Who's In?

Who’s In? Greco-Roman Olympic Qualifiers for #Tokyo2020NE

Monday, April 20, 2020 - 12:26 By Andrew Hipps

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Cuba’s dominant Greco-Roman program is headed to Tokyo as four qualification events are left with a total of eight licenses in six weight categories remain up for grabs.

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (April 20) -- In response to the IOC’s decision to postpone the Tokyo Olympic Games until the summer of 2021, United World Wrestling has announced that all Olympic qualification spots already earned will continue to be honored. 

For the nations whose wrestlers qualified at the World Championships or Pan Am Qualifiers that means they are done, but for those who haven’t qualified in each weight category there will be events in March and April of 2021 to determine the remaining eight spots in each category.

We’ve broken down “Who’s In,” and which stars still need to qualify.

While seven nations have qualified two wrestlers and a dozen more have qualified one wrestler, the nation-by-nation leaderboard is dominated by Cuba. The small Caribbean island nation has qualified all six Olympic weight categories, a sign that the nation might repeat the unofficial team championship it won at the Rio Olympic Games in 2016.

Cuba will once again be led by Olympic champion Ismael BORRERO MOLINA (67kg) and three-time Olympic champion Mijain LOPEZ (130kg), but look for Russia, Georgia, Ukraine and Iran to all make gains during their respective continental qualification tournaments.

The United States has qualified four weight categories, with all coming at the Pan American Olympic Qualifier this March in Ottawa: 60kg, 67kg, 87kg and 97kg. 

American Adam COON captured a world silver medal at 130kg in 2018, but the United States still has yet to qualify there or 77kg.

60kg
Reigning world champion Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) not only has punched his nation’s ticket to their own Games, but has secured the No.1 seed. Russia, Kazakhstan, Iran, Ukraine and Uzbekistan also locked up Olympic licenses in Nur-Sultan. 

China will be looking to qualify this weight category for the Olympics at the Asian Olympic Qualifier with either Sailike WALIHAN or Erbatu TUO. Walihan won gold at the Matteo Pellicone. 

Another top wrestler still looking to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics is Kerem KAMAL (TUR), who is currently ranked No.3 in the world. After failing to reach a medal match at the 2019 World Championships, Kamal finished fifth at the Matteo Pellicone before capturing a silver medal at the European Championships. 

Luis ORTA SANCHEZ (CUB) and Ildar HAFIZOV (USA) qualified their nations in this weight category at the Pan American Olympic Qualifier.

67kg
Borrero, an Olympic gold medalist in Rio, secured Cuba's spot at 67kg for the Tokyo Olympics by winning a world title in Nur-Sultan last September. 

In a shock, two-time world champion Hansu RYU (KOR) failed to qualify at the World Championships after he was defeated by Borrero in the quarterfinals before losing to three-time world champion Frank STAEBLER (GER) in repechage. Ryu will have an opportunity to earn his spot in Tokyo at the Asian Olympic Qualifier or World Olympic "Last Chance" Qualifier. 

Another world champion still looking to secure a spot in Tokyo at 67kg is Olympic silver medalist Shinobu OTA (JPN). Ota won the 2019 world title at the non-Olympic weight class of 60kg, but will move up to 67kg for his Olympic run. 

Julian HORTA ACEVEDO (COL) qualified Colombia for the Olympics in this weight category by winning the Pan American Olympic Qualifier over Alejandro SANCHO (USA).

77kg
Tamas LORINCZ (HUN) not only won his first world title in 2019, he also qualified Hungary for the Olympic Games at 77kg. 

Perhaps the biggest storyline in Greco-Roman heading into the final Olympic qualifiers is powerhouse Russia not yet qualifying at 77kg. Two-time Olympic champion Roman VLASOV was upset in the round of 16 at the 2019 World Championships and failed to earn a spot in a medal match. 

Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI) qualified Iran at 77kg by winning a bronze medal in Nur-Sultan. Cuba and Mexico earned qualification spots at this weight category with Yosvanys PENA FLORES (CUB) and Jose VARGAS RUEDA (MEX) winning gold and silver respectively in Ottawa.

87kg
Olympic silver medalist Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) captured his second world title in Nur-Sultan, beating three-time world medalist Viktor LORINCZ (HUN) in the finals. The two have since flip-flopped in the world rankings, with Lorincz taking over the No.1 ranking. 

Germany, Uzbekistan, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan all qualified for the Olympics in Nur-Sultan.

World No.4 Kumar SUNIL (IND) will be looking to qualify at the Asian Olympic Qualifier. He started the year ranked 33rd in the world but climbed 29 spots by winning gold at the Asian Championships and silver at the Matteo Pellicone. 

97kg
Multiple-time world champion Musa EVLOEV (RUS) and Olympic gold medalist Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) finished first and second respectively at the World Championships in Nur-Sultan. The duo have created one of the best rivalries in the sport, which fans expect to extend to Tokyo in 2021. 

Cenk ILDEM (TUR) has also qualified the weight and will be looking for his second Olympic medal. The Turkish youth qualified for Tokyo by earning a bronze medal at the World Championships. 

World No.4 Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI), a 2018 junior world champion, won the Asian Championships this year and will be among the favorites to qualify for the Tokyo Games at the Asian Olympic Qualifier. 

This year’s European silver medalist Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA), currently ranked No.5 in the world, will attempt to punch his nation’s ticket at the European Olympic qualifier. Another wrestler to keep an eye on at the European Olympic Qualifier is Mélonin NOUMONVI (FRA). The 2014 world champion will be chasing his French-record fourth Olympic appearance.

130kg
Four-time world champion Riza KAYAALP (TUR) is the reigning world champion and entering the Tokyo 2021 Games as the top seed. But his path to gold will be Olympic gold will be difficult since Oscar PINO HINDS qualified Cuba for the Olympics at 130kg by winning a silver medal at the World Championships in Nur-Sultan. However, it’ll be three-time Olympic champion Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) competing next summer in Tokyo. 

Heiki NABI (EST) will be looking to win his second Olympic medal after winning a silver at the London Olympics in 2012. The 34-year-old Estonian qualified for Tokyo by winning a bronze medal in Nur-Sultan. Georgia, Iran and Germany also secured 130kg Olympic licenses at the World Championships. 

Yasmani ACOSTA FERNANDEZ (CHI) and Eduard SOGHOMONYAN (BRA) qualified for the Olympics by claiming gold and silver respectively at the Pan American Olympic Qualifier. 

Ahmed MOHAMED (EGY) has had a strong year, climbing to No.3 in the world. He will attempt to qualify Egypt for the Olympics at the African/Oceania Olympic Qualifier. World No.4 Muminjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) earned a bronze medal at the Matteo Pellicone and will look to earn an Olympic license at the Asian Olympic Qualifier. 

2026 U17 World Championships

Fernandez Wins Rare Third U17 World Gold, U.S. Team Title

Friday, July 31, 2026 - 16:55 By Vinay Siwach

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BAKU, Azerbaijan (July 31) -- Masako FURUICHI (JPN) in 2013, Kika KAGATA (JPN) in 2014, Yui SUSAKI (JPN) in 2016, Honoka NAKAI (JPN) in 2019 and now Taina FERNANDEZ (USA) in 2026.

Fernandez, 17, on Friday joined the list of a handful of wrestlers who have won three U17 world gold medals by claiming the 69kg gold in Baku, the first non-Japanese wrestler to achieve the feat. No male wrestler has won three U17 world titles ever.

The U.S. prodigy won gold medals in 2024 and 2025 at 61kg and jumped to 69kg for 2026. The change in weight class had no bearing on her performance as she secured four pins in four bouts, including the final.

Facing Kiymet TEZCAN (TUR) for the gold medal, Fernandez waited for the opportunity before picking up a leg attack for two points when Tezcan was on the activity clock to lead 3-0. She pressured Tezcan on the mat and then held the Turkiye on the mat to secure the fall.

With the victory in the final, Fernandez also extended her unbeaten streak in international wrestling to 28 wins out of which 16 are via fall, 11 via technical superiority and only one on points.

The gold, fourth for the United States of the tournament in Women's Wrestling, helped the nation win the U17 world team title, only for the second time as it had won the trophy in 2021. The U.S. finished with 167 points, well ahead of defending champion India which finished with 132 points. Japan was third with 127 points followed by Turkiye and Ukraine at fourth and fifth positions.

Wrestling Marlee SOLOMON (USA)Marlee SOLOMON (USA) tries to complete a takedown against AKSHARA (IND) during the 53kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Fernandez's was the second gold medalist for the U.S. on Friday after Marlee SOLOMON (USA) claimed the gold medal at 53kg. She defeated AKSHARA (IND), 11-0, ending the match with a four-pointer.

Solomon used a two-on-one set up to complete her takedowns as Akshara failed to defend the pulls. During the second takedown, Solomon managed to score a turn to go up 6-0 and a sweep single and dumped the Indian for four points.

India challenged the four-point call, asking for a stepout as the action occurred close to the zone. But it lost the challenge and added one more point to Solomon's score.

Wrestling Kokona MAKINO (JPN)Kokona MAKINO (JPN) tries to pin Sandhya VISHNOI (IND) as the Indian commits an offensive foul during the 46kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Japan Wins 2 Golds

Earlier in the 46kg final, Kokona MAKINO (JPN) denied Sandhya VISHNOI (IND) via fall after building a 13-2 lead in a very aggressive gold-medal bout. Makino scored the first takedown for two points before Vishnoi got an exposure from scramble. But Makino was quick to score a reversal and lead 3-2 at the break.

While Vishnoi continued the hand-fighting with little awareness towards ground wrestling, Makino kept coming with sweep singles and scoring takedowns. She completed four takedowns using the same technique against a squared-up Vishnoi and after the fourth, she led 11-2 and later pinned the Indian, who committed offensive foul by pulling Makino's hair and ear, trying to avoid the pin.

With the two losses in the final, India ended its U17 campaign in Women's Wrestling without a gold medal, the first time since 2018 when it won two gold medals.

Wrestling Natsumi SASAKI (JPN)Natsumi SASAKI (JPN) defeated Tasnim ATHIMNI (TUN), 10-0, in the 40kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Japan's second gold medal came at 40kg when Natsumi SASAKI (JPN) completed a 10-0 win over Tasnim ATHIMNI (TUN) at 40kg. Athimni was the first to initiate attack and Sasaki was even put on the activity clock.

But the Tunisian wrestler let Sasaki take advantage when she left the corridor open. Sasaki capitalized to score a takedown and lead 2-0 before doubling it to 4-0 when she tossed Athimni for exposure in the next scramble.

The final lasted only 25 seconds in the second period as Sakaki used her long reach to finish a leg attack with takedown and two turns using the lace to complete a victory by technical superiority.

Athimni's silver was Tunisia's first-ever medal at the U17 World Championships and she is only the second wrestler from the country to reach a world final after 2016 Rio Olympic bronze medalist Marwa AMRI (TUN) who reached the final in 2017.

Wrestling Ozdenur OZMEZ (TUR)Ozdenur OZMEZ (TUR) celebrates after winning the 61kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Turkiye Gold After 5 Years

Returning bronze medalist Ozdenur OZMEZ (TUR) won gold medal at 61kg after blanking Landri VON GONTEN (USA), 10-0, in the final. She is Turkiye's second-ever U17 world champion in Women's Wrestling after Selvi ILYASOGLU (TUR) who won the 57kg gold medal in 2021.

Ozmez used some powerful leg attacks, all towards Von Gonten's right, to score her points. She began with a single-leg attack for a takedown before performing it again but this she threw Von Gonten for four points. Ozmez's third takedown was a counter when Von Gonten failed to trip her and Ozmez scored easy two points to lead 8-0.

The final takedown took some time but Ozmez completed it when Von Gonten went for a desperate long shot. Ozmez went for the go-behind and secured a 10-0 win and gold for Turkiye.

Photo

RESULTS

40kg
GOLD: Natsumi SASAKI (JPN) df. Tasnim ATHIMNI (TUN), 10-0

BRONZE: Sophia VALDEZ (USA) df. Rohini DEVBA (IND), 9-0
BRONZE: Sirin ASKARA (TUR) df. Gulkhanim SHIRINOVA (AZE), 12-4

46kg
GOLD: Kokona MAKINO (JPN) df. Sandhya VISHNOI (IND), via fall (13-2)

BRONZE: Inzhu BAKKOZHA (KAZ) df. Alina BARANOVA (RUS), 8-2
BRONZE: Madison HEALEY (USA) df. Vivien SZENTPAL (HUN), 10-0

53kg
GOLD: Marlee SOLOMON (USA) df. AKSHARA (IND), 11-0

BRONZE: Rion OGAWA (JPN) df. Valeria STANCHEVA (BUL), 10-0
BRONZE: Mariia ZHYTOVOZ (HUN) df. Alejandra SERRANO (COL), 11-0

61kg
GOLD: Ozdenur OZMEZ (TUR) df. Landri VON GONTEN (USA), 10-0

BRONZE: AVANSHIKA (IND) df. Aruzhan BAKYTNUR (KAZ), 5-1
BRONZE: Graciela ENINGO (ESP) df. Surae ABBASSOY (FIN), via fall

69kg
GOLD: Taina FERNANDEZ (USA) df. Kiymet TEZCAN (TUR), via fall

BRONZE: TANIYA (IND) df. Maja WEJCHAN (POL), 12-2
BRONZE: Nino SAMKHARADZE (GEO) df. Milana ULANOVA (KGZ), 2-1