#WrestleBelgrade

Adar Pins Olympic Champ Wiebe, Moldova Advances 3 to Finals

By Andrew Hipps

Link:
Semifinal Highlights

BELGRADE, Serbia (December 15) -- World champion Yasemin ADAR (TUR) punched her ticket to the 76kg final of the Individual World Cup with a fall over Olympic champion Erica Elizabeth WIEBE (CAN).

Adar, a two-time world finalist and four-time European champion, trailed 1-0 after the opening period of her semifinal against Wiebe. Early in the second period, Wiebe fired off a shot and Adar scored an exposure before pinning the Canadian star's shoulders on the mat to earn the fall. 

The 29-year-old Adar was one of four wrestlers from Turkey competing in Tuesday's semifinals, but the lone Turkish wrestler to reach the finals. She will face Aline ROTTER FOCKEN (GER), who advanced with a 6-4 semifinal win over Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ). Focken led 4-1 after one period. Medet Kyzy battled back in the second period and made the score 4-4 late while still trailing on criteria. Focken responded with a takedown to seal the victory. 

Moldova had a strong semifinal round, going 3-for-3, with finalists coming in the first three weight categories contested Tuesday. All three of Moldova's semifinal victories came over Turkey. Advancing to the finals for Moldova were Anastasia NICHITA (57kg), Mariana CHERDIVARA ESANU (59kg) and Irina RINGACI (65kg).

Anastasia NICHITA (57kg) was one of three semifinal winners for Moldova (Photo: Gabor MARTIN, UWW)

Nichita, a 2020 European champion, found herself in an early 4-0 hole after getting thrown to her back by Mehlika OZTURK (TUR). But Nichita battled back, scoring seven unanswered points to lead 7-4 at the break. Ozturk cut the deficit to 7-5 in the second period before Nichita picked up four straight takedowns on her way to a 15-5 technical superiority. She will face ANSHU (IND), who earned her spot in the 57kg finals with a fall over Veronika CHUMIKOVA (RUS).

Cherdivara Esanu reached the 59kg final by shutting out Elif YANIK (TUR), 4-0. Cherdivara scored a takedown in each of the two periods, with the final one coming with six seconds remaining in the match. 

Svetlana LIPATOVA (RUS) reached the 59kg final (Photo: Gabor MARTIN, UWW)

Russia's lone semifinal winner Tuesday was Svetlana LIPATOVA (RUS) at 59kg. She trailed for most of her semifinal match against Elif YANIK (TUR). Down 2-0 after giving up both points off passivity, Lipatova fired off a shot with just under a minute remaining and scored a takedown to take the criteria lead and eventually earn the victory. 

Moldova's third semifinal winner was Irina RINGACI (65kg). Facing Asli DEMIR (TUR) in the 65kg semifinal, Ringaci fell behind 4-2 before throwing the Turkish wrestler to her back and nearly securing a fall as the first period came to a close. She carried that momentum into the second period, outscoring Demir 10-0 in the second period to earn the 14-4 technical superiority.

Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR) cruised to a 13-8 win at 65kg (Photo: Gabor MARTIN, UWW)

Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR) topped European champion Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL) 13-8 in a semifinal match at 65kg. Rizhko broke open the match early in the second period after a scoring with a four-point move to go up by six after an unsuccessful challenge by Bulgaria. Rizhko built her lead to nine before Hristova picked up two late takedowns to make the score respectable. 

At 68kg, 21-year-old Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ), a 2019 junior world silver medalist, edged 2013 world champion Alina BEREZHNA STADNIK MAKHYNIA (UKR) 7-6 to reach the championship match. Berezhna made it interesting late, scoring a two-point exposure with 30 seconds left to make the score 6-6, but Zhumanazarova held on for the narrow victory. 

Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) reached the 68kg final by earning a fall over Khanum VELIEVA (RUS). Velieva started fast, scoring a four-point takedown early to go up 4-0. The score remained that way until the second period when Hanzlickova took a shot and exposed Velieva before earning the fall.

Women's Wrestling Semifinal Results

57kg
Anshu ANSHU (IND) df. Veronika CHUMIKOVA (RUS) by VFA, 7-4
Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) df. Mehlika OZTURK (TUR) by VSU1, 15-5

59kg
Mariana CHERDIVARA ESANU (MDA) df. Elif YANIK (TUR) by VPO, 4-0
Svetlana LIPATOVA (RUS) df. Sandra PARUSZEWSKI (GER) by VPO1, 2-2

65kg
Irina RINGACI (MDA) df. Asli DEMIR (TUR) by VSU1, 14-4
Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR) df. Mimi Nikolova HRISTOVA (BUL) by VPO1, 13-8

68kg
Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) df. Khanum VELIEVA (RUS) by VFA, 2-4
Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) df. Alina BEREZHNA STADNIK MAKHYNIA (UKR) by VPO1, 6-6

76kg
Aline ROTTER FOCKEN (GER) df. Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) by VPO1, 6-4
Yasemin ADAR (TUR) df. Erica Elizabeth WIEBE (CAN) by VFA, 2-1
 

#WrestleBelgrade

2023 World Championships FS 65kg, 97kg; WW 55kg, 59kg semis set

By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

BELGRADE, Serbia (September 18) -- The third day of the World Championships and women's wrestling is being introduced. The final two Freestyle weights, 65kg and 97kg, will be in action along with WW 55kg and 59kg in action. Remember that Olympic weight classes offer 5 Paris Olympic quotas, four to the medal winners and one to the winner of the playoff which has the bronze-losing wrestlers.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

15:24: What a finish to the morning session! After Kyle SNYDER (USA) was unceremoniously ousted by Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) in the 97kg quarterfinals, Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) was on the verge of slaying the other half of the Snyderlaev beast when Abdulrashid SADULAEV (AIN) pulled off a miracle victory in the final seconds. Asian champion Tazhudinov scored two 4-point moves off counter lifts, the second giving him an 11-0 victory over Snyder at 2:52. Meanwhile, Goleij had gone ahead of Sadulaev 4-2 with a lift-and-dump takedown, only for the five-time world champion to gain a reverse headlock and put Goleij onto his back for a fall with just seconds remaining.

15:10: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) appears to be cruising into the 65kg semifinals with a seven-point lead in the second period when Nicholas LEE (USA) comes to life and pancakes him to his back. But it is too little, too late as the Iranian fights out of it and holds on for a 7-4 victory.

15:00: Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) has taken out another hammer. He scored two takedowns in his 5-4 win over Shamil MAMMEDOV (AIN). On Mat D, Sebastian RIVERIA (PUR) rolls to a 15-4 win over Maxim SACULTAN (MDA) to reach the semifinals against Vagzen TEVANYAN (ARM)

14:43: A takedown in each period and veteran Yullia TKACH (UKR) is into the 59kg semifinals with a 5-0 victory over Othelie HOEIE. Tkach is pursuing her fifth world medal and first since 2018. She's nine years removed from her lone title won in 2014.

14:18: Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) earns a shot at Sadulaev in the quarterfinals, overwhelming Takashi ISHIGURO (JPN) 11-1.

14:15: Abdulrashid SADULAEV (AIN) gives up a late takedown to Vladislav BAITCAEV (HUN) but the Olympic champ wins 4-2 at 97kg and sets up a bout with Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI)

14:12: One thing is for sure, Kyle SNYDER (USA) doesn't like to waste time. He scores a stepout four seconds into his match against Radu LEFTER (MDA) and then it's off to the races. A run of takedowns and he's a 12-1 winner with 30 seconds to spare in the first period. Lefter got his point with a stepout, but the fact that he got Snyder's leg in the air and only came out with 1 point shows the tenacity of the American.

14:00: Iszmail MUSZUKAJAEV (HUN) pins Olympic champion Takuto OTOGURO (JPN)! A bodylock controlled by Muszukajaev and Otoguro, who isn't aware of the fall, is in disbelief.

13:54: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) remains on track to defend his 65kg title with a silky smooth 12-0 rout of Stefan COMAN (ROU) to advance to the quarterfinals. He starts with three stepouts, then gets a takedown with a barrel roll. Another stepout, another takedown, then he stops a counter lift for 4 and the bout is over with seven seconds to go in the first period.

13:39: Haruna OKUNO (JPN) takes the mat at 55kg with tape wrapped around her face after suffering a gash on her nose in her previous match. She shows obvious discomfort, especially when Otgontuya CHINBOLD delivers a forearm to the face. Okuno gets only an activity point in the first period, but turns it on in the second, scoring a takedown-gut wrench combination and two more takedowns for a 9-2 win and a place in the quarterfinals. 

13:23: 2014 world champion Yuliia TKACH (UKR) comes back from 4-0 down to pin Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (AIN) at 59kg. The arm bar to use. In the same weight class, Qi ZHANG (CHN) 12-0 over Tamara DOLLAK (HUN)

13:19: Iran is dealt a setback in the freestyle team race as Yones EMAMI (IRI), a bronze medalist a year ago, falls to former world champion Hetik CABOLOV (SRB) in the repechage at 74kg. That not only means one less medal for Iran, but it will also miss out on the Paris Olympic berth in the weight class -- although that will likely be acquired at the Asian qualifying tournament.

13:10: Sae NANJO (JPN), chasing her first senior world title, gets her first bout against Jowita WRZESIEN (POL) underway with a takedown to lead 2-0 at the break. He adds another takedown in the second period to win 4-0

12:26: Haji ALIYEV (AZE), back on the mat with little turnaround time after a tough win over Shaohua YUAN (CHN), breaks open a close match with Georgii OKOROKOVV (AUS) to stay alive at 65kg. Aliyez leads 2-2 by criteria, but scores a takedown and gut wrench, then another takedown in the final two minutes for an 8-2 win. 

12:10: Defending champion Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) warms up for the journey ahead at 65kg with a carefree 10-0 win over Yanisse MADI (COM). Amouzad expends little effort in scoring a takedown and lace lock, then reeling off three takedowns to end it at 2:46.

11:57: Otoguro has no problem putting away Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR). He scores a takedown and a pair of gut wrenches to go up 6-0. Another takedown, another gut wrench, and it's all over at 10-0 with 12 seconds left in the first period. Next up for Otoguro could be Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN), who he beat in the quarterfinals at the Tokyo Olympics to avenge a loss in the bronze-medal match at the 2019 worlds.

11:45: Three-time world champion and Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Haji ALIYEV (AZE) had to take an extended medical break as he wrestles Shaohua YUAN (CHN). Aliyev leads 3-2 at the break as he answered Yuan's takedown with an underhook throw of his own. Another takedown for Aliyev to start the second period and he calls bleeding time instantly. Yuan tried challenging but Aliyev with a 10-4 win

11:32: Olympic champion Takuto OTOGURO (JPN), wrestling in his first international match since his triumph in Tokyo, meets some resistance from Islam DUDAEV (ALB) in his opener at 65kg, but scores three takedowns in the second period to secure a 9-2 win.

11:12: Two-time former world champion Haruna OKUNO (JPN), back at women's 55kg because of Japan's depth at 53kg, gets a 4-pointer off a late scramble to clinch an 8-2 victory over world U20 champion Aryna MARTYNAVA (AIN). Okuno, who won her third world U23 gold last year, is making her first senior world appearance since 2018.

11:00: Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL) hit a monster five-pointer on Krystsina SAZYKINA (POL) and secured the fall to start the day at 59kg.

10:30: Another day and we got two more Olympic weight classes going on the mat. Perhaps the deepest weight class in wrestling, 65kg, and 97kg will be on today in Freestyle. Women's Wrestling will see non-Olympic weight classes 55kg and 59kg