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Bullen Gets Revenge to Win U23 World Championship

Thursday, November 15, 2018 - 21:20 By Taylor Miller

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BUCHAREST, Romania – Grace BULLEN (NOR) stunned 2018 Senior World champion Ningning RONG (CHN) in the final seconds of the 59 kg gold match of the 2018 U23 World Championships in Bucharest, Romania.

“I’m so thrilled. The last two days have been really amazing with how I’ve technically done in the matches and not only using my physical strength all the time,” Bullen said. “[Beating Rong] means more than winning gold. If I had faced her earlier in the bracket and won that way, I think it would feel as amazing as it does right now.”

Two weeks ago, Bullen and Rong met up in the 57 kg semifinals of the Senior World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, with Rong taking a 12-2 win. This time, Bullen came out on top.

Down 2-1 with 12 seconds left, Rong had Bullen’s leg in the air and the Norweigan whipped her opponent to her back for four points to steal the match, 5-2, and bring the crowd to its feet in the exciting finish.

In addition to her World crown, Bullen now owns a 2014 Cadet World gold, 2014 Youth Olympic Games gold and a 2017 Junior World bronze.

Making history for her country was Yudari SANCHEZ RODRIGUEZ (CUB), who became the first World champion in women’s freestyle in any age group for Cuba.

Sanchez, a 2017 Junior World silver medalist and 2017 U23 World bronze medalist, won the crown at 68 kg, taking out Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN). Morikawa is a 2018 Junior World bronze medalist and 2016 Cadet World silver winner.

The Cuban shut down Morikawa’s offense and produced a 6-2 decision for the gold medal.

Japan won a pair of World titles on Thursday night.

At 50 kg, Miho IGARASHI (JPN) won her second-consecutive U23 World title, rolling past 2011 Cadet World champion Nadezhda SOKOLOVA (RUS) with a 10-0 win.

Miho adds another gold medal to her already impressive resume. She is now a two-time U23 World champion, two-time Junior World champion and 2014 Cadet World champion.

Sokolova earned her fifth World medal, finishing with silver.

Following in her sister’s footsteps, Saki IGARASHI (JPN) won Japan’s second gold medal of the night, defeating 2018 China Open bronze winner Junling OUYANG (CHN) in the 55 kg finals with an 11-1 technical fall.

The win is Saki’s second World championship of the year as she won the Junior World title in Trnava, Slovakia, in September. Saki is also a 2015 Cadet World silver medalist.

Earlier in the night, Japan pushed four other wrestlers into tomorrow’s finals.

Closing out the night was a dominant performance from Paliha PALIHA (CHN), who shut out Aysegul OZBEGE (TUR) with an 11-0 technical fall for the U23 World title at 76 kg.

Finals results

50 kg
GOLD – Miho IGARASHI (JPN) df. Nadezhda SOKOLOVA (RUS), 10-0
BRONZE – Namuuntsetseg TSOGT OCHIR (MGL) df. Turkan NASIROVA (AZE), 10-0
BRONZE – Stefania Claudia PRICEPUTU (ROU) df. Lisa ERSEL (GER), 2-1

55 kg
GOLD – Saki IGARASHI (JPN) df. Junling OUYANG (CHN), 11-1
BRONZE – Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ) df. Marina SIMONYAN (RUS), fall
BRONZE – Elena BRUGGER (GER) df. Dominique PARRISH (USA), 14-3

59 kg
GOLD – Grace BULLEN (NOR) df. Ningning RONG (CHN), 5-2
BRONZE – Yuzuru KUMANO (JPN) df. Katarzyna MADROWSKA (POL), fall
BRONZE – Olena KREMZER (UKR) df. Alejandra ROMERO BONILLA (MEX), 7-2

68 kg
GOLD – Yudari SANCHEZ RODRIGUEZ (CUB) df. Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN), 6-2
BRONZE – Alexandria GLAUDE (USA) df. Khishigmaa MUNKHBAT (MGL), 7-5
BRONZE – Khanum VELIEVA (RUS) df. Chuying TANG (CHN), 2-0

76 kg
GOLD – Paliha PALIHA (CHN) df. Aysegul OZBEGE (TUR), 11-0
BRONZE – Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA (KAZ) df. Catalina AXENTE (ROU), 9-0
BRONZE – Korinahe Jacquia BULLOCK (USA) df. Gracelynn DOOGAN (CAN), 4-1

Semifinal results

53 kg
Momoka KADOYA (JPN) df. Andreea Beatrice ANA (ROU), fall
Milana DADASHEVA (RUS) df. Khrystyna BEREZA (UKR), fall

57 kg
Alexandria Rebekkah TOWN (CAN) df. Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL), 15-3
Akie HANAI (JPN) df. Qi ZHANG (CHN), 6-2

62 kg
Yukako KAWAI (JPN) df. Kriszta Tunde INCZE (ROU), 11-0
Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) df. Luisa NIEMESCH (GER), 11-0

65 kg
Elis MANOLOVA (AZE) df. Moa Lena Maria NYGREN (SWE), 8-4
Ayana GEMPEI (JPN) df. Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR), 13-0

72 kg
Alexandra Nicoleta ANGHEL (ROU) df. Xiaoqian WANG (CHN), 5-3
Buse TOSUN (TUR) df. Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), fall

Team standings
1. Japan – 91
2. China – 75
3. Russia – 57
4. USA – 48
5. Kazakhstan – 36

Development

United World Wrestling's Commitment: Empowering Athletes and Coaches for the Paris Olympics

Monday, July 22, 2024 - 19:17 By United World Wrestling Press

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CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (July 22) -- In a remarkable demonstration of dedication and support for athletes, United World Wrestling (UWW) has played an important role in helping athletes qualify for the upcoming Paris Olympic Games. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of Olympic Solidarity, National Olympic Committees (NOCs), and UWW Development, a total of 213 athletes and coaches benefited from the UWW Technical Assistance for the continental qualifiers and participated in acclimatization camps ahead of the continental qualifiers for the Paris Olympics.

In total, over 200,000 CHF has been invested globally in helping athletes qualify for the Games via continental qualifiers. This substantial financial commitment underscores UWW's unwavering dedication to nurturing wrestling talent and fostering elite-level development of the sport worldwide.

Athletes Qualified for the Paris Olympic Games
The result of this concerted effort has been outstanding, with 9 athletes under UWW financial support from 4 different nations successfully qualifying for the Paris Olympic Games.

The following athletes have secured their spots at the Paris Olympic Games via the continental qualifiers:

  • Chaimaa Fouzia Aouissi (ALG)
  • Bacar Ndum (GBS)
  • Diamantino Iuna Fafe (GBS)
  • Oussama Assad (MAR)
  • Gaku Akazawa (SAM)
  • Tayla Tuahine Ford (NZL)
  • Genesis Rosangela Reasco Valdez (ECU)
  • Darian Toi Ruz (PUR)
  • Ethan Adrian Ramos (PUR)

In addition, last year, through UWW Technical Assistance provided during the Senior World Championships (1st phase of the Paris OG qualifier), 3 athletes secured their qualification for the Paris Olympic Games. These athletes are:

  • Sebastian C Rivera (PUR)
  • Otgonjargal Dolgorjav (MGL)
  • Tatiana Renteria Renteria (COL)

In total 12 athletes benefited from the UWW financial support qualified spots for the Paris Olympic Games.

Refugee Athletes
With the support of Olympic Solidarity, the following refugee athletes have also qualified and will be part of the Refugee Olympic Team:

  • Iman MAHDAVI
  • Jamal VALIZADEH

Empowering Female Coaches at Elite Level
In addition to the athletes, the Olympic Solidarity and UWW Women in Sport High-Performance (WISH) program has made a significant advancement for gender equality in wrestling.

Three WISH program coaches attended the continental Olympic qualifiers:

  • Marwa Amri (TUN)
  • Carissa Holland (AUS)
  • Happiness Enugu Burutu (NGR)

This initiative marks a significant step forward for the sport of wrestling, contributing to the expansion of elite female coaches participating in high-level international competitions.

Safeguarding Athletes at Olympic Qualifiers
In alignment with IOC recommendations, United World Wrestling (UWW) has taken proactive measures to safeguard athletes participating in championships and Olympic Qualifiers. Dedicated staff members have been stationed at these events to provide vigilant oversight and ensure athletes' safety, protecting them from any form of harassment or abuse.

UWW's steadfast commitment to athlete welfare extends beyond competition success, prioritizing their well-being and creating a secure environment conducive to athletic excellence. By implementing these measures, UWW upholds the principles of fairness, respect, and integrity, fostering a culture where athletes can thrive and pursue their Olympic aspirations, reinforcing the organization's role as a guardian of athlete rights and dignity on the global stage.

United World Wrestling's comprehensive support system, encompassing financial aid, technical assistance, and development programs, has been crucial in helping athletes and coaches achieve their dreams of qualifying for the Paris Olympic Games. This initiative not only highlights the global reach and impact of UWW but also underscores its commitment to fostering talent and promoting gender equality and inclusion in the sport of wrestling. As the countdown to the Paris Olympic Games continues, the success stories of these athletes and coaches will undoubtedly inspire future generations of wrestlers worldwide.