2026 U20 World Championships

U20 World Championships 2026 Entries

By United World Wrestling Press

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (August 2) -- The U20 World Championships will be held in Bratislava, Slovakia from August 16 to 23 at the Sportova Hala Mladost.

The tournament will see around 700 wrestlers competing in Freestyle, Greco-Roman and Women's Wrestling with 120 medals on line.

Watch the U20 World Wrestling Championships 2026 live on UWW+. Use code BUNDLE20 and get 20 percent off.

Freestyle

57kg
Sasha PETROSYAN (ARM)
Muhammad ISMAYILOV (AZE)
Matsvei SYTSEVICH (BLR)
Nik Ignatov DOYCHINOV (BUL)
Javier TONITA (CAN)
Chengtao WANG (CHN)
Dunia SIBOMANA (COD)
Gaspard CHEYNOUX (FRA)
Danoush JOWKAR (GBR)
Giorgi MAISURADZE (GEO)
Isaac WONG (HKG)
Karoly BARATH (HUN)
RUPESH (IND)
Arman ELAHI (IRI)
Sina BOUSTANI (IRI)
Yamato OGAWA (JPN)
Nurassyl ASSAMBEK (KAZ)
Nurtilek ZAMIRBEKOV (KGZ)
Gheorghi GAIDARJI (MDA)
Naran BARKHAS (MGL)
Raiden HOBSON (PLW)
Pavlo ILNYTSKYI (POL)
Nathaniel LYTTLE (PUR)
Magomed MAGOMEDOV (RUS)
Patrik VETRAK (SVK)
Ebubekir GUR (TUR)
Mykola BRATOV (UKR)
Isaiah CORTEZ (USA)
Ulugbek RASHIDOV (UZB)

61kg
Gagik GHAZARYAN (ARM)
Kristian CIKEL (AUT)
Jamal ABBASOV (AZE)
Erdal GALIP (BUL)
Cruz LEWIS (CAN)
Anchao LU (CHN)
Heritier MUAYA (COD)
Zeyad HASSANEINN (EGY)
Ruben TANGAMYAN (GEO)
Eliah LUCYGA (GER)
MAYANK (IND)
Ahora KHATERI (IRI)
Itsuki YONASHIRO (JPN)
Bekassyl ASSAMBEK (KAZ)
Amir RIFOV (KGZ)
Marcel ANDRONACHE (MDA)
Moses MENDOZA (MEX)
Dulguun ENKHBAATAR (MGL)
Frederick BACHMANN (PUR)
Zelimkhan CHANIEV (RUS)
Azatberdi ASHYRGULYYEV (TKM)
Nurettin KAPAL (TUR)
Andrii SHOKALIUK (UKR)
Aaron SEIDEL (USA)
Fakhriddin NASRIDDINOV (UZB)

65kg
Aren HAYRAPETYAN (ARM)
Bilal CETIN (AUS)
Bashir VERDIYEV (AZE)
Aleksandar DELCHEV (BUL)
Karson BROWN (CAN)
Chenqi SONG (CHN)
Khizir DASIYEV (FRA)
Mate NADIRADZE (GEO)
Mozes LASZLO (HUN)
Rohit KUMAR (IND)
Aliasghar TATHASHTIKEH (IRI)
Takuto OSEDO (JPN)
Yeraly ASKERBEK (KAZ)
Isa ISAKOV (KGZ)
Kanghyun GO (KOR)
Abdullatif ALBAKRI (KSA)
Maxim DIMOV (MDA)
Fernando PEREZ (MEX)
Amanbyek MYERVYET (MGL)
Ivan OKSIUK (POL)
Yandel MORALES (PUR)
Tamaterai HERVE (PYF)
Zalimkhan UMAROV (RUS)
Haci ZADE (TUR)
Zorab ALOIEV (UKR)
Bowen BASSETT (USA)
Sanjarbek ANVARBEKOV (UZB)

70kg
Walid BEN ZAMIME (ALG)
Davit DAVTYAN (ARM)
Haji KARIMOV (AZE)
Vladislav SEIZOV (BUL)
Ryan DAHCHA (CAN)
Xin WANG (CHN)
Miscael NKUNGA (COD)
Mohamed AHMED (EGY)
Bayssangour BITMURZAEV (FRA)
Zurab ABALAKI (GEO)
Ahmad ARSZUNKAEV (HUN)
Sumit BHARASKAR (IND)
Sina KHALILI (IRI)
Takuro MATSUBARA (JPN)
Sungkar SEIDAKHMET (KAZ)
Zalkarbek TABALDIEV (KGZ)
Ionut TRIBOI (MDA)
Gabriel SANCHEZ (MEX)
Ankh ALTANGEREL (MGL)
Muhamed VESELI (MKD)
Victor SOTO (PUR)
Mairbek MEROV (RUS)
Dominik ZAVACKY (SVK)
Remzi TEMUR (TUR)
Emrakh HASHYMOV (UKR)
Landon ROBIDEAU (USA)

74kg
Vladimir AZARYAN (ARM)
Nurlan AGHAZADA (AZE)
Artsiom BOLSUN (BLR)
Tao SHEN (CHN)
Kevin ALEMAN (ESA)
Abdoullah NAKAEV (FRA)
Koba GOGUADZE (GEO)
Manuel WAGIN (GER)
Mate VARGA (HUN)
Adarsh PATIL (IND)
Amirmohammad ZARRINKAM (IRI)
Mohammad MAMIVAND (IRI)
Alessio PERENTIN (ITA)
Ariya YOSHIDA (JPN)
Nurdaulet SEILBEKOV (KAZ)
Baiyt ABDYSAMATOV (KGZ)
Catalin SPINU (MDA)
Rafael GARCIA (PUR)
Islam KAZHAROV (RUS)
Umut USLU (TUR)
Bohdan OLIINYK (UKR)
Jayden JAMES (USA)
Farrukhbek JUMANAZAROV (UZB)

79kg
Narek NIKOGHOSYAN (ARM)
Eljan ISMAYILZADA (AZE)
Aliaksei KURYLA (BLR)
Loki BIGRAS (CAN)
Yesikeer NUERHEISHA (CHN)
Tristan ALEKSANDROV (EST)
Luka MARGVELIDZE (GEO)
Felix SCHMITT (GER)
Arnold TAKACS (HUN)
Saurabh YADAV (IND)
Sobhan ESMI (IRI)
Daniel SIMONIAN (ISR)
Keyvan GHAREHDAGHI (JPN)
Aibek KALYAKHMET (KAZ)
Khamza ABDULLAEV (KGZ)
David ERHAN (MDA)
Trim ISMAILI (MKD)
Slade SHADOWSHOT (RSA)
Ismail KHANIEV (RUS)
Jaroslav ZAREMBA (SVK)
Alirizo BAKHROMOV (TJK)
Yasin UZUN (TUR)
Bohdan OLEKSIIENKO (UKR)
Ryan Scott BURTON (USA)

86kg
Razmik YEPREMYAN (ARM)
Mahammad ABASZADA (AZE)
Alan TIGIEV (BUL)
Tejvir DHINSA (CAN)
Bolati NA ERTAI (CHN)
Jordy NGATSE (COD)
Yahia ELIWA (EGY)
Nikolai TARASSOV (EST)
Dachi PAPINASHVILI (GEO)
ARUN (IND)
Abolfazl SHAMSIPOUR (IRI)
Tomer DROZHNIAK (ISR)
Natsura OKAZAWA (JPN)
Askhab KHAJIYEV (KAZ)
Samidullo ALIMZHANOV (KGZ)
Sergiu FLUIERARU (MDA)
Bilguundalai PUREVDAGVA (MGL)
Kane ROSARIO (PUR)
Magor LORINCZ (ROU)
Akhmad MUKUTOV (RUS)
Nick SCHERRER (SUI)
Nikolaj SZILAGYI (SVK)
Alp Arslan BEGENJOV (TKM)
Sefa CESUR (TUR)
Artur KOSTIUK (UKR)
Aeoden SINCLAIR (USA)

92kg
Huseyn MAMMADTAGHIZADA (AZE)
Aliaksei KULAKOU (BLR)
Grigor CHERNAKOV (BUL)
Dominic WENDT (CAN)
Bie ERLAN (CHN)
Sandro KURASHVILI (GEO)
Abdurrahim SEKMEN (GER)
Youssef SOLIMAN (HUN)
NIKHIL (IND)
Abolfazl RAHMANI (IRI)
Hisashi KONISHI (JPN)
Beibarys YERGALI (KAZ)
Osmonbek ZHYLKYBAEV (KGZ)
Alexandru BORS (MDA)
Darius SAS (ROU)
Artur TOGOEV (RUS)
Jacek FUDALEJ (SUI)
Dovletgeldi MYRADOV (TKM)
Eyyup CETIN (TUR)
Yehor HOROKH (UKR)
James MASTNY (USA)
Ulugbek ORTIKOV (UZB)

97kg
Farhad SULEYMANLI (AZE)
Aliaksei KHADUNOU (BLR)
Valentin BORISOV (BUL)
Harjot SHERGILL (CAN)
Yuanchong YANG (CHN)
Joona JUNNILA (FIN)
Ashab DADAEV (FRA)
Konstantine PETRIASHVILI (GEO)
Nikolaos KARAVANOS (GRE)
Robert ERDELYI (HUN)
LACKY (IND)
Toohid NOORY (IRI)
Noah LEIBOWITZ (JPN)
Samir DURSUNOV (KAZ)
Al Baro AKHMETOV (KGZ)
Alexei USANOV (MDA)
Ilija ATANASOV (MKD)
Balazs LORINCZ (ROU)
Rodion SANAKOEV (RUS)
Adam KOSC (SVK)
Suleyman RIZA (TUR)
Rostyslav KURYLIAK (UKR)
Michael BOYLE (USA)

125kg
Henrik HAYKYAN (ARM)
Yusif DURSUNOV (AZE)
Yaraslau KOKHAN (BLR)
Dian MANEV (BUL)
Jagroop DHINSA (CAN)
Chenghan YANG (CHN)
Youssef ABOUDAWABA (EGY)
Aleksandre ABRAMISHVILI (GEO)
Daniel SZILAGYI (HUN)
RONAK (IND)
Abolfazl MOHAMMAD NEZHAD (IRI)
Hosei FUJITA (JPN)
Riza IZAKHAR (KAZ)
Baejoon JANG (KOR)
Narantulga DARMAABAZAR (MGL)
Brian TECHEREAN (ROU)
Soslan GABUEV (RUS)
Rusen GULER (TUR)
Ivan MYROSHNYCHENKO (UKR)
Dreshaun ROSS (USA)

Wrestling Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR)Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) will be chasing his third U20 world title in Greco-Roman 97kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Greco-Roman 

55kg
Edgar PETROSYAN (ARM)
Emin JAVADLI (AZE)
Yuri LANDIM (BRA)
Kaloyan IVANOV (BUL)
Jiale LI (CHN)
Dunia SIBOMANA (COD)
Jakub SEDLAK (CZE)
Nolan PISSOCHER (FRA)
Koba KARUMIDZE (GEO)
Lenny WOERNER (GER)
Vasileios PAPAGEORGIOU (GRE)
HARIOM (IND)
Armin SHAMSIPOUR (IRI)
Hiro SAKAMOTO (JPN)
Yerassyl MUSSAN (KAZ)
Nurmukhammed EGEMBERDIEV (KGZ)
Maxim SARMANOV (MDA)
Ilia KANDALIN (RUS)
Denizhan OGUN (TUR)
Denys KIRYK (UKR)
Ezekiel WITT (USA)
Khojiakbar KUCHKAROV (UZB)

60kg
Marat ATSHEMYAN (ARM)
Aykhan JAVADOV (AZE)
Rasim IBRAHIMAU (BLR)
Pedro DE SOUZA (BRA)
Zhivko HINKOV (BUL)
Augusto VARGAS (CHI)
Ziming DING (CHN)
Heritier MUAYA (COD)
Karim ELEMARY (EGY)
Magomed VARAEV (FRA)
Kakhaber GOGINASHVILI (GEO)
Ivan SEIBEL (GER)
Samarth MHAKAVE (IND)
Amirali HEYDARI (IRI)
Takuma NAKASHIMA (JPN)
Alpamys BOLATULY (KAZ)
Marlen ABDYSAMATOV (KGZ)
Alin CHITIC (MDA)
Zeus GONZALEZ (MEX)
Dragos DRAGA (ROU)
Ilia PANIUTIN (RUS)
Levin MEIER (SUI)
Nikolasz PALENYIK (SVK)
Furkan ODEN (TUR)
Nazarii BABINSKYI (UKR)
Manuel SALDATE (USA)
Dostonbek ORIPOV (UZB)

63kg
Aleks MARGARYAN (ARM)
Tural AHMADOV (AZE)
Zhaojian WANG (CHN)
Clisman CARRACEDO (ECU)
Matias ARPIAINEN (FIN)
Davit GABEDAVA (GEO)
Timur DEMIR (GER)
Marios KAPANTAIS (GRE)
Levente FIGE (HUN)
Aditya TATE (IND)
Ali GHARIBI (IRI)
Taiga HIBARINO (JPN)
Dias KERTAY (KAZ)
Sirozhidin NORMATOV (KGZ)
Haitham BARAHMAH (KSA)
Vlad DUMINICA (MDA)
Daniel GUEVARA (MEX)
Martin AAK (NOR)
Filip IWASZKO (POL)
Ionut MEREUTA (ROU)
Salim KAZMAKHOV (RUS)
Andrej VELISAVLJEV (SRB)
Balint VARGA (SVK)
Omer ALTAS (TUR)
Maksut SULTANOV (UKR)
Nicholas SORROW (USA)
Kuvonchbek ISMOILOV (UZB)

67kg
Yurik MKHITARYAN (ARM)
Murad ALIYEV (AZE)
Mikhail MARKOUSKI (BLR)
Kristiyan MILENKOV (BUL)
Sebastian BUSTAMANTE (CHI)
Qiqiang ZHANG (CHN)
Mohamed ABDELREHIM (EGY)
Erekle TAVBERIDZE (GEO)
Sebastian WAGNER (GER)
Petro ZHYTOVOZ (HUN)
ROVIND (IND)
Iliya ALIKHANI (IRI)
Shuya MIURA (JPN)
Kazybek KALMAGAMBETOV (KAZ)
Akim APILOV (KGZ)
Byeonggi SEO (KOR)
Maxim DAMASCHIN (MDA)
Ilias LAAOUINA (NED)
Tamaterai HERVE (PYF)
Iosif ZLOTAR (ROU)
Amir SOVMIZ (RUS)
Roland CSICSO (SVK)
Haci ALTAN (TUR)
Denys KOVSHUN (UKR)
Amryn NUTTER (USA)
Ogabek MUKIMOV (UZB)

72kg
Gor KHACHATRYAN (ARM)
Kamran RAJABLI (AZE)
Nikola COLES (CAN)
Xin CHEN (CHN)
Jure RAJKOVIC (CRO)
Bruno HANZEL (CZE)
Mohamed IBRAHIM (EGY)
Andreas VAELJA (EST)
Nikolozi KARUMIDZE (GEO)
Artur GOTTFRIED (GER)
Arionas KOLITSOPOULOS (GRE)
Barna TOPLAK (HUN)
VINIT (IND)
Ahmadreza MOHAMADIAN (IRI)
Timur NADORGIN (ISR)
Kento NOMURA (JPN)
Marlan BAKAYEV (KAZ)
Yrysbek KHAMDAMOV (KGZ)
Ignat MEICO (MDA)
Jorge GOMEZ (MEX)
Mingiian GORIAEV (RUS)
Djordje HIRCL (SRB)
Salih YAZICI (TUR)
Dmytro DEMIANOVSKYI (UKR)
Eligio ESGUERRA (USA)
Behruzbek VALIEV (UZB)

77kg
Samvel TERTERYAN (ARM)
Lars MATT (AUT)
Javidan NAHMATOV (AZE)
Uladzimir NEHODA (BLR)
Miguel XAVIER (BRA)
Hristo VALENTINOV (BUL)
Zheying SONG (CHN)
Harryson NSIAMAZA (COD)
Luka KAJANNE (FIN)
Giorgi GOGELASHVILI (GEO)
Adamantios PAPADATOS (GRE)
Zalan TOPLAK (HUN)
Dheeraj MALIK (IND)
Amir SAEIDI NAVA (IRI)
Daichi TSUTSUMI (JPN)
Yerkebulan ANAPIYA (KAZ)
Elkhan CHOENBEKOV (KGZ)
Andrei CERNOUS (MDA)
Noe WOLSKI (POL)
Nazar BERKOVSKII (RUS)
Zalan PEK (SRB)
Ruben STRAAKEVED (SWE)
Alkan AKAR (TUR)
Nestor BARAN (UKR)
Leister BOWLING (USA)
Ogabek ASKARALIEV (UZB)

82kg
Vahe HOVHANNISYAN (ARM)
Elmin ALIYEV (AZE)
Kiryl VALEUSKI (BLR)
Martin SHISHEKOV (BUL)
Jordy NGATSE (COD)
Miguel VEGA SALAZAR (COL)
Petr ZAK (CZE)
Mohamed SHAABAN (EGY)
Severi MAEENPAEAE (FIN)
Luka PIPIA (GEO)
Vasileios SEMERTZIDIS (GRE)
Szabolcs SZINAY (HUN)
PRINCE (IND)
Alireza MOHAMMAD HOSSEINI (IRI)
Rondo KODAMA (JPN)
Nurdaulet RAKHMAN (KAZ)
Nurislam OSKONBAEV (KGZ)
Heder SALDANA (MEX)
Kane ROSARIO (PUR)
Ramazan NEKHAI (RUS)
Dominik HERVAI (SVK)
Ismail BEREKET (TUR)
Kyrylo UHRIK (UKR)
Arvin KHOSRAVY (USA)
Bekmurod RUSTAMOV (UZB)

87kg
Iurik PETROSIAN (ARM)
Paul MAIER (AUT)
Orkhan HAJIYEV (AZE)
Danil SKLIZKOU (BLR)
Valentin VALENTINOV (BUL)
Qiangle WANG (CHN)
Josef CERNY (CZE)
Marcus UHTJAERV (EST)
Luka KOCHALIDZE (GEO)
Anton BUCHHOLZ (GER)
Eleftherios PAPPAS (GRE)
Zalan VARGA (HUN)
AKHIL (IND)
Amirhossein NEMATZADEH (IRI)
Itzhak NEMSADZE (ISR)
Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN)
Alikhan TAGAYEV (KAZ)
Mirsaid IUNUSOV (KGZ)
Tigran MANUKYAN (LTU)
Marius STIHARU (MDA)
Gabriel STAN (ROU)
Manvel ARUTIUNIAN (RUS)
Abdulvahab KALAFAT (TUR)
Vladyslav SOLODCHUK (UKR)
Aidan SQUIER (USA)

97kg
Erik TER MATEVOSYAN (ARM)
Rihad IBRAHIMLI (AZE)
Xinyu LIU (CHN)
Andrej RODIN (CRO)
Farag AHMED (EGY)
Pauli PERKIOE (FIN)
Arman MKRTCHYAN (GEO)
Dimitrios PAPPAS (GRE)
Vendel VITAI (HUN)
Akshay RANA (IND)
Amirsam MOHAMMADI (IRI)
Ryosei KATAMATSU (JPN)
Maxim UKRAINTSEV (KAZ)
Asankadyr ZAIIRBEKOV (KGZ)
Jaehyuk LEE (KOR)
Dorian TREJO OLGUIN (MEX)
Yassine BEN LABED (POL)
Ilia KOMAROV (RUS)
Emir Omer BOZBAG (TUR)
Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR)
Cittadino TUTTLE (USA)
Fakhrikamol KOMILJONOV (UZB)

130kg
Seyran KIRAKOSYAN (ARM)
Museyi HUSEYN (AZE)
Mihail KRALEV (BUL)
Chengmao CUI (CHN)
Karel CECH (CZE)
Essam HUSSEIN (EGY)
Tomas RUSI (FIN)
Yonis LAADILI (FRA)
Saba PURTSELADZE (GEO)
Koppany LASZLO (HUN)
Piyush KUMAR (IND)
Amirhossein ABDEVALI (IRI)
Kosei MIYAKE (JPN)
Bakhtiyar KAZIYEV (KAZ)
Alisher OSKONBAEV (KGZ)
Omer AMIROGLU (KSA)
Ali ILIASOV (RUS)
Cemal BAKIR (TUR)
Ivan YANKOVSKYI (UKR)
Trayvn BOGER (USA)
Javokhir SHODIYAROV (UZB)

Wrestling Sakura ONISHI (JPN)Sakura ONISHI (JPN) is a two-time U20 world champion. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Women's Wrestling

50kg
Serineh CRANE (ARM)
Sviatlana KATENKA (BLR)
Victoria STEFANOV (CAN)
Yuting YUAN (CHN)
Rita RANTONEN (FIN)
Josephine WRENSCH (GER)
Maria GKIKA (GRE)
PARVEEN (IND)
Yuu KATSUME (JPN)
Medina KUANYSHBEK (KAZ)
Akak MAMBETSADYKOVA (KGZ)
Yerin CHOI (KOR)
Olivia VAN KLEUNEN (NED)
Karolina ZIEN (POL)
Leticia OLIVEIRA (POR)
Heklanys RIVERA (PUR)
Diana VOICULESCU (ROU)
Margarita IARYGINA (RUS)
Sabina PIPOVA (SVK)
Wan Yi HUANG (TPE)
Nil AKTAS (TUR)
Yelyzaveta KULAKIVSKA (UKR)
Morgan TURNER (USA)
Nilufar NURMUKHAMMADOVA (UZB)

53kg
Esra MAMMADLI (AZE)
Aliaksandra VISTSIAK (BLR)
Evily BERNARDINO (BRA)
Kaura COLES (CAN)
Yuxuan LI (CHN)
Fiona GASSER (GER)
Szonja NEMETH (HUN)
MUSKAN (IND)
Mei KOIWA (JPN)
Dinara DAUYLKYZY (KAZ)
Aziza KELDIBEKOVA (KGZ)
Ilona VALCHUK (POL)
Aneishka SANTOS (PUR)
Electra GARAIACU (ROU)
Ekaterina CHIKANOVA (RUS)
Remziye KARADAG (TUR)
Anastasiia POLSKA (UKR)
Taylor WHITING (USA)
Sakibjamal ESBOSYNOVA (UZB)
Alexa ALVAREZ (VEN)

55kg
Valeryia MIKITSICH (BLR)
Nataliya BOYADZHIEVA (BUL)
Elizabeth CHAPMAN (CAN)
Meilin ZHOU (CHN)
Lisette BOETTKER (EST)
Sara RANTONEN (FIN)
Hansika LAMBA (IND)
Angela CRAPIO (ITA)
Nana KOZUKA (JPN)
Shodiyona DILMURATOVA (KAZ)
Elmira KARABALAEVA (KGZ)
Amelia TOMALA (POL)
Ashley DIAZ (PUR)
Olesia MALAKHOVA (RUS)
Milica PEROVIC (SRB)
Anja EPP (SUI)
Elif ATAKAN (TUR)
Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR)
Everest LEYDECKER (USA)
Munisa MINGYASHAROVA (UZB)

57kg
Olga POPOVA (BUL)
Agnia KRAKOVSKA (CAN)
Xinyu WANG (CHN)
Nini TSITSVIDZE (GEO)
Ioanna XENIDOU (GRE)
Liliana KAPUVARI (HUN)
Tanvi MAGDUM (IND)
Konami ONO (JPN)
Anna STRATAN (KAZ)
Csilla VAN OS (NED)
Julia GIBALSKA (POL)
Tilly KAKUK (PUR)
Dolzhon TSYNGUEVA (RUS)
Ivana GAJIC (SRB)
Lara GORCS (SVK)
Yu Hsuan CHENG (TPE)
Chahd JELJELI (TUN)
Su SOYALP (TUR)
Diana KOTVYTSKA (UKR)
Karlee BROOKS (USA)
Ulbiyke KARLYBAEVA (UZB)

59kg
Hiunai HURBANOVA (AZE)
Varvara ALISEYENKA (BLR)
Kai Nessa PARE (CAN)
Jiayi HUANG (CHN)
Rosa MOLINA (ESP)
Lisa SHAVADZE (GEO)
Eda BALAZS (HUN)
KOMAL (IND)
Sae NOGUCHI (JPN)
Aizhan MURATBAY (KAZ)
Madalina PRISACARI (MDA)
Gundegmaa ENKHBAATAR (MGL)
Helena STELMASZCZYK (POL)
Jania DUNIGAN (PUR)
Alina BAROEVA (RUS)
Karin SAMUELSSON (SWE)
Chaima DAHI (TUN)
Elif Sude ELMALI (TUR)
Oleksandra MALKOVA (UKR)
Caley GRABER (USA)

62kg
Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE)
Evilly JESUS COSTA (BRA)
Andrea NISEVA (BUL)
Taylor ENGELEN (CAN)
Yifan ZHU (CHN)
Miranda KAPANADZE (GEO)
Leonie STEIGERT (GER)
Barbara BAGER (HUN)
SAVITA (IND)
Sakura ONISHI (JPN)
Zhaidar MUKAT (KAZ)
Aizhamal TALANTBEK KYZY (KGZ)
Gabriela RUDOI (MDA)
Ekaterina RADYSHEVA (RUS)
Viktoria FOELDESIOVA (SVK)
Yen Yi LI (TPE)
Ozdenur OZMEZ (TUR)
Albina KLIEFAS (UKR)
Bella WILLIAMS (USA)
Feruza KAIRATDINOVA (UZB)

65kg
Khushleen JHALLI (CAN)
Zhengwei MA (CHN)
Anna MAZGAJOVA (CZE)
Chandni BANKS (GBR)
Annalena POHL (GER)
Vasiliki KARAVANOU (GRE)
Viktoria PUPP (HUN)
YASHITA (IND)
Miyu OGASHI (JPN)
Zhangyl BEKEN (KAZ)
Asel ZHAPAROVA (KGZ)
Mirijam HANSEN (NOR)
Margarita SALNAZARIAN (RUS)
Saga SVENSSON (SWE)
Beyza Nur AKKUS (TUR)
Iryna BORYSIUK (UKR)
Riley HANRAHAN (USA)
Mukhayyo NARZILLOEVA (UZB)

68kg
Rayssa DE SOUZA (BRA)
Mackenzie CAYER (CAN)
Chenling SONG (CHN)
Mansi LATHER (IND)
Shirin TAKEMOTO (JPN)
Uldana TILEUKHAN (KAZ)
Alexandra MOISEI (MDA)
Leah SAMSONSEN (NOR)
Evangeliia BEREZHNOVA (RUS)
Michaela SEBOEKOVA (SVK)
Elif Sevval KURT (TUR)
Oleksandra RYBAK (UKR)
Taina FERNANDEZ (USA)
Mukhayyo RAKHIMJONOVA (UZB)

72kg
Zahra KARIMZADA (AZE)
Wenjin QIU (CHN)
Petra MUELLER (HUN)
Tanu SHARMA (IND)
Chisato YOSHIDA (JPN)
Meiramgul MAKSOT (KAZ)
Greta TVERSKYTE (LTU)
Liliana KAZMINA (RUS)
Ilayda CIN (TUR)
Daryna ZAISHLA (UKR)
Gretchen DONALLY (USA)

76kg
Sophia PEREZ (BRA)
Jingru SUN (CHN)
KAJAL (IND)
Miyu TAKAYAMA (JPN)
Zeinep ELAMAS (KAZ)
Dominika POCHOWSKA (POL)
Paola RODRIGUEZ (PUR)
Diana TITOVA (RUS)
Evelin UJHELJI (SRB)
Elmira YASIN (TUR)
Nadiia SOKOLOVSKA (UKR)
Piper FOWLER (USA)
Sevinchoy POLVONOVA (UZB)

#JapanWrestling

Fujinami Claims 57kg Title, Bonus Trip 'Home' for Asian Games

By Ken Marantz

TOKYO (May 24) -- Not even an untimely knee injury, much less any opponent on the mat, was going to deter Paris Olympic champion Akari FUJINAMI from her next major objective.

Fujinami showed little effects of a knee injury suffered three weeks ago in capturing the women's 57kg title at the Meiji Cup All-Japan Invitational Championships on Sunday, stretching her amazing winning streak to 153 matches dating back to 2017 and her junior high school days.

With her 8-0 victory in the final over Sena NAGAMOTO on the final day of the four-day tournament at Tokyo's Komazawa Gym, Fujinami earned a ticket back home, so to speak -- a spot on Japan's team to this year's Asian Games, which will be near her Mie Prefecture hometown in neighboring Nagoya and Aichi Prefecture.

"The Asian Games will be in my home area of Nagoya, so I have strong feelings about it," Fujinami said. "I know the competition is going to be tough, but that only makes me look forward to it even more. I will go into it imagining the people from back home seeing me crowned as champion."

The Meiji Cup was serving as the second of two qualifiers, along with the Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships held in December, for not only the Asian Games, but also for the World Championships to follow three weeks later in late October.

Akari FUJINAMI (JPN)Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) defeated Sena NAGAMOTO (JPN) in the 57kg final. (Photo: wrestling-spirits.jp / Takeo Yabuki)

Fujinami would not commit making the trip to Astana for the World Championships, where she could win a third world gold and first since moving up to 57kg after winning the 53kg gold at the Paris Olympics.

Another factor weighing on the Japanese wrestlers is that the World Championships is just two months before this year's Emperor's Cup, which will have increased importance as the starting point in the qualifying process for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

"I will consult with my coach. There is also the Emperor's Cup, and we will discuss it seriously and make a decision," said Fujinami, who has made no secret of her ultimate goal of an Olympic repeat and whose demeanor showed her leaning toward giving the worlds a pass.

Two days earlier, Paris Olympic champion Rei HIGUCHI passed on a chance to compete in a playoff for the world team spot at Freestyle 61kg because he is solely focused on a return to the Olympics at 57kg. For him, a shot at another world title has no bearing on his plans.

Meanwhile on Sunday, two-time former world champion Nonoka OZAKI fended off world 59kg champion Sakura ONISHI in a blockbuster women's 62kg final, then expressed her excitement over earning a ticket to both big events, as did fellow Paris Olympic bronze medalist Yui SUSAKI, who cruised to victory at women's 50kg.

Two Paris gold medalists -- Kotaro KIYOOKA at Freestyle 65kg and Nao KUSAKA at Greco-Roman 77kg -- also emerged victorious, with the former saying he will be going to both global competitions, but the latter stating definitively he will skip the World Championships.

Fujinami, who is still making the adjustment to the higher weight, won the world U23 gold at 57kg last October before capturing the Emperor's Cup title, although that included the biggest threat to her winning streak when she had to fight off her back in a 4-2 win in the final over Himeka TOKUHARA.

Her next big test was to have come at last month's Asian Championships in Bishkek, but she was forced to pull out due to an ankle injury. No sooner had that healed when she suffered a left knee injury in preparation for the Meiji Cup.

But, with the Asian Games in mind, as well as having new obligations and an increased fan base after gaining a corporate sponsorship upon her graduation from Nippon Sports Science University, she was determined to press on.

“I injured my knee three weeks ago," Fujinami said. "My ankle had finally healed and was I training for the Meiji Cup when I got injured, and at that time I could barely even walk. At that moment, I thought, ‘Why again, why now?’

"But for the first time, I pictured the faces of the people supporting me. If it were my old self, I probably would have just given up, but when those faces came to mind and I thought about what to do, the people around me helped. I came to realize that I am able to do wrestling thanks to various people.”

In Sunday's final, Fujinami relied solely on her unstoppable single-leg attack against Nagamoto, the Asian silver medalist at 59kg. She twice used it to gain a 2-point exposure when Nagamoto tried for counter lifts, and twice finished it off for proper takedowns.

Asked if she was concerned about her lack of ground points, Fujinami inferred she was working on it by saying, "Please look forward to [seeing me at] the Asian Games."

An expanded reportoire would seem essential in what Fujinami herself acknowledges is one of the stronger women's weight class.

"In the world, the level of the 57kg weight class is very high, and also in Asia," she said. "I expect very good wrestlers to be entered at the Asian Games, and I want to start preparing for that right away."

Nonoka OZAKI (JPN)Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) managed a close 2-1 victory over Sakura ONISHI (JPN) at 62kg. (Photo: wrestling-spirits.jp)

Ozaki, who has had her fill of missing out on national team spots for major competitions, assured she won't miss the two coming up this year with a well-executed 2-1 victory over rising star Onishi in their highly anticipated 62kg final.

Ozaki scored a single-leg takedown in the first period, then limited Onishi to a stepout after she got in deep on a single leg of her own in the second.

"While I was thinking what I should do on the mat, I kept my heart strong until the end," Ozaki said.

The victory came a day after Ozaki defeated Paris Olympic champion Sakura MOTOKI in the semifinals, a repeat of her win in the Emperor's Cup final. That had avenged a loss to Motoki in last year's Meiji Cup final and subsequent playoff that kept Ozaki out of the 2025 World Championships.

"When it comes to Japanese opponents, we all pretty much know each other well, and it makes it more difficult to fight," Ozaki said. "We are all preparing for the Olympic qualifying.

"Separately from opponents from around the world, dealing with Japanese opponents, I have already experienced the Olympic qualifiers, so I understand very well how emotionally tough it can be, and I think various things can go out of sync."

Ozaki, the world champion at 62kg in 2022 and at 65kg in 2023, also has some unfinished business at the Asian Games, which Japan will be hosting for the first time in 30 years.

"First of all, I finished second at the last Asian Games [in 2023]," she said. "As for making the World Championships, last year I lost out in a playoff and didn't go. Now I have the chance to become a three-time world champion."

Yui SUSAKI (JPN)Yui SUSAKI (JPN) secured a fall over Rinka OGAWA (JPN) in the 50kg final on Sunday. (Photo: wrestling-spirits.jp / Takeo Yabuki)

Susaki, the Tokyo Olympic champion who had to settle for a bronze in Paris, let out an uncharacteristic roar after completing the Emperor's Cup-Meiji Cup double with a victory by fall over Rinka OGAWA in the 50kg final.

"I definitely wanted to win and make it to my first Asian Games and to my first World Championships in three years, and the moment I won, I was truly ecstatic," Susaki said.

Susaki opened with a pair of takedowns, but her chicken wing after the second one slipped off, allowing Ogawa to get behind to make it 4-1 at the break. Early in the second period, Ogawa slipped in an underhook, but Susaki deftly clamped down and blocked the opposite inner thigh to slam Ogawa to the mat. She completed the fall in 3:33.

"When she got the underhook, I thought she had the advantage, but I didn't panic, knowing I had a move for that situation," Susaki said. "I had confidence and was able to use a throw technique.

"It was just instinct. In my first match yesterday, I also used a throw for a fall. I think that I've become better at making the most of lone chances. I've included it in my practice, so I can use it any situation."

Susaki's domination bodes well in her quest to regain the Olympic gold in Los Angeles.

"At this tournament, the 50kg field had everyone who will be competing to go to the Los Angeles Olympics, so to win here is a big step forward," she said. "I was able to use a winning pattern that I practiced and won the title, so it was a very good tournament."

Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN)Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) won the 65kg gold medal at the Meiji Cup. (Photo: wrestling-spirits.jp / Takeo Yabuki)

Kiyooka, not to be outdone by his younger sister Moe, defeated longtime practice partner and fellow NSSU alum Kaisei TANABE 3-0 in a repeat of last year's 65kg final.

Kiyooka scored a first-period takedown, then added a stepout in the second period to beat Tanabe, with whom he participated -- and even faced -- during a stint in the German Bundesliga.

"It's been almost exactly a year since [Tanabe and I] met in this same final, and there are things we were both aware of about each other," Kiyooka said. "Last year he was injured and couldn't give his all. I went back and reviewed our matches, and I came up with a strategy. Looking back on what I actually did, I felt the main thing was that I was able to stay calm."

Last year, Kiyooka defeated a hampered Tanabe in a playoff for the world team spot after beating him in the final, in which Tanabe was injured. Kiyooka then lost in the final in Zagreb to Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI), whom he had beaten for the gold in Paris.

"Getting to the World Championships, it gives me a chance for revenge and to win my first world title, making it an important event," Kiyooka said.

"As for the Asian Games, it gives my family, those in my company and people who otherwise would not have the chance to see me compete overseas to see me up close. And just like at the Olympics, I hope to give them the best result possible."

On Saturday, Kiyooka's sister Moe won the women's 53kg title to clinch her national team place. She has already one-upped her in the world gold department, having won the 55kg title in 2024.

Nao KUSAKA (JPN)Nao KUSAKA (JPN) managed a 6-3 victory in the gold medal bout at 77kg. (Photo: wrestling-spirits.jp / Takeo Yabuki)

At Greco-Roman 77kg, Kusaka took issue with a mysterious penalty called against him and a phantom stepout that produced no point, but otherwise was untroubled in notching a 6-3 victory in the final over Isami HORIKITA, a repeat of the Emperor's Cup final.

Kusaka was leading 3-0 when his challenge of an apparent stepout that was not awarded a point was unsuccessful. He then added an indisputable stepout to lead 4-1 at the break. In the second period, he sandwiched two more stepouts around a 2-point penalty that he was at a loss to explain.

"I really don't know," he said, while imploring that he was not being critical of the referees. "The referee kept telling me, 'Head up, head up.' It's the first time I've ever been penalized in that situation."

What Kusaka made crystal clear was his decision to bypass the World Championships in favor of the Asian Games, saying he lacked motivation for the former. Like Kiyooka, he won a silver medal at last year's worlds in Zagreb.

"I don't have loads of motivation and like to channel it all into one thing," Kusaka said. "Winning the Asian Games title, that's my objective for this year."

Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN)Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) pinned Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) in the 74kg final. (Photo: wrestling-spirits.jp / Takeo Yabuki)

In a battle between reigning world champions, Yoshinosuke AOYAGI defeated Kota TAKAHASHI in the Freestyle 74kg final to earn a return trip to the World Championships.

Aoyagi, the world 70kg champion last year, was leading 7-0 when Takahashi launched a comeback late in the second period. He pulled to within 7-4, helped by a penalty point against Aoyagi for kicking and a fleeing point during a stepout.

But a desperation throw in the final seconds was stopped dead by Aoyagi, and Takahashi stayed motionless on the mat, allowing a fall to be called just before the buzzer.

At Greco-Roman 60kg, 2023 Asian Games silver medalist Ayata SUZUKI defeated reigning Meiji Cup champion Kaito INABA 3-3 in the final, then edged Emperor's Cup champion Koto GOMI 7-6 in the playoff for the national team.

Suzuki trailed 6-2 in the playoff when he hit a 4-point arm throw to go ahead on criteria, then added a stepout for good measure.

Day 4 Results

Freestyle

57kg
GOLD: Rikuto NAGAI df. Kento YUMIYA, 13-4

BRONZE: Isami TAKATA df. Yuta KIKUCHI, 8-2
BRONZE: Daito KATSUME df. Rin SAKAMOTO by Inj. Def.

World team playoff: Yamato OGAWA df. Nagai, 9-8

65kg
GOLD: Kotaro KIYOOKA df. Kaisei TANABE, 3-0

BRONZE: Kaiji OGINO df. Kaito MORIKAWA by Inj. Def., :02 (0-0)
BRONZE: Takara SUDA df. Shuya MIURA, 2-1

74kg
GOLD: Yoshinosuke AOYAGI df. Kota TAKAHASHI by Fall, 5:59, 11-4

BRONZE: Ryoya YAMASHITA df. Yujin TAKIZAWA, 2-0
BRONZE: Hikaru TAKATA df. Shingo ANDO, 6-1

Greco-Roman

60kg
GOLD: Ayata SUZUKI df. Kaito INABA, 3-3

BRONZE: Daijiro SONE df. Koto GOMI by Def.
BRONZE: Maito KAWANA df. Yu SHIOTANI, 8-1

World team playoff: Suzuki df. Gomi, 7-6

77kg
GOLD: Nao KUSAKA df. Isami HORIKITA, 6-3

BRONZE: Kodai SAKURABA df. Naoki KADODE, 3-2
BRONZE: Issei HONNA df. Ariya YOSHIDA, 12-9

87kg
GOLD: Taizo YOSHIDA df. So SAKABE, 5-4

BRONZE: Rondo KODAMA df. Takahiro INAMOTO by TS, 8-0, 2:24
BRONZE: Daisei ISOE df. Genki YAHAGI, 4-1

Women's Wrestling

50kg
GOLD: Yui SUSAKI df. Rinka OGAWA by Fall, 3:33 (8-1)

BRONZE: Umi ITO df. Minoriho YONEHARA by TS, 13-2, 5:59
BRONZE: Haruna MORIKAWA df. Miyu NAKAMURA, 7-0

57kg
GOLD: Akari FUJINAMI df. Sena NAGAMOTO, 8-0

BRONZE: Sara NATAMI df. Rin KINOSHITA by Fall, 1:30 (2-0)
BRONZE: Himeka TOKUHARA df. Sae NOGUCHI, 9-4

62kg
GOLD: Nonoka OZAKI df. Sakura ONISHI, 2-1

BRONZE: Sakura MOTOKI df. Yuzuka INAGAKI, 10-2