#WrestleUfa

#WrestleUfa Junior World Championship Entries

By Eric Olanowski

UFA, Russia (August 12) --- After a 729-day layoff due to the worldwide pandemic, United World Wrestling will host the Junior World Championships for the first time since the '19 Tallinn Junior Worlds. 

Over 500 athletes from 52 different nations will compete in Ufa, Russia, August 16-22 for junior world gold. Freestyle kicks off the schedule of events next Monday, with women's wrestling and Greco-Roman action following.

Freestyle
57kg
Manvel KHNDZRTSYAN (ARM)
Nuraddin NOVRUZOV (AZE)
Kiryl PRAKOPAU (BLR)
Giorgi GEGELASHVILI (GEO)
Ioannis MARTIDIS (GRE)
Shubham SHUBHAM (IND)
Ali Abolfazl GHOLI ZADEGAN KOLOUKHI (IRI)
Simone Vincenzo PIRODDU (ITA)
Assylzhan YESSENGELDI (KAZ)
Abdymalik KARACHOV (KGZ)
Demian LIUTCANOV (MDA)
Dashtseren PURVEE (MGL)
Ramazan BAGAVUDINOV (RUS)
Hasintha Madhushika De Silva DUNUHINGA (SRI)
Thomas EPP (SUI)
Muhammet KARAVUS (TUR)
Richard FIGUEROA II (USA)

61kg
Levik MIKAYELYAN (ARM)
Abulfaz NASIROV (AZE)
Ivan HRAMYKA (BLR)
Alibeg ALIBEGOV (BRN)
Omar GAZASHVILI (GEO)
Ravinder RAVINDER (IND)
Rahman Mousa AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI)
Salamat MALIKOV (KAZ)
Aktan DOORONBEKOV (KGZ)
Pavel ANDRUSCA (MDA)
Battulga RAASH (MGL)
Bartosz Krzysztof SOLTYS (POL)
Fedor BALTUEV (RUS)
Lahiru Sumindya Fernando WANNAKU WATHTHA WADUGE (SRI)
Khairullo KULULOV (TJK)
Hamza ZOPALI (TUR)
Jesse Wayne MENDEZ (USA)

65kg
Davit MARGARYAN (ARM)
Ziraddin BAYRAMOV (AZE)
Anatoli HRAMYKA (BLR)
Lachlan Maurice MCNEIL (CAN)
Fathi Tarek Fathi Attia ISMAIL (EGY)
Giorgi TCHOLADZE (GEO)
Marcell BUDAI KOVACS (HUN)
Rohit ROHIT (IND)
Seyedhassan Seyedhossein EBADIMERMETI (IRI)
Bekzat YERMEKBAY (KAZ)
Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ)
Viljams LUTKEVICS (LAT)
Alin CIORICI (MDA)
Tugsjargal ERDENEBAT (MGL)
Piotr Patryk SOBOLEWSKI (POL)
Shamil MAMEDOV (RUS)
Mustafo AKHMEDOV (TJK)
Burak SININ (TUR)
Saif Mubarak Belal Saeed ALMESMARI (UAE)
Narek POHOSIAN (UKR)
Beau Reynald BARTLETT (USA)

70kg
Narek HARUTYUNYAN (ARM)
Benedikt HUBER (AUT)
Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE)
Mikita DZEMCHANKA (BLR)
Ivan Nikolaev STOYANOV (BUL)
Davit PATSINASHVILI (GEO)
Simon Jakob MONZ (GER)
Jonnathan Alejandro PEREZ CASTELLANOS (GUA)
Jaideep JAIDEEP (IND)
Erfan Mohammad ELAHI (IRI)
Asset BAUYRZHANOV (KAZ)
Alikhan ALISHER UULU (KGZ)
Stanislav NOVAC (MDA)
Stanislav SVINOBOEV (RUS)
Viktor Stiven VOINOVIC (SRB)
Anthony Chamoth Nethmina PETER COOREGE DON (SRI)
Kevin Gerry MAKOTA STROEM (SWE)
Jafarbek QURBONOV (TJK)
Mevlut OZDEMIR (TUR)
Bryce Parker ANDONIAN (USA)

74kg
Armen MUSIKYAN (ARM)
Joseph James Granich FALLON (AUS)
Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE)
David KISIYEU (BLR)
Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO)
Stas David WOLF (GER)
Balint BALAZS (HUN)
Yash YASH (IND)
Sobhan Hooshang YARI (IRI)
Nurdaulet KUANYSHBAY (KAZ)
Stambul ZHANYBEK UULU (KGZ)
Daniels BENDIKS (LAT)
Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL)
Patryk KOSTRZEWSKI (POL)
Krisztian BIRO (ROU)
Idar KHATANOV (RUS)
Ushan Nadishka MUTHUGAL PEDIGE (SRI)
Saidasan ASHRAFKHONOV (TJK)
Taner GARIP (TUR)
Keegan Daniel OTOOLE (USA)

79kg
Ashraf ASHIROV (AZE)
Dzmitry DZENISENIA (BLR)
Carson Barry LEE (CAN)
Saifeldin Shokry Mohamed Mahmoud ELKOUMY (EGY)
Bagrati GAGNIDZE (GEO)
Richard SCHROEDER (GER)
Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE)
Baliyan GOURAV (IND)
Mohammad Ashghar NOKHODILARIMI (IRI)
Makhambet NURZHAUBAYEV (KAZ)
Mukhammad ABDULLAEV (KGZ)
Osmans DZASEZEVS (LAT)
Lilian BALAN (MDA)
Munkhdavaa BAYARMUNKH (MGL)
Damian Daniel KORBUS (POL)
Arno VAN ZIJL (RSA)
Alik BADTIEV (RUS)
Jinuka Lankaja ABEYAGUNASEKARA (SRI)
Abubakr SHUKUROV (TJK)
Ismail KUCUKSOLAK (TUR)
Ruslan AKHMETKHANOV (UKR)
Donnell Russell WASHINGTON JR (USA)

86kg
Fateh BENFERDJALLAH (ALG)
Sagadulla AGAEV (AZE)
Ilya KHAMTSOU (BLR)
Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA)
Daviti KOGUASHVILI (GEO)
Joshua Philipp David MORODION (GER)
Cesar Andres UBICO ESTRADA (GUA)
Vetal Audumbar SHELKE (IND)
Amirhossein Biglar FIROUZPOURBANDPEI (IRI)
Islyambek ILYASSOV (KAZ)
Samatbek STANBEK UULU (KGZ)
Ion DEMIAN (MDA)
Temuujin MENDBILEG (MGL)
Islam KARTOEV (RUS)
Avindu Srilak WANNIARACHCHI (SRI)
Emre CIFTCI (TUR)
Colton Gregory HAWKS (USA)

92kg
Sergey SARGSYAN (ARM)
Abduljalil SHABANOV (AZE)
Uladzislau KAZLOU (BLR)
Juho Joel Eemeli RUUSILA (FIN)
Andro MARGISHVILI (GEO)
Johannes MAYER (GER)
Gkivi BLIATZE (GRE)
Krisztian Gabor ANGYAL (HUN)
Pruthviraj Babasaheb PATIL (IND)
Mahdi Moharamali HAJILOUEIANMORAFAH (IRI)
Bekzat URKIMBAY (KAZ)
Nurbolot ADYL UULU (KGZ)
Dmitrii DUSCOV (MDA)
Bayarbaatar NERGUIBAATAR (MGL)
Nicolaas Johannes Steyn DE LANGE (RSA)
Ivan KIRILLOV (RUS)
Sethusha Ruwel Vishmika Senanayake WADDUWA PALLIYA GURUNNANSELAGE DON (SRI)
Muhammed GIMRI (TUR)
Rocky Joseph ELAM (USA)
Mukhammadrasul RAKHIMOV (UZB)

97kg
Khasay YUSIFOV (AZE)
Aliaksei PARKHOMENKA (BLR)
Luka KHUTCHUA (GEO)
Charalampos AFTOFORIDIS (GRE)
Milan Andras KORCSOG (HUN)
Deepak DEEPAK (IND)
Ali Reza Abbasali ABDOLLAHI (IRI)
Yunus GAFUROV (KAZ)
Baiaman MYKTYBEKOV (KGZ)
Olegs ROMANOVSKIS (LAT)
Radu LEFTER (MDA)
Myagmarsuren AMARSANAA (MGL)
Soslan DZHAGAEV (RUS)
Polat POLATCI (TUR)
David MCHEDLIDZE (UKR)
Braxton James AMOS (USA)

125kg
Lyova GEVORGYAN (ARM)
Aydin AHMADOV (AZE)
Danila DANILOV (BLR)
Georgi Lyubomirov IVANOV (BUL)
Ahmed Mahmoud Elsayed Mohamed KHALIL (EGY)
Giorgi CHIKHRADZE (GEO)
Csaba UBORNYAK (HUN)
Kumar ANIRUDH (IND)
Ali Mohammadebrahim AKBARPOURKHORDOUNI (IRI)
Bekzat TAZHI (KAZ)
Arslanbek TURDUBEKOV (KGZ)
Batmagnai ENKHTUVSHIN (MGL)
Jakub CZERCZAK (POL)
Andrei BESTAEV (RUS)
Efe Anil AL (TUR)
Wyatt Avery HENDRICKSON (USA)


Greco-Roman
55kg
Garnik HOVHANNISYAN (ARM)
Elmir ALIYEV (AZE)
Artsiom KATSAR (BLR)
Denis Krasimirov DEMIROV (BUL)
Giorgi TOKHADZE (GEO)
Georgios SCARPELLO (GER)
Kumar ANUP (IND)
Amirreza Mohammadreza DEHBOZORGI (IRI)
Melkamu FETENE (ISR)
Iskhar KURBAYEV (KAZ)
Akyikat KULZHIGIT UULU (KGZ)
Kaspars BONDARENKO (LAT)
Snorre Harsem LUND (NOR)
Denis Florin MIHAI (ROU)
Pavel BELKIN (RUS)
Aslamdzhon AZIZOV (TJK)
Adem Burak UZUN (TUR)
Vasyl MYSHANYCH (UKR)
William Dennis SULLIVAN IV (USA)

60kg
Suren AGHAJANYAN (ARM)
Nihat Zahid MAMMADLI (AZE)
Hleb MAKARANKA (BLR)
Edmond Armen NAZARYAN (BUL)
Ahmed Fouad Fouad Hussein BAGHDOUDA (EGY)
Tino Tapio OJALA (FIN)
Pridon ABULADZE (GEO)
Vikas VIKAS (IND)
Saeid Morad Gholi ESMAEILI LEIVESI (IRI)
Abere FETENE (ISR)
Nursultan BAZARBAYEV (KAZ)
Baktiiar AKBERDIEV (KGZ)
Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA)
Arslanbek SALIMOV (POL)
Miguel Angelo LOUREIRO DOS SANTOS (POR)
Dinislam BAMMATOV (RUS)
Firuz MIRZORAJABOV (TJK)
Mert ILBARS (TUR)
Nicholas Pierce BOUZAKIS (USA)

63kg
Gevorg SUKIASYAN (ARM)
Ziya BABASHOV (AZE)
Maksim STUPAKEVICH (BLR)
Ilia Dimitrov MUSTAKOV (BUL)
Domagoj CELICEK (CRO)
Kasperi Kristian KAUHANEN (FIN)
Yanis Driss NIFRI (FRA)
Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO)
Ioannis PETKOS (GRE)
Anil ANIL (IND)
Iman Hossein Khoon MOHAMMADI (IRI)
Dias ASKERBAY (KAZ)
Omurzak TILEKABYLOV (KGZ)
Corneliu RUSU (MDA)
Mairbek SALIMOV (POL)
Manuel STOICA (ROU)
Said Khusein BAKAEV (RUS)
Niklas Jan Olov Pontus OEHLEN (SWE)
Ismail ORUCOGLU (TUR)
Oleg KHALILOV (UKR)
Chayse William Roy LAJOIE (USA)

67kg
Sahak HOVHANNISYAN (ARM)
Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE)
Uladzimir KARPIYEVICH (BLR)
Kristijan BOSNJAK (CRO)
Ekke Kou LEITHAM (EST)
Nestori Kalle Mikael MANNILA (FIN)
Gagik Mishai SNJOYAN (FRA)
Luka OCHIGAVA (GEO)
Aaron BELLSCHEIDT (GER)
Nikolaos KALAIDOPOULOS (GRE)
Carlos Valerio FUENTES PERALTA (GUA)
Adam POHILEC (HUN)
Deepak DEEPAK (IND)
Seyed Danial Seyed Shamsollah SOHRABI (IRI)
Shon NADORGIN (ISR)
Din Mukhamed KOSHKAR (KAZ)
Vilius SAVICKAS (LTU)
Kamil Aleksander CZARNECKI (POL)
Muslim IMADAEV (RUS)
Georgios Michalis BARBANOS (SWE)
Nozimjon SOBIROV (TJK)
Serhat KIRIK (TUR)
Marian HOLUBOVSKYI (UKR)
Dominic John DAMON (USA)

72kg
Shant KHACHATRYAN (ARM)
Matthias HAUTHALER (AUT)
Khasay HASANLI (AZE)
Andrei KAVALEUSKI (BLR)
Luka MALOBABIC (CRO)
Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO)
Samuel BELLSCHEIDT (GER)
Attila Tamas TOESMAGI (HUN)
Vikas VIKAS (IND)
Amir Ali ABDI (IRI)
Ariell SOSUNOV (ISR)
Abdiazim KARABAYEV (KAZ)
Yryskeldi MAKSATBEK UULU (KGZ)
Eimantas VILIMAS (LTU)
Diogo Alexandre FERREIRA CANILHAS (POR)
Evgenii BAIDUSOV (RUS)
Michael PORTMANN (SUI)
Sheroz OCHILOV (TJK)
Omer Can DOGAN (TUR)
Vladyslav YEVTUSHENKO (UKR)
Justus Rian SCOTT (USA)

77kg
Samvel GRIGORYAN (ARM)
Eljan MAMMADOV (AZE)
Aliaksei PIAKHOTA (BLR)
Marek VRBA (CZE)
Emad Ashraf Mohamed ABOUELATTA (EGY)
Robyn PAULBERG (EST)
Jonni Kunnari SARKKINEN (FIN)
Giorgi SHPETISHVILI (GEO)
Andreas VASILAKOPOULOS (GRE)
Krisztofer KLANYI (HUN)
Deepak DEEPAK (IND)
Mohammadhossein Rezaali AZARMDOKHT (IRI)
David ZHYTOMYRSKY (ISR)
Omar SATAYEV (KAZ)
Rassul ZHUNIS (KAZ)
Bakdaulet EGENBERDIEV (KGZ)
Alexandrin GUTU (MDA)
Exauce MUKUBU (NOR)
Konrad Lukasz KOZLOWSKI (POL)
Vasile Daniel COJOC (ROU)
Ravdan DZHUDZHINOV (RUS)
Aleksa ILIC (SRB)
Yuksel SARICICEK (TUR)
Matthew Arthur SINGLETON (USA)

82kg
Karen KHACHATRYAN (ARM)
Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE)
Mikhail KHACHATURAU (BLR)
Ondrej HAVELKA (CZE)
Fares Mohamed Abdelsattar GHALY (EGY)
Robin USPENSKI (EST)
Saba MAMALADZE (GEO)
Kevin GREMM (GER)
Dominik Andras MEZEI (HUN)
Ravi MALIK (IND)
Mohammad Aziz NAGHOUSI (IRI)
Azimkhon ABDALIYEV (KAZ)
Zhenish ZHUMABEKOV (KGZ)
Semion BREKKELI (MDA)
Marcel STERKENBURG (NED)
Adam Mateusz GARDZIOLA (POL)
Amirkhan TSECHOEV (RUS)
Samet YALDIRAN (TUR)
Mykyta ALIEKSIEIEV (UKR)
Jonathon Crag FAGEN (USA)

87kg
Fadi ROUABAH (ALG)
Vigen NAZARYAN (ARM)
Lachin VALIYEV (AZE)
Dzmitry SALAUYANAU (BLR)
Kristian LUKAC (CRO)
Kevin USPENSKI (EST)
Giorgi METREVELI (GEO)
Lucas Alexandros LAZOGIANIS (GER)
Patrik Janos MEZEI (HUN)
Sonu SONU (IND)
Ali Ramezanali ABEDIDARZI (IRI)
Maksat SAILAU (KAZ)
Nartu ABDURAKHMANOV (KGZ)
Gabriel LUPASCO (MDA)
Tyrone STERKENBURG (NED)
Mukhammad EVLOEV (RUS)
Mario VUKOVIC (SRB)
Algot Lennart Botvid KAELLMAN (SWE)
Tansel Can ORTUCU (TUR)
Oleksandr PRYMACHENKO (UKR)
Kodiak Gary STEPHENS (USA)

97kg
Hayk KHLOYAN (AZE)
Pavel HLINCHUK (BLR)
Vinko PRODANOVIC (CRO)
Richard KARELSON (EST)
Antti Henrik Juhani HAANPAEAE (FIN) 
Lasha TVILDIANI (GEO)
Anton Erich VIEWEG (GER)
Apostolos Panagiotis TSIOVOLOS (GRE)
Narinder CHEEMA (IND)
Morteza Rasoul ALGHOSI (IRI)
Yerzat YERLANOV (KAZ)
Arkyt OROZBEKOV (KGZ)
Ignas BUKAUSKAS (LTU)
Marcus WORREN (NOR)
Igor SHEPETUN (POL)
Aleksei MILESHIN (RUS)
Mustafa OLGUN (TUR)
Yurii DOROHAN (UKR)
Braxton James AMOS (USA)

125kg
Razmik KURDYAN (ARM)
Sarkhan MAMMADOV (AZE)
Mikita KAVALSKI (BLR)
Marcel ALBINI (CZE)
Mate GOKADZE (GEO)
Nikolaos NTOUNIAS (GRE)
Adolf BAZSO (HUN)
Parvesh PARVESH (IND)
Amirmohammad Mahdi BAYAT (IRI)
Assylbek ZHANIBEKULY (KAZ)
Erlan MANATBEKOV (KGZ)
Tomasz Jacek WAWRZYNCZYK (POL)
Armen CHOLOKIAN (RUS)
Muhammet Hamza BAKIR (TUR)
Mykhailo VYSHNYVETSKYI (UKR)
Luke Andrew LUFFMAN (USA)

Women's Wrestling
50kg
Gultakin SHIRINOVA (AZE)
Natallia VARAKINA (BLR)
Shaimaa Atef Barakat MOHAMED (EGY)
Simran SIMRAN (IND)
Ayazhan MARKASHEVA (KAZ)
Nazik MIRLAN KYZY (KGZ)
Enkhzul BATBAATAR (MGL)
Natalia Edyta WALCZAK (POL)
Georgiana Lavinia ANTUCA (ROU)
Viktoriia ALEKSANDROVA (RUS)
Ellen Inger Kristina OESTMAN (SWE)
Zehra DEMIRHAN (TUR)
Emily King SHILSON (USA)

53kg
Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE)
Aliaksandra BULAVA (BLR)
Pinki PINKI (IND)
Zeinep BAYANOVA (KAZ)
Aizhan SABYRBEK KYZY (KGZ)
Mihaela SAMOIL (MDA)
Otgontuya CHINBOLD (MGL)
Agata Paulina KAZIMIERCZAK (POL)
Beatrice Ionela FERENT (ROU)
Choigana TUMAT (RUS)
Chamodya Keshani MADURAVALAGE DON (SRI)
Emma Jonna Denise MALMGREN (SWE)
Emine CAKMAK (TUR)
Jaslynn Isabella GALLEGOS (USA)

55kg
Alesia HETMANAVA (BLR)
Antonia Alejandra VALDEZ ARRIAGADA (CHI)
Roza SZENTTAMASI (HUN)
Sito SITO (IND)
Sandugash DYUSSENGALIYEVA (KAZ)
Kalmira BILIMBEK KYZY (KGZ)
Munkhgerel MUNKHBAT (MGL)
Anne SVARSTAD (NOR)
Julia Wiktoria NOWICKA (POL)
Anastasiia IANDUSHKINA (RUS)
Melda DERNEKCI (TUR)
Payton Jane STROUD (USA)

57kg
Maryia HULIDA (BLR)
Mansi MANSI (IND)
Aurora RUSSO (ITA)
Nilufar RAIMOVA (KAZ)
Sezim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ)
Gantsetseg BATSUKH (MGL)
Jannicke Marie STROEMNES (NOR)
Patrycja Ewa STRZELCZYK (POL)
Anastasiia KOZLOVA (RUS)
Nethmi Ahinsa Fernando PORUTHOTAGE (SRI)
Nellie Anna Regina FLORENTIN (SWE)
Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR)
Claire Marie DICUGNO (USA)

59kg
Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE)
Aryna MARTYNAVA (BLR)
Jolie Donna Elizabeth BRISCO (CAN)
Anna Hella SZEL (HUN)
Kusum KUSUM (IND)
Madina AMAN (KAZ)
Bermet NURIDIN KYZY (KGZ)
Khongorzul BOLDSAIKHAN (MGL)
Aleksandra Weronika WITOS (POL)
Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (RUS)
Ebru DAGBASI (TUR)
Mia Kaur MACALUSO (USA)

62kg
Birgul SOLTANOVA (AZE)
Nadzeya BULANAYA (BLR)
Meiriele CHARAMBA SANTOS HORA (BRA)
Iva GERIC (CRO)
Luisa SCHEEL (GER)
Devi SANJU (IND)
Zhangul BOLD (KAZ)
Dilnaz SAZANOVA (KGZ)
Viktoria Miriam OEVERBY (NOR)
Paulina Malgorzata DANISZ (POL)
Alina KASABIEVA (RUS)
Yagmur CAKMAK (TUR)
Korina Alexis BLADES (USA)

65kg
Nigar MIRZAZADA (AZE)
Yana TRETSIAK (BLR)
Viktoria VESSO (EST)
Noémi SZABADOS (HUN)
Bhateri BHATERI (IND)
Ayazhan TOKTASH (KAZ)
Irina RINGACI (MDA)
Enkhjin TUVSHINJARGAL (MGL)
Ingrid Bergh SKARD (NOR)
Zuzanna WOLCZYNSKA (POL)
Amina Roxana CAPEZAN (ROU)
Valeriia TRIFONOVA (RUS)
Khadija JLASSI (TUN)
Seda BASGOL (TUR)
Alara Lea BOYD (USA)

68kg
Alina MIKLASHEUSKAYA (BLR)
Arju ARJU (IND)
Anastassiya PANASSOVICH (KAZ)
Karolina Gabriela KOZLOWSKA (POL)
Elizaveta PETLIAKOVA (RUS)
Zsuzsanna MOLNAR (SVK)
Nesrin BAS (TUR)
Amit ELOR (USA)

72kg
Kseniya PATAPOVICH (BLR)
Marta PAJULA (EST)
Lilly SCHNEIDER (GER)
Lili UJFALVI (HUN)
Saneh SANEH (IND)
Alexandra ZAITSEVA (KAZ)
Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ)
Tsogzolmaa DORJSUREN (MGL)
Daniela TKACHUK (POL)
Paula Aurelia Izabela ROTARU (ROU)
Mariam GUSEINOVA (RUS)
Nazar BATIR (TUR)
Kennedy Alexis BLADES (USA)

76kg
Kseniya DZIBUK (BLR)
Carla LERA CELDA (ESP)
Laura Celine KUEHN (GER)
Eleni PAPADOPOULOU (GRE)
Bipasha BIPASHA (IND)
Dilnaz MULKINOVA (KAZ)
Odbag ULZIIBAT (MGL)
Mariia SILINA (RUS)
Melisa SARITAC (TUR)
Kylie Renee WELKER (USA)

#WrestleAmman

Teenage stars power India to first team title

By Vinay Siwach

AMMAN, Jordan (August 18) -- Last year, ANTIM (IND) gave India its first gold in women's wrestling at U20 World Championships. A year later, it's apt that the history maker played a key role in another Indian first -- this time a maiden team title at a World Championships.

With seven medals in 10 weight classes, India won the team title with 140 points, beating powerhouse Japan which finished with 129 points and the United States which had 118 points at the U20 World Championships in Amman, Jordan.

Antim, a name that translates into final or last, defended her gold medal from Sofia in another dominating performance at 53kg. She was joined by SAVITA (IND) who won the gold at 62kg, Antim KUNDU (IND) won silver at 65kg and two bronze medalists Reena SANGWAN (IND) at 57kg and Harshita MOR (IND) at 72kg. Priya MALIK (IND) had won gold at 76kg and Arju LUHACH (IND) a bronze medal at 68kg on Thursday.

Indian women had won 13 medals in all U20 World Championships till 2019. But in the three editions since, including the current one in Amman, India has accumulated 19 medals including four gold medals.

The first of those four came in Sofia last year when Antim, a relatively unknown teenager on the circuit demolished the field to win the gold at 53kg. Coming into Amman as defending champion, Antim not only wanted to defend her gold, she wanted to prove a point.

"Despite the gold last year, many people had doubts if I would be able to do it again. So I wanted to repeat in style," Antim said.

Antim, a name her parents gave symbolizing the desire not to have any more girl children, came to Amman after a tough mental battle, fighting for her selection for the upcoming Asian Games and unwanted media attention.

But putting all that aside, Antim reached the 53kg final in Amman with a fall and two technical superiority wins on Thursday. Making the final from the other side of the bracket was Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) who secured three pins in three bouts.

Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR)Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) blocks an ANTIM (IND) attack during their 53kg final in Amman. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

As the 17-year-old steps on the mat, her short stature and childlike face may deceive her opponents. But a look at her resume only leaves them stunned or pinned. Before Friday, Yefremova was unbeaten in 31 bouts in eight tournaments and was going for the 32nd in the final and third age-group world title after two U17 titles.

The final in Amman began with Yefremova pacing her legs in the typical Japanese style adopted by many other countries. She tried gripping Antim's left hand and hoping to catch her left leg and get a cradle. Antim continuously snaps her down and builds forward pressure. Yefremova is quick to react and throws her legs backward every time Antim shoots.

Yefremova tries the left-hand grip again. In all three of her pins on Thursday, she used that grip to cradle her opponents and secure the fall. Antim, however, has already read that.

Forty seconds into the final, Antim shoots a double but Yefremova throws her legs back but Antim puts pressure on her head and gets the ankle, pulling Yefremova forward and scoring the takedown. As both wrestlers came to neutral, Antim went a little defensive. Yefremova got on a single-leg but Antim defended with a split before stepping over.

In the second period, Antim allowed Yefremova to catch her left biceps but caught her other hand so Yefremova cannot shoot for Antim's left leg for the cradle. Antim was warned once for passivity. With a minute left in the bout, Yefremova searched for options but looks out of sorts. A desperate low single from Yefremova was presumed by Antim who hit a counter and scored a takedown with 15 seconds on the clock.

Antim would celebrate with folded hands and a meek smile, not making a big deal of the feat she just achieved.

"I checked her bouts and she uses her grip on the left hand and throws the cradle," she said. "She did grip my left hand but I was aware of the move. Also, in the final, I wanted to keep myself away from injury. Every competition is important but there are senior-level competitions coming up so I needed to be safe."

The senior competitions for Antim include Asian Games in October and possibly World Championships in Belgrade. Less than a week from now, she will appear for a selection trial in India to book a ticket for her first World Championships.

For the Asian Games, two-time world bronze medalist Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) was India's direct entry but she injured her knee. Antim, who won a selection trial in which Phogat did not participate, replaced Phogat in the 53kg weight class. That also brought added responsibility for Antim.

"When I reached Amman, I had only one goal that I have to win gold again," she said. "I wanted to perform better than last year. The next day I came to know that I will be going to the Asian Games. So I felt that if I perform well in Amman, everyone will think that I am capable."

ANTIM (IND)ANTIM (IND) wrestles Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) in the 53kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Antim has been touted as Phogat's successor at 53kg as she ran her close at a domestic trial, losing 3-3. A month later, she won the U20 worlds. Phogat would beat Antim 7-0 in their second meeting but with Phogat out of action for more than 10 months, Antim objected to Phogat's direct entry for the Asian Games. That and the gold medal in Sofia put the focus on Antim as India's next big thing.

"Last year, no Indian wrestler had won a medal [in Sofia]," she said. "This year, one wrestler [Malik] had already won. That medal [in Sofia] changed my life. Everyone began talking about me and my prospect at the senior level. Before that medal, I had never won gold. I never imagined that I would ever run Vinesh so close [in the trial]. That close loss actually helped me gain confidence."

The stride in step and face beaming with pride after the gold was evidence of Antim believing that she belongs.

SAVITA (IND)SAVITA (IND) scores a takedown against Astrid MONTERO (VEN) in the 62kg final. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Savita too exudes of similar confidence as she won her third age-group world title and second in two weeks. The 17-year-old won the gold at the U17 Worlds in 2022 and 2023 and landed in Amman hoping to win her first U20 world gold.

She opened her campaign in Amman with a fall against Dunja LUKIC (SRB) and set up a quarterfinal against Suzu SASAKI (JPN) a wrestler she beat to win her first U17 world gold. Sasaki had expressed her desire to avenge that loss in Amman. Sasaki almost did it as she led 6-4 but struggled with her conditioning in the second period. Savita ultimately pinned Sasaki.

"I think the bout in Budapest for the gold was much tougher than this one," Savita said. "She grabbed my ankle and scored a few points but I went for the cradle and the fall."

In the final against Astrid MONTERO (VEN), Savita was relentless in her attacks and scored four takedowns and a stepout in the first period to lead 9-0. 20 seconds into the second period, Savita got a stepout and the win.

"I was very confident in the final," she said. "I kept low so I don't get hit for a four."

With instructions also coming from her academy back in Rohtak, Haryana, Savita stuck to basics and tried hitting her favorite move, the cradle. After the U17 and U20 teams, she will try to make the senior world team next week.

India could have added a third gold on Friday as Kundu wrestled in the 65kg final against Eniko ELEKES (HUN) but suffered a 9-2 defeat.

In the bronze medal bouts, Sangwan was hit for a big throw from Shugyla OMIRBEK (KAZ) in the final 10 seconds which was scored four by the referee, giving Omirbek a 6-5 win. India challenged the call and on review, it was awarded four points to Sangwan and only two points to Omirbek.

At 72kg, U20 Asian and 2022 U17 world champion Mor pinned Emilia CRECIUN (MDA) to claim the bronze, a medal she described as "disappointing."

On Thursday, Malik upgraded her silver from 2022 to gold with a 5-0 win over Laura KUEHN (GER). The two-time U17 world champion too will be in the trials for the World Championships.

The seventh medal for India was won by returning bronze medalist Luhach at 68kg after she beat Elif KURT (TUR) 8-1.

fh

RESULTS

53kg
GOLD: ANTIM (IND) df. Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR), 4-0

BRONZE: Xuejing LIANG (CHN) df. Polina LUKINA (AIN), 7-4
BRONZE: Gultakin SHIRINOVA (AZE) df. Katie GOMEZ (USA), 9-4

57kg
GOLD: Alina FILIPOVYCH (UKR) df. Ichika ARAI (JPN), 5-3

BRONZE: REENA (IND) df. Shugyla OMIRBEK (KAZ), 9-4
BRONZE: Gerda TEREK (HUN) df. Gabriela CROSS (CAN), 12-2

62kg
GOLD: SAVITA (IND) df. Astrid MONTERO (VEN), 10-0

BRONZE: Iryna BONDAR (UKR) df. Melanie JIMENEZ (MEX), 
BRONZE: Suzu SASAKI (JPN) df. Iris THIEBAUX (FRA), 10-0

65kg
GOLD: Eniko ELEKES (HUN) df. ANTIM (IND), 9-2

BRONZE: Kseniya TSIARENIA (AIN) df. Khadija JLASSI (TUN), via fall 
BRONZE: Maria PANTIRU (ROU) df. Ekaterina KOSHKINA (AIN), 14-4

72kg
GOLD: Amit ELOR (USA) df. Bukrenaz SERT (TUR), 11-0

BRONZE: Yuka FUJIKURA (JPN) df. Patrycja CUBER (POL),
BRONZE: HARSHITA (IND) df. Emilia CRECIUN (MDA), via fall

Greco-Roman Semifinals

55kg
GOLD: Iskhar KURBAYEV (KAZ) vs. Farid SADIKHLI (AZE)

SF 1: Iskhar KURBAYEV (KAZ) df. Nuristan SUIORKULOV (KGZ), 3-3
SF 2: Farid SADIKHLI (AZE) df. Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI), 9-0

63kg
GOLD: Zhantoro MIRZALIEV (KGZ) vs. Ahmadreza MOHSEN NEZHAD (IRI)

SF 1: Zhantoro MIRZALIEV (KGZ) df. Dinislam SAGITZHAN (KAZ), via fall (14-7)
SF 2: Ahmadreza MOHSEN NEZHAD (IRI) df. Komei SAWADA (JPN), 5-1

77kg
GOLD: Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI) vs. Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA)

SF 1: Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI) df. Tornike MIKELADZE (GEO), 3-1
SF 2: Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA) df. Erlan MARS UULU (KGZ), 7-3

87kg
GOLD: Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) vs. Abolfazl CHOUBANI (IRI)

SF 1: Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) df. Tourpal MAGAMADOV (FRA), 10-2
SF 2: Abolfazl CHOUBANI (IRI) df. Vigen NAZARYAN (ARM), 1-1

130kg
GOLD: Wenhao JIANG (CHN) vs. Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI)

SF 1: Wenhao JIANG (CHN) df. Achilleas CHRYSIDIS (GRE), 13-2
SF 2: Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) df. Fekry EISSA (EGY), 8-0