Three U17 World Champions Enter Final at U20 World Championships

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (August 18) -- Three former U17 world champions are one win away capturing their first U20 world title after reaching the final at the U20 World Championships on Tuesday.

Yuu KATSUME (JPN) at 50kg, Kaura COLES (CAN) at 53kg and Chisato YOSHIDA (JPN) at 72kg will wrestle for gold on Tuesday in a big to win their second age-group world title.

Katsume, a 2024 U17 world champion, looked perfect in making the 50kg final in Women's Wrestling, beating all her opponents via technical superiority. In the semifinal, she faced Kayla BATRES (GUA) but used the gut-wrench to turn her four times to win 11-0.

The Japanese prodigy will take on U20 European champion Margarita IARYGINA (RUS) for the gold medal after she defeated Nilufar NURMUKHAMMADOVA (UZB). Iarygina scored a four-pointer using a headlock throw and then a turn to lead 6-0. Nurmukhammadova cut the lead 6-2 but Iarygina maintained control in the second period despite a caution against her to win 9-3.

Coles pulled off a remarkable comeback against Yuxuan LI (CHN) to enter the 53kg final. Li managed a 7-2 lead using the deadly gut-wrench but Coles kept the pressure on Li and tired her out of the bout, eventually winning 14-7.

Coles, who became Canada's first-ever U20 world champion in 2024, will face Alexa ALVAREZ (VEN) in the final. Alvarez is chasing history as she will try to become her country's first-ever U20 world champion in Women's Wrestling. Alvarez defeated Sakibjamal ESBOSYNOVA (UZB), 10-2, to set up the gold-medal bout against Coles.

Yoshida, niece of 13-time world champion Saori YOSHIDA (JPN), posted a convincing 6-1 win over Khrystyna DEMCHUK (UKR) in the 72kg semifinal. She scored three different takedowns in her win.

For the gold medal, she will take on Tanu SHARMA (IND) who overpowered Zahra KARIMZADA (AZE), 11-0, in the other semifinal.

Javadov Returns to Final

In the two Greco-Roman weight classes that were in action on Tuesday, returning champion at 60kg Aykhan JAVADOV (AZE) is one win away from winning his second straight U20 world title after he reached the 60kg on Tuesday. Javadov, facing Amirali HEYDARI (IRI) in the semifinals, managed to hang on to his criteria lead and deny Heydari.

Heydari took a 3-0 lead in the first period but Javadov got the par terre in the second period from which he turned the Iranian to take a 3-3 criteria lead. Javadov then defended the criteria of scoring the latest point to win the match. Iran challenged after the final whistle but lost it as there was no negative wrestling by Javadov.

U20 Asian silver medalist Dostonbek ORIPOV (UZB) will look to deny Javadov on Wednesday as he reached the final after beating Marlen ABDYSAMATOV (KGZ), 8-1, in the other semifinals.

At 82kg, former U17 world champion and returning bronze medalist from 77kg Kiryl VALEUSKI (BLR) reached the final after beating Elmin ALIYEV (AZE), 7-4, in a close semifinal. Valeuski led 4-2 at the break but gave a stepout and caution at the start of the second period. Aliyev, down 4-4 on criteria, was majorly stepping back and gave up a step out and Valeuski led 5-4 before completing a takedown to finish the bout.

He will face Ramazan NEKHAI (RUS) for the gold medal after he defeated Alireza MOHAMMAD (IRI), 5-1, in the semifinal that may prove crucial match in the team title race. Nekhai scored two turns from par terre and defended his position to complete the victory.

RESULTS

Greco-Roman

60kg
SF 1: Dostonbek ORIPOV (UZB) df. Marlen ABDYSAMATOV (KGZ), 8-1
SF 2: Aykhan JAVADOV (AZE) df. Amirali HEYDARI (IRI), 4-3

82kg
SF 1: Ramazan NEKHAI (RUS) df. Alireza MOHAMMAD (IRI), 5-1
SF 2: Kiryl VALEUSKI (BLR) df. Elmin ALIYEV (AZE), 7-4

Women's Wrestling

50kg
SF 1: Margarita IARYGINA (RUS) df. Nilufar NURMUKHAMMADOVA (UZB), 9-4
SF 2: Yuu KATSUME (JPN) df. Kayla BATRES (GUA), 11-0

53kg
SF 1: Alexa ALVAREZ (VEN) df. Sakibjamal ESBOSYNOVA (UZB), 10-2
SF 2: Kaura COLES (CAN) df. Yuxuan LI (CHN), 14-7

72kg
SF 1: Chisato YOSHIDA (JPN) df. Khrystyna DEMCHUK (UKR), 6-1
SF 2: Tanu SHARMA (IND) df. Zahra KARIMZADA (AZE), 11-0