Fernandez Wins Rare Third U17 World Gold, U.S. Team Title

Friday, July 31, 2026 - 16:55 By Vinay Siwach

BAKU, Azerbaijan (July 31) -- Masako FURUICHI (JPN) in 2013, Kika KAGATA (JPN) in 2014, Yui SUSAKI (JPN) in 2016, Honoka NAKAI (JPN) in 2019 and now Taina FERNANDEZ (USA) in 2026.

Fernandez, 17, on Friday joined the list of a handful of wrestlers who have won three U17 world gold medals by claiming the 69kg gold in Baku, the first non-Japanese wrestler to achieve the feat. No male wrestler has won three U17 world titles ever.

The U.S. prodigy won gold medals in 2024 and 2025 at 61kg and jumped to 69kg for 2026. The change in weight class had no bearing on her performance as she secured four pins in four bouts, including the final.

Facing Kiymet TEZCAN (TUR) for the gold medal, Fernandez waited for the opportunity before picking up a leg attack for two points when Tezcan was on the activity clock to lead 3-0. She pressured Tezcan on the mat and then held the Turkiye on the mat to secure the fall.

With the victory in the final, Fernandez also extended her unbeaten streak in international wrestling to 28 wins out of which 16 are via fall, 11 via technical superiority and only one on points.

The gold, fourth for the United States of the tournament in Women's Wrestling, helped the nation win the U17 world team title, only for the second time as it had won the trophy in 2021. The U.S. finished with 167 points, well ahead of defending champion India which finished with 132 points. Japan was third with 127 points followed by Turkiye and Ukraine at fourth and fifth positions.

Wrestling Marlee SOLOMON (USA) Marlee SOLOMON (USA) tries to complete a takedown against AKSHARA (IND) during the 53kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Fernandez's was the second gold medalist for the U.S. on Friday after Marlee SOLOMON (USA) claimed the gold medal at 53kg. She defeated AKSHARA (IND), 11-0, ending the match with a four-pointer.

Solomon used a two-on-one set up to complete her takedowns as Akshara failed to defend the pulls. During the second takedown, Solomon managed to score a turn to go up 6-0 and a sweep single and dumped the Indian for four points.

India challenged the four-point call, asking for a stepout as the action occurred close to the zone. But it lost the challenge and added one more point to Solomon's score.

Wrestling Kokona MAKINO (JPN) Kokona MAKINO (JPN) tries to pin Sandhya VISHNOI (IND) as the Indian commits an offensive foul during the 46kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Japan Wins 2 Golds

Earlier in the 46kg final, Kokona MAKINO (JPN) denied Sandhya VISHNOI (IND) via fall after building a 13-2 lead in a very aggressive gold-medal bout. Makino scored the first takedown for two points before Vishnoi got an exposure from scramble. But Makino was quick to score a reversal and lead 3-2 at the break.

While Vishnoi continued the hand-fighting with little awareness towards ground wrestling, Makino kept coming with sweep singles and scoring takedowns. She completed four takedowns using the same technique against a squared-up Vishnoi and after the fourth, she led 11-2 and later pinned the Indian, who committed offensive foul by pulling Makino's hair and ear, trying to avoid the pin.

With the two losses in the final, India ended its U17 campaign in Women's Wrestling without a gold medal, the first time since 2018 when it won two gold medals.

Wrestling Natsumi SASAKI (JPN) Natsumi SASAKI (JPN) defeated Tasnim ATHIMNI (TUN), 10-0, in the 40kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Japan's second gold medal came at 40kg when Natsumi SASAKI (JPN) completed a 10-0 win over Tasnim ATHIMNI (TUN) at 40kg. Athimni was the first to initiate attack and Sasaki was even put on the activity clock.

But the Tunisian wrestler let Sasaki take advantage when she left the corridor open. Sasaki capitalized to score a takedown and lead 2-0 before doubling it to 4-0 when she tossed Athimni for exposure in the next scramble.

The final lasted only 25 seconds in the second period as Sakaki used her long reach to finish a leg attack with takedown and two turns using the lace to complete a victory by technical superiority.

Athimni's silver was Tunisia's first-ever medal at the U17 World Championships and she is only the second wrestler from the country to reach a world final after 2016 Rio Olympic bronze medalist Marwa AMRI (TUN) who reached the final in 2017.

Wrestling Ozdenur OZMEZ (TUR) Ozdenur OZMEZ (TUR) celebrates after winning the 61kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Turkiye Gold After 5 Years

Returning bronze medalist Ozdenur OZMEZ (TUR) won gold medal at 61kg after blanking Landri VON GONTEN (USA), 10-0, in the final. She is Turkiye's second-ever U17 world champion in Women's Wrestling after Selvi ILYASOGLU (TUR) who won the 57kg gold medal in 2021.

Ozmez used some powerful leg attacks, all towards Von Gonten's right, to score her points. She began with a single-leg attack for a takedown before performing it again but this she threw Von Gonten for four points. Ozmez's third takedown was a counter when Von Gonten failed to trip her and Ozmez scored easy two points to lead 8-0.

The final takedown took some time but Ozmez completed it when Von Gonten went for a desperate long shot. Ozmez went for the go-behind and secured a 10-0 win and gold for Turkiye.

RESULTS

40kg
GOLD: Natsumi SASAKI (JPN) df. Tasnim ATHIMNI (TUN), 10-0

BRONZE: Sophia VALDEZ (USA) df. Rohini DEVBA (IND), 9-0
BRONZE: Sirin ASKARA (TUR) df. Gulkhanim SHIRINOVA (AZE), 12-4

46kg
GOLD: Kokona MAKINO (JPN) df. Sandhya VISHNOI (IND), via fall (13-2)

BRONZE: Inzhu BAKKOZHA (KAZ) df. Alina BARANOVA (RUS), 8-2
BRONZE: Madison HEALEY (USA) df. Vivien SZENTPAL (HUN), 10-0

53kg
GOLD: Marlee SOLOMON (USA) df. AKSHARA (IND), 11-0

BRONZE: Rion OGAWA (JPN) df. Valeria STANCHEVA (BUL), 10-0
BRONZE: Mariia ZHYTOVOZ (HUN) df. Alejandra SERRANO (COL), 11-0

61kg
GOLD: Ozdenur OZMEZ (TUR) df. Landri VON GONTEN (USA), 10-0

BRONZE: AVANSHIKA (IND) df. Aruzhan BAKYTNUR (KAZ), 5-1
BRONZE: Graciela ENINGO (ESP) df. Surae ABBASSOY (FIN), via fall

69kg
GOLD: Taina FERNANDEZ (USA) df. Kiymet TEZCAN (TUR), via fall

BRONZE: TANIYA (IND) df. Maja WEJCHAN (POL), 12-2
BRONZE: Nino SAMKHARADZE (GEO) df. Milana ULANOVA (KGZ), 2-1

2026 Muhamet Malo

'Important Gold’: Sadulaev Relishes Successful 97kg Return

Thursday, February 26, 2026 - 21:58 By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (February 26) -- World champion Kyle SNYDER (USA) could have challenged him. Up-and-coming Mukhamed KHANIEV (UWW) could have caused trouble. Or maybe Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) would have caused an upset.

None of that happened. A calm and composed Abdulrashid SADULAEV (UWW) marked his return to the mat with yet another gold medal, winning the 97kg weight class at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series event on Thursday in Tirana, Albania.

It has become increasingly rare to see Sadulaev wrestle internationally, but when he does, the results tend to be a foregone conclusion. Sadulaev last wrestled at a global event at the same Feti Borova Arena in Tirana in October 2024 when he claimed his sixth world title, stunningly dropping to 92kg.

After 15 months, he was back -- at 97kg and, the top of the podium.

"Thank you to everyone who supported me, those in the arena and those watching on TV and smartphones," Sadulaev said. "Everyone who cheered, worried, and prayed for me. I want to say a huge, heartfelt thank you to all of you."

When Sadulaev stepped on the mat on Thursday, he rolled back the years. Right hand on his opponent's forehand, circling while standing tall. He would throw himself back if someone tried to attack his legs and then get a front headlock to score.

A true throwback in Tirana would have been a Sadulaev and Snyder clash but Khaniev decided to postpone that for now by beating the United States wrestler in the quarterfinals. Sadulaev got Khaniev in the final.

He was the first on board with a double-leg attack which gave him four points. He then made Khaniev toil to find an opening and when he did, Sadulaev defended like a rock. Khaniev was able to score only through stepouts -- managing four points from it while Sadulaev added three more takedowns to finish the final 10-4.

While the gold medal was a satisfactory result for Sadulaev, there was an added incentive that he was chasing.

"For me, this gold means qualifying for the European Championships, which will take place here in this same arena in two months, in April. It was very important for me to qualify there," he said.

Sadulaev, if he competes, will be at the European Championships after six years having last competed at the tournament in 2020. He won gold medal at 97kg in Rome.

Abdulrashid SADULAEV (UWW) scores on Mukhamed KHANIEV (UWW) in the 97kg final in Tirana. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

The final against Khaniev was a virtual wrestle-off to win the spot for the continental championships, to be held from April 20 to 26. And despite beating Khaniev, Sadulaev was all praise for the youngster.

"Khaniev is young and promising," he said. "I thought we might meet before the final, but [because of the bracket] we faced each other only in the final.

"I know him well, we train in the same region, we’ve been at training camps together and worked side by side. He’s very tough, with a really good stamina. He hasn’t gained that much experience yet, but I believe he has everything ahead of him."

Khaniev, making his debut at 97kg internationally, sprung a surprise when he defeated Snyder 10-4, using some crafty counters in the second period. He also defeated Magomedov in the semifinals.

Abdulrashid SADULAEV (UWW) completes a fireman's carry move. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

However, Sadulaev isn't reading much into Snyder's loss as the U.S. wrestler had lost to Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) in Tirana but went on to win the world gold in September.

"At tournaments like this, he [Snyder] usually doesn’t come in at peak form the way he does for the World Championships or the Olympic Games, where he’s been in his best shape," Sadulaev said. "So this loss doesn’t really say much. Maybe he will win the next World Championships."

The World Championships in Manama, Bahrain is scheduled in October and there is a good chance that both Sadulaev and Snyder will be there. But Sadulaev is hoping for a more decorated field.

"If everything goes well and I make it for the World Championships, four Olympic champions could compete in this weight class [in Bahrain] -- Hassan YAZDANI (IRI), Kyle [SNYDER] and Ahmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) and myself, and other medalists," he said. "I think it will be the most competitive and exciting weight category."

Sadulaev, in his subtle humor, would go on.

"It’s hot enough there [Bahrain], but I think at the World Championships, it will be even hotter."

Fernandez Wins Rare Third U17 World Gold, U.S. Team Title

Japan Wins 2 Golds

Turkiye Gold After 5 Years

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'Important Gold’: Sadulaev Relishes Successful 97kg Return