Long vs Zhumanazarova Set for 68kg Final at World Championships

ASTANA, Kazakhstan (October 28) -- One of Jia LONG (CHN) and Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) will return home as a two-time world champion. The two reached the 68kg final of the 2026 World Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan on Wednesday.

Long, a returning bronze medalist, reached the final after beating Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE), 7-2, in the semifinals. She opened the match with a takedown before Hanzlickova surprised her with one of her own.

But that was all Long was giving her, scoring two more takedowns and one point for a stepout to win the semifinal.

Zhumanazarova, who pinned Kennedy BLADES (USA) in the quarterfinals, managed to beat Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL), 5-1, in a close semifinal. She was put on the activity when leading 1-1 in the second period but managed to hit a double leg attack and score a takedown to lead 3-1. Enkhsaikhan tried to get the match-winning takedown but Zhumanazarova managed to hold her off and score another takedown for the win.

Poland will have a chance to win a World Championships gold medal in Women's Wrestling after Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) reached the final at 72kg. She is the first senior world finalist for Poland in 12 years and will now try to win a gold for her country that will be the first in 25 years.

Choluj, a European Championships silver medalist, was dominant in all her bouts. In the semifinals, she pinned Precious BELL (USA) after building an 11-0. For the gold medal, she will face Zelu LI (CHN) who denied home favorite and four-time world silver medalist Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), 4-2.

Kiyooka, Ozaki Reach Finals

Former world champion Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) reached the 53kg final after a controlled 6-0 win over Asian champion Jin ZHANG (CHN), who had pinned Kiyooka in the semifinals of the Asian Championships.

Kiyooka managed to hit her single leg attacks and score takedowns with ease. She also changed her gameplan but not going deep on the attacks and keeping a distance from Zhang to avoid getting caught in a fall.

Returning world silver medalist Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) will try to stop Kiyooka in the final after she dominated Cristelle RODRIGUEZ (USA) in the semifinals. She opened the scoring as she flung the U.S. wrestler for four points. She worked on a turn and then later two takedowns to complete a 10-0 win.

At 62kg, Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) is a win away from her third world title. Although not dominant, she did enough to beat Esther KOLAWALE (NGR), 2-1, with all three points being activity points. Kolawale, leading 1-1 on criteria in the semifinals, was put on the clock again in the second period. As Kolawale did not score any points in the 30-second window, Ozaki got a point and the lead.

U23 world silver medalist Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA) will try to stop her from winning the gold medal on Thursday after she made it to the final with a 5-2 win over Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL). Nwachukwu scored a late takedown to take a 3-1 lead during the activity period. Dudova got a point for stepout but she failed to get the winning move.

In a desperate move to get the winning takedown, Dudova reached for the legs but Nwachukwu moved back and scored a takedown to extended her winning score.

RESULTS

53kg
SF 1: Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) df. Jin ZHANG (CHN), 6-0
SF 2: Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) df. Cristelle RODRIGUEZ (USA), 10-0

62kg
SF 1: Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA) df. Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL), 5-2
SF 2: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) df. Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR), 2-1

68kg
SF 1: Jia LONG (CHN) df. Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE), 7-2
SF 2: Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) df. Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL), 5-1

72kg
SF 1: Zelu LI (CHN) df. Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), 4-2
SF 2: Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) df. Precious BELL (USA), via fall (11-0)