#ChinaOpen2018

World Champ Mukaida Helps Japan Jolt to Trio of China Open Golds

By Eric Olanowski

TAIYUAN, China (June 22) - World champion Mayu MuKAIDA (JPN), alongside YU MIYAHARA (JPN) and Yuzuru KUMANO (JPN) jolted Japan to a trio of China Open gold medals on the opening day of competition in Taiyuan’s Shanxi Sports Center. 

In the finals, Mukaida used a quartet of takedowns and a pushout with under ten seconds left to grab the 9-1 victory over China’s U23 world runner-up and Ivan Yarygin champion, ZHANG Qi.

Mukaida, who's only suffered two international losses since 2015 outscored her opponents 29-1 through her three matches on the day. When asked what worked for her this weekend, Mukaida said, "I just concentrated on one match at a time, and I was able to wrestle freely. I was able to do what I wanted." 

Yu Miyahara collected Japan's second gold medal of the night in a rematch of the Ivan Yarygin semifinals where she once again defeated Ekaterina POLESHCHUK (RUS). This time, it was for the 53kg China Open gold medal. Though the Russian wrestler improved on January’s 10-0 defeat, Miyahara’s double leg takedown and side headlock roll were good enough to claim the 4-1 victory. 

Yuzuru Kumano gave Japan their third and final gold medal from the first day of competition with a 9-3 thumping of Russia’s Veronika CHUMIKOVA in the 59kg gold-medal bout.

RONG Ningning (CHN) presented the host nation with their first gold medal after sticking Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (RUS) in the 57kg championship bout. “I felt very excited to win this gold medal. I brought glory to this Chinese team.”

After winning the Ivan Yarygin and Asian Championship at 59kg, Rong decided to move down to compete at 57kg. “The 2kg difference was not hard to make. It was just a few extra runs. But, I felt light. This is going to be my weight class moving forward to the Asian Games and the World Championships.” 

The final gold medal of the day went to Romania's Alina Emilia VUC. Vuc, the runner-up at the 2018 European Championships and Klippan Lady Open bronze medalist finally claimed the gold medal she’s been chasing all year with a 1-0 win over China’s ZHU Jiang.

50kg 
GOLD – Alina VUC (ROU) df. ZHU Jiang (CHN), 1-0 

BRONZE - Aktenge KEUNIMYAEVA (UZB) df. Dauletbike YAKHSHIMURATOVA (UZB), 3-1

53kg 
GOLD – YU MIYAHARA (JPN) df. Ekaterina POLESHCHUK (RUS), 4-1 

BRONZE – PANG Qianyu (CHN) df. LOU Lannuan (CHN), via fall 
BRONZE – LIU Yujiao (CHN) df. Mercedesz DENES (HUN), 10-0 

55kg 
GOLD – Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) df. ZHANG Qi (CHN), 9-1 

BRONZE – OH Hyemin (KOR) df. Ramona GALAMBOS (HUN) 
BRONZE – OUYANG Junling (CHN) df. Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR), 5-2

57kg
GOLD – RONG Ningning (CHN) df. Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (RUS), 5-0

BRONZE – UM Jieun (KOR) df. Kateryna ZHYDACHEVSKA (ROU), 3-3

BRONZE -  Tetyana KIT (UKR) df. Xingru PEI (CHN), via injury default 

59kg
GOLD – Yuzuru KUMANO (JPN) df. Veronika CHUMIKOVA (RUS), 9-3  

BRONZE – Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) df. WANG Yuan (CHN), 11-0 
BRONZE – ZHANG Yue (CHN) df. SUN Xinyuan (CHN), 8-6

#WrestleSamokov

U20 World Championships 2025 Women's Wrestling Live Blog

By Vinay Siwach

SAMOKOV, Bulgaria (August 19) -- The U20 World Championships enter day five with all Women's Wrestling action. The four weight classes in action are 55kg, 62kg, 65kg and 76kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 3 RESULTS

13:00: Everest LEYDECKER (USA) with her second 10-0 win of the day and this time it's at the expense of So TSUTSUI (JPN). Three takedowns and two lace turns for Leydecker in her technical superiority win. She will face Tuba DEMIR (TUR) in the 55kg semifinals.

12:50: YANGZHEN (CHN) with that strong Chinese gut-wrench to end Neevis  RODRIGUEZ (MEX) journey with a 10-0 win and reach semifinals at 62kg. She will face Shirin TAKEMOTO (JPN) who held on to a 5-2 win over Ekaterina RADYSHEVA (UWW).

12:45: Daniella NUGENT (USA) pulls off another close win! After trailing 6-5 and less than a minute left, Nugent scores takedown and then pins Saga SVENSSON (SRB) reach the semifinals at 65kg.

12:40: A huge double-leg and throw from Tuba DEMIR (TUR) for five points and as destroys Lilya COHEN (FRA) and wins her quarterfinals 11-0

12:35: Serbia has semifinalist in Women's Wrestling! Evelin UJHELJI (SRB) pins Sevinchoy POLVONOVA (UZB) and reaches the semifinals at 76kg.

12:30: Gerda TEREK (HUN), the European U20 champion at 55kg, has no answers to REENA (IND) who uses her power to score three takedowns in a 8-2 win and advance to the semifinals at 55kg.

12:22: PRIYA (IND) has no trouble in seeing off Diana TITOVA (UWW) with a 4-0 victory. A couple of takedowns in that win for the Indian.

12:08: Nadiia SOKOLOVSKA (UKR), the champion at European U20s, posted a controlled 5-2 win over European bronze medalist Elmira YASIN (TUR) and advance at 76kg.

11:50: Daniella NUGENT (USA) with one of those surviving wins. Mukhayyo NARZILLOEVA (UZB) scored a takedown and turn to lead but Nugent manages to keep the score 12-10 and win at 65kg.

11:35: REENA (IND), the Asian U20 and U23 champion, brings down returning silver medalist Khaliun BYAMBASUREN (MGL) 11-6 and advance to the quarterfinals at 55kg. Byambasuren did score a big four-pointer but Reena just more solid in her takedown finishes

11:25: Gerda TEREK (HUN), European U20 champion, with a first-period 11-0 technical superiority win over Amelia TOMALA (POL) at 55kg

11:15: Former world U20 champion Ayano MORO (JPN) is left in tears as she has a back injury in her bout against Diana TITOVA (UWW) who gets a 4-3 victory to book a quarterfinals against PRIYA (JPN)

11:00: Momoko KITADE (JPN) scores a stepout to lead 3-2 against Beyza AKKUS (TUR) in a bout which had only stepouts. Akkus can't find one more to win the bout and Kitade advances at 65kg

10:40: Tuba DEMIR (TUR) pins Jing HONG (CHN) and then Neevis RODRIGUEZ (MEX) gets the fall over ANJLI (IND) and win at 65kg.

10:35: Returning bronze medalist Naomi SIMON (USA) gets the fall over Rupinder JOHAL (CAN) at 76kg. Simon over powering Johal in that bout.

10:25: European U20 champion Nadiia SOKOLOVSKA (UKR) with a quick fall over Cancan LIU (CHN) at 76kg. In next match, former world U20 champion PRIYA (IND) leg laces Veronika NYIKOS (HUN) to win 10-0.

10:00: It will be all Women's Wrestling morning session in Samokov. 55kg, 62kg, 65kg and 76kg in action.