Japan, U.S. Set to Clash; China All But Through

Saturday, March 17, 2018 - 06:41 By Ken Marantz

Host Japan and the United States will clash in the evening session for a place in the final of the Women's World Cup after the two powerhouses handily disposed of the two other group opponents on the opening day at Takasaki Arena.

Japan, aiming for its fourth straight title, swept past overmatched Sweden 10-0 before putting away Canada 8-2 in Group A. The United States opened with an 8-2 win over Canada, then topped Sweden 9-1.

In Group B, China moved to the brink of a berth in Sunday's final by topping Asian rival Mongolia 9-1, then whitewashing Romania 10-0. In the night session, China, the 2017 runner-up, will face Belarus, a 7-3 winner over Romania that lost 6-4 to Mongolia in most competitive match of the first two sessions.

"We were moving very well," Japan head coach Hideo SASAYAMA said of his team, which liberally used all of its members to keep the top wrestlers fresh for the impending battle with the U.S. "If we do out on the mat what we have done in practice, I think we will be able to win."

(Yukako KAWAI (JPN) looks for the fall against Emma JOHANSSON (SWE) //Photo: Max Rose-Fyne)

Japan, despite a lineup of world and Olympic champions, looks vulnerable in the heavier weight classes, where it suffered both of its losses to Canada and had several close calls with Sweden.

Complicating matters is that world and Olympic champion Sara DOSHO (JPN) appeared to suffer a left shoulder injury during her match with Danielle LAPPAGE (CAN), in which she took an early 2-1 lead and did just enough to make that score stick to the end.

On a positive note, Masako FURUICHI (JPN), a bronze medalist at the recent Asian Championships in Bishkek, pulled off a surprise by scoring a takedown with :30 left to beat Rio 2017 Olympic bronze medalist Jenny FRANSSON (SWE), 2x-2.

Getting off to an early lead will be the key for Japan---in the six weight divisions up to 62kg, Japan won every match by fall or technical fall, while only conceding a total of six points.

U.S. head coach Terry STEINER said his squad has prepared well and is ready for the challenge of beating Japan on its home mat. That would avenge a close loss in the group stage at the 2017 World Cup three months ago in Russia, when the two sides split eight matches, and Japan won by virtue of having a fall and two technical falls among its victories.

"We know that Japan is going to throw their best at us," Steiner said. "They're not going to get beat by an American team without fighting with their best people. We know we've got to be on our game tonight.

"I want to see us compete hard, I want to see us fight, I want to see us be aggressive. And that's the main thing. If I see that out of them, I think we have a chance."

(Ningning RONG (CHN) looks for the double leg against Battsetseg ALTANTSETSEG (MGL) // Photo: Max Rose-Fyne)

China, which won five gold medals in Bishkek, switched the weight classes of champions RONG Ningning and PEI Xingru, moving Rong down to 57kg and Pei up to 59kg.

Against Mongolia, Pei was pitted against Shoovdor BAATARJAV, who lost to Rong in Bishkek and came away with a bronze medal. Pei had her hands full on Saturday, needing a takedown with :04 left to pull out a 3x-3 victory.

The comeback of the day so far, however, belongs to Bishkek 2018 bronze medalist Davaachimeg ERKHEMBAYAR (MGL).

In her 55kg match against Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR), Erkhembayar was losing 5-0 when she scored with a step-out with 20 seconds to go. A desperate attempt for a tackle was thwarted, but with the clock ticking down, she launched a barrel roll of sorts for a miracle 4-point move as time expired and a 5x-5 victory.

(Davaachimeg ERKHEMBAYAR (MGL) celebrates her last second victory against Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR), Photo: Max Rose-Fyne)

That victory became key in Mongolia's win over Belarus, as it kept the Asian nation in contention for a medal---particularly after its top wrestler suffered a stunning defeat.

World and Asian champion Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) was thrown to her back early in her 62kg match with Veranika IVANOVA (BLR), only to fight out of the predicament and build an 11-4 lead herself. But Ivanova stuck the Mongolian on her back again, and this time finished her off for a fall in with 1:49 remaining.

That loss came after Mongolian coaches allowed Purevdorj to default her earlier match against China, after the Chinese had built up a insurmountable lead. Her default to LUO Xiaojuan (CHN) prevented a rematch of the final in Bishkek, which Purevdorj had won 12-4.

"That's a tactic," Mongolian coach Byambajov BATTULGA said. "Just to keep power."

Two matches later, however, a rematch of a final did become reality, as ZHOU Feng (CHN) repeated her victory over Tumentsetseg SHARKHUU (MGL), again by technical fall.

(ZHOU Feng led China in the opening two sessions of the 2018 Women's World Cup in Takasaki // Photo: Max Rose-Fyne)

In another intriguing matchup, there was a clash of Paris 2017 world bronze medalists, with Justina DI STASIO (CAN) defeating Hiroe MINAGAWA (JPN) by the narrowest of margins. Di Stasio scored a takedown with :24 left, then survived two step-outs to win 3x-3.

Rio 2016 champion Erica WIEBE (CAN) stood out as the only wrestler to chalk up wins over both Japan and U.S. opponents, topping Victoria FRANCIS (USA) by fall and Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN), 8-0.

In her lone match, Rio 2016 and Paris 2017 gold medalist Risako KAWAI (JPN) . stormed to a 10-0 technical fall of Jessica BROUILLETTE (CAN) in just under two minutes.

Group A

Session 1

UNITED STATES 8 CANADA 2

50 kg: Victoria ANTHONY (USA) df. Jessica MACDONALD (CAN), 8-4
53 kg: Diana WEICKER (CAN) df. Haley AUGELLO (USA), 6-1
55 kg: Becka LEATHERS (USA) df. Jade PARSONS (CAN) by Fall, 5:31 (4-0)
57 kg: Allison RAGAN (USA) df. Samantha STEWART (CAN) by TF, 10-0, 3:17
59 kg: Kayla MIRACLE (USA) df. Emily SCHAEFER (CAN) by TF, 17-6, 1:46
62 kg: Mallory VELTE (USA) df. Jessica BROUILLETTE (CAN) by TF, 11-0, 2:06
65 kg: Julia SALATA (USA) df. Braxton STONE (CAN) by TF, 10-0, 0:30
68 kg: Tamyra MENSAH (USA) df. Olivia DI BACCO (CAN), 5-2
72 kg: Erica WIEBE (CAN) df. Victoria FRANCIS (USA) by Fall, 1:43 (10-0)
76 kg: Adeline GRAY (USA) df. Justina DI STASIO (CAN), 10-2

JAPAN 10 SWEDEN 0

50 kg: Miho IGARASHI (JPN) vs Malin LJUNGSTROEM (SWE) by Fall, 5:24 (4-0)
53 kg: Haruna OKUNO (JPN) df. Linn LUNDSTROEM (SWE) by TF, 10-0, 4:27
55 kg: Saki IGARASHI (JPN) df. Liliana JUAREZ ANDINO (SWE) by TF, 10-0, 4:34
57 kg: Katsuki SAKAGAMI (JPN) df. Sara LINDBORG (SWE) by TF, 10-0, 2:30
59 kg: Yukako KAWAI (JPN) df. Emma JOHANSSON by Fall, 5:13 (3-2)
62 kg: Yurika ITO (JPN) df. Therese PERSSON (SWE) by TF, 10-0, 2:31
65 kg: Kiwa SAKAE (JPN) df. Moa NYGREN (SWE), 4-2
68 kg: Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) df. Alexandra SANDAHL (SWE), 5-1
72 kg: Masako FURUICHI (JPN) df. Jenny FRANSSON (SWE), 2x-2
76 kg: Yasuha MATSUYUKI (JPN) df. Denise MAKOTA STROEM (SWE) by Fall, 0:03 (6-4)

Session 2

UNITED STATES 9 SWEDEN 1

50 kg: Erin GOLSTON (USA) df. Malin LJUNGSTROEM (SWE) by Fall, 4:57 (4-0)
53 kg: Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) df. Linn LUNDSTROEM (SWE) by TF, 10-0, 3:41
55 kg: Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) df. Liliana JUAREZ ANDINO (SWE) by Fall, 5:12 (4-0)
57 kg: Allison RAGAN (USA) df. Sara LINDBORG (SWE) by TF, 10-0, 3:33
59 kg: Kayla MIRACLE (USA) df. Emma JOHANSSON (SWE) by Fall, 4:57 (4-0)
62 kg: Mallory VELTE (USA) df. Therese PERSSON (SWE) by Default
65 kg: Forrest MOLINARI (USA) df. Moa NYGREN (SWE), 4-0
68 kg: Tamyra MENSAH (USA) df. Alexandra SANDAHL (SWE) by TF, 10-0, 2:40
72 kg: Jenny FRANSSON (SWE) df. Victoria FRANCIS (USA) by TF, 10-0, 0:24
76 kg: Adeline GRAY (USA) df. Denise MAKOTA STROEM (SWE) by Fall, 4:47 (2-0)

JAPAN 8 CANADA 2

50 kg: Yuki IRIE (JPN) df. Jessica MACDONALD (CAN) by Fall, 1:33 (13-2)
53 kg: Yu MIYAHARA (JPN) df. Diana WEICKER (CAN) by Fall, 0:34 (9-2)
55 kg: Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) df. Jade PARSONS (CAN) by TF, 10-0, 3:23
57 kg: Sae NANJO (JPN) df. Samantha STEWART (CAN) by TF, 10-0, 4:39
59 kg: Yuzuru KUMANO (JPN) df. Emily SCHAEFER (CAN) by TF, 10-0, 2:10
62 kg: Risako KAWAI (JPN) df. Jessica BROUILLETTE (CAN) by TF, 10-0, 4:08
65 kg: Ayana GEMPEI (JPN) df. Braxton STONE (CAN) by Default
68 kg: Sara DOSHO (JPN) df. Danielle LAPPAGE (CAN), 2-1
72 kg: Erica WIEBE (CAN) df. Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN), 8-0
76 kg: Justina DI STASIO (CAN) df. Hiroe MINAGAWA (JPN), 3x-3

Group B

Session 1

CHINA 9 MONGOLIA 1

50 kg: SUN Yanan (CHN) df. Namuuntsetseg TSOGT OCHIR (MGL) by VSU, 10-0
53 kg: Sumiya ERDENECHIMEG (MGL) df. OUYANG Junling (CHN) by VFA, 8-7
55 kg: ZHANG Qi (CHN) df. Davaachimeg ERKHEMBAYAR (MGL), 6-5
57 kg: RONG Ningning (CHN) df. Battsetseg ALTANTSETSEG (MGL), 9-1
59 kg: PEI Xingru (CHN) df. Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL), 3x-3
62 kg: LUO Xiaojuan (CHN) df. Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) by Default
65 kg: TANG Chuying (CHN) df. Battsetseg SORONZONBOLD (MGL), 6-4
68 kg: ZHOU Feng (CHN) df. Tumentsetseg SHARKHUU (MGL) by TF, 16-5, 1:11
72 kg: HAN Yue (CHN) df. Nasanburmaa OCHIRBAT (MGL) by TF, 15-4, 1:50
76 kg: ZHOU Qian (CHN) df. Chantsalnyamaa AMGALANBAATAR (MGL) by TF, 14-0, 1:25

BELARUS 7 ROMANIA 3

50 kg: Alina VUC (ROU) df. Kseniya STANKEVICH (BLR) by Fall, 0:10 (14-7)
53 kg: Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR) df. Estera TAMADUIANU DOBRE (ROU) by Fall, 4:30 (9-0)
55 kg: Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR) df. Simona PRICOB (ROU) by Fall, 0:26 (10-0)
57 kg: Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR) df. Kateryna ZHYDACHEVSKA (ROU) by Fall, 4:21 (4-0)
59 kg: Katsiaryna HANCHAR YANUSHKEVICH (BLR) by Forfeit
62 kg: Veranika IVANOVA (BLR) df. Kriszta INCZE (ROU), 3-0
65 kg: Krystsina FEDARASHKA (BLR) df. Adina POPESCU (ROU), 1x-1
68 kg: Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) df. Hanna SADCHANKA (BLR), 6-0
72 kg: Catalina AXENTE (ROU) by Forfeit
76 kg: Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR) by Forfeit

Session 2

CHINA 10 ROMANIA 0

50 kg: ZHU Jiang (CHN) df. Emilia Alina VUC (ROU) by TF, 10-0, 3:38
53 kg: OUYANG Junling (CHN) df. Estera TAMADUIANU DOBRE (ROU) by Fall, 2:17 (11-0)
55 kg: ZHANG Qi (CHN) df. Simona PRICOB (ROU) by TF, 10-0, 1:39
57 kg: YANG Nan (CHN) df. Kateryna ZHYDACHEVSKA (ROU), 8-4
59 kg: Lingling BAO (CHN) by Forfeit
62 kg: LUO Xiaojuan (CHN) df. Kriszta INCZE (ROU), 3-2
65 kg: TANG Chuying (CHN) df. Adina Elena POPESCU (ROU) by TF, 10-0, 4:43
68 kg: ZHOU Feng (CHN) df. Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) by Fall, 2:29 (11-0)
72 kg: WANG Juan (CHN) df. Catalina AXENTE (ROU) by TF, 11-0, 4:53
76 kg: Paliha PALIHA (CHN) by Forfeit

MONGOLIA 6 BELARUS 4

50 kg: Narangerel ERDENESUKH (MGL) df. Kseniya STANKEVICH (BLR), 10-6
53 kg: Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR) df. Otgonjargal GANBAATAR (MGL), 7-6
55 kg: Davaachimeg ERKHEMBAYAR (MGL) df. Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR) 5x-5
57 kg: Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR) df. Battsetseg ALTANTSETSEG (MGL), 2-1
59 kg: Shoovdor BAATARJAV df. Katsiaryna HANCHAR YANUSHKEVICH (BLR) by TF, 14-3, 1:48
62 kg: Veranika IVANOVA (BLR) df. Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) by Fall, 4:11 (6-11)
65 kg: Battsetseg SORONZONBOLD (MGL) df. Krystsina FEDARASHKA (BLR) by TF, 10-0, 4:32
68 kg: Tumentsetseg SHARKHUU (MGL) df. Hanna SADCHANKA (BLR) by Fall, 1:16 (11-2)
72 kg: Nasanburmaa OCHIRBAT (MGL) by Forfeit
76 kg: Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR) df. Chantsalnyamaa AMGALANBAATAR (MGL), 4-1

#Grappling

Grappling: Romanov returns to win 130kg gold; Prendes repeats

Tuesday, October 14, 2025 - 22:41 By Vinay Siwach

NOVI SAD, Serbia (October 14) -- When the last time Alexandr ROMANOV (MDA) participated in the World Grappling Championships, he was close to completing a double gold in Gi and No-Gi. While he managed to win gold in Gi, Romanov fell short in No-Gi competition and won a bronze medal.

Three years later, the Moldovan has taken the first step towards achieving his dream. On Tuesday, Romanov had a comeback in the World Grappling Championships in Novi Sad, Serbia and won gold in the No-Gi competition at 130kg.

Romanov was in top form winning two bouts via submission and two, including the final, via decision but dominated his opponents to win gold medal.

Alexandr ROMANOV (MDA), red, defeated Aleksander KOLDOVSKI (UKR) in the 130kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Up against Aleksander KOLDOVSKI (UKR), Romanov stuck to his plan and started off slow. But as Koldovski slowed down after two minutes during the five-minute bout, Romanov hit a footsweep to score two points and controlled his opponent for three more points. Another control gave him two more points as he defeated Koldovski a 7-1 victory.

"I knew the Ukrainian as he is a freestyle wrestler," Romanov said. "I waited for the second half of the bout as they tend to slow down and I hit my favorite move to win."

In other finals, UWW grapplers dominated the finals, winning four golds while Farhad BAGIROV (AZE) defended his 58kg gold medal. In women's competition, Carlota PRENDES LARIOS (ESP) also defended his 53kg gold medal while Alycia QUENEE (FRA) won at 71kg. Alena VLASOVA (UWW) won her two bouts to claim the 90kg gold as the weight class had only three participants.

Bagirov maintained his control in the final by using a rear chokehold on Zedginidze who tried escaping a couple of time. But at the two-minute mark of the final, Zedginidze tapped out to give Bagirov his second successive gold medal at 58kg.

Kurban KADIEV (UWW) won the 71kg gold medal in Novi Sad. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

At 71kg, Kurban KADIEV (UWW) and Nurbek TALBUDIN (KAZ) failed to score any points in the regular five minutes and the final continued in overtime. Due to no technical points scored, a toss was needed to decide who will get the advantageous position. Talbudin won the toss to be on top and needed to score minimum one point in the designated one minute to win the match. However, Kadiev managed to defend his position for one minute to be declared winner.

In contrast, the 77kg final between Gazimagomed GAZIEV (UWW) and Illia SUKHODIEIEV (UKR) ended in just 36 seconds as the former caught Sukhodieiev in a triangle choke to win the final.

Murad ABDULATIPOV (UWW), who was moving up from 84kg to 92kg for this year, did not feel as weight of the jumping up a weight class and defeated Islam TAPPASKHANOV (UWW), 2-0, in the 92kg final to win his second straight gold medal.

Both the points for Abdulatipov were awarded when Tappaskhanov was called passive in the five-minute bout and he failed to score during the 15-second activity clock.

At 100kg, Mukhamed URUSOV (UWW) blanked Aleksandre TEVZADZE (GEO), 4-0, to win his first world title. He earned his first two points after a back-mount position after a scramble and later scored another similar takedown for two more points.

Carlota PRENDES LARIOS (ESP) grapples in the 53kg final that she won. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Prendes Larios repeats

Carlota PRENDES LARIOS (ESP) won two of three bouts, including the final, via submission to capture her second straight world title at 53kg. She began by controlling Viktoriia ISAIEVA (UKR) right off the whistle for two points before scrambling herself in a triangle choke position which gave her two more points.

Isaieva tried defended different position but after a couple of failed attempts to get out of the triangle choke, she tapped with Prendes Larios winning the bout in one minute and 56 seconds.

In a thrilling 71kg final, Alycia QUENEE (FRA) managed to capture her first world title after beating Anna REMNEVA (UWW), 3-1. Quenee finished with a silver medal in 2022 and bronze last year.

But there was no one stopping Quenee this year. She began the final with a stepout and took a 1-0 lead. Remneva tried to control her with a triangle hold but Quenee never came in a position to gave up points.

The French grappler kept her position and controlled Remneva on the mat for two points, extending her lead to 3-0. During the same position, Quenee was called passive and she gave a point but that did not stop her from winning 3-1.

At 90kg, Alena VLASOVA (UWW) upgraded her bronze from last year to gold after winning both her bouts via submission. She defeated Tatiana KABANOVA (UWW) in the first bout and then submitted Justyna SITKO (POL).

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RESULTS

Men's Grappling

58kg
GOLD: Farhad BAGIROV (AZE) df. Daviti ZEDGINIDZE (GEO), via submission (6-0)

BRONZE: Bohdan CHORNEI (UKR) df. Jaden SOSA (USA), via submission (0-2)
BRONZE: Alikhan ALSHINBAY (KAZ) df. Razmik MISAKYAN (ARM), 8-2

71kg
GOLD: Kurban KADIEV (UWW) df. Nurbek TALBUDIN (KAZ), overtime (0-0)

BRONZE: Apandi AMAGAEV (UWW) df. Zhassulan ZHETPISBAY (KAZ), via submission
BRONZE: Dzhimsher RAZMADZE (GEO) df. Nico PULVERMUELLER (GER), 2-0

77kg
GOLD: Gazimagomed GAZIEV (UWW) df. Illia SUKHODIEIEV (UKR), via submission

BRONZE: Sam SCHWARTZAPFEL (USA) df. Angelos NIKOLOPOULOS (GRE), 10-2
BRONZE: Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UWW) df. Dumitru CEBAN (MDA), 2-1

92kg
GOLD: Murad ABDULATIPOV (UWW) df. Islam TAPPASKHANOV (UWW), 2-0

BRONZE: Anthony ROBINSON (USA) df. Reda MEBTOUCHE (FRA), via submission (1-2)
BRONZE: Mateusz MAZUR (POL) df. Antonio SALTUPS CARETTO (ITA), 4-2

100kg
GOLD: Mukhamed URUSOV (UWW) df. Aleksandre TEVZADZE (GEO), 4-0

BRONZE: Saba DJAVAKHICHVILI (FRA) df. Khasan ZAPIROV (UWW), 1-0
BRONZE: Eldar RAFIGAEV (MDA) df. Herve REDON (FRA), via submission (0-2)

130kg
GOLD: Alexandr ROMANOV (MDA) df. Aleksander KOLDOVSKI (UKR), 7-1

BRONZE: Umar GAISUMOV (UWW) df. Abraham COBY MARTINEZ (ESP), via submission (2-0)
BRONZE: Nikita LOBOIKO (UWW) df. Nizami GAFAROV (AZE), 5-1

Women's Grappling

53kg
GOLD: Carlota PRENDES LARIOS (ESP) df. Viktoriia ISAIEVA (UKR), via submission (4-0)

BRONZE: Evelina FLORIAK (UKR) df. Giulia ANGIOLINI (ITA), via submission (0-3)
BRONZE: Anorbi GRISHINA (UWW) df. Valeriia SHUVALOVA (UWW), 2-2

71kg
GOLD: Alycia QUENEE (FRA) df. Anna REMNEVA (UWW), 3-1

BRONZE: Maja SALAMON (POL) df. Daniella SANTANA FABELO (ESP), 13-4
BRONZE: Valentina PAVLOVA (UWW) df. Anna KOTIUK (UKR), 4-1

90kg
GOLD: Alena VLASOVA (UWW)
SILVER: Tatiana KABANOVA (UWW)
BRONZE: Justyna SITKO (POL)

Japan, U.S. Set to Clash; China All But Through

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Grappling: Romanov returns to win 130kg gold; Prendes repeats