Adar and Gray Set to Clash in Klippan Finals

Saturday, February 17, 2018 - 11:05 By Eric Olanowski

Wrestlers from ten different nations will be represented in tomorrow’s Klippan Lady Open finals. Japan leads the way with six finalists, followed by Ukraine with three. The trio of Turkey, Russia, and the United States each have a pair of finalists.

Without question, 76kg is the toughest weight class of the tournament, hosting three previous world champions and two Olympic medalists.

In round-one, Yasemin ADAR (TUR), returning world champion faced off against 2016 Olympic champion, Eric WIEBE (CAN). Adar used the entire six minutes, picking up the go-ahead takedown with seconds left to win the match, 6-5.

She’ll wrestle three-time world champion, Adeline GRAY (USA) in the finals tomorrow afternoon. When asked about competing against Adar in tomorrow’s finals, Gray said “I’m excited to have another shot at her…I’m looking forward to getting back on top. She’s looking strong, but I’m excited to wrestle her again.”

At 50kg, Yui SUSAKI (JPN) will try to capture back-to-back Klippan titles, but she’ll have to slow down Mariya STADNIK (AZE), the two-time world and Olympic silver medalist who was the most dominant wrestler during the first day of action.

Through Stadnik’s first three matches, she’s outscored her opponents 32-0, including a 12-0 win over Alina Emilia VUC (ROM), the 2017 world silver medalist.

The 53kg finals will host a duo of Japanese women in Nanami IRIE (JPN), junior world champion and 2017 Asian cadet champion, Umi IMAI (JPN). On their way to the finals, these two have outscored their opponents 37-5.

Bediha GUN (TUR) stopped an all-Russian final at 55kg when she defeated Nina MENKENOVA (RUS), the U23 world bronze medalist in the semifinals, 3-3. Gun will wrestle Stalvira ORSHUSH (RUS), the 2018 Yarygin runner-up for the gold medal.

Wrestling for the title at 57kg will be 2017 junior world champion Sae NANJO (JPN) and 2016 world silver medalist and 2017 European champion, Tetyana KIT (UKR). These two have only surrendered a total of three points on their way to the finals.

When Grace BULLEN (NOR), the 2017 European champion was asked about what she’s looking for in the 59kg finals, she said: “I have a silver and bronze, now I want a gold medal.” For Bullen to capture the gold medal, she’ll have to defeat Asian Indoor Games bronze medalist, Akie HANAI (JPN).

Yulia TKACH’s (UKR) quest to win her first Klippan Lady Open title since 2015 will have to go through Dave Schultz Memorial champion, Kayla MIRACLE (USA). Miracle’s final appearance at 62kg improves on her 2014 fifth place performance.

Wrestling in the 65kg finals will be Petra OLLI (FIN), 2015 world silver medalist and last year’s Klippan Lady Open fifth-place finisher, Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN).

Olympians Alla CHERKASOVA (UKR) and Danielle LAPPAGE (CAN) will compete for the 68kg crown. The 68kg finalists outscored their opponents 34-5 on their way to the gold medal bout.

Sweden’s lone finalist, Jenny FRANSSON (SWE), the Olympic bronze medalist will wrestle Russian runner-up, Tatiana KOLESNIKOVA MOROZOVA (RUS) in the finals at 72kg.

RESULTS: http://uww.io/sozMD

50kg
GOLD - Mariya STADNIK (AZE) vs. Yui SUSAKI (JPN)

BRONZE - Winner 133 vs. Patricia alejandra BERMUDEZ (ARG)
BRONZE - Winner 129 vs. Amy ann FEARNSIDE (USA)

53kg
GOLD - Nanami IRIE (JPN) vs. Umi IMAI (JPN)

BRONZE - Winner 117 vs. Natalia MALYSHEVA (RUS)
BRONZE - Aysun ERGE (TUR) vs. Sarah ann HILDEBRANDT (USA)

55kg
GOLD - Bediha GUN (TUR) vs. Stalvira ORSHUSH (RUS)

BRONZE - Jacarra gwenisha WINCHESTER (USA) vs. Nina MENKENOVA (RUS)
BRONZE - Winner 143 vs. Sena NAGAMOTO (JPN)

57kg
GOLD - Sae NANJO (JPN) vs. Tetyana KIT (UKR)

BRONZE - Winner 131 vs. Laura MERTENS (GER)
BRONZE - Irina OLOGONOVA (RUS) vs. Simona PRICOB (ROU)

59kg
GOLD - Grace jacob BULLEN (NOR) vs. Akie HANAI (JPN)

BRONZE - Winner 144 vs. Elif jale YESILIRMAK (TUR)
BRONZE - Lauren nora LOUIVE (USA) vs. Kateryna ZHYDACHEVSKA (ROU)

62kg
GOLD - Yuliia TKACH OSTAPCHUK (UKR) vs. Kayla colleen kiyoko MIRACLE (USA)

BRONZE - Winner 132 vs. Olivia louise HENNINGSSON (SWE)
BRONZE - Winner 119 vs. Luisa helga gerda NIEMESCH (GER)

65kg
GOLD - Petra maarit OLLI (FIN) vs. Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN)

BRONZE - Winner 120 vs. Henna katarina JOHANSSON (SWE)
BRONZE - Winner 145 vs. Yulia PRONTSEVITCH (RUS)

68kg
GOLD - Danielle suzanne LAPPAGE (CAN) vs. Alla CHERKASOVA (UKR)

BRONZE - Winner 146 vs. Olivia grace DI BACCO (CAN)
BRONZE - Tamyra mariama MENSAH (USA) vs. Laura SKUJINA (LAT)

72kg
GOLD - Anna jenny eva maria FRANSSON (SWE) vs. Tatiana KOLESNIKOVA MOROZOVA (RUS

BRONZE - Alexandra nicoleta ANGHEL (ROU) vs. Victoria christine FRANCIS (USA)
BRONZE - Winner 121 vs. Burcu UGDULER ORSKAYA (TUR)

76kg
GOLD - Yasemin ADAR (TUR) vs. Adeline maria GRAY (USA)

BRONZE - Winner 147 vs. Epp MAE (EST)
BRONZE - Winner 135 vs. Francy RAEDELT (GER)

START OF KLIPPAN OPEN LIVE NOTEBOOK
12:10 PM - The first whistle for the senior-level competition is a little over an hour away.
12:15 PM: Three matches to pay attention to in round-one
Star-Studded Round-One Match-Ups
50kg - Two-time world silver medalist M. STADNIK (AZE) df. 2017 world silver medalist E. VUC (ROU), 10-0.

57kg - 2017 junior world champion S. NANJO df. 2016 world silver medalist I. OLOGONOVA (RUS), 6-0.

76kg - World champion Y. ADAR (TUR) df. 2016 Olympic Champion Erica WIEBE (CAN), 6-5

1:16 PM - 2017 world champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN) is up now on Mat A.
1:18 PM - Susaki picks up the 10-0 technical superiority victory early in the first period.

1:30 PM - U23 world runner-up Braxton STONE (CAN) is up 8-1 over B. GRAHAM (CAN) on Mat A. Stone picks up a four-point throw to take the 12-1 win.

1:34 PM Two-time Yarygin champion Tamyra MENSAH-STOCK (USA) is making her way to Mat A. Mensah-Stock takes the 4-0 lead after a right side swing single to a leg lace. Mensah-Stock finished with another takedown, giving her the 6-3 victory.

1:45 PM - Adar and Wiebe are up in two matches over on Mat C.

1:49 PM - T. SJOEBERG (SWE) picks up the first FIVE of the day over on Mat B.

1:56 PM - Adar and Wiebe are up now on Mat C.
Wiebe is pushing the pace of the match midway through the first period. Adar hit with passivity and is placed on the shot clock. Wiebe takes the 1-1 lead into the second period as Adar failed to score while she was on the shot clock. Adar goes for an arm spin and Wiebe counters, extending her lead to 3-1, but the call is under review. The call is reversed and the score remains 1-1 in favor of Wiebe. Adar picks up a takedown with one minute remaining to take the 3-1 lead. Wiebe scores four off a snatch single to a leg lace and takes the 5-3 lead with 12-seconds remaining. Adar steals the match with a last-second effort to take the 6-5 win!

2:47 PM - The last time S. NANJO (JPN) lost at an international competition was back in 2015! I. OLOGONOVA (RUS) will look to knock off the junior world champ in two matches on Mat A.

2:50 PM - World finalist Yulia TKACH (UKR) picks up a quick fall after being up 8-0 over on Mat C.

3:00 PM - E. VUC (ROM) and M. STADNIK (AZE) are making their way to Mat A. Stadnik is back! She uses two takedowns, and three gut wrenches to defeat Vuc, 10-0.

3:07 PM - Susaki is wrestling on Mat A! She is taking on A. VETOSHKINA (RUS).

3:18 PM - Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) leads U23 world runner-up Braxton STONE (CAN), 8-1 heading into the second period.

3:36 PM - Adeline GRAY (USA), the three-time world champion is coming up next on Mat A.

3:43 PM - The crowd erupts as Henna JOHANSSON (SWE) scores late in the second period to beat Mallory VELTE (USA), 1-1.

3:53 PM - Three-time world champion Adeline GRAY (USA) is wrestling on Mat A and 2017 world champion Y. Adar is wrestling on Mat B.

3:59 PM - Y. ADAR (TUR) picks up the fall and moves into the semifinals. She'll take on the winner of Francy RAEDELT (GER) v. Catalina AXENTE (ROU).

3:59 PM - Gray also picks up the fall and moves into the 76kg semifinals.

4:14 PM - Nanjo strikes first and heads into the second period with a 2-0 lead.She would pick up two additional takedowns, winning the match 6-0.

4:40 PM - The #Klippan2018 semifinals will start at 5:30 PM (local time).

4: 42 PM - Jenny FRANSSON (SWE), Olympic bronze medalist has made her way to Mat A! Fransson uses three takedowns to defeat Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU), 6-0.

5:03 PM - 50kg 1/4 finalists - Jessica MACDONALD (CAN) and Mariya STADNIK (AZE) are making their way to Mat B.
Stadnik takes the 9-0 lead into the second period. Stadnik picks up another takedown, giving her the 11-0 technical superiority victory.

5:12 PM - Coming up on Mat B, Victoria ANTHONY (USA) and Yui SUSAKI (JPN) in a 50kg quarterfinal bout.
No action from Susaki and she's put on the shot clock and immediately get to a right side high crotch to take the 2-0 lead. She heads into the second period 4-0. Susaki picked up three additional points in the second period, giving her the 7-0 victory.

5:20 PM - That does it for the quarterfinals! We'll take a quick 10-minute break and be back for the semifinals!

SEMIFINALS

50kg - Stadnik continues her dominance, picking up a technical superiority victory in the first period to seal her spot in tomorrows finals.

50kg - Susaki erased an early 2-0 deficit by scoring 12 unanswered points to make the 50kg finals.

53kg - Nanami IRIE (JPN) extends her lead over Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) to 6-0 after a takedown and two leg laces.

57kg - Junior world champion S. Nanjo will wrestle S. PRICOB (ROU) for a spot in tomorrows finals.

59kg SEMIFINAL - Grace BULLEN (NOR) leads Kateryna ZHYDACHEVSKA (ROU), 6-0 on Mat C.

59kg SEMIFINAL - Akie HANAI (JPN) df. Elif jale YESILIRMAK (TUR), 3-0.

#WrestleBelgrade

Photo Feature: Wrestling with emotions, luck and history

Tuesday, August 29, 2023 - 19:10 By Vinay Siwach

BELGRADE, Serbia (August 29) -- Come the Olympic qualifying World Championships and the world of wrestling sees surprises like no other. The 2023 World Championships in Belgrade will throw more such results in September but what happened four years ago at the 2019 World Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan?

In front of a packed Bayrs Arena, champions went down to youngsters, dreams were shattered, wrestlers high on emotions. While some dreams remained unfulfilled, many wrestlers managed to live theirs.

Here's a throwback to 10 memories captured in these photos from the 2019 edition, a championship that saw Kazakhstan finish fourth in Freestyle team rankings, Japan winning only three gold in Women's Wrestling and Riza KAYAALP (TUR) winning a gold medal at the pre-Olympic World Championships.

Letting it out: Haji ALIYEV (AZE). (Photo: UWW / Tony Rotundo)

It would have been a shame this was not the first photo from the 2019 World Championships. What happens when Haji ALIYEV (AZE), a three-time world champion and who has seen it all, suffers a loss after a thrilling bout in the opening round of a World Championships? Nothing good about that. Aliyev reacts towards the officials after his 4-2 loss to eventual champion Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV, before being escorted from the mat.

At the Tokyo Olympics, Aliyev would win a silver medal while Rashidov finished with a bronze after both were drawn on opposite side of the bracket.

Breakfree: J'den COX (USA). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

J'den COX (USA) had beaten Alireza KARIMI (IRI) 5-2 in 2018. A year later, the two would meet in the final at 92kg. Cox would blank Karimi 4-0. Soon after the hand raise, Cox would let out a loud scream, holding the pose for the photographers. It was symbolic of Cox's dominance at the weight class as he became a two-time world champion.

Askhat DILMUKHADMEDOV (KAZ) Hometown hero: Askhat Dilmukhamedov (KAZ), red. (Photo: UWW / Tony Rotundo)

It was clearly Askhat Dilmukhamedov's world. The Bayrs Arena's loudest cheer over the nine days when the Kazakh Greco-Roman wrestler upset two-time Olympic champion Roman VLASOV in the 1/8 finals 3-0. He followed that up with a 4-3 win over returning world champion Viktor NEMES (SRB) to reach the semifinals. He would fall to the eventual world champion Tamas LORINCZ (HUN) in the semifinals, thus eliminating both Vlasov and Nemes. Incidentally, both Vlasov and Nemes failed to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics in later tournaments.

End of a drought: Mariya STADNIK (AZE). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Mariya STADNIK (AZE) celebrates after pinning Yanan SUN (CHN) to reach the final at 50kg. 10 years after she won her first world title, Stadnik was a win away from her second. The then three-time Olympic medalist left Sun to fight for bronze, which she did not win. Stadnik's win did not just bring joy for her but for Yui SUSAKI (JPN) as well. Susaki got a second life, thanks to Stadnik. Susaki would go on to win the Olympic gold medal in Tokyo after beating Stadnik in semifinals and Sun in the final.

High Flying: Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN). (Photo: UWW / Tony Rotundo)

A photograph which aptly describes Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN). He is wrestling Cristian NICOLESCU (PLW) in his opening bout at 65kg. It seems Nicolescu has Muszukajev on the ropes with his attacks, forcing him to be airborne to defend. Come on! Wrestling fans knew Muszukajev but they got to really know him in 2019. Muszukajev would win the bout 14-4 not before letting Nicolescu score takedowns like he was chilling in a park. It was just the start of Muszukajev given jaw-dropping wrestling content.

The gold standard: Yong Mi PAK (PRK). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Yong Mi PAK (PRK) looks at her coach while Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) is in utter disbelief after Pak won the 53kg final via technical superiority. Pak became the first female world champion from DPR Korea. She won the best in Asia, winning two Asian Championships gold and the Asian Games gold in 2018. But to be a world champion made her the favorite for the gold in Tokyo. But soon a global pandemic would derail the world and DPR Korea would skip the Olympics in Tokyo. Mukaida went on to win the 53kg gold in Tokyo. Pak, perhaps, must have been similing if she watched the Olympics.

A win to remember: Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

A 30-year-old Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE) takes out Olympic champion Kyle SNYDER (USA) after a battle. In one of the biggest upsets of the World Championships, Sharifov beat Snyder 5-2 in the 97kg semifinals and celebrated like a relieved man. The 2012 Olympic champion used his experience to shutdown Snyder. He would go on to lose the final against Abdulrashid SADULAEV but the semifinal win denied fans in Astana the third part of the Snyder-Sadulaev rivalry which ultimately happened in Tokyo.

Breaking Barriers: Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) has broken many barriers related to Women's Wrestling in Kyrgyzstan. She was the first Olympian, first to reach a medal bout and in 2019, in front of a supportive crowd, Tynybekova became Kyrgyzstan's first-ever world champion in wrestling. Beating Taybe YUSEIN (BUL) in the dying seconds, Tynybekova completed a redemption of sorts as she suffered a heartbreaking loss in the bronze medal bout in Rio 2016. At the Tokyo Olympics, Tynybekova would lose the 62kg final to Yukako KAWAI (JPN), a wrestler the Kyrgyz star pinned in Astana.

Beginning of a Rivalry: Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM). (Photo: UWW / Tony Rotundo)

Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) has rarely been challenged on a wrestling mat. The Rio Olympic champion and then three-time world champion Aleksanyan was tested in the quarterfinals. Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) was unbeaten in international competition and was a U20 world champion in 2018. Aleksanyan was closer to legendary status in Greco-Roman. Yet, Saravi would put Aleksanyan on the brink and the latter would win only 4-3 against the 21-year-old Iranian. While Saravi is still looking for his first win over Aleksanyan, the two met in the semifinals of the Tokyo Olympics with Aleksanyan winning before finishing with a silver medal.

Continuing the Trend: Riza KAYAALP (TUR). (Photo: UWW / Tony Rotundo).

2011. 2015. 2019. The Greco-Roman world champion at 130kg in those three editions has been Riza KAYAALP (TUR). Yes, the pre-Olympic year World Championships gold belongs to the Turkish giant.

Adar and Gray Set to Clash in Klippan Finals

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Photo Feature: Wrestling with emotions, luck and history