#Belgrade2020

Jafarov, 19, Stamps Authority with Second Age-Group World Title

Wednesday, November 3, 2021 - 20:24 By Vinay Siwach

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BELGRADE, Serbia (November 3) – As a kid, Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) imagined becoming a world champion for Azerbaijan like many greats from the country. But growing up in a small district of Goranboy, Azerbaijan, it was difficult to find heroes to look up to. But he still followed his elder brother to the wrestling gym and slowly fell in love with the sport.

A decade after he first stepped into a wrestling gym, Jafarov has not only fulfilled the dream of winning a world title, he has won two in three months.

The 19-year-old stunned the field at 67kg weight class at the U23 World Championships, adding to his junior world title which he won in August in Ufa, Russia.

The Azerbaijan wrestler continues to improve at a rapid pace. That was visible in Belgrade, Serbia, where he defeated Asian champion Sultan ASSETULY (KAZ), U23 European silver Kadir KAMAL (TUR) and junior Asian champion Mohammad REZAEI (IRI) en route the gold.

"I am glad that I became a world champion for the second time," Jafarov said. "I'll train even better to achieve good results in the senior age group."

Russia won the Greco-Roman team title, thanks to the two gold medals on Wednesday, which propelled them to 190 points. Iran finished second with 155 points, while Georgia ended up on the podium in third place with 105 points.

Jafarov, who turned 19-years-old on October 5, outscored Rezaei by scoring the match deciding two-point correct throw in the second period and holding onto the one-point win.

But even with his loss in the 67kg, Rezaei's 20-point second-place finish helped Iran (135 points) regain the five-point lead over Russia (130 points) after the night's first two weight classes.

Despite his win, the Azerbaijan youngster, who hails from a small village of Goranboy district, realized that moving forward, his opponents will study him more and find new ways to stop him from winning.

"Each medal brings more responsibility," he said. "My opponents know my par terre techniques, my standing position wrestling style. I will try to improve in the future so that it's not that tough for me to win."

AllakhiarovAnvar ALLAKHIAROV (RUS) dominated to win the 60kg gold medal in Belgrade. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

In other action, Iran narrowly led Russia by five points coming into the 60kg final, but Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (RUS) knotted up the team score at 115 points after he used a seven-point second period to ease his way past Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI).

Allakhiarov fell behind 1-0 after the opening four minutes but never showed signs of panic. Instead, he remained poised in the second period and capitalized on his opportunity to put points on the board.

The Russian wrestler came out front with a back-breaking four-point lift after his Iranian opponent was hit for inactivity and gained the 5-1 advantage. He kept the action flowing and picked up two more points with an overhook throw that resulted in an exposure.

Allakhiarov ultimately held on to win 7-1 and handed Russia their third Greco-Roman gold medal of the '21 U23 World Championships.

Artur SargsianArtur SARGSIAN (RUS) won his second age-group world title. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

A fourth was added by the calm and composed Artur SARGSIAN (RUS) at 97kg. He closed out the Greco-Roman side of the competition with an overpowering 9-0 win over Pavel HLINCHUK (BLR). After earning the first-period inactivity point, the Russian turned the Belarusian twice and scored a four-point lift to win the match, 9-0.

"It was my sixth World Championships," Sargsian said. "The first gold medal was in 2015, and in my fifth try, I could win it again. I was ready to do everything to win the gold medal."

Sargsian is quickly becoming one of the most dynamic Greco-Roman wrestlers around the world, and Wednesday was further proof of it when easily lifted Hlinchuk for the throw. He was in danger after landing on his back for a split second but quickly redeemed himself to clinch the win.

"I can hide my emotions inside but we all worry a lot," he said. "I came here only for the gold and nothing else. I came to show my wrestling."

As he continues to grow as a wrestler and try to find his place on the senior Russian team, he will have to go through Tokyo Olympic champion Musa EVLOEV (RUS).

"He [Evloev] has a little injury, but soon he will be back on the mat," he said. "We will have the Russian Nationals soon, and we will wrestle and see."

The 23-year-old Oslo bronze medalist was also thankful to two-time Olympic champion Roman VLASOV (RUS) to be in the arena to support the Russian team.

"After my final match, I talked to the captain of our team Vlasov, he congratulated me," he said. "It's nice to have such attention. This support is really important."

Idris IBAEVIdris IBAEV (GER) became the 72kg world champion. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Russia was gunning for another gold as Sergei KUTUZOV (RUS) was in the 72kg final but Idris IBAEV (GER) spoiled that party when he stopped the Russian from improving his ’21 senior world silver after picking up a one-point win in the final.

"In Belgrade, I could concentrate well and show better wrestling," Ibaev said. "I prepared tactically and we worked a lot on my technique with the coach."

Ibaev, who wanted to be a boxer growing up in Goity village in Russia, found his calling for wrestling when he began training with Miakhdi IAKHIAEV (RUS), who won a bronze medal in Belgrade.

He struck first with a sneaky left-sided arm drag and grabbed the 2-0 lead. His Russian opponent stopped a gut-wrench attempt and scored a point for the reversal, cutting Ibaev’s lead to 2-1. Prior to the period’s closing whistle, Ibaev picked up the third point in the first period (inactivity) and carried the 3-1 lead into the closing period.

After stopping Kutuzov’s par terre offense, Ibaev picked up a gold medal for Germany with a 3-2 win.

Despite falling in the finals, Kutuzov still scored 20 points for Russia, which pushed them five-point ahead of Iran heading into the final pair of gold-medal matches.

RikadzeAivengo RIKADZE (GEO) won Georgia's second gold medal at the tournament. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Georgia landed its second gold medal of the tournament when Aivengo RIKADZE (GEO) used a blistering five-point first period to stop Switzerland's Ramon BETSCHART (SUI) from becoming his country's first-ever Greco-Roman world champion at any level. It was the second time Betschart had been stopped in the world finals. He also dropped the '18 junior world finals in Trnava, Slovakia.

Rikadze never looked in trouble during the bout and his gold medal helped Georgia outplace Turkey for the third position in the title race.

U23 World ChampionshipsThe four medalist at the 97kg Greco-Roman weight class in Belgrade. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

RESULTS

60kg
GOLD: Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (RUS) df Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI), 7-1

BRONZE: Kerem KAMAL (TUR) df Ihor KUROCHKIN (UKR), 6-5
BRONZE: Pridon ABULADZE (GEO) df Mukhammadkodir YUSUPOV (UZB), 3-3

67kg
GOLD: Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) df Mohammad REZAEI (IRI), 3-2

BRONZE: Kadir KAMAL (TUR) df Sultan ASSETULY (KAZ), 5-1
BRONZE: Miakhdi IAKHIAEV (RUS) df Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO), 5-1

72kg
GOLD: Idris IBAEV (GER) df Sergei KUTUZOV (RUS), 7-2

BRONZE: Shant KHACHATRYAN (ARM) df Erik PERSSON (SWE), via fall
BRONZE: Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) df. Amir ABDI (IRI), 12-7

82kg
GOLD: Aivengo RIKADZE (GEO) df Ramon BETSCHART (SUI), 5-1

BRONZE: Branko KOVACEVIC (SRB) df Moric KISMONI (HUN), 9-1
BRONZE: Shamil OZHAEV (RUS) df Mohammad NAGHOUSI (IRI), 8-0

97kg
GOLD: Artur SARGSIAN (RUS) df Pavel HLINCHUK (BLR), 9-0

BRONZE: Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) df Robert ERSEK (HUN), 5-1
BRONZE: Markus RAGGINGER (AUT) df Ondrej DADAK (CZE), 5-0

#WrestleIstanbul

World Olympic Qualifier Freestyle Paris 2024 Qualification Bouts

Saturday, May 11, 2024 - 07:46 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

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ISTANBUL, Turkiye (May 11) -- Freestyle takes the stage at the World Olympic Qualifier in Istanbul. After the 18 quotas of Greco-Roman and 12 of Women's Wrestling were decided, 12 Freestyle Paris 2024 spots will be handed out on Saturday and 6 more on Sunday.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER

The Paris 2024 Qualification bouts will begin at 2000 hours local time in Istanbul

18:24: Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) caps the 8 1/2-hour session with a 3-0victory over  JAIDEEP (IND) at 74kg. The three-time world medalist scores a takedown in the first period and gets an activity point in the second to move one win away from his first trip to the Olympics.

18:18: For once, it was Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) coming up on the short end of a dramatic, down-to-the-wire match. Chermen VALIEV (ALB) pulled off a stunning 5-5 win on criteria at 74kg over the Italian star, who had posted nail-biting wins in his previous two matches. With Chamizo leading 3-2 in the second period, Valiev scores a stepout off a scramble, but Chamizo goes back ahead 5-3 with a stepout and fleeing point. But with time running out, Valiev lunges for an ankle and latches on, which Chamizo responds to by heading out of Dodge. That gives Valiev a stepout and fleeing point to go up 5-5 on last point. In the final seconds, Chamizo forces Valiev to the edge, but the Albanian slips out of danger to clinch the win.

18:02: Viktor RASSADIN (TJK), aiming to become Tajikstan's first Olympic wrestler since 2012, keeps the pressure on and it pays off with two activity points and a 2-0 victory over Vadym TSURKAN  (UKR) at 74kg. He will face the winner of Frank CHAMIZO  (ITA)-Chermen VALIEV (ALB), which is next up on Mat B.

17:52: The dynamo known as Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) continues his impressive run at 65kg, shucking and spinning his way to a 9-0 victory over Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK). The Asian silver medalist scores a stepout and a takedown-gut wrench combo for a 5-0 lead in the first period and adds two takedowns in the second. He will face SUJEET (IND) for the ticket to Paris.

17:45: European champion Islam DUDAEV (ALB) saved by the challenge! Kwang Jin KIM (PRK) led 2-0 with Dudaev on his legs. Dudaev tried a takedown but the referees did not score it. However, Albania challenged it and won as Kim had three points touching on the mat with Dudaev in control. Dudaev wins 2-2 and advances at 65kg

17:41: Tokyo Olympian Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR), a two-time world bronze medalist at 79kg, scores the go-ahead takedown with 47 seconds left and adds a gut wrench to defeat Zushen LIN (CHN) 6-3 and advance to the qualification match at 86kg.

17:32: In a clash of the two losers of the Paris qualification matches at the Asian Qualifier, Zhiwei DENG (CHN) scores a takedown on a counter of his opponent's attack and holds on for a 3-0 victory over Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) at 125kg. Deng, a 2019 world bronze medalist, finished fifth in Tokyo in his second Olympic appearance.

17:22: Daniel LIGETI (HUN) moved one win away from earning a third Olympic appearance with a 4-0 victory over Zyyamuhammet SAPAROV (TKM) at 125kg. A second-period takedown with Saparov on the activity clock clinched the win for the 34-year-old Ligeti.

17:12: Chongsong HAN (PRK) advances to tonight's Paris qualification match at 57kg by outclassing Horst LEHR (GER) 16-4. Han's speed and strength ruled the day as he scored a takedown and gut wrench to lead 5-0 in the first period. Han scores a takedown, then pads the lead with four points in a scramble in which Lehr finally gets on the board. A 4-point takedown, in which Lehr scores 2 in the flow, ends the match.

17:05: Spencer LEE (USA) is in the Paris qualification bout at 57kg! He needs just 54 seconds to beat former European champion Vladimir EGOROV (MKD) 12-2 using a mix of lace and gut.

AMAN (IND) follows Lee into the Paris qualification bout after he beats Andri YATSENKO (UKR) 12-2. He will wrestle Chongsong HAN (PRK) for the spot

16:58: Rio 2016 bronze medalist Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) gives the home crowd another win, holding off Mohammad MOTTAGHINIA (ESP) for a 5-2 win at 74kg. Demirtas scores a takedown, a stepout and two activity points, with only a second-period takedown by his opponent marring an otherwise perfect performance.

16:50: Two-time Asian medalist Rakhat KALZHAN (KAZ) deals Iran a serious blow in its hopes of fielding a full freestyle lineup in Paris when he notches a solid 7-2 win over Alireza SARLAK (IRI) at 57kg. Kalzhan gains a lift-and-trip takedown in the first period and a smooth duck under in the second. Sarlak manages a pair of stepouts, but Kalzhan stops a late takedown with a pancake for his final 2.

16:55: Viktor RASSADIN (TJK) led Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) 5-3 in the last 30 seconds but Khadjiev scored exposure to make it 5-5. But he failed to get another point and dropped his 74kg bout 5-5. France challenged asking for two more points but lost which added one more point to Rassadin's score to make it 6-5. 

16:44: Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) must be relieved after that outcome. With 10 seconds left in his bout against Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ), Chamizo was down 1-1 on criteria but Toktomambetov, who had been warned for fleeing, was docked a caution and one point for fleeing again with 3 seconds left, giving Chamizo a 2-1 lead. Kyrgyzstan challenges the call but the fleeing call is held. Kyrgyzstan lose the challenge and Chamizo wins 3-1 to advance at 74kg.

16:38: SUJEET (IND), a 2022 world U20 bronze medalist, keeps the pressure on from the get-go and gradually piles up points while shutting his opponent down to score a 10-0 victory over Tokyo Olympian Junsik YUN (KOR) at 65kg. Next up for the Indian is Lachlan MCNEIL (CAN).

16:30: That will be a 7-2 win for Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL). 70 world champion Zain RETHERFORD (USA) was up 2-2 on criteria with the clock down to the final minute but Tumur Ochir hit a single leg and exposure to make the score 6-2. The U.S. challenged the call but lost the challenge.

16:17: Asian Games bronze medalist Kwang Jin KIM (PRK) scores three 4-point moves and defeats two-time world U23 bronze medalist Maxim SACULTAN (MDA) 12-4 to advance at 65kg. Kim will face Islam DUDAEV (ALB) for a place in the Paris qualification match, as the DPR Korea looks to gain an Olympic freestyle spot after being shut out at the Asian Qualifier.

15:42: Veteran Jose DIAZ (VEN), looking to get back to the Olympics after appearing at London 2012 and Rio 2016, pulls a stunner by beating Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Abraham CONYEDO (ITA) 4-1 at 125kg. Diaz is trailing 1-0 in the second period with Conyedo on the activity clock when the 35-year-old pancakes Conyedo to his back for 2, then clinch the win with a stepout.

15:29: Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN), who won a bronze medal at the Asian Championships before losing in the first round of the Asian Olympic Qualifier, advances at 125kg with a 5-2 win over Oleksandr KHOTSIANIVSKYI (UKR). Khotsianivskyi was on the activity clock in the first period when Sharipov scored a takedown and lace-lock roll to account for his points.

15:27: Two-time Olympian and five-time European medalist Daniel LIGETI (HUN) proves too much for Georgi IVANOV (BUL), finishing up a 12-1 win early in the second period at 125kg. Ligeti scores four takedowns in the first period, then ends the match with a 4-point counter throw as Ivanov drove him to the edge on a tackle attempt.

14:53: Ahmed BATAEV (BUL), a 2022 European silver medalist at 92kg, gets a low takedown with nine seconds left to stun young 2023 Asian champion Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) 4-3 at 97kg. In the first period, Yoshida gets in on a single and lifts it up, but Bataev reaches down and grabs Yoshida's ankle, then drives him back for a takedown. Yoshida avoids making the same mistake in the second period, then adds an activity point for a 3-2 lead. He seems to be on the way to victory Bataev makes a stab at the shoelaces and connects, tripping Yoshida backwards for the winning 2. 

14:53: 2023 Asian champion AMAN (IND) proves too agile and too elusive for Tokyo Olympian Georgi VANGELOV (BUL), as he piles up five takedowns in a 10-6 victory at 57kg. Aman was this year's Zagreb Open champion where Vangelov took a bronze, although they did not face each other.

14:45: 2021 world silver medalist Alireza SARLAK (IRI), looking to fill the only Paris berth in freestyle missing for Iran, advances with a workmanlike 9-3 win over European bronze medalist Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO) at 57kg. Sarlak gradually builds up a 5-0 lead in the first period with a stepout, activity point, go-behind takedown and stepout. In the second period, he adds two stepouts and a last-second gimme takedown, while giving up a stepout and takedown.

14:31: Spencer LEE (USA) appears almost unconcerned after finding himself in a 6-1 hole early in his 57kg bout with Wanhao ZOU (CHN). Lee just goes to work and, after gaining a stepout, he scores a takedown, then applies a lace lock and rolls three times, and suddenly he's up 10-6. In the second period, Zou scores a stepout and takedown within seconds of each other, but the clock runs out as he tries to turn Lee, who advances with a 10-9 win.  

14:24: Three-time world medalist Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK), who won his fourth straight European title earlier this year, gets off to a good start in his bid for an elusive first Olympics, storming past Arslan AMANMYRADOV (TKM) 11-0 at 74kg.

14:15: Chermen VALIEV (ALB), in his first outing for Albania, rallies to a 10-0 win over Hrayr ALIKHANYAN (ARM) at 74kg. Next up for him is Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO).

14:05: A week after Viktor RASSADIN (TJK) won a silver medal at the Asian Championships,  two-time Asian champion Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) came up one win short at 74kg at the Asian Olympic Qualifier. Now, Rassadin in on the inside track to Paris after scoring a takedown in each period in a 4-1 victory over the 2019 world silver medalist at 70kg.

14:00: Former U20 world bronze medalist SUJEET (IND) with a takedown during Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) activity clock to win 3-2 at 65kg. Jalolov was the U20 world champion when Sujeet won the bronze medal.

13:50: Rio 2016 bronze medalist and two-time former world champion Frank CHAMIZO (ITA), coming off a controversial loss at the European Qualifier as he aims to make a third Olympics, pulls off a miracle comeback to defeat 20-year-old Feng LU (CHN) 10-8 at 74kg. Lu opens the match with a takedown and two exposures before Chamizo reverses for a 6-1 lead. In the second period, Chamizo finally catches Lu for a takedown with Lu on the activity clock, then adds an exposure on a counter to make it 6-6, but he still trails on criteria. Chamizo gets a takedown, but Lu counter lifts for 2 to stay ahead 8-8. With the clock ticking down, Chamizo bulls a fatigued Lu down at the edge for a dramatic takedown with :02 on the clock.

13:41: Tokyo Olympian and two-time European silver medalist Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) pancakes Zagreb Open bronze medalist Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN) to his back for 4, but he won't need the points as he secures the fall at 74kg.

13:31: Zain RETHERFORD (USA) breezes into the next round at 65kg, using a hard cross-face for exposure points to finish off an 11-0 win over Ibrahim GUZAN (YEM) in 2:26.

13:29: Asian Games bronze medalist Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ), who came up one win short at the Asian Qualifier on home soil, caps a second-period rally from three points down by scoring a takedown with 1:10 left to defeat 2021 European silver medalist Ramazan RAMAZANOV (BUL) 5-3 at 74kg.

13:17: Tokyo Olympian Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL), a 2021 world bronze medalist coming off a silver-medal performance at the Asian Championships, opens with a slick 4-point arm throw against Alibeg ALIBEGOV (BRN) at 65kg. He adds two takedowns in the second period, getting an exposure after the second to finish a 10-0 victory with 5 seconds to spare.

13:07: Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO), a 2023 world bronze medalist at 79kg, notches three takedowns in the first period en route to a 9-1 victory over 2019 world bronze medalist and Tokyo Olympian Stefan REICHMUTH (SUI) at 86kg.

13:01: Tokyo fifth placer and Asian Games silver medalist Deepak PUNIA (IND) goes down to Zushen LIN (CHN) at 86kg. He led 3-0 at the break but Lin got on a single-leg before scoring a takedown. He added a gut-wrench to lead 4-3. Punia added a stepout but Lin held 4-4 criteria before he added a late takedown to win 6-4

12:50: Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR) , a world bronze medalist the last two years at 79kg, opens his campaign at 86kg with a 4-0 victory over Aimar ANDRUSE (EST). Mykhailov's points come off a front headlock roll and a single-leg takedown.

12:40: It was experience over youth as 32-year-old 2023 European bronze medalist Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL) takes the lead, loses it, then comes back to defeat two-time world U20 champion Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) 6-3 at 86kg. Jezierzanski goes ahead 2-1 in the second period with an activity point and a stepout, but Magamadov replies with a double-leg takedown with :58 left. But Jezierzanski isn't done, grabbing a takedown and transitioning to a gut wrench with 23 seconds on the clock.

12:17: Two-time reigning European champion Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) gets a takedown shortly after receiving an activity point with just over a minute left, giving him a 4-0 victory over 2022 world bronze medalist and Tokyo Olympian Boris MAKOEV (SVK) at 86kg.

11:45: Ahmet DUMAN (TUR), the 2022 world U23 silver medalist at 57kg, gets the home crowd revved up with an 11-0 victory over Besir ALILI (MKD) at 65kg.

11:43: Zain RETHERFORD (USA), a two-time world champion at 70kg who had to go through the grueling USA trials just to get to Istanbul, started what he hopes will be a long day at 65kg with a victory by fall over Stefan COMAN (ROU). Retherford, leading 3-2 in the second period, secures the fall after the second of two takedowns. With 37 entries at 65kg, Retherford will have to win five matches to clinch the Olympic spot today.

11:28: An early setback for an Indian team that was shut out in freestyle at both the World Championships and Asian Qualifier. Aaron JOHNSON (JAM) scores a stepout with five seconds left to defeat SUMIT (IND) 2-2 on criteria at 125kg. Jamaica has never had an Olympian in wrestling.

11:18: Georgi VANGELOV (BUL) must be very relieved after that 7-7 victory over Sunggwon KIM (KOR) at 57kg. He led 3-0 at the break when Kim called for a medical timeout for concussion. He returned to score his first point but another timeout later, he hit a duck under for takedown and gut wrench to make it 5-3 in the last minute. However, Vangelov scored a takedown and turn to take a 7-5 lead. Kim got on Vangelov's leg to score a takedown but managed only a stepout and one point for fleeing but Vangelov still held the criteria.

11:06: Arash YOSHIDA (JPN), the 20-year-old rising hope in the upper weights for Japan, scores three takedowns in the first period before finishing up an 11-1 win in the second over Nishan RANDHAWA (CAN) at 97kg. Yoshida, whose father is Iranian and runs the wrestling club in Japan where he started the sport, won the Asian gold and finished fifth at the World Championships last year at 92kg.

10:51: Veteran Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB) uses a lace lock to build up a 9-0 lead in the first period against Adlan VISKHANOV (FRA), then finishes him off with a takedown with just over a minute left to advance 11-0 at 97kg.

10:51: Two-time European bronze medalist Horst LEHR (GER), leading 5-0 in the second period, hits a slick 4-point arm throw, then adds a gut wrench for an 11-0 victory over Ilman MUKHTAROV (FRA) at 57kg.

10:46: Spencer LEE (USA), the one-time wunderkind of U.S. wrestling who world junior titles in 2015 and 2016 but was sidetracked by injuries and college commitments, wastes no time in getting his quest for a first trip to the Olympics started at 57kg. He gets a quick takedown against Ben TARIK (MAR), applies a lace lock and, with four rapid rolls, he's a 10-0 winner in 23 seconds. 

10:00: The six Freestyle weight classes will be in action today for the 12 Paris spots and also the women's wrestling playoff later in the evening.