#WrestleIstanbul

World Paris Olympic Qualifier 2024 Entry List

By United World Wrestling Press

ISTANBUL, Turkiye (April 29) -- After the World Championships and four continental qualifiers, it all comes down to the last chance World OG Qualifier in Istanbul for the wrestlers hoping to earn a spot for the Paris Olympics.

The qualifier in Istanbul will offer 54 Olympic quotas in each of the six weight classes of the three styles. Every weight category offers three Paris Olympic spots -- one each to the two finalists and one to the winner of the playoff between the two bronze medalists.

Greco-Roman will kick off the competition on May 9 followed by Women's Wrestling and Freestyle finishing it on May 13. All details of the schedule can be found here -- World OG Qualifier Schedule

Freestyle

57kg
Georgi VANGELOV (BUL)
Darthe CAPELLAN (CAN)
Zhipeng JIANG (CHN)
Roland TAMBI (CMR)
Peter HAMMER CUDE (CRC)
Guesseppe REA VILLARROEL (ECU)
Levan METREVELI VARTANOV (ESP)
Ilman MUKHTAROV (FRA)
Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO)
Horst LEHR (GER)
Tsz Shing LEUNG (HKG)
AMAN (IND)
Alireza SARLAK (IRI)
Simone PIRODDU (ITA)
Rakhat KALZHAN (KAZ)
Sunggwon KIM (KOR)
Ben TARIK (MAR)
Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL)
Vladimir EGOROV (MKD)
Ali ABURUMAILA (PLE)
Chong HAN (PRK)
Razvan KOVACS (ROU)
Ibrahim BUNDUKA (SLE)
Thomas EPP (SUI)
Kabe MATJANOV (TKM)
Muhammet KARAVUS (TUR)
Andrii YATSENKO (UKR)
Spencer LEE (USA)

65kg
Niurgun SKRIABIN (AIN)
Islam DUDAEV (ALB)
Josh FAILAUGA (ASA)
Shannon HANNA (BAH)
Ayub MUSAEV (BEL)
Alibeg ALIBEGOV (BRN)
Mikyay NAIM (BUL)
Lachlan MCNEIL (CAN)
Baowen WEI (CHN)
Anthony WESLEY (CPV)
Joshua KRAMER (ECU)
Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA)
Junjun ASEBIAS (FSM)
Gibriel CHOW (GAM)
Andre CLARKE (GER)
Tsz Hei HEUNG (HKG)
Sujeet SUJEET (IND)
Joshua Stuart FINESILVER (ISR)
Adlan ASKAROV (KAZ)
Davies ORIWA (KEN)
Junsik YUN (KOR)
Maxim SACULTAN (MDA)
Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL)
Besir ALILI (MKD)
Lowe BINGHAM (NRU)
Muhammad ABDULLAH (PAK)
Abdullah ASSAF (PLE)
Cristian NICOLESCU (PLW)
Krzysztof BIENKOWSKI (POL)
Kwang Jin KIM (PRK)
Stefan Ionut COMAN (ROU)
Sahid Tejan KARGBO (SLE)
Nino LEUTERT (SUI)
Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK)
Jelaletdin SEYIDOV (TKM)
Ahmet DUMAN (TUR)
Abdullah TOPRAK (TUR)
Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR)
Zain RETHERFORD (USA)
Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB)
Ibrahim GUZAN (YEM)

74kg
Cherman VALIEV (ALB)
Hrayr ALIKHANYAN (ARM)
Simon MARCHL (AUT)
Ibragim VELIEV (BEL)
Khidir SAIPUDINOV (BRN)
Miroslav KIROV (BUL)
Stone LEWIS (CAN)
Michel DOLE BONDELE (CGO)
Yi LI (CHN)
Jacques MONTY (CMR)
Mohammad MOTTAGHINIA (ESP)
Erik REINBOK (EST)
Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA)
Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO)
Shamil USTAEV (GER)
Luis BARRIOS (HON)
Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN)
JAIDEEP (IND)
Mitchell FINESILVER (ISR)
Frank CHAMIZO (ITA)
Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ)
Mathayo MAHABILA (KEN)
Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ)
Byungmin GONG (KOR)
Egzon XHONI (KOS)
Vasile DIACON (MDA)
Raul PALACIOS (MEX)
Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL)
Rasul SHAPIEV (MKD)
Kamil RYBICKI (POL)
Sonny SANTIAGO (PUR)
Krisztian BIRO (ROU)
Malik Michael AMINE (SMR)
Tobias PORTMANN (SUI)
Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK)
Viktor RASSADIN (TJK)
Arslan AMANMYRADOV (TKM)
Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR)
Jamal ABDUL (UGA)
Vadym TSURKAN (UKR)
*Iman MAHDAVI (UWW)
Abdulkareem AL RABEDHI (YEM)

86kg
Arkadzi PAHASIAN (AIN)
Mushegh MKRTCHYAN (ARM)
Ariston BARTLEY (ASA)
Benjamin GREIL (AUT)
Pedro GONCALVES (BRA)
Magomed SHARIPOV (BRN)
Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL)
Peilong LI (CHN)
Taimuraz FRIEV NASKIDAEVA (ESP)
Aimar ANDRUSE (EST)
Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA)
Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO)
Lars SCHAEFLE (GER)
Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE)
Yip Cheuk YEUNG (HKG)
Patrik PUESPOEKI (HUN)
Deepak PUNIA (IND)
Uri KALASHNIKOV (ISR)
Aron CANEVA (ITA)
Atai IZABEKOV (KGZ)
Gwanuk KIM (KOR)
Ivars SAMUSONOKS (LAT)
Saad AMANDAR (MAR)
Georgii RUBAEV (MDA)
Noel TORRES (MEX)
Ahmad MAGOMEDOV (MKD)
Pool AMBROCIO (PER)
Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL)
Stefan REICHMUTH (SUI)
Boris MAKOEV (SVK)
Dovletmyrat ORAZGYLYJOV (TKM)
Osman GOCEN (TUR)
Ivan MASAKWE (UGA)
Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR)
Pedro CEBALLOS (VEN)

97kg
Sergey SARGSYAN (ARM)
Thomas BARNS (AUS)
Ahmed BATAEV (BUL)
Nishan Preet RANDHAWA (CAN)
Tuerxunbieke MUHEITE (CHN)
Cedric ABOSSOLO (CMR)
Maxwell LACEY (CRC)
Adlan VISKHANOV (FRA)
Babacarr MBOGE (GAM)
Erik Sven THIELE (GER)
Theodoros KYRIAKIDIS (GRE)
Vlagyiszlav BAJCAJEV (HUN)
DEEPAK (IND)
Benjamin HONIS (ITA)
Arash YOSHIDA (JPN)
Andrei ARONOV (KGZ)
Juhwan SEO (KOR)
Radu LEFTER (MDA)
Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL)
Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD)
Zbigniew BARANOWSKI (POL)
Georgian TRIPON (ROU)
Samuel SCHERRER (SUI)
Adam JAKSIK (SVK)
Shatlyk HEMELYAYEV (TKM)
Murazi MCHEDLIDZE (UKR)
Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB)
Cristian SARCO COLMENAREZ (VEN)

125kg
Paris KAREPI (ALB)
Lyova GEVORGYAN (ARM)
Johannes LUDESCHER (AUT)
Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN)
Georgi IVANOV (BUL)
BUHEEERDUN (CHN)
Jose CUBA VAZQUEZ (ESP)
Gennadij CUDINOVIC (GER)
Gino AVILA DILBERT (HON)
Daniel LIGETI (HUN)
SUMIT (IND)
Abraham CONYEDO (ITA)
Aaron JOHNSON (JAM)
Taiki YAMAMOTO (JPN)
Joel TUKAI (KEN)
Aiaal LAZAREV (KGZ)
Yeihyun JUNG (KOR)
Robert BARAN (POL)
Zyyamuhammet SAPAROV (TKM)
Oleksandr KHOTSIANIVSKYI (UKR)
Khasanboy RAKHIMOV (UZB)
Jose DIAZ ROBERTTI (VEN)

Selcuk CAN (TUR)Selcuk CAN (TUR) will look to win the Paris Olympic spot in Greco-Roman 67kg in front of the home crowd in Istanbul. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Greco-Roman

60kg
Hleb MAKARANKA (AIN)
Sadyk LALAEV (AIN)
Bajram SINA (ALB)
Gevorg GHARIBYAN (ARM)
Josh FAILAUGA (ASA)
Murad MAMMADOV (AZE)
Nedyalko PETROV (BUL)
Nikolai MOHAMMADI (DEN)
Daniel BOBILLO VIGIL (ESP)
Leo TUDEZCA (FRA)
Pridon ABULADZE (GEO)
Christopher KRAEMER (GER)
SUMIT (IND)
Melkamu FETENE (ISR)
Dahyun KIM (KOR)
Rayan HAWSAWI (KSA)
Aleksandrs JURKJANS (LAT)
Justas PETRAVICIUS (LTU)
Ismail ETTALIBI (MAR)
Alexis RODRIGUEZ (MEX)
Munkh Erdene BATKHUYAG (MGL)
Romio GOLIATH (NAM)
Michal Jacek TRACZ (POL)
Razvan ARNAUT (ROU)
Ibrahim BUNDUKA (SLE)
Georgij TIBILOV (SRB)
Virgil BICA (SWE)
Umit DURDYYEV (TKM)
Viktor PETRYK (UKR)
Dalton ROBERTS (USA)
*Jamal VALIZADEH (UWW)

67kg
Aliaksandr LIAVONCHYK (AIN)
Aslan VISAITOV (AIN)
Gjete PRENGA (ALB)
Abu AMAEV (BUL)
Ji LENG (CHN)
Dominik ETLINGER (CRO)
Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY)
Artur JEREMEJEV (EST)
Matias LIPASTI (FIN)
Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO)
Etienne KINSINGER (GER)
Krisztian Istvan VANCZA (HUN)
Muhammad ALIANSYAH (INA)
Ashu ASHU (IND)
Andrea SETTI (ITA)
Din Mukhamed KOSHKAR (KAZ)
Hansu RYU (KOR)
Ahmed BARAHMAH (KSA)
Adomas GRIGALIUNAS (LTU)
Valentin PETIC (MDA)
Haavard JOERGENSEN (NOR)
Nilton SOTO GARCIA (PER)
Mateusz BERNATEK (POL)
Yong Jin RO (PRK)
Mihai Radu MIHUT (ROU)
Sahid Tejan KARGBO (SLE)
Andreas VETSCH (SUI)
Niklas Jan Olov Pontus OEHLEN (SWE)
Begmyrat NOBATOV (TKM)
Selcuk CAN (TUR)
Ellis COLEMAN (USA)
Makhmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB)

77kg
Adlet TIULIUBAEV (AIN)
Tsimur BERDYIEU (AIN)
Kevin KUPI (ALB)
Joilson RAMOS (BRA)
Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL)
John YEATS (CAN)
Tongyu CHEN (CHN)
Antonio KAMENJASEVIC (CRO)
Oldrich VARGA (CZE)
Oliver KRUEGER (DEN)
Marcos SANCHEZ (ESP)
Johnny BUR (FRA)
Iuri LOMADZE (GEO)
Idris IBAEV (GER)
Georgios PREVOLARAKIS (GRE)
Zoltan LEVAI (HUN)
Vikas VIKAS (IND)
Riccardo ABBRESCIA (ITA)
Dowon LEE (KOR)
Hassan BARNAWI (KSA)
Paulius GALKINAS (LTU)
Alexandrin GUTU (MDA)
Emmanuel BENITEZ (MEX)
Per Anders KURE (NOR)
Kamil CZARNECKI (POL)
Jonathan VIRUET (PUR)
Ilie COJOCARI (ROU)
Viktor NEMES (SRB)
Fabio DIETSCHE (SUI)
Per Albin OLOFSSON (SWE)
Bazargeldi EZIMOV (TKM)
Volodymyr YAKOVLIEV (UKR)
Kamal BEY (USA)

87kg
Kiryl MASKEVICH (AIN)
Gevorg TADEVOSYAN (ARM)
Elias Lauofo VAOIFI (ASA)
Lukas STAUDACHER (AUT)
Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE)
Ioannis NARLIDIS (CAN)
Ivan HUKLEK (CRO)
Daniel GREGORICH (CUB)
Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN)
Raido LIITMAEE (EST)
Waltteri LATVALA (FIN)
Lasha GOBADZE (GEO)
Hannes WAGNER (GER)
Ilias PAGKALIDIS (GRE)
Ariel ALFONSO (HON)
Sunil KUMAR (IND)
Mirco MINGUZZI (ITA)
Soh SAKABE (JPN)
Azat SALIDINOV (KGZ)
Sanghyeok PARK (KOR)
Martynas NEMSEVICIUS (LTU)
Mihail BRADU (MDA)
Jose VARGAS (MEX)
Marcel STERKENBURG (NED)
Exauce MUKUBU (NOR)
Arkadiusz KULYNYCZ (POL)
Nicu OJOG (ROU)
Damian VON EUW (SUI)
Alex KESSIDIS (SWE)
Yhlas ABDURAZAKOV (TKM)
Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB)

97kg
Artur SARGSIAN (AIN)
Markus RAGGINGER (AUT)
Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE)
Kaloyan IVANOV (BUL)
Houzhi HAO (CHN)
Filip SMETKO (CRO)
Mathias BAK (DEN)
Richard KARELSON (EST)
Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN)
Lucas LAZOGIANIS (GER)
Michail IOSIFIDIS (GRE)
Alex Gergo SZOKE (HUN)
Nitesh NITESH (IND)
Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA)
Yuri NAKAZATO (JPN)
Iussuf MATSIYEV (KAZ)
Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ)
Ibrahim FALLATAH (KSA)
Badamdorj BALTMUNKH (MGL)
Tyrone STERKENBURG (NED)
Felix BALDAUF (NOR)
Tadeusz MICHALIK (POL)
Mihail KAJAIA (SRB)
Ramon BETSCHART (SUI)
Aleksandar STJEPANETIC (SWE)
Amanberdi AGAMAMMEDOV (TKM)
Metehan BASAR (TUR)
Vladlen KOZLIUK (UKR)

130kg
Pavel HLINCHUK (AIN)
David OVASAPYAN (ARM)
Daniel GASTL (AUT)
Sabah SHARIATI (AZE)
Heiki NABI (EST)
Matti KUOSMANEN (FIN)
Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO)
Nikolaos NTOUNIAS (GRE)
Darius VITEK (HUN)
Naveen NAVEEN (IND)
Sota OKUMURA (JPN)
Roman KIM (KGZ)
Mantas KNYSTAUTAS (LTU)
Oskar MARVIK (NOR)
Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL)
Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU)
Boris PETRUSIC (SRB)
Eduard BABENOSHEV (TJK)
Aybegshazada KURRAYEV (TKM)
Mykhailo VYSHNYVETSKYI (UKR)
Moises PEREZ (VEN)

Mariya STADNIK (AZE)Four-time Olympic medalist Mariya STADNIK (AZE) will wrestle in Istanbul for a Paris spot in 50kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Women's Wrestling

50kg
Viyaleta REBIKAVA (AIN)
Mariya STADNIK (AZE)
Kamila BARBOSA (BRA)
Miglena SELISHKA (BUL)
Geneviève MORRISON (CAN)
Rosine NTSA ASSOUGA (CMR)
Jacqueline MOLLOCANA (ECU)
Aintzane GORRIA GONI (ESP)
Julie SABATIE (FRA)
Anastasia BLAYVAS (GER)
Marina KARAPANAGIOTIDOU (GRE)
Emanuela LIUZZI (ITA)
Laura GANIKYZY (KAZ)
Emma WANGILA (KEN)
Miran CHEON (KOR)
Gabija DILYTE (LTU)
Mariana DIAZ MUNOZ (MEX)
Miesinnei GENESIS (NGR)
Yorlenis MORAN (PAN)
Anna LUKASIAK (POL)
Son Hyang KIM (PRK)
Beatrice FERENT (ROU)
Nipuni WASANA (SRI)
Svenja JUNGO (SUI)
Meng Hsuan HSIEH (TPE)
Thi Xuan NGUYEN (VIE)
 
53kg
Oleksandra KOGUT (AUT)
Gultakin SHIRINOVA (AZE)
Sabrina GAMA TAPAJOS (BRA)
Irena BINKOVA (BUL)
Karla GODINEZ (CAN)
Nogona BAKAYOKO (CIV)
Miriam NGOE WASE (CMR)
Laura HERIN AVILA (CUB)
Maria BAEZ DILONE (ESP)
Tatiana DEBIEN (FRA)
Annika WENDLE (GER)
Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE)
Sztalvira ORSOS (HUN)
Fabiana RINELLA (ITA)
Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ)
Aruuke KADYRBEK KYZY (KGZ)
Seoyoung PARK (KOR)
Zineb ECH CHABKI (MAR)
Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA)
Zeltzin HERNANDEZ (MEX)
Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL)
Veronika RJABOVOLOVA (MKD)
Yusneiry AGRAZAL WEST (PAN)
Jowita WRZESIEN (POL)
Nethmi AHINSA (SRI)
Zeynep YETGIL (TUR)
Mariia VYNNYK (UKR)
Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB)
Thi My Trang NGUYEN (VIE)

57kg
Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (AIN)
Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE)
Giullia PENALBER (BRA)
Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL)
Yaynelis SANZ (CUB)
Graciela SANCHEZ (ESP)
Mathilde RIVIERE (FRA)
Ramona GALAMBOS (HUN)
Aurora RUSSO (ITA)
Laura ALMAGANBETOVA (KAZ)
Sezim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ)
Youngjin KWON (KOR)
Zineb HASSOUNE (MAR)
Alma VALENCIA (MEX)
Khongorzul BOLDSAIKHAN (MGL)
Marija CVETANOVA (MKD)
Ester ABRAHAM (NAM)
Othelie HOEIE (NOR)
In Sun JONG (PRK)
Kateryna ZHYDACHEVSKA (ROU)
Evelina HULTHEN (SWE)
Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR)
Alina HRUSHYNA AKOBIIA (UKR)
Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB)

62kg
Veranika IVANOVA (AIN)
Nachi MASUDA (AUS)
Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE)
Lais NUNES (BRA)
Yaru WU (CHN)
Lydia PEREZ (ESP)
Ameline DOUARRE (FRA)
Mansi MANSI (IND)
Elena ESPOSITO (ITA)
Irina KUZNETSOVA (KAZ)
Hanbit LEE (KOR)
Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (LAT)
Mariana CHERDIVARA (MDA)
Melanie JIMENEZ (MEX)
Arian CARPIO (PHI)
Natalia KUBATY (POL)
Kriszta INCZE (ROU)
Annatina LIPPUNER (SUI)
Sara LINDBORG (SWE)
Nesrin BAS (TUR)
Astrid MONTERO (VEN)

68kg
Alina SHAUCHUK (AIN)
Albina DRAZHI (ALB)
Elis MANOLOVA (AZE)
Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL)
Linda MORAIS (CAN)
Qian JIANG (CHN)
Blandine NGIRI (CMR)
Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE)
Noémi SZABADOS (HUN)
Nisha NISHA (IND)
Ilana KRATYSH (ISR)
Dalma CANEVA (ITA)
Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ)
Ohyoung HA (KOR)
Elma ZEIDLERE (LAT)
Danute DOMIKAITYTE (LTU)
Ambar GARNICA (MEX)
Uilau TARKONG (PLW)
Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU)
Zsuzsanna MOLNAR (SVK)
Tindra SJOEBERG (SWE)
Alina BEREZHNA (UKR)
Nabira ESENBAEVA (UZB) 

76kg
Rita TALISMANOVA (AIN)
Anastasiya ZIMIANKOVA (AIN)
Annie ALOISIO (ASA)
Martina KUENZ (AUT)
Yuliana YANEVA (BUL)
Amy YOUIN (CIV)
Samar HAMZA (EGY)
Epp MAE (EST)
Pauline LECARPENTIER (FRA)
Francy RAEDELT (GER)
Agoro PAPAVASILEIOU (GRE)
Enrica RINALDI (ITA)
Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ)
Eunju HWANG (KOR)
Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU)
Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL)
Patrycja SPERKA (POL)
Catalina AXENTE (ROU)
Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE)
Anastasiia SHUSTOVA (UKR)
Maria ACOSTA (VEN)

Iman MAHDAVI and Jamil VALIZADEH are part of the refugee and will be eligible for qualification in Istanbul as both are already qualified as part of the IOC Refugee Team for the Paris 2024. 

#WrestleIstanbul

Saori Yoshida's niece Chisato wins U17 world gold

By Vinay Siwach

ISTANBUL (August 3) -- With lessons from last year's loss and advice from 13-time world and three-time Olympic champion Saori YOSHIDA (JPN) -- and her aunt, no less -- Chisato YOSHIDA (JPN) won her first U17 world title in Istanbul, Turkiye on Thursday.

She was one of the three champions Japan crowned as it continues to dominate Women's Wrestling in all competitions. The United States won the remaining two finals as the first five gold medals were awarded in Istanbul.

Yoshida, who suffered a 3-1 loss to HARSHITA (IND) at 69kg in Rome last year, changed her tactics this year and upgraded her silver medal to gold.

"I'm going to fight until the very end and score a clean win," Yoshida was quoted as saying after her silver medal in Rome.

In the 65kg final on Thursday, Yoshida did leave it late but managed to win clean against Duygu GEN (TUR). She opted for a desperate slide-by in the final 15 seconds to score the match-winning takedown.

The 16-year-old from the Aichi Prefecture led 1-0 at the break as Gen was called for her inactivity but the Turkish wrestler got the 1-1 criteria lead after Yoshida was warned of the same in the second period. But Yoshida remained calm and scored a slide-by takedown to lead 3-1 before trying to arm-bar Gen which gave her two more points and a 5-1 win.

Yoshida, who stands at just 1.53 meters, celebrated her win by jumping around perhaps overcoming her loss from a year ago.

The daughter of Saori's elder brother Hidetoshi, Yoshida has been training since she was two years old and like Saori, she began training at the wrestling school her late grandfather Eikatsu founded in central Japan's Mie Prefecture.

Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN)Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) defended her 57kg gold medal by beating Eylem ENGIN (TUR). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Joining Yoshida on the top of the podium was Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) who defended her gold medal at 57kg in a similar run as she had in Rome. She had outscored her opponents 30-0 in four bouts in Rome and in Istanbul, she outscored her opponents 48-4 with only NEHA (IND) able to score on her.

While the host country Turkiye was hoping for an upset and win for Eylem ENGIN (TUR), Uchida was in no mood to grant that wish. She went to work from the first whistle and scored her first takedown using an outside single. She repeated the sequence with another single to her left and tried to get hold of the arm for the pin. But she managed only a takedown before transitioning into a leg lace to extend her lead 6-0.

With a minute and 32 seconds remaining on the clock, Yoshida completed her 10-0 win over Engin and added a second world title to her name.

Rinka OGAWA (JPN)Rinka OGAWA (JPN) locked Sviatlana KATENKA (AIN) a leg-lace and won the 49kg final 11-0. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

The third gold medal for Japan was won by Rinka OGAWA (JPN) at 49kg as she humbled two-time U17 European champion Sviatlana KATENKA (AIN) in the final. She needed only a minute and 36 seconds to claim the gold.

Katenka was warned for her passivity and while was trying to evade Ogawa's underhooks, Ogawa came out with a strong snap and scored her first takedown. She then locked up Katenka in a leg lace and finished the bout with four turns.

Morgan TURNER (USA)Morgan TURNER (USA) celebrates after scoring in the final seconds against Mona EZAKA (JPN) to win the 43kg gold medal. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

U.S wins 2 golds

Japan had the chance to have four world champions on Thursday but Morgan TURNER (USA) pulled off a clutch win at 43kg to deny Japan the gold medal.

Turner, who is a U17 Pan-Am champion from 2021, scored an exposure in the dying seconds of the final to beat the clock and Mona EZAKA (JPN) who left the mat in tears.

"I have been waiting for this since winning the world team trials so like six months," Turner said. "But I still want to win the Olympics. I don't want to be known only as the U17 world champ."

While the final was frantic in the second period, it began on a very slow note in the first as Ezaka was called passive and Turner got the first point on the board. Ezaka took the 1-1 criteria lead for Turner's passivity despite the American's effort to score a point in the activity period.

Turner kept her attacks going and in one sequence pushed Ezaka to the danger zone but the Japanese wrestler snuck out to score a stepout and lead 2-1.

"I had to be low because she was shorter than me," she said explaining her strategy for the final. "I knew I had to push the pace of the match."

The 16-year-old then went for a final attempt and tried a go-behind before switching to an arm-bar, turning Ezaka's shoulders more than 90 degrees and scoring two points. The officials did not score the points initially but the United States challenged and on review, two points were awarded to Turner, making her a 3-2 winner and a world champion.

"I knew I had to keep wrestling, keep pushing no matter the circumstances," she said. "She [Ezaka] is a great competitor. They train very well and I don't see any team like Japan. I don't think I will endure a practice like they do."

Turner's win over Ezaka, who lost her second straight U17 Worlds final, was the first time since 2015 that a wrestler from the U.S. managed to beat a Japanese wrestler, on the seventh attempt, in a gold medal bout.

Piper FOWLER (USA)Piper FOWLER (USA) defeated Lotta ENGLICH (GER) in the 73kg final to win the U17 World Championships gold. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Though she did not beat a Japanese wrestler in the final, Piper FOWLER (USA) defeated returning bronze medalist Lotta ENGLICH (GER) to win the gold medal at 73kg, marking the first time an American wrestler has won the highest weight class at this age-group.

"It's always been a dream of mine [to win world title]," Fowler said. "It's hard work and you have to have confidence in yourself to be able to win big tournaments."

In the final, Fowler got the advantage as she was the aggressor and Englich was put on the activity clock. After being 1-0 up, Fowler countered an Englich attack by getting on a double-leg before going head-outside for a takedown. That gave her a 3-0 lead at the break

In the second period, Fowler planted her underhooks each time Englich tried going for attacks. While that put her on that activity clock late in the bout, she scored exposure from a cradle two seconds before the clock expired and extended her lead to 5-0. Englich scored a counter exposure but it was too little too late as Fowler won 5-2 to give the United States its second gold of Women's Wrestling.

On Wednesday, Fowler had defeated Ako UCHIYAMA (JPN) 6-0 in the opening bout, Laia HORTA (ESP) 13-0 in the quarterfinals and Aliaksandra KAZLOVA (AIN) 10-2 to reach the final against Englich who was trying to become only the third female from Germany to win a U17 world title.

"It was a hard match," she said. "I knew what I needed to do [to win] and stay out of positions. Getting a takedown always puts you ahead as you get points and then be steady after that, get to ties and get to attacks."

Fowler has now joined a growing list of U.S. women's wrestlers with a world title at the heaviest weight class. She said that she has looked up to all the wrestlers who have been at this stage before her.

"I have always looked up to those women, especially Adeline GRAY (USA)," she said. "It's incredible to see the things they do. I am just here to continue what they started.

MUSKAN (IND)MUSKAN (IND) will try to win her second U17 Worlds gold after she reached the 46kg final. (Photo: UWW / Ulug Han)

Japan, India enter 4 in WW finals

Japan managed to send four more wrestlers into the final on Thursday as it had done on Wednesday. India, after a disappointing start to Women's Wrestling on Wednesday, bounced back and placed four wrestlers in the final as well.

At 40kg, Koharu AKUTSU (JPN) rode on a second-period takedown against U17 European champion Klara WINKLER (GER) after the two wrestlers exchanged passivity points to confirm her spot in the final against RACHANA (IND). The Indian wrestler was involved in a thriller against Jaclyn BOUZAKIS (USA) but secured exposure in the final 10 seconds to win 5-4.

Sakura ONISHI (JPN)Sakura ONISHI (JPN) tries to pin Karlee BROOKS (USA) on her way to the 53kg final. (Photo: UWW / Ulug Bugra Han)

Sakura ONISHI (JPN) made it to her second straight U17 Worlds final as she defeated Fabiana RINELLA (ITA) 11-0 in the 53kg semifinal. Last year, Onishi suffered a heartbreaking loss to Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) and finished with a silver medal. To win her first U17 world title, she will wrestle Olga OVCHINNIKOVA (AIN) who pinned Sakibjamal ESBOSYNOVA (UZB) in the other semifinal at 53kg.

U17 world champion at 43kg, MUSKAN (IND) reached another U17 world final after she pinned Meiramgul AKHMETZHAN (KAZ) in the 46kg semifinals. Muskan was dominant throughout the day and will take on Natsumi MASUDA (JPN) for the gold medal. Masuda survived a scare against Daniella BEKY (NOR) when the Norway wrestler had Masuda locked in a double-arm and was looking for a pin. After scraping out of that position, Masuda finished the semifinal 12-2.

In another Japan vs. Norway semifinal, Konami ONO (JPN) pinned Leah SAMSONSEN (NOR) in the 61kg semifinal and she will now take on returning champion SAVITA (IND) who defeated Haylie JAFFEE (USA) 10-0, using five takedowns via her quick attacks.

An all-Balkan semifinal was held at 69kg as returning bronze medalist and U17 European champion Veronika VILK (CRO) defeated Evelin UJHELJI (SRB), 6-2, to reach the final as she tries to win a historic world title for Croatia. She will have to go past SRISHTI (IND) to do that as the Indian reached the final from the other side of the bracket after beating Jasmine ROBINSON (USA), 8-5, in a close semifinal.

df

RESULTS

43kg
GOLD: Morgan TURNER (USA) df. Mona EZAKA (JPN), 3-2

BRONZE: Nilufar NURMUKHAMMADOVA (UZB) df. Alina MAZHAROUSKAYA (AIN), 10-0
BRONZE: Aleksandra BEREZOVSKAIA (AIN) df. Maria GKIKA (GRE), 5-1

49kg
GOLD: Rinka OGAWA (JPN) df. Sviatlana KATENKA (AIN), 11-0

BRONZE: Tana TIULIUSH (AIN) df. DRISHTI (IND), 4-4
BRONZE: Heather CRULL (USA) df. Lonisa REKA (KOS), 10-0

57kg
GOLD: Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) df. Eylem ENGIN (TUR), 10-0

BRONZE: Viktoria BOYNOVA (BUL) df. Aziza KELDIBEKOVA (KGZ), 5-4
BRONZE: NEHA (IND) df. YeoJin MIN (KOR), 10-0

65kg
GOLD: Chisato YOSHIDA (JPN) df. Duygu GEN (TUR), 5-1

BRONZE: Margarita SALNAZARIAN (AIN) df. Mukhayyo RAKHIMJONOVA (UZB), via fall (5-0)
BRONZE: Mouda HAMDOUN (EGY) df. Maryia MAKARCHANKA (AIN), via fall (10-4) 

73kg
GOLD: Piper FOWLER (USA) df. Lotta ENGLICH (GER), 5-2

BRONZE: Aliaksandra KAZLOVA (AIN) df. Ako UCHIYAMA (JPN), 2-0
BRONZE: Elmira YASIN (TUR) df. Asaloy AMANGELDIEVA (UZB), 6-0

Veronika VILK (CRO)Veronika VILK (CRO) will try to win Croatia's first-ever wrestling world title on Friday. (Photo: UWW / Ulug Bugra Han)

Semifinals

40kg
GOLD: RACHANA (IND) vs. Koharu AKUTSU (JPN)

SF 1: RACHANA (IND) df. Jaclyn BOUZAKIS (USA), 5-4
SF 2: Koharu AKUTSU (JPN) df. Klara WINKLER (GER), 4-1

46kg
GOLD: Natsumi MASUDA (JPN) vs. MUSKAN (IND)

SF 1: Natsumi MASUDA (JPN) df. Daniella BEKY (NOR), 12-2
SF 2: MUSKAN (IND) df. Meiramgul AKHMETZHAN (KAZ), via fall

53kg
GOLD: Olga OVCHINNIKOVA (AIN) vs. Sakura ONISHI (JPN)

SF 1: Olga OVCHINNIKOVA (AIN) df. Sakibjamal ESBOSYNOVA (UZB), via fall
SF 2: Sakura ONISHI (JPN) df. Fabiana RINELLA (ITA), 11-0 

61kg
GOLD: Konami ONO (JPN) vs. SAVITA (IND)

SF 1: Konami ONO (JPN) df. Leah SAMSONSEN (NOR), via fall
SF 2: SAVITA (IND) df. Emma JAFFEE (USA), 10-0

69kg
GOLD: Veronika VILK (CRO) vs. SRISHTI (IND)

SF 1: Veronika VILK (CRO) df. Evelin UJHELJI (SRB), 6-2
SF 2: SRISHTI (IND) df. Jasmine ROBINSON (USA), 8-5