Junior Asian Championships

Zhumanazarova Captures Third Straight Gold at Junior Asian C'ships

By United World Wrestling Press

CHON BURI, Thailand (July 11) - Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) made it three gold medals in three attempts at the Junior Asian Championships.

Zhumanazarova, a returning junior world bronze medalist, topped cadet Asian champion Rin MIYAJI (JPN) 8-6 in the finals at 68kg to win her third straight title on the first day of the women's wrestling competition at the Junior Asian Championships in Chon Buri, Thailand. 

In the finals, Zhumanazarova found herself down early in the match. Miyaji, a past cadet Asian champion, picked up a takedown 40 seconds into the match. A short time later, Miyaji fired off an attack, which Zhumanazarova countered for a takedown and exposure before the Japanese woman reversed the action and scored two points, giving her a 4-4 criteria lead. Zhumanazarova then retook the lead with an exposure to go ahead 6-4 at the break. She added to her lead in the second period with a takedown to go up 8-4, but Miyaji turned the tables by stepping over and earning two points of her own, which cut the deficit to 8-6. The two wrestlers continued to battle. A late flurry at the end of the match resulted in no points as Zhumanazarova held on to win.

Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) claimed the gold medal at 50kg. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Remina YOSHIMOTO, a 2017 cadet world champion, was the lone gold medalist for returning team champion Japan on Thursday. She claimed a 13-6 victory over Yuhong ZHONG (CHN) in the gold-medal match at 50kg. Yoshimoto led by two points with just over 30 seconds remaining before scoring five points late from two takedowns and a step out to win by seven. 

Qian JIANG (CHN) celebrates after winning gold at 76kg. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Cadet world silver medalist Qian JIANG (CHN) made quick work of Shakhribonu ELLIEVA (UZB) in the finals at 76kg. Jiang secured a takedown early in the match off a single leg before transitioning to her leg lace, which she used to turn Ellieva four consecutive times to pick up a 10-0 technical superiority. 

Hyon Ju YUN (PRK) embraces her coach after a 14-4 finals victory. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Hyon Ju YUN (PRK) earned the gold medal at 55kg by defeating Enkhtsetseg BATBAATAR (MGL) 14-4 in the finals. Yun raced out to an early 8-0 lead and appeared to be on her way to a first-period technical superiority, but the Mongolian fought hard and stayed in the match, scoring four points in the final minute of the first period. Yun closed out the match just over a minute into the second period with a takedown and exposure.  

Anshu ANSHU (IND) dominated in the finals. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Anshu ANSHU (IND) won the gold medal in dominant fashion at 59kg, beating Nazira MARSBEK KYZY (KGZ) by 10-0 technical superiority in the finals. Anshu scored her first takedown just 20 seconds into the match. A short time later she used a feet-to-back takedown to build her lead to 6-0. She added two more takedowns to end the match in the first period. 

The five remaining women's wrestling weight categories, 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 65kg and 72kg, will be contested Friday at the Junior Asian Championships, with action set to begin at 10 a.m. local time.

RESULTS

Women's Wrestling

50kg
GOLD - Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) df. Yuhong ZHONG (CHN), 13-6
BRONZE - Myonggyong WON (PRK) df. Otgontuya CHINBOLD (MGL), 11-0
BRONZE - Thi Hong CAN (VIE) df. Miran CHEON (KOR), 6-1

55kg
GOLD - Hyon Ju YUN (PRK) df. Enkhtsetseg BATBAATAR (MGL), 14-4
BRONZE - Anju ANJU (IND) df. Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB), 3-2
BRONZE - Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) df. Sandugash DYUSSENGALIYEVA (KAZ), 10-0

59kg
GOLD - Anshu ANSHU (IND) df. Nazira MARSBEK KYZY (KGZ), 10-0
BRONZE - Zhuomalaga ZHUOMALAGA (CHN) df. Anh Tuyet TRAN (VIE), 9-0
BRONZE - Ayami SUGIYAMA (JPN) df. Khodicha NAJIMOVA (UZB), 10-0

68kg
GOLD - Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) df. Rin MIYAJI (JPN), 8-6
BRONZE - Kim Ngan PHẠM (VIE) df. Albina KAIRGELDINOVA (KAZ), 6-4
BRONZE - Xin LI (CHN) df. Yarinda AIRLANG (THA), 12-2

76kg
GOLD - Qian JIANG (CHN) df. Shakhribonu ELLIEVA (UZB), 10-0
BRONZE - Mizuki NAGASHIMA (JPN) df. Karuna KARUNA (IND), INJURY
 

#WrestleSamokov

Shkarin, Javadov complete Worlds and Europeans U20 golden double

By Vinay Siwach

SAMOKOV, Bulgaria (August 22) -- Mikhail SHKARIN (UWW) managed to pull off a continental and world double by winning the gold medal at the World U20 Championships on Friday. He won the gold medal at the European U20 Championships in July.

This is the second straight year that Shkarin has done that as he won the world and European U17 last year.

Wrestling Dias SEITKALIYEV (KAZ) in the 82kg final, Shkarin came out with his best defense in par terre to defend his 4-1 lead and win the gold medal.

"Last year I won Worlds and Europeans U17s, now Worlds and Europeans U20s," Shkarin said. "I don’t see anything supernatural in this. Everything is just working out for me."

Shkarin was in top form throughout the tournament with three technical superiority wins in three bouts and it was only in the final that he was test and did not manage to finish his bout before time.

In the semifinals, Shkarin blanked Martik PETROSYAN (ARM) while Seitkaliyev defeated Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN) in the other semifinal. However, Shkarin was hoping to get a rematch against Yoshida who had defeated Shkarin in the 2023 world U17 final.

"The motivation for me at this World Championship was that I really wanted to take revenge on the Japanese wrestler," Shkarin said. "I even told my friends that I could leave this championship upset only if I lost to the Japanese again. Nothing else would upset me as much. But it’s not my fault, it’s his -- he didn’t reach the final."

With the World U20 gold won, Shkarin will look to move to the Olympic weight class -- 87kg -- next year and plan his journey towards winning the Olympic medal in the future.

"Next year I want to move up to the 87 kg weight category," he said. "I’ll start working on my physical shape, try to gain muscle mass, and gradually settle into the 87 kg weight class. I want to try competing at seniors level."

Aykhan JAVADOV (AZE)Aykhan JAVADOV (AZE) celebrates after winning the gold medal at 60kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

The last time the World U20 Championships were held in Bulgaria, Azerbaijan won crowned three champions in Greco-Roman. However, at the next two editions, the country failed to win gold.

The 2025 edition of the U20 Worlds, back in Bulgaria, seems to have brought luck back for Azerbaijan as the nation won its first gold in Greco-Roman in the first final.

European U20 champion and two-time world U17 champion Aykhan JAVADOV (AZE) added a gold at the U20 level in his first year by beating Yurik MKHITARYAN (ARM) in the 60kg final.

The 18-year-old showed no signs of discomfort in the new age-group and won three out of his five bouts via technical superiority or fall. In the final, he maintained a good lead throughout and defeat Mkhitaryan, also 18 years old, 12-5.

Javadov was put in par terre in he first period and Mkhitaryan scored two turns using gut0-wrench for a 5-0 lead but as he was trying to complete the third one, Javadov blocked him and scored two points. Armenia challenged the call but it was clear block and two points and Mkhitaryan led 5-3 at the break.

Javadov got the par terre in the second period but he failed to score any points. It was the third passivity with which the momentum of the final changed. Javadov asked for par terre after third passivity, which doesn't award any points. But Javadov managed to turn him for two and then a reverse lift for another two points to lead 8-5.

Mkhitaryan tried to jump over the head but it did not work out as Javadov controlled him and slammed him on mat for four points. He ultimately won 12-5.

"Since childhood I have been very self-confident," Javadov said. "Age makes no difference, I always believe I deserve first place."

Javadov has now not faced defeat for three years and the gold medal in Samokov. But the debut at U20 Worlds made him a little nervous.

"I couldn’t fully prepare mentally for the final bout, most likely my opponent wasn’t that good either," he said. "I made a couple of mistakes and gave up points, but then I managed to pull myself together. In the second period I realized that my opponent was very tired, and I understood that I could take the advantage and win."

RESULTS

60kg
GOLD: Aykhan JAVADOV (AZE) df. Yurik MKHITARYAN (ARM), 12-5

BRONZE: Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO) df. Omer ALTAS (TUR), 9-0 (victory via cautions)
BRONZE: SURAJ (IND) df. Lucas LO GRASSO (FRA), 1-1

82kg
GOLD: Mikhail SHKARIN (UWW) df. Dias SEITKALIYEV (KAZ), 4-1

BRONZE: Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN) df. PRINCE (IND), 11-0
BRONZE: Azimjon SOATULLAEV (UZB) df. Martik PETROSYAN (ARM), 8-0