Japan, U.S. Set to Clash; China All But Through

Saturday, March 17, 2018 - 06:41 By Ken Marantz

Host Japan and the United States will clash in the evening session for a place in the final of the Women's World Cup after the two powerhouses handily disposed of the two other group opponents on the opening day at Takasaki Arena.

Japan, aiming for its fourth straight title, swept past overmatched Sweden 10-0 before putting away Canada 8-2 in Group A. The United States opened with an 8-2 win over Canada, then topped Sweden 9-1.

In Group B, China moved to the brink of a berth in Sunday's final by topping Asian rival Mongolia 9-1, then whitewashing Romania 10-0. In the night session, China, the 2017 runner-up, will face Belarus, a 7-3 winner over Romania that lost 6-4 to Mongolia in most competitive match of the first two sessions.

"We were moving very well," Japan head coach Hideo SASAYAMA said of his team, which liberally used all of its members to keep the top wrestlers fresh for the impending battle with the U.S. "If we do out on the mat what we have done in practice, I think we will be able to win."

(Yukako KAWAI (JPN) looks for the fall against Emma JOHANSSON (SWE) //Photo: Max Rose-Fyne)

Japan, despite a lineup of world and Olympic champions, looks vulnerable in the heavier weight classes, where it suffered both of its losses to Canada and had several close calls with Sweden.

Complicating matters is that world and Olympic champion Sara DOSHO (JPN) appeared to suffer a left shoulder injury during her match with Danielle LAPPAGE (CAN), in which she took an early 2-1 lead and did just enough to make that score stick to the end.

On a positive note, Masako FURUICHI (JPN), a bronze medalist at the recent Asian Championships in Bishkek, pulled off a surprise by scoring a takedown with :30 left to beat Rio 2017 Olympic bronze medalist Jenny FRANSSON (SWE), 2x-2.

Getting off to an early lead will be the key for Japan---in the six weight divisions up to 62kg, Japan won every match by fall or technical fall, while only conceding a total of six points.

U.S. head coach Terry STEINER said his squad has prepared well and is ready for the challenge of beating Japan on its home mat. That would avenge a close loss in the group stage at the 2017 World Cup three months ago in Russia, when the two sides split eight matches, and Japan won by virtue of having a fall and two technical falls among its victories.

"We know that Japan is going to throw their best at us," Steiner said. "They're not going to get beat by an American team without fighting with their best people. We know we've got to be on our game tonight.

"I want to see us compete hard, I want to see us fight, I want to see us be aggressive. And that's the main thing. If I see that out of them, I think we have a chance."

(Ningning RONG (CHN) looks for the double leg against Battsetseg ALTANTSETSEG (MGL) // Photo: Max Rose-Fyne)

China, which won five gold medals in Bishkek, switched the weight classes of champions RONG Ningning and PEI Xingru, moving Rong down to 57kg and Pei up to 59kg.

Against Mongolia, Pei was pitted against Shoovdor BAATARJAV, who lost to Rong in Bishkek and came away with a bronze medal. Pei had her hands full on Saturday, needing a takedown with :04 left to pull out a 3x-3 victory.

The comeback of the day so far, however, belongs to Bishkek 2018 bronze medalist Davaachimeg ERKHEMBAYAR (MGL).

In her 55kg match against Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR), Erkhembayar was losing 5-0 when she scored with a step-out with 20 seconds to go. A desperate attempt for a tackle was thwarted, but with the clock ticking down, she launched a barrel roll of sorts for a miracle 4-point move as time expired and a 5x-5 victory.

(Davaachimeg ERKHEMBAYAR (MGL) celebrates her last second victory against Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR), Photo: Max Rose-Fyne)

That victory became key in Mongolia's win over Belarus, as it kept the Asian nation in contention for a medal---particularly after its top wrestler suffered a stunning defeat.

World and Asian champion Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) was thrown to her back early in her 62kg match with Veranika IVANOVA (BLR), only to fight out of the predicament and build an 11-4 lead herself. But Ivanova stuck the Mongolian on her back again, and this time finished her off for a fall in with 1:49 remaining.

That loss came after Mongolian coaches allowed Purevdorj to default her earlier match against China, after the Chinese had built up a insurmountable lead. Her default to LUO Xiaojuan (CHN) prevented a rematch of the final in Bishkek, which Purevdorj had won 12-4.

"That's a tactic," Mongolian coach Byambajov BATTULGA said. "Just to keep power."

Two matches later, however, a rematch of a final did become reality, as ZHOU Feng (CHN) repeated her victory over Tumentsetseg SHARKHUU (MGL), again by technical fall.

(ZHOU Feng led China in the opening two sessions of the 2018 Women's World Cup in Takasaki // Photo: Max Rose-Fyne)

In another intriguing matchup, there was a clash of Paris 2017 world bronze medalists, with Justina DI STASIO (CAN) defeating Hiroe MINAGAWA (JPN) by the narrowest of margins. Di Stasio scored a takedown with :24 left, then survived two step-outs to win 3x-3.

Rio 2016 champion Erica WIEBE (CAN) stood out as the only wrestler to chalk up wins over both Japan and U.S. opponents, topping Victoria FRANCIS (USA) by fall and Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN), 8-0.

In her lone match, Rio 2016 and Paris 2017 gold medalist Risako KAWAI (JPN) . stormed to a 10-0 technical fall of Jessica BROUILLETTE (CAN) in just under two minutes.

Group A

Session 1

UNITED STATES 8 CANADA 2

50 kg: Victoria ANTHONY (USA) df. Jessica MACDONALD (CAN), 8-4
53 kg: Diana WEICKER (CAN) df. Haley AUGELLO (USA), 6-1
55 kg: Becka LEATHERS (USA) df. Jade PARSONS (CAN) by Fall, 5:31 (4-0)
57 kg: Allison RAGAN (USA) df. Samantha STEWART (CAN) by TF, 10-0, 3:17
59 kg: Kayla MIRACLE (USA) df. Emily SCHAEFER (CAN) by TF, 17-6, 1:46
62 kg: Mallory VELTE (USA) df. Jessica BROUILLETTE (CAN) by TF, 11-0, 2:06
65 kg: Julia SALATA (USA) df. Braxton STONE (CAN) by TF, 10-0, 0:30
68 kg: Tamyra MENSAH (USA) df. Olivia DI BACCO (CAN), 5-2
72 kg: Erica WIEBE (CAN) df. Victoria FRANCIS (USA) by Fall, 1:43 (10-0)
76 kg: Adeline GRAY (USA) df. Justina DI STASIO (CAN), 10-2

JAPAN 10 SWEDEN 0

50 kg: Miho IGARASHI (JPN) vs Malin LJUNGSTROEM (SWE) by Fall, 5:24 (4-0)
53 kg: Haruna OKUNO (JPN) df. Linn LUNDSTROEM (SWE) by TF, 10-0, 4:27
55 kg: Saki IGARASHI (JPN) df. Liliana JUAREZ ANDINO (SWE) by TF, 10-0, 4:34
57 kg: Katsuki SAKAGAMI (JPN) df. Sara LINDBORG (SWE) by TF, 10-0, 2:30
59 kg: Yukako KAWAI (JPN) df. Emma JOHANSSON by Fall, 5:13 (3-2)
62 kg: Yurika ITO (JPN) df. Therese PERSSON (SWE) by TF, 10-0, 2:31
65 kg: Kiwa SAKAE (JPN) df. Moa NYGREN (SWE), 4-2
68 kg: Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) df. Alexandra SANDAHL (SWE), 5-1
72 kg: Masako FURUICHI (JPN) df. Jenny FRANSSON (SWE), 2x-2
76 kg: Yasuha MATSUYUKI (JPN) df. Denise MAKOTA STROEM (SWE) by Fall, 0:03 (6-4)

Session 2

UNITED STATES 9 SWEDEN 1

50 kg: Erin GOLSTON (USA) df. Malin LJUNGSTROEM (SWE) by Fall, 4:57 (4-0)
53 kg: Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) df. Linn LUNDSTROEM (SWE) by TF, 10-0, 3:41
55 kg: Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) df. Liliana JUAREZ ANDINO (SWE) by Fall, 5:12 (4-0)
57 kg: Allison RAGAN (USA) df. Sara LINDBORG (SWE) by TF, 10-0, 3:33
59 kg: Kayla MIRACLE (USA) df. Emma JOHANSSON (SWE) by Fall, 4:57 (4-0)
62 kg: Mallory VELTE (USA) df. Therese PERSSON (SWE) by Default
65 kg: Forrest MOLINARI (USA) df. Moa NYGREN (SWE), 4-0
68 kg: Tamyra MENSAH (USA) df. Alexandra SANDAHL (SWE) by TF, 10-0, 2:40
72 kg: Jenny FRANSSON (SWE) df. Victoria FRANCIS (USA) by TF, 10-0, 0:24
76 kg: Adeline GRAY (USA) df. Denise MAKOTA STROEM (SWE) by Fall, 4:47 (2-0)

JAPAN 8 CANADA 2

50 kg: Yuki IRIE (JPN) df. Jessica MACDONALD (CAN) by Fall, 1:33 (13-2)
53 kg: Yu MIYAHARA (JPN) df. Diana WEICKER (CAN) by Fall, 0:34 (9-2)
55 kg: Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) df. Jade PARSONS (CAN) by TF, 10-0, 3:23
57 kg: Sae NANJO (JPN) df. Samantha STEWART (CAN) by TF, 10-0, 4:39
59 kg: Yuzuru KUMANO (JPN) df. Emily SCHAEFER (CAN) by TF, 10-0, 2:10
62 kg: Risako KAWAI (JPN) df. Jessica BROUILLETTE (CAN) by TF, 10-0, 4:08
65 kg: Ayana GEMPEI (JPN) df. Braxton STONE (CAN) by Default
68 kg: Sara DOSHO (JPN) df. Danielle LAPPAGE (CAN), 2-1
72 kg: Erica WIEBE (CAN) df. Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN), 8-0
76 kg: Justina DI STASIO (CAN) df. Hiroe MINAGAWA (JPN), 3x-3

Group B

Session 1

CHINA 9 MONGOLIA 1

50 kg: SUN Yanan (CHN) df. Namuuntsetseg TSOGT OCHIR (MGL) by VSU, 10-0
53 kg: Sumiya ERDENECHIMEG (MGL) df. OUYANG Junling (CHN) by VFA, 8-7
55 kg: ZHANG Qi (CHN) df. Davaachimeg ERKHEMBAYAR (MGL), 6-5
57 kg: RONG Ningning (CHN) df. Battsetseg ALTANTSETSEG (MGL), 9-1
59 kg: PEI Xingru (CHN) df. Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL), 3x-3
62 kg: LUO Xiaojuan (CHN) df. Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) by Default
65 kg: TANG Chuying (CHN) df. Battsetseg SORONZONBOLD (MGL), 6-4
68 kg: ZHOU Feng (CHN) df. Tumentsetseg SHARKHUU (MGL) by TF, 16-5, 1:11
72 kg: HAN Yue (CHN) df. Nasanburmaa OCHIRBAT (MGL) by TF, 15-4, 1:50
76 kg: ZHOU Qian (CHN) df. Chantsalnyamaa AMGALANBAATAR (MGL) by TF, 14-0, 1:25

BELARUS 7 ROMANIA 3

50 kg: Alina VUC (ROU) df. Kseniya STANKEVICH (BLR) by Fall, 0:10 (14-7)
53 kg: Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR) df. Estera TAMADUIANU DOBRE (ROU) by Fall, 4:30 (9-0)
55 kg: Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR) df. Simona PRICOB (ROU) by Fall, 0:26 (10-0)
57 kg: Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR) df. Kateryna ZHYDACHEVSKA (ROU) by Fall, 4:21 (4-0)
59 kg: Katsiaryna HANCHAR YANUSHKEVICH (BLR) by Forfeit
62 kg: Veranika IVANOVA (BLR) df. Kriszta INCZE (ROU), 3-0
65 kg: Krystsina FEDARASHKA (BLR) df. Adina POPESCU (ROU), 1x-1
68 kg: Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) df. Hanna SADCHANKA (BLR), 6-0
72 kg: Catalina AXENTE (ROU) by Forfeit
76 kg: Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR) by Forfeit

Session 2

CHINA 10 ROMANIA 0

50 kg: ZHU Jiang (CHN) df. Emilia Alina VUC (ROU) by TF, 10-0, 3:38
53 kg: OUYANG Junling (CHN) df. Estera TAMADUIANU DOBRE (ROU) by Fall, 2:17 (11-0)
55 kg: ZHANG Qi (CHN) df. Simona PRICOB (ROU) by TF, 10-0, 1:39
57 kg: YANG Nan (CHN) df. Kateryna ZHYDACHEVSKA (ROU), 8-4
59 kg: Lingling BAO (CHN) by Forfeit
62 kg: LUO Xiaojuan (CHN) df. Kriszta INCZE (ROU), 3-2
65 kg: TANG Chuying (CHN) df. Adina Elena POPESCU (ROU) by TF, 10-0, 4:43
68 kg: ZHOU Feng (CHN) df. Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) by Fall, 2:29 (11-0)
72 kg: WANG Juan (CHN) df. Catalina AXENTE (ROU) by TF, 11-0, 4:53
76 kg: Paliha PALIHA (CHN) by Forfeit

MONGOLIA 6 BELARUS 4

50 kg: Narangerel ERDENESUKH (MGL) df. Kseniya STANKEVICH (BLR), 10-6
53 kg: Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR) df. Otgonjargal GANBAATAR (MGL), 7-6
55 kg: Davaachimeg ERKHEMBAYAR (MGL) df. Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR) 5x-5
57 kg: Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR) df. Battsetseg ALTANTSETSEG (MGL), 2-1
59 kg: Shoovdor BAATARJAV df. Katsiaryna HANCHAR YANUSHKEVICH (BLR) by TF, 14-3, 1:48
62 kg: Veranika IVANOVA (BLR) df. Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) by Fall, 4:11 (6-11)
65 kg: Battsetseg SORONZONBOLD (MGL) df. Krystsina FEDARASHKA (BLR) by TF, 10-0, 4:32
68 kg: Tumentsetseg SHARKHUU (MGL) df. Hanna SADCHANKA (BLR) by Fall, 1:16 (11-2)
72 kg: Nasanburmaa OCHIRBAT (MGL) by Forfeit
76 kg: Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR) df. Chantsalnyamaa AMGALANBAATAR (MGL), 4-1

#WrestleTirana

World Championships: Sadulaev tops two world champs en route 92kg final

Wednesday, October 30, 2024 - 17:14 By Ken Marantz

TIRANA, Albania (October 30) -- The paths of two of the greatest wrestlers of the past decade-plus crossed for the first and only time, and it was Abdulrashid SADULAEV (AIN) who swatted aside David TAYLOR (USA) to stay on course for a sixth world medal.

Sadulaev put up an impregnable defense in posting a 7-0 victory after the luck of the draw pitted the superstars against each other in the first round at freestyle 92kg at the Non-Olympic Weight Categories World Championships on Wednesday in Tirana.

Two-time Olympic champion Sadulaev, who was left off the list of Russian and Belarussian wrestlers eligible for the Paris Olympics, later advanced to Thursday's final with a dramatic, last-second 5-3 victory over 2021 and 2022 world champion Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI).

Two other big names in the tournament did not fare so well, as Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) saw his bid for a seventh career world title end with a quarterfinal loss at 79kg, while Tokyo Olympic and two-time world champion Zavur UGUEV (AIN) fell at the first hurdle at 61kg.

In the most anticipated match of the tournament, Sadulaev was content to sit back and let Taylor go on the offensive, fending off each attack and twice scoring go-behind takedowns, while also adding a counter lift for 2. He also scored a stepout, but otherwise made no legitimate tackle attempts.

The closest Taylor came to scoring came on his first shot, when he got in deep on a single and tried to come out the back door, only for the surprisingly nimble Sadulaev to escape the hold.

Sadulaev and Taylor both won Olympic golds at Tokyo 2021, at 97kg and 86kg, respectively, and Wednesday's match saw them meeting in the middle. It's the first time Sadulaev is wrestling below 97kg since moving up to that weight after winning the 86kg gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Taylor, who won his third world title in 2023 but retired after losing at the U.S. Olympic Trials to Aaron BROOKS (USA), had taken the head coaching job at powerhouse Oklahoma State University but returned to the mat for one last go-round.

Sadulaev followed up his win over Taylor by beating Aslan ABAKAROV (AZE) 3-1 and Lars SCHAEFLE (GER) by a 10-0 technical fall to set up his clash with Ghasempour that turned into another classic victory by the Russian great.

Sadulaev had gone ahead 1-1 on criteria after each received an activity point when Ghasempour finally broke through the defenses and scored a double-leg takedown with 30 seconds left. But with the final seconds ticking down, he snapped the Iranian down, spun behind, then managed to fling him to the mat for a 4-point takedown.

In the final, he will face 2022 world bronze medalist Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO), who won an at-times tempestuous semifinal over surprising Benjamin HONIS (ITA) 9-2.

At 79kg, the 36-year-old Burroughs was unable to turn back the clock and fell 6-4 in the quarterfinals to Asian champion and two-time world medalist Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI).

Burroughs' hopes for a 10th world medal overall, however, ended when Nokhodi was dealt a tough 14-8 loss in the semifinals by four-time European bronze medalist Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO).

Nokhodi looked to be cruising to victory when he built up a 6-0 lead in the second period. But Kentchadze secured a takedown that allowed him to wrap up Nokhodi's legs and he ripped off three lace-lock rolls. Nokhodi halted the flow for a moment for a 2-point exposure, but he also appeared to injure his knee during the exchange and the Georgian was able to easily add a pair of late takedowns.

Kentchadze will look to improve on the silver medal he won at 74kg in 2018 when he faces 2023 and 2021 world U23 champion Magomed MAGOMAEV (AIN), who defeated 2021 European champion Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK) in the other semifinal.

Earlier, Uguev tumbled out at the hands of world U20 champion Masanosuke ONO (JPN), who rode the momentum of that victory into the 61kg final.

Uguev, seemingly hampered by an ankle injury, had no answer for the lightning-quick speed of Ono, who chalked up two takedown-gut wrench combinations in the first period en route to a 10-2 victory.

Ono never let up after the victory, chalking up three straight technical falls without giving up a point, capped with a dominating 12-0 victory in the semifinals over defending champion Vitali ARUJAU (USA). Ono sealed the victory with a slick 4-point front headlock throw.

In Thursday's final, Ono will face Ahmet DUMAN (TUR), the 2022 world U23 silver medalist at 57kg who edged Tsogbadrakh TSEVEENSUREN (MGL) 3-1 in the other semifinal.

Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) joined Ono -- his former teammate at Yamanashi Gakuin University -- in the gold-medal matches when he avenged a loss in last year's world U23 final to Inalbek SHERIEV (AIN) with a 6-1 victory in the 70kg semifinals.

Aoyagi, who won a bronze at this year's World U23 Championships held last week at the same Tirana venue, will face 2019 world bronze medalist Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) in an all-Asian final.

Kaipanov rolled to a 13-2 victory over Russian-born Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK), who will still get a chance to become just the second world medalist in any style from Tajikistan.

Freestyle Results

61kg (27 entries)
SF: Ahmet DUMAN (TUR) df. Tsogbadrakh TSEVEENSUREN (MGL), 3-1
SF: Masanosuke ONO (JPN) df. Vitali ARUJAU (USA) by TF, 12-0, 4:20

70kg (25 entries)
SF: Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) df. Inalbek SHERIEV (AIN), 6-1
SF: Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) df. Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK) by TF, 13-2, 3:47

79kg (33 entries)
SF: Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) df. Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI), 14-8
SF: Magomed MAGOMAEV (AIN) df. Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK), 9-3

92kg (29 entries)
SF: Abdulrashid SADULAEV (AIN) df. Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI), 5-3
SF: Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) df. Benjamin HONIS (ITA), 9-2

Japan, U.S. Set to Clash; China All But Through

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World Championships: Sadulaev tops two world champs en route 92kg final