UWW 25-Under-25: No. 11-No. 15

Wednesday, February 16, 2022 - 12:44 By Vinay Siwach

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (February 9) -- The mental and physical strain wrestling puts on the body once led Olympic champion Dan GABLE (USA) to say: “Once you’ve wrestled, everything else in life is easy.”

Over the last few months, some of the biggest fixtures in wrestling from the last decade – Aline FOCKEN (GER), Tamas LORINCZ (HUN), Cenk ILDEM (TUR) and Frank STAEBLER (GER), among many others – hung up their shoes and decided to head into that “easy” phase of life.

As we continue to pay homage to those trailblazers heading into their post-wrestling chapters of life, it’s time to whisk in the next generation of talent that’ll shoulder the weight of the sport into the Paris Olympic Games and beyond.

With three short years left until the Paris Games, we’re redirecting our attention to the sport's brightest young stars who are entering the prime of their careers. United World Wrestling looked at 25 wrestlers who will undoubtedly keep wrestling fans at the edge of their seats throughout '22 and beyond.

The question you asked and we answered: “Who are the Top 25 Under 25?”

UWW 25-Under-25: No. 21-No. 25
No. 25 - Alina AKOBIYA (UKR), 23-years-old
No. 24 - Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE), 24-years-old
No. 23 - Artur SARGSYAN (RWF), 24-years-old
No. 22 - TUMUR OCHIR Tulga (MGL), 24-year-old
No. 21 - Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM), 22-years-old

UWW 25-Under-25: No. 20-No. 16
No. 20 - Anshu MALIK (IND), 20-years-old
No. 19 - Irinia RINGACI (MDA), 21-years-old
No. 18 - Zagir SHAKHIEV (RUS), 23-years-old
No. 17 - Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ), 23-years-old
No. 16 - Leri ABULADZE (GEO), 23-years-old

Here's UWW's third segment -- No. 11 through No. 15 -- of the Top 25 Under 25 to keep an eye on.

No. 15 - Ernazar AKMATLIEV (KGZ), 23-years-old, (July 2, 1998)

Instagram - akmataliev_ernazar

No freestyle wrestler has made a more rapid rise in the ranks than Ernazar AKMATLIEV (KGZ). The 24-year-old shocked the world when he pinned Ilyas BEKBULATOV (UZB) at the Asian Olympic Qualifiers to book his ticket to Tokyo at 65kg. He later defeated eventual world runner-up Amirmohammed YAZADANI (IRI) in an action-packed final.

While he could not win a medal at the Tokyo Games, Akmatliev made a name for himself. He followed that performance with a silver-medal winning run at the Oslo World Championships at 70kg. In the process, he registered wins over junior world champion Erfan ELAHI (IRI) and Evgenii ZHERBAEV (RWF). A month later, he became the U23 world champion by beating Individual World Cup winner Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) in a one-sided final in Belgrade, Serbia.

Akmatliev's counterattacks have become a problem for his opponents as he continues to accumulate points despite being in danger positions. He uses the underhook to a great effect to not allow others to hold their preferred positions as well.

As he continues his journey towards Paris Games 2024, Akmatliev has a big year in front of him with Asian Championships, World Championships and the Asian Games scheduled this year.

No. 14 - Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI), 24-years-old (January 8, 1998)

Instagram - amin_mirzazadeh_

The super heavyweight category in Greco-Roman has been dominated by two legends -- Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) and Riza KAYAALP (TUR). But as a young generation tries to uproot them, Amin Mirzazadeh is the strongest of them.

The Iran wrestler was at the Tokyo Olympics and won the U23 Worlds last year. Mirzazadeh suffered the burnt of a tough draw as he faced Lopez in the semifinal and later Kayaalp in the bronze medal and finished fifth. But he returned to win the gold in Belgrade. He missed the Oslo World Championships after contracting COVID.

In his five-year career, Mirzazadeh has won the junior and U23 worlds, junior and senior Asian Championships and is yet to make his senior World debut. Incidentally, he was selected on Iran's Tokyo Olympics team after he defeated Aliakbar YOUSOFIA (IRI) in the Poland Open Ranking Series event. Yousofia went on to win the Oslo Worlds in Mirzazadeh's absence.

Like Lopez and Kiyaalp, Mirzazadeh boasts of a strong groud-defense along with some of the best cardio in the weight class. While he still has to gain the power to finish bouts early, Mirzazadeh can be the biggest breakout of the year.

No. 13 - Akari FUJINAMI (JPN), 18-years-old (November 11, 2003)

Instagram - 11.akrstagram.11

Japan's stronghold in women's wrestling might have found a new leader. The Kawai sisters, Yui SUSAKI (JPN) and now Akari Fujiname. Still in high school, Fujinami has been the latest phenom from the Land of Rising Sun, winning the Senior World Championships in Oslo without surrendering a point in four bouts.

Fujinami, who has participated in four international competitions in her three-year career, is yet to lose a bout. Even in Japan, she is unbeaten at the two senior-level competitions she participated in, with wins over Nanami IRIE (JPN) and Haruna OKUNO (JPN).

Domestically, she will have to get past Tokyo Olympic champion Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) to make the senior team in the near future but if her performance in Oslo was any indication, Fujinami looks set to pull off an upset.

A mix of quick attacks and agile defense, the former cadet world champion's wrestling style was a treat to watch in Oslo. Japan Wrestling experts had long waited for her senior debut and she did not disappoint on her first outing.

The Paris Olympic cycle will be a big test for Fujinami as tries to make 53kg her own, both domestically and internationally.

No. 12 - Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RWF), 23-years-old (March 15, 1998)

Instagram - abas_60._

Who can challenge Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV at 61kg? As the wrestling season for 2022 begins, Magomedov is still waiting for an opponent who can defeat him at the weight class which he has dominated since 2019. The world champion has won the European Championships in 2021 and will be looking to defend the title in Budapest, Hungary next month.

Once he won the Individual World Cup in 2020 in Belgrade, Serbia, the fans asked if Magomedov would jump to 65kg for the Tokyo Olympics. But he remained at 61kg to win the Russian, European and World Championships. The former junior world champion looked unfazed in Oslo as he defeated Daton FIX (USA) in the final and also overcame U23 world champion Toshihiro HASEGAWA (JPN) in the semifinal via fall.

Hailing from the mountains of Dagestan, the Russian Wrestling Federation star was UWW's top-ranked wrestler of the year in 2021. A big decision is awaited if he will decide to move to the Olympic weight class of 65kg to challenge the strong field at Paris Olympics.

No. 11 - Koumba LARROQUE (FRA), 23-years-old (August 22, 1998)

Instagram - koumba_larroque

Back in 2015, Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) won the cadet world title. The following year, she won gold at Junior World Championships. The trend continued in 2017 when she was crowned U23 world champion and senior-level world bronze medalist at the age of 19 years. In 2018, she almost continued the streak by reaching the senior World Championships final in Budapest but an injury on the mat in the final stopped her.

Four years since that horrific knee injury, Larroque is back as one of the top wrestlers at 68kg. The Paris native qualified for the Tokyo Olympics by winning the European Qualifiers but she suffered a shock fall in the early rounds. But still on the road to recovery from that injury, Larroque is looking forward to Paris.

A two-time world medalist, in 2017 and 2018, France's big hope for a wrestling medal at home Olympics in Paris, Larroque won the U23 Worlds in Belgrade in 2021 to further confirm her return to the top level. She began her year with the Olympic qualification and followed that with the European Championships gold.

The new year will present Larroque with an opportunity to establish herself as the top wrestler at 68kg as Paris fast approaches.

#JapanWrestling

Ozaki Gets Best of Motoki in Showdown, Sets Up Final against Onishi

Saturday, May 23, 2026 - 09:10 By Ken Marantz

TOKYO (May 23) -- Nonoka OZAKI won her latest showdown with Paris Olympic champion Sakura MOTOKI, and this time there was no having to cut it close.

Ozaki broke open a close match in the second period, pulling away to an 8-2 victory to advance to the women’s 62kg final at the Meiji Cup All-Japan Invitational Championships on Saturday in Tokyo.

"I’m used to being patient before getting going, and in the second period I was able to seize the momentum,” Ozaki said.

The victory put Ozaki into Sunday’s final, where a victory over world 59kg champion Sakura ONISHI will secure her place on Japan’s team to both the Asian Games, to be hosted by Japan, and the World Championships.

Others advancing to their respective finals on the third day of the four-day tournament at Tokyo’s Komazawa Gym were Paris Olympic gold medalists Kotaro KIYOOKA at Freestyle 65kg, Akari FUJINAMI at women’s 57kg and Nao KUSAKA at Greco 77kg, along with Paris bronze medalist Yui SUSAKI at women’s 50kg.

The much-anticipated clash between Ozaki and Motoki was the feature match of the session, and came a round earlier than expected after Onishi upended Motoki 9-7 in their Nordic round-robin group opener.

After a staid first period in which the lone score was an activity point for Motoki, Ozaki stepped up her game and scored a quick takedown to start the second period. When Motoki tried to spin out of an underhook, Ozaki stopped her for 2.

Motoki kept that movement going and got behind for a 1-point reversal, only for Ozaki to stuff a roll attempt for a 2-point exposure to go up 6-2. Ozaki then got behind for a final takedown to complete a solid victory.

The last time they faced each other was in December at the Emperor’s Cup All-Japan Championships, which along with the Meiji Cup, serve as the qualifiers for this year’s Asian Games and World Championships. A victory at both means an automatic place on the Japan team; if the winners are different, a playoff is held between them.

Last December, Ozaki pulled off a late 3-3 victory in the final over Motoki, which earned her a ticket to last month’s Asian Championships, where she won her third career continental gold.

It also avenged a loss by the identical score at last year’s Meiji Cup, which Motoki followed up by beating Ozaki in 6-5 in a nail-biting playoff. With those wins, Motoki secured a ticket to the World Championships in Zagreb, where she won the gold medal.

“I didn’t want to have similar gap in scores like in the previous tournaments or have a one-point difference,” Ozaki said. “I wanted to win after building up a big lead.”

Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) reached the 65kg final and will take on Kaisei TANABE (JPN) for the gold medal. (Photo: wrestling-spirits.jp / Takeo Yabuki)

The other Paris medalists – Kiyooka, Fujinami, Kusaka and Susaki – were all Emperor’s Cup champions and can secure their Asian Games and world team spots without a playoff with victories in Sunday’s finals.

Kiyooka had his hands full in advancing to the Freestyle 65kg final with a 3-1 victory in the semifinals over 2024 world U23 silver medalist Kaiji OGINO.

Ogino was leading in the second period on criteria after each received an activity point, when Kiyooka launched an attack that sent Ogino reeling off the mat for a stepout, to which a fleeing point was added.

Kiyooka said that Ogino put up a defense that resembled that of rival Rahman AMOUDZAD (IRI), who lost to Kiyooka in the final in Paris but gained revenge by relegating him to the silver at the Zagreb Worlds.

“I really felt it as we were going at it,” Kiyooka said. “But being able to overcome that is a big step.”

In Sunday’s final, Kiyooka will face fellow Nippon Sports Science University alumnus Kaisei TANABE, who advanced with an 8-2 victory over world U23 silver medalist Takara SUDA.

Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) moved into the 57kg final after a 10-0 win over Sara NATAMI (JPN). (Photo: wrestling-spirits.jp / Takeo Yabuki)

Fujinami, still depending mostly on takedowns as she makes the physical adjustment to 57kg after winning the Paris gold at 53kg, cruised into the final with a 10-0 whitewash of Sara NATAMI.

With her second victory by technical superiority of the day, Fujinami extended her current win streak to 152 matches, dating back to her junior high school days.

In the final, she will face Sena NAGAMOTO, the Emperor’s Cup champion at 59kg who has made the bold move to drop down to 57kg and challenge the seemingly invincible Fujinami.

Nagamoto advanced with a 2-0 victory over Himeka TOKUHARA, who famously put Fujinami into the most danger of having her streak broken by nearly pinning her in the final at the Emperor's Cup, only for Fujinami to survive the predicament and rebound to beat her.

Kusaka looked to be cruising in his semifinal at Greco-Roman 77kg against Kodai SAKURABA, only to give up a 4-point throw from par terre in the second period. Still, the Zagreb silver medalist managed to hang for a 6-5 win.

In the gold-medal match, Kusaka will face Isami HORIKITA in a rematch of the Emperor’s Cup final.

Susaki encountered a slight blip in her 12-2 victory over Umi ITO in the women’s 50kg semifinals, which earned her a trip to the final against world U20 champion Rinka OGAWA.

Susaki led 2-0 late in the first period when she got stuck attempting a front headlock roll, giving Ito 2 points and the lead on criteria. But Susaki shook off the foible and piled up the points in the second period to finish off Ito.

At Freestyle 74kg, world champions Yoshinosuke AOYAGI and Kota TAKAHASHI both advanced to the final to set up a rematch of their high-level championship match at the Emperor’s Cup.

Aoyagi, who moved up to the Olympic weight after winning the world title at 70kg, won by fall over Ryoya YAMASHITA, while Takahashi, the reigning world champ at 74kg, eked out a 3-1 win over Hikaru TAKATA.

Yu KATSUME (JPN), 18, suffered her first-ever loss since July 2019. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

Future Prospect Katsume Falls Short

Earlier, at 50kg, highly touted high schooler Yu KATSUME made her long-awaited senior debut, but came up on the short end of a 3-1 decision in the quarterfinals to Morishita. Only a second-period go-behind takedown by Morishita separated the two, with each receiving an activity point.

“It was a match that I feel I could have won,” Katsume said. “I feel it’s not like I can’t compete here.”

The loss ended a remarkable winning streak for Katsume, the 2024 world U17 champion at 46kg who had not lost since she was in the fifth grade of elementary school back in July 2019. She had put up Susak and Fujinami-like numbers, winning 22 straight tournaments on various age group levels.

Katsume, who turned 18 earlier this month, was familiar with her opponent. She is a senior at the high school attached to Shigakkan University, which Morishita attends, and the teams practice together.

“We know each other styles, so I wasn’t sure how the match would go,” Katsume said. “I thought I could do it, but I didn’t do the attacking wrestling that I usually do.”

As for suffering a rare defeat, Katsume commented, “I’m the younger one, and I had never entered a senior tournament. My opponent had been to finals [on this level], so the pressure was on her. Looking at it that way, I thought I could win.”

UWW 25-Under-25: No. 11-No. 15

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Ozaki Gets Best of Motoki in Showdown, Sets Up Final against Onishi