#WrestleAthens

Uzbekistan closer to Women's Wrestling history at U17 Worlds

Wednesday, July 30, 2025 - 14:55 By Vinay Siwach

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ATHENS, Greece (July 30) --  Mukhayyo RAKHIMJONOVA (UZB) is on the verge of creating history for Uzbekistan in Athens.

Wrestling at the World U17 Championships on Wednesday, Rakhimjonova became the first wrestler from Uzbekistan to reach the final of U17 Worlds.

 On Thursday, she will try to become the first wrestler to win a gold medal at any World Championships for Uzbekistan in Women's Wrestling.

She reached the 65kg final after beating European silver medalist Feenja HERMANN (GER), 6-1. In her earlier bouts, she had defeated Zuzanna HORBIK (POL), 6-4, and Alexandra MOISEI (MDA), 12-1.

Standing between her and the historic gold medal is Asian U17 champion Ashvini VISHNOI (IND), who was one of India's four finalists on Wednesday.

Vishnoi, who outscored her opponents 41-0 in four bouts, defeated European U17 champion Lilia ERMOKHINA (UWW), 7-0, in the semifinal. After a slow start, Vishnoi got two takedowns in the second period, adding to her two stepouts and one passivity point in the match.

Former world U17 champion KAJAL (IND) will get a chance to avenge her loss from Asian Championships after she reached the final against Asian champion Wenjin QIU (CHN) at 73kg.

Qiu had humbled Kajal 10-0 in the final of the Asian U17 Championships a month ago in Vietnam. But if Kajal is in the form she showed on Wednesday, her chances to avenge that loss are high.

She defeated Pan-Am champion Ella Jo POALILLO (USA), 11-0, giving no chance to Poalillo. Kajal hit a couple of double-leg as counters to take down Poalillo.

Qiu pinned Deborah GARCIA (MEX) in the other semifinal when the Mexican tried to outside trip her. Qiu stood her ground and slammed Garcia before securing the fall.

Another Asian U17 Championships final will be replayed on Thursday, at 57kg, as champion MONI (IND) and silver medalist Madkhiya USMANOVA (KAZ) won their respective semifinals and book their spots in the gold-medal bout.

Usmanov used a four-pointer against Sayuki TANADA (JPN) and secured the fall in two minutes and 36 seconds. With the loss of Tanada, Japan was left with only one finalist on Wednesday when five weight classes were in action.

Moni, like she had done all day, kept her defense and scored takedown whenever she could find an opening. After a passivity point, Moni scored three takedown to beat Alina BAROEVA (UWW), 7-0, in the semifinal.

At 43kg, RACHNA (IND) and Xin HUANG (CHN) made it to the final after contrasting wins. Rachna defended her 1-1 criteria lead over Madison HEALEY (USA) to win and make the final, Huang put on a takedown masterclass to beat European champion Raniia RAKHMANOVA (UWW) 8-0.

Turner closer to second world title

She is already a world U17 champion but there has been no lack of motivation for Morgan TURNER (USA) as she chases another at U17 level.

Morgan spent only two minutes and 24 seconds on the mat to win her three bouts on Wednesday and reach the final at 49kg in Athens.

A gold medalist from 2023 and bronze medalist from 2024, Morgan will face Yu KATAOKA (JPN) for the gold on Thursday. Like in typical Japanese style, Kataoka used five different takedowns to win 10-0 in her semifinal against Polina BOCHKAREVA (UWW).

Morgan used a cradle to secure a fall over Polina BOCHKAREVA (UWW), a returning bronze medalist and European champion.

RESULTS

43kg
GOLD: RACHANA (IND) vs. Xin HUANG (CHN)

SF 1: RACHANA (IND) df. Madison HEALEY (USA), 1-1
SF 2: Xin HUANG (CHN) df. Raniia RAKHMANOV (UWW), 8-0

49kg
GOLD: Morgan TURNER (USA) vs. Yu KATAOKA (JPN)

SF 1: Morgan TURNER (USA) df. Anhelina BURKINA (UWW), via fall (8-0)
SF 2: Yu KATAOKA (JPN) df. Polina BOCHKAREVA (UWW), 10-0

57kg
GOLD: Madkhiya USMANOVA (KAZ) vs. MONI (IND)

SF 1: Madkhiya USMANOVA (KAZ) df. Sayuki TANADA (JPN), via fall (5-0)
SF 2: MONI (IND) df. Alina BAROEVA (UWW), 7-0

65kg
GOLD: Mukhayyo RAKHIMJONOVA (UZB) vs. Ashvini VISHNOI (IND)

SF 1: Mukhayyo RAKHIMJONOVA (UZB) df. Feenja HERMANN (GER), 6-1 
SF 2: Ashvini VISHNOI (IND) df. Lilia ERMOKHINA (UWW), 7-0

73kg
GOLD: KAJAL (IND) vs. Wenjin QIU (CHN)

SF 1: KAJAL (IND) df. Ella Jo POALILLO (USA), 11-0 
SF 2: Wenjin QIU (CHN) df. Deborah GARCIA (MEX), via fall

#WrestleTirana

European Championships 2026 Day 3: Women's Wrestling Highlights

Wednesday, April 22, 2026 - 08:27 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (April 22) -- After two days of intense Greco-Roman action, the European Championships will shift to Women's Wrestling with five weight classes - 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg and 76kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | Women's Wrestling Preview

https://link.uww.org/UWWPlus

12:40: Emanuela LIUZZI (ITA), leading her 50kg quarterfinal, 9-3 with 45 seconds left in the match against Emilia GRIGORE VUC (ROU), suffers a 19-9 loss. Vuc scores a takedown to cut the lead to 9-5. She then trips Liuzzi for another takedown for two points and then turns her six times to finish the bout.

12:25: Oksana LIVACH (UKR), the defending champion at 50kg and wrestling first time in quarterfinals, uses a strong gut-wrench to beat Svenja JUNGO (SUI), 12-1, and advance to the semifinals.

12:05: Martina KUENZ (AUT), chasing her first European title, with a flurry of quick action and she finishes her quarterfinal against Elmira YASIN (TUR), 10-0. Big step towards winning the gold medal.

11:55: Defending champion at 76kg Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) does not let Valeriia TRIFONOVA (UWW) settle in their 76kg quarterfinal. She scores two takedowns to lead 4-0 before a flurry of stepouts. She finishes the match with a takedown on edge, 10-0.

11:45: Alina SHAUCHUK (UWW) gets her second win of the tournament as she uses a gut-wrenches to beat Noemi SZABADOS (HUN) 10-0 and advance to the semifinals at 68kg.

11:40: Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW), the defending champion at 55kg, goes down to U23 world silver medalist Tuba DEMIR (TUR) in the quarterfinals. Demir pushed the pace of the match and led 8-0. As Verbina was working on a takedown, Demir scored a counter exposure but Verbina quickly turned it around and made it 10-2 to avoid a technical superiority. Verbina challenged the first exposure but lost which made the score 11-2. A takedown and turn cut the lead to 11-6 but Demir managed another takedown at the end to win 13-6, downing the defending champion

11:30: Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR) works up an 8-0 victory over Veronika KONSEVICH (MKD) at 55kg. Malanchuk used four different takedowns to score her points.

11:25: Martina KUENZ (AUT), the returning bronze medalist at 76kg, opens the second period with a big throw and then holds Anastasiya ZIMIANKOVA (UWW) on the mat to secure the fall.

11:15: Tindra SJOEBERG (SWE) secures a fall over Daniela BRASNAROVA (BUL) in just 27 seconds at 68kg.

11:05: U23 world silver medalist and returning bronze Valeriia TRIFONOVA (UWW) takes her time but she works on an 11-0 victory over Fanni NAGY NAD (SRB) and advance to the quarterfinals at 76kg.

10:55: First match at 68kg and defending champion Alina SHAUCHUK (UWW) faces Karolina DOMASZUK (POL). Shauchuk, who recently won the U23 European title as well, starts off with a 10-0 technical superiority win.