#WrestleTallinn

Arujau Ascends to World Finals, Upsets Reigning World Champ Idrisov

By Eric Olanowski

TALLINN, Estonia (August 12) – Vitali ARUJAU (USA) ascended to Tuesday night’s junior world finals after upsetting returning world champion Akhmed IDRISOV (RUS), 8-1 in their 57kg semifinals bout. 

Arujau, a 2016 cadet world runner-up, scored two takedowns and a pair of two-point exposures en route to the unexpected seven-point victory over the Russian wrestler who was one of three returning freestyle world champions looking to win back-to-back titles.

In the opening period, Arujau snatched a high-single leg, and with his opponent hobbling on one foot, the American thunderously swept out the leg of Idrisov and gained the 2-0 advantage. Arujau conceded a step out and slid into the second period with the 2-1 lead. 

In the closing period, Arujau transitioned from a double to a single leg and instead of finishing the move on his feet, the American exposed his Idrisov’s back and extended his lead to 4-1. 

Down by three points, Arujau’s opponent picked up his offensive urgency and shot a double but couldn’t penetrate the defense of the American. With his opponent caught undeath, Arujau capitalized on the Russian wrestler’s mistake and exposed his back for the second time in the period and widened his advantage to 6-1. 

Even with the five-point lead and short time remaining, Arujau remained in attack mode and tacked on another takedown. He ultimately picked up the upset win over the reigning world champion, 8-1 and reached the world finals for the first time since falling in the 2016 cadet world finals. 

Arujau will wrestle Toshiya ABE (JPN) on Tuesday night in the 57kg finals. Abe scored a takedown and three leg laces to build an early 8-0 lead over Vrezh GEVORGYAN (ARM). Though he wasn’t able to close the match out early, the three-time world team representative picked up the 10-3 victory and cemented his first podium finish at a World Championships. 

The finals on Tuesday night begin at 18:00 (local time) and can be watched live on www.unitedworldwresting.org.

RESULTS 
57kg 
GOLD - Vitali ARUJAU (USA) vs. Toshiya ABE (JPN) 
SEMIFINAL - Toshiya ABE (JPN) df. Vrezh GEVORGYAN (ARM), 10-3
SEMIFINAL - Vitali ARUJAU (USA) df. Akhmed IDRISOV (RUS), 8-1 

65kg
GOLD - Amirhossein MAGHSOUDI (IRI) vs. Kurban SHIRAEV (RUS)
SEMIFINAL – Amirhossein MAGHSOUDI (IRI) df. Ahmet Salim YIGIT (TUR), 7-0
SEMIFINAL – Kurban SHIRAEV (RUS) df. Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ), 5-2 

70kg
GOLD - Vasile DIACON (MDA) vs. Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR)
SEMIFINAL – Vasile DIACON (MDA) df. Mohmmadsadegh FIROUZPOURBANDPEI (IRI), 5-5 
SEMIFINAL – Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR) df. Omer Faruk CAYIR (TUR), 2-1 

79kg
GOLD - Bagrati GAGNIDZE (GEO) vs. Amkhad TASHUKHADZHIEV (RUS)
SEMIFINAL – Amkhad TASHUKHADZHIEV (RUS) df. Arman AVAGYAN (ARM), 3-2
SEMIFINAL – Bagrati GAGNIDZE (GEO) df. Milan MESTER (HUN), 2-1 

97kg
GOLD - Yonger BASTIDA POMARES (CUB) vs. Abbas Ali FOROUTANRAMI (IRI)
SEMIFINAL – Yonger Pauli BASTIDA POMARES (CUB) df. Makhsud VEYSALOV (UZB), 4-3 
SEMIFINAL –  Abbas Ali FOROUTANRAMI (IRI) df. Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR), 4-2 

#WrestleBucharest

European Championships WW 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 65kg, 72kg semis set

By United World Wrestling Press

BUCHAREST, Romania (February 15) -- The fourth day of the European Championships will be all about women's wrestling as five weight classes will be in action -- 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 65kg and 72kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 3 REPORT

Semifinals for the evening session

53kg
Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (AIN) vs. Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE)
Sztalvira ORSUS (HUN) vs. Jonna MALMGREN (SWE)

57kg
Anhelina LYSAK (POL) vs. Iryna KURACHKINA (AIN)
Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) vs. Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL)

62kg
Grace BULLEN (NOR) vs. Veranika IVANOVA (AIN)
Luisa NIEMESCH (GER) vs. Johanna LINDBORG (SWE)

65kg
Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU) vs. Irina RINGACI (MDA)
Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) vs. Elis MANOLOVA (AZE)

72kg
Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) vs. Nesrin BAS (TUR)
Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) vs. Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR)

12:50: Never a disappointing moment when these two wrestle! Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) gets Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) in the quarterfinals at 53kg. Yetgil takes a 4-2 lead but Malmgren thunders back and pins Yetgil.

12:35: Irina RINGACI (MDA) had only one match in the morning session and she won 10-0 against Dinara KUDAEVA (AIN). Ringaci is looking to make amends as she won a silver medal last year.

12:20: Johanna LINDBORG (SWE) scores late in the match to beat Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) 3-2 and advance to the semifinals at 62kg. What a huge win for Lindborg. She will take on Luisa NIEMESCH (GER)

12:10: Iryna KURACHKINA (AIN) with a fall over Russo. She had built an 8-0 lead before hitting a four and getting a fall. She will now take on Anhelina LYSAK (POL) at 57kg.

11:50: Grace BULLEN (NOR) led 4-0 at the break and then made it 14-5 before getting the fall over Birgul SOLTANOVA (AZE). Bullen is a returning silver medalist after suffering a heartbreaking loss in the 62kg final last year

11:40: Anhelina LYSAK (POL) with a 26-second fall over Irina OLOGONOVA (AIN). Lysak is one of the favorites to win the 57kg gold medal. She will face the winner of Aurora RUSSO (ITA) and Iryna KURACHKINA (AIN)

11:35: Defending champion Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) with a fall at 53kg, dashing the hopes of local Elena IONESCU (ROU). Malmgren is looking to win his third straight European title.

11:25: Sztalvira ORSUS (HUN) was trailing Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR) in their 53kg bout but she makes a comeback to beat Malanchuk 9-5.

11:20: What a match on Mat C! Olesia BEZUGLOVA (AIN) was leading 8-7 after she had scored a four-pointer on Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL). But the Polish wrestler hits a double-leg and lifts Bezuglova and gets two points with three seconds left. Choluj wins 9-8

11:15: The mat B has seen quick results! World and Olympic bronze medalist Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) with a 47-second fall against Elma ZEIDLERE (LAT). Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU), formerly wrestling for Ukraine, beats Taybe YUSEIN (BUL) 10-0

11:05: Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) takes out Erika BOGNAR (HUN) in the opening match at 57kg. Aliyeva is a returning silver medalist and looking to earn her first gold.

10:50: U20 world champion Aurora RUSSO (ITA) took her time but beat Anna MICHALCOVA (CZE) 5-1 and advanced at 57kg. She will face Tokyo silver medalist Iryna KURACHKINA (AIN) in the 1/8 finals.

10:30: Welcome to day four of the European Championships. Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) and Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) will be looking to defend their titles at 53kg and 72kg. Zhala ALIYEV (AZE), Irina RINGACI (MDA), Grace BULLEN (NOR), Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) are wrestling as well.