#WrestleBelgrade

Japan puts four in World Championships finals

Tuesday, September 19, 2023 - 19:21 By Vinay Siwach

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BELGRADE, Serbia (September 19) -- A few legends of the sport have fallen at this World Championships in Belgrade and Adeline GRAY (USA) joined that unwanted list as Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) defeated her in the quarterfinals at 76kg.

Gray, coming back to wrestling after giving birth to twins, was looking to become a seven-time world champion which would have made her the United States' most successful wrestler. But Kagami ruined that plan by etching a 4-1 win after two takedowns against Gray's one point in the activity period.

Kagami then return to beat Milaimys MARIN (CUB) 5-1 and confirm her ticket to Paris Olympics as Japan will be sending the medalist from the World Championships directly to the 2024 Games.

"I was very excited and nervous for the Gray bout," Kagami said. "But I think I came prepared to win the match."

Kagami will take on Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) for the gold medal as the Kyrgyzstan wrestler defeated Tatiana RENTERIA (COL), another Pan-Am star, via fall in the other semifinal.

Yui SUSAKI (JPN)Yui SUSAKI (JPN) managed to win 4-2 against Ziqi FENG (CHN). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

While she did not lose, Yui SUSAKI (JPN) had a rare off day on the mat as her opponents managed to score three points on her in two bouts. The first was Alisson CARDOZO (ECU) who scored a stepout before Susaki punished her with a leg lace. Susaki pinned Emilia VUC (ROU) in the quarterfinals.

Ziqi FENG (CHN) pushed Susaki to the limits, even scoring exposure over Susaki, but the Tokyo Olympic champion hung on for a 4-2 win and an automatic ticket to Paris where she will look to defend her title.

Susaki, who failed to hold her tears back in an interview, said that it was a tough bout but she was prepared.

"The Chinese wrestler was strong in defense and power," Susaki said. "Before this tournament, I was in a difficult situation which I will talk about only after gold medal tournament."

In a repeat of last year's final, Susaki will take on Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) who now has a 2-1 head-to-head record over Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA).

Dolgorjav defeated Hildebrandt 7-5 in a rematch of last year's semifinal also won by Dolgorjav. Hildebrandt had won by technical superiority when the two met in the Ranking Series in Budapest.

Hildebrandt's loss also means that Mariya STADNIK (AZE), who lost to the USA wrestler, will have to travel to another Olympic Qualifiers to secure a trip to  Paris.

Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN)Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) beat Helen MAROULIS (USA) for the second straight year. (Photo: Amirreza Aliasgari)

In the third Olympic weight class of the day, Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) also confirmed her ticket to Paris after beating (and also spoiled her birthday) Rio Olympic champion Helen MAROULIS (USA) 6-0 in the semifinal. This was her second win over the American as Sakurai won the final last year over Maroulis.

But a tought test awaits her in the final as 59kg world champion Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) dropped to the Olympic weight and dominated her opponents.

She opened with a win over Olympic bronze medalist Evlina NIKOLOVA (BUL) and then went on to beat Odunayo ADEKUROYE (NGR) 10-0 in the quarterfinals. Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR) was no match as Nichita once again won 10-0.

Nonoka OZAKI (JPN)Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) reached the 65kg final at the World Championships. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

In the only non-Olympic weight class in action on Tuesday, 62kg world champion Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) returned to the world finals, this year at 65kg. She beat Tatsiana PAULAVA 10-0 in what was her third win of the day, all without giving up a point.

Macey KILTY (USA) will try to stop her from winning the gold for a second straight year.

#WrestleZagreb

Zagreb Open 2026 Day 2 Highlights: Yazdani in 97kg final

Thursday, February 5, 2026 - 09:21 By Vinay Siwach

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ZAGREB, Croatia (February 5) -- The Ranking Series event, Zagreb Open, enters day two and it will be Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) making his 97kg debut for Iran. The Olympic champion at 74kg in 2016, and two-time Olympic silver medalist at 86kg, is chasing that second gold, this time at 97kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 1 RESULTS

13:45: 55kg WW semifinals - World silver medalist Verbina EKATERINA (UWW) with a 1-1 victory over Nagisa HARADA (JPN) in the semifinals. She got an activity point in the second period to keep the criteria lead. Ekaterina will face Karla GODINEZ (CAN) in the final after the Canadian defeated Areana VILLAESCUSA (USA), 2-1, in another low scoring semifinal.

13:30: 50kg WW semifinals - Haruna MORIKAWA (JPN) with a controlled 8-2 win over Elizaveta SMIRNOVA (UWW) at 50kg. She will wrestle NEELAM (IND) for the gold medal. Neelam defeated MUSKAN (IND), 7-4, in an all-Indian semifinal

13:20: 125kg semifinals - A fall for Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN) over Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL) in just over two minutes as he reaches the final at 125kg. He will face Wyatt HENDRICKSON (USA) in the final after the U.S. wrestler scored an 11-1 win over Robert BARAN (POL).

13:10: 97kg semifinals - Stephen BUCHANAN (USA) with a quick fall over Adlan VISKHANOV (FRA) in the first semifinal. Now he earns himself a chance to wrestle against Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) after Iranian managed another technical superiority win. While it's rare on Yazdani, Andro MARGISHVILI (GEO) scored two takedowns on Yazdani but failed to keep the pressure before losing 14-4

12:55: 92kg semifinals - Mobin AZIMI (IRI) gets a dominant 11-0 win over Dustin PLOTT (USA) as he used a double-leg for four to finish. He earns a chance to avenge his 5-5 loss to Trent HIDLAY (USA) in the final after the American scored another come-from-behind victory. He defeated Michael MACCHIAVELLO (USA), 3-3, to setup the gold medal bout against Azimi

12:40: 79kg semifinals - Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) is back in the Ranking Series final with a 10-1 victory over Otari ADEISHVILI (GEO). He looked in complete control of the bout. Khadjiev will face Dean HAMITI (USA) for the gold medal after he defeated Evan WICK (USA), 6-5, in a thrilling semifinal

12:15: Trent HIDLAY (USA) once again shows how to come back and win a bout. Down 6-0 against Abofazl RAHMANI (IRI), he scores a four-pointer and keeps the pressure on the Iranian to win 11-9 and make his spot in the semifinal at 92kg.

11:45: Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) gives up a takedown against Richard VEGH (HUN) but that is the only slip in an otherwise dominant bout at 97kg. Two four point throws for Yazdani as he advances to the semifinals.

11:35: Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW) with a big four-pointer in her 5-0 win against Beatrice FERENT (ROU) at 55kg. The world silver medalist is the favorite to win gold here.

11:25: Mobin AZIMI (IRI) bounces back from his loss to Trent HIDLAY (USA) and beats Abolfazl RAHMANI (IRI) in his second bout at 92kg round robin. Azimi managed to score a takedown with less than 30 second left to beat Rahmani 4-3.

11:10: Two quick results at women's 50kg. Haruna MORIKAWA (JPN) beats Kendra RYAN (USA) 12-1 at 50kg before NEELAM (IND) also wins via technical superiority, 10-0, against Agata GOLUCHOWSKA (POL). 

11:00: 92kg world champion Trent HIDLAY (USA) makes a comeback from 5-0 down to beat Mobin AZIMI (IRI) 5-5 in the group stage bout. Hidlay scored a takedown in the second period before adding two stepouts. Iran challenged the second one but lost which gave the criteria lead to Hidlay

10:50: Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) doesn't the trademark jump before entering the mat but his bout against Merab SULEIMANISHVILI (GEO) is a typical Yazdani bout. He uses the underhook to start scoring and then rallies to score takedowns at will before turning Suleimanishvili and winning his bout 11-0

10:45: Magomed SHARIPOV (BRN) wrestled well but it is Yaraslau SLAVIKOUSKI (UWW) who manages to win 6-4 at 97kg and win the opening bout.

10:30: Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) will be on Mat B but before that, a few big results in Zagreb. Richard VEGH (HUN) manages to hang on for a 3-0 victory over Kamil KURUGLIYEV (KAZ) at 97kg.