#WrestleNoviSad

U23 European C'ship Entries

By Eric Olanowski

NOVI SAD, Serbia (February 28) - United World Wrestling has released the rosters for the 2019 U23 European Championships, which take place March 4-10 at Novi Sad, Serbia's SPENS Sports Hall. 

Greco-Roman wrestling kicks off the seven-day tournament and will be followed by women's wrestling and freestyle. 

Freestyle 
57kg

Vaghinak MATEVOSYAN (ARM)
Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE)
Mikyay Salim NAIM (BUL)
Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO)
Nico MEGERLE (GER) 
Gamzatgadzhi KHALIDOV (HUN)
Mihail LAPP (MDA) 
Haljit OSMAN (MKD)
Gary GIORDMAINA (MLT) 
Vasyl ILNYTSKYI (POL) 
Razvan Marian KOVACS (ROU) 
Amirkhan GUVAZHOKOV (RUS)
Martin GATIA L(SVK) 
Saban KIZILTAS (TUR)
Andrii YATSENKO (UKR)


Russia's 2018 junior world champion Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RUS) will at 61kg. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka) 

61kg
Hrachya MARGARYAN (ARM)
Asgar MAMMADALIYEV (AZE)
Uladzislau KOIKA (BLR)
Carlos ALVAREZ IGLESIAS (ESP)
Teimuraz VANISHVILI (GEO)
Georgios PILIDIS (GRE)
Karoly KISS (HUN)
Natanel SAIDOV (ISR) 
Vitalie BUNICI (MDA) 
Elmedin SEJFULAU (MKD)
Costel TARCOCI (ROU) 
Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RUS)
Selehattin SERT (TUR)
Valentyn BLIASETSKYI (UKR)

65kg
Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM)
Gabriel JANATSCH (AUT) 
Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE)
Dzianis MAKSIMAU (BLR)
Ilman MUKHTAROV (FRA)
George Anthony RAMM (GBR)
Edemi BOLKVADZE (GEO)
Justin MUELLER (GER) 
Roman ASHARIN (HUN)
Maxim SACULTAN (MDA) 
Fati VEJSELI (MKD)
Stefan Ionut COMAN (ROU) 
Saiyn KAZYRYK (RUS)
Elbrus CHERTKOEV (SVK) 
Selim KOZAN (TUR)
Ihor NYKYFORUK (UKR)

70kg
Gevorg MKHEYAN (ARM)
Ashraf ASHIROV (AZE)
Aliaksandr KURYSHTA (BLR)
Mihail Iliev GEORGIEV (BUL)
Iveriko JULAKIDZE (GEO)
Csaba VIDA (HUN)
Artem AUGA (LTU) 
Vasile DIACON (MDA) 
Andrew AZZOPARDI (MLT) 
Patryk Krzysztof OLENCZYN (POL) 
Razambek ZHAMALOV (RUS)
Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) 
Omer Faruk CAYIR (TUR)
Oleksii BORUTA (UKR)

74kg
Khachatur PAPIKYAN (ARM)
Dzhemal Rushen ALI (BUL)
Aimar ANDRUSE (EST)
Giorgi SULAVA (GEO)
Eduard TATARINOV (GER) 
Daniel ANTAL (HUN)
Andrius MAZEIKA (LTU) 
Gheorghi PASCALOV (MDA) 
Mateusz Dariusz KAMPIK (POL) 
Nikita SUCHKOV (RUS)
Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK) 
Fazli ERYILMAZ (TUR)
Denys PAVLOV (UKR)



Radik VALIEV (RUS) will try to defend his U23 Euro title from a year ago. He'll wrestle at 79kg. (Photo: Gabor Martin) 

79kg
Simon Christian HARTMANN (AUT) 
Rashad YUSIFLI (AZE)
Uladzislau YELISEYEU (BLR)
Tariel GAPHRINDASHVILI (GEO)
Kevin LUCHT (GER) 
Botond LUKACS (HUN)
Dan Or TSESARSKY (ISR) 
Ivan ICHIZLI( MDA) 
Krzysztof Grzegorz SADOWIK (POL) 
Radik VALIEV (RUS)
Jakub SYKORA (SVK) 
Ramazan Ishak SARI (TUR)
Adlan BATAIEV (UKR)

86kg
Hovhannes MKHITARYAN (ARM)
Gadzhimurad MAGOMEDSAIDOV (AZE)
Arkadzi PAHASIAN (BLR)
Marchelo Ivanov KYUCHUKOV (BUL)
Daniel HERRERO AVERCHENCO (ESP)
Syerus ESLAMI (GBR)
Zaur BERADZE (GEO)
Johannes Martin DEML (GER) 
Patrik SZUROVSZKI (HUN)
Uri KALASHNIKOV (ISR) 
Gabriele DORO (ITA)
Andrian GROSUL (MDA) 
Bujamin NUISHI (MKD)
Michal Jan BIELAWSKI (POL) 
Arsen-Ali MUSALALIEV (RUS)
Arif OZEN (TUR)
Demid KARACHENKO (UKR)

92kg
Sargis HOVSEPYAN (ARM)
Shamil ZUBAIROV (AZE)
Aliaksei RUDZIANOK (BLR)
Alejandro CANADA PANCORBO (ESP)
Demur MEGENEISHVILI (GEO)
Ilja MATUHIN (GER) 
Bendeguz TOTH (HUN)
David LABKOVSKY (ISR) 
William RAFFI (ITA)
Gheorghe ERHAN (MDA) 
Batyrbek TCAKULOV (RUS)
Erhan YAYLACI (TUR)
Vasyl SOVA (UKR)


Georgia's reigning 97kg U23 world champion Givi MATCHARASHVILI will compete at 97kg. (Photo: Gabor Martin) 

97kg
Alimagomed ALIKHMAEV (AZE)
Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (BLR)
Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO)
Erik Sven THIELE (GER) 
Kristof WITTMANN (HUN)
Simone IANNATTONI (ITA)
Lukas KRASAUSKAS (LTU) 
Shamil Alievitch MUSAEV (RUS)
Aleksandar PANTELIC (SRB)
Ibrahim CIFTCI (TUR)
Magamed ZAKARIIEV (UKR)

125kg
Islam Aslangereyvic ABUEV (AZE)
Vitali PIASNIAK (BLR)
Zuriko URTASHVILI (GEO)
Dominik KLANN (GER) 
Mihaly NAGY (HUN)
Samhan JABRAILOV (MDA) 
Kamil Tomasz KOSCIOLEK (POL) 
Vitalii GOLOEV (RUS)
Georgii NOGAEV (SVK) 
Huseyin Mehmet CIVELEK (TUR)
Yurii IDZINSKYI (UKR)


Six-time age-group world champion Zviadi PATARIDZE (GEO) has entered his named into the U23 European Championships. He'll try to defend his title from last season. (Photo: Max Rose-Fyne) 

Greco-Roman 
Norayr HAKHOYAN (ARM)
Ziyad ZEYNALOV (AZE)
Dzmitry RADZEVICH (BLR)
Enrick Jean Flavien BATAILLE (FRA)
Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO)
Bence KOVACS (HUN)
Maksym VYSOTSKYI (ISR) 
Giovanni FRENI (ITA)
Artium DELEANU (MDA) 
Florin TITA (ROU) 
Viktor VEDERNIKOV (RUS)
Sebastian KOLOMPAR (SRB)
Ekrem OZTURK (TUR)
Vladyslav KOROSTELOV (UKR)

60kg
Armen MELIKYAN (ARM)
Ihar DROZD (BLR)
Ivo Krasimirov ILIEV (BUL)
Mikkel LASSEN (DEN)
Irakli DZIMISTARISHVILI (GEO)
Antonio MARTINS CABRAL (POR)
Razvan ARNAUT (ROU) 
Sadyk LALAEV (RUS)
Dejan PETROVIC (SRB)
Ardit FAZLJIJA (SWE)
Kerem KAMAL (TUR)
Zhora ABOVIAN (UKR)

63kg
Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM)
Mikayil RAHMANOV (AZE)
Aliaksandr PECHURENKA (BLR)
Nikalas Petrov SULEV (BUL)
Ott SAAR (EST)
Levani KAVJARADZE (GEO)
Andrej GINC (GER) 
Erik TORBA (HUN)
Cezary Bartosz NOWAK (POL) 
Julinho Benjamim CORREIA DJU (POR)
Mihai Irinel BOTEZ (ROU) 
Roman Aleksandrovich IVANOV (RUS)
Miljan DUKANOVIC (SRB)
Virgil Alexander BICA (SWE)
Abdullah TOPRAK (TUR)
Oleksandr HRUSHYN (UKR)

67kg
Aliaksandr LIAVONCHYK (BLR)
Nestar Nedkov NESTAROV (BUL)
Alejandro Ruslan CONCEPCION CASTILLO (ESP)
Giorgi KURTANIDZE (GEO)
Witalis LAZOVSKI (GER) 
Bence BALATONI (HUN)
Kristupas SLEIVA (LTU) 
Valentin PETIC (MDA) 
Morten THORESEN (NOR)
Mateusz Radoslaw SZEWCZUK (POL) 
Pedro Miguel DE MATOS OLIVEIRA DE MORAIS CA (POR)
Alexandru SOLOMON (ROU) 
Alen MIRZOIAN (RUS)
Sebastian NAD (SRB)
Flavio FREULER (SUI)
Haci KARAKUS (TUR)
Artur POLITAIEV (UKR)

72kg
Hrant KALACHYAN (ARM)
Christoph BURGER (AUT) 
Islambek DADOV (AZE)
Andrei DZIAMBITSKI (BLR)
Stoyan Stoychev KUBATOV (BUL)
Pavel PUKLAVEC (CRO)
Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO)
Oliver KAJTAN (HUN)
Titas KERSEVICIUS (LTU) 
Valeriu TODEREAN (MDA) 
Juan Sebastian AAK (NOR)
Bartlomiej Daniel KLIMEK (POL) 
Magomed YARBILOV (RUS)
Aleksa ERSKI (SRB)
Denis HORVATH (SVK) 
Cengiz ARSLAN (TUR)
Ihor BYCHKOV (UKR)


Russia's 2018 junior world champion Islam OPIEV (RUS) will make his U23 debut at the U23 European Championships. (Photo: Max Rose-Fyne) 

77kg
Nasir HASANOV (AZE)
Anton SAKHNO (BLR)
Zahari Rosenov ZASHEV (BUL)
Antonio KAMENJASEVIC (CRO)
Daniel VARGA (CZE)
Matias Olavi Iisakki LIPASTI (FIN)
Beka MAMUKASHVILI (GEO)
Karan MOSEBACH (GER) 
Tamas LEVAI (HUN)
Luca DARIOZZI (ITA)
Paulius GALKINAS (LTU) 
Per Anders KURE (NOR)
Maksym ZAKHARCHUK (POL) 
George Vlad MARIEA (ROU) 
Islam OPIEV (RUS)
Andrija Luka MALETIN (SRB)
Norbert SIPKA (SVK) 
Khalid KERCHIYEV (SWE)
Serkan AKKOYUN (TUR)
Elmar NURALIIEV (UKR)

82kg
David HALBEISEN (AUT) 
Eltun VAZIRZADE (AZE)
Stanislau SHAFARENKA (BLR)
Svetoslav Nikolaev NIKOLOV (BUL)
Karlo KODRIC (CRO)
Vili Tapio ROPPONEN (FIN)
Aivengo RIKADZE (GEO)
Zotlan LEVAI (HUN)
Victor BUZU (MDA) 
Filip Piotr CHRZASZCZ (POL) 
Vaag MARGARIAN (RUS)
Branko KOVACEVIC (SRB)
Fabio DIETSCHE (SUI)
Hasan Basri YILDIRIM (TUR)
Vitalii ANDRIIOVYCH (UKR)

87kg
Nazarshah FATULLAYEV (AZE)
Anton KURS (BLR)
Yoan Danielov DIMITROV (BUL)
Ivan HUKLEK (CRO)
Toni Heikki Herman METSOMAEKI (FIN)
Gurami KHETSURIANI (GEO)
Dariusz Attila VITEK (HUN)
Mirco MINGUZZI (ITA)
Martynas NEMSEVICIUS (LTU) 
Gazi KHALILOV (RUS)
Zarko DICKOV (SRB)
Aleksandar Georgije STJEPANETIC (SWE)
Ali CENGIZ (TUR)
Semen NOVIKOV (UKR)

97kg
Arif NIFTULLAYEV (AZE)
Dzmitry KAMINSKI (BLR)
Ondrej DADAK (CZE)
Arvi Martin SAVOLAINEN (FIN)
Giorgi MELIA (GEO)
Jan ZIRN (GER) 
Michail IOSIFIDIS (GRE)
Robert ERSEK (HUN)
Marcel Adam KASPEREK (POL) 
Ruslan BEKUZAROV (RUS)
Boris PETRUSIC (SRB)
Damian VON EUW (SUI)
Ibrahim TIGCI (TUR)
Vladen KOZLIUK (UKR)

130kg
David OVASAPYAN (ARM)
Sarkhan MAMMADOV (AZE)
Bopembe Arsen SYCHEV (BLR)
Ante MILKOVIC (CRO)
Artur VITITIN (EST)
Konsta Johannes MAEENPAEAE (FIN)
Zviadi PATARIDZE (GEO)
Franz RICHTER (GER) 
Rafal Andrzej KRAJEWSKI (POL) 
Lenard Istvan BEREI (ROU) 
Oleg Kahaberovitch AGAKHANOV (RUS)
Boban ZIVANOVIC (SRB)
Osman YILDIRIM (TUR)
Vladyslav KOVALENKO (UKR)


Budapest bronze medalist Oksana LIVACH (UKR) is set to compete at 50kg the U23 Euro championships. (Photo: Max Rose-Fyne) 

Women's Wrestling 
50kg
Turkan NASIROVA (AZE)
Kseniya STANKEVICH (BLR)
Miglena Georgieva SELISHKA (BUL)
Bianka RECZI (HUN)
Ramona ERIKSEN (NOR)
Katarzyna KAMINSKA (POL) 
Maria Alexandra CIOCLEA (ROU) 
Nadezhda SOKOLOVA (RUS)
Aynur ERGE (TUR)
Oksana LIVACH (UKR)

53kg
Tatyana VARANSOVA (AZE)
Katsiaryna PICHKOUSKAYA (BLR)
Kremena Krasimirova PETROVA (BUL)
Annika WENDLE (GER) 
Agata Marta WALERZAK (POL) 
Suzanna Georgiana SEICARIU (ROU) 
Mariia TIUMEREKOVA (RUS)
Zeynep YETGIL (TUR)
Khrystyna BEREZA (UKR)

55kg
Jeannie Agnes KESSLER (AUT) 
Darya SINKAVETS (BLR)
Sezen Behchetova BELBEROVA (BUL)
Ellen RIESTERER (GER) 
Szimonetta Timea SZEKER (HUN)
Alicja CZYZOWICZ (POL) 
Andreea Beatrice ANA (ROU) 
Viktoriia VAULINA (RUS)
Pia KOCBEK (SLO)
Eda TEKIN (TUR)
Anastasiya KRAVCHENKO (UKR)

57kg
Valeryia YARMOLA (BLR)
Elena Heike BRUGGER (GER) 
Ramona GALAMBOS (HUN)
Dominika Ewa KULWICKA (POL) 
Aleksandra NITSENKO (RUS)
Elif YANIK (TUR)
Alina AKOBIIA (UKR)


Reinging junior world champion Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) will try to improve on her U23 Euro runner-up finishes from the past two season. She'll wrestle at 59kg.  (Photo: Max Rose-Fyne) 

59kg
Yuliya PISARENKA (BLR)
Erika BOGNAR (HUN)
Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) 
Zelfira SADRADDINOVA (RUS)
Anna FABIAN (SRB)
Emma Margareta Charlotte JOHANSSON (SWE)
Hatice Ece TEKIN (TUR)
Anhelina LYSAK (UKR)

62kg
Veranika IVANOVA (BLR)
Lydia PEREZ TOURINO (ESP)
Ameline DOUARRE (FRA)
Luzie MANZKE (GER) 
Daria BOBRULKO (RUS)
Maria JUHASZOVA (SVK) 
Derya BAYHAN (TUR)
Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR)

65kg
Kathrin MATHIS (AUT) 
Elis MANOLOVA (AZE)
Veranika EISMANT (BLR)
Yuliana Vasileva YANEVA (BUL)
Pauline Denise LECARPENTIER (FRA)
Noémi SZABADOS (HUN)
Hedda Haug STRAND (NOR)
Kriszta Tunde INCZE (ROU) 
Mariia KUZNETSOVA (RUS)
Elin Elisabeth FORSBERG (SWE)
Asli TUGCU (TUR)
Anastasiia LAVRENCHUK (UKR)


Russia's four-time age-group world champion Khanum VELIEVA (RUS) will try to imporve on her U23 Euro runner-up finish from a year ago. She's entered at 68kg.  (Photo: Max Rose-Fyne)

68kg
Jeyla NAGHIZADE (AZE)
Yauheniya ANDREICHYKAVA (BLR)
Natalia Iwona STRZALKA (POL) 
Khanum VELIEVA (RUS)
Kadriye AKSOY (TUR)
Alina RUDNYTSKA LEVYTSKA (UKR)

72kg
Anastasiya ZIMIANKOVA (BLR)
Alexandra Nicoleta ANGHEL (ROU) 
Evgeniia ZAKHARCHENKO (RUS)
Beste ALTUG (TUR)
Yelyzaveta TISKAROVA SAIDAKOVA (UKR)

76kg
Kseniya DZIBUK (BLR)
Georgina Olwen NELTHORPE (GBR)
Francy RAEDELT (GER) 
Enrica RINALDI (ITA)
Diana Elena VLASCEANU (ROU) 
Daria SHISTEROVA (RUS)
Aysegul OZBEGE (TUR)
Romana VOVCHAK (UKR)

SCHEDULE
Sunday (March 3)
 
17:00 - Draw GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg

Monday (March 4)
9:30 - Medical examination & Weigh-in GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg
11:30 - Qualification rounds GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg
14:30 - Draw GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
18:00 - Semi Final GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg

Tuesday (March 5) 
9:30 - Weigh-in GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg
9:45 - Medical Examination & Weigh-in GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
11:30 - Qualification rounds GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
11:30 - Repechage GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg
14:30 - Draw WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
16:45 - Opening Ceremony
17:15 - Semi Final GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
18: 00 - Finals GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg

Wednesday (March 6) 
9:30 - Weigh-in GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
9:45 -  Medical examination & Weigh-in WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
11:30 - Qualification rounds WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
11:30 - Repechage GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
14:00 - Draw WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg 
17:15 - Semi Final WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
18: 00 - Finals GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg

Thursday (March 7)
9:30 - Weigh-in WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
9:45 - Medical examination & Weigh-in WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg
11:30 - Qualification rounds WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg
11:30 - Repechage WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
14:00 - Draw FS – 57-65-70-79-97kg
17:15 - Semi Final WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg
18: 00 - Finals WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg

Friday (March 8) 
9:30 - Weigh-in WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg
9:45 - Medical examination & Weigh-in FS – 57-65-70-79-97kg
11:30 - Qualification rounds FS – 57-65-70-79-97kg
11:30 - Repechage WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg
14:00 - Draw FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg
17:15 - Semi Final FS – 57-65-70-79-97kg
18: 00 -  Finals WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg

Saturday (March 9) 
9:30 - Weigh-in FS – 57-65-70-79-97kg
9:45 - Medical examination & Weigh-in FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg
11:30 - Qualification rounds FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg
11:30 - Repechage FS – 57-65-70-79-97kg
17:15 - Semi Final FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg
18: 00 -  Finals FS – 57-65-70-79-97kg

Sunday (March 10) 
9:30 - Weigh-in FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg
16:00 - Repechage FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg
18:00 - Finals FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg

#JapanWrestling

Motoki stuns Ozaki with last-second win in Japan's world team playoff

By Ken Marantz

TOKYO (June 22) -- Each second that ticked off the clock left Paris Olympic champion Sakura MOTOKI that much further from a trip back to the World Championships and a chance to take care of some unfinished business.

But the final second was just enough for her to post arguably the most dramatic win of her life.

Motoki finished up a takedown at the buzzer to stun Nonoka OZAKI 6-5 in a world team playoff, following a close 3-3 victory over her fellow Paris Olympic medalist in the women's 62kg final at the Meiji Cup All-Japan Championships on Sunday in Tokyo.

"When she took back the lead, there was still 30 seconds left," Motoki said. "I train hard in practice every day, and deep down I knew, or at least thought, I could definitely get it. At the end, I gave it a last shot and was able to finish it off. As long as I kept attacking, there was always a chance."

The Meiji Cup was the second of Japan's domestic qualifiers for this year's World Championships in Zagreb in September. As the winner at the first qualifier, the Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships last December, Ozaki could have secured her ticket to Zagreb by winning either the Meiji Cup final or the playoff.

Sakura MOTOKI (JPN)Sakura MOTOKI scores a match-winning takedown in the final second to defeat Nonoka OZAKI in the women's 62kg playoff. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

Instead it will be Motoki who will get a chance to make it to the top step of the world podium, after taking a bronze at 59kg in 2022 and a silver at 62kg in 2023 -- results that still leave a bad taste in her mouth that wasn't alleviated by her triumph in Paris.

Motoki and Ozaki already had a history when it comes to high-profile showdowns. At the start of the qualifying process for the Paris Olympics, Ozaki was the reigning world 62kg champion and the odd's-on favorite to secure the ticket to Paris.

But Motoki moved up from 59kg to 62kg and beat the odds and stunned the wrestling world by not only beating Ozaki at the 2022 Emperor's Cup, but also going on to qualify for Paris and take home a gold medal.

In the intervening years, Ozaki temporarily moved up to 65kg and won the world title at that weight in 2023. Then when the 68kg spot in Paris opened up, she took a shot at that, securing the berth with a last-second playoff win over Ami ISHII -- so unlike the one she experienced on Sunday with the shoe on the other foot.

Having taken a bronze in Paris, Ozaki was determined to regain the domestic throne at 62kg.

While all of Japan's Paris medalists took long post-Olympic hiatuses -- five of the eight gold medalists still haven't returned to competition -- Ozaki was the first one back in action, taking the title at the Emperor's Cup and a bronze at the Asian Championships in March.

Motoki returned to the mat for the Japan Junior Queen's Cup, but only needed one match to qualify for the World U23 Championships, taking just over a minute to win by fall. So she was still working out the kinks as she headed into the Meiji Cup.

"Compared to the Olympics, my wrestling is nowhere near as complete, and that made me a bit anxious," Motoki said. "But the wrestler I am now is stronger than the me of the past and I'm more confident going into matches. I was much stronger at the time of the Olympics. But I am still developing and from now will become a more complete wrestler and widen my range."

Motoki dug deep to defeat Ozaki as much on will as on technique.

Nonoka OZAKI (JPN)Sakura MOTOKI will get a chance to win a first world title after a dramatic victory over Nonoka OZAKI in the women's 62kg playoff. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

In the Meiji Cup final, Motoki received an activity point in the first period, then fell behind 3-1 when Ozaki scored a single-leg takedown while Motoki was on the clock. But with a minute to go, Motoki fended off a shot, launched a countershot and spun behind for a takedown that gave her a 3-3 win on last-point criteria.

Surprisingly or not, the playoff followed the exact same pattern. The only difference was that after Motoki went ahead 3-3, Ozaki came back and got a 2-point exposure during a single-leg attempt with 30 seconds left.

With :24 left, Motoki shot in on a low single that Ozaki stopped with a whizzer as the clockwound down. For all of the intricate movements involved, the final 10 seconds seemed to last forever:

-- Six seconds left. Motoki steps up and tries to drive forward, but Ozaki sits out and wriggles to the front, leaving Motoki in a double-leg position

-- Two seconds left. Motoki transitions to a single-leg, lifts up and drives with her left shoulder.

-- Ozaki lands on her side with a thud. The video replay on challenge shows her hitting the mat with "0.17" on the clock.

"She got out of it once and I wondered if I could get her leg," Motoki said. "At the end, I gave it everything I had and somehow managed to get it in time. It was just my body reacting."

Having won the world cadet (U17) title in 2017 and U20 in 2020, Motoki will get a chance to add the world u23 and senior titles in the coming months. That would make her just the third member of an elite group that has achieved the "Golden Grand Slam" of Olympic gold and all four world age-group titles, after Yui SUSAKI and Amit ELOR (USA).

But the gold in Zagreb is the one that most beckons. She has a reminder of it every morning to keep her from deviating from her mission.

"I have come up short at the World Championships twice, which is really vexing," Motoki said. "As the alarm on my smartphone to wake up in the morning, I use the music they play during the winning lap at the World Championships.

"Each time I hear it, it gives me an unpleasant feeling and makes me remember what happened. Even after I won at the Olympics, that sinking feeling never really went away."

Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN)Remina YOSHIMOTO works to turn Umi ITO over during their women's 50kg playoff. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

Yoshimoto secures shot at world title

In other women's action on the final day at Tokyo Metropolitan Gym, Remina YOSHIMOTO took advantage of the absence of nemesis Susaki to win the 50kg gold and earn a shot at adding to the world title she won in 2021.

Yoshimoto went into the second period trailing 2023 world U23 champion Umi ITO, but got back on track and went ahead before ending the match by fall. It was the same pairing as the Emperor's Cup final, which Yoshimoto won 3-2.

Ito, who had lost all nine previous matches with Yoshimoto, took the lead with a takedown in the first period, countering a shot by getting on top and putting in a grapevine.

In the second period, Yoshimoto responded with a single-leg takedown, then used an arm bar to turn Ito over. Ito righted herself at one point, but Yoshimoto turned her over again and secured the fall at 4:19.

"At the start, Ito set the flow of the match and I didn't feel I was in control," Yoshimoto said. "This was the 10th time I've faced her, so we know each other and have each done our homework, and that made for a tough match. It was good that I kept my composure in the second period."

Since 2019, Yoshimoto has never been beaten either domestically and internationally by a wrestler not named Susaki, who has handed her all four of her losses in that span.

"It was frustrating that I couldn't get to the World Championships for four years," said Yoshimoto, who won a fourth Asian title this year. "I'm going to take advantage of this chance to get the gold medal. With the Los Angeles Olympics in mind, I want to practice so I can have a tournament that gives me confidence."

Himeka TAKUHARA (JPN)Himeka TOKUHARA launches a 4-point back suplex during her victory over Sae NANJO in the Meiji Cup final. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

At 57kg, 2022 world U23 champion Himeka TOKUHARA earned a ticket to her first senior worlds when she hit a 4-point roll through in defeating Emperor's Cup champion Sara NATAMI 7-1 in the playoff.

Tokuhara also had a 4-pointer with a masterful back suplex in the Meiji Cup final, in which she edged two-time former world U23 champion Sae NANJO 6-5. Tokuhara had defeated Natami, this year's Asian champion, 3-1 in the semifinals on Saturday.

Day 4 Results

Women's Wrestling

50kg (9 entries)
GOLD: Remina YOSHIMOTO df. Umi ITO by Fall, 4:19 (6-2)

BRONZE: Rinka OGAWA df. Mai OGAWA by TF, 10-0, 5:03
BRONZE: Miyu NAKAMURA df. Mako ONO by Def.

57kg (10 entries)
GOLD: Himeka TOKUHARA df. Sae NANJO, 6-5

BRONZE: Sara NATAMI df. Kanon YAMASHITA by Fall, 5:26 (6-7)
BRONZE: Ichika ARAI df. Momiji KIMURA, 8-0

World Team Playoff: Tokuhara df. Natami, 7-1

62kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Sakura MOTOKI df. Nonoka OZAKI, 3-3

BRONZE: Misuzu ENOMOTO df. Kiwa IWASAWA, 6-2
BRONZE: Yuzuka INAGAKI df. Shirin TAKEMOTO, 11-2

World Team Playoff: Motoki df. Ozaki, 6-5