#WrestleSofia

U20 World Championships day four semis set

By Vinay Siwach

SOFIA, Bulgaria (August 18) -- The fourth day of the U20 World Championships will see the qualification rounds and semifinals of the 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 65kg, and 72kg. Later in the day, the medal bouts will also be determined.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

Here are the semifinals for the evening session

53kg
Shaimaa MOHAMED (EGY) vs. Altyn SHAGAYEVA (KAZ)
Nataliia KLIVCHUTSKA (UKR) vs ANTIM (IND)

57kg
Melda DERNEKCI (TUR) vs. Sofia MACALUSO (USA)
Ruka NATAMI (JPN) vs. Zeinep BAYANOVA (KAZ)

62kg
Birgul SOLTANOVA (AZE) vs. Nonoka OZAKI (JPN)
Bermet NURIDIN KYZY (KGZ) vs. Sonam MALIK (IND)

65kg
Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN) vs. Khadija JLASSI (TUN)
Dilnaz SAZANOVA (KGZ) vs. Priyanka PRIYANKA (IND) 

72kg
REETIKA (IND) vs. Amit ELOR (USA)
Anastassiya PANASSOVICH (KAZ) vs. Sumire NIIKURA (JPN) 

13:00: Ruka NATAMI (JPN) with a late score to beat Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) at 57kg. Khomenets led 4-2 but Natami scored a takedown. Still trailing on criteria, Natami moves Khomenets to the zone and gets the exposure for 4 to win 8-4.

Sofia MACALUSO (USA) has pinned returning silver medalist Aurora RUSSO (ITA)

12:50: At 53kg, huge results. Nataliia KLIVCHUTSKA (UKR) beats returning silver medalist Mihaela SAMOIL (MDA)Altyn SHAGAYEVA (KAZ) pins '21 U17 world champion Katie GOMEZ (USA).

Shaimaa MOHAMED (EGY) beats Chadia AYACHI (FRA) 7-4 while ANTIM (IND) pins Ayaka KIMURA (JPN) 

12:35: At 72kg, Amit ELOR (USA) adds another technical superiority win over Zsofia VIRAG (HUN). Asian silver medalist Sumire NIIKURA (JPN) is up 2-1 against Nazar BATIR (TUR). In the second period, Batir comes back with a takedown to reclaim the lead 3-2. Niikura with a flurry of attacks and gets a takedown and the lead. 41 seconds remaining with Niikura leading 4-3. Batir tries to trip Niikura but not to be. Niikura wins 4-3. 

12:30: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) is dangerous. She gets the fall over Viktoria OEVERBY (NOR). On the other mat, Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA) with the fall over Iris THIEBAUX (FRA). She will face Sonam MALIK (IND) in the quarters

12:20: Sofia MACALUSO (USA) with an important win for the USA. She led 4-4 on criteria and stopped SITO (IND) from getting any points. Desperate to score, Sito commits to a duck-under when Macaluso pins her at 57kg. In the same weight class, Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) vs. Ruka NATAMI (JPN) will meet in the quarterfinals.

12:00: What dream quarterfinals do we have at 53kg

Mihaela SAMOIL (MDA) vs. Nataliia KLIVCHUTSKA (UKR)
Altyn SHAGAYEVA (KAZ) vs. Katie GOMEZ (USA)
Shaimaa MOHAMED (EGY) vs. Chadia AYACHI (FRA)
Ayaka KIMURA (JPN) vs. ANTIM (IND) 

11:40: At 57kg, Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) with a quick fall over Othelie HOEIE (NOR). In a contrasting bout, Sezim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) df. Bertha ROJAS (MEX) were going for it and the bout had 31 points with Zhumanazarova winning 17-14 

11:35: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) and Iryna BONDAR (UKR) wrestling at 62kg. Ozaki gets a takedown to lead 2-0. Bondar tries to get on Ozaki's legs but strong defense from the Asian champion. She keeps it simple and wins 5-0.

In other bouts at 62kg, Mastoura SOUDANI (ALG) defeats Luisa SCHEEL (GER), 12-0 and Bermet NURIDIN KYZY (KGZ) beats Yu LO (TPE) via fall

11:17: The qualification rounds of 72kg will kick off the rounds for day three. Amit ELOR (USA), a returning U20 world champion, begins with a fall over Zaineb SGHAIER (TUN)

11:15: While Japan has taken an outright lead in the team race, India, Turkey and Ukraine are still to be second. India has two in repechage while Turkey has three. Ukraine has two as well

11:00: Welcome to day four of the U20 World Championships. The women are ready to take the mats. Keep an eye on Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) at 62kg, Amit ELOR (USA) at 72kg and Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) at 57kg.

#development

UWW hosts fifth Women in Wrestling Global Forum in Mongolia

By United World Wrestling Press

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (October 14) -- The fifth edition of the Women in Wrestling Global Forum 2025 took place in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from October 7 to 11, bringing together more than 34 women leaders, athletes, coaches, referees, and administrators from 21 countries.

Hosted by the Mongolian Wrestling Federation and the Mongolian National Olympic Committee, the Forum was opened by representatives of the Mongolian Wrestling Federation and the Mongolian National Olympic Committee, including the NOC Vice President Choijgavaa NARAMBAATAR.

The opening session reflected the support of United World Wrestling’s leadership, represented by UWW Vice Presidents Natalia YARIGUINA and Rodica YAKSI, Bureau Members, and the Development team. All the speakers highlighted UWW's commitment to gender equality and leadership education.

"It was a great Forum," Yaksi said. "We have participants from all continents and from around the world. Some were coaches, wrestlers, referees, and some in sports administration. We tried different activities to make every one comfortable."

Guided by UWW Development Director Deqa NIAMKEY and educators Rafael GALVA and Edit DOZSA, the Forum offered leadership sessions, practical workshops, and cultural experiences. The participants explored stakeholder engagement, communication styles, sustainability, coaching strategies, and athlete safety.

In a special segment, Mariana DIAZ MUNOZ (MEX) and Marina RUEDA FLORES (ESP) presented "Luchadoras de Iberoamérica," a joint project promoting female empowerment in sport. Olympic medalist and Kyrgyzstan's first world champion Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) shared her journey from being a national pioneer and creating history for Kyrgyzstan. 

The Forum participants visited the Chinggis Khaan Museum and attended a traditional wrestling "Bokh" session in Ulaanbaatar and learned about the origins of wrestling the country.

"The whole program was an amazing experience," Yaksi said. "The biggest achievement of this Forum over the years is that it brings together people of different field who are ready to help each other grow in wrestling."