Development

Aline Silva Awarded United World Wrestling’s Women in Sport Award

Tuesday, April 3, 2018 - 17:27 By Tim Foley

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY (April 2) -- Aline SILVA (BRA) has been awarded United World Wrestling’s 2018 Women in Sport Award.

Silva, a 2014 world silver medalist 2016 Olympian, has spent much of the past 12 months creating an outreach program in her home city of Cubatã, Brazil, which provides educational and wrestling opportunities for girls.

"We are very proud of Aline," said United World Wrestling president Nenad Lalovic. "She is the type of female leader we want in our sport. She has taken her victories on the mat and is making a big impact with younger girls. We are honored to present her this award."

Silva will receive $10,000 from United World Wrestling and is expected to hire a coach and English teacher to help instruct 60 public school girls in Cubatã. The outreach program will also include weekly empowerment teachings with themes like leadership, personal development, and sexual and reproduction rights. 

“I think it’s important to want something big for yourself and others,” said Silva. “And for these girls I want to show them what it means to have a goal and how to strive for it everyday. I know that striving to reach a goal every day means you will make your dreams come true!”

Aline SILVA (r) became Brazil's first-ever world finalist in wrestling, earning silver at the 2014 World Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan (Photo: Gabor Martin, United World Wrestling)

Silva kickstarted her to-be-named outreach program with a trip to the Global Sports Mentoring Program at the University of Tennessee's Peace, Sport and Society Program. During her six weeks on-site, Silva created a plan of action to empower Brazilian women through sports and sought advice on ways to improve her new program.

“I want to thank President Lalovic and everyone at United World Wrestling for all their great work in promoting women’s wrestling and gender equality.”

Though busy with outreach and instruction, Silva isn’t slowing down on the mats. She is still training full-time and expects to compete at this year’s world championships in Budapest. Her goal is to medal at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Other applicants included Power Club (ESP), Johanna KIKAS (EST), Elham HEIDARI (IRI/CAN), Yevheniia PAVLOVA (UKR) and Fédération Française de Lutte who each showed commitment to advancing the gender equality through wrestling.

2026 U17 World Championships

Women's Wrestling Watch at U17 World Championships 2026

Tuesday, July 28, 2026 - 13:22 By Vinay Siwach

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Wrestling Taina FERNANDEZ (USA)

BAKU, Azerbaijan (July 28) -- Wrestlers at the U17 World Championships will breathe a sigh of relief. China, Asia's top team at this level, will not compete in the tournament in Baku.

With China absent, Japan, India and the United States emerge as the leading contenders for the team title. India won the championship last year, with the U.S. finishing second and Japan third.

Despite China's absence, the wrestling in Baku promises to be top-notch. From individual milestones to the battle for the team title, there will be no shortage of compelling storylines.

Fernandez Chases Third Gold

Among the biggest storylines is Taina FERNANDEZ (USA), a two-time U17 world champion at 61kg. Now competing at 69kg, Fernandez is chasing a third U17 world title. A gold medal would make history, as she would become the first non-Japanese wrestler to win three U17 world championships.

Only four wrestlers have won three U17 world titles, all of them Japanese women: Masako FURUICHI (JPN) [2011, 2012, 2013], Kika KAGATA (JPN) [2012, 2013, 2014], Yui SUSAKI (JPN) [2014, 2015, 2016] and Honoka NAKAI (JPN) [2017, 2018, 2019].

Fernandez, yet to lose an international bout, faces a stern test after moving up eight kilograms to 69kg. Her opening opponent is U17 Asian silver medalist TANIYA (IND). Hopefully, the commentators don't confuse Taina and Taniya.

The bracket also features U17 European champion Kiymet TEZCAN (TUR), bronze medalists Nino SAMKHARADZE (GEO) and Polina EFIMOVA (RUS), as well as Hibiki IIDA (JPN), because counting out a Japanese wrestler has rarely ended well.

Wrestling Solomiia PETRIV (UKR)U17 European champion Solomiia PETRIV (UKR), red, at 73kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Battle of 73kg

The 73kg weight class was introduced in 2018, when Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) claimed the inaugural title. That remains the last time Japan won the heaviest women's weight class. Since then, India has captured three gold medals, while China, the United States and Russia have won one each.

The race for the 73kg title in Baku is wide open with China absent. India is banking on U17 Asian champion GARIMA (IND), who will need to elevate her performance from the continental championships if she hopes to claim the world title that KAJAL (IND) narrowly missed after finishing runner-up last year.

U17 European champion Solomiia PETRIV (UKR), who won bronze at 69kg last year, enters as one of the favorites. Potential rematches from the U17 European Championships loom, with silver medalist Bianka BARANY (HUN) and bronze medalists Karina MUZALEVSKAIA (RUS) and Lyra LEDERER (GER) also in the field.

U17 Asian silver medalist Namuuntsetseg BATBOLD (MGL) brings Mongolia's trademark throwing attack, while Kaili MANUEL (USA) could emerge as the dark horse.

Wrestling Janka SILLEI (HUN)U17 European champion Janka SILLEI (HUN), left, is one of the favorites at 57kg in Baku. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Stars Clash at 57kg

The deepest weight class appears to be 57kg, featuring several established names moving into the division.

Returning world silver medalists Janka SILLEI (HUN), who won silver at 46kg, and Epenesa ELISON (USA), last year's runner-up at 53kg, land on the same side of the bracket.

After moving up just one weight class, Elison has the tools to reach the final, but she opens against Rion SUZUKI (JPN), a difficult first-round opponent. Sillei, meanwhile, dominated the U17 European Championships at 57kg, outscoring every opponent.

Also in the field are U17 European silver medalist Mariia POLTORAK (UKR), bronze medalist Marharyta DANILEVICH (BLR) and U17 Pan-American silver medalist Gurleen DHILLON (CAN).

Despite lacking international medals, Suzuki, Nikita SEHRAWAT (IND) and Sofiia BELOVA (RUS) should not be overlooked.

Wrestling IndiaIndia won the Women's Wrestling team title at the 2025 U17 World Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Team Title Race

Japan brings a formidable lineup that can make a run for the team gold. This is despite the country's inter-high school championships coincide with the U17 World Championships, forcing several wrestlers to prioritize the domestic event and leaving Japan short of full strength.

The U.S. squad is headlined by Fernandez but also includes two returning world medalists and three U17 Pan-American champions. Elison will look to improve on last year's silver medal, while returning bronze medalist Madison HEALEY (USA) competes at 46kg.

The U17 Pan-American champions on the U.S. roster are Sophia VALDEZ (USA) at 40kg, Landri VON GONTEN (USA) at 61kg and Eve SKROCKI (USA) at 69kg.

Last year, it fell just four points short of India, which claimed its first-ever U17 Women's Wrestling team title. This year's Indian squad, however, does not appear to have the same depth as last year's championship-winning team, making the race more open.

With Russia and Belarus eligible to score team points, and Ukraine also fielding a strong squad, the race for the team title promises to be considerably more competitive than it was a year ago.