World Championships

Japan, U.S. Derail Russian Rout in Cadet World Championships Freestyle

By William May

SARAJEVO (August 30) – Japan and the United States came up with three stunning wins to derail Russia’s plans for a rout on the final day freestyle events at the Cadet Wrestling World Championships.

Gable STEVESON (USA), Jarod VERKLEREEN (USA) and Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) scored the only wins against Russian opponents at Sports Hall Amel Beckovic on Sunday, and all three led to gold medals for the victors.

The U.S., meanwhile, rallied Sunday with titles from Steveson (100kg) and Verklereen (63kg) and a bronze medal from Daton FIX (54kg) for 55 points and third place.

 

The U.S., meanwhile, rallied Sunday with titles from Steveson (100kg) and Verklereen (63kg) and a bronze medal from Daton FIX (54kg) for 55 points and third place.

With the Russian juggernaut rampaging through the morning session, Steveson ambushed them with a 10-5 win over Soslan KHINCHAGOV (RUS) in the semifinals at 100kg to cap the morning session.

Steveson went on to forge a 9-0 victory over Khasanboy RAKHIMOV (UZB) in the championship finale, assigning his opponent to a silver medal along with twin brother, Khusanboy RAKHIMOV (UZB). Khusanboy won the silver medal at 85kg on Saturday night.

Sunday evening’s medal matches began with Aleksey KOPYLOV (RUS) rolling up a gold medal with three gut wrenches for a 10-0 technical fall over European bronze medal winner Georgios PILIDIS (GRE) in the 46kg final.

Former world bronze medalist Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) created some drama in the 54kg final when he raced out to an apparent, 13-2, technical fall win over Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RUS). A challenge from the Russian corner, however, adjusted the score to 9-2 as the wrestlers headed into the second period.

“My coaches told me not to worry about it and keep scoring points when I had the chance,” Otoguro said after cobbling together a 13-6 win over an increasingly agitated opponent. “The cheering of my teammates and the people in the arena really raised my spirits.”

Otoguro explained that “A year ago, I tried to protect a lead by being defensive.  So this year I knew I needed to continue scoring points.”

Verklereen followed suit in the 63kg final, securing a cross-ankle lock and converting it to an 11-0 win at 2:51 over Khayrullah NURADINOV (RUS).

Aslanbek GVARAMIA (RUS) secured a second win for Russia, wrapping up his victory over European bronze medalist Ivan STEFANOV (BUL) at 76kg with a takedown to gut wrench for a 10-0 technical fall.

Freestyle

46kg (26 entries)
Gold – Aleksei KOPYLOV (RUS) df. Georgios PILIDIS (GRE) by TF, 10-0, 1:21 
Bronze – Monu MONU (IND) df. Dzmitry YARMOLCHYK (BLR) by TF, 11-0, 3:02 
Bronze – Amir PARASTEH (IRI) df. Dylan DEMILIO (USA) by TF, 15-4, 2:54

54kg (25 entries)
Gold – Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) df. Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RUS), 13-6
Bronze – Gevorg ABRAMIAN (UKR) by Hamed SIAYHDOOLAN (IRI) by Fall, 2:38
Bronze – Daton FIX (USA) df. Abbas RAKHMONOV (UZB) by TF, 17-2, 3:34

63kg (24 entries)
Gold – Jarod VERKLEREEN (USA) df. Khayrulla NURADINOV (RUS) by TF, 11-0, 2:51 
Bronze – Ahmed MEDHIZADEHMARZAN (IRI) df. Vasili DIACONU (MDA), 11-6 
Bronze – Orkhan ABBASOV (AZE) df. Rui SAKASAI (JPN), 6-2

76kg (26 entries)
Gold – Aslanbek GVARAMIA (RUS) df. Ivan STEFANOV (BUL) by TF, 10-0, 2:25 
Bronze – Arkadzi PAHASIAN (BLR) df. Gabriele DORO (ITA) by TF, 10-0, 1:44
Bronze – Ahliman GULIYEV (AZE) df. Hamed MANAFIAN (IRI) by TF, 10-0, 2:20

100kg (21 entries)
Gold – Gable STEVESON (USA) df. Khasanboy RAKHIMOV (UZB), 9-0
Bronze – Yakup YERLIKAYA (TUR) df. Hussain NASIR (IND) by TF, 12-2, 3:07
Bronze – Soslan KHINCHAGOV (RUS) df. Zuriko URTASHVILI (GEO), 10-2

#WrestleSofia

U20 World Championships day four semis set

By Vinay Siwach

SOFIA, Bulgaria (August 18) -- The fourth day of the U20 World Championships will see the qualification rounds and semifinals of the 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 65kg, and 72kg. Later in the day, the medal bouts will also be determined.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

Here are the semifinals for the evening session

53kg
Shaimaa MOHAMED (EGY) vs. Altyn SHAGAYEVA (KAZ)
Nataliia KLIVCHUTSKA (UKR) vs ANTIM (IND)

57kg
Melda DERNEKCI (TUR) vs. Sofia MACALUSO (USA)
Ruka NATAMI (JPN) vs. Zeinep BAYANOVA (KAZ)

62kg
Birgul SOLTANOVA (AZE) vs. Nonoka OZAKI (JPN)
Bermet NURIDIN KYZY (KGZ) vs. Sonam MALIK (IND)

65kg
Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN) vs. Khadija JLASSI (TUN)
Dilnaz SAZANOVA (KGZ) vs. Priyanka PRIYANKA (IND) 

72kg
REETIKA (IND) vs. Amit ELOR (USA)
Anastassiya PANASSOVICH (KAZ) vs. Sumire NIIKURA (JPN) 

13:00: Ruka NATAMI (JPN) with a late score to beat Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) at 57kg. Khomenets led 4-2 but Natami scored a takedown. Still trailing on criteria, Natami moves Khomenets to the zone and gets the exposure for 4 to win 8-4.

Sofia MACALUSO (USA) has pinned returning silver medalist Aurora RUSSO (ITA)

12:50: At 53kg, huge results. Nataliia KLIVCHUTSKA (UKR) beats returning silver medalist Mihaela SAMOIL (MDA)Altyn SHAGAYEVA (KAZ) pins '21 U17 world champion Katie GOMEZ (USA).

Shaimaa MOHAMED (EGY) beats Chadia AYACHI (FRA) 7-4 while ANTIM (IND) pins Ayaka KIMURA (JPN) 

12:35: At 72kg, Amit ELOR (USA) adds another technical superiority win over Zsofia VIRAG (HUN). Asian silver medalist Sumire NIIKURA (JPN) is up 2-1 against Nazar BATIR (TUR). In the second period, Batir comes back with a takedown to reclaim the lead 3-2. Niikura with a flurry of attacks and gets a takedown and the lead. 41 seconds remaining with Niikura leading 4-3. Batir tries to trip Niikura but not to be. Niikura wins 4-3. 

12:30: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) is dangerous. She gets the fall over Viktoria OEVERBY (NOR). On the other mat, Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA) with the fall over Iris THIEBAUX (FRA). She will face Sonam MALIK (IND) in the quarters

12:20: Sofia MACALUSO (USA) with an important win for the USA. She led 4-4 on criteria and stopped SITO (IND) from getting any points. Desperate to score, Sito commits to a duck-under when Macaluso pins her at 57kg. In the same weight class, Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) vs. Ruka NATAMI (JPN) will meet in the quarterfinals.

12:00: What dream quarterfinals do we have at 53kg

Mihaela SAMOIL (MDA) vs. Nataliia KLIVCHUTSKA (UKR)
Altyn SHAGAYEVA (KAZ) vs. Katie GOMEZ (USA)
Shaimaa MOHAMED (EGY) vs. Chadia AYACHI (FRA)
Ayaka KIMURA (JPN) vs. ANTIM (IND) 

11:40: At 57kg, Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) with a quick fall over Othelie HOEIE (NOR). In a contrasting bout, Sezim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) df. Bertha ROJAS (MEX) were going for it and the bout had 31 points with Zhumanazarova winning 17-14 

11:35: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) and Iryna BONDAR (UKR) wrestling at 62kg. Ozaki gets a takedown to lead 2-0. Bondar tries to get on Ozaki's legs but strong defense from the Asian champion. She keeps it simple and wins 5-0.

In other bouts at 62kg, Mastoura SOUDANI (ALG) defeats Luisa SCHEEL (GER), 12-0 and Bermet NURIDIN KYZY (KGZ) beats Yu LO (TPE) via fall

11:17: The qualification rounds of 72kg will kick off the rounds for day three. Amit ELOR (USA), a returning U20 world champion, begins with a fall over Zaineb SGHAIER (TUN)

11:15: While Japan has taken an outright lead in the team race, India, Turkey and Ukraine are still to be second. India has two in repechage while Turkey has three. Ukraine has two as well

11:00: Welcome to day four of the U20 World Championships. The women are ready to take the mats. Keep an eye on Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) at 62kg, Amit ELOR (USA) at 72kg and Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) at 57kg.