#WrestleIstanbul

Vilk vaults into history, becomes Croatia's first world champion

Friday, August 4, 2023 - 18:34 By Gaurav Bhatt

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ISTANBUL (August 4) -- After a sensational win, it's only understandable that Veronika VILK (CRO) was lost for words.

Quizzed about her feelings after becoming the first Croatian wrestler to become a world champion, a beaming Vilk simply shrugged: "I don't know."

It's par for the course for Vilk, who was equally modest after winning the U17 European title in June.

"I don't think I'm aware of my success yet, but it's a very nice feeling to win gold, especially since I won in front of a full hall," Vilk had told Glas Slavonije, a Croatian daily after her win.

That win followed a small procession in Vilk's hometown of Slatina. Friends, family, and perhaps most importantly, fellow wrestlers from her club descended on the city square to welcome their champion. Vilk should be prepared for an even bigger celebration this time around.

On Friday in Istanbul, Vilk won the battle of continental champions as she beat reigning Asian champion SRISHTI (IND). It's poetic justice that Vilk conquered the world by pinning Srishti — Sanskrit for 'the world'.  

Unassuming off the mat, Vilk is anything but on it. After attempting and missing a headlock, Vilk stuck with it, circling back to the center and finishing what she started and defeating Srishti in under a minute.

"This is it. Maybe, it won't happen again," said Vilk when asked about the missed initial headlock and going for it again. You have to give your hundred percent, that's all."

Last year, she became the first Croatian woman to win a medal at a World Championships, finishing with a bronze medal in the 73kg weight class in Rome. In 2023, she has become Croatia's first woman to win a European Championships and only the third wrestler overall.

Motivated by her coach and buoyed by her European triumph, Vilk realized that she could win the big one. And now, there's an even bigger one on the horizon.

"In five years, maybe Olympic Games," Vilk smiled.

For now, it's back to Croatia for another procession. "I am so proud. I hope the little girls see me and feel motivated."

Sakura ONISHI (JPN)Sakura ONISHI (JPN) was in tears after winning the 53kg final in Istanbul. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

3 golds for Japan

Japan added to its three gold medals on Thursday with another three, as Sakura ONISHI (JPN) led the charge for the wrestling powerhouse. Onishi finished her 53kg campaign just the way she started it, with a technical superiority win. 

Such was her dominance that no wrestler could devise a way to score on Onishi over the two days. Her marauding run included victories over the reigning U17 European champion Fabiana RINELLA (ITA) in the semifinal, and silver medallist Olga OVCHINNIKOVA (AIN) in Friday's final.

After staving off a headlock, Onishi attacked Ovchinnikova's left leg to open the scoring. She then grabbed the Albanian's bandaged right leg and capitalized with a leg lace, defeating her opponent in just 47 seconds. 

Onishi's performance was a far cry from her heartbreaking defeat in the U17 Worlds final in 2022. Trailing 1-1 on criteria, Onishi tried a desperate move and was outmaneuvered by Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR). On that fateful day in Rome, the cerebral Ukrainian made the Japanese lose a passivity battle, her cool, and eventually the gold.

There was nothing passive about Onishi this time around. To her credit, Ovchinnikova's run to the final included three pinfall wins. But the U17 European Championships silver medallist ran into a spirited Onishi on Friday.

Koharu AKUTSU (JPN)Koharu AKUTSU (JPN) won the gold medal at 40kg after beating RACHANA (IND). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Earlier, Koharu AKUTSU (JPN) defeated RACHANA (IND) 4-3 in the 40kg final.

Akutsu went for Rachana's left leg and quickly switched to the right. But Rachana maintained a quad-pod position before Akutsu pulled her back and managed to score two points. She doubled her lead right before the break when Akutsu countered a cradle attempt by putting Rachana in danger.

In the second period, Rachana managed to reverse a headlock and muscle Akutsu out of bounds to get on the board. After the scuffle, the Japanese rose to some visible discomfort, prompting the medical staff to attend to her right leg. 

Right on cue, Rachana attacked the leg with an attempted takedown and an inside trip, eventually managing to gain two points for her efforts. But the U17 Asian champion couldn't build on the move as Akutsu ran out the clock to victory.

Natsumi MASUDA (JPN)Natsumi MASUDA (JPN) celebrates after winning the 46kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Natsumi MASUDA (JPN) was the third gold medallist for Japan. The 2022 U20 Asian silver medallist fended off MUSKAN (IND) to win the 46kg gold. Masuda, who had finished runner-up at the continental championship in Kyrgyzstan in the 49kg event, prevailed on Friday after dropping a weight category.

Muskan, meanwhile, won the world title last year at 40kg and had moved up to compete in the packed 46kg division in Istanbul. The Indian gave up a size to the lanky Japanese, who utilized her longer reach to sprawl off Muskan's advances. In a particularly smooth sequence, Masuda trapped Muskan's right leg, taking an overhook position to rear waist-lock.

Masuda raced to a 9-2 lead and despite a fightback from Muskan, held on for an 11-6 win. With the win, Masuda avenged the loss of compatriot Mona EZAKA (JPN), who had lost to Muskan last year in Rome.

SAVITA (IND)SAVITA (IND) defended her 61kg gold medal to become two-time U17 world champion. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Savita makes it a double

While Muskan couldn't make it a double, SAVITA (IND) defended her 61kg gold medal in style. After winning the weight class in a dominating fashion last year, Savita picked up from where she left off in Rome and stormed her way into the final.

Against Konami ONO (JPN) on Friday, however, Savita also showed perseverance and bouncebackability. Early in the bout, the Indian lost a scramble and her footing, as she was pushed out of bounds by Ono. The Japanese quickly made it 6-0, setting the stage for Savita's comeback. 

Savita responded by taking Ono to the ground with sheer strength (and some help with a nifty inside trip). From there, it was Savita's show. She grabbed two more points with a speedy level change to grab Ono's right leg. The Indian kept her wits, and balance, and managed to stave off a last-ditch effort from Ono. A challenge from the Japanese contingent followed before Savita's 9-6 victory was announced.

Savita added the world title to the U17 Asian gold won in June and managed to exact some revenge on the continental rivals to make it 2-1 on the day. With 6 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze, however, Japan comfortably took the team title with 200 points. The USA finished second at 122 points (2 gold, 4 silver, 1 bronze) and India third (1 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze.)

 

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RESULTS

Women's Wrestling

40kg
GOLD: Koharu AKUTSU (JPN) df. RACHANA (IND), 4-3

BRONZE: Jaclyn BOUZAKIS (USA) df. Nurana ASADLI (AIN), via fall (10-0)
BRONZE: Shokhista SHONAZAROVA (UZB) df. Klara WINKLER (GER), 10-0

46kg
GOLD: Natsumi MASUDA (JPN) df. MUSKAN (IND), 11-6

BRONZE: Hava KONCA (TUR) df. Daniella BEKY (NOR), via fall (9-3)
BRONZE: Diana RYBCHENKO (AIN) df. Meiramgul AKHMETZHAN (KAZ), 2-0

53kg
GOLD: Sakura ONISHI (JPN) df. Olga OVCHINNIKOVA (AIN), 10-0

BRONZE: Sakibjamal ESBOSYNOVA (UZB) df. Amelia TOMALA (POL), via fall (3-0)
BRONZE: Fabiana RINELLA (ITA) df. Karlee BROOKS (USA), 7-4

61kg
GOLD: SAVITA (IND) df. Konami ONO (JPN), 9-6

BRONZE: Leah SAMSONSEN (NOR) df. Leonie STEIGERT (GER), 5-3
BRONZE: Haylie JAFFEE (USA) df. Beyza AKKUS (TUR), 6-3

69kg
GOLD: Veronika VILK (CRO) df. SRISHTI (IND), via fall (2-0)

BRONZE: Liliana KAZMINA (AIN) df. Evelin UJHELJI (SRB), 3-0
BRONZE: Jasmine ROBINSON (USA) df. Elif KURT (TUR), 5-1

Freestyle Semifinals

48kg
GOLD: Yamato FURUSAWA (JPN) vs. Paul KENNY (USA) 

SF 1: Yamato FURUSAWA (JPN) df. Joseph BACHMANN (PUR), 4-2
SF 2: Paul KENNY (USA) df. Sam Reza SAYAR (IRI), 8-8

55kg
GOLD: ANKUSH (IND) vs. Marcus BLAZE (USA) 

SF 1: ANKUSH (IND) df. Arshak LULUKYAN (GEO), 10-0
SF 2: Marcus BLAZE (USA) df. Samvel GEVORGYAN (ARM), 11-0

65kg
GOLD: Magomed ALIBAKHARCHIEV (AIN) vs. Sina KHALILI (IRI) 

SF 1: Magomed ALIBAKHARCHIEV (AIN) df. Brock MANTANONA (USA), 14-2
SF 2: Sina KHALILI (IRI) df. Manuel WAGIN (GER), 8-2

80kg
GOLD: Alexandru BORS (MDA) vs. Magomed IDRISOV (AIN)

SF 1: Alexandru BORS (MDA) df. Zackary RYDER (USA), 4-1
SF 2: Magomed IDRISOV (AIN) df. Konstantine PETRIASHVILI (GEO), 5-1

110kg
GOLD: Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) vs. Yusif DURSUNOV (AZE)

SF 1: Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) df. Rakhman MALAKHMEDOV (AIN), via fall (8-2)
SF 2: Yusif DURSUNOV (AZE) df. Henrik HAYKYAN (ARM), 6-2

#WrestleIstanbul

Turkiye hosts More Than Medals camp following U17 World Championships

Monday, September 11, 2023 - 19:33 By United World Wrestling Press

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ISTANBUL, Turkiye (September 11) --- The More than Medals World 2023 was held in Istanbul, Turkiye from August 7th to 12th, 2023. Organized by the United World Wrestling Development Department and the Turkish Wrestling Federation, the program aimed to enhance the skills of young wrestlers from developing countries. To achieve this, the program provided the participants with top coaches and experts from around the world, who shared their knowledge and experience with them.

The program was a great success, with nearly 60 participants from 17 countries across Asia, America, Europe, and Africa attending. The participants included both athletes and coaches who stayed after the U17 World Championships with the goal of improving their skills and knowledge. During the program, they had the opportunity to attend training sessions where they learned new techniques and strategies. Additionally, an anti-doping workshop was held for the participants. This program demonstrates the power of sports to unite people and foster friendship and understanding among nations.

The participants were accommodated in the Pullman Istanbul Hotel & Convention Center, located in Yenibosna Merkez Mahallesi, Bahcelievler, Istanbul, Turkiye. All training sessions and activities were also held in this hotel. The UWW development team, led by Yuri MAIER (ARG) and Vincent AKA (FRA/CIV), was responsible for the project. Their extensive experience in organizing these types of events over the years made the process very smooth.

TURVincent AKA leads a training session at the 2023 More Than Medals camp in Istanbul. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

Vincent AKA was in charge of the organization of the training sessions. The coaches from the different nations present were invited to conduct their own training sessions, providing athletes with a diverse range of training styles and techniques to learn from. This not only allowed for a more comprehensive learning experience but also fostered a sense of unity and cross-cultural exchange among the participants. The training sessions were a great opportunity for these young athletes to expand their knowledge and skills and to form lasting connections with individuals from different parts of the world.

During the Istanbul city tour, athletes enjoyed a ferry ride that showcased the beautiful surroundings and explored the Asian side of Istanbul, the Golden Horn, and iconic landmarks like the Grand Bazaar and Sultanahmet. They also visited the impressive Hagia Sophia, which taught them about its rich history and cultural significance. Overall, the city tour provided a unique insight into Istanbul's culture and past.

The success of this program was partly due to the good relationship and affinity with the local federation. The Turkish Wrestling Federation was very collaborative and provided everything needed to have a great event. All the participants were satisfied with the development of the activities.

Year after year, More Than Medals continues to prove that it is an excellent resource for young wrestlers from developing countries. The program not only provides them with top coaching and training opportunities, but it also promotes cross-cultural exchange and understanding among nations. The success of the More than Medals World 2023 program is a testament to the power of sports to bring people together and promote friendship and understanding across borders.