SOFIA, Bulgaria (August 10) — Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) has competed in three World Championships so far in her career. At the two U17 World Championships, she was unperturbed and claimed gold with much ease.
In 2019, she debuted at the senior World Championships and hoped to continue her unbeaten international record. But her opening round opponent, the defending champion Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) came from behind to hand Ozaki her first international loss and second overall since 2017.
Before she makes another run for the senior world title in Serbia in September, Ozaki will make a pit spot in Sofia, Bulgaria at the U20 Worlds.
Ww 53kg final Katie Brianna GOMEZ (USA)
Ozaki, who defeated Tynybekova in the Asian Championships final, will be leading a talented Japan squad into the tournament which begins August 15.
Like the U17 World Championships, Japan skipped the 2021 edition due to travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. But the nation is primed to win the women’s team title in Sofia. The USA claimed it in Japan’s absence in Ufa, Russia last year.
The USA has once again entered a strong team hoping to repeat the title-winning performance. Ukraine, which also missed the Worlds in Ufa, will be one of the favorites as well with India hoping to build on its U17 success.
Apart from Ozaki, two other senior world team members — Ami ISHII (JPN) and Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) — are also taking the trip to Sofia. All three would hope to warm up for Belgrade with gold medals at the U20 level.
Former U17 world champions Umi ITO (JPN), Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) and Ruka NATAMI (JPN) and senior Asian Championships silver medalist Sumire NIIKURA (JPN) add depth to the squad.
Ozaki, undoubtedly, will be the favorite to win the 62kg weight class but it not be a cakewalk.
Returning bronze medalist Birgul SOLTANOVA (AZE) won the U20 European Championships in Rome and would be keen on adding a world title to her name. At the Euros, she pulled off an upset by pinning Iryna BONDAR (UKR) who was leading 11-4. Bondar will look to avenge that loss in Sofia.
Luisa SCHEEL (GER) will be another wrestler hoping to reverse the result against Soltanova as she finished second to her in Rome.
Two-time U17 world champion and Tokyo Olympian Sonam MALIK (IND) will also be making her U20 debut and hope to become India’s first woman to be a world champion in this age group.
Amit ELOR (USA) df. Zsuzsanna MOLNAR (SVK)
Another world champion for the USA is Katie GOMEZ (USA) who won the U17 title last year. She will try to win the gold medal at 53kg which also has the returning silver medalist Mihaela SAMOIL (MDA) who also won the silver at U20 Europeans this year.
Gomez may run into ANTIM (IND), a wrestler she defeated at the U17 Worlds in a controversial ending to all but clear her path to the gold. ANTIM has since won the U20 Asian title and claimed the Ranking Series gold medal in Tunis.
U20 European champion Amory ANDRICH (GER), who outscored her opponents 38-1, will hope to carry her form in Sofia and challenge the other stars. Returning bronze medalist Emine CAKMAK (TUR) has a chance to upgrade her medal as well.
Japan is sending Ayaka KIMURA (JPN) at this weight class. Kimura was second to world champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) at the Junior Queen’s Cup and will be making her international debut.
As the winner of the Junior Queen’s Cup, Fujinami was in the Japan team but the 18-year-old decided to skip the tournament.
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