#WrestleGuatemalaCity

Bravo-Young and Team USA Seek to Finish Strong on Final Day of #WrestleGuatemalaCity

Friday, June 7, 2019 - 23:18 By Taylor Miller

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Roman BRAVO-YOUNG (USA) and eight of his teammates will wrestle for gold tonight in the Junior Pan American Championships.

Competing at 61 kg in men’s freestyle, this is Bravo-Young’s first international tournament since the 2016 Cadet World Championships.

“International competition is good,” Bravo-Young said. “You get to wrestle different people. In the U.S., we wrestle the same people all the time. Getting a different feel while being able to experience a new country is good. I’m having a good time so far.”

In today’s action, Bravo-Young has collected three wins by technical fall. Tonight he will wrestle Carlos MENDOZA PENA (MEX) in his final match of the round-robin bracket.

If he continues his impressive performance without giving up a point, he will be in the running for the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler award.

As he seeks gold, RBY, as he is called in the U.S., draws some of his motivation for international glory from his college wrestling room at Penn State University.

“Being in the Penn State room and being around David TAYLOR, watching him practice and knowing that he’s a world champion and has reached the pinacle just makes me look up to him. Being around Cael SANDERSON and all the talent and success in that room is definitely a good time.”

Bravo-Young and the rest of Team USA had goals of matching the success of USA’s Senior Pan Am team, which won all 10 gold medals in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in April.

“We just want to see the momentum keep going,” he said. “Nine out of 10 going for gold is pretty good. We wanted to get all 10 like our Senior team, but we’re just going to keep moving forward.”

En español

Roman BRAVO-YOUNG (USA) y ocho de sus compañeros de equipo lucharán por el oro esta noche en el Campeonato Panamericano Juvenil.

Compitiendo en los 61kg del estilo libre masculino, este es el primer torneo internacional de Bravo-Young desde el Campeonato Mundial de Cadetes 2016.

"Es una buena experiencia competir a nivel internacional” dijo Bravo-Young. "Tienes la oportunidad de luchar con diferentes personas. En los Estados Unidos, luchamos con las mismas personas todo el tiempo. La sensación diferente y explorar un nuevo país es interesante. Lo estoy pasando bien hasta ahora.”

En los combates de hoy, Bravo-Young ha ganado por superioridad técnica las tres veces. Esta noche se enfrentara a Carlos MENDOZA PENA (MEX) en su último combate.

Si continua con su actuación destacada y sin que sus oponentes puedan marcarle algún punto, el es el favorito a la Bota de Oro.

Mientras va en camino a obtener la medalla de oro, RBY, como se le llama en los EE. UU., extrae parte de su motivación para la gloria internacional de su gimnasio de lucha universitaria en la Universidad de Penn State.

"Estar en gimnasio de Penn State y estar cerca de David TAYLOR, verlo practicar y saber que es un campeón del mundo y que ha alcanzado el punto más alto en nuestro deporte, me hace admirarlo,” dijo Bravo-Young. “Estar cerca de Cael SANDERSON y todo el talento y el éxito en ese gimnasio es definitivamente una experienca única.”

Bravo-Young y el resto del equipo de EE. UU. tenían como meta igualar el éxito del equipo Panamericano de Mayores de EE. UU., que ganó 10 medallas de oro en Buenos Aires, Argentina, en abril.

"Solo queremos ver que el impulso continúe,” dijo. "Nueve de 10 vamos por el oro es bastante bueno. Queríamos tener a los 10 como nuestro equipo de mayores, pero seguiremos avanzando.”

 

#WrestleBudapest

Budapest Ranking Series 2026 Women's Wrestling Preview: 53kg Wide Open

Friday, July 10, 2026 - 12:03 By Vinay Siwach

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 9) -- Preview for United World Wrestling Budapest Ranking Series 2026.

The 53kg weight class will crown a new world champion in Astana later this year after 2025 world champion Haruna MARUYAMA (JPN) failed to qualify through Japan's domestic trials and Olympic champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) moved up to 57kg.

The Budapest Ranking Series, scheduled for July 15-19, will offer an early look at the contenders as many of the world's top wrestlers at 53kg gather for the final Ranking Series event of the year.

WATCH LIVE | BUDAPEST RANKING SERIES ENTRIES

UWW+

Asian champion Jin ZHANG (CHN) headlines the field, which also includes world bronze medalist ANTIM (IND), 55kg European champion Andreea ANA (ROU), former European champion Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) and United States world team member Cristelle RODRIGUEZ (USA).

While two leading contenders for the world title, Lucia GUZMAN (ECU) and Moe KIYOOKA (JPN), are not entered, the rest of the field is expected to play a significant role in the medal race in Astana in one of the year's most open weight classes.

Zhang put together a dominant performance at the Asian Championships, highlighted by a victory via fall over Kiyooka. Antim has previous wins over both Zhang and Malmgren and will face another stern test in Budapest while Ana brings considerable international experience. Rodriguez, a former U20 world champion, lost to Guzman at the Pan-American Championships, but her aggressive style continues to make her a difficult opponent.

Joining Zhang on China's team is Yuxuan LI (CHN), a two-time 55kg Asian silver medalist with the ability to upset the favorites. Veteran Roksana ZASINA (POL) is also entered, adding another experienced challenger to the field.

 

Tough 68kg Bracket

The 53kg weight class isn't the only one which is offering early insights. The 68kg competition is expected to be equally competitive despite the absence of world champion Ami ISHII (JPN) and bronze medalist Kennedy BLADES (USA).

The field includes Olympic silver medalist Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ), former world champion Jia LONG (CHN), 72kg world silver medalist Nesrin BAS (TUR), and former European champion Alina SHAUCHUK (BLR).

Zhumanazarova claimed the Asian title in April and enters Budapest as the favorite, with Long expected to be her biggest challenger. Bas and Shauchuk were set to meet in the European Championships final before the latter withdrew, handing Bas the title.

U23 world champion Elizaveta PETLIAKOVA (RUS) will look to win her second consecutive Ranking Series medal after taking silver at the Ulaanbaatar Open. Both European bronze medalists, Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU) and Tindra SJOEBERG (SWE), also add depth to the field.

Bullen vs Tandelova II (WATCH: Bullen's Insane Comeback)

A rematch of this year's European Championships final could take place at 62kg after Grace BULLEN (NOR) produced one of the most remarkable comebacks of the season, rallying from a 9-1 deficit to pin Amina TANDELOVA (RUS).

They will be joined by a strong field that includes former world champion Qi ZHANG (CHN), world bronze medalist Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR), and European medalists Johanna LINDBORG (SWE) and Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR). The field also includes Pan-Am champion Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA) and former U20 world champion Eniko ELEKES (HUN), who will have the backing of the home crowd.

Read More: Bullen's Move - Outside Trip

At 76kg, world silver medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) has had a mixed season with win at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series but finished with a silver medal at the Asian Championships. She will have a chance to win another gold in Budapest.

She, however, faces a difficult field led by Dymond GUILFORD (USA) who has a previous win over Medet Kyzy. Other challengers include Indian youngsters KAJAL (IND) and PRIYA (IND), former European champion Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) and big-throwing Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ), another wrestler who has beaten Medet Kyzy previously.

Anastasia NICHITA (MDA)Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) marks her return to the mat in Budapest. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Nichita Returns

Olympic silver medalist Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) will compete for the first time in nearly two years. Nichita, who became a mother after the Paris Olympics, returns at 59kg as she begins another Olympic cycle.

While she will be expected to win, making her return challenging will be Asian bronze medalist NEHA (IND), former world medalist Othelie HOEIE (NOR), European champion Mariia VYNNYK (UKR), veteran Jowita WRZESIEN (POL), among others in the field.

Wrestling Kexin HONG (CHN)Kexin HONG (CHN) is the Asian champion at 57kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

China's Depth

Two Chinese wrestlers, Kexin HONG (CHN) and Mengyu XIE (CHN), could dominate the 57kg bracket. Both Asian champions, at 57kg and 59kg respectively, Hong and Xie will be challenged by European silver medalist Elvira SULEYMAN KAMALOGLU (TUR), European bronze medalist Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE), and Amanda MARTINEZ (USA).

India is sending age-group world medalist Neha SHARMA (IND) and U20 world champion TAPSYA (IND).

European champion Oksana LIVACH (UKR) enters as the favorite at 50kg but Olympic and Asian bronze medalist Ziqi FENG (CHN) is among the strongest wrestlers in the weight class and will be a marquee match-up if the two meet.

Other top wrestlers include Pan-American champion Katie GOMEZ (USA) and Nadezhda SOKOLOVA (RUS), capable of upsetting the favorites. Canada has an interesting entry with former 53kg U17 world champion Kaura COLES (CAN), who is making her senior UWW debut at 50kg.

Four extremely talented wrestlers are entered at 72kg with former world silver medalist Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), European silver medalist Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL), Zagreb Open silver medalist Diksha MALIK (IND) and U23 Asian champion Kaiyrkul SHARSHEBAEVA (KGZ). With only three medals available, one of those four contenders will leave Budapest empty-handed.

Note: This preview was uploaded before Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) pulled out of the competition.