AMMAN, JORDAN – London, Ontario resident Kaura Coles is Canada’s newest World Champion after claiming gold at the 2024 U17 World Championships in Amman, Jordan. Coles, who trains out of London-Western Wrestling Club, had a strong tournament culminating with a win over Nana Kozuka of Japan in the gold medal match.

The gold medal match was an entertaining one with Coles jumping out to the 2-0 lead. Kozuka moved ahead with a four-point score, but Coles answered with an exposure right before the break. In the second period, Coles scored a headlock takedown for four points. After a step out, Japan challenged the takedown but were unsuccessful and Coles led 9-5. Right out of the challenge break, Kozuka scored a two with a single leg, to cut the lead to 9-7. However, Coles soon scored another headlock takedown four-pointer and converted it into a pin to win the match, the gold medal and title of World Champion.

After the match, Coles summed up her feelings. “For many years I have focused on becoming a great coach for the little warriors around me,” she said in reference to her younger siblings and work with indigenous youth (Coles is Métis and wears a traditional sash when she is on the podium).

“Along the way, coach (Dave) Spinney and coach Madi (Parks) helped me become a World Champion. I truly believe that if you focus on helping others around you, you will summit mountain tops, and today is proof of that.”

Coles began the tournament with a 9-2 win by fall over Madkhiya Usmanova of Kazakhstan. She continued her momentum in the round of 16 with another win by fall (6-0) against Chloe Brewis of South Africa. The quarterfinal saw her take on Muskan Muskan of India and come away with a win by points 12-3. That advanced her to the semifinal where she bested Isabelle Gonzales of the USA 8-3 on points to advance to the final against Kozuka.

Women’s Results

On the women’s side, Surrey, British Columbia’s Iraabir Sooch finished ninth at 40kg and Surrey’s Khushi Jhalli was 13th at 69kg.

Men’s Results

Canada almost added a second medal at the competition in the men’s 92kg weight class. Abbotsford, British Columbia’s Michaeljeet Grewal had a tough draw in his round of 16 match with Rodion Sanakoev, representing Independent Neutral Athletes. Grewal dropped the match 12-2, but Sanakoev went onto the final, drawing Grewal back into the repechage. Grewal won his first repechage match against Asadbek Erkinjonov of Uzbekistan 6-5. He advanced to face Nikolaos Karavanos of Greece and bested him 6-2. That earned him a bronze medal match against Amir Ali Pour of Iran. Grewal fought well but ultimately came up short, losing 10-5, and finishing fifth overall.

Other men’s results included: Abbotsford’s Jagroop Dhinsa ninth at 110kg; Mississauga’s Ryan Dahcha 18^th at 60kg; Port Coquitlam, British Columbia’s Liam Gorton 20^th at 65kg; and Winnipeg’s Loki Bigras 22^nd at 71kg.

For complete tournament results visit the tournament site: https://uww.org/event/u17-world-championships/results