#BudaWrestle2018

Gray Defeats Wiebe, Canada Advances 2 to Finals

By Andrew Hipps

BUDAPEST, Hungary (October 23) -- Three-time world champion Adeline GRAY (USA) is back in the finals of the World Championships for the first time in three years.

The 27-year-old American advanced to the gold-medal match at 76kg by defeating Olympic champion Erica WIEBE (CAN) 3-1 in the semifinals of the World Championships on Tuesday in Budapest, Hungary. 

After giving up a shot clock point to go down 1-0, Gray shot a double leg late in the first period to score a takedown and grab a 2-1 lead at the break. She would add a point off the shot clock in the second period and hold off Wiebe for the victory.

Gray will meet reigning world champion Yasemin ADAR (TUR) on Wednesday in the gold-medal match.

Adar was dominant in her semifinal match, beating Zsanett NEMETH (HUN) 9-1. 

Canada went 2-for-3 in the semifinals, advancing Danielle LAPPAGE and Justina DI STASIO to the finals. 

LAPPAGE (CAN), a past junior world champion, rolled to a dominant 11-0 victory over Iryna NETREBA (AZE) in the semifinals at 65kg. In the first period she scored off the shot clock and with a takedown to grab a 3-0 lead at the break. She then used a takedown and lace to go up 9-0 and ended the match a short time later. 

Her finals opponent will be top-seeded Petra OLLI (FIN), a 2015 world silver medalist. Olli came from behind, scoring a takedown with three seconds remaining to defeat Ayana GEMPEI (JPN) 6-6 on criteria. 

Olli jumped out to a 4-0 lead early in the match after scoring with a throw. Gempei mounted a comeback in the second period, scoring two step outs and a takedown to take a criteria lead. She then built her lead with another step out, which was challenged unsuccessfully. Trailing 6-4 late in the match, Olli took a shot and scored a takedown in the closing seconds to earn the victory.

Di Stasio shut out Samar HAMZA (EGY) 6-0 in the semifinals. She led 2-0 at the break after scoring off the shot clock and with a step out and added two takedowns in the final period. Her finals opponent will be Nasanburmaa OCHIRBAT (MGL), who advanced to the final after earning a fall over Juan WANG (CHN). The Mongolian led 2-0 at the break. Late in the match she used a counterattack to score a takedown and put Wang to her back for the fall.  

Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) will wrestle for her first senior world gold medal after edging Tamyra MENSAH (USA) 2-1 in the semifinals at 68kg. All the points scored in the match came from the shot clock. Larroque scored first off the shot clock and took a 1-0 lead into the break. Mensah took the lead in the second period off the shot. With just over 20 seconds remaining, Larroque scored the go-ahead point off the shot clock and held on for the victory. 

Larroque has won world gold medals at the U23, junior and cadet championships.

Larroque will wrestle for the gold medal against Alla CHERKASOVA (UKR), who defeated Feng ZHOU (CHN) 12-8 in a back-and-forth semifinal battle. 

Semifinal Results

Women's Wrestling

65kg
Petra Maarit OLLI (FIN) df. Ayana GEMPEI (JPN) by VPO1, 6-6
Danielle LAPPAGE (CAN) df. Iryna NETREBA (AZE) by VSU, 11-0

68kg
Alla CHERKASOVA (UKR) df. Feng ZHOU (CHN) by VPO1, 12-8
Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) df. Tamyra MENSAH (USA) by VPO1, 2-1

72kg
Justina DI STASIO (CAN) df. Samar HAMZA (EGY) by VPO, 6-0
Nasanburmaa OCHIRBAT (MGL) df. Juan WANG (CHN) by VFA, 6-0

76kg
Yasemin ADAR (TUR) df. Zsanett NEMETH (HUN) by VPO1, 9-1
Adeline GRAY (USA) df. Erica WIEBE (CAN) by VPO1, 3-1

United World Wrestling Statement on Iranian Wrestlers

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (February 27) -- United World Wrestling recognizes that global conflicts and political tensions deeply impact sport, and wrestling in particular. While UWW’s ability to directly influence national or international affairs is limited, the organization remains firmly committed to supporting wrestlers and advocating for their protection wherever possible, including through sport diplomacy and engagement with the broader wrestling and Olympic community.

UWW has activated its contacts within the sports movement following the recent events in Iran. The organization has received reports from various sources, though their full accuracy is difficult to verify.

Reports suggest that some situations may have been resolved in the meantime, but wrestler Saleh Mohammadi remains at risk of a capital sentence in Iran. UWW calls for a fair, transparent, and impartial trial, conducted in full respect of fundamental rights, and reaffirms its opposition to the death penalty in all circumstances.

United World Wrestling continues to closely monitor the situation while mourning all the victims affected by this tragedy.