#WrestleZagreb

Susaki slips up in win; USA, Iran dominate freestyle

By Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (February 2) -- After 1174 days, Yui SUSAKI (JPN) gave up a point in an international bout.

The world and Olympic champion had not been scored upon since 2019 but on Thursday, Jiang ZHU (CHN) pushed Susaki out to score on point in the 50kg final of the Zagreb Open Ranking Series event.

Incidentally, the last opponent who scored on Susaki was also Chinese. Yanan SUN (CHN) scored two points on Susaki at the World Cup in Narita in 2019. Since then, Susaki did not give up any points to her opponents until Zou managed to score late in the final.

The stepout was a small lapse in Susaki's divine concentration but she still managed to outscore her opponents 30-1 in Zagreb, winning her second Ranking Series gold medal and first since the 2018 Klippan Lady Open in Sweden.

"It was my first time wrestling against a rough player, so it was a good experience," Susaki said. "All the countries are working hard for the Paris Olympics so I think the number of new wrestlers coming will increase. I also practice more to become stronger so I can be an absolute champion."

Looking as good as ever, Susaki arm-barred Meng FAN (CHN) for a fall in her first bout before going 10-0 against Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZB) in the quarterfinal. The much anticipated semifinal against four-time Olympic medalist Mariya STADNIK (AZE) did not happen as Stadnik pulled out injured.

"It was my first bout against Stadnik since the Olympics so I was looking forward to it," she said. "But it was disappointing that she had to withdraw. I talked to her and she said let's meet at the World Championships."

In the final Susaki was leading 8-0 after a few takedowns when Zhu pushed her out. But two takedowns later, Susaki won the gold.

"My motivation now is to participate in the Paris Olympics, to win the Olympics for the second time in a row and see what I have not seen before," she said. "I want to do my best so that no one can beat Susaki anymore. As for myself, there are many seniors like Saori YOSHIDA and Kaori ICHO. So I want to do my best to catch up."

Zagreb Open also marked the return of Stadnik to the international United World Wrestling competition since the Tokyo Olympics. She won her first bout against Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) 10-0 but struggled against World Championships silver medalist Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL).

She scored two takedowns against Dolgorjav but struggled in the second period, showing signs of tiredness. Dolgorjav got a point for passivity and scored a stepout. In the dying second, it seemed like she completed a takedown over Stadnik but on a challenge, it was clear that time had run out.

Stadnik, who has lost to Susaki in all their previous meetings, decided to default in the semifinal citing injury.

Moe KIYOOKA (JPN)Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) won the gold medal at 55kg in Zagreb. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) added the second gold medal for Japan on Thursday as she won the 55kg gold medal after four wins in the Nelson bracket. In Round 5, she defeated Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA) 12-2. The U23 and U20 world champion was untouchable throughout the day and it was Dragutan who managed to score the two points on her.

Kyle SNYDER (USA)Kyle SNYDER (USA) won the 97kg gold medal over Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

USA, Iran win two golds each

World champion Kyle SNYDER (USA) warmed up for an important year with the gold medal at 97kg in Zagreb while Kollin MOORE (USA) won the gold medal at 92kg.

Snyder wrestled U23 world champion Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) in the final and won 3-0 after an intense battle. He got a point for Azarpira's passivity in the first period to lead 1-0. He was put on the activity clock in the second period but managed to pushout Azarpira just before the clock expired to lead 2-0.

While Azapira defended well to give up no takedowns, Snyder scored his third point via a stepout to lock the gold medal.

"It was a good [day]," Snyder said. "I wrestled four matches in one day and I like wrestling all matches in one day. I had some quality opponents."

One of them was in Snyder's first bout -- Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) who tested Snyder in the morning session. The Azerbaijan wrestler opened up a 4-1 lead but with Snyder constantly pressuring for a takedown, Magomedov broke down and gave up six points as Snyder won 7-4.

"He is a good opponent," he said. "I get better as I go through the tournament but I needed to get a better warm-up."

He went on to beat Takashi ISHIGURO (JPN) 12-1 in the quarterfinal and Radoslaw BARAN (POL) 10-0 in the semifinal.

Kollin MOORE (USA) defeated Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) in the 92kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Moore also had a tough path to the final as he wrestled World Championships bronze medalist Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) in the first bout and then had a tough semifinal against compatriot Jonathan AIELLO (USA) before pulling a thrilling 4-3 win over another World Championships bronze medalist, Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO), in the final.

After opening with an 8-3 win over Nurmagamedov, Moore dug deep to beat Aiello 6-6. In the final, he scored a takedown before the break to lead 2-1 and opened the second period with a takedown to make it 4-1. Maisuradze did score two stepouts but that was not enough for a win.

Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI), blue, won the 79kg gold medal over Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO)

At 79kg, Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI) held on to a 2-1 win over Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) in the final.

Savadkouhi, who became the first wrestler from Iran to beat Jordan BURROUGHS (USA), had a good day in office with wins over Peilong LI (CHN), Saifedine ALEKMA (FRA) and Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) before the final.

"My rival in the final match was a World Championships medal winner," Savadkouhi said. "[But] I was in good physical condition and I won the match."

All three points in the final were technical points as Savadkouhi got a passivity point before a stepout while he gave up a similar point in the second period. But his strong defense in the final minute kept Kentchadze at bay.

On his future plans, Savadkouhi made it clear that he will wrestle at 79kg at the World Championships in September.

"I will remain in 79kg until the 2023 World Championships and after that, I will prepare to compete in an Olympic weight category."

At 125kg, Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) won the gold medal after his opponent in the final, Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE), injury defaulted.

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RESULTS

Freestyle

79kg
GOLD: Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI) df. Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO), 2-1

BRONZE: Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) df. Saifedine ALEKMA (FRA), 13-2
BRONZE: Chandler MARSTELLER (USA) df. Csaba VIDA (HUN), via inj. def.

92kg
GOLD: Kollin MOORE (USA) df. Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO), 4-3

BRONZE: Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL) df. Pruthviraj PATIL (IND), 9-1 
BRONZE: Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) df. Jonathan Leonard AIELLO (USA), 13-2

97kg
GOLD: Kyle SNYDER (USA) df. Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI), 3-0

BRONZE: Awusayiman HABILA (CHN) df. Nishan Preet RANDHAWA (CAN), 12-4
BRONZE: Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) df. Radoslaw BARAN (POL), 11-4

125kg
GOLD: Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) df. Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE), via inj. def.

BRONZE: Robert BARAN (POL) df. Georgi IVANOV (BUL), via fall
BRONZE: Daniel LIGETI (HUN) df. Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL), 8-1

Women's wrestling

50kg
GOLD: Yui SUSAKI (JPN) df. Jiang ZHU (CHN), 12-1

BRONZE: Ziqi FENG (CHN) df. Erin GOLSTON (USA), 12-1
BRONZE: Meng FAN (CHN) df. Mariya STADNIK (AZE), via inj. def.

55kg
Round 5: Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) df. Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA), 12-2
Round 5: Erika BOGNAR (HUN) df. Lauren MASON (USA), 4-1

GOLD: Moe KIYOOKA (JPN)
SILVER: Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA)
BRONZE: Erika BOGNAR (HUN)

2026 U17 World Championships

U17 World Championships 2026 Day 2 Greco-Roman Results & Highlights

By United World Wrestling Press

BAKU, Azerbaijan (July 28) -- The second day of the U17 World Championships will see five Greco-Roman weight classes in action -- 45kg, 51kg, 60kg, 71kg and 92kg till the semifinals before the medal bouts of the Monday's five weights -- 48kg, 55kg, 65kg, 80kg and 110kg.

Use code BUNDLE20 to get 20 precent off on UWW+ to watch the U17, U20 and U23 World Championships. Click here.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 1 RESULTS

15:30: Tomasz MITAL (POL) with a turn from par terre and Sandor ANTALY (HUN) doesn't have any as the Poland wrestler wins 3-1 at 92kg and enters the semifinals.

15:15: Another world champion reaches the semifinals. Janes NAZARYAN (ARM) takes only a minute and 13 seconds to punish Ervin CZUCZOR (HUN), 9-0, and move into the last-four at 71kg.

15:00: Denys KIRYK (UKR) has no answers to the constant pressure of returning world champion Bunyod HASANOV (UZB) at 51kg. The Uzbekistan wrestler takes a 6-0 lead before the break and Kirkyk manages only two points in the second period as Hasanov wins 6-2.

14:52: Into the semifinals for the hosts Azerbaijan, Abdurrahman HUSEYNLI (AZE). He hangs on for a 6-4 win over Gevorg HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) at 51kg. Harutyunyan threatened to take away the match in the second period with a few stepouts but Huseynli kept it clam.

14:22: Bunyod HASANOV (UZB), a returning world champion, sees off Artem TKACHENKO (RUS) with a 10-2 technical superiority win at 51kg. Leading 3-2 at the break, Hasanov went all out in the second period, scoring a stepout, front headlock throws and a takedown for the win.

14:15: Incredible bout between Ali IPEK (TUR) and Ahmad BADRADDINI (IRI) at 51kg. The Iranian raced to a 6-0 lead but Ipek took a criteria 6-6 lead with two turns after a takedown. But Badradinni countered him and scored a exposure and turn to lead 10-6 at the break. Badraddini comes out with a takedown and turn in the second period to win 14-6 

14:08: U17 European champion Tomasz MITAL (POL) moves into the quarterfinal at 92kg with a 7-1 win over Matti EICHMANN (SUI). Mital is hoping to become Poland's first World Championships finalist in Greco-Roman since 2017.

14:00: U17 European bronze medalist Mark KOT (BLR) rolls to a 9-0 technical superiority win over Ahmed ELGENDI (EGY) after four turns from par terre at 92kg.

13:40: Amirreza TAHMASBPOUR (IRI), U17 Asian champion, continues his march after another good win, this time 7-1 over Darpan CHAUDHARI (IND) at 60kg. Chaudhari had good defense but he failed to finish his counters. Tahmasbpour managed to craftly come out of the scrambles and post the win to enter the quarterfinals.

13:38: U17 European silver medalist at 92kg Aleksan SHALJYAN (ARM) had all the chances to win against Yusuf AKSU (TUR) in their match as he got the par terre and almost turned Aksu has well. But he gave up two points in the same move and Aksu won 3-1. Shaljyan was clearly not happy after the loss and both wrestlers exchanged some heated moments.

13:30: Amirreza MEHRITALARPOSHTI (IRI), the U17 Asian champion, led 2-2 on criteria against Hlib YEVSIEIEV (UKR), but the Ukrainian throws him for four and then holds the Iranian for a fall for a shock win at 92kg.

13:05: Rematch of the 1/8 final from U17 European Championships between Christiano LIEBZEIT (GER) and Elmir CHARKAZOV (AZE) at 60kg. Leibzeit, who won that match in Samakov, gets put in par terre first which gives Charkazov a 1-0 lead. However, he fails to score anymore points. Liebzeit too cannot score from par terre in the second period and Charkazov leads 1-1 on criteria with a minute remaining. Charkazov wins 1-1 and avenges his loss against the U17 European silver medalist.

12:52: Aslan DZUEV (RUS), the U17 European champion at 65kg, wrestling at 71kg in Baku, needed a late takedown to complete at 6-3 win over Alinur TOLEUGALI (KAZ) and advance to the 1/16 finals

12:50: U17 Asian champion Baiel NURALIEV (KGZ) has no trouble seeing off Parnam SINGH (IND), 7-1, in their 71kg bout. He scored three turns from par terre and then defended his position for the win.

12:45: Returning champion from 65kg, Janes NAZARYAN (ARM) needs only a minute and 24 seconds to finish his 71kg bout against Martin LETVIK (NOR), 8-0, and start his quest for another world title with a technical superiority win.

12:40: Vadim TARELUNGA (MDA), a 2025 bronze medalist at 45kg, has moved up to 51kg and he pins Georgios CHONDRONASIOS (GRE) to advance to the quarterfinals in Baku.

12:15: Returning bronze medalist Abdurrahman HUSEYNLI (AZE) sends the crowd into a frenzy after a 9-0 win over U17 Asian champion Kuanyshbek ZHANGAZHOL (KAZ) at 51kg. He scores a four-point throw and Zhangazhol is hit with a foul caution. The bout restarts in par terre with Huseynli leading 7-0 and he turns Zhangazhol for the win 

12:05: U17 European champion Tomasz MITAL (POL) opens his campaign at 92kg with a 10-0 blanking of Sanjar STALBEKOV (KGZ). Mital gets the par terre and then launches Stalbekov for four points. Poland challenges for a leg foul and gets it correct. Leading 7-0, Mital turns Stalbekov for a 9-0 win and then one more point for a lost challenge from Kyrgyzstan

Another round of repechage bouts ongoing

11:22: U17 Asian champion Amirreza TAHMASBPOUR (IRI) wastes no time in finishing his 60kg qualification bout against Pavlos TSENTIDIS (GRE), 8-0. He scores a takedown but a throw for four points. He adds two stepouts to win in a minute.

11:18: Christiano LIEBZEIT (GER), a U17 European silver medalist, hangs on for a 1-1 criteria win over Vlad DANILA (MDA) at 60kg. Liebzeit was in trouble when Danila hit an arm throw in the final five seconds but it was given no points

11:08: U17 Pan-Am champion Rylen WAX (USA) with a 4-1 win over Vazgen VARDANYAN (ARM), the U17 European bronze medalist, at 45kg. He got par terre in the second period and scored three points off the position to win

11:00: U17 Asian champion Armin ESMAEILI (IRI) begins with a 9-1 technical superiority win over Kerem DERMAN (TUR) at 45kg. He scores a throw from par terre but gives up a reversal. His 5-1 lead becomes 7-1 when he brings Derman down with a takedown. He then turns the Turkiye wrestler to finish the bout.

10:30: Soon after the repechage bouts, the qualification rounds will begin in five weight classes. The matches will continue till the quarterfinals and the semifinals will be held at 17:00 hours. The medal bouts of Monday's weight classes will be at 18:00 hours