U23 World C'ships

Japan Sweeps Gold-Medal Matches on First Night of Women’s Freestyle

Thursday, November 23, 2017 - 21:26 By Taylor Miller

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BYDGOSZCZ, Poland – The Japanese women’s freestyle team went four-for-four in Thursday night’s U23 World Championship finals in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

Haruna OKUNO and Yuzuru KUMANO each won their second World gold medals of the year.

Senior World champion and 2016 Cadet World champion Okuno bested Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR) in the 55 kg finals with a 5-2 win.

The first takedown went to Kurachkina, but Okuno persisted and fought her way to five unanswered points and the third World gold medal of her young career.

Junior World champion Kumano also tallied her second World title of the year on Thursday, defeating 2014 Junior World champion Battsetseg ALTANTSETSEG (MGL).

Altantsetseg led at the break, 1-0. At the whistle, Kumano put the Mongolian to her back for four points and rolled right into a gut wrench. It was a lead that Altantseteg was unable to overcome. Kumano went on to win 6-1.

Points were flying at 63 kg, where Ayana GEMPEI (JPN) pulled out a last-second win over Braxton STONE (CAN), who was one of two finalists for Canada.

Now-four-time World medalist Stone held an 8-5 lead with 10 seconds left in the match. Forcing Stone toward the edge, Gempei threw the Canadian with a body lock for four points and an eventual 10-8 win.

At 75 kg, Yasuha MATSUYUKI (JPN) won with a technical fall over Gracelynn DOOGAN (CAN) in the second period. Matsuyuki’s offense proved to be too much as she fired off four takedowns en route World gold.

Finals results

55 kg
Gold - Haruna OKUNO (JPN) dec. Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR), 5-2
Bronze - Alina AKOBIIA (UKR) win by fall Bediha GUN (TUR)
Bronze - Nina MENKENOVA (RUS) dec. Simona PRICOB (ROU), 5-0

58 kg
Gold - Yuzuru KUMANO (JPN) dec. Battsetseg ALTANTSETSEG (MGL), 6-1
Bronze - Elin Johanna NILSSON (SWE) win by fall Xiaosen WANG (CHN)
Bronze - Tetyana KIT (UKR) dec. Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE), 3-1

63 kg
Gold - Ayana GEMPEI (JPN) dec. Braxton Rei STONE (CAN), 10-8
Bronze - Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) win by fall Tatiana SMOLIAK (RUS)
Bronze - Moa Lena Maria NYGREN (SWE) win by fall Luzie MANZKE (GER)

75 kg
Gold - Yasuha MATSUYUKI (JPN) tech. fall Gracelynn DOOGAN (CAN), 12-2
Bronze - Francy RAEDELT (GER) tech. fall Mabelkis CAPOTE PEREZ (CUB), 14-4
Bronze - Anastasiia SHUSTOVA (UKR) win by fall Pooja POOJA (IND)

 

#development

Four Coaches Graduate in Hungary Under Olympic Solidarity Programme

Monday, June 1, 2026 - 15:57 By United World Wrestling Press

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (June 1) -- Four wrestling coaches graduate from the University of Sport Science in Budapest and enrolled in the first-ever wrestling mentorship programme at KIMBA in collaboration with the Hungarian Wrestling Federation.

Carlos BARAHONA (ESA), Gilbert KABOCHE (KEN), Anuja MALLAWAAARACHCHI (SRI) and Raphael MULENGA (ZAM) gathered in Hungary for the Olympic Solidarity Coaches Scholarship Programme, focused on strengthening wrestling through education, mentorship, and scientific coaching methods.

The programme introduced a new mentorship initiative for scholarship participants and emphasized the importance of scientific coaching methods, youth development, and structured education systems. Organizers highlighted that coaches are central to building sustainable wrestling cultures in their countries.

A key programme that the coaches will be using, when they return to their countries, will be the UWW Academy’s “Wrestle4Fun," an initiative that provides accessible training resources for PE teachers and beginner coaches, including activities that require little or no equipment.

HungaryFrom left to right: Gabor FARKAS (HUN), Zach ERRETT, Deqa NIAMKEY, Tamas STERBENZ (HUN), Peter BACSA and Gergely BABSZKY (HUN).

UWW Development Director Deqa NIAMKEY and Education Manager Zach ERRETT met with the rector of the University of Sport Science of Budapest, Professor Dr. Tamás STERBENZ along with UWW Bureau Member Peter BACSA, Gabor FARKAS and Gergely BABSZKY, Hungary National Coaches and professors at the University in charge of the wrestling programme.

The discussion focused on the expansion of partnerships in sports science and wrestling education. The message from discussions showed that the future growth of wrestling depends on education, grassroots participation, scientific coaching, and international cooperation.

Following the meeting, the UWW Development Department agreed to continue the programme and to share the next intakes which will provide further educational opportunities for UWW community worldwide.

UWW thanks Olympic Solidarity for their unwavering support to the development of wrestling worldwide.