#ChinaOpen2018

World Champ Mukaida Helps Japan Jolt to Trio of China Open Golds

Friday, June 22, 2018 - 13:05 By Eric Olanowski

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TAIYUAN, China (June 22) - World champion Mayu MuKAIDA (JPN), alongside YU MIYAHARA (JPN) and Yuzuru KUMANO (JPN) jolted Japan to a trio of China Open gold medals on the opening day of competition in Taiyuan’s Shanxi Sports Center. 

In the finals, Mukaida used a quartet of takedowns and a pushout with under ten seconds left to grab the 9-1 victory over China’s U23 world runner-up and Ivan Yarygin champion, ZHANG Qi.

Mukaida, who's only suffered two international losses since 2015 outscored her opponents 29-1 through her three matches on the day. When asked what worked for her this weekend, Mukaida said, "I just concentrated on one match at a time, and I was able to wrestle freely. I was able to do what I wanted." 

Yu Miyahara collected Japan's second gold medal of the night in a rematch of the Ivan Yarygin semifinals where she once again defeated Ekaterina POLESHCHUK (RUS). This time, it was for the 53kg China Open gold medal. Though the Russian wrestler improved on January’s 10-0 defeat, Miyahara’s double leg takedown and side headlock roll were good enough to claim the 4-1 victory. 

Yuzuru Kumano gave Japan their third and final gold medal from the first day of competition with a 9-3 thumping of Russia’s Veronika CHUMIKOVA in the 59kg gold-medal bout.

RONG Ningning (CHN) presented the host nation with their first gold medal after sticking Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (RUS) in the 57kg championship bout. “I felt very excited to win this gold medal. I brought glory to this Chinese team.”

After winning the Ivan Yarygin and Asian Championship at 59kg, Rong decided to move down to compete at 57kg. “The 2kg difference was not hard to make. It was just a few extra runs. But, I felt light. This is going to be my weight class moving forward to the Asian Games and the World Championships.” 

The final gold medal of the day went to Romania's Alina Emilia VUC. Vuc, the runner-up at the 2018 European Championships and Klippan Lady Open bronze medalist finally claimed the gold medal she’s been chasing all year with a 1-0 win over China’s ZHU Jiang.

50kg 
GOLD – Alina VUC (ROU) df. ZHU Jiang (CHN), 1-0 

BRONZE - Aktenge KEUNIMYAEVA (UZB) df. Dauletbike YAKHSHIMURATOVA (UZB), 3-1

53kg 
GOLD – YU MIYAHARA (JPN) df. Ekaterina POLESHCHUK (RUS), 4-1 

BRONZE – PANG Qianyu (CHN) df. LOU Lannuan (CHN), via fall 
BRONZE – LIU Yujiao (CHN) df. Mercedesz DENES (HUN), 10-0 

55kg 
GOLD – Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) df. ZHANG Qi (CHN), 9-1 

BRONZE – OH Hyemin (KOR) df. Ramona GALAMBOS (HUN) 
BRONZE – OUYANG Junling (CHN) df. Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR), 5-2

57kg
GOLD – RONG Ningning (CHN) df. Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (RUS), 5-0

BRONZE – UM Jieun (KOR) df. Kateryna ZHYDACHEVSKA (ROU), 3-3

BRONZE -  Tetyana KIT (UKR) df. Xingru PEI (CHN), via injury default 

59kg
GOLD – Yuzuru KUMANO (JPN) df. Veronika CHUMIKOVA (RUS), 9-3  

BRONZE – Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) df. WANG Yuan (CHN), 11-0 
BRONZE – ZHANG Yue (CHN) df. SUN Xinyuan (CHN), 8-6

#Grappling

U20 European Grappling: Poland Shines but Russia Remains Best

Wednesday, May 27, 2026 - 10:06 By United World Wrestling Press

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YEREVAN, Armenia (May 26) — Poland flexed its strength in the heavier divisions while Russia piled up medals across categories at the U20 European Grappling Championships in Yerevan on Tuesday, with Germany also celebrating a standout gold through Damian David GRANCZYK at 66kg.

The Poles were particularly impressive in the upper weights. Kamil Konrad DZIKOWSKI claimed the 100kg title ahead of Yaroslav TOROPII (UKR). Armenia’s Samvel ATIKYAN taking bronze on home soil.

Mateusz KUCA (POL) resigned supreme at 84kg. Poland also produced medallists in 92kg, where Jakub JUCHNO finished on the top of the podium ahead of Ion SILI (MDA), underlining the country’s growing depth in the heavier classes of European grappling.

Russia, however, once again showed its overall dominance by placing wrestlers on nearly every podium. Russian athletes won titles at 62kg, 71kg, 77kg and 130kg, while also securing multiple silver and bronze medals.

At 130kg, Abubakr MAKASHARIPOV (RUS) took gold ahead of Ukraine’s Bohdan AKOPOV, with Gasan KHASAEV (RUS) settling for bronze in an all-Eastern European dominated podium.

Germany’s Granczyk was among the day’s standout performers. He captured the 66kg title, finishing ahead of Stanislav ROMANCHENKO (RUS), while Ukraine picked up both bronze medals through Vadym SIROSHTAN and Dmytro PRUT.

Russia swept the top two spots at 62kg through gold medallist Fedor RIABOV and silver winner Zaur ILIASOV, with Edgar SIMONYAN (ARM) finishing third. The hosts had more to celebrate in the 58kg category, where Aram SARGSYAN (ARM) beat Vanik SARGSYAN (ARM) to win the gold. Adam Magomedovich MAGOMEDOV (RUS) clinched the bronze.

At 71kg, Oliwier PRZERWA (POL) earned silver behind Sultanakhmed SULTANAKHMEDOV (RUS), while Malik MUKHTAROV completed a double podium finish for Russia with bronze.

Ukraine enjoyed a strong campaign too, especially in the middle and heavier weights. Suleiman MAMUTOV (UKR) won silver at 77kg and Lev TSEMKO (UKR) added bronze at 84kg.

In the women's section, Russia and Poland continued their stranglehold, winning two gold medals each. But the loudest cheers inside the arena were reserved for Taguhi KHONDKARYAN, who finished ahead of fellow Armenian Mkrtaryan YELENA in a home-dominated 64kg category.

At 49kg, Hanna Gabriela SZPAKOWSKA (POL) broke the heart of home favourite Astghik HAYRAPETYAN (ARM) clinched the title with a 18-6 win in the final.

Russia then tightened its grip on the tournament. Elmira GALLIAMOVA won the 53kg gold medal in an all-Russian final against Valeriia SHCHIROVA, while Alva Linnea PANNWITZ (GER) claimed bronze to ensure another podium finish for the Germans after Damian Granczyk’s triumph in the men’s section.

The 58kg category also belonged entirely to Russia. Alisa GOLUB (RUS) defeated compatriot Ilda DAVLETSHINA (RUS) in the final, with Ukraine’s Kseniia POLIAK taking bronze.

Poland, which had already impressed in the heavier men’s divisions, carried that momentum into the women’s 90kg event. Maja Teresa SALAMON (POL) took gold, while compatriot Karolina KARALUS added bronze, sandwiching Russia’s Vlada BOIAKCHIEVA in second place.

The results underlined Russia’s continued dominance in European grappling, finishing on top of the team rankings in both, men and women's sections.