Yu Sakamoto in 117-pound division
TIRANA, Albania – Yu Sakamoto (Japan), an incoming member to the Northern Michigan women’s wrestling team, has advanced to the U23 World Wrestling Championship finals in Tirana, Albania, a milestone moment for the NMU wrestling program.
Sakamoto is competing in the 53kg (117 lb) weight class and will match up with Serena Di Benedetto (Canada) in the gold medal final, taking place on Friday, October 25, at 12:00 p.m. EST (6:00 p.m. Tirana, Albania time).
In the semifinal on Thursday, she picked up a last-second thrilling win by decision over Otgontuya Chinbold (Mongolia), 4-4, to punch her ticket to the championship tilt.
Representing both her home country of Japan and Northern Michigan, Sakamoto is looking to finish off her gold medal run on the international stage.
Athletes who earn the right to compete at the U23 World Wrestling Championships are among the best in the world, and in particular those under the age of 23 that are the next “cream of the crop” in the wrestling realm. The U23 World Championships showcases elite levels of wrestling from around the world, with all competitors being selected based on the following criteria: Age-eligible wrestlers that performed well at the Olympic Trials, the highest placing age-eligible Olympic Trial National Team member and U23 National Champion.
Sakamoto already has an impressive list of career accomplishments prior to her joining the Northern Michigan program, including: U20 Asian Championships Gold Medalist (2022), Japanese U23 National Champion, and World Team Representative (2024).
