#BudaWrestle2018

Japan Advances Susaki, Okuno, Kawai to Finals

Wednesday, October 24, 2018 - 15:56 By Andrew Hipps

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (October 24) -- A day after crowning two world champions in women's wrestling, Japan has a chance to add three more gold medalists on Thursday. 

Yui SUSAKI (50kg), Haruna OKUNO (53kg) and Yukako KAWAI (62kg) advanced to the finals with victories in the semifinals of the World Championships on Wednesday in Budapest, Hungary. 

Susaki, a 2017 senior world champion and three-time cadet world champion, needed just a minute and a half to earn a 10-0 technical fall in the semifinals over Oksana LIVACH (UKR) at 50kg. Susaki scored a takedown and used a leg lace to go up 6-0 a minute into the match. A short time later she added another takedown and ended the match with her leg lace.

She will face 30-year-old Mariya STADNIK (AZE) in the finals at 50kg. Stadnik, a past world champion and multiple-time world medalist, reached the gold-medal match with a hard-fought 4-2 victory over Sonhyang KIM (PRK). Kim attempted to score a takedown in the closing seconds, but Stadnik fought it off and gave up just a step out to preserve the lead and take the victory. 

Okuno, a returning world champion, rolled to an 8-1 semifinal victory over Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL) at 53kg. Okuno scored first with a takedown and led 2-0 at the break. Krawczyk inched closer in the second period with a step out to make the score 2-1. But Okuno quickly pulled away, picking up three more takedowns to win by seven. Okuno's finals opponent will be Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA).

Hildebrandt proved to be too much for Diana WEICKER (CAN) in the semifinals at 53kg. Hildebrandt dominated from the start, using a takedown and two turns to race out to a 6-0 lead. She built her lead to 8-0 at the break and closed out the technical fall in the second period. 

Kawai came back to defeat past world champion Yuliia TKACH OSTAPCHUK (UKR). Tkach jumped out to a 3-0 lead at the break after a step out and takedown in the first period. The score remained 3-0 until just over a minute remaining in the match when Kawai scored a takedown to cut the deficit to 3-2 before adding a gut wrench turn to grab a 4-3 lead. Tkach took a shot with just over 20 seconds remaining and was able to get Kawai's leg, but couldn't finish. 

Kawai, who secured her first world medal, will meet four-time world medalist Taybe YUSEIN (BUL) in the gold-medal match at 62kg. Yusein reached the finals with a fall over Mallory VELTE (USA). After a scoreless first two minutes, Yusein locked up a cradle and pinned the American.

At 57kg, Ningning RONG (CHN) used a strong second period to dominate Grace BULLEN (NOR) and claim her spot in the gold-medal match. Bullen led 2-0 at the break. But the second belonged to Rong. After getting a takedown in the first minute of the second period, Rong used a gut wrench to turn Bullen five times for the technical fall. 

Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) defeated two-time world bronze medalist Emese BARKA (HUN) 6-2 in the other semifinal match at 57kg. 

Semifinal Results

Women's Wrestling

50kg
Yui SUSAKI (JPN) df. Oksana LIVACH (UKR) by VSU, 10-0
Mariya STADNIK (AZE) df. Sonhyang KIM (PRK) by VPO1, 4-2

53kg
Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) df. Diana WEICKER (CAN) by VSU, 10-0
Haruna OKUNO (JPN) df. Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL) by VPO1, 8-1

57kg
Bilyana Zhivkova DUDOVA (BUL) df. Emese BARKA (HUN) by VPO1, 6-2
Ningning RONG (CHN) df. Grace BULLEN (NOR) by VSU1, 12-2

62kg
Yukako KAWAI (JPN) df. Yuliia TKACH OSTAPCHUK (UKR) by VPO1, 4-3
Taybe YUSEIN (BUL) df. Mallory VELTE (USA) by VFA, 2-0
 

#WrestleAthens

Uzbekistan closer to Women's Wrestling history at U17 Worlds

Wednesday, July 30, 2025 - 14:55 By Vinay Siwach

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ATHENS, Greece (July 30) --  Mukhayyo RAKHIMJONOVA (UZB) is on the verge of creating history for Uzbekistan in Athens.

Wrestling at the World U17 Championships on Wednesday, Rakhimjonova became the first wrestler from Uzbekistan to reach the final of U17 Worlds.

 On Thursday, she will try to become the first wrestler to win a gold medal at any World Championships for Uzbekistan in Women's Wrestling.

She reached the 65kg final after beating European silver medalist Feenja HERMANN (GER), 6-1. In her earlier bouts, she had defeated Zuzanna HORBIK (POL), 6-4, and Alexandra MOISEI (MDA), 12-1.

Standing between her and the historic gold medal is Asian U17 champion Ashvini VISHNOI (IND), who was one of India's four finalists on Wednesday.

Vishnoi, who outscored her opponents 41-0 in four bouts, defeated European U17 champion Lilia ERMOKHINA (UWW), 7-0, in the semifinal. After a slow start, Vishnoi got two takedowns in the second period, adding to her two stepouts and one passivity point in the match.

Former world U17 champion KAJAL (IND) will get a chance to avenge her loss from Asian Championships after she reached the final against Asian champion Wenjin QIU (CHN) at 73kg.

Qiu had humbled Kajal 10-0 in the final of the Asian U17 Championships a month ago in Vietnam. But if Kajal is in the form she showed on Wednesday, her chances to avenge that loss are high.

She defeated Pan-Am champion Ella Jo POALILLO (USA), 11-0, giving no chance to Poalillo. Kajal hit a couple of double-leg as counters to take down Poalillo.

Qiu pinned Deborah GARCIA (MEX) in the other semifinal when the Mexican tried to outside trip her. Qiu stood her ground and slammed Garcia before securing the fall.

Another Asian U17 Championships final will be replayed on Thursday, at 57kg, as champion MONI (IND) and silver medalist Madkhiya USMANOVA (KAZ) won their respective semifinals and book their spots in the gold-medal bout.

Usmanov used a four-pointer against Sayuki TANADA (JPN) and secured the fall in two minutes and 36 seconds. With the loss of Tanada, Japan was left with only one finalist on Wednesday when five weight classes were in action.

Moni, like she had done all day, kept her defense and scored takedown whenever she could find an opening. After a passivity point, Moni scored three takedown to beat Alina BAROEVA (UWW), 7-0, in the semifinal.

At 43kg, RACHNA (IND) and Xin HUANG (CHN) made it to the final after contrasting wins. Rachna defended her 1-1 criteria lead over Madison HEALEY (USA) to win and make the final, Huang put on a takedown masterclass to beat European champion Raniia RAKHMANOVA (UWW) 8-0.

Turner closer to second world title

She is already a world U17 champion but there has been no lack of motivation for Morgan TURNER (USA) as she chases another at U17 level.

Morgan spent only two minutes and 24 seconds on the mat to win her three bouts on Wednesday and reach the final at 49kg in Athens.

A gold medalist from 2023 and bronze medalist from 2024, Morgan will face Yu KATAOKA (JPN) for the gold on Thursday. Like in typical Japanese style, Kataoka used five different takedowns to win 10-0 in her semifinal against Polina BOCHKAREVA (UWW).

Morgan used a cradle to secure a fall over Polina BOCHKAREVA (UWW), a returning bronze medalist and European champion.

RESULTS

43kg
GOLD: RACHANA (IND) vs. Xin HUANG (CHN)

SF 1: RACHANA (IND) df. Madison HEALEY (USA), 1-1
SF 2: Xin HUANG (CHN) df. Raniia RAKHMANOV (UWW), 8-0

49kg
GOLD: Morgan TURNER (USA) vs. Yu KATAOKA (JPN)

SF 1: Morgan TURNER (USA) df. Anhelina BURKINA (UWW), via fall (8-0)
SF 2: Yu KATAOKA (JPN) df. Polina BOCHKAREVA (UWW), 10-0

57kg
GOLD: Madkhiya USMANOVA (KAZ) vs. MONI (IND)

SF 1: Madkhiya USMANOVA (KAZ) df. Sayuki TANADA (JPN), via fall (5-0)
SF 2: MONI (IND) df. Alina BAROEVA (UWW), 7-0

65kg
GOLD: Mukhayyo RAKHIMJONOVA (UZB) vs. Ashvini VISHNOI (IND)

SF 1: Mukhayyo RAKHIMJONOVA (UZB) df. Feenja HERMANN (GER), 6-1 
SF 2: Ashvini VISHNOI (IND) df. Lilia ERMOKHINA (UWW), 7-0

73kg
GOLD: KAJAL (IND) vs. Wenjin QIU (CHN)

SF 1: KAJAL (IND) df. Ella Jo POALILLO (USA), 11-0 
SF 2: Wenjin QIU (CHN) df. Deborah GARCIA (MEX), via fall