China beats USA women, 8-2 to open World Cup Group B action as Elor, Guilford close out with wins

World champion Amit Elor (USA) counters an attack from Qiandegenchagan (China) at 72 kg. Photo by John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com


CORALVILLE, Iowa – There are two firsts happening today at the World Cup. This is the first time the United States is hosting the Women’s World Cup, and it’s also the first time the men’s and women’s freestyle World Cups are being contested side by side.


The women’s team received a loud welcome from fans in the Xtream Arena as they came out for their first matchup versus a strong lineup from China. While the final result went in favor of China, 8-2, there was a lot of action and constant support from the crowd. And the USA finished off with two straight wins in the upper weights to take a bit of the sting out of the loss.

Amit Elor claimed the first victory for the American team at 72 kg, defeating Qiandegenchagan of China. The reigning World Champion wrestled with composure in a mainly upper-body battle. She forced a pushout to put the first point on the board, and then secured another takedown to make her lead 3-0. Elor used Qiandegenchagan’s next throw attempt to bring her lead and the final score up to 5-0.


Elor has four UWW World titles to her name at just 18 years old and is the first American—and just one of two wrestlers ever—to claim a world title in each the Junior, Senior and U23 age-levels in the same season.


Dymond Guilford put together a 7-2 decision over Juan Wang at 76 kg. In the first 90 seconds of the match Guilford controlled the activity. Wang was called for passivity and put on the shot clock. With no points scored, Guilford secured the first point. Guilford hit an explosive feet-to-back double leg to collect 4 points and added momentum with another 2 points from exposure before time ran out in the first period. Guilford wrestled in her first Senior World Championships this season.


Two-time World silver medalist Kayla Miracle had a close match versus Xiaojuan Luo at 62 kg. Miracle tied the score 2-2 in the second period before giving up exposure points in a flurry that resulted in a 6-2 lead for Luo. Miracle secured a takedown in the final seconds of the match and was within reach of the exposure points, but time ran out.


Long, a World silver medalist, stopped two-time World bronze medalist Mallory Velte, 12-8, in a wild match at 65 kg, which Velte led much of the way.

Other winners from China were Jiang Zhu (50 kg), Li Deng (53 kg), Qianyu Pang (55 kg), Yongxin Feng (57 kg), Zhang Qi (59 kg), and Feng Zhou (68 kg).

Watch Team USA take on the All-World Team at 730 PM during session three on FloWrestling.

Group B women

China 8, United States 2

50 kg –Jiang Zhu (China) tech. Emily Shilson (USA), 10-0

53 kg –. Li Deng (China) tech. fall Amy Fearnside (USA), 10-0

55 kg –Qianyu Pang (China) dec. Jenna Burkert (USA), 4-0

57 kg –Yongxin Feng (China) tech. fall Amanda Martinez (USA), 10-0

59 kg –. Zhang Qi (China) tech. fall Michaela Beck (USA), 11-0

62 kg –Xiaojuan Luo (China) dec. Kayla Miracle (USA), 6-4

65 kg –Jia Long (China) dec. Mallory Velte (USA), 12-8

68 kg –Feng Zhou tech. fall Sienna Ramirez (USA), 10-0

72 kg – Amit Elor (USA) dec. Qiandegenchagan (China), 5-0

76 kg – Dymond Guilford (USA) dec. Juan Wang (China), 7-2

Records: China 1-0, USA 0-1