#BuchaWrestU23

Japan Snags Three Champions in Final Day of #BuchaWrestU23 Women’s Action

By Taylor Miller

Photo of Ayana GEMPEI (JPN) by Martin Gabor. 

BUCHAREST, Romania – Japan won three more World titles in women’s freestyle on Friday night at the U23 World Championships in Bucharest, Romania, to win the team title with 188 points.

Winning for Japan tonight was Momoka KADOYA at 53 kg, Yukako KUWAI at 62 kg and Ayana GEMPEI at 65 kg, bringing Japan’s gold-medal total to five in women’s freestyle.

It was an emotional ending at 53 kg as it appeared that Milana DADASHEVA (RUS) won 5-4 with a late takedown. However, Kadoya’s corner challenged and won, giving Japan its third World champion of the week with a 4-3 decision.

Making her second World finals in less than a month, 2018 Senior World runner-up Yukako KAWAI (JPN) defeated Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) in the 62 kg gold bout with a dominant 14-3 performance.

The final champion from Japan came at 65 kg as Gempei won her second-consecutive U23 World title. To earn gold, Gempei put up a decisive 7-3 decision against two-time Junior World bronze medalist Elis MANOLOVA (AZE).

Photo of Buse TOSUN (TUR) by Martin Gabor. 

The other two golds up for grabs tonight went to Canada and Turkey.

At 57 kg, Alexandria TOWN (CAN) stopped Japan from another gold medal, defeating 2018 Junior Asian champion Akie HANAI (JPN) with a 7-4 win.

To close out the night, 2018 Senior World bronze medalist Buse TOSUN (TUR) finished off fast 10-0 technical fall over host country’s Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU), ending the bout in 1:35.

This is Tosun’s third World medal as she also has a 2013 Junior World silver medal.

Finishing behind Japan in the team race was Russia in second with 113 points and China in third with 106 points.

The 2018 U23 World Championships continue tomorrow with men’s freestyle action.

Finals results

53 kg
GOLD - Momoka KADOYA (JPN) df. Milana DADASHEVA (RUS), 4-3
BRONZE - Khrystyna BEREZA (UKR) df. Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB), fall
BRONZE - Andreea Beatrice ANA (ROU) df. Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL), 5-3

57 kg
GOLD - Alexandria TOWN (CAN) df. Akie HANAI (JPN), 7-4
BRONZE - Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL) df. Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE), 11-3
BRONZE - Alexandra ANDREEVA (RUS) df. Qi ZHANG (CHN), 2-1

62 kg
GOLD - Yukako KAWAI (JPN) df. Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR), 14-3
BRONZE - Luisa NIEMESCH (GER) df. Kayla MIRACLE (USA), 6-3
BRONZE - Gantuya ENKHBAT (MGL) df. Kriszta Tunde INCZE (ROU), 4-2

65 kg
GOLD - Ayana GEMPEI (JPN) df. Elis MANOLOVA (AZE), 7-3
BRONZE - Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) df. Sofiya GEORGIEVA (BUL), fall
BRONZE - Mariia KUZNETSOVA (RUS) df. Moa NYGREN (SWE), 10-0

72 kg
GOLD - Buse TOSUN (TUR) df. Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU), 10-0
BRONZE - Xiaoqian WANG (CHN) df. Nomin Erdene PURVEE (MGL), 8-3
BRONZE - Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) df. Naina NAINA (IND), fall

Team scores      
1. Japan – 188
2. Russia – 113
3. China – 106
4. Ukraine – 81
5. USA – 76

Development

Croatia organizes 'Learn, Wrestle, Use' in Porec

By United World Wrestling Press

POREC, Croatia (July 3, 2024)—The Croatian Wrestling Federation organized an international wrestling camp titled “Learn, Wrestle, Use.” The camp took place in the well-established wrestling center of sunny Poreč from April 1 to 6. It catered to girls and boys in the age categories of U13, U15, and U17. In addition to wrestling, participants learned the official languages of UWW—English and French.

The camp was run by Croatian experts – Hrvoje Šavuk, coach (U13 Boys Group), Eugen Jakovljević, coach of the Croatian U15 boys national team (U15 and U17 Boys Group) and coaches of women’s wrestling Croatian national team Nenad Žugaj and Ivan Lončarić (Girls Group).

Collectively, 240 children from four European countries, including Croatia, Italy, Slovakia, and Slovenia, participated in the camp.

CROParticipants of the 'Learn, Wrestle, Use' camp work on technique with the Croatian coastline in the background. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

The significant potential of this camp was acknowledged by the UWW, and UWW Development Officer Vincent Aka was present, from whom both the leaders of groups and the young coaches learned a lot. Namely, the camp was attended by 22 young female and male coaches, in addition to the leader, who received valuable education at this camp, primarily from Vincent Aka, who greatly contributed to the quality of this camp with his knowledge and commitment. It was the opportunity to present United World Wrestling Academy to the coaches and invite them to use it to the fullest because all the educational resources are available and free for everyone (coaches, referees, athletes, administration)

Apart from wrestling and language learning sessions, the camp also featured organized swimming lessons, sea swimming, evening recreational activities and time to watch the European qualifying tournament for the Olympic Games in Paris 2024.

Wrestling training took place in three groups on indoor and outdoor courts. Learning languages was taught in four groups - three English groups and one French group. The atmosphere during the entire camp was excellent, as was the food, which has long been recognized by the wrestlers who come here in large numbers for sport preparations.

“I had a great time here and I would like to come back next year!”, “If only it had lasted longer!”, “Everything was great, especially the tuna steak.” and “It's painful, but there's no fun without pain.” are just some of the comments collected from young female and male wrestlers who attended the first camp in a series called “Learn, wrestle, use”.