#WrestleZagreb

WATCH: 10 women's wrestling finals from Zagreb

By Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (February 9) -- The Zagreb Open marked the start of the 2023 season and some of the biggest names in women's wrestling took the mat. Japan returned to the ranking series after a gap of four years. China, the USA, Azerbaijan and other strong nations too sent their teams to the competition.

Here are the 10 women's wrestling finals from the Zagreb Open

50kg: GOLD - Jiang ZHU (CHN) vs. Yui SUSAKI (JPN) 

57kg: GOLD - Yongxin FENG (CHN) vs. Sae NANJO (JPN)

59kg: Round 2 • Yui SAKANO (JPN) vs. Anastasia NICHITA (MDA)

72kg: GOLD -  Skylar GROTE (USA) vs. Dalma CANEVA (ITA)

#UWWAwards

Muszukajev, Rosillo, Tosun tabbed Breakout Performers for 2023

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (December 15) — Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN), Bose TOSUN (TUR) and Gabriel ROSILLO (CUB) stunned the world with their performances in 2023 and have been named United World Wrestling’s Breakout Performances of the Year in Freestyle, Women’s Wrestling and Greco-Roman respectively.

Muszukajev was a two-time world bronze medalist before 2023 but orchestrated a stunning career turnaround with his performance in Belgrade. The 65kg weight saw Musukajev triumphantly seize the world title, overcoming defending champion Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) and reigning Olympic gold medalist Takuto OTOGURO (JPN). In a defining moment in Belgrade, Muszukajev became Hungary’s second-ever world champion, bringing an end to a 44-year freestyle world title drought dating back to 1979.

Perhaps the most shocking run to the world title in Belgrade was that of Bose TOSUN (TUR) who captured the 68kg gold in the field that had Irina RINGACI (MDA), Ami ISHII (JPN), Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL), Koumba LARROQUE (FRA), Feng ZHOU (CHN), Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ), among others. 

Tosun dominated her competition with five resounding victories, including three falls, solidifying her status alongside Yasemin ADAR (TUR) as Turkiye’s only women’s wrestling world champions.

Another top performance in Belgrade was by Gabriel ROSILLO (CUB) who defeated two world champions, Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) and Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM), in semifinal and final, transforming his 2019 ninth-place finish at the World Championships into a glorious 97kg gold medal.

A U20 world champion in 2019, Rosillo finished 13th at the Tokyo Olympics but has now made himself the top contender for the 97kg title in the Paris Olympics.