#WrestleTallinn

Marin Portille Wins Cuba’s First Women’s Junior World Gold; Susaki Strikes World Gold for Seventh Time

Thursday, August 15, 2019 - 20:06 By Eric Olanowski

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TALLINN, Estonia (August 15) -- Milaimys de la Caridad MARIN POTRILLE (CUB) claimed Cuba’s first-ever women’s wrestling junior world titlle, while Yui SUSAKI (JPN) added a second consecutive junior world title to her resume that’s now littered with seven world gold medals. 

In the 76kg gold-medal bout, Marin Portille stopped Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE) from winning Chinese Taipei’s first-ever junior world title with a 10-6 victory. 

In the finals, Marin Portille trailed by three points late into the second period after giving up a four-point headlock, but quickly rebounded and gained two exposure points -- cutting Chang’s lead to one point. In dramatic fashion, Marin Portille scored a takedown with seven seconds left in the match and became Cuba’s first-ever women’s wrestling junior world gold medalist. Smiling from ear-to-ear, Marin Portille said, “I dedicate this win to the Cuban people. This win is very important because Cuba is a small island and I prepared very hard for this.” 

Still gleaming with joy, Marin Portille added, “I’m so emotional. I feel so good -- so nice. We won three medals at the Pan-Americans, but this is a step forward for Cuban women’s wrestling.” 

The newly minted junior world champion closed by saying she’ll be wrestling at the September’s Nur-Sultan World Championships.

Yui SUSAKI (JPN) downed Daria KHVOSTOVA (RUS), 10-0, and won her seventh world title. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Meanwhile, Yui Susaki claimed back-to-back junior world titles after seizing a 10-0 victory over 2016 cadet world silver medalist Daria KHVOSTOVA (RUS). 

With her win on Thursday night, Susaki brought her grand total to seven overall world gold medals since appearing at her first World Championships in 2014. When asked where this world title stacks up on her list, Susaki said, “My final goal is an Olympic gold medal. I will do my best and I will try to practice towards my final goal.” 

Susaki's world championship record is now 31-0 – with 29 of those wins being shutout victories. Perhaps a more impressive stat is Susaki has now outscored her 31 world championship opponents 290-6 and only gave up points in two matches en route to reaching the top of the podium seven times.

She believes the reason she’s so successful is because of her strength and mind. She said, “The reason why I get the championships is my own strength and mind.” 

Sae NANJO (JPN) gets emotional after winning the 59kg world title with a 12-1 win over reigning junior world champion Anastasia NICHITA (MDA). (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Japan Collects Two Additional World Titles
In addition to Susaki’s gold medal, Sae NANJO (JPN) and Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN) also won gold medals at 59kg and 68kg, respectively. 

In a rematch of last year’s 59kg junior world finals, Nanjo unseated reigning junior world champion Anastasia NICHITA (MDA), 12-1. 

Last year, Nichita scored a pair of takedowns -- which trumped Nanjo’s takedown and two one-point exchanges to win her first world title, 4-4.

But, Nanjo authored a much different story on Thursday night.

Much like last year, Nanjo surrendered the matches’ first points, but that was the last time the Moldovan wrestler would score. After Nanjo was hit with that inactivity point, she scored back-to-back takedowns and closed out the opening period in front by three points (4-1).  

Early in the second period, Nanjo stopped a Nichita duck under attempt and secured a takedown with a high crotch and led by five points (6-1). The Japanese wrestler quickly transitioned into a pair of leg laces off the right-sided high crotch and commanded the 10-1 lead. A flurry ending with Nanjo locking up in a cradle handed Japan their second gold medal of the day with the 12-1 victory. 

With her win on Thursday night, Nanjo now has two junior world titles on her resume. She also won the 2017 junior world title in Tampere, Finland. 

Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN) was the third Japanese wrestler to claim gold on Thursday night. She took out Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ), 4-2 in the 68kg finals. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Naruha Matsuyuki scored the match-deciding takedown with 31 seconds left in the 68kg finals to stop Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) from winning Kyrgyzstan second-ever junior world gold medal. 

Matsuyuki, who represented Japan at the junior, U23 and senior World Championships last season, improved on her 2018 junior world bronze medal with a clutch counter offensive attack to give Japan their third gold medal of the day. 

Patrycja GIL (POL) gave Poland their first women's wrestling junior world title since 1999 with a 6-2 win over Ekaterina VERBINA (RUS) in the 55kg finals. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Gil Gives Poland First Junior World Title Since 1999
Patrycja GIL (POL) became Poland’s third woman to win a junior world title and first gold medalist since Edyta WITKOWSKA (POL) won the 1999 Junior World Championships in Bucharest, Romania. 

On Friday night, Gil grabbed a first-period takedown, but conceded a takedown and trailed 2018 junior world bronze medalist Ekaterina VERBINA (RUS), 2-2. Mid-way through the second period, while trailing on criteria, the Polish wrestler picked up four points from a double leg takedown and closed out the match, 6-2, to win her country’s first junior world title in 20 years. 

RESULTS
50kg 
GOLD - Yui SUSAKI (JPN) df. Daria KHVOSTOVA (RUS), 10-0 
BRONZE - Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) df. Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU), 9-9 
BRONZE - Maria LEORDA (MDA) df. Natallia VARAKINA (BLR), 4-2

55kg
GOLD - Patrycja GIL (POL) df. Ekaterina VERBINA (RUS), 6-2 
BRONZE - Saki IGARASHI (JPN) df. Eunyoung PARK (KOR), 4-0 
BRONZE - Sezen Behchetova BELBEROVA (BUL) df. Anastasia BLAYVAS (GER), 8-0 

59kg
GOLD - Sae NANJO (JPN) df. Anastasia NICHITA (MDA), via fall
BRONZE - Kateryna ZELENYKH (UKR) df. Anshu ANSHU (IND), 12-1 
BRONZE - Morena DE VITA (ITA) df. Nazira MARSBEK KYZY (KGZ), 6-6 

68kg
GOLD - Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN) df. Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ), 4-2 
BRONZE - Khanum VELIEVA (RUS) df. Jayden Leigh LAURENT (USA), 9-1 
BRONZE - Ewelina Weronika CIUNEK (POL) df. Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL), 4-2 

76kg
GOLD - Milaimys de la Caridad MARIN POTRILLE (CUB) df. Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE), 10-6
BRONZE - Yasuha MATSUYUKI (JPN) df. Qian JIANG (CHN), 2-1 
BRONZE - Bernadett NAGY (HUN) df. Eleni PJOLLAJ (ITA), 10-0  

#WrestleNoviSad

U23 World Championships 2025 Day 5 FS & WW Highlights

Friday, October 24, 2025 - 08:30 By Vinay Siwach

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NOVI SAD, Serbia (October 23) -- The U23 World Championships enters day five with two Freestyle weight classes -- 74kg and 92kg and three in women's wrestling -- 53kg, 59kg and 62kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 4 RESULTS

14:40: European champion Iryna BONDAR (UKR) finds a way to beat Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR) in the final 40 seconds. Kolawale was lead 3-0 but Bondar with two different takedowns to win 4-3.

14:30: Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) seems to be unbothered by the weight change as he puts on a clinic to win his 74kg quarterfinals against Mohammad BAKHSHI (JPN), 11-0. Aoyagi now into the semifinals

14:25: Mobin AZIMI (IRI) puts Iran in the semifinals after a technical superiority win over Joshua BARR (USA). Azimi led 1-1 on criteria but Barr began the second period with a takedown. But Azimi kept the pressure and scored a takedown, and used a high gut-wrench to score five turns and complete a 13-3 win and advance to the 92kg semifinals

14:20: There is no way 

14:15: Mukhamed KHANIEV (AZE) with a 10-0 victory over SACHIN (IND) and move into the semifinals at 92kg. Khaniev with three go-behinds before launching a big throw and turn to win via technical superiority.

14:10: Mitchell MESENBRINK (USA) with another technical superiority win as he beats Omar MOURAD (EGY), 12-2, to enter the 74kg semifinals.

14:00: Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN) and Magomed KHANIEV (AZE) face-off in the quarterfinals at 74kg. Both wrestlers exchange takedowns with Asluev leading 2-2 on criteria. Khaniev gets on a leg attack and manages to trip Asluev without control. It is, however, scored two points for Khaniev which gives him a 4-2 lead. Asluev manages to leg attack Khaniev but no points as both wrestlers go out of bounds in par terre. Bahrain challenges the call but it is lost, giving a 5-2 lead to Khaniev. Khaniev gets hit with caution and one point for fleeing, and the bout resumes in par terre. Asluev was about to turn Khaniev but loses his grip and Khaniev gets the two points for exposure which is also his winning points in his 7-3 win

13:35: SARIKA (IND) with a late takedown against Alexis JANIAK (USA) to clinch a 6-4 victory in their 59kg bout. Sarika set up Janiak a couple of times but failed to finish until the final takedown which resulted in victory. 

13:30: Returning silver medalist Ruka NATAMI (JPN) got a solid challenge from Olivia LICHTI (CAN) in her opening 59kg bout. Natami managed to counter Licthi's attacks and score her points in the 8-1 win but Litchi can be proud of her world debut

13:15: Mobin AZIMI (IRI) books a spot in quarterfinals at 92kg against Joshua BARR (USA) after an 8-1 victory over Sadig MUSTAFAZADE (AZE). Big four pointer for Azimi in that win.

12:50: Iryna BONDAR (UKR) with a quick takedown and turn to lead 4-1 against SAVITA (IND) after being put on activity clock in the 62kg match. Savit starts the second period with a takedown to  make the score 4-3. Bondar defends that lead for the last two minutes to advance to the quarterfinals.

12:45: Mitchell MESENBRINK (USA) gets his double-leg attacks to win his 1/8 finals against PARVINDER (IND), 10-0, at 74kg. He finished with a lace turn to get the last two points.

12:30: Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN) comes back from 3-1 down to beat Ion MARCU (MDA), 11-5, at 74kg. Asluev moves into the quarterfinals and keeps Magomed BAITUKAEV (UWW) alive

12:25: Magomed KHANIEV (AZE) with some masterful defense against Grigor CHOLAKYAN (ARM) and he scores on counters to beat the Armenian 14-5. Khaniev now in the quarterfinals.

12:20: Moving into the next round of 74kg bouts and we have world champion Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) doing what he does best. He beats Baitemir TULEBERDIEV (KGZ) 11-0 to advance to the quarterfinals.

11:40: Sakura MOTOKI (JPN), chasing a historic gold to complete the Golden Grand Slam, begins with a fall over world bronze medalist Nigina SABIROVA (UZB) at 62kg.

11:30: Mobin AZIMI (IRI) upsets U20 world champion Sherzod POYONOV (UZB) at 92kg. Mix of stepouts and takedowns in his 7-1 victory.

11:15: U20 world champion and senior European champion Iryna BONDAR (UKR) and Selvi ILYASOGLU (TUR) involved in a little heated match. Bondar wanted twice for aggressive fouls but she manages to beat Ilyasoglu via fall at 62kg.

10:55: Former U20 world champion Mitchell MESENBRINK (USA) begins his chase for a first world U23 title with a 12-2 win over Aliaksandr HULNIK (UWW) at 74kg.

U23 World Championships 74kg

10:50: Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN), world champion at 70kg, makes his debut at 74kg at the U23 World Championships. He begins slow but manages to up the pace in the second period and beat Petar PETKOV (BUL), 10-0.

10:40: Muhammed OZMUS (TUR) has pulled off a mini upset at 74kg as he beats Manuel WAGIN (GER), 10-2, two chest wrap attempts from Wagin costed him eight points and one for the lost challenge in that defeat.

10:30: Magomed KHANIEV (AZE) has more steady start at 74kg. He starts with a 10-0 controlled win against Georgios IOAKEIMIDIS (GRE). Khaniev will now be the favorite to reach the final from top half of that bracket.

10:20: We are off to very unexpected start at 74kg. Magomed BAITUKAEV (UWW), one of the favorites for gold at 74kg, goes down 3-3 against Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN) in the opening bout. He led 3-0 but Asluev tied it in the second period, taking a criteria lead. He defended the lead to win.

10:00: The fifth day in Novi Sad can witness history. Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) is chasing the gold and join the elite group of wrestlers to win all world titles and the Olympic gold medal.