LAS VEGAS, Nevada (September 10) – Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) and Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB) kicked off the freestyle competition at the Senior Wrestling World Championships with stunning triumphs by fall over last year’s gold medal finalists.

European Games silver medalist Chamizo ran over a takedown attempt by 2014 runner-up Saied Ahmad MOHAMMADI (IRI) in the 65kg semifinals at The Orleans Arena and locked up for the fall at 2:52.

In the other semifinal, unranked Navruzov stepped over an attempted takedown by defending champion Soslan RAMONOV (RUS) and pressed for the fall only 35 seconds into the bout.

Chamizo is ranked No.5 at 65kg by United World Wrestling, heading into Thursday evenings bouts, while Navruzov, a bronze medalist at last September’s Asian Games, has fallen out of the top 20 after an unremarkable spring and summer.

Also on the most ambitious day of the championships, defending champions Kaori ICHO (JPN) and Adeline GRAY (USA) advanced to the gold medal matches at 58kg and 75kg, respectively.

Icho, wrestling at 58kg, will seek her 10th world title going up against European under-23 champion Petra OLLI (FIN) while Gray takes on ZHOU Qian (CHN) at 75kg for a third.

In all, five sets of medals will be handed out Thursday evening at The Orleans Arena.

Meanwhile, in other events, 63kg defending champion Yulia TKACH (UKR) fell to Icho understudy Risako KAWAI (JPN) in a first-round bout, but bounced back for a chance at a bronze medal when Kawai advanced to the gold medal round.

In the final, former two-time junior world champion Kawai will face 2013 world silver medalist SORONZONBOLD Battsetseg (MGL) for her first senior world title, while Tkach tries to redeem herself in a bronze medal pairing with Pan American Games champion Braxton STONE (CAN).

Along with Icho and Kawai, Gray will be joined by Helen MAROULIS (USA) in the gold medal round and will meet last year’s silver medalist Irina OLOGONOVA (RUS) in the 55kg final.

Freestyle

65kg (47 entries)

Gold – Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOR (UZB) v No.5 Frank CHAMIZO (ITA)

Bronze – No.16 GANZORIG Mandakhnaran (MGL) v No.8 Soslan RAMONOV (RUS)

Bronze – No.3 Togrul ASGAROV (AZE) v No.1 Saeid Ahmad MOHAMMADI (IRI)

Semifinal – Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOR (UZB) df. No.8 Soslan RAMONOV (RUS) by Fall, 0:35 

Semifinal – No.5 Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) df. No.1 Saeid Ahmad MOHAMMADI (IRI) by Fall, 2:52

Women’s Wrestling

55kg (16 entries)

Gold – No.1 Helen MAROULIS (USA) v No.4 Irina OLOGONOVA (RUS)

Bronze – No.3 Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL) v No.15@53 PANG Qianyu (CHN)

Bronze – No.9 Tatyana KIT (UKR) v No.8 Katsiaryna HANCHAR-YANUSHKEVICH (BLR)

Semifinal – No.1 Helen MAROULIS (USA) df. No.15@53 PANG Qianyu (CHN), 5-0 

Semifinal – No.4 Irina OLOGONOVA (RUS) df. No.8 Katsiaryna HANCHAR-YANUSHKEVICH (BLR), 7-0

58kg (31 entries)

Gold – No.1 Kaori ICHO (JPN) – No.5@60 Petra OLLI (FIN)

Bronze – No.1@60 Taybe YUSEIN (BUL) v No.5@63 Jackeline RENTERIA CASTILLO (COL)

Bronze – No.8@60 Johanna MATTSSON (SWE) v No.7@60 Yulia RATKEVICH (AZE)

Semifinal – No.1 Kaori ICHO (JPN) df. No.5@63 Jackeline RENTERIA CASTILLO (COL) by Fall, 2:27

Semifinal – No.5@60 Petra OLLI (FIN) df. No.7@60 Yulia RATKEVICH (AZE), 8-6

63kg (26 entries)

Gold – No.2@58 Risako KAWAI (JPN) v No.8 SORONZONBOLD Battsetseg (MGL)

Bronze – No.2 Yulia TKACH (UKR) v No.10 Braxton STONE (CAN)

Bronze – No.4 Anastasija GRIGORIJEVA (LAT) v No.1@60 Taybe YUSEIN (BUL)

Semifinal – No.2@58 Risako KAWAI (JPN) df. No.10 Braxton STONE (CAN) by Fall, 0:45

Semifinal – No.8 SORONZONBOLD Battsetseg (MGL) df. No.1@60 Taybe YUSEIN (BUL) by TF, 11-1, 2:11

75kg (24 entries)

Gold – No.7 ZHOU Qian (CHN) v No.1 Adeline GRAY (USA) 

Bronze – No.9 Epp MAE (EST) v No.19 Andrea OLAYA GUTIERREZ (COL)

Bronze – No.4 Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR) v No.8 Aline FERREIRA (BRA)

Semifinal – No.7 ZHOU Qian (CHN) df. No.19 Andrea OLAYA GUTIERREZ (COL), 4-2

Semifinal – No.1 Adeline GRAY (USA) df. No.8 Aline FERREIRA (BRA), 10-2