Women's World Cup

Japan and China Win Group Stage, Finals Set

By Eric Olanowski

CHEBOKSORY, Russia (December 1) – Japan and China both started the day on a hot streak, winning all eight of their opening round bouts at the Women's World Cup. Both teams ended with three victories, as they were undefeated on the opening day. This set up Saturday's 2017 Women’s World Cup Championship finals matchup between Japan and China. Japan was the winner of Group A and China was the winner of Group B. This will be their first championships meeting since 2007 and third overall. They are currently tied with one win apiece.

Japan, led by world champions Yui SUSAKI (JPN) and Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) kicked the day off by defeating Sweden, 8-0. The highlight of the match came when A. HANAI (JPN) defeated No.5 E. NILSSON (SWE), 3-1. Hanai secured two step outs, and received her final point from Nilsson’s lost challenge.

In round two, the Japanese continued their winning ways by picking up five victories against host nation Russia.

Japan etched their way into their third straight Women’s World Cup finals by defeating the United States, 4-4 on criteria in round number three. It was Y. KAWAI'S (JPN) victory over 2017 world finalist and No.2 ranked Ali RAGAN (USA) that helped seal the dual. Ragan had a 2-0 lead in the second period when Kawai picked up a takedown and three leg laces, giving her the 8-1 victory.

It took China twenty matches until they saw their first defeat of the day, as they shut out Azerbaijan and Ukraine in the first two rounds. In round three, No.15 B. ALTANTSETSEG (MGL) was able to put Mongolia on the board by defeating Y. SUN (CHN), 7-2, but China eventually locked up their first finals spot since 2013 with a 5-3 victory.

Saturday’s third place bout features the United States and Mongolia, who were both 2-1 on the opening day of competition.

With their backs against the wall, the United States called on three-time world champion A. GRAY. In order for the USA to win the dual against Russia, Gray would have to pick up a fall over Russia’s A. PEREPELKINA. Gray picked up the 57-second fall, which gave the USA the 4-4 victory on criteria.

In addition, the United States picked up a 7-1 victory over Sweden. K. MIRACLE (USA) gave the United States their fifth straight win of the dual with a victory over No.5 E. Nilsson.

Mongolia finished the day with victories in Group B over Azerbaijan (6-2) and Ukraine (6-2). Mongolia's biggest win of the day came when No.15 B. Altansetseg put on a show and defeated No.8 I. CHYKHRADZE KHARIV (UKR), 9-1.

Finishing with 1-2 records, the fifth place bout will be wrestled between Russia and Ukraine.

Russia locked up their spot in the fifth place match with a 5-3 victory over Sweden. Ukraine’s lone victory over Azerbaijan came by way of 4-4 tie that was broken on classification points.

Rounding out the placement matches will be the seveth place bout between Azerbaijan and Sweden, who were both 0-3 on the day.

Medal and Placement Matches (December 2)

7th Place: Sweden v. Azerbaijan || 1pm/5am ET
5th Place: Russia v. Ukraine|| 1pm/5am ET

3rd Place: United State v. Mongolia || 2pm/6am ET
1st Place: Japan v. China || 3pm/7am ET

RESULTS

Japan df. Sweden, 8-0
48kg    Y. SUSAKI (JPN) df. M. LJUNGSTROEM (SWE), 10-0
53kg    M. MUKAIDA (JPN) df. E. BROBECK (SWE), 10-0
55kg    M. KADOYA (JPN) df. S. PETER (SWE), 10-0
58kg    A. HANAI (JPN) df. E. NILSSON (SWE), 3-1
60kg    Y. KAWAI (JPN) df. T. PERSSON (SWE), FORFEIT
63kg    Y. ITO (JPN) df. M. NYGREN (SWE), 10-0
69kg    M. MORIKAWA (JPN) df. A. SANDAHL (SWE), 5-1
75kg    M. FURUICHI (JPN) df. D. MAKOTA STROEM (SWE), 6-6

China df. Ukraine, 8-0                       
48kg    Y. SUN (CHN) df. I. SEMKIV (UKR), 12-2
53kg    Q. PANG (CHN) df. O. SHNAIDER (UKR), 8-0
55kg    N. RONG (CHN) df. O. KREMZER (UKR), FALL
58kg    X. CHEN (CHN) df.  I. CHYKHRADZE KHARIV (UKR), 12-8
60kg    Q. LI (CHN) df. S. BODNAR (UKR), 6-1
63kg    R. XU (CHN) df. Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR), 7-6
69kg    F. ZHOU (CHN)  df. A. BELINSKA (UKR), FALL
75kg    Q. ZHOU (CHN) df. A.SHUSTOVA (UKR), 10-4

United States df. Russia, 4-4.
48kg    V. ANTHONY df. (USA) df. V. CHEPSARAKOVA (RUS), 3-2
53kg    S. ORSHUSH (RUS) df. H. AUGELLO (USA), 10-0
55kg    S. HILDEBRANDT (USA) df. M. GUROVA (RUS), 6-3
58kg    V. CHUMIKOVA (RUS) df.. K. MIRACLE (USA), 8-6
60kg    Yulia PRONTSEVITCH (RUS) df. A. RAGAN (USA), 3-2
63kg    A. FOMENKO (RUS) df. M. VELTE (USA), 4-2
69kg    T. MENSAH (USA) df. A. BRATCHIKOVA (RUS), 10-0
75kg    A. GRAY (USA) df. A. PEREPELKINA (RUS), via FALL (0:57)

Mongolia df, Azerbaijan, 6-2
48kg    T. NASIROVA (AZE) df. C. BUYANDALAI (MGL), 12-10
53kg    Leyla GURBANOVA (AZE) df. Otgonjargal GANBAATAR (MGL), 4-0
55kg    B. BAT OCHIR (MGL) df. S. HASHIMZADA (AZE), 5-0
58kg    B. ALTANTSETSEG (MGL) df. A. KOLESNIK (AZE), 14-10
60kg    T. OMELCHENKO (AZE) df.. G. ENKHBAT (MGL), 5-2
63kg    B. KHURELKHUU (MGL) df. E. GAMBAROVA (AZE), 8-1
69kg    P. GANBAATAR (MGL) df. E. MANOLOVA (AZE), 6-4
75kg    O. GAN OCHIR (MGL) df. G. ZUTOVA (AZE), via FORFEIT

USA df. Sweeden, 7-1
48kg    V. ANTHONY (USA) df.  M. LJUNGSTROEM (SWE), 10-0
53kg    H. AUGELLO (USA) df.  E. BROBECK (SWE), via fall.
55kg    S. HILDEBRANDT (USA) df. S PETER (SWE), 12-1.
58kg    K.  MIRACLE (USA) df. E.NILSSON (SWE), 5-0
60kg    A. RAGAN (USA) df. T. PERSSON (SWE), via FORFEIT
63kg    A MOLINARI (USA) df. M. NYGREN (SWE), 4-2.
69kg    T. MENSAH (USA) df. A.  SANDAHL (SWE), 10-0
75kg    D. MAKOTA STROEM (SWE) df. V. FRANCIS (USA), 10-0

Mongolia df. Ukraine, 6-2
48kg    I. SEMKIV (UKR) df. C. BUYANDALAI (MGL), 6-0
53kg    O. GANBAATAR (MGL) df. O. SHNAIDER (UKR), 6-2
55kg    B. BAT OCHIR df. (MGL) O. KREMZER (UKR), 10-4
58kg    B. ALTANTSETSEG (MGL) df. I. CHYKHRADZE KHARIV (UKR), 9-1
60kg    G. ENKHBAT (MGL) df. S BODNAR (UKR), 11-0
63kg    O. PUREVDORJ (MGL) df. I. KOLIADENKO (UKR), 11-0
69kg    A. BELINSKA (UKR) df. B. SORONZONBOID. (MGL), via FALL
75kg    O. GAN OCHIR (MGL) df. Anastasiia SHUSTOVA  (UKR), 10-6

Japan df. Russia, 5-3
48kg    Y. SUSAKI (JPN) df. A. VETOSHKINA(RUS), 10-0
53kg    M. MUKAIDA (JPN) df. Stalvira ORSHUSH (RUS), 10-0
55kg    M. GUROVA (RUS) df. M. KADOYA (JPN), 4-4
58kg    A.HANAI (JPN) df. V. CHUMIKOVA (RUS), 4-2
60kg    Y. KAWAI (JPN) df. Y. PRONTSEVITCH (RUS),6-0      
63kg    A. FOMENKO (RUS) df. Y. ITO (JPN),7-0
69kg    A. BRATCHIKOVA (RUS) df.  M. MORIKAWA (JPN), 4-1
75kg    M. FURUICHI (JPN) df. K. SHUMOVA (RUS), 3-1

China df. Azerbaijan, 8-0
48kg    J.NI (CHN) df. T. NASIROVA (AZE), 10-0
53kg    Q. PANG (CHN) df. L. GURBANOVA (AZE), 10-0
55kg    N. RONG (CHN) df. S. HASHIMZADA, (AZE), 12-2
58kg    Y. SUN (CHN) df. A. KOLESNIK (AZE), 7-4
60kg    X. CHEN (CHN) df. T. OMELCHENKO (AZE), 10-6
63kg    X. LUO (CHN) df. E. GAMBAROVA (AZE),10-0
69kg    F. ZHOU (CHN) df. E. MANOLOVA (AZE), 10-0
75kg    P. PALIHA (CHN df.. G.l ZUTOVA (AZE), via FORFEIT

China df. Mongolia, 5-3
48kg    Y. SUN (CHN) df. C. BUYANDALAI (MGL), 10-0.
53kg    Q. PANG (CHN) df. O GANBAATAR (MGL), 10-0
55kg    N. RONG (CHN) df.. S. ERDENECHIMEG (MGL), 12-1
58kg    B. ALTANTSETSEG (MGL) df. Y. SUN (CHN), 7-2.
60kg    X. CHEN (CHN) df. G. ENKHBAT (MGL), 12-1.
63kg    O. PUREVDORJ (MGL) df. X. LUO (CHN), 11-6.
69kg    F. ZHOU (CHN) df. P. GANBAATAR  (MGL), 4-0
75kg    N. ORCHIRBAT (MGL) df. P. PALIHA (CHN), 5-0

Russia df. Sweden , 5-3
48kg    V. CHEPSARAKOVA (RUS) df. M. LJUNGSTROEM (SWE), 10-0.
53kg    N. MALYSHEVA (RUS) df. E. BROBECK (SWE), 10-0
55kg    M. GUROVA (RUS) df. S. PETER (SWE), 11-0.  
58kg    E. NILSSON (SWE) df. K. MURTUZALIEVA (RUS), via FALL (3:52).
60kg    Y. PRONTSEVITCH (RUS) df. T. PERSSON (SWE), via FORFEIT
63kg    M. NYGREN (SWE) df. A. FOMENKO (RUS) via FALL.
69kg    A. BRATCHIKOVA (RUS) df. A. SANDAHL (SWE), 10-0.
75kg    D. MAKOTA STROEM (SWE) df. K. SHUMOVA (RUS), 4-0

Azerbijian df. Ukraine, 4-4
48kg    I. SEMKIV (UKR) df. T. NASIROVA (AZE), 10-0           
53kg    O. SHNAIDER (UKR), df. S. QAMZOCLZADE (AZE),14-2       
55kg    O KREMZER (UKR) df. S. HASHIMZADA (AZE), 10-0.
58kg    A.KOLESNIK  (AZE)  df. I. CHYKHRADZE KHARIV (UKR), 6-3
60kg    T. OMELCHENKO (AZE) df. S. BODNAR (UKR)
63kg    E. GAMBAROVA (AZE) df. I. KOLIADENKO (UKR)
69kg    E. MANOLOVA (AZE) df. A. BELINSKA (UKR)
75kg    A. SHUSTOVA (UKR) df. G. ZUTOVA (AZE), via FORFEIT

Japan df. USA 4-4
48kg    Y. SUSAKI (JPN), df. V. ANTHONY (USA), 11-0
53kg    M. MUKAIDA (JPN) df. H. AUGELLO (USA), 10-0.
55kg    S. HILDEBRANDT(USA)  df. M. KADOYA (JPN), 6-3
58kg    K. Kiyoko MIRACLE  (USA) df. Akie HANAI (JPN), 4-2
60kg    Y. KAWAI (JPN) df. A RAGAN (USA), 8-1         
63kg    Y. ITO (JPN) df. Mallory Maxine VELTE (USA), via FALL (1:36)            
69kg    T. MENSAH  (USA) df. M. MORIKAWA (JPN), 5-0
75kg    Adeline Maria GRAY (USA)  df. Masako FURUICHI (JPN), 6-0

 

 

 

 

 

 

2026 U23 European Championships

Three Golds Power Belarus to First U23 Euro Women's Team Title

By Vinay Siwach

ZRENJANIN, Serbia (March 13) -- Three golds medals on Friday propelled Belarus to win its first-ever Women's Wrestling team title at the U23 European Championships. Belarus finished with 171 points to claim the top spot while Russia was second with 141 points. Ukraine finished third with 140 points.

After winning one gold medal on Thursday, Belarus added three through Aryna DZEMCHANKA MARTYNAVA (BLR), Kseniya TSIARENIA (BLR) and Viktoryia RADZKOVA (BLR). It also won one silver and one bronze while all 10 wrestlers contributed points to the team score.

European champion Alina SHAUCHUK (BLR) claimed the 68kg gold medal on Thursday and the gold rush on Friday began with Martynava scoring a tough win over Alina FILIPOVYCH (UKR) in the 57kg final, a repeat from last year's edition.

In what turned out to be one-move match, Martynava scored a double-leg head-outside takedown in the first 10 seconds of the bout. She then sat on her two-point lead for five minutes and 50 seconds. In the second period, Martynava was called passive and Filipovych was given a point.

But the Ukrainian failed to score two more points that were needed for a win that would have avenged her loss from last year's final which Martynava won 8-2.

The Belarus wrestler now has two U23 European gold medals to go with her silver at the U23 World Championships and gold medal at the U20 World Championships.

The second gold for Belarus was won by Kseniya TSIARENIA (BLR) after she defeated Ekaterina KOSHKINA (RUS), 4-2, in the 65kg final. Tsiarenia controlled the match giving little chance to Koshkina to score.

It was only in the dying seconds of the match that Koshkina managed to score a harmless takedown for two points.

The third gold medal for Belarus was won by Viktoryia RADZKOVA (BLR) who denied Veronika VILK (CRO) a chance of winning a historical gold medal at 72kg. Radzkova opened the scoring when Vilk was called passive. Vilk then tried an arm-throw but Radzkova blocked her and scored two points to lead 3-0 at the break.

Vilk tried a headlock in the second period but Radzkova was ready for it and again blocked Vilk's attempt to score two points. A turn for exposure added two more points for Radzkova that extended her lead to 7-0.

Perhaps ready for another throw from Vilk, Radzkova stood up and when Vilk tried the throw, she once again blocked and landed on top. The two points plus two more points for the turn gave Radzkova an 11-0 win with a minute nine seconds left.

Carla JAUME SOLER (ESP) was also trying to achieve a historic gold for Spain but was denied as Anastasiia POLSKA (POL) used a fireman's carry to secure a fall in just a minute and 17 seconds and win gold at 53kg.

Senior world bronze medalist Amina TANDELOVA (RUS) claimed the 62kg gold medal after beating Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE), 5-3, in the final.

Tandelova, who won silver at U23 Europeans in 2023, used a beautiful arm-throw to score the first four-pointer. The first point for Tandelova was from the activity period of Mammadova in which the Azerbaijan wrestler failed to score.

Mammadova scored a takedown and activity clock point to cut the lead but it was still not enough to overturn the result.

Photo

RESULTS

53kg
GOLD: Anastasiia POLSKA (UKR) df. Carla JAUME SOLER (ESP), via fall (4-0)

BRONZE: Sevval CAYIR (TUR) vs. Nargiz SAMADOVA (AZE)
BRONZE: Ekaterina KARPUSHKINA (RUS) df. Kseniya KOSTSENICH (BLR), via inj. def.

57kg
GOLD: Aryna DZEMCHANKA MARTYNAVA (BLR) df. Alina FILIPOVYCH (UKR), 2-1

BRONZE: Roza SZENTTAMASI (HUN) df. Amory ANDRICH (GER), 7-5
BRONZE: Felicitas DOMAJEVA (NOR) df. Romaissa EL KHARROUBI (FRA), 5-0

62kg
GOLD: Amina TANDELOVA (RUS) df. Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE), 5-3

BRONZE: Iris THIEBAUX (FRA) df. Gulsum BINGOL (TUR), 4-0
BRONZE: Alicja WOJEWODZKA NOWOSAD (POL) df. Naemi LEISTNER (GER), 5-1

65kg
GOLD: Kseniya TSIARENIA (BLR) df. Ekaterina KOSHKINA (RUS), 4-2

BRONZE: Maria PANTIRU (ROU) df. Bianca CONTRAFATTO (ITA), via fall (8-0)
BRONZE: Oleksandra RYBAK (UKR) df. Saga SVENSSON (SWE), 11-1

72kg
GOLD: Viktoryia RADZKOVA (BLR) df. Veronika VILK (CRO), 11-0

BRONZE: Karolina JAWORSKA (POL) df. Daniela BRASNAROVA (BUL), 5-0
BRONZE: Kristina BRATCHIKOVA (RUS) df. Greta TVERSKYTE (LTU), 3-3