#Zagreb2018

Japan Advances Five to #Zagreb2018 Semifinals, USA Has Four

By Taylor Miller

ZAGREB, Croatia – Women’s freestyle powerhouse Japan put wrestlers in all five of Thursday night’s Cadet World semifinals in Zagreb, Croatia. USA follows closely behind with four advancing to tonight’s semis.

Other countries to land multiple semifinalists after Thursday morning’s session are China with three and India with two.

At 40 kg, Karin UEMATSU (JPN), who finished 5th at the 2017 Cadet Asian Championships, will face 2018 Cadet Asian champion Muno SAMIEVA (UZB).

On the other side of the bracket, 2017 Cadet World bronze medalist and 2017 European runner-up Luchana BEKBAULOVA (RUS) will face off against 2016 Schoolboy/girl Pan American champion Sterling DIAS (USA).

The 46 kg semifinals feature two Cadet Asian medalists.

Otgonjarga DOLGORJAV (MGL), who won bronze at this year’s continentals, will see Olivia SHORE (USA) in the semis. Shore is making her second Cadet World appearance.

The bottom semi will pit 2018 Cadet Asian bronze medalist Kalmira BILIMBEK (KGZ) against Sakura MOTOKI (JPN).

Cadet Asian champion Zhaojing SHI (CHN) highlights the semifinals at 53 kg. She will take on Mako OONO (JPN) tonight, while Meenakhsi MEENAKHSI (IND), who took fourth at Asian Championships, has Leilah CASTRO (USA) on the opposite side.

At 61 kg, Anshu ANSHU (IND) seeks out her second-straight Cadet World title and third-consecutive World medal after a 2017 gold-medal showing and a 2016 bronze finish. In the semifinals, Anshu will wrestle Qin ZHAO (CHN), the sixth-place finisher at the 2018 Cadet Asian Championships.

In the other semifinal at the weight, Rito TAKAYAMA (JPN) will challenge Antonyna KULAKHINA (UKR), the 2018 Cadet European champion.

Macey KILTY (USA) is back on the World stage after a 2016 medal-winning performance, taking third. Tonight, she’ll take on two-time Asian medalist and 2018 Cadet Asian champion Mengwei ZHANG (CHN) in the 69 kg semis.

Opposite of them, 2017 Cadet Nordic champion and 2018 Cadet European bronze medalist Julia FRIDLUND (SWE) will do battle with Rin TERAMOTO (JPN).

The semifinals will begin at 11:30 a.m. ET, followed by the medal matches from yesterday’s five weights at 12 p.m. ET live on unitedworldwrestling.com.

Semifinals pairings

40 kg
Luchana BEKBAULOVA (RUS) vs. Sterling DIAS (USA)
Karin UEMATSU (JPN) vs. Muno SAMIEVA (UZB)

46 kg
Olivia SHORE (USA) vs. Otgonjarga DOLGORJAV (MGL)
Kalmira BILIMBEK (KGZ) vs. Sakura MOTOKI (JPN)

53 kg
Zhaojing SHI (CHN) vs. Mako OONO (JPN)
Leilah CASTRO (USA) vs. Meenakhsi MEENAKHSI (IND)

61 kg
Qin ZHAO (CHN) vs. Anshu ANSHU (IND)
Antonyna KULAKHINA (UKR) vs. Rito TAKAYAMA (JPN)

69 kg
Rin TERAMOTO (JPN) vs. Julia FRIDLUND (SWE)
Mengwei ZHANG (CHN) vs. Macey KILTY (USA)

#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.