#WrestleSamokov

Japan defends U20 Worlds women's team title

Friday, August 22, 2025 - 23:31 By Vinay Siwach

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SAMOKOV, Bulgaria (August 22) -- Japan defended its Women's Wrestling team title at the World U20 Championships in Samokov, Bulgaria with two more gold medals on Friday.

The Women's Wrestling competition came to a close in Bulgaria with three weight classes, 50kg, 53kg and 72kg, and Japan won the first two gold medals while India won 72kg. India finished second in the team race with 140 points, 25 less than Japan which had 165 points.

Rinka OGAWA (JPN) won the 50kg gold medal with 9-3 win over three-time age-group world medalist Audrey JIMINEZ (USA) in the final. Ogawa gave up the first takedown but she hit a single-leg and turn to lead 4-2 at the break.

The second period was more scrappy but Ogawa gave up just a reversal while four points to win 8-3. The United States challenged at the end of match but there was no points for Jiminez and one more point to Ogawa's score for the lost challenge.

This was Jiminez's third loss to a Japanese wrestler in finals of World Championships. She lost to Umi ITO (JPN) in the World U20 and U23 finals in 2022 and 2023 respectively. Her one other loss came to Yanrong LI (USA) in 2023 at the World U20 Championships. She will now look to change her fortunes at the senior World Championships in Zagreb next month.

Japan's second gold cane with Natsumi MASUDA (JPN) who defeated European U20 champion Anastasiia POLSKA (UKR) in controlled 6-0 final. She scored three takedowns in six minutes for the win and earn herself the gold medal.

At 72kg, world U17 silver medalist last month, KAJAL (IND) managed to survive a fall attempt and a threating Yuqi LIU (CHN) in the final and win her first world U20 title to go with her world U17 gold from 2024.

Kajal used snapdowns to pressure Liu and score three takedowns and lead 6-0 but as the match progressed Liu hit a leg-attack and scored a takedown, and cradle Kajal who barely managed to get out off the lock and keep the 6-4 lead.

Both traded a takedown each in the remainder of the bout but Kajal held on for an 8-6 lead and win the gold medal.

RESULTS

50kg
GOLD: Rinka OGAWA (JPN) df. Audrey JIMENEZ (USA), 9-3

BRONZE: SHRUTI (IND) df. Josephine WRENSCH (GER), 6-0
BRONZE: Na HU (CHN) df. Diana RYSOVA (UKR), 7-5

53kg
GOLD: Natsumi MASUDA (JPN) df. Anastasiia POLSKA (UKR), 6-0

BRONZE: SAARIKA (IND) df. Ilona VALCHUK (POL), 11-0
BRONZE: Kseniya KOSTSENICH (UWW) df. Abigale COOPER (USA), 11-10

72kg
GOLD: KAJAL (IND) df. Yuqi LIU (CHN), 8-6

BRONZE: Kristina BRATCHIKOVA (UWW) df. Haticenur SARI (TUR), 17-12
BRONZE: Kaiyrkul SHARSHEBAEVA (KGZ) vs. Jasmine ROBINSON (USA), via inj. def.

#WrestleNoviSad

U23 World Championships 2025 Day 1 Highlights

Monday, October 20, 2025 - 08:07 By Vinay Siwach

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NOVI SAD, Serbia (October 20) -- The eighth edition of the U23 World Championships begins in Novi Sad with around 700 wrestlers participating.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | U23 WORLDS PREVIEW

14:25: Razmik KURDYAN (ARM) hangs on a 3-2 win over Artur SARKISJAN (CZE) at 130kg and reaches the semifinals. Sarkisjan with a challenge, asking for a foul but reviews show no foul. The lost challenge gives Kurdyan a clear 3-2 lead.

14:20: Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA), bronze medalist at the World Championships, makes his way to the semifinals at 63kg. He needs only three minutes and 26 seconds to beat Adham ELSAYED (EGY).

14:00: Yassine BEN LABED (POL) has surprised everyone with his performance here in Novi Sad. After beating Ruben GEVORGYAN (ARM) and Deni NAKAEV (GER), he now beats Brian RUIZ MARIN (VEN) 2-1 and marches into the semifinals at 87kg.

13:55: A 41-second technical superiority win for Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) at 130kg. He scores a takedown and three turns from par terre to win 9-0

13:50: Levente LEVAI (HUN) into the semifinals at 77kg after a 3-1 win over Samvel TERTERYAN (ARM). A turn from par terre gave him a 3-0 lead and he escaped easily when he was put on par terre.

13:40: Doniyorkhon NAKIBOV (UZB) with a strong defense in the final minutes against Ahoura BOUVEIRI PIANI (IRI) and hands him a 2-1 loss at 77kg. Nakibov did not allow Bouveiri Piani any openings.

13:25: A quick win for world champion Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) against Leon RIVALTA (ITA) at 87kg. He works on a reverse lift before controlling Rivalta on the mat for the fall. He enters the semifinals.

13:02: Ziya BABASHOV (AZE) hands Iran its first loss of the tournament as he beats Mohammad ABOUTALEBI NAVID (IRI) 3-1 at 63kg. Aboutablebi Navid failed to score any points from par terre.

13:00: Defending champion Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) scores three turns par terre after taking a 3-0 lead to start his campaign with a 9-0 technical superiority win at 130kg against Saba CHILASHVILI (GEO).

12:40: Vladimeri KARCHAIDZE (FRA) moves into the quarterfinal at 87kg with a 3-1 victory over Maksat SAILAU (KAZ). He got the turn from par terre while Sailau did not.

12:20: Levente LEVAI (HUN) looks unstoppable at 77kg. He posts his second win, 9-0, against Benjamin HANSEN (NOR) after using a trap-arm and finish the match

12:00: Ahoura BOUVEIRI PIANI (IRI) gets the first par terre against Yeldos KAMELOV (KAZ) and scores a turn to lead 3-0 but he steps out when trying to lift Kamelov again. Iran challenge the call but lose the challenge. Bouveiri Piani scores a takedown and stepout next but Kazakhstan challenge for a foul. Kazakhstan lose the challenge and Bouveiri Piani leads 7-2 at the break. A scramble but Kamelov scores the stepout. Bouveriri Piani answers with a takedown to lead 9-3, before going up one. A stepout makes it 10-5 and he hands on to his lead to win at 77kg.

11:55: Big match at 77kg as Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA) faces Temuri ORJONIKIDZE (GEO). Solovei cannot score from par terre but Orjonikidze hits a four to lead 5-1 in the second period. Solovei scores back to back takedown to make it 5-5 but Orjonikidze leads on criteria with a minute left. Solovei with a stepout to make it 6-5. Georgia challenges the call, and on review, it is actually Solovei who stepped out and Orjonikidze who wins 6-5

11:20: Recent world bronze medalist Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) rolls Nurdaulet KAPAS (KAZ) four times from par terre and gets a 9-0 win at 63kg.

11:05: European U23 silver medalist Vladimeri KARCHAIDZE (FRA) failed to score from par terre but he manages a takedown before the break to lead 3-0 against Mahmoud IBRAHIM (EGY). He counters Ibrahim from par terre in the second period and holds his 6-1 lead to win at 87kg.

10:55: World 82kg champion Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) makes his debut at 87kg and rolls to a 8-0 technical superiority win over Lachin VALIYEV (AZE).

10:35: Samvel TERTERYAN (ARM) took a 5-0 lead and was going to hang on to it before Isami HORIKITA (JPN) mounted a comeback. But the Japanese wrestler could score only four points and Terteryan won 5-4 at 77kg

10:25: European champion at 72kg Levente LEVAI (HUN) begins with a 5-0 blanking of Davud MAMMADOV (AZE) at 77kg in Novi Sad.

10:00: Welcome to day one of the U23 World Championships in Novi Sad. Greco-Roman action will kick off with 63kg, 77kg, 87kg and 130kg.