freestyle rankings, February, Snyder, Burroughs, Sadualev, Akgul, 2016

Gazimagomedov, Snyder Atop Freestyle Rankings Despite Losses in January

By William May

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY (February 2) – World champions Magomedrasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) and Kyle SNYDER (USA) fell to previously unranked wrestlers at the Yarygin Grand Prix in January but held onto their positions atop this month’s United World Wrestling freestyle rankings.

Gazimagomedov, the 70kg champion in Las Vegas, lost his opening bout at 74kg in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, to Kakhaber KHUBEZHTY (RUS) and was eliminated from the competition when the former world team member lost in the semifinals.

Snyder, meanwhile, advanced to the semifinals at 97kg before being stymied by Anzor BOLTUKAEV (RUS), who had been largely inactive internationally since winning the bronze medal at the 2013 world championships.

Gazimagomedov held onto his No.1 ranking at 70kg as he was wrestling up a category at 74kg while Snyder rebounded for a bronze medal at 97kg and was not challenged by any other world medalists, such as Abdusalam GADISOV (RUS), Khetag GAZUMOV (AZE) or Pavlo OLEYNIK (UKR).

Boltukaev, for his part, defeated London 2012 Olympic Games gold medalist Jakob VARNER (USA) in the Yarygin finale, and made one of the bigger leaps in the January rankings – going from unranked to No.10 at heavyweight.

The biggest move belongs to Nyurgun SKRYABIN (RUS), who went from unranked to No.7 at 61kg by pinning 2015 Ali Aliev champion Akhmed CHAKAEV (RUS) and prevailing over former junior European champion Imam ADZHIEV (RUS) in the Yarygin final.

Also at 61kg, Aleksander BOGOMOEV (RUS) and Vladimir DUBOV (BUL) both successfully tested the waters at 57kg – with Bogomoev winning in Krasnoyarsk and Dubov taking the Dan Kolov crown in Sofia.

At the other non-Olympic weight category of 70kg, Israil KASUMOV (RUS) moved down to 65kg for the Yarygin title, while Hassan YAZDANI CHARATI (IRI) earned a silver medal at 74kg in Paris and Evgeniy NEDEALKO (MDA) bagged the welterweight gold medal in Sofia.

The top six wrestlers in each weight category at the world championships were awarded the top six positions in September, but these rankings are already changing in the face of more recent performances.

The bulk of the rankings from No.7 to No.20 were determined, in part, by a wrestler’s performance in Las Vegas along with results in competition throughout 2015.

Wrestlers in the rankings are listed by name, country code, most notable or most recent result over the last 12 months, and their position in the previous rankings.

57kg – 2013 junior world champion Younes SARMASTIDIZAJI (IRI) won the Takhti Cup for a second year in a row to go from unranked to No.10, while two-time junior world bronze medalist Gadshimurad RASHIDOV (RUS) put a scare into Yarygin Grand Prix winner Aleksander BOGOMOEV (RUS) for No.11.

1. Vladimir KHINCHEGASHVILI (GEO) – World No.1 (1)
2. Hassan RAHIMI (IRI) – World No.2 (2)
3. Viktor LEBEDEV (RUS) – World No.3 (3)
4. Ismail MUSUKAEV (RUS) – GGP Final No.1 (4)
5. ERDENEBAT Bekhbayar (MGL) – GGP Final No.2 (5)
6. JONG Hak-Jin (PRK) – World No.5 (6)
7. Artas SANAA (KAZ) – World No.5 (7)
8. Yowlys BONNE RODRIGUEZ (CUB) – Pan American Games No.1 (8)
9. Georgi VANGELOV (BUL) – Dan Kolov No.3 (12)
10. Younes SARMASTIDIZAJI (IRI) – Takhti Cup No.1 (not ranked)
11. Gadshimurad RASHIDOV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.3 (nr)
12. Rustam AMPAR (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.2 (nr)
13. Asadulla LACHINOV (BLR) – World No.7 (11)
14. Artyom GEBEKOV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.3 (nr)
15. Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN) – Ziolkowski No.1 (9)
16. Zoheir EL OUARRAQE (FRA) – Ziolkowski No.3 (10)
17. Reza ATRABAGHARCHI (IRI) – Paris GP No.1 (nr_
18. Adama DIATTA (SEN) – All-African Games No.1 (16)
19. Sezer AKGUL (TUR) – European Games No.3 (17)
20. John PINEDA (CAN) – Dan Kolov No.3 (19)

61kg – Asian championships silver medalist Behnam EHSANPOOR (IRI) won the Takhti Cup and edged up to No.6, while Yarygin Grand Prix finalists Nyurgun SKRYABIN (RUS) and Imam ADZHIEV (RUS) join the rankings at No.7 and No.8, respectively.
 
1. Haji ALIEV (AZE) – World No.1 (1)
2. BATBOLD Nomin (MGL) – World No.2 (2)
3. Vladimir DUBOV (BUL) – World No.3 (4)
4. Aleksander BOGOMOEV (RUS) – European Games No.1 (7)
5. Vasyl SHUPTAR (UKR) – World No.3 (3)
6. Behnam EHSANPOOR (IRI) – Takhti Cup No.1 (10)
7. Nyurgun SKRYABIN (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.1 (nr)
8. Imam ADZHIEV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.2 (nr)
9. Masakazu KAMOI (JPN) – World No.5 (6)
10. Beka LOMTADZE (GEO) – European Games No.2 (8)
11. Akhmed CHAKAEV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.3 (nr)
12. Bajrang BAJRANG (IND) – World No.5 (7)
13. Dyamal OTARSULTANOV (RUS) – Yasar Dogu No.1 (13)
14. Iman SADEGHIKOUKANDEH (IRI) – Paris GP No.5 (15)
15. Daulet NIYAZBEKOV (KAZ) – GGP Final No.3 (12)
16. Murshid MUTALIMOV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.5 (16)
17. Volodya FRANGULYAN (ARM) – Medved Prizes No.1 (9)
18. Muenir Recep AKTAS (TUR) – Yasar Dogu No.2 (11)
19. Bekhan GOIGEREEV (RUS) – Medved Prizes No.2 (14)
20. Dimitar IVANOV (BUL) – Dan Kolov No.3 (nr)

65kg – Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL) and Franklin GOMEZ MATOS (PUR) each won Dan Kolov titles, at 70kg and 65kg, respectively, as Gadzhiev edges up to No.9 and Gomez joins the rankings at No.10.
 
1. Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) – World No.1 (1)
2. Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB) – World No.2 (2)
3. Sayed Ahmad MOHAMMADI (IRI) – World No.3 (3)
4. Togrul ASGAROV (AZE) – European Games No.1 (4)
5. Soslan RAMONOV (RUS) – World No.3 (5)
6. Magomed KURBANALIEV (RUS) – GGP Final (8)
7. GANZORIG Mandakhnaran (MGL) – Yarygin GP No.3 (6)
8. Ilyas BEKBULATOV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.5 (7)
9. Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL) – Dan Kolov No.1 (12)
10. Franklin GOMEZ MATOS (PUR) – Dan Kolov No.1 (nr)
11. Alibeggadzhi EMEEV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.3 (nr)
12. Borislav NOVACHKOV (BUL) – Dan Kolov No.2 (12)
13. Brent METCALF (USA) – Pan Am Games No.1 (10)
14. Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) – Paris GP No.5 (11)
15. George BUCUR (ROU) – Ziolkowski No.2 (9)
16. Masoud ESMAILPOUR (IRI) – Asia No.1 (14)
17. Logan STIEBER (USA) – GGP Final No.2 (15)
18. Mustafa KAYA (TUR) – European Games No.3 (17)
19. Joshgun AZIMOV (AZE) – Ali Aliev No.1 (18)
20. Meysam NASIRI (IRI) – Takhti Cup No.1 (nr)

70kg – Israil KASUMOV (RUS) won the Yarygin Grand Prix title over a tough field at 65kg to climb to No.5 in the rankings, while Evgheni NEDEALCO (MDA) won at 74kg in Sofia and junior world champion Hassan YAZDANI CHARATI (IRI) finished second at 74kg in Paris behind 2014 world bronze medalist Ali SHABANOV (BLR).

1. Magomedrasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) – World No.1 (1)
2. Hassan YAZDANI CHARATI (IRI) – World No.2 (2)
3. Yakup GOR (TUR) – World No.3 (3)
4. James GREEN (USA) – World No.3 (4)
5. Israil KASUMOV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.1 (7)
6. Bekzod ABDURAKHMANOV (UZB) – GGP Final No.1 (6)
7. Azamat NURIKOV (BLR) – Medved Prizes No.1 (5)
8. Evgheni NEDEALCO (MDA) – Dan Kolov No.1 (nr)
9. Miroslav KIROV (BUL) – Dan Kolov No.3 (8)
10. Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.1 (nr)
11. David TLASHADZE (GEO) – Kunaev Int’l No.1 (9)
12. Ruslan DIBIRGADZHIYEV (AZE) – European Games No.3 (10)
13. Khusey SUYUNCHEV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.2 (nr)
14. Rasul ARSANALIEV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.3 (nr)
15. Magomedkhabib KADIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) – Ali Aliev No.1 (11)
16. Khalil AMINOV (RUS) – Intercontinental Cup No.1 (12)
17. Evgeni ZHERBAEV (RUS) – Dmitri Korkin No.1 (13)
18. Georgi ZLATOV (BUL) – Dan Kolov No.3 (15)
19. Elaman DOGDURBEK UULU (KGZ) – Asia No.2 (16)
20. Ayad IBRAHIM (EGY) – African Games No.1 (nr)

74kg – 2012 junior world champ Zaur MAKIEV (RUS) emerged the victor over a field that featured world champions Denis TSARGUSH (RUS), Magomedrasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) and pre-tourney favorite Akhmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) to win the Yarygin crown and a No.14 in the rankings.

1. Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) – World No.1 (1)
2. Aniuar GEDUEV (RUS) – World No.3 (2)
3. PUREVJAV Unurbat (MGL) – World No.2 (3)
4. Narasingh YADAV (IND) – World No.3 (4)
5. Alireza GHASEMI (IRI) – Ziolkowski No.1 (5)
6. Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) – World No.5 (6)
7. Livan LOPEZ AZCUY (CUB) – Pan Am Games No.3 (7)
8. Jumber KVELASHVILI (GEO) – European Games No.3 (8)
9. Khetik TSABOLOV (RUS) – GGP Final No.3 (14)
10. Ali SHABANOV (BLR) – Paris GP No.1 (10)
11. Rashid KURBANOV (UZB) – Dan Kolov No.3 (11)
12. Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) – European Games No.2 (10)
13. Yabrail HASANOV (AZE) – GGP Final No.1 (13)
14. Zaur MAKIEV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.1 (nr)
15. Muslim DADAEV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.2 (nr)
16. Moustafa HOSSEINKHANI (IRI) – Takhti Cup No.1 (nr)
17. Akhmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.3 (14)
18. Kakhaber KHUBEZHTY (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.3 (nr)
19. Krystian BRZOZOWSKI (POL) – Dan Kolov No.2 (16)
20. Peyman YARAHMADI (IRI) – Takhti Cup No.3 (nr)

86kg – Shamil KUDIYAMAGOMEDOV (RUS), widely recognized in Russia as the top middleweight not named Abdulrashid, rolled to the Yarygin Grand Prix title to vault from No.11 to fifth in the rankings. London 2012 bronze medalist Ehsan LASHGARI (IRI) won the Takhti Cup to bound from 17th to No.9.

1. Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) – World No.1 (1)
2. Selim YASAR (TUR) – World No.2 (2)
3. Sandro AMINASHVILI (GEO) – World No.3 (4)
4. Alireza KARIMIMACHIANI (IRI) – World No.3 (3)
5. Shamil KUDIYAMAGOMEDOV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.1 (11)
6. Dauren KURUGLIEV (RUS) – Yarygin No.3 (10)
7. Magomedhadshi KHATIEV (AZE) – World No.5 (5)
8. Mikhail GANEV (BUL) – World No.5 (6)
9. Ehsan LASHGARI (IRI) – Takhti Cup No.1 (17)
10. Ibragim ALDATOV (UKR) – World No.7 (7)
11. Pedro CEBALLOS FUENTES (VEN) – World No.10 (8)
12. Reineris SALAS PEREZ (CUB) – Pan Am Games No.1 (9)
13. ORGODOL Uitumen (MGL) – Dan Kolov No.3 (12)
14. Aleksander GOSTIEV (AZE) – GGP Final No.1 (13)
15. Piotr IANULOV (MDA) – European Games No.2 (14)
16. Radoslaw MARCINKIEWICZ (POL) – European Games No.3 (15)
17. Arsenali MUSALALIEV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.2 (nr)
18. Nurmagomed GADZHIEV (AZE) – GGP Final No.2 (16)
19. Zbigniew BARANOWSKI (POL) – Dan Kolov No.2 (nr)
20. Istvan VEREB (HUN) – Paris GP No.2 (nr)

97kg – Radoslaw BARAN (POL), returning to competition after an early exit from the world championships in September, kicked off 2016 with a win at the Dan Kolov tourney for No.8 in the rankings.

1. Kyle SNYDER (USA) – World No.1 (1)
2. Abdusalam GADISOV (RUS) – World No.2 (2)
3. Khetag GAZUMOV (AZE) – World No.3 (3)
4. Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO) – GGP Final No.1 (4)
5. Pavlo OLIYNIK (UKR) – World No.3 (5)
6. Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE) – GGP Final No.2 (6)
7. Abbas TAHAN (IRI) – World No.5 (7)
8. Radoslaw BARAN (POL) – Dan Kolov No.1 (9)
9. Valeri ANDRIITSEV (UKR) – European Games No.3 (8)
10. Anzor BOLTUKAEV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.1 (nr)
11. Jakob VARNER (USA) – Yarygin GP No.2 (nr)
12. Jose DIAZ ROBERTTI (VEN) – Paris GP No.1 (14)
13. DORJKHAND Khuderbulga (MGL) – Paris GP No.2 (15)
14. Reza YAZDANI (IRI) – Takhti Cup No.1 (nr)
15. Magomed MUSAEV (KGZ) – Asia No.2 (10)
16. Khadshimourad GATSALOV (RUS) – World Military Games No.1 (11)
17. Adlan IBRAGIMOV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.3 (nr)
18. James BERGMAN (USA) – Schultz Memorial No.1 (nr)
19. Akhmed BATAEV (RUS) – Intercontinental Cup No.1 (18)
20. Mohamedhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI) – Asia No.1 (17) 

125kg – Parviz HADI (IRI) won the Takhti Cup crown to edge up to No.6 in the rankings followed by 2014 world silver medalist Komeil GHASEMI (IRI), who took the title at the Paris Grand Prix. Vladislav BAITSAEV (RUS) took the Yarygin crown to go from unranked to No.13.

1. Taha AKGUL (TUR) – World No.1 (1)
2. Jamalladin MAGOMEDOV (AZE) – World No.2 (2)
3. Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) – World No.3 (3)
4. Beylal MAKHOV (RUS) – World No.3 (4)
5. Levan BERIANIDZE (ARM) – World No.5 (5)
6. Parviz HADI (IRI) – Takhti Cup No.1 (7)
7. Komeil GHASEMI (IRI) – Paris GP No.1 (11)
8. JARGALSAIKHAN Chuluunbat (MGL) – Paris GP No.3 (6)
9. DENG Zhiwei (CHN) – Dan Kolov No.1 (16)
10. Aleksey SHEMAROV (BLR) – European Games No.2 (8)
11. Aiaal LAZAREV (KGZ) – Asia No.1 (9)
12. Muradin KUSHKHOV (RUS) – Ramzan Kadyrov No.1 (11)
13. Vladislav BAITSAEV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.1 (nr)
14. Anzor KHIRZIEV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.3 (nr)
15. Luis VIVENES (VEN) – Paris GP No.2 (nr)
16. Tervel DLAGNEV (USA) – Paris GP No.3 (nr)
17. David MODZMANASHVILI (GEO) – Medved Prizes No.1 (12)
18. Alen ZASEEV (UKR) – Medved Prizes No.2 (13)
19. Zachery REY (USA) – Pan Am Games No.1 (14)
20. Daulet SHABANBAY (KAZ) – Yasar Dogu No.3 (15)

61 کیلوگرم

1- حاجی علی اف (آذربایجان)- قهرمان جهان (1)

2- نومین باتبولد (مغولستان)- نفر دوم جهان (2)

3- ولادمیر دوبوف (بلغارستان)- نفر سوم جهان (4)

4- الکساندر بوگوموئف (روسیه)- قهرمان بازیهای اروپایی (7)

5- واسیل شوپتار (اوکراین)- نفر سوم جهان (3)

6- بهنام احسانپور (ایران)- قهرمان جام تختی (10)

7- نیورگون اسکریابین (روسیه)- قهرمان یاریگین (خارج از رنکینگ)

8- امام آجیف (روسیه)- نفر دوم یاریگین (خارج از رنکینگ)

9- ماساکازو کاموئی (ژاپن)- نفر پنجم جهان (6)

10- بکا لومتادزه (گرجستان)- نفر دوم بازیهای اروپایی (8)

11- احمد چاکایف (روسیه) – نفر سوم یاریگین (خارج از رنکینگ)

12- بارجانگ بارجانگ (هند)- نفر پنجم جهان (7)

13- جمال اوتارسلطانوف (روسیه)- قهرمان یاشاردوغو (13)

14- ایمان صادقی (ایران)- نفر دوم جایزه بزرگ باکو (15)

15- دولت نیازبکوف (قزاقستان)- نفر سوم جایزه بزرگ باکو (12)

16- مرشید موتالیموف (روسیه)- نفر پنجم یاریگین (16)

17- ولودیا فرانگولیان (ارمنستان)- قهرمان جام مدوید (9)

18- منیر رجب آکتاش (ترکیه)- نفر دوم یاشاردوغو (11)

19- بخان گویگریف (روسیه)- نفر دوم جام مدوید (14)

20- دیمیتار ایوانوف بلغارستان)- نفر سوم دان کلوف (خارج از رنکینگ)

 

65 کیلوگرم

1- فرانک چامیزو (ایتالیا)- قهرمان جهان (1)

2- اختیار نوروزاف (ازبکستان)- نفر دوم جهان (2)

3- سید احمد محمدی (ایران)- نفر سوم جهان (3)

4- طغرل عسگروف (آذربایجان)- قهرمان بازیهای اروپایی (5)

5- سوسلان رامونوف (روسیه)- نفر سوم جهان (4)

6- ماگومد قربان علی‌یف (روسیه)- قهرمان جایزه بزرگ باکو (8)

7- مانداخناران گانزوریگ (مغولستان)- نفر پنجم جهان (6)

8- الیاس بکبولاتوف (روسیه)- قهرمان جام یاریگین (7)

9- ماگومد مراد گاجیف (لهستان)- قهرمان یاشار دوغو (12)

10- فرانکلین گومز ماتوس (پورتوریکو)- قهرمان دان کلوف (خارج از رنکینگ)

11- آلیبگاجی امیف (روسیه)- نفر سوم یاریگین (خارج از رنکینگ)

12- بوریسلاو نواچکوف (بلغارستان)- نایب قهرمان دان کلوف (13)

13- برنت متکالف (آمریکا)- قهرمان پان آمریکن (10)

14- آوتاندیل کنتچادزه (گرجستان)- نفر نهم جهان (11)

15- گئورگ بوکور (رومانی)- نفر دوم زیلکوفسکی (9)

16 - مسعود اسماعیل پور (ایران)- قهرمان آسیا (14)

17- لوگان اشتیبر (آمریکا)- نفر دوم جایزه بزرگ باکو (15)

18- مصطفی کایا (ترکیه)- نفر سوم بازیهای اروپایی (17)

19- یوشگون عظیموف (آذربایجان)- قهرمان جام علی اف (18)

20- میثم نصیری (ایران)- قهرمان جام تختی (خارج از رنکینگ)

 

70 کیلوگرم

1- ماگومد رسول گازی ماگومداف (روسیه)- قهرمان جهان (1)

2- حسن یزدانی (ایران)- نفر دوم جهان (2)

3- یاکوب گور (ترکیه)- نفر سوم جهان (3)

4- جیمز گرین (آمریکا)- نفر سوم جهان (4)

5- اسرائیل کاسوموف (روسیه)- قهرمان جام کنایف (7)

6- بکزود عبدالرحمانوف (ازبکستان)- قهرمان جایزه بزرگ باکو (6)

7- عظمت نوریکوف (بلاروس)- قهرمان جام مدوید (5)

8- یوگنی ندیلکو (مولداوی)- قهرمان دان کلوف (خارج از رنکینگ)

9- میروسلاو کایروف (بلغارستان)- نفر سوم جام دان کلوف (6)

10- زائوربک سیداکوف (روسیه)- قهرمان یاریگین (خارج از رنکینگ)

11- دیوید تلاشادزه (گرجستان)- نفر هفتم جهان (9)

12- روسلان دیبیرگاجیف (آذربایجان)- نفر سوم بازیهای اروپایی (10)

13- خوسی سویونچف (روسیه)- نفر دوم یاریگین (خارج از رنکینگ)

14- رسول ارسان علی اف (نفر سوم یاریگین)- (خارج از رنکینگ)

15- ماگومد حبیب کادی ماگومداف (روسیه)- نفر اول جام علی اف (11)

16- خلیل امین اف (روسیه)- قهرمان جام بین قاره ای (12)

17- یوگنی ژربایف (روسیه)- قهرمان دمیتری کورکین (13)

18- گئورگی زلاتوف (بلغارستان) نفر سوم دان کلوف (15)

19- الامان دوگدوربک اولو (قرقیزستان)- نفر دوم آسیا (16)

20- آیاد ابراهیم (مصر)- قهرمان بازیهای آفریقا (خارج از رنکینگ)  

#WrestlePontevedra

Zhang twins continue growth with U20 Worlds golds

By Vinay Siwach

PONTEVEDRA, Spain (September 6) -- A year after winning the U17 continental titles, the Zhang twins are winning world titles together.

Yu ZHANG (CHN) won the 50kg gold medal on Thursday and cheered for her sister Jin who clinched the 53kg gold medal on Friday to give China the second gold medal in Women's Wrestling at the U20 World Championships in Pontevedra, Spain.

The twins, who turn 18 on September 26, dominated their matches on their way to gold with Jin winning her final in just a minute and five seconds over Carla JAUME SOLER (ESP), who is Spain's first wrestler to reach a World Championships at any level or style.

"I felt very nervous at the beginning, but after I came on the mat, I relaxed and I just showed my usual level," Zhang said.

Jin ZHANG (CHN)Jin ZHANG (CHN) pins Carla JAUME (ESP) in the 53kg final at the U20 World Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Zhang scored a takedown using a double-leg and kept Jaume on her back on the mat. Despite Jaume's efforts to avoid the fall, Zhang secured the fall by moving Jaume's head towards the center of the mat than going outside.

This was Zhang's second fall of the tournament while she had won her first two bouts via technical superiority. At the U20 Asian Championships in May, Zhang won two bouts via superiority and two via fall. However, Zhang said she was not satisfied with her performance on Thursday.

"I don’t think it reached the level I expected," she said. "There were some actions where I made a lot of mistakes. I have to go back and summarize them before practicing again."

The sisters have been exchanging notes about wrestling during the competition as they have done in previous competitions. Yu helped Zhang prepare for the final against Jaume.

"We sometimes participate in competitions together," she said. "We can learn from each other, tell yourself or her what shortcomings you have, and teach her how to practice some actions."

Hailing from Shuyang County, Suqian, Jiangsu, the Zhang sisters began wrestling in primary school. It was Yu who was picked by a coach of her school who picked her randomly to participate in the sports meet. Yu liked wrestling and continued her practice.

"When Yu was a child, she was selected by the coach of the city sports school because she was trying to participate in the sports meet," Zhang explained. "Then she started wrestling. Later, she gradually learned more about wrestling, and fell in love with wrestling."

Both have not disappointed so far, winning the U17 Asian golds, U20 Asian gold and bronze and now the U20 world title. Yu Zhang has won senior-level medals as well and continues to support Jin at competitions.

"We usually sit together and have a good chat about the good and bad aspects of our game," Yu Zhang said.

Jasmine ROBINSON (USA)Jasmine ROBINSON (USA) reacts after winning the 72kg final against Yuqi LIU (CHN). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Despite two gold medals, a silver and a bronze medal, China failed to finish on the podium in team rankings. It finished fourth with 99 points, two less than third-placed United States.

The race for the third spot came to the final match of the day as Jasmine ROBINSON (USA) and Yuqi LIU (CHN) clashed in the 72kg final and the winner would have helped its team finish third. The two were unmatched on Thursday, finishing their matches well before time.

Liu began the final with a double-leg takedown and tried a leg lace that she was not able to perform. She continued her attacks but Robinson used a whizzer to get four points. While the pin was not called, Robinson added four more points with a headlock but Liu rolled over for two points.

Just when it looked like Liu would come back in the final after scoring a go-behind to cut the lead to 9-6, Robinson scored exposure and held Liu to win the gold medal.

"My coaches told me to watch out for the leg lace and I am very proud that I did not give that up," Robinson said.

JapanJapan won the Women's Wrestling team title with 149 points. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostandin Andonov)

Japan returned to the top of Women's Wrestling rankings by winning the team title with 149 points. After a record-breaking 230 points in 2022, Japan lost its title to India last year. India finished second in Pontevedra with 130 points and the United States was third with 101 points.

After Sakura ONISHI (JPN) gold on Thursday, Japan added two more to its tally on Friday. Sokawa UCHIDA (JPN) continued her unbeaten international run, winning her third age-group world title. She won the U17 word titles in 2022 and 2023. Her 12-2 win to win gold against Bertha ROJAS (MEX) on Friday was her fourth technical superiority win of the tournament.

Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN)Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) celebrates after winning the 57kg final at the U20 World Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Uchida won the 57kg gold medal while the other was added by Anana IKEHATA (JPN) who won the gold medal at 65kg. 

Uchida, 18, gave no chance to Rojas in the final, using singles and doubles to score the points on takedowns. It was only in the last move that Uchida was turned over by Rojas for exposure and gave up two points.

"It was my first time competing in the U20 level," Uchida said. "I was feeling really nervous, but my excitement was stronger, I was glad that I was able to compete in my own way. It was a great competition, and I am happy to have won."

Comparing her three medals at the World Championships, Uchida picked the one from Friday being the best. "All of them are great, but this one is the best,"

A product of the JOC Elite Academy, Uchida has been trying hard to break into the senior team. However, her third-place finishes in Emperor's and Meiji Cups have not helped her earn that spot.

"This year I will do my best to win the Emperor's Cup," she said. "I'd like to try more types of fake attacks, transitions and tackle speed, and more. There are so many things we need to do. But on the other hand, if I improve on that, I definitely think I can win, so I want to work even harder."

Nana IKEHATA (JPN)Nana IKEHATA (JPN) defeated Beyza AKKUS (TUR) to win the 65kg gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Ikehata, a two-time age-group Asian champion, took more time to finish her 65kg final against Beyza AKKUS (TUR). She won the gold medal after beating Akkus 8-1.

After giving up a point for passivity, Ikehata scored a takedown using a snap and added one more before the break to lead 4-1. In the second period, Akkus showed some fake attacks on Ikehata who countered them and scored two more takedowns to win 8-1.

Continuing her incredible year, Iryna BONDAR (USA) added a U20 world title to her U23 European and Budapest Ranking Series gold medals. She defeated U20 Asian champion NITIKA (IND) 4-1 in the final.

Nitika initiated most attacks and even got various opportunities to score but Bondar had a solid defense and did not get a single point on her.

Bondar has two silver medals from the U23 World Championships and a bronze medal from the U20 Worlds. The gold medal on Friday was her first-ever title at the World Championships.

Nethmi AHINSA (SRI)Nethmi AHINSA (SRI), Sri Lanka's first-ever World Championships medalist in wrestling. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Sri Lanka history

Sri Lanka won its first-ever wrestling medal on the world stage after Nethmi AHINSA (SRI) won the bronze medal at 53kg against Valeryia MIKITSICH (AIN), 6-1. The win makes Ahinsa the first Sri Lanka wrestler to win a medal at any World Championships

Earlier in June, she won a bronze medal at the U20 Asian Championships, becoming the first Sri Lanka to win a medal at any championships in wrestling.

RESULTS

Women's Wrestling

53kg
GOLD: Jin ZHANG (CHN) df. Carla JAUME SOLER (ESP), via fall

BRONZE: Nethmi AHINSA (SRI) df. Valeryia MIKITSICH (AIN), 6-1
BRONZE: Saki YUMIYA (JPN) df. JYOTI (IND), 6-4

57kg
GOLD: Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) df. Bertha ROJAS CHAVEZ (MEX), 12-2

BRONZE: Marta HETMANAVA (AIN) df. Alina FILIPOVYCH (UKR), 6-1
BRONZE: NEHA (IND) df. Gerda TEREK (HUN), 10-8

62kg
GOLD: Iryna BONDAR (UKR) df. NITIKA (IND), 4-1

BRONZE: Melanie JIMENEZ (MEX) df. Hiunai HURBANOVA (AZE), via fall
BRONZE: Nagisa ITO (JPN) df. Selvi ILYASOGLU (TUR), 10-9

65kg
GOLD: Nana IKEHATA (JPN) df. Beyza AKKUS (TUR), 8-1

BRONZE: Margarita SALNAZARIAN (AIN) df. Yuliia PAKHNIUK (UKR), 8-5
BRONZE: Zaixue RUI (CHN) df. SARIKA (IND), 7-3

72kg
GOLD: Jasmine ROBINSON (USA) df. Yuqi LIU (CHN), via fall (11-6)

BRONZE: Elvira ERSSON (SWE) df. Iryna ZABLOTSKA (UKR), 7-1
BRONZE: Noemi OSVATH NAGY (HUN) df. Kristina BRATCHIKOVA (AIN), 9-0

Freestyle Semifinals

57kg
GOLD: Luke LILLEDAHL (USA) vs. Lev PAVLOV (AIN)

SF 1: Luke LILLEDAHL (USA) df. Hayko GASPARYAN (ARM), 4-1
SF 2: Lev PAVLOV (AIN) df. Luka GVINJILIA (GEO), 5-2

65kg
GOLD: Ali KHORRAMDEL (IRI) vs. Makoto HOSOKAWA (JPN)

SF 1: Ali KHORRAMDEL (IRI) df. Adam ARKHIEV (AIN), 6-4 
SF 2: Makoto HOSOKAWA (JPN) df. Bowen BASSETT (USA), 10-0

70kg
GOLD: Magomed BAITUKAEV (AIN) vs. Ryoya YAMASHITA (JPN)

SF 1: Magomed BAITUKAEV (AIN) df. Peter DUKE (USA), 5-5
SF 2: Ryoya YAMASHITA (JPN) df. Ali KARAMPOUR (IRI), 13-2

79kg
GOLD: Alp BEGENJOV (TKM) vs. Zackary RYDER (USA)

SF 1: Alp BEGENJOV (TKM) df. AMIT (IND), via fall (11-0)
SF 2: Zackary RYDER (USA) df. Said SAIDULOV (AIN), 6-3

97kg
GOLD: Khetag KARSANOV (AZE) vs. Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ)

SF 1: Khetag KARSANOV (AZE) df. Adam JAKSIK (SVK), via fall
SF 2: Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) df. Justin RADEMACHER (USA), 9-1