Host Japan Favored at Women's World Cup

Wednesday, March 14, 2018 - 17:45 By Ken Marantz

For world and Olympic champion Risako KAWAI, the upcoming Women's World Cup not only gives her a chance to help host Japan win a fourth consecutive title but share the experience with her sister Yukako KAWAI.

"I went to the world championships with my sister, but she didn't do well. This time, we want to do well together," Kawai said at a press conference last month to announce the Japanese team, which will be the prohibitive favorite in the tournament in Takasaki, about 100 kilometers northwest of Tokyo.

Risako, who won the Rio 2016 Olympic gold at 63kg and Paris 2017 world title at 60kg, captured her third straight Japan crown in the newly created 62kg class. Earlier, Yukako earned her first national title at 59kg, making the two the first sisters to win golds at the same Japan championships since Chiharu and Kaori ICHO in 2007.

Risako said she likes the rare chance to compete for a team in what is generally an individual sport.

"When you win as a team, you're twice as happy," she said. "If you lose, but the team wins, it helps make it easier to take. That's the appeal."

For a few on the Japan team, it will not only be a team event, but a family affair. In addition to the Kawais, there are two other pairs of sisters who will take the mat.

2018 Asian champion Saki IGARASHI. Photo by Max Rose-Fyne.

Newly crowned Asian champion Saki IGARASHI (55kg) made the team along with older sister Miho IGARASHI (50kg), while the upper weights include high school twins Naruha MATSUYUKI (72kg) and Yasuha MATSUYUKI (76kg).

While they will all likely see action sometime during the preliminary group stage, for the major matches, Japan will rely on its big guns that, along with Risako Kawai, include Paris 2017 champions Haruna OKUNO (53kg) and Sara DOSHO (68kg, also a Rio 2016 gold medalist), runner-up Mayu MUKAIDA (55kg) and bronze medalist Hiroe MINAGAWA (76kg).

Attesting to Japan's depth in the lightweights is the fact that world champion Yui SUSAKI did not make the team, as she lost in the semifinals at the national championships at 50kg to eventual winner Yuki IRIE. Only the top two finishers in each weight class made the cut.

Due to a scheduling quirk, it was just three months ago in Cheboksary, Russia, that Japan won its three straight World Cup and ninth out of 16 since the competition started in 2001. Japan captured the title despite sending a weaker team that just barely beat the United States in the group stage, then eked out a victory over China in the final.

"In Russia, we sent our No. 2 wrestlers and only barely beat China," Japan Wrestling Federation managing director Hideaki TOMIYAMA said. "This time, we are the home team. But now there are 10 weight classes, so we can't say what's going to happen."

This year, Japan was once again grouped with the United States, with Canada and Sweden filling out the other spots in Pool A. Pool B consists of China, Mongolia, Belarus and Romania.

Three-time world champion Adeline GRAY (USA).

According to preliminary reports, the United States, which won its lone title in 2003 in Tokyo, will field a strong team led by three-time world champion Adeline GRAY (76kg). Also on the team are Paris 2017 world silver medalist Alli RAGAN (57kg) and bronze medalist Becka LEATHERS (55kg), and two-time junior world champion Victoria ANTHONY (50kg).

U.S. national team coach Terry Steiner says that when the U.S. faces Japan in the competition is irrelevant, as winning the championship is the only consideration.

“Japan has been the team to beat," Steiner told the USA Wrestling website. "They have set the standard in the sport.

"We just need to be ready to compete....We are not going to Japan to be a part of the mix; we are going to Japan to come out of there with a World Cup title and be the best we can be. We have to focus on ourselves and what we need to do as we prepare ourselves to go in there with the best results possible.”

The Canadian team features Paris 2017 world bronze medalists Michelle FAZZARI (62kg) and Justina DI STASIO (76kg), who are also among five winners from the 2017 Pan American Championships on the squad.

2016 Olympic bronze medalist Jenny FRANSSON (SWE). Photo by Max Rose-Fyne.

Sweden, which was added to the field when Turkey withdrew, will be led by former world champion and Rio 2016 bronze medalist Jenny FRANSSON (72kg), but otherwise is expected to send a young team.

The other group is expected to be a shootout between China, which won the last of its six titles in 2013, and Mongolia, the third-place finisher in the past two World Cups.

At the recent Asian Championships in Bishkek, to which Japan sent a mainly second-string team, the Chinese women came away with five golds, one silver and a bronze. Four of those champions are slated to make the trip to Takasaki---PEI Xingru (57kg), RONG Ningning (59kg), ZHOU Feng (68kg) and ZHOU Qian (76kg).

SUN Yanan (CHN) competing against Yui SUSAKI (JPN) in the 2017 Women's World Cup.

Add to that group Rio 2016 bronze medalist SUN Yanan (50kg), Bishkek 2018 silver medalist LUO Xiaojuan and Paris 2017 bronze medalist HAN Yue (72kg), and you have quite a formidable lineup.

Mongolia, the runner-up to China when it hosted the event in 2013, will aim for a place in the final behind world champion Orkhon PUREVDORJ (62kg), who added the Asian gold in Bishkek, and Asian runner-up Tumentsetseg SHARKHUU (68kg).

Purevdorj holds the unique distinction of having handed a rare loss on four-time Olympic champion Kaori ICHO, a technical fall victory in the final at the 2016 Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix.

Belarus, making its first appearance since 2013, will field three world medalists, but it remains to be seen if the European side has the depth to overcome the Asians.

2017 world champion Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR).

Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (53kg) is well known to Japanese wrestling fans, as her miracle comeback for an 8-6 win in the final in Paris denied Japan's Mukaida a world title. Five years earlier, she stunned future Olympic and world champion Eri TOSAKA in the 48kg final.

Joining Kaladzinskaya will be Paris 2017 bronze medalist Irina KURACHKINA (55kg) and silver medalist Vasilisa MARZALIUK (76kg).

Romania, making its World Cup debut, features Paris 2017 silver medalist Alina VUC (50kg).

For Japan's Kawai, who has not lost an international match since 2015 (a loss in the world 63kg final to Mongolia's Battsegseg SORONZOBOLD, who is slated to wrestle at 57kg in Takasaki), the tournament is also serving as a stepping stone toward defense of her Olympic title at Tokyo 2020.

"It's my first World Cup with a new weight class [for me] and the new system for weigh-in," Kawai said. "Aiming to win our fourth title in a row, I want each one of us to feel the responsibility so that it becomes a building block toward the Tokyo Olympics."

SCHEDULE
Saturday, March 17 (Local Time)
9:00 am: Canada v. United States (Mat A) // Mongolia v. China (Mat B)
10:15 am: Japan v. Sweden (Mat A) // Belarus v. Romania (Mat B)
11:30 am: Sweden v. United States (Mat A) // Romania v. China (Mat B)
12:45 pm: Japan v. Canada (Mat A) // Belarus v. Mongolia (Mat B)
4:30 pm: Opening Ceremonies
5:00 pm: Sweden v. Canada (Mat A) // Romania v. Belarus (Mat B)
6:15 pm: Japan v. United States (Mat A) // Belarus v. China (Mat B)

Sunday, March 18 (Local Time)
9:00 am: Seventh Place Match
10:30 am: Fifth Place Match
1:00 pm: Bronze Medal Match
2:30 pm: Gold Medal Match

#WrestleTirana

Tibilov Serves Serbia Gold; Azerbaijan Wins Greco Team Title

Wednesday, April 22, 2026 - 20:18 By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (April 22) -- A decade since Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) won a gold medal a championships, he was back on top, finally.

Back in 2016, he won gold at the U17 European Championships in Stockholm, Sweden. And on Wednesday in Tirana, Albania, Tibilov won gold at the senior European Championships at 60kg, only the fifth-ever champion from Serbia.

Tibilov had fallen short last year after dropping the final in Zagreb. However, he made no mistake this year, beating former U20 world champion Suren AGHAJANYAN (ARM), 2-2, on criteria.

The 60kg final began with Aghajanyan scoring a stepout and then getting the par terre position in the first period to lead 2-0. However, he failed to score any points as Tibilov was solid in denfese.

In the second period, Tibilov did the exact same sequence and scored a stepout before getting the par terre position to lead 2-2 on last-point-scored criteria. as he was also failed to score points from par terre.

Georgij TIBILOV (SRB), red, battles it out with Suren AGHAJANYAN (ARM) during the 60kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

"It’s hard to put into words," Tibilov said. "I’ve never wrestled him [Aghajanyan] before. There are no weak opponents in the final. In fact, there are no weak ones at this tournament at all. He’s a very serious competitor. If it weren’t for my opponents, I wouldn’t be able to show what I showed here."

Tibilov won a bronze medal at the 2023 European Championships but he failed to repeat the feat in 2024. But in 2025, he reached the final before losing to Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE), who lost to Aghajanyan this year.

"The preparation [for this tournament] was serious and the result proves it. It’s always that serious but sometimes the result is different. That doesn’t mean we’re not working, it just means that sometimes you need to refine yourself, like a diamond, so it can shine."

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The 26-year-old now prepares to take on the World Championships where he has previously won a medal in 2024 at 63kg. But 60kg, the weight classes by Asian wrestlers as they won all four medals at the 2023 World Championships and the 2024 Paris Olympics. It was only at the 2025 World Championships that Hrachya POGHOSYAN (ARM) broke the hegemony. Now, Tibilov wants to do it at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

"The plan remains the same, we are moving step by step toward the Olympics in Los Angeles," he said. "All of this is part of the path toward the Olympics. I can’t say exactly what will happen, but we will fix everything there, in Los Angeles. And it won’t be only Asians standing on the podium."

Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) avoids a last-ditch effort from Luri LOMADZE (GEO) in the 72kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

In other finals on Wednesday, Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) won gold at 72kg without sharing the space on the podium like he had to do last year. At 97kg, Kiril MILOV (BUL) defended his gold medal after beating Alex SZOKE (HUN) in a close final.

Azerbaijan's pair of defending champions Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) and Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) repeated as champions at 67kg and 82kg and propelled Azerbaijan as the top team in Greco-Roman in Europe.

Ghanem, who won a gold medal after a controversial final last year, did not leave anything to luck. Wrestling Iuri LOMADZE (GEO) in the final, Ghanem got both par terre positions and scored two more points to complete a clinical 4-0.

Last year, due to a technical error, Ghanem and Levente LEVAI (HUN) had to share the gold medal. But the 2025 title had made Ghanem the first France wrestler to win the European title Greco in 30 years.

On Wednesday, he became only the second wrestler from the country to win the title twice, joining Ghani YALOUZ (FRA) who won in 1992 and 1995.

"This time my feeling is better because last year I had one wrestler with me for this medal," Ghanem said. "This is the best feeling for me."

Ghanem, a world champion in 2023, will now try to adjust himself in the Olympic weight class of 77kg.

"My plan now, I think for Olympic Games," he said. "I think this last time for 72kg, but I'm not sure. I will speak to my coach after European Championships."

Kiril MILOV (BUL) at the medal ceremony with his gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Milov, who has been out of action for a year now, returned to the mat and defended his European title, his third in total.

On the same side of the bracket as world silver medalist Artur SARGSIAN (UWW) and world bronze medalist Kiryl MASKEVICH (UWW), Milov defeated both of them en route the final.

In the final, Milov faced former U23 world champion and returning bronze medalist Alex SZOKE (HUN). After Milov got the par terre in the first period, he managed to turn Szoke and lead 3-1.

In a rare occurance, Szoke was awarded two passivity par terre positions. However, he failed to trouble Milov, who carefully defended his lead.

"I missed a year of major tournaments," Milov said. "I’m happy that my motivation and discipline helped me prepare to the maximum, give my best, and win a third European title."

Milov did not participated in World Championships in 2025 but is now raring to go and win his third world medal after two silvers in 2018 and 2022.

"Sometimes motivation fades as it’s a temporary thing," he said. "But the discipline I’ve built through sport helped me train every day and give my maximum, because if I have the chance to compete, I have to take it and give everything I have."

Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) got two points as Murat FIRAT (TUR) committed a foul. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Jafarov, Gurbanov Defend

Defending champion at 67kg Jafarov needed a third passivity in his final against Murat FIRAT (TUR) to win his fourth European title. Jafarov got the first par terre position in the first period, and then used a four-point throw to race to a 5-0 lead.

Firat opened the second period with a four-point arm throw and then got a par terre position to lead 5-5 on criteria. He did not score any points from the position and decided to defend his lead.

However, with 55 seconds remaining, Jafarov was awarded a third passivity and Firat committed a defensive foul which was confirmed only after a challenge from Azerbaijan, giving Jafarov a 7-5 lead.

He defended that lead and claim the gold medal, fourth straight one of his career.

Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) scores a takedown against Adlet TIULIUBAEV (UWW). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Gurbanov also had a close final against Adlet TIULIUBAEV (UWW) at 82kg but he survived the battle and won 4-2.

The final began with a takedown from Gurbanov who used a strong throw to bring Tiuliubaev to the mat. Tiuliubaev challenged the call for a leg foul but the takedown was clean and the challenge was lost, giving one more points to Gurbanov.

The Azerbaijan wrestler then got the par terre position which extended his lead to 4-0. When the bout resumed in standing, Tiuliubaev managed a push out to make cut the lead to 4-1 before the break.

A passivity call against Gurbanov was the only point for Tiuliubaev in the remaining bout, giving Gurbanov a hard-earned victory.

The two golds propelled Azerbaijan to the Greco-Roman team title with 133 points. Turkiye finished second with 121 points and Georgia was third with 118 points.

RESULTS

60kg
GOLD: Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) df. Suren AGHAJANYAN (ARM), 2-2

BRONZE: Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) df. Suner KONUNOV (UWW), 6-0
BRONZE: Corneliu RUSU (MDA) df. Denis MIHAI (ROU), 6-5

67kg
GOLD: Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) df. Murat FIRAT (TUR), 7-5

BRONZE: Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM) df. Oleksandr HRUSHYN (UKR), 5-3
BRONZE: Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) df. Jan OEHLEN (SWE), 3-1

72kg
GOLD: Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) df. Iuri LOMADZE (GEO), 4-0

BRONZE: Gaspar TERTERYAN (ARM) df. Aliaksandr LIAVONCHYK (UWW), 1-1
BRONZE: Cengiz ARSLAN (TUR) df. Pavel PUKLAVEC (CRO),

82kg
GOLD: Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) df. Adlet TIULIUBAEV (UWW), 4-2

BRONZE: Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) df. Karlo KODRIC (CRO), 11-2
BRONZE: Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) df. Mihail BRADU (MDA), 1-1

97kg
GOLD: Kiril MILOV (BUL) df. Alex SZOKE (HUN), 3-1

BRONZE: Artur SARGSIAN (UWW) df. Kiryl MASKEVICH (UWW), 4-1
BRONZE: Vladen KOZLIUK (UKR) df. Abdul CEBI (TUR), 7-0

Host Japan Favored at Women's World Cup

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Tibilov Serves Serbia Gold; Azerbaijan Wins Greco Team Title