2026 U20 European Championships

U20 European Championships 2026 Entries

By United World Wrestling Press

SKOPJE, North Macedonia (June 26) -- The U20 European Championships will be held in Skopje, North Macedonia from July 6 to 12.

More than 500 wrestlers are expected to take part in the tournament which will start with Greco-Roman, then Women's Wrestling and finish with Freestyle.

Note: The entries are subject to change before the draw of respective styles

UWW Plus

Greco-Roman

55kg
Edgar PETROSYAN (ARM)
Emin JAVADLI (AZE)
Stanislav IVANOV (BUL)
Jakub SEDLAK (CZE)
Nolan PISSOCHER (FRA)
Sos KOTANJYAN (FRA)
Koba KARUMIDZE (GEO)
Lenny WOERNER (GER)
Vasileios PAPAGEORGIOU (GRE)
Maxim SARMANOV (MDA)
Dawid MALIK (POL)
Alexandre DE ALMEIDA (POR)
Vlad TRIP (ROU)
Ilia KANDALIN (RUS)
Denizhan OGUN (TUR)
Bohdan RIZNYCHENKO (UKR)

60kg
Marat ATSHEMYAN (ARM)
Aykhan JAVADOV (AZE)
Rasim IBRAHIMAU (BLR)
Zhivko HINKOV (BUL)
Magomed VARAEV (FRA)
Kakhaber GOGINASHVILI (GEO)
Ivan SEIBEL (GER)
Vasileios TSAROUCHAS (GRE)
Gabriele PUCHER (ITA)
Emilis NEVERAUSKAS (LTU)
Alin CHITIC (MDA)
Storm RYDEN (NOR)
Kacper SOBCZYK (POL)
Billy MARQUES (POR)
Dragos DRAGA (ROU)
ILIA PANIUTIN (RUS)
Levin MEIER (SUI)
Nikolasz PALENYIK (SVK)
Olivier PEREZ IBARRA (SWE)
Furkan ODEN (TUR)
Herman BASARAB (UKR)

63kg
Mikel TROPLINI (ALB)
Aleks MARGARYAN (ARM)
Tural AHMADOV (AZE)
Dzmitry DUDUK (BLR)
Alyosha ILIEV (BUL)
Raimond PROUS (EST)
Matias ARPIAINEN (FIN)
Ilies DAHMANI (FRA)
Giorgi TCHIKAIDZE (GEO)
Mika LABES (GER)
Marios KAPANTAIS (GRE)
Levente FIGE (HUN)
Riccardo DELLE CAVE (ITA)
Maxim CARAUS (MDA)
Vetle GUNHEIM HATLAND (NOR)
Filip IWASZKO (POL)
Ionut MEREUTA (ROU)
Salim KAZMAKHOV (RUS)
Andrej VELISAVLJEV (SRB)
Balint VARGA (SVK)
Abdul ARSLANTAS (TUR)
Maksut SULTANOV (UKR)

67kg
Yurik MKHITARYAN (ARM)
Roman KARIMOV (AZE)
Mikhail MARKOUSKI (BLR)
Kristiyan MILENKOV (BUL)
Tin TURKOVIC (CRO)
Hugo RIEHUNKANGAS (FIN)
Ilian DOUBACH (FRA)
Erekle TAVBERIDZE (GEO)
Ilja PAVLENKOV (GER)
Sergios BOULOUTIDIS (GRE)
Petro ZHYTOVOZ (HUN)
Alessio ARANCIO (ITA)
Eimantas ANDRIUSKA (LTU)
Maxim DAMASCHIN (MDA)
Ilias LAAOUINA (NED)
Andreas FJELDSTAD (NOR)
Iosif ZLOTAR (ROU)
Amir SOVMIZ (RUS)
Kristian DOBI (SRB)
Roland CSICSO (SVK)
Omer ALTAS (TUR)
Vladyslav POKOTYLO (UKR)

72kg
Narek GRIGORIAN (ARM)
Kamran RAJABLI (AZE)
Uladzimir NEHODA (BLR)
Atanas RADEV (BUL)
Jure RAJKOVIC (CRO)
Bruno HANZEL (CZE)
Andreas VAELJA (EST)
Bilel GHARBI (FRA)
Aleksandre RUSITASHVILI (GEO)
Finn KUEHN (GER)
Arionas KOLITSOPOULOS (GRE)
Barna TOPLAK (HUN)
Timur NADORGIN (ISR)
Andrea PROIETTI (ITA)
Ignat MEICO (MDA)
Mate VAN OS (NED)
Kacper GOLONKA (POL)
Vladislav BYRLIA (RUS)
Balaz UJHELJI (SRB)
Alvin THULINDER (SWE)
Salih YAZICI (TUR)
Dmytro DEMIANOVSKYI (UKR)

77kg
Samvel TERTERYAN (ARM)
Lars MATT (AUT)
Javidan NAHMATOV (AZE)
Hristo VALENTINOV (BUL)
Rasmus TONISMAEE (EST)
Luka KAJANNE (FIN)
Giorgi GOGELASHVILI (GEO)
Raphael TITZE (GER)
Adamantios PAPADATOS (GRE)
Zalan TOPLAK (HUN)
Nilo VIRGILII (ITA)
Robertas VOLOTKEVIC (LTU)
Nichita APOSTOL (MDA)
Noe WOLSKI (POL)
Nazar BERKOVSKII (RUS)
Zalan PEK (SRB)
Ruben STRAAKEVED (SWE)
Alkan AKAR (TUR)
Pavlo POSHUTYLOV (UKR)

82kg
Vahe HOVHANNISYAN (ARM)
Christopher SZENTKIRALYI (AUT)
Elmin ALIYEV (AZE)
Kiryl VALEUSKI (BLR)
Martin SHISHEKOV (BUL)
Petr ZAK (CZE)
Severi MAEENPAEAE (FIN)
Haik SARGSYAN (FRA)
Luka PIPIA (GEO)
Bogomir EISMONT (GER)
Vasileios SEMERTZIDIS (GRE)
Szabolcs SZINAY (HUN)
Toms IRKLIS (LAT)
Stanislav MUSABECOV (MDA)
Zaur BESLEKOEV (RUS)
Dominik HERVAI (SVK)
Axel BAFF (SWE)
Ismail BEREKET (TUR)
Yehor LEHKYI (UKR)

87kg
Iurik PETROSIAN (ARM)
Paul MAIER (AUT)
Orkhan HAJIYEV (AZE)
Danil SKLIZKOU (BLR)
Valentin VALENTINOV (BUL)
Josef CERNY (CZE)
Marcus UHTJAERV (EST)
Luka KOCHALIDZE (GEO)
Anton BUCHHOLZ (GER)
Eleftherios PAPPAS (GRE)
Zalan VARGA (HUN)
Itzhak NEMSADZE (ISR)
Olivers IRKLIS (LAT)
Marius STIHARU (MDA)
Stanislaw FUSSY (POL)
Gabriel STAN (ROU)
Mikhail SHKARIN (RUS)
Stevan KOJIC (SRB)
Max HALS (SWE)
Abdulvahab KALAFAT (TUR)
Vladyslav SOLODCHUK (UKR)

97kg
Erik TER MATEVOSYAN (ARM)
Mahir GURBANLI (AZE)
Pavel SAVITSKI (BLR)
Martin TITOV (BUL)
Andrej RODIN (CRO)
Vitezslav ZAK (CZE)
Pauli PERKIOE (FIN)
Arman MKRTCHYAN (GEO)
Keymi ROTHWEILER (GER)
Dimitrios PAPPAS (GRE)
Vendel VITAI (HUN)
Julius GIKARAS (LTU)
Alexandr PLESCAN (MDA)
Yassine BEN LABED (POL)
Nikita KATERYNYUK (POR)
Vlad PETREAN (ROU)
Saipula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS)
Emir BOZBAG (TUR)
Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR)

130kg
Lyova SHUKHYAN (ARM)
Museyi HUSEYN (AZE)
Mihail KRALEV (BUL)
Dominik KOCMAN (CZE)
Tomas RUSI (FIN)
Saba PURTSELADZE (GEO)
Koppany LASZLO (HUN)
Dominik SKOWRON (POL)
Ali ILIASOV (RUS)
Cemal BAKIR (TUR)
Ivan YANKOVSKYI (UKR)

Magomed OZDAMIROV (RUS)Magomed OZDAMIROV (RUS) is a U20 world champion at 57kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Freestyle

57kg
Sasha PETROSYAN (ARM)
Muhammad ISMAYILOV (AZE)
Matsvei SYTSEVICH (BLR)
Nik DOYCHINOV (BUL)
Gaspard CHEYNOUX (FRA)
Danoush JOWKAR (GBR)
Giorgi TSURIASHVILI (GEO)
John KETERLING (GER)
Karoly BARATH (HUN)
Gheorghi GAIDARJI (MDA)
Nikola GICEV (MKD)
Pavlo ILNYTSKYI (POL)
Marian RUSU (ROU)
Magomed OZDAMIROV (RUS)
Kevin BIRCHLER (SUI)
Ebubekir GUR (TUR)
Mykola BRATOV (UKR)

61kg
Ajndi KRYEZIU (ALB)
Gagik GHAZARYAN (ARM)
Kristian CIKEL (AUT)
Jamal ABBASOV (AZE)
Hleb PIATROU (BLR)
Erdal GALIP (BUL)
Kaspar KOERT (EST)
Deni DAOUDOV (FRA)
Ruben TANGAMYAN (GEO)
Eliah LUCYGA (GER)
Balint NEMETH (HUN)
Pasquale LIUZZI (ITA)
Marcel ANDRONACHE (MDA)
Sufjan SINANI (MKD)
Kajetan WIECZOREK (POL)
Gabriel Florin MIHALCEA (ROU)
Usman INDIRBAEV (RUS)
Nurettin KAPAL (TUR)
Andrii SHOKALIUK (UKR)

65kg
Ervis BARDHI (ALB)
Aren HAYRAPETYAN (ARM)
Bashir VERDIYEV (AZE)
Dzianis KATOK (BLR)
Aleksandar DELCHEV (BUL)
Khizir DASIYEV (FRA)
Joseph MAHONEY (GBR)
Tengiz BARBAKADZE (GEO)
Dominic THIEL (GER)
Pavlos NTIANTIADIS (GRE)
Mozes LASZLO (HUN)
Maxim DIMOV (MDA)
Mario ANANIEV (MKD)
Ivan OKSIUK (POL)
Said GERGOKOV (RUS)
Haci ZADE (TUR)
Zorab ALOIEV (UKR)

70kg
Davit DAVTYAN (ARM)
Haji KARIMOV (AZE)
Movsar CHUPALAEV (BEL)
Vladislav SEIZOV (BUL)
Denis KODAKOV GIL (ESP)
Bayssangour BITMURZAEV (FRA)
Zurab ABALAKI (GEO)
Jason KEIL (GER)
Aik KAZARIAN (GRE)
Ahmad ARSZUNKAEV (HUN)
Daniel KRUTULES (LTU)
Ionut TRIBOI (MDA)
Filip TODOROV (MKD)
Jakub KESY (POL)
David BOICEA (ROU)
Ramazan ABDULKADYROV (RUS)
Aaron ZBERG (SUI)
Dominik ZAVACKY (SVK)
Remzi TEMUR (TUR)
Mykyta SARIIEV (UKR)

74kg
Vladimir AZARYAN (ARM)
Nurlan AGHAZADA (AZE)
Artsiom BOLSUN (BLR)
Nikifor PETROV (BUL)
Daniel JASNOV (EST)
Abdoullah NAKAEV (FRA)
Luka TATIASHVILI (GEO)
Manuel WAGIN (GER)
Vasileios KESIDIS (GRE)
Mate VARGA (HUN)
Eli SOLTANOV (ISR)
Erand FLUGAJ (KOS)
Oleg KNISEVSKIJ (LTU)
Catalin SPINU (MDA)
Muhamed VESELI (MKD)
Gracjan MATYJASEK (POL)
Inal CHELDIEV (RUS)
Umut USLU (TUR)
Bohdan OLIINYK (UKR)

79kg
Narek NIKOGHOSYAN (ARM)
Eljan ISMAYILZADA (AZE)
Halil MAGOMADOV (BEL)
Aliaksei KURYLA (BLR)
Yanaki MARCHOKOV (BUL)
David KODAKOV GIL (ESP)
Tristan ALEKSANDROV (EST)
Iakobi KOBULASHVILI (GEO)
Felix SCHMITT (GER)
Stefanos VAVILIS (GRE)
Arnold TAKACS (HUN)
Declan BLIGH (IRL)
Daniel SIMONIAN (ISR)
Xander GUATTA (ITA)
Adriatik BERISHA (KOS)
Piotr CARADJOV (MDA)
Trim ISMAILI (MKD)
Kyryll DANDAN (ROU)
Magomed ALIBAKHARCHIEV (RUS)
Jaroslav ZAREMBA (SVK)
Yasin UZUN (TUR)
Bohdan OLEKSIIENKO (UKR)

86kg
Razmik YEPREMYAN (ARM)
Mahammad ABASZADA (AZE)
Alan TIGIEV (BUL)
Nikolai TARASSOV (EST)
Dachi PAPINASHVILI (GEO)
Emil ULAMEC (GER)
Tomer DROZHNIAK (ISR)
Aidas SARUNAS (LTU)
Ivan PASLARI (MDA)
Redjep TAIRI (MKD)
Magor LORINCZ (ROU)
Ismail KHANIEV (RUS)
Nick SCHERRER (SUI)
Nikolaj SZILAGYI (SVK)
Sefa CESUR (TUR)
Artur KOSTIUK (UKR)

92kg
Albin PEPOSHI (ALB)
Narek IKILIKYAN (ARM)
Huseyn MAMMADTAGHIZADA (AZE)
Aliaksei KULAKOU (BLR)
Grigor CHERNAKOV (BUL)
Mykola TOLMACHOV (ESP)
Sandro KURASHVILI (GEO)
Abdurrahim SEKMEN (GER)
Youssef SOLIMAN (HUN)
Brando MAGNANI (ITA)
Alexandru BORS (MDA)
Omer MEMEDI (MKD)
Filip NOWAKOWSKI (POL)
Darius SAS (ROU)
Artur TOGOEV (RUS)
Jacek FUDALEJ (SUI)
Eyyup CETIN (TUR)
Yehor HOROKH (UKR)

97kg
Hakob HAKOBYAN (ARM)
Farhad SULEYMANLI (AZE)
Aliaksei KHADUNOU (BLR)
Valentin BORISOV (BUL)
Joona JUNNILA (FIN)
Ashab DADAEV (FRA)
Konstantine PETRIASHVILI (GEO)
Tom ULAMEC (GER)
Robert ERDELYI (HUN)
Vitalie PERCIUN (MDA)
Ilija ATANASOV (MKD)
Balazs LORINCZ (ROU)
Shamil TAMBIEV (RUS)
Suleyman RIZA (TUR)
Rostyslav KURYLIAK (UKR)

125kg
Henrik HAYKYAN (ARM)
Yusif DURSUNOV (AZE)
Yaraslau KOKHAN (BLR)
Dian MANEV (BUL)
Aleksandre ABRAMISHVILI (GEO)
Ahmet SEKMEN (GER)
Nikolaos KARAVANOS (GRE)
Daniel SZILAGYI (HUN)
David ERHAN (MDA)
Piotr GRELA (POL)
Brian TECHEREAN (ROU)
Soslan GABUEV (RUS)
Rusen GULER (TUR)
Ivan MYROSHNYCHENKO (UKR)

Nadiia Sokolovska (UKR)Senior European champion at 72kg, Nadiia Sokolovska (UKR) will be wrestling at 76kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Women's Wrestling

50kg
Serineh CRANE (ARM)
Nazrin AHMADLI (AZE)
Sviatlana KATENKA (BLR)
Ena ZEMUNIC (CRO)
Rita RANTONEN (FIN)
Josephine WRENSCH (GER)
Maria GKIKA (GRE)
Lonisa REKA (KOS)
Mihaela BACOS (MDA)
Frosina ATANASOVA (MKD)
Olivia VAN KLEUNEN (NED)
Daniella HOSSEIN BEKY (NOR)
Karolina ZIEN (POL)
Leticia OLIVEIRA (POR)
Diana VOICULESCU (ROU)
Margarita IARYGINA (RUS)
Sally Vega MALMGREN (SWE)
Nil AKTAS (TUR)
Yelyzaveta KULAKIVSKA (UKR)

53kg
Esra MAMMADLI (AZE)
Aliaksandra VISTSIAK (BLR)
Nikol ALEKSANDROVA (BUL)
Anais MARTIN (FRA)
Fiona GASSER (GER)
Evgenia LAMPROU (GRE)
Szonja NEMETH (HUN)
Naomi LIUZZI (ITA)
Dorentina NEZAJ (KOS)
Bojana KOVACHOVA (MKD)
Ilona VALCHUK (POL)
Electra GARAIACU (ROU)
Ekaterina CHIKANOVA (RUS)
Remziye KARADAG (TUR)
Anastasiia POLSKA (UKR)

55kg
Garatel GULIYEVA (AZE)
Valeryia MIKITSICH (BLR)
Nataliya BOYADZHIEVA (BUL)
Lisette BOETTKER (EST)
Sara RANTONEN (FIN)
Eleni ZAGLIVERI (GER)
Angela CRAPIO CASAROLA (ITA)
Kanita SPAHIJA (KOS)
Enrika DEVETINAITE (LTU)
Eliza GONTA (MDA)
Sadije DURA (MKD)
Thea BERGERSEN (NOR)
Amelia TOMALA (POL)
Bianca RUSU (ROU)
Olesia MALAKHOVA (RUS)
Milica PEROVIC SEKULOVIC (SRB)
Anja EPP (SUI)
Elif ATAKAN (TUR)
Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR)

57kg
Viktoryia ALISEYENKA (BLR)
Olga POPOVA (BUL)
Théa ROUSSEL (FRA)
Nini TSITSVIDZE (GEO)
Ioanna XENIDOU (GRE)
Liliana KAPUVARI (HUN)
Fabiana RINELLA (ITA)
Elsa NIKOCI (KOS)
Alexandrina BARBANOUA (MDA)
Angela TRAJKOSKA (MKD)
Julia GIBALSKA (POL)
Dolzhon TSYNGUEVA (RUS)
Ivana GAJIC (SRB)
Lara GORCS (SVK)
Stella Hildur SOEROE (SWE)
Su SOYALP (TUR)
Diana KOTVYTSKA (UKR)

59kg
Hiunai HURBANOVA (AZE)
Varvara ALISEYENKA (BLR)
Viktoria BOYNOVA (BUL)
Rosa MOLINA RODRIGUEZ (ESP)
Oona PEKKARINEN (FIN)
Franziska BLAUMEISER (GER)
Eda BALAZS (HUN)
Maria PIRA (ITA)
Madalina PRISACARI (MDA)
Viktorija SPASOVSKA (MKD)
Csilla VAN OS (NED)
Marta MANKOWSKA (POL)
Sofiia CHORNAIA (RUS)
Karin Amelia SAMUELSSON (SWE)
Elif ELMALI (TUR)
Oleksandra MALKOVA (UKR)

62kg
Sophia MERANER (AUT)
Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE)
Desislava IVANOVA (BUL)
Graciela ENINGO ASAMA (ESP)
Nella HONKANIEMI (FIN)
Violette DUCHET ANNEZ (FRA)
Miranda KAPANADZE (GEO)
Leonie STEIGERT (GER)
Foteini NALMPANTI (GRE)
Barbara BAGER (HUN)
Maria DI GIACINTO (ITA)
Gabriela RUDOI (MDA)
Tamara CVETKOSKA (MKD)
Nadia KOCIA (POL)
Ekaterina RADYSHEVA (RUS)
Viktoria FOELDESIOVA (SVK)
Vera STOLTZ (SWE)
Ozdenur OZMEZ (TUR)
Albina KLIEFAS (UKR)

65kg
Valeryia KANDZIAKOVA (BLR)
Marijana SUMSKI (CRO)
Anna MAZGAJOVA (CZE)
Eveliina HANHISUANTO (FIN)
Ani CHACHANIDZE (GEO)
Annalena POHL (GER)
Vasiliki KARAVANOU (GRE)
Viktoria PUPP (HUN)
Cristina ZAPOROJAN (MDA)
Marija CVETANOVA (MKD)
Mirijam HANSEN (NOR)
Zuzanna HORBIK (POL)
Margarita SALNAZARIAN (RUS)
Linnea SVENSSON (SWE)
Beyza Nur AKKUS (TUR)
Iryna BORYSIUK (UKR)

68kg
Maryana MURADYAN (BLR)
Lise LANDOUZY (FRA)
Chandni BANKS (GBR)
Mina WITT (GER)
Maja MUNK (HUN)
Juliana CATANZARO (ITA)
Raisa SIRBU (MDA)
Melani MITEVSKA (MKD)
Leah SAMSONSEN (NOR)
Aurelia GODZINSKA (POL)
Ana MARIOARA (ROU)
Evangeliia BEREZHNOVA (RUS)
Michaela SEBOEKOVA (SVK)
Tilda WANNGAARD (SWE)
Elif Sevval KURT (TUR)
Oleksandra RYBAK (UKR)

72kg
Zahra KARIMZADA (AZE)
Karalina PAPOVA (BLR)
Veronika VILK (CRO)
Melanie LORENZ (GER)
Petra MUELLER (HUN)
Greta TVERSKYTE (LTU)
Alexandra MOISEI (MDA)
Anabela DANILOVA (MKD)
Maia GHERGUT (ROU)
Amina MUSAEVA (RUS)
Ilayda CIN (TUR)
Daryna ZAISHLA (UKR)

76kg
Aliaksandra SIAMIONAVA (BLR)
Lotta ENGLICH (GER)
Stefani NIKOLOVA (MKD)
Dominika POCHOWSKA (POL)
Diana TITOVA (RUS)
Evelin UJHELJI (SRB)
Elmira YASIN (TUR)
Nadiia SOKOLOVSKA (UKR)

#JapanWrestling

Kiyooka hands Susaki first domestic loss in 6 years, Narikuni shines in Freestyle

By Vinay Siwach

SHIGA, Japan (October 2) -- For six years, Yui SUSAKI (JPN) built a career defined by near perfection. She remained unbeaten in Japan, captured Olympic gold, and added several world titles to her name, moving steadily toward an unprecedented winning streak.

That streak was first broken at the Paris Olympics last year, when Susaki suffered her first international defeat at 50kg, ending a 95-match winning run.

Susaki was dealt with further setback on Tuesday at National Sports Festival in Shiga. As she returned to competition at 53kg, testing herself in a higher weight class after a career largely spent at 50kg, the Tokyo Olympic champion was defeated by world champion Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) in the quarterfinals, marking her first domestic loss since 2019.

The National Sports Festival, held annually in rotating prefectures, features Freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling in all six Olympic weight classes. Women’s competition includes only two divisions: 53kg and 62kg. Tuesday’s 53kg quarterfinal was Susaki’s first test at the higher weight. After her 2-1 victory over Susaki, Kiyooka went on to claim the gold medal, two months ahead of the Emperor’s Cup in December.

At 62kg, Asian 57kg champion Sara NATAMI (JPN), representing Shiga, gave the local fans a big reason to cheer, as she overcame a deficit to pin world 59kg champion Sakura ONISHI (JPN) in the final, winning the gold despite trailing 8-1 in the second period.

In Freestyle, world 70kg champion Yoshunsuke AOYAGI (JPN) lost a close 3-3 decision in the 74kg quarterfinals to 2022 world 70kg champion Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN), who had transitioned to Greco-Roman after his world title three years ago. Narikuni went on to win the gold after reigning 74kg world champion Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) withdrew from the semifinals due to injury.

At 65kg, two-time world U20 champion Yuto NISHIUCHI (JPN) captured the gold medal, just three weeks before beginning his pursuit of a world U23 title in Novi Sad, Serbia.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by MAMO (@mamo_wrestling)

A lot of debate has surrounded Susaki's return to the mat after her Paris loss to Vinesh PHOGAT (IND). She took her time before coming back and, after careful deliberation, decided to enter the National Sports Festival, which offered only 53kg as the option.

After winning her first bout, Susaki faced a tough opponent in Kiyooka, known for some of the toughest defense on the mat. Susaki began the quarterfinal with her usual movements, attempting sweep singles but failed to score. Kiyooka, who won her world gold at 55kg, was put on the 30-second activity clock in the first period and, after failing to score, Susaki led 1-0.

In the second period, Susaki went on the activity clock. After she failed to score, Kiyooka claimed the 1-1 criteria lead with two minutes remaining. With just 30 seconds left, Susaki went for Kiyooka’s left leg following a misdirection to the right.

She was unable to complete the takedown or force a stepout that would have secured victory for her. But Kiyooka prevented Susaki to pass behind and control the takedown. Susaki’s corner challenged for the final pushout but the sequence was well after the clock had expired.

"It’s very frustrating that I couldn’t win such a close match at the end," Susaki told the media. “It shows my lack of skill that I wasn’t able to take advantage, so I’m very disappointed."

The 26-year-old was particularly upset about not finishing the final takedown, which could have handed her the win.

"I made a one-legged tackle and misjudged how to handle it," she said. "I’m very disappointed that I made such a poor decision with so little time left. I wanted to go for it more from the beginning, but it didn’t work out as I wanted."

Susaki hinted that she will compete at the Emperor’s Cup in December but is still undecided about which weight class she will enter.

"There are still two months until the Emperor’s Cup, so I want to prepare well in those two months so I can win,” she said. "I came all the way here aiming to win. It’s really disappointing, but no matter the challenges, my goal remains the same: I’ll definitely win gold.

"Taking into account the situation and this result, I would like to discuss it with the team and decide the weight class. It was my first match in a year, so it was different from practice. I was a little nervous. I want to find the causes of my mistakes and do my best at the Emperor’s Cup."

Sara NATAMI (JPN)Sara NATAMI (JPN) celebrates after beating Sakura ONISHI (JPN). (Photo: wrestling-spirits.jp)

Natami’s hometown triumph at 62kg left Onishi in tears after Natami pinned her for the fall in the final. Onishi had built an 8-1 lead but was on the defensive in the second period. Both wrestlers launched a few attacks, but when Onishi went for a single-leg, Natami stood firm, unbalancing her opponent. Onishi fell to the mat, and Natami controlled her to secure the victory.

Just two weeks prior, Onishi had won the 59kg gold medal at the World Championships in Zagreb. She moved up to 62kg, an Olympic weight class, in her bid to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN)Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN) won the 74kg gold medal. (Photo: wrestling-spirits.jp)

Meanwhile, Narikuni demonstrated he remains a top contender in Freestyle after claiming gold at 74kg. He had recently competed at the Zagreb World Championships in Greco-Roman at 72kg, attempting to add to his Freestyle world title. In Shiga, he returned to Freestyle and faced Aoyagi in the quarterfinals.

During a scramble, both wrestlers went out of bounds and were initially called neutral. Aoyagi challenged, but the review showed it was actually a neutral position. Narikuni was awarded one point for the lost challenge. Aoyagi scored two points by tripping Narikuni, who landed on his back without danger, and added a stepout as he circled inside as Narikuni was trying to force a stepout.

With less than a minute remaining, Narikuni constantly pressured Aoyagi, who dropped to his knees to avoid a stepout. He attempted a counter duckunder, but Narikuni defended and executed a front headlock roll for two points, giving him a 3-3 criteria lead.

After defeating Aoyagi, Narikuni advanced via walkover in the semifinals before decisively beating Masaki SATO (JPN) 8-1 in the final to claim the gold. The victory prompted Paris Olympic 57kg champion and 2022 world champion Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) to post on social media: “Why do you even wrestle Greco?”

RESULTS

Freestyle Winners

57kg: Fuga SASAKI
65kg: Yuto NISHIUCHI
74kg: Taishi NARIKUNI
86kg: Fumiya IGARASHI
97kg: Yudai TAKAHASHI
125kg: Taiki YAMAMOTO

Women's Wrestling Winners

53kg: Moe KIYOOKA
62kg: Sara NATAMI

Greco-Roman Winners

60kg: Koto GOMI
67kg: Chiezo MARUYAMA
77kg: Kodai SAKURABA
87kg: Tatsuya FUJII
97kg: Takahiro TSURUDA
130kg: Sota OKUMURA