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Japan Advances Susaki, Okuno, Kawai to Finals

Wednesday, October 24, 2018 - 15:56 By Andrew Hipps

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (October 24) -- A day after crowning two world champions in women's wrestling, Japan has a chance to add three more gold medalists on Thursday. 

Yui SUSAKI (50kg), Haruna OKUNO (53kg) and Yukako KAWAI (62kg) advanced to the finals with victories in the semifinals of the World Championships on Wednesday in Budapest, Hungary. 

Susaki, a 2017 senior world champion and three-time cadet world champion, needed just a minute and a half to earn a 10-0 technical fall in the semifinals over Oksana LIVACH (UKR) at 50kg. Susaki scored a takedown and used a leg lace to go up 6-0 a minute into the match. A short time later she added another takedown and ended the match with her leg lace.

She will face 30-year-old Mariya STADNIK (AZE) in the finals at 50kg. Stadnik, a past world champion and multiple-time world medalist, reached the gold-medal match with a hard-fought 4-2 victory over Sonhyang KIM (PRK). Kim attempted to score a takedown in the closing seconds, but Stadnik fought it off and gave up just a step out to preserve the lead and take the victory. 

Okuno, a returning world champion, rolled to an 8-1 semifinal victory over Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL) at 53kg. Okuno scored first with a takedown and led 2-0 at the break. Krawczyk inched closer in the second period with a step out to make the score 2-1. But Okuno quickly pulled away, picking up three more takedowns to win by seven. Okuno's finals opponent will be Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA).

Hildebrandt proved to be too much for Diana WEICKER (CAN) in the semifinals at 53kg. Hildebrandt dominated from the start, using a takedown and two turns to race out to a 6-0 lead. She built her lead to 8-0 at the break and closed out the technical fall in the second period. 

Kawai came back to defeat past world champion Yuliia TKACH OSTAPCHUK (UKR). Tkach jumped out to a 3-0 lead at the break after a step out and takedown in the first period. The score remained 3-0 until just over a minute remaining in the match when Kawai scored a takedown to cut the deficit to 3-2 before adding a gut wrench turn to grab a 4-3 lead. Tkach took a shot with just over 20 seconds remaining and was able to get Kawai's leg, but couldn't finish. 

Kawai, who secured her first world medal, will meet four-time world medalist Taybe YUSEIN (BUL) in the gold-medal match at 62kg. Yusein reached the finals with a fall over Mallory VELTE (USA). After a scoreless first two minutes, Yusein locked up a cradle and pinned the American.

At 57kg, Ningning RONG (CHN) used a strong second period to dominate Grace BULLEN (NOR) and claim her spot in the gold-medal match. Bullen led 2-0 at the break. But the second belonged to Rong. After getting a takedown in the first minute of the second period, Rong used a gut wrench to turn Bullen five times for the technical fall. 

Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) defeated two-time world bronze medalist Emese BARKA (HUN) 6-2 in the other semifinal match at 57kg. 

Semifinal Results

Women's Wrestling

50kg
Yui SUSAKI (JPN) df. Oksana LIVACH (UKR) by VSU, 10-0
Mariya STADNIK (AZE) df. Sonhyang KIM (PRK) by VPO1, 4-2

53kg
Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) df. Diana WEICKER (CAN) by VSU, 10-0
Haruna OKUNO (JPN) df. Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL) by VPO1, 8-1

57kg
Bilyana Zhivkova DUDOVA (BUL) df. Emese BARKA (HUN) by VPO1, 6-2
Ningning RONG (CHN) df. Grace BULLEN (NOR) by VSU1, 12-2

62kg
Yukako KAWAI (JPN) df. Yuliia TKACH OSTAPCHUK (UKR) by VPO1, 4-3
Taybe YUSEIN (BUL) df. Mallory VELTE (USA) by VFA, 2-0
 

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Staebler Comes Back to Defeat Zhadrayev in 2017 World Finals Rematch

Thursday, October 25, 2018 - 13:01 By Andrew Hipps

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (October 25) -- Two-time world champion Frank STAEBLER (GER) came from behind late to defeat Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) in the quarterfinals at 72kg in a rematch from last year's world finals match at 71kg in Paris. It was one of the highlight matches in Thursday's opening session of Greco-Roman at the 2018 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. 

Zhadrayev led 6-0 in the second period, but Staebler worked his way back into the match. He used a four-point throw with just over a minute left to take the lead and help complete the comeback.

Staebler will now face 2015 world champion Rasul CHUNAYEV (AZE), a 6-4 winner over Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI) in the quarterfinals.

Another world champion at 72kg, Balint KORPASI (HUN), a local favorite, was impressive in Thursday's opening session, picking up two technical falls without surrendering a point. In the quarterfinals he defeated Joilson DE BRITO RAMOS JUNIOR (BRA) 8-0. He meets Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) in the semifinals. 

Returning world bronze medalist Stepan MARYANYAN (RUS) made quick work of Krisztian VANCZA (HUN) in the quarterfinals at 63kg, picking up an 8-0 technical fall midway through the first period. Maryanyan now faces Hassan MOHAMED (EGY).

Olympic bronze medalist Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB) cruised into the semifinals at 63kg with a 9-0 technical fall over Donior ISLAMOV (MDA). His opponent in the semifinals will be 2010 junior world bronze medalist. Lenur TEMIROV (UKR).

At 82kg, a pair of world champions advanced to the semifinals at 82kg, Saeid ABDVALI (IRI) and Peter BACSI (HUN), while another Maksim MANUKYAN (ARM) fell in the quarterfinals. 

2013 world bronze medalist Emrah KUS (TUR) edged the returning champion Manukyan 2-1. 

Abdavali, a 2011 world champion and returning world bronze medalist, shut out Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) 3-0 in the quarterfinals. Bacsi held on to defeat Maxat YEREZHEPOV (KAZ) 2-1. Yerezhepov cut the deficit to one point late in the match but was unable to score again. 

Abdavali will face Kus in the semifinals, while Bacsi will meet Atabek AZISBEKOV (KGZ).

Nineteen-year-old Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ), a junior world finalist in 2017, shined in the opening session at 55kg, picking up two technical falls without surrendering a point to reach the semifinals. He will meet top-seeded Ekrem OZTURK (TUR), a world university champion who had fall and 7-0 victory. 

On the bottom side of the bracket at 55kg, two-time junior world champion Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) rolled to the semifinals with three dominant victories. He will face multiple-time junior world medalist Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) in the semifinals. Tsurtsumia was pushed in his second match by VasilII TOPOEV (RUS) but prevailed 11-9. 

The semifinals are scheduled to begin at 4:45 p.m. local time.

Semifinal Matchups

Greco-Roman 

55kg
Ekrem OZTURK (TUR) vs. Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ)
Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) vs. Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) 

63kg
Lenur TEMIROV (UKR) vs. Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB) 
Stepan MARYANYAN (RUS) vs. Hassan MOHAMED (EGY) 

72kg
Balint KORPASI (HUN) vs. Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) 
Rasul CHUNAYEV (AZE) vs. Frank STAEBLER (GER)

82kg
Saeid Morad ABDVALI (IRI) vs. Emrah KUS (TUR
Peter BACSI (HUN) vs. Atabek AZISBEKOV (KGZ)