAKA continued his domestic dominance at Greco 77kg.

The tournament is also serving as the qualifier for the Asian Championships in April, as well as one of two qualifiers for the World Championships and Asian Games, to be held in fall. The latter holds additional significance in that it will be held in Japan.

Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) Akari FUJINAMI finishes up the winning takedown against Himeka TOKUHARA in the final minute of the women's 57kg final. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

The 22-year-old Fujinami, the Paris champion at 53kg, announced earlier this year that she was moving straight up to the next Olympic weight class at 57kg. But she opted to not even try to qualify for this year's senior World Championships, feeling she wouldn't be physically ready, and instead had her first test run of sorts with a victory at the world U23.

The two days at the All-Japan seemed to validate her decision to not rush the process, as she had her hands full with two of Japan's more powerful wrestlers.

In the semifinals on Saturday, she was never in danger of losing to Asian champion Sara NATAMI, but she gave up two 2-point exposures on counters late in a 7-4 victory. Then against Tokuhara, it was like she ran into a brick wall that crashed down on top of her.

Tokuhara, a member of the Japan Self-Defense Force team who was a world U23 champion at 59kg in 2022, relies on her power, which earned her the ticket at 57kg to this year's World Championships in Zagreb, where she lost in a bronze-medal match.

"Tokuhara and Natami are both strong, physical wrestlers," Fujinami said. "When I moved up to 57kg, those are the two I most needed to beat. Beating them both is a plus. Of course, everyone looks at the points I gave up, but I became the challenger when I moved up in weight, and I'm glad to have been able to come out with the win."

Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) Akari FUJINAMI squares off with Himeka TOKUHARA in the women's 57kg final. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

After her win, which gave her a fourth career title and first since 2022, she showed a vulnerable side, acknowledging she has a fear of failure and concerns over her ability to continue her incredible success amid the new challenge. Speaking about the pressure brought her to tears at one point.

"I'm really afraid of losing," she said. "It's strange for me to start crying now. My goal is to win the titles at the Asian Games and Los Angeles Olympics, and every day, I wonder to myself, is this the right thing to do? Is this making me better?

"I am also human, and there are things that scare me. It's that fear that makes me work hard every day. I'm sure I will have even tougher matches ahead. It feels like a given that I will win, and if I lose, everything will fall apart."

Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) Akari FUJINAMI gets a stepout in the second period of the women's 57kg final. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

In the final, Fujinami found her takedown attempts consistently blocked by Tokuhara, who relied on an effective whizzer or a front head lock, and had only an activity point to show for the first 2:30 of the first period. That was when the wall fell on her.

When Fujinami shot in for a single, Tokuhara whizzered to get Fujinami to straighten up. Then she pivoted around with a fierce pancake that slammed Fujinami straight to her back for 2 points with :25 left on the clock.

Fujinami set her left elbow on the mat to keep her shoulder up as Tokuhara pressed for the fall.

With only a few seconds left, Fujinami transitioned to a bridge, but at one point her shoulders hit the mat for a split second. The mat referee indicated a fall, but neither side judge confirmed, and time ran out.

Asked when the last time she was in danger of a fall, Fujinami laughed and replied, "I can't even remember the [opponent's] name."

Fujinami said she knew how much time was left and that she was confident she could ride it out. She said she constantly practices for such a situation, even though it would seem that the odds of it happening were somewhere in the Powerball range.

"I thought the way she had the hold, I wouldn't be pinned," Fujinami said. "I do bridges every day in practice. I had prepared for the possibility of this situation, so I wasn't thinking, 'Oh no, what should I do?' And even though I don't have much actual experience, I stayed calm.

"I knew that move was in her arsenal, but I couldn't stop it. It showed that I still have weakness. I also practiced what to do after failing to get in on a tackle, but she still hit the move, so there's still some work to be done."

Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) Akari FUJINAMI shoots for the winning takedown against Himeka TOKUHARA in the final minute of the women's 57kg final. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

There was also still the match to be won, as she trailed 2-1 and had yet to come close to a takedown, which in this weight class, she has had to depend on more. In the 21 points she scored over three matches, none came from ground wrestling.

Midway through the second period, she was stopped again and close to being forced out with her back to the edge. But she nimbly used Tokuhara's momentum to slip around and force her out for a stepout that made it 2-2, but still left her trailing on criteria.

With a minute to go, Fujinami finally connected with a single-leg attempt. As Tokuhara reached over for a counter, Fujinami pressed ahead and gradually finished up the takedown with :45 left.

She then put up a wall of defense that Tokuhara could not penetrate to secure the victory. "I'm really happy to have come out with a win," Fujinami said. "It was a daily fight to prepare for this tournament."

Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) Nonoka OZAKI celebrates her victory over nemesis and Olympic champion Sakura MOTOKI in the women's 62kg final. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

There was more drama to follow in the next and final match of the tournament, which paired Motoki and Ozaki for supremacy at 62kg once again.

Last June at the Meiji Cup All-Japan Championships -- the second of the two domestic qualifiers for major global competitions -- Motoki squeaked out a 3-3 victory over Ozaki in the final. She then followed that with a 6-5 victory in the world team playoff in which she literally scored the winning takedown in the final second.

Ozaki could then only watch as Motoki went on to win her first senior world title, which she then followed up by winning the world U23 gold. That made her just the third wrestler in history to achieve the "Golden Grand Slam" of Olympic, senior world and all three world age-group golds.

On Sunday, it was Ozaki's turn for late dramatics, albeit she didn't cut it that close. She was leading 1-1 on criteria after an exchange of activity points when Motoki scored a single-leg takedown with 1:30 left. Ozaki kept up the pressure before securing a single-leg takedown of her own with :18 left for the victory.

"The last time, I lost with less than a second left, which taught me that that's something that can happen," Ozaki said. "I thought, if my opponent can do it, then I can do it as well. I thought to imitate, or learn from, Motoki's fighting style and her mental strength.

"In the second period, I gave up points, but I thought I would do to her what she did to me. I kept fighting and looked to take advantage of any chance."

Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) Yoshinosuke AOYAGI unsuccessfully attempts a front body lock roll in the freestyle 74kg final against Kota TAKAHASHI. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

Aoyagi prevails in clash of world champions

In the second final of the tournament that pitted reigning world champions, Yoshinosuke AOYAGI made a successful incursion into the freestyle 74kg territory currently ruled by Kota TAKAHASHI.

Aoyagi, the freestyle 70kg champion in Zagreb, scored a takedown and roll combination with 40 seconds left, then held on for a 4-4 victory on criteria for his first All-Japan title.

While happy with the victory, Aoyagi was left less than satisfied by his lack of an effective offense. His winning combination came after he spun behind in countering a takedown attempt.

"I'm still small in build, and he controlled the flow of the match," Aoyagi said. "Honestly speaking, I thought if it stayed that way I would lose. I didn't score any points with my moves, so there is much to reflect on from this match."

He says he plans to enter a Ranking Series tournament and, without going into specifics, said he would like to go overseas to train with U.S. and Russian wrestlers which "is the best way to improve one's skills and which benefits both sides."

He is also looking forward to testing himself at the Asian Championships, "Where I can show that I can be competitive at 74kg on the global stage," he said.

"I'm still in the stage where it's really tough, and I lack the power and get pushed around," Aoyagi said. "After the match, my legs were burning. There's so much more I need to do. I will look for ways to make improvements."

Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) Kotaro KIYOOKA sweeps to the side for a takedown against Takara SUDA in the freestyle 65kg final. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

At freestyle 65kg, Kiyooka used his low single and dynamic speed to scrape together a 5-2 victory in the final over Asian 61kg champion Takara SUDA.

Kiyooka swept to a low single-leg takedown in each period, but said he needs to work on setting it up closer.

"I wanted to cut the distance a little more, and use more variation for my shots," he said. "There's still many things I need to work on."

Kiyooka said he gained inspiration from his sister Moe's victory at 53kg on Saturday. It marks the second time that the two have completed a sibling double after 2023, when he won his lone other title.

Kiyooka, who had never medaled on the world level when he came out of nowhere and triumphed at the Olympics, got a wakeup call of sorts in Zagreb, where Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) avenged his loss in the Paris final by beating him for the world gold.

"I realized my weakness," Kiyooka said. "As I said during the World Championships, I felt I wasn't the true champion. Wrestling is very deep and it made me feel I can still grow, so I took [the loss] in a positive light."

Yui SUSAKI (JPN) Yui SUSAKI shoots for a takedown against Haruna MORIKAWA in the women's 50kg final. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

At women's 50kg, Tokyo Olympic champion and Paris bronze medalist Yui SUSAKI turned a bit more conservative than she would have liked, but was never in danger in coming away with a 3-0 victory in the final over world U23 champion Haruna MORIKAWA.

Susaki scored a single-leg takedown and stepout in the first period, then spent the second trading underhook positions and fending off Morikawa's lone shot of the match to secure her fourth career title and first since 2022.

"It was my first All-Japan in awhile and I definitely wanted to win," Susaki said. "Although that feeling was strong, I wasn't aggressive enough in the second period. It was a match that brought up things to work on."

Susaki, a four-time world champion and another member of the "Golden Grand Slam" trio, took advantage of the absence of main rivals Remina YOSHIMOTO, who sat out the tournament, and Umi ITO, who withdrew due to injury.

"With the Los Angeles Olympics ahead and my main rivals not competing, I also considered this a tournament I couldn't lose," she said.

Susaki said the victory culminates a rough span since the disappointment of Paris, from which she still feels the sting of failing to defend her Olympic crown.

"There was the loss at the Paris Olympics, there were injuries and various hardships that I went through that I had never faced before," she said. "It was really a trying year and a half. If it wasn't for the support of many people, I would not have been able to make it back here."

In Greco 77kg, Kusaka executed a 2-point throw in his second chance from par terre -- there was some discussion over whether it should be scored as 4 -- which was enough for a 4-0 victory over 2023 champion Isami HORIKITA.

The victory added to Kusaka's lone other title, won at 72kg in 2019, and capped a year in which he also won a silver medal at the World Championships.

At Greco 67kg, defending champion Katsuaki ENDO won the latest in the seemingly endless series of finals with former Nippon Sports Science University teammate and top rival Kyotaro SOGABE, scoring a second-period gut wrench for a 3-1 victory.

It was Endo's fourth career title as he and Sogabe have now combined to win the last five golds.

Day 4 Results

Freestyle

65kg (15 entries)
GOLD: Kotaro KIYOOKA df. Takara SUDA, 5-2

BRONZE: Kaiji OGINO df. Shinnosuke SUWAMA, 3-0
BRONZE: Kaisei TANABE df. Futa MIYAZAKI by TF, 11-0, 3:45

74kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Yoshinosuke AOYAGI df. Kota TAKAHASHI, 4-4

BRONZE: Toki OGAWA df. Yujin TAKIZAWA, 4-1
BRONZE: Hikaru TAKATA df. Tatsuki KAMIYA by TF, 12-0, 2:35

Greco-Roman

67kg (13 entries)
GOLD: Katsuaki ENDO df. Kyotaro SOGABE, 3-1

BRONZE: Kensuke SHIMIZU df. Takaku SUZUKI by Fall, 4:30 (8-0)
BRONZE: Haruto YABE df. Kojiro HASEGAWA by TF, 13-2, 2:25

77kg (13 entries)
GOLD: Nao KUSAKA df. Isami HORIKITA, 4-0

BRONZE: Kiriru SHIMABUKURO df. Naoki KADODE, 7-1
BRONZE: Issei HONNA def. Kodai SAKURABA by Inj. Def.

Women's Wrestling

50kg (17 entries)
GOLD: Yui SUSAKI df. Haruna MORIKAWA, 3-0

BRONZE: Mako ONO df. Yuu SAKAMOTO, 3-1
BRONZE: Rinka OGAWA df. Kurumi KANAYAMA, 9-0

57kg (10 entries)
GOLD: Akari FUJINAMI df. Himeka TOKUHARA, 4-2

BRONZE: Rin KINOSHITA df. Risa MOTOHARA, 2-1
BRONZE: Sara NATAMI df. Miyu IWASAKI by Fall, 1:59 (4-0)

62kg (9 entries)
GOLD: Nonoka OZAKI df. Sakura MOTOKI, 3-3

BRONZE: Yuzuka INAGAKI df. Hana YOSHIKAWA by TF, 10-0, 3:38
BRONZE: Sakura ONISHI, no opponent

U17 World Wrestling Championships 2025 Preview

Comments

Fujinami survives scare to take 57kg title, extend streak to 150 wins