#WrestleAthens

World U17 Championships 2025: Day 4 Wrestling Highlights

Thursday, July 31, 2025 - 07:31 By Vinay Siwach

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ATHENS, Greece (July 31) -- The World U17 Championships enters day four with Women's Wrestling continuing in five more weight classes -- 40kg, 46kg, 53kg, 61kg and 69kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 3 RESULTS

The semifinals in Women's Wrestling will begin at 17:00 hours local time and the medal bouts at 18:00 hours.

13:37: MANISHA (IND) gets the fall over Cassandra GONZALES (USA) inside the first period and reaches the semifinals at 69kg. Sixth Indian wrestler to reach semifinals in Women's Wrestling in Athens. Four on Wednesday, all reached the final. Can YASHITA (IND) and MANISHA (IND) keep the record?

13:35: Miranda KAPANADZE (GEO) is into the semifinals at 69kg! She is the first Georgian to reach so far in Women's Wrestling. A win away from historic medal! She defeated Nadia KOCIA (POL), 7-1.

13:15: World U17 champion Tania FERNANDEZ (USA) and European U17 champion Zalina TOTROVA (UWW) in a battle and it is Fernandez who comes out on top. Leading 6-5, Totrova tries a chest wrap but gives up four points. Fernandez eventually wins 13-6 at 61kg and is back in the semifinals

13:10: A 6-5 lead for Epenesa ELISON (USA) in the 53kg quarterfinal against European U17 champion Mariia ZHYTOVOZ (HUN) and then hits a four-pointer to make it 10-5. Zhytovoz can't make a comeback and falls to Elison 12-7

13:05: Jaclyn BOUZAKIS (USA) hands India its third defeat inside five minutes! She kept countering Kasish GURJAR (IND) with whizzers and then got the cradle and 12-4 win at 46kg. Bouzakis looks good to upgrade her bronze to gold this year.

13:02: Make that two losses for India as Rinka OGAWA (JPN) defends a takedown attempt from SAARIKA (IND) and wins 4-2. India challenges, asking for a clean takedown but at no point did Ogawa's three points touch the mat. She wins 5-2.

13:00: Maria GKIKA (GRE), the hosts Greece's best hope for a medal here, beats Elanur BERBER (TUR) 12-2 and enters the 46kg semifinals.

12:55: Maisie ELLIOTT (USA) hands India it's first defeat of the day as she she beats Preeti YADAV (IND), 6-2, at 40kg. Three takedowns for Elliott to Yadav's one.

12:35: Taina FERNANDEZ (USA), returning world champion, with a 10-0 technical superiority win over Zichen DONG (CHN). Only a takedown in the first period but she rallies her gut wrenches in the second and wins with 43 seconds left out of the four minutes.

12:27: Mariia ZHYTOVOZ (HUN) with a fall as well at 53kg over Baktygul ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ). Zhytovoz has not made too many mistakes and is now in the quarterfinals.

12:25: Miranda KAPANADZE (GEO), Georgia's first-ever European U17 champion in WW, wins 7-2 over Natalie WOJCIECHOWSKI (CAN). She is looking to win a medal at the World Championships after missing out last year.

12:20: MANISHA (IND) pins Dilrabo DULLIEVA (UZB) at 69kg to continue the Indian juggernaut at the World U17 Championships in Women's Wrestling.

12:00: Epenesa ELISON (USA) is on a mission! She pins Maria VANDOULAKI VANDOULA (GRE) at 53kg. Nice cradle from Elison. Back to back wins for the U15 Pan-Am champ

11:45: World U17 bronze medalist Jaclyn Rose BOUZAKIS (USA) is so good! She catches Yuting YUAN (CHN) on different occasions and wins 7-4 at 46kg.  

11:30: India has been unbeaten today, with Kasish GURJAR (IND) at 46kg, YASHITA (IND) at 61kg and SAARIKA (IND) at 53kg all win their respective matches.

11:25: Mariia ZHYTOVOZ (HUN), European U17 champion, takes out Fatima BAYRAMOVA (AZE) at 53kg with a fall. Offense at it's best from Zhytovoz

11:20: Waka AWANO (JPN) with two four-point throws and she beats Asian U17 champion Zhaidar MUKAT (KAZ), 10-0 at 61kg. Awano's counter-attacks were too much for Mukat.

10:45: Jiaqing JIANG (CHN) rolls to a 12-3 win over Josefine WIDMANN (GER) at 53kg. Epenesa ELISON (USA) with some big doubles as she beats Kanita SPAHIJA (KOS) 12-0 at 53kg as well.

10:30: Welcome to day three of Women's Wrestling at the U17 World Championships. Action continues in 40kg, 46kg, 53kg, 61kg and 69kg.

#WrestleBudapest

Sharipov Sets His Sights on Dominating 125kg One Gold at a Time

Tuesday, July 14, 2026 - 21:01 By Vinay Siwach

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 14) -- Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) and Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) have just spent a couple of hours training on the eve the eve of Budapest Ranking Series. By the end of it, Sharipov has dictated the sparring. The 125kg wrestler clearly has edge over Tazhudinov due to his weight but he clearly looks more physically fit than his compatriot.

The two will step on the mat on Thursday at the Ranking Series tournament where medals will bring them vital ranking points for the World Championships. A year ago, Tazhudinov would have walked into any tournament as the favorite to win. In Budapest, that status has changed.

Sharipov, on the other hand, has quickly become the second best 125kg wrestler in the world and is the firm favorite to win gold on Thursday.

"I won the first ranking series and I want to repeat that result now in Budapest," Sharipov said.

After the official draw, Sharipov will open his campaign against Ulaanbaatar Open winner DINESH (IND) and a likely quarterfinal against Kazakhstan's young star Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ). European champion Giorgi MESHDESHVILI (AZE) will likely be the semifinal opponent.

Sharipov knows that a good run in Budapest will make him one of the favorites for the World Championships and more opponents will be keeping an eye on him. But the Asian silver medalist is waiting to get to his hands on Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI).

"As you said, I am now one of the leaders of this weight class so people are learning about me but I am ready," he said. "One of my tough opponents is Zare and when the World Championships comes closer, I will plan and find a way to wrestle him."

For Tazhudinov, it will be an opportunity to get a win back over Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ), who defeated the Bahrain wrestler at the Islamic Solidarity Games. Maintaining that he has fully recovered from his injuries, Tazhudinov is locked in for the tournament and later for the World Championships where he will look to win the title he lost last year.

"My goal is always the same. I come to win and this ranking series is not an exception. We have been through a good camp and the mat will show," Tazhudinov said. "I need to get 100 percent for the World Championships."