#WrestleNoviSad

Yakushenko levels up with first U23 World Championships gold

Wednesday, October 22, 2025 - 15:49 By Vinay Siwach

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NOVI SAD, Serbia (October 22) -- Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) has lost only one bout in 2025 but that one loss remains tied to him when he steps on the mat.

At the U20 European Championships final, Yakushenko lost to Darius KIEFER (GER), 5-3, losing his gold medal to the German wrestler. But using that loss as a lesson and motivation, Yakushenko has now won two world titles in the space of two months.

The 19-year-old won gold at the U20 World Championships in August and on Wednesday at the U23 World Championships in Novi Sad, Yakushenko won his first U23 world title.

"If I hadn’t lost at the Europeans, I wouldn’t have won at Worlds," Yakushenko said. "Sometimes a loss can be for the better. It motivated me and helped me mentally."

Yakushenko, who avenged that loss to Kiefer at U20 Worlds, wrestled with great temperament at the U23 Worlds despite carrying an injury after his first bout. In four matches, he began with a win over Luka GABISONIA (GEO), held off Abubakar KHASLAKHANU (UWW) and defeated Richard KARELSON (EST) in the semifinals.

Facing senior Asia silver medalist Iussuf MATSIYEV (KAZ) in the final, Yakushenko used a stepout and turn from par terre to lead 4-0. Matsiyev was docked two points for a defensive foul as Yakushenko extended his lead to 6-0.

When Matsiyev got the par terre position in the second period, Yakushenko easily defended it and managed to win the final 6-1, thus claiming gold.

"I’m euphoric right now," he said. "I feel that it really wasn’t that easy. I guess I just worked hard and prepared well, went through good training. My shoulder hurts a little. But I think it’s actually from the rib."

Yakushenko was in Porec, Croatia at the preparatory camp for senior World Championships. Though he did not participate in the tournament, Yakushenko was part of the Ukraine team and watched the matches in Zagreb.

"We had a camp in Croatia, where many countries were present," he said. "I watched, got motivated, I was overwhelmed with emotions. My weight category is very strong, but I think everything is within my reach."

The two-time U20 world champion believes that needs to build more strength to be ready for the senior level but will not shy from a chance to earn his spot on the senior Ukrainian team next year.

"I still need to build more physical strength," he said. "But technically, I don’t think I have problems, and my endurance is good too. 

"There should be the Ukrainian Cup in November, I’m not sure yet. It’s the qualification event for the European Championships. Maybe I’ll compete there, give our senior team a bit of a shake-up. I don’t know yet, I’ll depend on what my coach says. Whatever he decides, I’ll do."

Iran closer to cleansweep

Iran won its third gold medal in Greco at the U23 World Championships and has now all-but-confirmed the team trophy. With the team title in Novi Sad, Iran will assert its domination in Greco as it won team titles in all World Championships -- U17 in Athens, U20 in Samokov and senior in Zagreb -- to go with the one in Novi Sad, Serbia.

It consolidated its position on the top when former U23 world champion at 63kg, Iman MOHAMMADI (IRI) won gold at 72kg on Wednesday. Mohammadi defeated Abror ATABAEV (UZB), 5-1, in the final.

Mohammadi was awarded the par terre in he first period and he hit a front headlock which was scored two and one more point was awarded for a stepout. But Iran challenged, claiming four points on the throw, which was confirmed on review but the stepout point was removed as it was a push.

After the challenge, Mohammadi led 5-0 and when Atabaev was given par terre in the second period, Mohammadi defended that position with ease and went on to win the gold medal.

Azerbaijan won its second gold medal in Greco-Roman after Elmir ALIYEV (AZE) held off Alibek AMIROV (UWW), 3-2, in the 55kg final. With the win, he also avenged his U23 European Championships semifinals loss to Amirov.

Egypt got its first world title at any level since 2023 and first at U23 in six years after Hassan ABDELREHIM (EGY) blanked Anri KHOZREVANIDZE (GEO), 3-0, in the 67kg. Incidentally, Egypt's other two U23 world titles, both won by Mohamed EL SAYED (EGY) in 2018 and 2019, have come at 67kg.

Alexandrin GUTU (MDA)Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) completes a five-pointer. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Gutu in third straight final

Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) is a win away from becoming the first three-time U23 world champion after he reached the 82kg final in Novi Sad.

Gutu, wrestling at the U23 Worlds for the fifth time, reached the his fourth straight final after beating Ibrahim TABAEV (BEL) in the semifinals. Gutu won gold medals in 2023 and 2024 and has a silver medal from 2022.

He began with a takedown before adding a stepout for a 3-0 lead. The par terre gave him one more point and he threw Tabaev out-of-bounds for one more point and lead 5-0. The second period saw him add one stepout as he won the semifinal 6-0.

For his third straight gold medal, Gutu will face Ruslan ABDIIEV (UKR) who defeated Data CHKHAIDZE (GEO), 1-1, in the other semifinal, thanks to the first-point criteria in a 1-1 finish.

Koto GOMI (JPN)Koto GOMI (JPN) celebrates after winning the 60kg semifinal against Maxwell BLACK (USA). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

At 60kg, Koto GOMI (JPN) will try to the six-year gold medal drought for Japan after he reached the 60kg final on Wednesday after a dominant performance. He faced Maxwell BLACK (USA) in the semifinals and like his previous bouts, he began by scoring as soon as the match began.

An arm-drag to takedown gave him a 2-0 lead before he got the par terre position and scored three rolls using high gut-wrench and win 9-0.

He will face Sajjad ABBASPOUR (IRI) for gold after he made a remarkable comeback in the final 20 seconds. Down 3-1 against Mehroj BAKHRAMOV (UZB), Abbaspour scored a stepout which was also called fleeing with 13 seconds left. However, Bakhramov still held the criteria at 3-3 as he had a two-point move.

But Abbaspour did not give up and scored another stepout with five seconds left, giving him a match-winning 4-3 lead. Uzbekistan challenged it but only to lose it and add one more point to Abbaspour's score.

The 5-3 defeat left the teenager Bakhramov in tears while the Iran corner celebrated the unexpected win in the semifinals.

U.S. perfect

Audrey JIMINEZ (USA) will get another chance of winning her first-ever world title after she reached the 50kg finals after posting a controlled 5-2 win against Aida KERYMOVA (UKR) in the semifinals. Jiminez, who had four age-group world silver medals, scored a takedown and one turn in the second period to overcome a 2-1 deficit and post the win.

She will face Jinyue LIANG (CHN) for that much-awaited gold after Liang saw off Natalia PUDOVA (UWW) in the other semifinal. Liang scored a takedown in the second period to lead 2-1 and then got in scramble which that scored two points each. She then hit a headlock for four to make the score 8-3, her winning score in the final.

Former U20 world champion Jasmine ROBINSON (USA) reached the final at 72kg with her third technical superiority win in three bouts. She defeated former U17 world champion Veronika VILK (CRO), 10-0, in the semifinals using her trademark double blasts.

Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) will look to stop Robinson from winning her first U23 world title after she reached the final at 72kg after beating Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN), 6-3.

Returning champion at 72kg, Kylie WELKER (USA), who moved up to 76kg, reached the final after a 16-6 technical superiority win over Edna JIMENEZ VILLALBA (MEX).

Welker began with a four-pointer before two turns made it 8-0. But Villalba also hit a four-pointer to cut the lead to 8-4. She then had Welker in danger to make it 8-6 bit a reversal and three lace turns tilted the semifinal 15-6 in favor to Welker, who scored a stepout in the second period for the win.

She will take on returning bronze medalist Valeriia TRIFONOVA (UWW) who posted a 4-1 win over Elmira YASIN (TUR) in the other semifinal.

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Elmir ALIYEV (AZE) df. Alibek AMIROV (UWW), 3-2

BRONZE: Khojiakbar KUCHKAROV (UZB) df. Armin SHAMSIPOUR (IRI), 8-0
BRONZE: Vishvajit MORE (IND) df. Yerassyl MAMYRBEKOV (KAZ), 5-4

67kg
GOLD: Hassan ABDELREHIM (EGY) df. Anri KHOZREVANIDZE (GEO), 3-0

BRONZE: Ahmadreza MOHSEN NEZHAD (IRI) df. Hleb MAKARANKA (UWW), 7-1
BRONZE: Otto BLACK (USA) df. Attila JOZSA (HUN), via inj. def.

72kg
GOLD: Iman MOHAMMADI (IRI) df. Abror ATABAEV (UZB), 5-1

BRONZE: Ruslan NURULLAYEV (AZE) df. Gaspar TERTERYAN (ARM), 3-1
BRONZE: Merey MAULITKANOV (KAZ) df. Danil GRIGOREV (UWW), 10-0

97kg
GOLD: Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) df. Iussuf MATSIYEV (KAZ), 6-1

BRONZE: Richard KARELSON (EST) df. Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (UWW), 7-7
BRONZE: Maksim AVERIN (UWW) df. Arshak GEGHAMYAN (ARM), 1-1

Greco-Roman Semifinals

60kg
GOLD: Koto GOMI (JPN) vs. Sajjad ABBASPOUR (IRI)

SF 1: Koto GOMI (JPN) df. Maxwell BLACK (USA), 9-0
SF 2: Sajjad ABBASPOUR (IRI) df. Mehroj BAKHRAMOV (UZB), 5-3

82kg
GOLD: Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) vs. Ruslan ABDIIEV (UKR)

SF 1: Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) df. Ibrahim TABAEV (BEL), 6-0
SF 2: Ruslan ABDIIEV (UKR) df. Data CHKHAIDZE (GEO), 1-1

Women's Wrestling Semifinals

50kg
GOLD: Audrey JIMENEZ (USA) vs. Jinyue LIANG (CHN)

SF 1: Audrey JIMENEZ (USA) df. Aida KERYMOVA (UKR), 5-2
SF 2: Jinyue LIANG (CHN) df. Natalia PUDOVA (UWW), 8-3

72kg
GOLD: Jasmine ROBINSON (USA) vs. Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ)

SF 1: Jasmine ROBINSON (USA) df. Veronika VILK (CRO), 10-0 
SF 2: Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) df. Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN), 6-3

76kg
GOLD: Valeriia TRIFONOVA (UWW) vs. Kylie WELKER (USA)

SF 1: Valeriia TRIFONOVA (UWW) df. Elmira YASIN (TUR), 4-1
SF 2: Kylie WELKER (USA) df. Edna JIMENEZ VILLALBA (MEX), 16-6

#WrestleTirana

Japan adds 3 golds to maintain perfect record in Tirana

Friday, February 28, 2025 - 23:31 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (February 28) -- Ami ISHII (JPN) can't stop winning in Tirana.

Four months after she won the U23 and Senior World Championships in the Albanian capital, Ishii has begun her 2025 with a Ranking Series gold in Tirana on Friday.

While she won the World Championships at 72kg, Ishii returned to the Olympic weight class 68kg as she leaves memories of missing out on Paris Olympics behind.

"It [Tirana] is a luck city," Ishii said. "Also, 68kg is home for me."

 Ishii is now 12-0 in Tirana, winning golds at the U23 World Championships, senior World Championships and Muhamet Malo Ranking Series -- scoring six technical superiority wins and three pins.

Her gold medal was one of three that Japan won, maintaining its perfect record in Women's Wrestling in Tirana, adding to the two it won on Thursday. Out of the six golds on offer so far, Japan has won five with one -- 62kg -- going to China. Japan did not enter a wrestler in 62kg.

Ishii won the gold medal at 68kg after U20 world champion Sakura ONISHI (JPN) made a golden senior debut at 59kg. Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) was successful at 65kg. On Thursday, Umi ITO (JPN) won at 50kg while Haruna MAYUMARA (JPN) won gold at 55kg.

Ami ISHII (JPN)Ami ISHII (JPN) won the 68kg gold medal in Tirana. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Ishii looked in sublime form at 68kg and seemed like she would go unscathed, however, Zelu LI (CHN) checked her in the final. Ishii managed to win 6-2 but could feel the pressure of the final.

"I think the opponent's level is quite high since it's in the finals," Ishii said. "The pressure is the most fun in the finals. There shouldn't be any pressure, but it was a close match so I'll practice a little more."

She opened the scoring with a double-leg takedown and kept aiming for Li's ankles, converting once such attempt to a takedown. Li tried to counter lift but Ishii was solid in her defense and led 4-0 at the break. Li did cut the lead to 4-2 in the second period but Ishii made it 6-2 with a similar takedown like the previous ones.

"My wrestling is different, and I keep updating my wrestling every day," she said. "My wrestling is completely different from the last time I came to Tirana. Wrestling Japanese, I continue to improve my skills."

After missing out on the Paris Olympics, losing in the domestic playoff to Nonoka OZAKI (JPN), Ishii remains motivated to be at the Olympic cycle.

"My goal for 2025 is to win the 68kg class at the World Championships," she said. "My biggest goal for 2025 is probably to win a gold medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics."

Sakura ONISHI (JPN)Sakura ONISHI (JPN) defeated Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (UWW) 10-0 in the 59kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Onishi was the first to secure gold medal of the night for Japan as she dominated the 59kg weight class. In the final against Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (UWW), Onishi scored the first takedown with a single-leg attack and gut wrenched for two more points. She added another takedown with head outside before finishing the bout 10-0 with 4:16 remaining on the clock.

This was the first senior tournament for the teenager but remained unfazed the stage and the opponents.

"It was my first tournament and I was a bit nervous," Onishi said. "But since I had earned the right to compete at the All-Japan Championship in Japan, I decided to represent Japan and not worry about my age."

Before travelling to Tirana, Onishi was in a two-week training camp in China alongwith Morikawa. Both went to Kunming, world champion Jia LONG's(CHN) hometown, to train in different styles.

Previously, Onishi would finish her bouts in typical Japanese style of pins or leg lace but she used the gut-wrench effectively in Tirana. Onishi said she picked the technique in China.

"The lace is something I always do," she said. "I don't really pay attention to it but that gut wrench is a technique I learned the other day when I went on a two-week camp to China, and I was happy."

In the four bouts on Friday, Onishi, a training partner of Olympic champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) at the Nippon Sports Science University, outscored her opponents 45-3 and geared up for the Asian Championships.

"I think it was a really good tournament because I was able to see how much I've improved, even if just a little, in what I practice every day," she said.

Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN)Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) tries to turn Irina RINGACI (JPN) before Ringaci pulled out of the final citing knee injury. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) added another gold but she would have liked to avenge her round-robin loss to Irina RINGACI (MDA) in a better way. Ringaci pulled out injured midway through the final while leading 6-3. Morikawa had just scored a takedown when Ringaci left the match due to a injured knee. Ringaci had shown excellent movements till then, hitting double-leg attacks and gut wrenches to which Morikawa had no answers.

The two had met earlier in Round 1 bout of their group which Ringaci won 6-5 despite a solid comeback from Morikawa. This was their second meeting since the 2021 World Championships final which Ringaci won. 

Ringaci scored a takedown and turn to lead 4-0 and then a scramble resulted in Ringaci landing on top to take the lead 6-0. Morikawa was on board when she scored an exposure and another leg elevation forced a takedown which made the score 6-4 for Ringaci with 17 seconds left. A double leg from Morikawa resulted in just a stepout with six seconds on the clock. Japan challenged that call asking for two points but Morikawa had no control over Ringaci during stepout. Ringaci defended the 7-5 lead to win the bout.

LILI (CHN)LILI (CHN) defeated Paris Olympic bronze medalist Grace BULLEN (NOR) in 62kg semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 62kg, world bronze medalist LILI (CHN) completed a commanding performance in Tirana with a gold medal at 62kg, beating former world champion Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) 8-4 in the final after she had defeated Paris Olympic bronze medalist Grace BULLEN (NOR) in the semifinals.

Bullen was on her way to the final when she ran into Lili in the semis and was involved in a tense match which she led. She opened the scoring with a takedown and turn before Lili scored a reversal and lace. The Chinese added another takedown and turn to make it 7-4. Bullen closed the gap to 7-5 with a stepout but she failed to break the defense and lost 8-3.

In the final, Lili raced to an 8-0 lead over Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) and it seemed like she will close out the bout soon. However, Dudova hit a double-leg attack to get four points back. But Lili still managed to keep the lead with herself and defeated to claim the gold medal at 62kg.

RESULTS

59kg
GOLD: Sakura ONISHI (JPN) df. Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (UWW), 10-0

BRONZE: Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) df. Bediha GUN (TUR), 12-2

62kg
GOLD: LILI (CHN) df. Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL), 8-4

BRONZE: Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA) df. Anne NUERNBERGER (GER), 11-0 
BRONZE: Grace BULLEN (NOR) df. Amina TANDELOVA (UWW), via inj. def.

65kg
GOLD: Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) df. Irina RINGACI (MDA), via inj. (3-6)

BRONZE: Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) df. Aleah NICKEL (CAN), 10-0

68kg
GOLD: Ami ISHII (JPN) df. Zelu LI (CHN), 6-2 

BRONZE: Elizaveta PETLIAKOVA (UWW) df. Noémi SZABADOS (HUN), via inj. def.
BRONZE: Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU) df. Gerda BARTH (GER), via fall (6-0)