Bondar Wins Gold on Return as Ukraine Wins Team Title

LAS VEGAS, United States (October 16) -- After a year of absence from the international stage, Iryna BONDAR (UKR) stormed back to the top of podium at the U23 World Championships on Friday.

Bondar, a two-time U23 world champion, added a third to go along with two silver medals as well by winning the 62kg gold in Las Vegas. The fifth medal has made her the first wrestler to win five medals at this event.

Last year, Bondar finished with a silver medal after dropping the final to Olympic champion Sakura MOTOKI (JPN). Soon after, she suffered an ACL injury, forcing her to opt for surgery. The surgery and following rehab meant that Bondar would miss a year of competition.

But she returned at the same competition she last participated in. Making it to the final against Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA), Bondar took 45 seconds to beat the American. She got a takedown and then used the gut wrench four times to complete a 10-0 win.

After Bondar's gold, Iryna ZABLOTSKA (UKR) won the gold medal at 72kg to held Ukraine win the Women's Wrestling team title. Zablotska pinned Amruta PUJARI (IND) in the final to capture the U23 world title.

Ukraine finished with 143 points, well ahead of second-placed United States which had 117 points. Japan finished third with 108 points.

Former U20 world champion Cristelle RODRIGUEZ (USA) added a U23 world title to her name, a week before she travels to the senior World Championships.

Wrestling at the U23 World Championships in Las Vegas, Rodriguez was up against Sevval CAYIR (TUR) in the final and got to work straight off the whistle. She pressured Cayir using an arm-bar and then held the Turkiye wrestler on the mat to secure the fall in 55 seconds.

The 65kg weight class saw Ekaterina KOSHKINA (RUS) hang on for an 8-7 win over Yuqi RAO (CHN) in the final to capture the gold medal. Koshkina sat on a 6-3 lead in the final minute of the match when Rao hit exposure that was awarded two points. Koshkina rolled over put Rao in danger to secure two points for herself.

At 8-5, China challenged the scoring and on review, it was changed with four points to Rao as she forced Koshkina to land in danger. That changed the score to 8-7 with Rao needing at least one point to win with 30 seconds remaining.

However, Koshkina managed to navigate the time and win the second gold medal of the tournament for Russia in Women's Wrestling.

RESULTS

53kg
GOLD: Cristelle RODRIGUEZ (USA) df Sevval CAYIR (TUR), via fall

BRONZE: Anastasiia POLSKA (UKR) df. SWEETY (IND), 11-0
BRONZE: Carla JAUME SOLER (ESP) df. Serena DI BENEDETTO (CAN), via fall

57kg
GOLD: Aryna DZEMCHANKA MARTYNAVA (BLR) df. Tindra DALMYR (SWE), 6-0

BRONZE: Ichika ARAI (JPN) df. Felicitas DOMAJEVA (NOR), 8-0
BRONZE: Bertha ROJAS (MEX) df. Amory ANDRICH (GER), via fall

62kg
GOLD: Iryna BONDAR (UKR) df. Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA), 10-0

BRONZE: Melanie JIMENEZ (MEX) df. Yana TRETSIAK (BLR), 3-0
BRONZE: Eniko ELEKES (HUN) df. Annika FINES (CAN), 11-0

65kg
GOLD: Ekaterina KOSHKINA (RUS) df. Yuqi RAO (CHN), 8-7

BRONZE: Narkhajid NYAMSUREN (MGL) df. Haruka KOBARU (JPN), 5-1
BRONZE: Reese LARRAMENDY (USA) df. Ayse ERKAN (TUR), 10-4

72kg
GOLD: Iryna ZABLOTSKA (UKR) vs. Amruta PUJARI (IND), via fall

BRONZE: Wenjin QIU (CHN) df. Zhibekzhan SABYRZHANOVA (KAZ), via fall
BRONZE: Odgerel ERDENE OCHIR (MGL) df. Cassie CORBETT (CAN), 12-2