2026 U17 World Championships

Boldbaatar Wins Mongolia's First U17 World Gold

By Vinay Siwach

BAKU, Azerbaijan (July 30) -- Mongolia crowned its first U17 women's world champion, Uzbekistan claimed its second, the United States secured two gold medals, and Saika UCHIDA (JPN) emerged as another rising star as five titles were decided on the fourth day of the U17 World Championships in Baku.

Ariunzul BOLDBAATAR (MGL) made history by becoming Mongolia's first U17 world champion in Women's Wrestling after defeating Aisha ABDIMALIK (KAZ) 4-0 in the 65kg final.

The two had previously met at the U17 Asian Championships, where Boldbaatar cruised to an 11-2 victory. Neither wrestler had a lengthy international resume heading into Baku, but both advanced to the final, with Boldbaatar already guaranteeing Mongolia its best-ever finish in the event.

Boldbaatar opened the final with a stepout and added a passivity point before capitalizing during a scramble to score two exposure points for a 4-0 lead, which she held until the final whistle.

Boldbaatar's historic title run featured two victories by fall and two wins on points.

Wrestling Mukhlisa MASHARIPOVA (UZB)Mukhlisa MASHARIPOVA (UZB) scores a takedown on Finja STRAUCH (UZB) during the 43kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Uzbekistan also celebrated another milestone as Mukhlisa MASHARIPOVA (UZB) became the country's second U17 women's world champion with a 4-1 victory over Finja STRAUCH (GER) in the 43kg final.

The Uzbekistan wrestler scored two takedowns to build her lead and then successfully defended against Strauch, who struggled to create scoring opportunities. Although Masharipova conceded an activity-clock point in the second period, Strauch never looked to threaten.

Masharipova follows Shohista SHONAZAROVA (UZB), who became Uzbekistan's first U17 women's world champion by winning the 40kg title in Athens last year.

Wrestling Epenesa ELISON (USA)Epenesa ELISON (USA) waits for the fall to be confirmed in the 57kg final against Nikita SEHRAWAT (IND). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

U.S. Wins Two Golds

Epenesa ELISON (USA) went one step further after settling for silver at 53kg last year, capturing the 57kg world title with a dominant performance in Baku.

Elison defeated Nikita SEHRAWAT (IND) by fall in the final after racing to a 6-0 lead, capping an impressive campaign in which she won all five of her bouts in commanding fashion.

At 73kg, Kaili MANUEL (USA) claimed the gold medal with an 8-1 victory over U17 European champion Solomiia PETRIV (UKR).

Manuel controlled the match from start to finish, scoring five stepouts, forcing Petriv onto the activity clock for another point, and adding a takedown to complete the convincing victory.

The bronze medals at 73kg went to Aisha WILLIAMS (PAN) and U17 Asian champion GARIMA (IND). Williams made history by becoming the first Panama wrestler to win a world medal after defeating Bianka BARANY (HUN) by fall.

At 49kg, Saika UCHIDA (JPN) showcased her immense potential by winning the world title in dominant fashion. The younger sister of Asian champion Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) overwhelmed Olena KOLUBAI (UKR) in the final, using a series of gut wrenches to secure a 12-2 technical superiority victory.

Wrestling Photos UWW

RESULTS

43kg
GOLD: Mukhlisa MASHARIPOVA (UZB) df. Finja STRAUCH (GER), 4-1

BRONZE: Sera FURUICHI (JPN) df. Maya NAICKER (CAN), 10-10
BRONZE: Daria MASLENNIKOVA (RUS) df. Tola RUDNIK (POL), 10-0

49kg
GOLD: Saika UCHIDA (JPN) df. Olena KOLUBAI (UKR), 12-2

BRONZE: Kamna BABAL (IND) df. Irina TSYDEEVA (RUS), 3-2
BRONZE: Isla Belle SILVA (USA) df. Ayanat MEINAMBAY (KAZ), 6-3

57kg
GOLD: Epenesa ELISON (USA) df. Nikita SEHRAWAT (IND), via fall (6-0)

BRONZE: Rion SUZUKI (JPN) df. Gurleen DHILLON (CAN), 10-0
BRONZE: Mariia POLTORAK (UKR) df. Su SOYALP (TUR), 4-2

65kg
GOLD: Ariunzul BOLDBAATAR (MGL) df. Aisha ABDIMALIK (KAZ), 4-0

BRONZE: Margarita LISITA (MDA) df. Vasiliki KARAVANOU (GRE), 5-0
BRONZE: Palina BRAHINETS (BLR) df. Iryna BUKHTINA (UKR), 11-0

73kg
GOLD: Kaili MANUEL (USA) df. Solomiia PETRIV (UKR), 8-1

BRONZE: Aisha WILLIAMS (PAN) df. Bianka BARANY (HUN), via fall
BRONZE: GARIMA (IND) df. Paula BENAIXA (ESP), 10-0

#WrestleZagreb

Zagreb Open 2026 Day 4 Results and Highlights

By Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (February 7) -- The fourth day of the Ranking Series in Zagreb will see the remaining four Women's Wrestling weight classes in action along with two Greco-Roman weight classes 77kg and 87kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 3 RESULTS

14:55: GR 87kg semifinals - Tamas LEVAI (HUN) gets a 2-1 win over Erik SZILVASSY (HUN) in the semifinals at 87kg to take a step closer to be part of the Hungarian team for the European Championships. But to confirm that, he has to beat Istvan TAKACS (HUN), who won the other semifinals after a desperate arm-throw for four to beat Matej MANDIC (CRO), 6-2.

14:40: GR 77kg semifinals - Ali OSKOU (IRI) with a beautiful throw from par terre to get a 5-0 lead before another turn makes it 7-0. He eventually beats Temuri ORJONIKIDZE (GEO), 10-1, and advances to the 77kg final. Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) will challenge the Iranian for the gold medal after the Hungarian defeated Abdullo ALIEV (UZB), 7-0, majorly using gut-wrenches.

14:25: 76kg semifinals - Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) with two stepouts and one point for activity clock to take a 3-0 lead against Yasuha MATSUYUKI (JPN) before a lost challenge from Japan adds another point to her score and she wins 4-0. She will take on Tristan KELLY (USA) for the gold medal who scored a four-pointer with seven seconds remaining against PRIYA (IND) to claim a 4-4 criteria victory 

14:10: 72kg semifinals - Buse TOSUN (TUR) is into the final at 72kg after a close 2-2 criteria win over Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN). She was down 2-1 but dragged the Japanese out of bounds to take the criteria and the win. For the gold medal, she will take on Diksha MALIK (IND) who posted a 4-2 win over Kristina BRATCHIKOVA (UWW).

13:55: 57kg semifinals - MANISHA (IND) makes it to the final at 57kg with rather ease, beating Amory ANDRICH (GER), 11-0. She will test herself against Himeka TOKUHARA (JPN) in the gold medal bout after the Japanese defeated Elvira SULEYMAN (TUR) via fall

13:45: 53kg semifinals - U20 world champion Everest LEYDECKER (USA) takes out world bronze medalist ANTIM (IND) 2-2. She scored a takedown in the first period and then defended that score. However, Antim managed to score a stepout alongwith a point for fleeing from Leydecker. With the score 2-2, Leydecker kept the criteria for a bigger technique and won. She will take on Roksana ZASINA (POL) for the gold medal who defeated Annika WENDLE (GER), 8-4, in the other semifinals.

13:15: Abdullo ALIEV (UZB) gets two rolls from par terre and then defends to beat Merey MAULITKANOV (KAZ) and move into the semifinals at 77kg.

12:50: Almost five years after they met in the 2021 U17 World Championships, Katie GOMEZ (USA) and ANTIM (IND) meet again on the mat in Zagreb. Antim gets the first takedown an also point for activity clock. Antim extends her lead to 5-0 with another takedown before the break. Constant pressure from Antim and gets two more takedowns to lead 9-0. Antim finishes with an exposure and wins 11-0, avenging that loss from Budapest against Gomez, who went on to win the gold there.

12:35: Everest LEYDECKER (USA), U20 world champion and competing at her first senior international tournament, begins with an 11-0 victory over Anjali KACHHAWA (IND) at 53kg.

12:20: Priya PRIYA (IND), who finished fifth at the World Championships, pins Enrica RINALDI (ITA) at 76kg and moves into the semifinals.

12:05: Zahra KARIMZADA (AZE) drops her 72kg bout against Buse TOSUN (TUR), 2-0. Both activity clock points and then Tosun is solid in defense to post the victory

11:50: In an all Hungarian battle perhaps for the European Championships selection, Robert FRITSCH (HUN) gets the better of Levente LEVAI (HUN), 4-1, at 77kg. A turn from par terre for Fritsch in that win.

11:45: Abdullo ALIEV (UZB) gets the par terre and wastes no time in getting Antonio KAMENJASEVIC (CRO) two reverse bodylock throws and two and four points respectively. He then gets a takedown to win the bout via technical superiority at 77kg

11:40: After a longish battle and review, Emma LUTTENAUER (FRA) gets a 15-11 victory over Sydney PETZINGER (USA) at 53kg. 

11:25: Giullia PENALBER (BRA) with a dominant win on U23 world champion Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) at 57kg. Aliyeva never got going and Penalber led 14-4 before getting the fall

11:15: Asian champion at 62kg MASNISHA (IND) has moved down to 57kg. She faces Tindra DALMYR (SWE) in her opening bout and begins well to score a takedown. Dalmyr gets a four-pointer but Manisha controls the rest of the bout and wins 9-4

11:10: Amory ANDRICH (GER) gets a fall over Samantha STEWART (CAN) at 57kg. Stewart has been adjusting to the 57kg weight class but Andrich made short work of Stewart

10:45: Couple of quick results from Greco-Roman. First up is Levente Levai (HUN), European champion at 72kg and now at 77kg, with a 3-0 victory against Mohamed Khalil (EGY). And Doniyorkhon NAKIBOV (UZB) holding on for a 3-2 victory against Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA) at 77kg

10:30: Another day in the and we will see more wrestlers trying to adjust to the Olympic weight classes.