U17 Worlds: USA crowns two champions in Istanbul

Saturday, August 5, 2023 - 18:33 By Gaurav Bhatt

ISTANBUL (August 5) -- Saturday's action at the U17 World Championships was highlighted by two young Americans who chose glory over comfort.

Paul KENNY (USA) beat Yamato FURUSAWA (JPN), and Marcus BLAZE (USA) defeated Ankush (IND) to win the 48kg and 55kg titles, respectively.

Kenny, 15, could have opted to compete in the U15 Division and settle for a title in the Pan American Games. Blaze could have chosen to defend the national title instead.

Both went the World Championships route and struck gold in Istanbul.

“Name a state and chances are I have wrestled there,” Kenny told Jersey Shore Online, “but I have never been overseas before.”

At the U17 World Team Trials, Kenny punched the ticket to Turkiye in style, defeating the top seed and reigning world champion Domenic MUNARETTI (USA).

Paul KENNY (USA) celebrates after winning the 48kg final in Istanbul (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Kenny — who "didn’t like (wrestling) right away, didn’t like to be sweaty" — was made to work for his title in Istanbul.

Kenny trailed 4-0 against Sam Reza SAYAR (IRI) in Friday's semifinal but kept fighting back. The wild bout against the reigning Asian champion saw two challenges favorable for Kenny, who managed to eke out criteria win at 8-8.

If that match was "really crazy", Saturday's final, in Kenny's words, "was kind of boring."

Both wrestlers were put on the shot clock, with Kenny giving up the point first before 2022 Asian U15 champion Furusawa was penalized for passivity. The American took the win on criteria.

"It feels great to be part of the winning team," Kenny said. "I hope the USA comes out on top of the team score. I look up to some of the guys on the team."

In the bronze medal bout at 48kg, Joseph BACHMANN (PUR), who lost 4-2 to Furusuwa in the semifinals, defeated Marian RUSU (ROU) 15-5 thus marking the first time in 48 years when Puerto Rico won a Freestyle medal at the U17 World Championships.

Blaze considered competing at the U.S. Marine Corps Junior and National Championships, before heading to Las Vegas for the U17 trials.

“Both of these tournaments are spectacular; both would be awesome to make and win,” Blaze had told Toledo Blade. “The process of going overseas and wrestling the other foreign wrestlers is an opportunity like no other. It’s a hard thing to pass up. I definitely have to wrestle at the world championships.”

On Friday, Blaze won the semifinal against 2023 European U17 silver medalist Samvel GEVORGYAN (ARM) with an 11-0 technical superiority.

Against Ankush in the final, Blaze — described by his coach Scott BURNETT as a "super sneaky counterattack wrestler who holds really good position" — lived up to the billing. After countering the initial pressure from the Indian, Blaze went for the single leg to open the scoring, before adding another step out.

The nifty U17 Asian champion scored a takedown before Blaze ran out the 31 seconds remaining to earn a 4-3 win.

"He really only had one thing, it was that duck under," Blaze said. "He had very good forward pressure. I really had to be careful about changing directions and getting pushed on my butt. But I think the difference was I was just a better wrestler."

Just like Kenny, the ongoing worlds was the first taste of international wrestling for Blaze, who hadn't been abroad even for a vacation.

“It’s actually going to be a very big learning curve,” Blaze had said. “It’s going to be awesome to feel how the foreign guys wrestle.”

Blaze felt, and learned. After a tough 2-1 win over Amirreza TEYMORIZAD (IRI), Blaze cruised into the finals with three tech fall wins, adapting his game along the way.

"I've always been known as a defensive wrestler," he said. "But I had to get to my offense against the Iranian. Indian wrestling is also similar, so they both just try to slow you down with more pressure and control ties."

And of course, watching his compatriot clinch gold before he walked onto the mat boosted Blaze's confidence.

"Paul stayed solid throughout that entire match. It just kind of motivated me that yeah, we can do this."

Sina Mahdi KHALILI (IRI) Sina KHALILI (IRI) won the 65kg final against Magomed ALIBAKHARCHIEV (AIN) 10-0. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Khalili wins 65kg title

Sina KHALILI (IRI) defeated Magomed ALIBAKHARCHIEV (AIN) to win the 65kg gold. The reigning Asian champion was at his defensive best, using his speed and strength to repeatedly score takedowns en route to a 10-0 win.

Alibakharchiev, who looked solid in his 12-2 win over Brock MANTANONA (USA), had to answers to Khalili's strength and speed in the final.

Khalili's win gave Iran a gold medal which continues the country's streak of having at least one champion in Freestyle after it missed out to crown any at the 2016 edition in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Magomed IDRISOV (AIN) won the 80kg gold after beating Alexandru BORS (MDA). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Individual Neutral Athletes also won a gold medal as Magomed IDRISOV (AIN) defeated the 2023 U17 European champion Alexandru BORS (MDA) in the 80kg category.

Idrisov wasn't the same self as he had been on Friday, winning his four bout by outscoring his opponents 28-1. In the final, Idrisov had to deal with strong of Bors but he switched his strategy and scored two points via Bors inactivity.

In the semifinal, Idrivsov defeated Konstantine PETRIASHVILI (GEO) who is the younger brother of three-time world champion Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO). Konstantine, on Saturday, returned to win the bronze medal against Dovletgeldi MYRADOV (TKM) 6-4.

U17 European champion Yusif DURSUNOV (AZE) added the U17 world gold to his name in Istanbul. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

The 110kg final saw the U20 European silver medallist Yusif DURSUNOV (AZE) beat Asian champion Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) to clinch gold.

Over the two days, Dursunov has been a force, running away with the gold medal with little resistance from his opponents. He won his first bout against Eldorbek KHASANOV (UZB) 11-0, won 5-1 against Aleksandre ABRAMISHVILI (GEO) in the second bout and in the semifinals, he defeated Henrik HAYKYAN (ARM) 6-2, a better margin than the 4-4 win in the U17 European Championships final.

Kassimbek was no pushover for Dursunov as he got the first point on the board after Dursunov was called for inactivity. But it all changed in the second period as Dursunov defended a double-leg and scored a stepout.

Put on the activity clock, Kassimbek went for the far leg and Dursunov was quick to counter that with a takedown. Another point was added as the activity time finished for Kassimbek who, however, did not let Dursunov score any turns. Instead, a reversal got him one point.

Dursunov ran out the 20 seconds left on the clock to add a world gold to his continental title. He will have a chance to add another in just over a week's time as he makes the trip to Amman, Jordan for the U20 World Championships beginning August 14.

U17 Asian champion Ahora KHATERI (IRI) is a win away from becoming U17 world champion. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Team battle heats up

Khalili's gold topped off an outstanding Saturday for Iran as their battle for the team title against the U.S. heats up. Three Iranians advanced to the finals in the first session on Saturday, including two head-to-head wins against the U.S.

In the 45 kg category semifinal, Ahora KHATERI (IRI) defeated Ignacio VILLASENOR (USA) 5-2. The U17 Asian champion will face Gor BUNIATYAN (ARM) in the final as the Armenian managed to go past Ebubekir GUR (TUR), 4-3.

At 92kg, Tahood NOORY (IRI) beat Aeoden SINCLAIR (USA) in the round of 16 at 92kg but lost in the quarterfinals, dashing Sinclair's repechage hopes. The final in this weight class will be a repeat of the U17 European final between Eyyup CETIN (TUR) and Sandro KURASHVILI (GEO) which the Georgian won.

Ladrion LOCKETT (USA) outscored his opponents 38-0 on his way to the 71kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Only Ladrion LOCKETT (USA) advanced to the finals for the U.S. on Saturday. And he did so with pure dominance as the 71kg competitor hasn't given up a point in the tournament so far. Incidentally, he will take on U17 Asian Seyedabolfazl HOSSEINI (IRI) in the gold medal bout.

Iran also has a finalist at 60kg as Sajad PIRDAYEH (IRI) won 3-2 against U17 European champion Jamal ABBASOV (AZE). He will take on Akito MAEHARA (JPN) in the final after the Japanese defeated Zandanbat BATSAIKHAN (MGL) 11-0 in the other semifinal.

Japan's second finalist on Saturday was Yamato OGAWA (JPN) who ended U17 Asian champion Amirmohammad NAVAZI's (IRI) dream of becoming a world champion with a 4-1 win. He will now take on ROHIT (IND) who won 5-2 over Usman INDIRBAEV (AIN) in the other semifinal. A gold for Rohit would mean India winning a U17 world title for the third consecutive year.

RESULTS

48kg
GOLD: Paul KENNY (USA) df. Yamato FURUSAWA (JPN), 1-1

BRONZE: Sam Reza SAYAR (IRI) df. Azymberdi ASHYRGULYYEV (TKM), 10-0
BRONZE: Joseph BACHMANN (PUR) df. Marian RUSU (ROU), 15-5

55kg
GOLD: Marcus BLAZE (USA) df. ANKUSH (IND), 4-3

BRONZE: Samvel GEVORGYAN (ARM) df. Amirreza TEYMORIZAD (IRI), 4-4
BRONZE: Akhmad MUSAKHADZHIEV (AIN) df. Arshak LULUKYAN (GEO), 12-2

65kg
GOLD: Sina KHALILI (IRI) df. Magomed ALIBAKHARCHIEV (AIN), 10-0

BRONZE: Manuel WAGIN (GER) df. Vladimir AZARYAN (ARM), 13-13
BRONZE: Brock MANTANONA (USA) df. Khizir DASIYEV (FRA), 6-5

80kg
GOLD: Magomed IDRISOV (AIN) df. Alexandru BORS (MDA), 2-0

BRONZE: Konstantine PETRIASHVILI (GEO) df. Dovletgeldi MYRADOV (TKM), 6-4
BRONZE: Zackary RYDER (USA) df. Ismayil ASADLI (AZE), via fall (12-2)

110kg
GOLD: Yusif DURSUNOV (AZE) df. Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ), 4-2

BRONZE: Henrik HAYKYAN (ARM) df. Aleksandre ABRAMISHVILI (GEO), 11-0
BRONZE: Rakhman MALAKHMEDOV (AIN) df. Balazs CSIPKES (ROU), 10-0

Semifinals

45kg
GOLD: Gor BUNIATYAN (ARM) vs. Ahora KHATERI (IRI)

SF 1: Gor BUNIATYAN (ARM) df. Ebubekir GUR (TUR), 4-3
SF 2: Ahora KHATERI (IRI) df. Ignacio VILLASENOR (USA), 5-2

51kg
GOLD: Yamato OGAWA (JPN) vs. ROHIT (IND)

SF 1: Yamato OGAWA (JPN) df. Amirmohammad NAVAZI (IRI), 4-1
SF 2: ROHIT (IND) df. Usman INDIRBAEV (AIN), 5-2

60kg
GOLD: Sajad PIRDAYEH (IRI) vs. Akito MAEHARA (JPN)

SF 1: Sajad PIRDAYEH (IRI) df. Jamal ABBASOV (AZE), 3-2
SF 2: Akito MAEHARA (JPN) df. Zandanbat BATSAIKHAN (MGL), 11-0

71kg
GOLD: Ladarion LOCKETT (USA) vs. Seyedabolfazl HOSSEINI (IRI)

SF 1: Ladarion LOCKETT (USA) df. NARENDER (IND), 10-0
SF 2: Seyedabolfazl HOSSEINI (IRI) df. Islam KAZHAROV (AIN), 11-1

92kg
GOLD: Eyyup CETIN (TUR) vs. Sandro KURASHVILI (GEO)

SF 1: Eyyup CETIN (TUR) df. VINAY (IND), 10-0
SF 2: Sandro KURASHVILI (GEO) df. Genki HOKI (JPN), 10-0

#WrestlePontevedra

Onishi adds U20 world title to growing resume

Thursday, September 5, 2024 - 23:02 By Vinay Siwach

PONTEVEDRA, Spain (September 5) -- Three minutes and 33 seconds on the mat, 40-0 in four bouts and zero points conceded.

Sakura ONISHI (JPN) could not have asked for a better debut at the U20 level as she won the 59kg gold medal at the World Championships in Pontevedra, Spain on Thursday.

Ever since her heartbreaking loss in the U17 World Championships final in 2022, Onishi has not looked back and won the U17 and U20 World titles without giving up points. Her title run on Thursday saw her finish the 59kg final against Alexis JANIAK (USA) 10-0 in 43 seconds.

Not that her earlier bouts were any different.

The 18-year-old won her first bout against Elena KUROVA (AIN) 10-0 in a minute, defeated KOMAL (IND) in 34 seconds in the quarterfinals and humbled former U17 world champion Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE) 10-0 in a minute and 16 seconds.

"This was my first win in the U20 category," Onishi said. "I am grateful to my family, friends, and coaches and I wanted to give something back. So I'm honestly really happy that I was able to win.

"I was able to show what I had been practicing, and my challenge this time was to attack aggressively. I was able to accomplish that and win without conceding a point. I'm really satisfied with that."

Sakura ONISHI (JPN) used the leg lace as her go-to attack throughout the tournament. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Earlier this year, Onishi joined the Nippon Sports Science University, whose current and former wrestlers won a combined five gold medals at the recently concluded Paris Olympics. In the short period she has been there, Onishi has trained majorly with 53kg Olympic champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN).

"Akari really has nothing but positives for me," she said. "It's been a really short period of time since I entered NSSU, but during that time, I've been able to do various training sessions with them, and it's been an opportunity for me to become stronger."

Before coming to Spain, Onishi made a name for herself in Japan when she defeated two-time Olympic champion Risako KINJO (nee KAWAI) in the Meiji Cup in May. She won the gold medal and earned a playoff against Kinjo for the Non-Olympic World Championships next month.

Onishi led 5-0 at the break in the playoff but Kinjo scored two points going behind for a takedown and adding a 2-point exposure to cut the lead to 6-4. With :15 on the clock, Kinjo got in on a single and managed to lift up the leg and expose Onishi's back with eight seconds left, putting her ahead 6-6 on criteria. But Onishi squirmed back to her feet and with a mighty charge, went for a double-leg takedown that forced Kinjo out just as time expired. The referee gave her 1 for a stepout, but after an agonizing wait for the challenge review, it was nullified as Kinjo's foot was just centimeters from the edge when the clock hit all zeroes.

Sakura ONISHI (JPN) won the 59kg gold medal at the U20 World Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

While Onishi was disappointed to have not made it to her first senior worlds, she made her loss to Kinjo a driving force for future competitions.

"It was my first experience to wrestle the same person [Kinjo] twice in one day," she said. "I was really disappointed that I couldn't make it at the very end, but on the other hand, it gave me confidence, and I used that energy to reach even higher heights. My desire to win overwhelmingly next time."

The process to be at the next year's senior World Championships begins in December for Onishi. She will be part of the Emperor's Cup and Meiji Cup next year. She will try to win both and earn a spot on the senior team for the World Championships.

As far as the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics go, Onishi expressed her desire to be there. But for that, she will have to decide if she wants to cut to 57kg or jump to 62kg. In both weight classes, defending Olympic champions are waiting for her. Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) at 57kg and Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) at 62kg will be her biggest challenges.

"I haven't decided on my weight class yet, but I definitely want to compete at the Los Angeles Olympics," she said. "No matter what weight class I'm in, I'm determined to beat the current champion."

Yu ZHANG (CHN) celebrates after winning the 50kg final at the U20 World Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Onishi was the only gold medalist of the day for Japan. Haruna MORIKAWA (JPN) wrestled in the 50kg final against Yu ZHANG (CHN) but lost a close final in the last 10 seconds.

After winning two age-group Asian titles, Zhang dropped the U20 Asian final against Rinka OGAWA (JPN) in June. But she left nothing to chance in Pontevedra, pulling off a suplex in the final 10 seconds to beat Morikawa 7-6 and clinch her first gold medal at any World Championships.

Morikawa was the first to get on board as Zhang spun on her back to give two points to Morikawa. It became 4-2 for Morikawa at the break as Zhang got two points for a counter lift while Morikawa was awarded two for exposure as Zhang's hand opened after she finished the lift.

Zhang for the criteria on 4-4 as she scored a two-point exposure over Morikawa, who answered with an underhook to slam Zhang on the mat and score two points. She had 26 seconds to defend her two-point lead but Zhang used a semi-duckunder to step behind Morikawa and lock her in her arms. She completed the throw for two points and a 6-6 criteria lead. Japan challenged the decision but it only added a point to Zhang's score for the lost challenge.

"I have performed well," Zhang said. "After finishing the tournament, I feel that I am still very happy."

Former U23 world champion Yumeka TANABE (JPN) has been the coach for China's U20 team and Zhang acknowledged her inputs for the match.

"I need to mention that I have a lot to learn from Tanabe," she said. "I hope that after this competition, I can improve myself, find out the problems, and solve them to reach an advanced level."

Zhang's twin sister Jin will wrestle for the 53kg gold medal against Calra JAUME SOLER (ESP), Spain's first-ever World Championships finalist in wrestling.

"I want to tell her that she can confidently and boldly perform to her level tomorrow," she said as advice to her sister Jin. "She can also win a gold medal."

Jyoti BERWAL (IND) celebrates after winning the 76kg gold medal at the U20 World Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

India and the United States also crowned champions to remain in the race to win the team title on Friday.

Jyoti BERWAL (IND) won the 76kg gold medal after beating Mariia ORLEVYCH (UKR), 5-0, in the 76kg final. This is the second year in a row that India has won the gold medal in the heaviest weight class.

Berwal won the first point when Orlevych was put on the activity clock and she failed to score. The Indian then added a stepout to lead 2-0. Orlevych was called for passivity in the second period as well and she failed to score giving Berwal another point. A few bad attempts from Orlevych ended in Berwal capitalizing and scoring a two-point takedown to stretch the lead to 5-0.

The gold medal is India's fifth in Women's Wrestling at the U20 World Championships, an impressive number for a country that got its first U20 world champion in Women's Wrestling in 2022.

Berwal, a former 72kg silver medalist at the U23 World Championships, now faces the tough challenge of making it to the senior team. But for that, she will have to win against 2023 U20 world champion Priya MALIK (IND), U23 world champion and Paris Olympian REETIKA (IND) and other up-and-coming youngsters.

"I am satisfied with my wrestling," Berwal said. "Now that I have decided to the Olympic weight class 76kg, there is no turning back and back myself to prove it."

For the United States, Cristelle RODRIGUEZ (USA) took less than a minute to pin Khaliun BYAMBASUREN (MGL) and win the 55kg gold medal for her country.

Byambasuren was trying to get Rodriguez uncomfortable but the American tossed her on the mat and held her back to secure a fall in the final. This was the second fall of the tournament for Rodriguez who won her four bouts without conceding a point.

At 68kg, U20 European champion Alina SHEVCHENKO (AIN) handed Ayse ERKAN (TUR) a 12-2 defeat in the final.

RESULTS

50kg
GOLD: Yu ZHANG (CHN) df. Haruna MORIKAWA (JPN), 7-6

BRONZE: Svenja JUNGO (SUI) df. Laura GANIKYZY (KAZ), 7-4
BRONZE: Aida KERYMOVA (UKR) df. MUSKAN (IND), via fall

55kg
GOLD: Cristelle RODRIGUEZ (USA) df. Khaliun BYAMBASUREN (MGL), via fall

BRONZE: Nargiz SAMADOVA (AZE) df. Karina HONDA (JPN), via fall (8-7)
BRONZE: Tuba DEMIR (TUR) df. Ekaterina CHIKANOVA (AIN), 12-2

59kg
GOLD: Sakura ONISHI (JPN) df. Alexis JANIAK (USA), 10-0

BRONZE: Anna TIELIEGINA (LTU) df. Uladzislava KUDZIN (AIN), via fall
BRONZE: KOMAL (IND) df. Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE), 6-1

68kg
GOLD: Alina SHEVCHENKO (AIN) df. Ayse ERKAN (TUR), via fall (12-2)

BRONZE: Karolina DOMASZUK (POL) df. Emilija JAKOVLJEVIC (SRB), via fall (7-0)
BRONZE: SRISHTI (IND) df. Viktoryia RADZKOVA (AIN), 7-0

76kg
GOLD: Jyoti BERWAL (IND) df. Mariia ORLEVYCH (UKR), 5-0

BRONZE: Naomi SIMON (USA) df. Chisato YOSHIDA (JPN), 9-0
BRONZE: Elmira YASIN (TUR) df. Tuvshinjargal TARAV (MGL), 8-2

Semifinals

53kg
GOLD: Carla JAUME SOLER (ESP) vs. Jin ZHANG (CHN)

SF 1: Carla JAUME SOLER (ESP) df. JYOTI (IND), 4-3
SF 2: Jin ZHANG (CHN) df. Nethmi AHINSA (SRI), via fall

57kg
GOLD: Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) vs. Bertha ROJAS (MEX)

SF 1: Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) df. Gerda TEREK (HUN), 10-0
SF 2: Bertha ROJAS (MEX) df. Alina FILIPOVYCH (UKR), 8-4

62kg
GOLD: NITIKA (IND) vs. Iryna BONDAR (UKR)

SF 1: NITIKA (IND) df. Nagisa ITO (JPN), 7-3
SF 2: Iryna BONDAR (UKR) df. Melanie JIMENEZ (MEX), 4-3

65kg
GOLD: Nana IKEHATA (JPN) vs. Beyza AKKUS (TUR)

SF 1: Nana IKEHATA (JPN) df. Zaixue RUI (CHN), 10-0
SF 2: Beyza AKKUS (TUR) df. Margarita SALNAZARIAN (AIN), 10-0

72kg
GOLD: Jasmine ROBINSON (USA) vs. Yuqi LIU (CHN)

SF 1: Jasmine ROBINSON (USA) df. Noemi OSVATH NAGY (HUN), via fall
SF 2: Yuqi LIU (CHN) df. Elvira ERSSON (SWE), 10-0

U17 Worlds: USA crowns two champions in Istanbul

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Onishi adds U20 world title to growing resume