Larroque Returns To Top; Three Nations Win Historic U23 Titles

Thursday, November 4, 2021 - 21:40 By Vinay Siwach

BELGRADE, Serbia (November 4) – Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) has done this before. Back in 2017, she won the U23 World gold as a 19-year-old.

Given her record in wrestling, Larroque could have skipped the ongoing U23 Worlds in Belgrade to focus on the next season after a busy 2021. But a lot had changed since she won the U23 title in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

The 23-year-old won the junior Worlds gold, silver at the senior Worlds in 2018 and was destined for greatness as Tokyo Olympics approached. But tragedy struck on the mat.

During the 2018 World final against Alla CHERKASOVA (UKR), Larroque got caught in a leg lace and injured her knee. The youngster took almost a year to recover but failed to finish on the podium at any world event. She qualified for the Tokyo Olympics but suffered a loss via fall. Two months later, she finished seventh at the Oslo Worlds after dropping a close one to Forrest MOLINARI (USA).

So Belgrade was a final push to finish on a high and regain some lost ground.

“It was my last competition in U23 and I am very happy to win because last month was not easy for me,” Larroque said. “I am happy that I will take some rest after winning a gold medal.”

Larroque, wrestling with a heavily strapped knee, defeated Vusala PARFIANOVICH (RUS) 3-0 after scoring a takedown from an ankle pick and a stepout. With that, she now has a cadet, two junior and two U23 world titles apart from the two medals at the senior level.

Since the Olympics, Larroque has been training away from her personal coach, who is on a break and the French wrestler had to make a few adjustments to her wrestling with the new staff.

“Right now I am at 66kg so it was easier for me to participate in 68kg,” she said. “But in Oslo, I was at 64kg so it was difficult. It was hard for me as my coach is not here and I did not have a lot of preparation.”

But with the sole objective of winning a gold in Belgrade, she came with a set plan of keeping it simple and not being over-attacking. Her first two bouts were high scoring but she took a cautious approach in the semifinal and final, scoring a total of only six points.

“I did not want to take points here,” she said. “I did not want to take much risk.”

Not only Larroque, but her father, who was watching from the stands, wanted his daughter to ascend to the top of the podium after watching her struggle for close to three years.

“I am so pleased,” Stephan LARROQUE said. “She had an injury in 2018 and she has achieved everything on her own so it's great to see her win again.”

Now, the Larroques want her to make the family proud in Paris.

“Before Rio, I thought she will qualify for the Olympics but she did not,” he said. “In Tokyo, I was hoping she will win a medal and I will go but that did not happen. So let's wait for Paris.”

Historic titles

Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) won her first U23 world title. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Apart from Larroque, four different nations won a gold medal with three of them being first-timers. Kyrgyzstan, Poland and Romania had their first-ever women's U23 world champions while Emily SHILSON (USA) added to her collection of cadet and junior world titles.

Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) gave Kyrgyzstan a gold medal when she denied Colombia its first world champion in the 76kg final. Tatiana RENTERIA RENTERIA (COL) led 1-0 at the break against Medet Kyzy but gave up the lead when she was penalized for passivity.

The Oslo bronze medalist from Kyrgyzstan scored a taken in the final 20 seconds to secure a 3-1 win and added another gold to her junior world title.

Anhelina LYSAK (POL) won Poland's first-ever U23 gold medal. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 59kg, Anhelina LYSAK (POL) created history by winning her country's first world title at the U23 level as she took out Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR), 7-2, in the finals.

She earned the match’s first point, but gave up a takedown and surrendered the one-point lead heading into the second period. But she bounced back by jacking up Vynnyk with double underhooks and regained the lead with the stepout point.

“I was going for this tournament only to win gold because I knew I am in shape,” Lysak said.

She faced a familiar opponent in the final as Vynnyk and her have been training in Ukraine for a long time.

“She [Vynnyk] is really strong, but I really wanted to win and I was going to get mine,” she said. “Mat is mat but off it we are friends.”

As she graduates to the senior level, Lysak wants to continue winning for Poland especially after breaking the deadlock with the U23 gold.

“This is my job and I am no longer fighting at U23,” she said. “Now I will be a senior and I still want to fight for medals and win as much as I can for the country.”

Andreea ANA (ROU), red, won her first world title in eighth attempt. (Photo: UWW / Mohammed Yahia)

The third historic title was for Romania as Andreea ANA (ROU) clinched a thriller at 55kg against Viktoriia VAULINA (RUS).

The Romanian trailed Vaulina 2-2 with 18 seconds left when she fired off a double leg. Her Russian opponent halted the initial shot attempt, but Ana transitioned to a head outside single leg. She tree topped the leg and kicked out Vaulina’s balancing foot to pick up the match deciding takedown with five seconds remaining.

This was Ana's eighth World Championships and second after Tokyo Olympics as she participated in Oslo before coming to Belgrade. She said that her experience in Tokyo and Oslo helped her win here.

“I am proud of myself,” Ana said. “I improved with my experience as I have wrestled at a lot of competitions. In Tokyo and Oslo, I wrestled good wrestlers who were more experienced than me. I think that helped me to win this medal.”

Ana’s win in Belgrade was an improvement on her ’19 U23 world bronze medal and Romania’s first-ever U23 women’s wrestling world title.

Shilson wins third title

Emily SHILSON (USA) now has a cadet, junior and U23 world title. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

To say Shilson is good is an understatement. The 20-year-old Wednesday joined a small group of wrestlers who have won two world titles in the same year.

The USA wrestler made the trip to Ufa, Russia in August for the junior world championships and dominated her way to the title, something similar to what we saw in Belgrade. In her four matches, Shilson never looked in trouble and won her bouts 10-0, via fall, injury default and a fall.

“Two years ago I did not win a medal at this tournament and now I have so felt awesome,” Shilson said.

In 2019, she finished 11th but did not make any mistake now even after a frantic start to the final against Shivani PAWAR (IND).

Shilson tried to strike early in the first with a single leg, but it was countered by her Indian opponent. While trailing 2-0, she hit a far side headlock and pinned Pawar less than 90 seconds into the opening frame.

Being one of the most active wrestlers in the US, Shilson was aware of the situation the Indian could have put her.

“I knew she was going to be like that be like that, she just wanted scramble,” Shilson said. “I had to get back up, refocus, and get to where I wanted to be, and then I was able to take what she was giving me.”

Shilson will be one of the wrestlers to watch out for as the Paris Olympics approaches and she thinks that she is on the right track in her career.

“In Ufa, I was one of the oldest wrestlers there, and here I am probably on the younger side,” she said. “Being able to go from juniors and step up on another level, U23 is reassuring that I am on the right track.”

U23 World Championships The four medalist at WW 76kg weight class in Belgrade. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

RESULTS

50kg
GOLD: Emily SHILSON (USA) df Shivani PAWAR (IND), via fall

BRONZE: Stefania PRICEPUTU (ROU) df Sarra HAMDI (TUN), 2-1
BRONZE: Mariia TIUMEREKOVA (RUS) df Anastasiya YANOTAVA (BLR), 10-0

55kg
GOLD: Andreea ANA (ROU) df Viktoriia VAULINA (RUS), 2-2

BRONZE: ANJU (IND) df Virginie KAZE GASCON (CAN), 17-6
BRONZE: Eda TEKIN (TUR) df Ainur ASHIMOVA (KAZ), 6-5

59kg
GOLD: Anhelina LYSAK (POL) df Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR), 7-2

BRONZE: Krystsina SAZYKINA (BLR) df Ramina MAMEDOVA (LAT), 10-0
BRONZE: Anna SZEL (HUN) df Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (RUS), 3-3

68kg
GOLD: Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) df Vusala PARFIANOVICH (RUS), 3-0

BRONZE: Oksana CHUDYK (UKR) df Alyvia FISKE (USA), 3-3
BRONZE: Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) df Sophia SCHAEFLE (GER), via fall

76kg
GOLD: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) df Tatiana RENTERIA RENTERIA (COL), 3-1

BRONZE: Kylie WELKER (USA) df Genesis REASCO VALDEZ (ECU), via fall
BRONZE: Enrica RINALDI (ITA) df Dilnaz MULKINOVA (KAZ) , via fall

#JapanWrestling

Paris champ Kiyooka sets up clash with Tanabe, Motoki faces Ozaki

Saturday, June 21, 2025 - 12:44 By Ken Marantz

TOKYO (June 21) -- Before his astonishing run to an unlikely Olympic title, Kotaro KIYOOKA was the one doing the chasing. Now at the forefront and looking over his shoulder, he sees a familiar face bearing down on him whom he now has to confront.

Paris Olympic champion Kiyooka advanced to the freestyle 65kg final at the Meiji Cup All-Japan Championships on Saturday, where he will face former Nippon Sport Science University teammate Kaisei TANABE with a ticket to this year's World Championships on the line.

Kiyooka is one of three Paris gold medalists, along with Sakura MOTOKI at women's 62kg and Nao KUSAKA at Greco 77kg, who are making their full-fledged returns to the mat at the Meiji Cup, the second of Japan's two domestic qualifiers for the World Championships in Zagreb in September.

Both Motoki and Kusaka advanced with little trouble to Sunday's finals at Tokyo Metropolitan Gym, with Motoki setting up a highly anticipated clash with Paris 68kg bronze medalist Nonoka OZAKI -- whom she beat out for the spot in Paris at 62kg but is intent on reclaiming that weight class.

Kotaro KIYOOK (JPN) Kotaro KIYOOKA, left, ended up scoring 4 points off this scramble in his semifinal match at freestyle 65kg with Yuto NISHIUCHI. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

Unlike the other two, Kiyooka has never been to a senior World Championships. Standing in his way is a formidable opponent in Tanabe, two years his junior who is coming off an impressive victory at the Asian Championships in March in Amman, Jordan. Tanabe only moved up to 65kg last year, and the two had not crossed paths before.

Following the Olympics, Kiyooka spent some time (with Kusaka) competing in the German Bundesliga. But the Meiji Cup marks his first high-level competition since Paris.

"It's been awhile since I've been in an official tournament," the 24-year-old Kiyooka said. "Looking ahead to the Los Angeles Olympics, I'm still a long way away. What's important at this tournament is to come out with a victory.

"I have to make adjustments and prepare mentally for tomorrow. It's not just a one-and-done final, there is also a playoff so I can make it to the World Championships."

Tanabe, the son of NSSU coach and 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Chikara TANABE, captured the title at the first domestic qualifier for the world team, the Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships in December, in Kiyooka's absence.

As such, Kiyooka will not only have to beat him on Sunday in the final, but again in a playoff to be held at the end of the session.

As an indication of the depth of Japan in the weight class, even with the retirement of Tokyo Olympic champion Takuto OTOGURO, both Kiyooka and Tanabe had to get over tough hurdles to make the championship match.

In the semifinals, Kiyooka struggled to break through the defenses of two-time world U20 champion and current NSSU star Yuto NISHIUCHI. In the end, he used counters to great effect in an 8-1 win, scoring 4 by stepping over during a scramble and 2 more defending against a single leg.

"I'm not usually the type who scores big points," Kiyooka said. "But I have built myself up physically after the Olympics and I think the result was that I could get the big point."

In his opening match, Tanabe needed a stepout with 20 seconds left to get past Shinnosuke SUWAMA 5-4, before topping Ryuto SAKAKI 5-0 to make the final.

While Kiyooka is a bit unsettled about having a target on his back, he seems ready to face whatever comes his way.

"Up to now, it's always been the reverse situation," he said. "I never had the feeling that I was being chased. But I don't want to lose. As being among those who is aiming for the Los Angeles Olympics, I want to be a big barrier for the others. If you give them an opening, they will use it. I don't want to show them any gaps."

Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) Sakura MOTOKI pries over Shirin TAKEMOTO en route to a 10-0 win in their women's 62kg semifinal. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

As surprising as Kiyooka's run to gold in Paris was, the bigger shock likely came during the qualifying process when an underrated Motoki, who was "only" a world bronze medalist at 59kg, had the audacity to move up and challenge the highly touted Ozaki at 62kg.

But the 2022 world U20 champion believed in herself, and keeps making believers of others. She returned to competition earlier this year in order to qualify for the World U23 Championships.

Victories at the U23 and senior worlds will make her just the third person in history to achieve the "Golden Grand Slam" of Olympic gold combined with all four world age-group titles.

On Saturday, Motoki's toughest test in advancing to the final came in the opener, when she used a low single to score a takedown in each period of a 5-0 win over two-time world U23 champion Yuzuku INAGAKI.

"She has a good defense," Motoki said. "Being able to get through a tough match really boosts my confidence. When you're an Olympic champion, it's only natural that [opponents] try to come up with a strategy against you.

"In that light, I have to figure out a way to become stronger from the start of Olympic qualifying. That's still under development."

Like Kiyooka, Motoki will have to beat the Emperor's Cup champion twice to secure a place on the world team, and Ozaki won't make it easy.

"She's a really strong wrestler," Motoki said. "I will have to summon up all of my power and try my best."

Nao KUSAKA (JPN) Nao KUSAKA sets up a 4-point overhead lift of Naoki KADODE during their semifinal at Greco 77kg. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

At Greco 77kg, Kusaka chalked up a pair of technical falls to advance to the final, where he will face the Emperor's Cup champion in Kodai SAKURABA, a 2022 Asian bronze medalist whom he aced out in the qualifying for Paris.

In the semifinals, Kusaka romped to a 12-1 victory over Naoki KADODE. After giving up a stepout, he came back with three of his own. Then he got behind and dropped backwards for 4, then ended the match with a 4-point lift at 2:04.

In other weight classes that will finish with medal matches on Sunday, longtime rivals and former NSSU teammates Katsukai ENDO and Kyotaro SOGABE set up their latest clash in the final at Greco 67kg.

Asian bronze medalist Endo, the Emperor's Cup champion, defeated 2021 world bronze 63kg medalist Kensuke SHIMIZU 7-3 in the semifinals, while Paris Olympian Sogabe rallied for a 13-6 win over 2023 world U23 bronze medalist and fellow NSSU alum Haruto YABE.

With Paris bronze medalist Yui SUSAKI still on post-Olympic hiatus, Remina YOSHIMOTO remained on track for a shot at a second world title at women's 50kg when she stormed to 10-0 victories over a pair of teenagers. She will face Umi ITO in a repeat of the Emperor's Cup final, which she won 3-2.

Emperor's Cup champion Rin SAKAMOTO, who has taken the rare collegiate path of going to the United States to compete at Oklahoma State University, advanced to the final at Freestyle 57kg and a showdown with Kento YUMIYA.

Larroque Returns To Top; Three Nations Win Historic U23 Titles

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Paris champ Kiyooka sets up clash with Tanabe, Motoki faces Ozaki