Japan, India share 2 WW golds at U17 Worlds

Thursday, July 28, 2022 - 18:58 By Vinay Siwach

ROME, Italy (July 28) -- In the history of women's wrestling at the U17 World Championships dating back to 1998, India never won a medal in the highest weight class 73kg; earlier 70kg.

Priya MALIK (IND) now has changed that record. She broke the jinx in 2021 by winning the gold at the U17 World Championships in Budapest.

The 17-year-old on Thursday defended her world title with a clinic display, to become a two-time U17 world champion, only the third Indian wrestler to achieve the feat in women's wrestling.

Malik entered this competition with only one loss in her entire career, a 3-3 defeat against Nodoka YAMAMOTO (JPN) at the U20 Asian Championships just 20 days back.

Priya MALIK (IND) defeated Mariia ZENKINA (UKR) in the 73kg final. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

But she put that behind and wrestled like a pro throughout the tournament. After warming up with a 3-1 win over Kaiulani GARCIA (USA) in the opening round, she scored 10-0 on Dominika POCHOWSKA (POL) before pinning Alina YERTOSTIK (KAZ) in the semifinals, replicating the result from the U17 Asian Championships final.

In the gold medal bout, she wrestled European bronze medalist Mariia ZENKINA (UKR) and gave no chance to even score a point. A single leg attack opened the scoring for her and then she added one more takedown using the same attack as Zenkina tried to escape the hold.

Malik mixed it up with a double leg attack and go behind in the second period before securing the 10-0 win with 55 seconds remaining.

The Haryana-native has now joined Sonam MALIK (IND) and Komal PANCHAL (IND) as the only two-time U17 world champions in women's wrestling.

Ritika MALIK (IND) Ritika KATARIA (IND) defeated world champion Erica PASTORIZA (USA) in the 43kg. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Another U17 Asian champion, Ritika KATARIA (IND), added a world title to her name. In the 43kg final, she defeated returning gold medalist (40kg) Erica PASTORIZA (USA) via fall after leading 9-0.

Kataria and Pastoriza were arguably the top two wrestlers of the weight classes as they dominated their way to the finals. But Pastoriza could not get going in the gold bout, failing to attack Kataria once.

The 15-year-old Indian tried to cradle Pastoriza early but the American survived the attempt. She again locked her arms in front and pressed Pastoriza's head for another cradle but once again the American defended but could not stop Kataria from a go behind. A takedown in the zone added two more to Kataria's score as she led 5-0 at the break.

It was a similar story in the second half as Kataria opened with a takedown before a headlock worked out well and she pinned Pastoriza to claim her first world gold.

Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) pinned Gerda TEREK (HUN) in 55 seconds to win 57kg gold. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Japan also won two gold medals as Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) capped off a dominant display in Rome with a fall over European champion Gerda TEREK (HUN) in the 57kg final. She took only 55 seconds to get the pin.

A product of the JOC Elite Academy which has produced the likes of Olympic champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN) and Asian champion Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) among other stars, Uchida showed glimpses of the trademark Japanese wrestling style.

Keeping a low stance, she was lighting quick to attack the front leg of the opponents and finished her bouts well before the time, majorly using a leg lace.

Anju SATO (JPN) became the U17 world champion at 65kg. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

The second gold for Japan came at 65kg as Anju SATO (JPN) held on for a nervy 5-2 win over Maria PANTIRU (ROU) in the final.

Pantiru was called passive first and Sato shot for the leg soon after but the Romanian wrestler scored an exposure to lead 2-1. Sato continued her snap downs and during one such snap, Pantiru lost her balance and Sato was quick to go behind and score a takedown to lead 3-2 at the break.

A late takedown was the only other action in the bout as Sato kept her distance from Pantiru.

Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE) upgraded her '21 silver to gold in Rome. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Japan's missed a chance to win a third gold medal of the night as Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE) won a thrilling 49kg final against Mihoko TAKEUCHI (JPN), 5-3.

The victory was even sweeter as Mammadov had to make a comeback in the second period after trailing 3-0. Warned for passivity, Mammadova gave up a takedown after conceding the point for passivity.

Takeuchi had to hold her lead but was warned for inactivity and she then gave up a takedown in the activity period as Mammadova took a 3-3 criteria lead with 15 seconds remaining.

As Takeuchi tried to find her final attack, Mammadova used an arm throw to score two more points and seal the gold medal with a 5-3 win.

The European champion had fallen short at the last U17 World Championships as she suffered a 7-2 loss to Komal in the 46kg final.

A clearly improved Mammadova showed up in Rome as she went past U20 European champion Sevval CAYIR (TUR) 3-2 in the quarterfinals as well.

She is now only the fourth wrestler from Azerbaijan to win the U17 world title in women's wrestling.

Chisato YOSHIDA (JPN) will wrestle in the 69kg final on Friday. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Japan, India dominate, again

Japan and India shared seven spots out of 10 in the finals on Thursday. Japan managed to send four wrestlers into the gold medal bouts while India managed three. The USA entered two while Ukraine managed a finalist.

In a repeat of the U17 Asian Championships final, MUSKAN (IND) set up the 40kg gold medal bout against Mona EZAKA (JPN). Both were class apart in the eight-wrestler field and will now wrestle for gold. In the Asian final, Muskan had pinned Ezaka.

At 46kg, Gabriella GOMEZ (USA) came from behind to beat European champion Kornelia LASZLO (HUN), 3-3, in the semifinals. She will now wrestle for gold against Koko MATSUDA (JPN) who managed to scrape past SHRUTI (IND) 4-0 with some solid defense.

India manage to beat a Japanese wrestler when SAVITA (IND) pinned Suzu SASAKI (JPN) in the 61kg semifinal by locking up a cradle. She will now face Valerie HAMILTON (USA) in the final after the USA wrestler made it past Sevinch SULTONOVA (UZB) with ease.

Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) will wrestle Sakura ONISHI (JPN) in a bid to win her second U17 world title. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

At 53kg, one of the two finalists is destined to suffer their first-ever international loss. Sakura ONISHI (JPN) overpowered Ya CHEN (TPE) in the semifinal while returning world champion Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) pinned Khaliun BYAMBASUREN (MGL) in the other semifinal.

Both Onishi and Yefremova have never lost a bout on the international stage but that record will hold one more day for one of them.

HARSHITA (IND) secured her first U17 world medal after missing out in 2021. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

The final pair at 69kg includes HARSHITA (IND) and Chisato YOSHIDA (JPN). Harshita gave no chance to Veronika VILK (CRO) to get her double arm lock and won 8-1 while Yoshida had to recover from 4-2 down to score a takedown Nadiia SOKOLOVSKA (UKR) and then score another clumsy one with seven seconds remaining.

RESULTS

43kg
GOLD: Ritika KATARIA (IND) df. Erica PASTORIZA (USA), via fall (9-0)

BRONZE: Elvina KARIMZADA (AZE) df. Arina ABDULLINA (KAZ), via fall (8-0)
BRONZE: Anastasiia POLSKA (UKR) df. Gulnura RUSLANOVA (UZB), 5-3

49kg
GOLD: Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE) df. Mihoko TAKEUCHI (JPN), 5-3

BRONZE: Sevval CAYIR (TUR) df. Aiymgul ABYLOVA (KAZ), 13-0
BRONZE: Fabiana RINELLA (ITA) df. Reka HEGEDUS (SVK), 7-0

57kg
GOLD: Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) df. Gerda TEREK (HUN), via fall (6-0)

BRONZE: Ulmeken ESENBAEVA (UZB) df. Shelby MOORE (USA), 4-2
BRONZE: Tuba DEMIR (TUR) df. Liza TOMAR (IND), 7-0

65kg
GOLD: Anju SATO (JPN) df. Maria PANTIRU (ROU), 5-2

BRONZE: Zharkynai NURLAN KYZY (KGZ) df. Sydney PERRY (USA), 7-0
BRONZE: Reka VAN OS (NED) df. Viktoria FOELDESIOVA (SVK), via fall (4-0)

73kg
GOLD: Priya MALIK (IND) vs. Mariia ZENKINA (UKR)

BRONZE: Alina YERTOSTIK (KAZ) df. Kaiulani GARCIA (USA), via fall (2-6)
BRONZE: Lotta ENGLICH (GER) df. Makoto KOMADA (JPN), 11-0

Semifinals

40kg
GOLD: Mona EZAKA (JPN) vs MUSKAN (IND)

SF 1: Mona EZAKA (JPN) df. Yagmur KARABACAK (TUR), 11-0
SF 2: MUSKAN (IND) df. Diana VOICULESCU (ROU), 10-0

46kg
GOLD: Koko MATSUDA (JPN) vs Gabriella GOMEZ (USA)

SF 1: Koko MATSUDA (JPN) df. SHRUTI (IND), 4-0
SF 2: Gabriella GOMEZ (USA) df. Kornelia LASZLO (HUN), 3-3

53kg
GOLD: Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) vs Sakura ONISHI (JPN)

SF 1: Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) df. Khaliun BYAMBASUREN (MGL), via fall
SF 2: Sakura ONISHI (JPN) df. Ya CHEN (TPE), 10-0

61kg
GOLD: SAVITA (IND) vs Valerie HAMILTON (USA)

SF 1: SAVITA (IND) df. Suzu SASAKI (JPN), via fall
SF 2: Valerie HAMILTON (USA) df. Sevinch SULTONOVA (UZB), 5-0

69kg
GOLD: Chisato YOSHIDA (JPN) vs. HARSHITA (IND)

SF 1: Chisato YOSHIDA (JPN) df. Nadiia SOKOLOVSKA (UZB), 6-4
SF 2: HARSHITA (IND) df. Veronika VILK (CRO), 8-0

#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

Japan, India share 2 WW golds at U17 Worlds

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Tibilov Serves Serbia Gold; Azerbaijan Wins Greco Team Title