Jalolov adds U20 World title to impressive resume

Tuesday, August 16, 2022 - 20:19 By Vinay Siwach

SOFIA, Bulgaria (August 16) -- The last time Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) was in Sofia, he went home as a world champion. Three years later, he returned to the Bulgarian capital to win his second age-group world title.

The '19 U17 world champion ran through the field at 65kg at the U20 World Championships and set up a final against returning silver medalist Ziraddin BAYRAMOV (AZE). While he would have liked to wrestle full six minutes, Bayramov pulled out of the final due to a shoulder injury when Jalolov was leading 5-1 in the final.

With the win and his exploits at the senior level this year, Jalolov has ascertained that he belongs to the stage and can give Uzbekistan the freestyle star it is searching for.

In Ufa, Jalolov suffered an opening round to finish 10th while Bayramov lost to Shamil MAMMEDOV (RWF) in the final.

However, both looked in solid form in Sofia with Bayramov defeating U23 and U20 Asian champion Sujeet KALKAL (IND) in the semifinal.

But in the final, Jalolov proved too much for Bayramov who was called passive early before scoring a stepout. Jalolov then got on a single and scored a takedown. Trying to cover the deficit, Bayramov shot a double but hit his shoulder on Jalolov's leg and abandoned the attack. He then tapped for medical attention when Jalolov hit the counter.

The Azerbaijan corner decided to pull out of the final, giving Jalolov the win. A disappointed Bayramov cursed his luck for finishing with a second straight silver medal at the U20 Worlds.

This year, Jalolov has won bronze medals at the Istanbul and Almaty ranking events apart from the bronze at the U20 Asians. The Youth Olympic gold medalist will now hope to transition the age-group success at the senior level in what is one of the deepest weight classes in the world.

Benjamin KUETER (USA) won the 97kg U20 world title in Sofia. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

USA wins 2 golds

In other finals on Tuesday, the USA won two gold medals while Iran and Azerbaijan won one each as five world champions were crowned.

18-year-old Benjamin KUETER (USA) emerged as the world champion at 97kg after securing a fall over '21 U17 world champion Rifat GIDAK (TUR) in the final.

Gidak got the hold over Kueter and scored an exposure using a seatbelt throw but Kueter quickly got out of it to score two of his own and then used a move that he learned wrestling folkstyle in the US.

"It started a little crazy but I hit this gut and felt the momentum coming along," Kueter said. "I got on top and the move I did was actually a folkstyle move which we do in the States. It's hard for foreigners as they don't get that feeling."

Gidak tried locking the hands to stop Kueter from getting the rolls but the American ultimately used an arm bar to pin the Turkey wrestler.

The Iowa City native, who is also an All-American in American football, explained that Gidak was stronger in defense.

"He was in a strong position," Kueter said. "He stopped me from going to one side but all I had to do was go the other way. I could hear coach Green yelling go around, go around and that was it."

Jore VOLK (USA) beat U20 Asian champion Merey BAZARBAYEV (KAZ), 3-2, to win the 57kg gold. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Jore VOLK (USA) was the other world champion for the USA as he beat U20 Asian champion Merey BAZARBAYEV (KAZ), 3-2, in a close 57kg final.

In a final of two halves, Volk took to Bazarbayev with continuous attacks and managed to circle behind Bazarbayev. He tried scoring a takedown but ended up dragging the Kazakhstan wrestler for a point. He did get the takedown in another sequence just before the break to lead 3-0.

"I was confident in my defense and even if I gave up points in the second period, I knew I will get one of my own," Volk said.

He did exactly that and forced Bazarbayev to attack. Volk was called passive and penalized for a singlet pull but with some classic underhook defense, the USA wrestler managed to win the title.

Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE) celebrates after winning the 70kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

The USA could have crowned three champions but Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE) beat Mitchell MESENBRINK (USA), 13-7, in a slugfest that saw him play out a tactical game in the final.

He began with a big two and two and tried to secure the fall but Mesenbrink managed to roll over and survive. He gave up a gut wrench before getting the reversal. Heybatov went into the break with a 7-1 lead.

The second period began with Mesenbrink scoring two stepouts but gave up a takedown as well. He scored one of his own and a stepout to cut the lead to 9-6. But Heybatov kept coming back and scoring takedowns to ultimately win 13-7.

Sobhan YARI (IRI) won the only gold for Iran on Tuesday. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

At 79kg, Sobhan YARI (IRI) gave Iran a gold medal as he beat Mushegh MKRTCHYAN (ARM), 5-0, in the final.

The first period was a slow affair as both wrestlers were happy to not engage in scrambles. Yari led 1-0 at the break after getting a point for Mkrtchyan's passivity. A minute into the second period, he scored a takedown before another passivity point and stepout helped him secure the win with ease.

Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) defeated Nicholas FELDMAN (USA), 11-1, in the 125kg semifinal. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Iran leads ahead

With Yari's gold and three more wrestlers winning their respective semifinals on Tuesday, Iran took control of the team title race by moving past the USA at the top spot.

In a strong show on Tuesday's semifinals, Armin HABIBZADEH (IRI), Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) and Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) reached the gold medal bouts.

Returning 86kg world champion Firouzpour reached the final at 92kg after handing Adlan VISKHANOV (FRA) an 10-0 loss in the semifinal. The Asian champion was not scored upon in his three bouts on Tuesday and he will hope to keep a clean record in the final against Andro MARGISHVILI (GEO) who reached the final beating Sergey SARGSYAN (ARM), 4-3.

'21 U17 world champion Masoumi also dominated his competition and reached the final with ease after beating Nicholas FELDMAN (USA), 11-1 in the semifinal. His pressure wrestling was once again on display, scoring stepouts at will against the USA wrestler.

Masoumi will have to beat U20 Asia silver medalist Mahendra GAIKWAD (IND) to win the title. Gaikwad defeated Namoz ABDURASHIDOV (UZB), 6-0 in the other semifinal.

Habibzadeh will like to add a world title to his continental one at 61kg after he defeated Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA), 3-0, to reach the final. A point for passivity and a takedown was all the action in the bout.

But former U17 world bronze medalist Yuto NISHIUCHI (JPN) will be a tough match for him as the Japanese star looks to add a gold medal to his bronze from the 2019 Worlds in Sofia. In a high-scoring semifinal, Nishiuchi scored a 16-8 win over Mohit KUMAR (IND).

Both wrestlers had four-point moves in the first period which saw 16 points being scored with Nishiuchi leading 10-6. He added a takedown and gut in the second period before Kumar scored exposure. But Nishiuchi managed to win comfortably.

Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) outscored his opponents 38-2 on Tuesday. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

The other finalist for Japan came at 74kg as Ryunosuke KAMIYA (JPN) set up the gold medal bout against U20 European champion and returning silver medalist Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE).

Kamiya wrestled '21 U17 world champion Sagar JAGLAN (IND) in the semifinal and displayed strong defense to win 9-2. Jaglan got hold of Kamiya's leg and tried to score a takedown when the Japan wrestler tripped him for four points. A double for another four-pointer all but sealed the match for Kamiya, avenging his 4-0 loss to Jaglan from the 2019 U15 Asian Championships.

Gadzhiev will be hoping to win the U20 world title after finishing second to Erfan ELAHI (IRI) last year at 70kg. Elahi lost 10-4 to Jaglan earlier in the day.

Overall, the U23 European champion outscored his opponents 38-2 including the 5-2 semifinal win over Luka CHKHITUNIDZE (GEO).

Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA), red, is hoping to upgrade his 2021 silver to gold in Sofia. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Another returning silver medalist hoping to win the title is Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) as he reached the 86kg final against Bennett BERGE (USA).

Magamadov was stopped by Firouzpour last year but the France wrestler looks determined to win the gold this year. He defeated Sabuhi AMIRASLANOV (AZE), 11-2, in the semifinal. But his biggest win came in the quarterfinal when he leg laced Aref RANJBARI (IRI) to win in just over a minute.

Wednesday he will face Berge in the final who defeated Ismail KUCUKSOLAK (TUR), 9-7, after being 5-0 down. Kucuksolak scored a four-pointer and a point for Berge's passivity but as the Turkey wrestler got tired, Berge scored five stepouts in the second period to make it 5-5 before adding two takedowns to make it 9-5. A consolation takedown gave Kucuksolak two points.

Apart from the freestyle medal bouts on Wednesday, women's wrestling begins at the U20 World Championships with 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg and 76kg wrestlers going on the mat.

Podium The four medalists at 65kg in Sofia. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

RESULTS

57kg:
GOLD: Jore VOLK (USA) df. Merey BAZARBAYEV (KAZ), 3-2

BRONZE: Ahmad JAVAN (IRI) df. Luka GVINJILIA (GEO), 11-0
BRONZE: Abhishek DHAKA (IND) df. Heorhii KAZANZHY (UKR), 8-5

65kg
GOLD: Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) df. Ziraddin BAYRAMOV (AZE), via injury (5-1)

BRONZE: Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) df. Robert CORNELLA (USA), 6-6
BRONZE: Sujeet KALKAL (IND) df. Mykyta ZUBAL (UKR), 12-1

70kg
GOLD: Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE) df. Mitchell MESENBRINK (USA), 13-7

BRONZE: Hossein AGHAEI (IRI) df. Hayk PAPIKYAN (ARM), 5-2
BRONZE: Mulaym YADAV (IND) df. Gigi KURKHULI (GEO), 12-2

79kg
GOLD: Sobhan YARI (IRI) df. Mushegh MKRTCHYAN (ARM), 5-0

BRONZE: Otari ADEISHVILI (GEO) df. Bekir OVEC (TUR), 10-4
BRONZE: Mukhammad ABDULLAEV (KGZ) df. Soslan TIGIYEV (AZE), 18-10

97kg
GOLD: Benjamin KUETER (USA) df. Rifat GIDAK (TUR), via fall

BRONZE: NIRAJ (IND) df. Luka KHUTCHUA (GEO), 18-10
BRONZE: Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) df. David MCHEDLIDZE (UKR), 5-1

Semifinals

61kg
GOLD: Armin HABIBZADEH (IRI) vs. Yuto NISHIUCHI (JPN)

SF 1: Armin HABIBZADEH (IRI) df. Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA), 3-0
SF 2: Yuto NISHIUCHI (JPN) df. Mohit KUMAR (IND), 16-8

74kg
GOLD: Ryunosuke KAMIYA (JPN) vs. Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE)

SF 1: Ryunosuke KAMIYA (JPN) df. Sagar JAGLAN (IND), 9-2
SF 2: Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) df. Luka CHKHITUNIDZE (GEO), 5-2

86kg
GOLD: Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) vs Bennett BERGE (USA)

SF 1: Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) df. Sabuhi AMIRASLANOV (AZE), 11-2
SF 2: Bennett BERGE (USA) df. Ismail KUCUKSOLAK (TUR), 9-7

92kg
GOLD: Andro MARGISHVILI (GEO) vs. Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI)

SF 1: Andro MARGISHVILI (GEO) df. Sergey SARGSYAN (ARM), 4-3
SF 2: Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) df. Adlan VISKHANOV (FRA), 10-0

125kg
GOLD: Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) vs. Mahendra GAIKWAD (IND)

SF 1: Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) df. Nicholas FELDMAN (USA), 11-1
SF 2: Mahendra GAIKWAD (IND) df. Namoz ABDURASHIDOV (UZB), 6-0

#JapanWrestling

Another Ono rises: Konami follows brother's footsteps

Friday, August 29, 2025 - 02:52 By Ikuo Higuchi

TOKYO (August 27) -- When you think of the name Ono from Shimane Prefecture, many will recall Masanosuke ONO (JPN), a world champion who is quickly becoming a global star, who now primarily competes in the United States.

Ono's younger sister Konami, who was undefeated in the national tournament during her elementary school years, is just like her brother. She went on to attend Nippon Sport Science University Ohka High School in Tokyo, where she grew up steadily, winning the Inter-High School Championships in 2023 and also winning silver at the U17 World Championships the same year.

A shoulder injury caused her to slow down, but through repeated practice at Nippon Sport Science University she regained her former strength and won the East Japan Student Championships and the All Japan Amateur Championships [women's competition is open to university students as well] last week.

Konami ONO (JPN), left, won a silver medal at the 2023 U17 World Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Being coached by 2004 Athens Olympic bronze medalist Chikara TANABE and Kaori ICHO, she described herself as being in "the best environment."

Ono had been suffering from pain in the right shoulder and had to undergo a surgery in June last year. She had initially aimed for a comeback last year at the All Japan Championships [Emperor's Cup] in December, but was forced to withdraw. She returned to competition in April of this year at the Junior Queen's Cup U20, where she won one match, but lost the next match to a junior from high school by technical superiority.

"There were times when my shoulder would dislocate just by walking. It was a frustrating year," said Ono with her voice becoming teary, as if the pain had returned. "I'm happy because I was injured and couldn't wrestle for a while," she said but added, "I realized I need to practice more and get stronger."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Olympic Wrestling (@unitedworldwrestling)

Inspiration from brother Ono

While she was off the mat, Konami watched her brother Masanosuke win the gold medal at the U20 World Championships in 2024 and later become the world champion at 61kg at the Non-Olympic World Championships.

"It's not something I could ever imitate," she says, and although he is someone she should "admire" rather than "target," he is also someone close to her, having competed alongside since childhood. "I want to study hard and catch up," she says.

Konami ONO (JPN) with world and Olympic champion Jordan BURROUGHS (USA). (Photo courtesy: Masaharu Ono)

Earlier in spring, Konami accompanied her older brother to the United States, where he trains at Pennsylvania State University. She was still recovering and was unable to train, but she watched her brother's win against 2024 Paris Olympic silver medalist Spencer LEE (USA).

"I thought American wrestling was really amazing. It was inspiring," she said.

What made the biggest impression on Konami was how much fun her brother seemed to be having wrestling, even though he was in a foreign country.

"He really enjoys wrestling," she said. "I was amazed that there are people who love wrestling that much [laughs].

"My brother is my role model," she said. "I often watch his techniques and aspire to be like him."

What she finds particularly impressive is his speed, and the way he unconsciously develops his techniques. She herself sometimes has trouble deciding what to do next during a match, but her brother's body moves without a second thought. "I need to be able to come out with techniques one after the other," she said.

Training with Fujinami, Onishi

While Ono found his path in the United States, Konami is thinking of firmly establishing herself in Japan.

"I think that if I stay at Nippon Sport Science University, I will become really strong," she says, believing that his current environment is the place where she can develop the skills to compete on the world stage.

Not only is there an impressive coaching staff, but there are also world-class athletes such as 2024 Olympic champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) and Asian champion Sakura ONISHI (JPN) in the 57kg and 59kg weight class, respectively. Fujinami won gold at the Olympics in 53kg.

"I practice with Akari every day. She's really strong..." she said, admiringly, and when she's not sparring, she's always following Fujinami's movements to study them.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Olympic Wrestling (@unitedworldwrestling)

Since they are both in the 57kg weight class, could she challenge Fujinami as early as the All Japan Championships in December? To that question, she gave no clear answer, saying, "I'm not at the level where I can fight yet..." and said that she might move up a weight class as her body grows, so it's still up in the air, but perhaps the day is approaching when the middleweight trio, including Onishi, will take to the world stage.

Rather than setting big goals, her current goal is to "compete in many matches and enjoy wrestling." She says that she is actually enjoying it, so perhaps she is getting closer to her brother's level. Her next concrete goal is the All Japan Women's Open Championships in October.

She vowed to make a leap forward, saying, "I want to train both my body and mind and become even stronger. I want to become a star from Shimane Prefecture!"

Jalolov adds U20 World title to impressive resume

Comments

Another Ono rises: Konami follows brother's footsteps