#WrestleRome

LIVE BLOG: Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series, Day Two

By United World Wrestling Press

Three new Greco-Roman champions and four new women's wrestling champions on day two of action at the Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series. Erica WIEBE (CAN) defended her 76kg title in a dominant fashion while Tamyra Mariama STOCK MENSAH (USA) improved on her silver-medal finish last year to win the gold this time. Canada finished with three medals in women's wrestling including two gold.

Action will continue on day three with remaining six women's weight categories and two men's freestyle categories. Don't forget to tune in at 1030 hrs local time.

WATCH: Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series Day Two Finals

FINALS' MATCH ORDER

2038 hrs: GOLD MEDAL! Erica Wiebe defends her gold medal in style! A 10-0 technical superiority win over Samar Hamza closes out the day in Rome. Some total control mode from Wiebe there

2034 hrs: Another slow start from Wiebe as she is warned for passivity at the 1:45 mark. But she gets going in the activity period and tosses Hamza for a four! She leads 4-0 going into the break

2028 hrs: Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) wins the second bronze medal at 76kg. She pulls off a good 6-0 win against Aline DA SILVA FERREIRA (BRA). This now takes us to the final bout of the day. Olympic and defending champion at Matteo Pellicone Erica Wiebe (CAN) is up against Samar HAMZA (EGY)

2022 hrs: Enrica RINALDI (ITA) with a quick technical superiority 10-0 win over Matilde CALDARELLI (ITA) to capture the bronze medal at 76kg

2018 hrs: Final weight for the day. The bronze medal bouts at 76kg are underway. On Mat A, two local wrestlers are battling it out. Matilde CALDARELLI (ITA) is wrestling teammate Enrica RINALDI (ITA). The other bout is Aline DA SILVA FERREIRA (BRA) against Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) on Mat B

2013 hrs: GOLD MEDAL! Tamyra Mariama STOCK MENSAH (USA) manages to turn the colour of her medal to gold. She lost in the final last year but this time she is going home with a gold. A dominant 11-0 win over Mimi Nikolova HRISTOVA (BUL)

2010 hrs: Mensah goes for the right leg and then ties a double. Hristova defends but Mensah is too strong for her. The judges give her two and two. She then gets an exposure. Bulgaria challenge the call. 

2008 hrs: Incredible from Mensah-Stock. She defends a leg attack and circles back to complete a takedown. Hristova goes for another desperate attack but Mensah is sitting deep. She scores two more. The US wrestlers leads 4-0 at the break

2005 hrs: World champion Tamyra Mariama STOCK MENSAH (USA) is up against Mimi Nikolova HRISTOVA (BUL). Mensah-Stock was silver medalist last year in Rome

2002 hrs: Di Bacco with a snap down go behind to make it 4-4 before a single leg drag for a takedown. She holds on to the 6-4 lead to give Canada a bronze medal at 68kg

1958 hrs: Glaude came up with a shoulder throw to take a 4-2 lead against di Bacco going into the break at the bronze medal bout

1954 hrs: Moving into the 68kg medal matches. Sofiya Hristova GEORGIEVA (BUL) will receive the first bronze medal as Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) is ruled out due to injury. On Mat B, Alexandria Junis GLAUDE (USA) is up against Olivia Grace DI BACCO (CAN)

#WrestleRome 62kg WW Medal Match Results
?Michelle FAZZARI?? df. Marianna SASTIN ??, 2-1
?Lais NUNES?? df. Irina KUZNETSOVA ??, 6-1

— United World Wrestling (@wrestling) March 5, 2021

1950 hrs: GOLD MEDAL! Michelle FAZZARI (CAN) is the champion at 62kg as she beats Marianna SASTIN (HUN) 2-1 in the final. All three points were for passivity. 

1948 hrs: This time it's Fazzari on the shot and she will give up a point for passivity. Sastin now leads 1-1 on criteria. No wrestler is able to score and the referee warns Sastin again with a minute remaining. Fazzari up 2-1 with 20 seconds to go

1943 hrs: Sastin is the first one to get the warning for passivity and she is put on the shot clock. Sastin fails to score and Fazzari gets the point. She will go into the break leading 1-0

1941 hrs: The gold medal match at 62kg. Marianna SASTIN (HUN) a former world champion and one of the veterans on the Hungary wrestling team. She is up against former World bronze medalist Michelle FAZZARI (CAN)

1940 hrs: Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) controls the entire bronze medal bout against Irina KUZNETSOVA (KAZ) and wins the medal with a 6-2 victory 

1930 hrs: Bronze medal bout for 62kg. Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) is taking on Irina KUZNETSOVA (KAZ). She is the first one to open the lead and gets a takedown. The Brazilian will go into the break leading 3-0

 

#WrestleRome 57kg WW Medal Match Results
?Giullia RODRIGUES ??df. Sarita SARITA ??, 4-2
?Francesca INDELICATO ?? df. Anshu ANSHU ??, via inj. def.
?Emma TISSINA ??df. Altynay SATYLGAN ??, 1-1

— United World Wrestling (@wrestling) March 5, 2021

 

1927 hrs: GOLD MEDAL! Giullia RODRIGUES PENALBER DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) wins the gold at 57kg. She makes a comeback from 0-2 down to win the medal 4-2 against SARITA (IND)

1925 hrs: Sarita goes off balance and de Oliveira is goes to go behind and get two points and the lead. Sarita with a desperate attack in the final 20 seconds but de Oliveira was ready for it. She circles back and gets two more.

1920 hrs: Final bout of the 57kg weight with SARITA (IND) taking on Giullia RODRIGUES PENALBER DE OLIVEIRA (BRA). Sarita on the offensive from the beginning and gets the first score for a stepout. de Oliveia is put on the shot clock. She fails to score in the 30 second period and Sarita leads 2-0 at the break

1915 hrs: Emma TISSINA (KAZ) holds on to a 1-1 victory against Altynay SATYLGAN (KAZ) to claim the bronze medal at 57kg women's weight category

1910 hrs: Women's medal bouts are underway! At 57kg, teammates, Altynay SATYLGAN (KAZ) is wrestling Emma TISSINA (KAZ) on Mat A. ANSHU (IND) is injured, giving the bronze medal to Francesca INDELICATO (ITA)

1902 hrs: Ten new Greco-Roman champions have been crowned in Rome.

                 55kg Viktor VEDERNIKOV (RUS)
                 60kg Emin SEFERSHAEV (RUS
                 63kg Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ)
                 67kg Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ)
                 72kg Robert Attila FRITSCH (HUN)
                 77kg Zolton LEVAI (HUN)
                 82kg Adlan AKIEV (RUS)
                 87kg Istvan TAKACS (HUN)
                 97kg Musa EVLOEV (RUS)
                 130kg Riza KAYAALP (TUR)

1900 hrs: GOLD MEDAL! Adlan AKIEV (RUS) is the tenth and final Greco-Roman champion in Rome! He was warned for passivity but had a stunning par terre defence even though Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) tried the clinch. Turkey corner even challenged the call. The Turk would be heartbroken as he finishes with yet another silver in Rome. Akiev wins 6-1 

1855 hrs: Akiev with the advantage and he goes a big throw for four! Akbudak was surprised with the suddenness of the move. Akiev leads 5-0 at the break in this 82kg final

1853 hrs: And now for the final Greco-Roman bout of this year's Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series. Russian national champion Adlan AKIEV (RUS) is taking on Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR), a returning silver medalist in Rome 

1852 hrs: Contrasting bronze medals for two Hungary wrestlers. Laszlo SZABO manages to hold on to a close 2-1 win over Salih AYDIN (TUR) while his teammate Tamas LEVAI (HUN) runs to a second-period technical superiority 8-0 win over Matteo MAFFEZZOLI (ITA)

1845 hrs: Szabo holds a single point lead against Aydin going into the break. Levai gets a big throw on Maffezzoli to take a 4-0 lead. Italy challenge the call. Levai gets another point as Italy lose the challenge

1842 hrs: Moving to the 82kg weight category. The bronze medal bouts have Laszlo SZABO (HUN) and Salih AYDIN (TUR) on Mat A and Matteo MAFFEZZOLI (ITA) Tamas LEVAI (HUN) on Mat B

 

#WrestleRome 77kg GR Medal Match Results
?Zoltan LEVAI ?? df. Yunus BASAR ??, 3-1
?Askhat DILMUKHAMEDOV ?? df. Peyton WALSH ??, 8-0
?Tamerlan SHADUKAYEV ?? df. Patrick SMITH ??, via fall

— United World Wrestling (@wrestling) March 5, 2021

 

1838 hrs: GOLD MEDAL! Zolton LEVAI (HUN) defends his title at the Matteo Pellicone with a 3-1 win in the 77kg final against Yunus Emre BASAR (TUR). The takedown proving to the difference for Levai

1835 hrs: Now it's Basar's turn to go par terre. Levai tries hard to get a gut wrench but will could not finish. 1-1 lead Levai on criteria. Levai then goes takedown out of bounds and a two-point lead. 

1830 hrs: Final bout at 77kg between Yunus Emre BASAR (TUR) and Zoltan LEVAI (HUN). Levai gets the passivity warning and Basar has the opportunity to make it count but he cannot. 1-0 lead at the break for Basar

1827 hrs: Quick finishes to the two bronze medal bouts at 77kg! Askhat DILMUKHAMEDOV (KAZ) goes to technical superiority win over Peyton Burke WALSH (USA) in under a minute. Incidentally, the second bout was also between Kazakhstan and USA. Tamerlan SHADUKAYEV (KAZ) gets a pin against Patrick Harrison SMITH (USA)

 

#WrestleRome 72kg GR Medal Match Results
?Robert FRITSCH ?? df. Selcuk CAN ??, 2-2
?Kuldeep MALIK ?? df. Chingiz LABAZANOV ??, 10-0

— United World Wrestling (@wrestling) March 5, 2021

 

1824 hrs: GOLD MEDAL! Robert Attila FRITSCH (HUN) stages a comeback from 0-2 to win the gold medal at 72kg in Rome. Heartbreak for Selcuk CAN (TUR) who was looking to change the colour of his silver medal from last year to gold but goes down 2-2 in the final

1820 hrs: Now Can is warned for passivity. He still leads 2-1. Fritsch is really pushing for action. He brings Can to the danger zone and earns a pushout. Now Fritsch is leading 2-2 on criteria with les than minute to go

1815 hrs: The final of 72kg is between returning silver medalist Selcuk CAN (TUR) and Robert Attila FRITSCH (HUN). Can with the early advantage after Fritsch was warned for passivity. He gets one more for a out of bounds. Can leads 2-0 at the break

1812 hrs: A pushout, takedown and another pushout has given Malik a 10-9 lead in this bronze medal bout. Looks like the Labazanov is trying to catch his breath but Malik will hold on for a 10-9 win for the bronze medal. What a start we have had to the medal matches

1810 hrs: This looked quite comfortable for Labazanov but Malik has got two pushouts and they exchange two points each on a body lock. 9-6 Labazanov

1806 hrs: Labazanov goes for a body-lock throw to finish the bout but lands on his back, giving two to Malik and we have a stoppage for bleeding as the Russian has hurt, what looks like a cut on above his eye. 7-2 for Labazanov at the break

1800 hrs: We are underway! Russian national champion Chingiz LABAZANOV (RUS) is wrestling for the bronze medal against Kuldeep MALIK (IND). Malik gets the first passivity warning and Labazanov gets to work. He goes gut wrench, gut wrench, gut wrench for a 7-0 lead

1750 hrs: Welcome back! We are 10 minutes away from the medal matches in Rome. Kicking off action will be Greco-Roman bronze medal bout at 72kg between Kuldeep MALIK (IND) and Chingiz LABAZANOV (RUS) on Mat A and the gold medal bout on Mat B between Robert Attila FRITSCH (HUN) and Selcuk CAN (TUR)

If you missed the first session, below is a recap. If you are wondering what happened on day one of the competition, here's a video roundup

 

1350 hrs: We will be back after a four-hour break for the finals. You can head over to our Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube to catch the highlights of the morning session

1345 hrs: We are done with our semi-finals! Here's the line-up for finals

Greco-Roman line-up

72kg Robert Attila FRITSCH (HUN) vs Selcuk CAN (TUR)
77kg Yunus Emre BASAR (TUR) vs vs Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) 
82kg Adlan AKIEV (RUS) vs Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR)

Women's Wrestling line-up

57kg SARITA (IND) vs Giullia RODRIGUES (BRA)
62kg Marianna SASTIN (HUN) vs Michelle FAZZARI (CAN)
68kg Mimi Nikolova HRISTOVA (BUL) vs Tamyra MENSAH-STOCK (USA)
76kg Samar HAMZA (EGY) vs Erica WIEBE (CAN)

 

1340 hrs: Third Canada wrestler in the final! Michelle FAZZARI matches teammates Erica WIEBE and Olivia Grace DI BACCO to reach the final. She beats Irina KUZNETSOVA (KAZ) 7-2 in the 62 semi-final. She will wrestle Marianna SASTIN (HUN) in the final

1338 hrs: Tamyra Mariama STOCK MENSAH (USA) will be wrestling for a gold! The returning silver medalist gets a dominant 10-0 win over Sofiya Hritsova GEORGIEVA (BUL). She will try to win her fifth Ranking Series gold medal

1336 hrs: Michelle FAZZARI (CAN) was looking for the pin against Irina KUZNETSOVA (KAZ) but the Kazak wrestler was quick to come and try a pin of her own. Fazzari barely manages to survive that. 5-2 lead for the Canada wrestler

1333 hrs: World champion Mensah-Stock is wrestling her 68kg semi-final against Sofiya Hristova GEORGIEVA (BUL). Two brilliant takedowns for the American and she is up 4-0

1330 hrs: de Oliveira is the winner at 57kg. ANSHU is declared not fit to wrestle after the break as she complains about pain in the hamstring. She is trailing 7-10. She insists she can continue. But the judges think otherwise.

1325 hrs: Another over-the-shoulder throw from de Oliveira. But Anshu spins on head. Brazil corner is asking for four. Referee awards two. Challenge from Brazil but they lose it. 10-5 for Brazil

 

Count 'em! That's two finalists for @WrestlingCanada.

68kg: Olivia Grace DI BACCO??
76kg: Erica Elizabeth WIEBE??https://t.co/zpwxopXS8d

— United World Wrestling (@wrestling) March 5, 2021

 

1322 hrs: Returning silver medalist ANSHU (IND) takes on Giullia RODRIGUES PENALBER DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) in the other 57kg semi-final. The Brazilian starts with a four-point throw and a reversal for Anshu. But de Oliveira goes for another big throw. 8-2 the lead for her

1316 hrs: Erica Wiebe (CAN) into the final with a close 2-0 win against Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ). Not much action in the bout but the Olympic champion controlled the bout throughout. In 57kg, Asian champion SARITA (IND) moves into the final with a win by fall

1315 hrs: Wiebe is holding on to a 2-0 lead with a minute remaining in her semi-final bout. On Mat B, Selcuk CAN (TUR) vs is leading Russian champion Chingiz LABAZANOV 3-0

1310 hrs: Returning champion Erica Wiebe is wrestling her semi-final against Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) on Mat C. The winner gets to wrestle Samar HAMZA (EGY) in the 76kg final

1305 hrs: Returning gold medalist at 77kg Zolton LEVAI (HUN) storms into the final with an 11-4 win over Tamerlan SHADUKAYEV (KAZ). In the 72kg semi-final Robert Attila FRITSCH (HUN) makes his way to the final with a 5-0 win over Kuldeep MALIK (IND)

1255 hrs: We are rolling into the semi-final bouts for the day! The line-up for WW

57kg (KAZ) Emma TISSINA vs (IND) SARITA
57 kg (IND) ANSHU vs (BRA) Giullia RODRIGUES PENALBER DE OLIVEIRA
62 kg (BRA) Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA vs (HUN) Marianna SASTIN
62 kg (CAN) Michelle Christina FAZZARI vs (KAZ) Irina KUZNETSOVA
68 kg (CAN) Olivia Grace DI BACCO vs (BUL) Mimi Nikolova HRISTOVA
68 kg (BUL) Sofiya Hristova GEORGIEVA vs (USA) Tamyra Mariama STOCK MENSAH
76 kg (KAZ) Elmira SYZDYKOVA vs (CAN) Erica Elizabeth WIEBE
76 kg (ITA) Enrica RINALDI vs (EGY) Samar Amer Ibrahim HAMZA

Greco-Roman line-up

72 kg (HUN) Robert Attila FRITSCH vs (IND) Kuldeep MALIK
72 kg (TUR) Selcuk CAN vs (RUS) Chingiz LABAZANOV
77 kg (TUR) Yunus Emre BASAR vs (USA) Peyton Burke WALSH
77 kg (HUN) Zoltan LEVAI vs (KAZ) Tamerlan SHADUKAYEV
82 kg (HUN) Tamas LEVAI vs (RUS) Adlan AKIEV
82 kg (TUR) Salih AYDIN vs (TUR) Burhan AKBUDAK

1245 hrs: Russia national champion Chingiz LABAZANOV (RUS) takes out former junior World Champion KISSYMETOV (KAZ) 7-3

1240 hrs: Michelle FAZZARI'S (CAN) four-point throw remains the difference as Marina SASTIN (HUN) goes down 3-5 

1230 hrs: Marina SASTIN (HUN) and Michelle FAZZARI (CAN) on Mat B. SASTIN leading 1-0 and FAZZARI gets a four! SASTIN challenges the call but it stands. 5-1 lead FAZZARI

1225 hrs: Mensah-Stock was hit with a surprise hip-toss but she comes back with three takedowns in the bout to win 6-4 against Hanzlickova

1221 hrs: World champion Tamyra Mariama STOCK MENSA (USA) is up against Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE). The Czech gets going with toss for four. A reversal for Mensa-Stock

1220 hrs: A win for 19-year-old ANSHU (IND). Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL) came up with a four-point throw but Anshu got a reversal and exposure to regain the lead 7-4. Nikolova had two pushouts and desperate try for a big throw in the dying seconds but Anshu hangs on to win 11-6

1214 hrs: ANSHU (IND) leads NIKOLOVA (BUL) 4-0 at the break in their 57kg quarter-final. On Mat C, Asian Championships bronze medalist Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) is up against KIRAN (IND)

1210 hrs: Erica WIEBE (CAN) holds on to the lead and the win! She moves into the 76kg quarter-finals. Next match on Mat A, returning silver ANSHU (IND) is up against World bronze Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL)

1340 hrs: Third Canada wrestler in the final! Michelle FAZZARI matches teammates Erica WIEBE and Olivia Grace DI BACCO to reach the final. She beats Irina KUZNETSOVA (KAZ) 7-2 in the 62 semi-final. She will wrestle Marianna SASTIN (HUN) in the final

1338 hrs: Tamyra Mariama STOCK MENSAH (USA) will be wrestling for a gold! The returning silver medalist gets a dominant 10-0 win over Sofiya Hritsova GEORGIEVA (BUL). She will try to win her fifth Ranking Series gold medal

1336 hrs: Michelle FAZZARI (CAN) was looking for the pin against Irina KUZNETSOVA (KAZ) but the Kazak wrestler was quick to come and try a pin of her own. Fazzari barely manages to survive that. 5-2 lead for the Canada wrestler

1333 hrs: World champion Mensah-Stock is wrestling her 68kg semi-final against Sofiya Hristova GEORGIEVA (BUL). Two brilliant takedowns for the American and she is up 4-0

1330 hrs: de Oliveira is the winner at 57kg. ANSHU is declared not fit to wrestle after the break as she complains about pain in the hamstring. She is trailing 7-10. She insists she can continue. But the judges think otherwise.

1325 hrs: Another over-the-shoulder throw from de Oliveira. But Anshu spins on head. Brazil corner is asking for four. Referee awards two. Challenge from Brazil but they lose it. 10-5 for Brazil

 

Count 'em! That's two finalists for @WrestlingCanada.

68kg: Olivia Grace DI BACCO??
76kg: Erica Elizabeth WIEBE??https://t.co/zpwxopXS8d

— United World Wrestling (@wrestling) March 5, 2021

 

1322 hrs: Returning silver medalist ANSHU (IND) takes on Giullia RODRIGUES PENALBER DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) in the other 57kg semi-final. The Brazilian starts with a four-point throw and a reversal for Anshu. But de Oliveira goes for another big throw. 8-2 the lead for her

1316 hrs: Erica Wiebe (CAN) into the final with a close 2-0 win against Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ). Not much action in the bout but the Olympic champion controlled the bout throughout. In 57kg, Asian champion SARITA (IND) moves into the final with a win by fall

1315 hrs: Wiebe is holding on to a 2-0 lead with a minute remaining in her semi-final bout. On Mat B, Selcuk CAN (TUR) vs is leading Russian champion Chingiz LABAZANOV 3-0

1310 hrs: Returning champion Erica Wiebe is wrestling her semi-final against Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) on Mat C. The winner gets to wrestle Samar HAMZA (EGY) in the 76kg final

1305 hrs: Returning gold medalist at 77kg Zolton LEVAI (HUN) storms into the final with an 11-4 win over Tamerlan SHADUKAYEV (KAZ). In the 72kg semi-final Robert Attila FRITSCH (HUN) makes his way to the final with a 5-0 win over Kuldeep MALIK (IND)

1255 hrs: We are rolling into the semi-final bouts for the day! The line-up for WW

57kg (KAZ) Emma TISSINA vs (IND) SARITA
57 kg (IND) ANSHU vs (BRA) Giullia RODRIGUES PENALBER DE OLIVEIRA
62 kg (BRA) Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA vs (HUN) Marianna SASTIN
62 kg (CAN) Michelle Christina FAZZARI vs (KAZ) Irina KUZNETSOVA
68 kg (CAN) Olivia Grace DI BACCO vs (BUL) Mimi Nikolova HRISTOVA
68 kg (BUL) Sofiya Hristova GEORGIEVA vs (USA) Tamyra Mariama STOCK MENSAH
76 kg (KAZ) Elmira SYZDYKOVA vs (CAN) Erica Elizabeth WIEBE
76 kg (ITA) Enrica RINALDI vs (EGY) Samar Amer Ibrahim HAMZA

Greco-Roman line-up

72 kg (HUN) Robert Attila FRITSCH vs (IND) Kuldeep MALIK
72 kg (TUR) Selcuk CAN vs (RUS) Chingiz LABAZANOV
77 kg (TUR) Yunus Emre BASAR vs (USA) Peyton Burke WALSH
77 kg (HUN) Zoltan LEVAI vs (KAZ) Tamerlan SHADUKAYEV
82 kg (HUN) Tamas LEVAI vs (RUS) Adlan AKIEV
82 kg (TUR) Salih AYDIN vs (TUR) Burhan AKBUDAK

1245 hrs: Russia national champion Chingiz LABAZANOV (RUS) takes out former junior World Champion KISSYMETOV (KAZ) 7-3

1240 hrs: Michelle FAZZARI'S (CAN) four-point throw remains the difference as Marina SASTIN (HUN) goes down 3-5 

1230 hrs: Marina SASTIN (HUN) and Michelle FAZZARI (CAN) on Mat B. SASTIN leading 1-0 and FAZZARI gets a four! SASTIN challenges the call but it stands. 5-1 lead FAZZARI

1225 hrs: Mensah-Stock was hit with a surprise hip-toss but she comes back with three takedowns in the bout to win 6-4 against Hanzlickova

1221 hrs: World champion Tamyra Mariama STOCK MENSA (USA) is up against Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE). The Czech gets going with toss for four. A reversal for Mensa-Stock

1220 hrs: A win for 19-year-old ANSHU (IND). Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL) came up with a four-point throw but Anshu got a reversal and exposure to regain the lead 7-4. Nikolova had two pushouts and desperate try for a big throw in the dying seconds but Anshu hangs on to win 11-6

1214 hrs: ANSHU (IND) leads NIKOLOVA (BUL) 4-0 at the break in their 57kg quarter-final. On Mat C, Asian Championships bronze medalist Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) is up against KIRAN (IND)

1210 hrs: Erica WIEBE (CAN) holds on to the lead and the win! She moves into the 76kg quarter-finals. Next match on Mat A, returning silver ANSHU (IND) is up against World bronze Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL)

1207 hrs: Wiebe ties the score 1-1 but is warned for passivity again. She completes a single leg takedown before an exposure to lead 5-1

1205 hrs: Da Silva Ferreira is leading 1-0 against Wiebe in their quarter-final at 76kg after the first period. Wiebe gave up a point for being passive

1200 hrs: Rio Olympic champion and returning gold medalist Erica Wiebe is on Mat A. She is up against Aline DA SILVA FERREIRA (BRA).

1155 hrs: Egypt's Rio Olympian Samar Amer Ibrahim HAMZA starts her day with a big tech superiority win over Matilde CALDARELLI (ITA).

1152 hrs: Marina SASTIN wins her first bout of the day. She scores a couple of big four-point throws on her way to a 15-4 technical superiority win over Ayaulym KASSYMOVA (KAZ)

1150 hrs: Returning silver medalist Selcuk CAN (TUR) with an easy win against Cristhian Alberto RIVAS CASTRO (ECU) on Mat B.

 

Mat A is about to be ?!

Bout 100: Olympic ? Erica WIEBE ??
Bout 101: ??Evelina NIKOLOVA ??
Bout 102: ??Tamyra STOCK MENSAH ??

WATCH: https://t.co/zpwxopXS8d

— United World Wrestling (@wrestling) March 5, 2021

 

1145 hrs: Former world champion Marina SASTIN (HUN) and Asian silver medalist Ayaulym KASSYMOVA (KAZ) wrestling in women's 62kg Round 2. Sastin had the lead but Kassymova with big four to take a 4-3 lead

1140 hrs: A little anti-climatic there. World and Russia champion Abuiazid MANTSIGOV (RUS) did not show up for his bout against Tamerlan SHADUKAYEV (KAZ). The Kazakhstan is the winner 

1125 hrs: Emrah KUS (TUR) is deep trouble on Mat B. He is down 0-7 against Salih AYDIN (TUR), a returning bronze medalist. They go into the break at the same score

1120 hrs: Down goes Asian silver medalist Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ). He loses a close 6-10 bout against fellow countryman Tamerlan SHADUKAYEV (KAZ)

1110 hrs: Emrah KUS (TUR), a five-time medalist at Ranking Series events, starts with a big win against Benjamin Errol PROVISOR (USA)

1053 hrs: What a match we had! Ravaughn Richard Ravelle PERKINS (USA) with two big throws to take a 12-7 lead against returning gold medalist Gurpreet SINGH (IND). The Indian with big four with 10 seconds remaining, he was looking for the pin but the time runs out. Perkins the winner 12-11

1052 hrs: Michelle Christina FAZZARI (CAN) makes a big comeback and completes a close 8-7 win against Ayaulym KASSYMOVA (KAZ).

1050 hrs: Gurpreet SINGH (IND) with a 7-0 lead but Perkins with a huge four-point throw before adding two more to make it 6-7. The Indian leads 7-6 at the break in the 82kg bout

1045 hrs: Asian Championships silver medalist Ayaulym KASSYMOVA (KAZ) is leading former World Championships bronze medalist Michelle Christina FAZZARI (CAN) 6-4 at the break in women's 62kg bout. On Mat C, returning gold medalist Gurpreet SINGH (IND) is facing Ravaughn Richard Ravelle PERKINS (USA) 

1035 hrs: And we are off! Robert Attila FRITSCH (HUN) continues the good work that the wrestlers from Hungary yesterday. He starts off with a 3-2 win over Chingiz LABAZANOV (RUS)

1025 hrs: If you missed the action on day one, you can relive it on our YouTube channel. Read our day wrap and the highlights with Musa Evloev winning the gold with ease and some surprising results in the 87kg category

1015 hrs: Welcome to the second day of the Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series event from Rome. Today will be a mix of some Greco-Roman and freestyle action.

#JapanWrestling

Fujinami survives scare to take 57kg title, extend streak to 150 wins

By Ken Marantz

TOKYO (December 21) -- It was one of those unimaginable scenes that suddenly appears like a mirage. Was that really Akari FUJINAMI, the Paris Olympic champion and two-time world champion who had not lost since 2017, on her back and fighting to prevent an upset of epic proportions?

Alas, Fujinami being Fujinami, she managed to avoid the fall, then came back with a late takedown to escape with a 4-2 victory over a gutsy Himeka TOKUHARA in the women's 57kg final at the Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships on Sunday.

"I came up against reality at this tournament," said Fujinami, who extended her current winning streak to 150 matches dating back to junior high school, while continuing to make the tough adjustment from 53kg up to 57kg.

"To give up those points isn't a good thing, but it shows I have room for growth. Close matches like this are exciting. This down-to-the-wire, thrilling wrestling was really fun. I came out of this tournament with the feeling that I will become even stronger."

The final day of the four-day tournament at Tokyo's Komazawa Gym spotlighted much of the cream of the Japanese crop, with six medalists from the Paris Olympics in action and one weight class featuring a clash of reigning world champions.

Among the other Paris gold medalists, the lone one to taste defeat was Sakura MOTOKI, who fell to nemesis and Paris bronze medalist and defending champion Nonoka OZAKI 3-3 in a nail-biting women's 62kg final. Kotaro KIYOOKA triumphed amid a stacked field at freestyle 65kg, while Nao KUSAKA continued his domestic dominance at Greco 77kg.

The tournament is also serving as the qualifier for the Asian Championships in April, as well as one of two qualifiers for the World Championships and Asian Games, to be held in fall. The latter holds additional significance in that it will be held in Japan.

Akari FUJINAMI (JPN)Akari FUJINAMI finishes up the winning takedown against Himeka TOKUHARA in the final minute of the women's 57kg final. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

The 22-year-old Fujinami, the Paris champion at 53kg, announced earlier this year that she was moving straight up to the next Olympic weight class at 57kg. But she opted to not even try to qualify for this year's senior World Championships, feeling she wouldn't be physically ready, and instead had her first test run of sorts with a victory at the world U23.

The two days at the All-Japan seemed to validate her decision to not rush the process, as she had her hands full with two of Japan's more powerful wrestlers.

In the semifinals on Saturday, she was never in danger of losing to Asian champion Sara NATAMI, but she gave up two 2-point exposures on counters late in a 7-4 victory. Then against Tokuhara, it was like she ran into a brick wall that crashed down on top of her.

Tokuhara, a member of the Japan Self-Defense Force team who was a world U23 champion at 59kg in 2022, relies on her power, which earned her the ticket at 57kg to this year's World Championships in Zagreb, where she lost in a bronze-medal match.

"Tokuhara and Natami are both strong, physical wrestlers," Fujinami said. "When I moved up to 57kg, those are the two I most needed to beat. Beating them both is a plus. Of course, everyone looks at the points I gave up, but I became the challenger when I moved up in weight, and I'm glad to have been able to come out with the win."

Akari FUJINAMI (JPN)Akari FUJINAMI squares off with Himeka TOKUHARA in the women's 57kg final. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

After her win, which gave her a fourth career title and first since 2022, she showed a vulnerable side, acknowledging she has a fear of failure and concerns over her ability to continue her incredible success amid the new challenge. Speaking about the pressure brought her to tears at one point.

"I'm really afraid of losing," she said. "It's strange for me to start crying now. My goal is to win the titles at the Asian Games and Los Angeles Olympics, and every day, I wonder to myself, is this the right thing to do? Is this making me better?

"I am also human, and there are things that scare me. It's that fear that makes me work hard every day. I'm sure I will have even tougher matches ahead. It feels like a given that I will win, and if I lose, everything will fall apart."

Akari FUJINAMI (JPN)Akari FUJINAMI gets a stepout in the second period of the women's 57kg final. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

In the final, Fujinami found her takedown attempts consistently blocked by Tokuhara, who relied on an effective whizzer or a front head lock, and had only an activity point to show for the first 2:30 of the first period. That was when the wall fell on her.

When Fujinami shot in for a single, Tokuhara whizzered to get Fujinami to straighten up. Then she pivoted around with a fierce pancake that slammed Fujinami straight to her back for 2 points with :25 left on the clock.

Fujinami set her left elbow on the mat to keep her shoulder up as Tokuhara pressed for the fall.

With only a few seconds left, Fujinami transitioned to a bridge, but at one point her shoulders hit the mat for a split second. The mat referee indicated a fall, but neither side judge confirmed, and time ran out.

Asked when the last time she was in danger of a fall, Fujinami laughed and replied, "I can't even remember the [opponent's] name."

Fujinami said she knew how much time was left and that she was confident she could ride it out. She said she constantly practices for such a situation, even though it would seem that the odds of it happening were somewhere in the Powerball range.

"I thought the way she had the hold, I wouldn't be pinned," Fujinami said. "I do bridges every day in practice. I had prepared for the possibility of this situation, so I wasn't thinking, 'Oh no, what should I do?' And even though I don't have much actual experience, I stayed calm.

"I knew that move was in her arsenal, but I couldn't stop it. It showed that I still have weakness. I also practiced what to do after failing to get in on a tackle, but she still hit the move, so there's still some work to be done."

Akari FUJINAMI (JPN)Akari FUJINAMI shoots for the winning takedown against Himeka TOKUHARA in the final minute of the women's 57kg final. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

There was also still the match to be won, as she trailed 2-1 and had yet to come close to a takedown, which in this weight class, she has had to depend on more. In the 21 points she scored over three matches, none came from ground wrestling.

Midway through the second period, she was stopped again and close to being forced out with her back to the edge. But she nimbly used Tokuhara's momentum to slip around and force her out for a stepout that made it 2-2, but still left her trailing on criteria.

With a minute to go, Fujinami finally connected with a single-leg attempt. As Tokuhara reached over for a counter, Fujinami pressed ahead and gradually finished up the takedown with :45 left.

She then put up a wall of defense that Tokuhara could not penetrate to secure the victory. "I'm really happy to have come out with a win," Fujinami said. "It was a daily fight to prepare for this tournament."

Nonoka OZAKI (JPN)Nonoka OZAKI celebrates her victory over nemesis and Olympic champion Sakura MOTOKI in the women's 62kg final. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

There was more drama to follow in the next and final match of the tournament, which paired Motoki and Ozaki for supremacy at 62kg once again.

Last June at the Meiji Cup All-Japan Championships -- the second of the two domestic qualifiers for major global competitions -- Motoki squeaked out a 3-3 victory over Ozaki in the final. She then followed that with a 6-5 victory in the world team playoff in which she literally scored the winning takedown in the final second.

Ozaki could then only watch as Motoki went on to win her first senior world title, which she then followed up by winning the world U23 gold. That made her just the third wrestler in history to achieve the "Golden Grand Slam" of Olympic, senior world and all three world age-group golds.

On Sunday, it was Ozaki's turn for late dramatics, albeit she didn't cut it that close. She was leading 1-1 on criteria after an exchange of activity points when Motoki scored a single-leg takedown with 1:30 left. Ozaki kept up the pressure before securing a single-leg takedown of her own with :18 left for the victory.

"The last time, I lost with less than a second left, which taught me that that's something that can happen," Ozaki said. "I thought, if my opponent can do it, then I can do it as well. I thought to imitate, or learn from, Motoki's fighting style and her mental strength.

"In the second period, I gave up points, but I thought I would do to her what she did to me. I kept fighting and looked to take advantage of any chance."

Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN)Yoshinosuke AOYAGI unsuccessfully attempts a front body lock roll in the freestyle 74kg final against Kota TAKAHASHI. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

Aoyagi prevails in clash of world champions

In the second final of the tournament that pitted reigning world champions, Yoshinosuke AOYAGI made a successful incursion into the freestyle 74kg territory currently ruled by Kota TAKAHASHI.

Aoyagi, the freestyle 70kg champion in Zagreb, scored a takedown and roll combination with 40 seconds left, then held on for a 4-4 victory on criteria for his first All-Japan title. 

While happy with the victory, Aoyagi was left less than satisfied by his lack of an effective offense. His winning combination came after he spun behind in countering a takedown attempt.

"I'm still small in build, and he controlled the flow of the match," Aoyagi said. "Honestly speaking, I thought if it stayed that way I would lose. I didn't score any points with my moves, so there is much to reflect on from this match."

He says he plans to enter a Ranking Series tournament and, without going into specifics, said he would like to go overseas to train with U.S. and Russian wrestlers which "is the best way to improve one's skills and which benefits both sides."

He is also looking forward to testing himself at the Asian Championships, "Where I can show that I can be competitive at 74kg on the global stage," he said.

"I'm still in the stage where it's really tough, and I lack the power and get pushed around," Aoyagi said. "After the match, my legs were burning. There's so much more I need to do. I will look for ways to make improvements."

Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN)Kotaro KIYOOKA sweeps to the side for a takedown against Takara SUDA in the freestyle 65kg final. (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

At freestyle 65kg, Kiyooka used his low single and dynamic speed to scrape together a 5-2 victory in the final over Asian 61kg champion Takara SUDA.

Kiyooka swept to a low single-leg takedown in each period, but said he needs to work on setting it up closer.

"I wanted to cut the distance a little more, and use more variation for my shots," he said. "There's still many things I need to work on."

Kiyooka said he gained inspiration from his sister Moe's victory at 53kg on Saturday. It marks the second time that the two have completed a sibling double after 2023, when he won his lone other title.

Kiyooka, who had never medaled on the world level when he came out of nowhere and triumphed at the Olympics, got a wakeup call of sorts in Zagreb, where Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) avenged his loss in the Paris final by beating him for the world gold.

"I realized my weakness," Kiyooka said. "As I said during the World Championships, I felt I wasn't the true champion. Wrestling is very deep and it made me feel I can still grow, so I took [the loss] in a positive light."

Yui SUSAKI (JPN)Yui SUSAKI shoots for a takedown against Haruna MORIKAWA in the women's 50kg final.  (Photo: Takeo Yabuki / wrestling-spirits.jp)

At women's 50kg, Tokyo Olympic champion and Paris bronze medalist Yui SUSAKI turned a bit more conservative than she would have liked, but was never in danger in coming away with a 3-0 victory in the final over world U23 champion Haruna MORIKAWA.

Susaki scored a single-leg takedown and stepout in the first period, then spent the second trading underhook positions and fending off Morikawa's lone shot of the match to secure her fourth career title and first since 2022.

"It was my first All-Japan in awhile and I definitely wanted to win," Susaki said. "Although that feeling was strong, I wasn't aggressive enough in the second period. It was a match that brought up things to work on."

Susaki, a four-time world champion and another member of the "Golden Grand Slam" trio, took advantage of the absence of main rivals Remina YOSHIMOTO, who sat out the tournament, and Umi ITO, who withdrew due to injury.

"With the Los Angeles Olympics ahead and my main rivals not competing, I also considered this a tournament I couldn't lose," she said.

Susaki said the victory culminates a rough span since the disappointment of Paris, from which she still feels the sting of failing to defend her Olympic crown.

"There was the loss at the Paris Olympics, there were injuries and various hardships that I went through that I had never faced before," she said. "It was really a trying year and a half. If it wasn't for the support of many people, I would not have been able to make it back here."

In Greco 77kg, Kusaka executed a 2-point throw in his second chance from par terre -- there was some discussion over whether it should be scored as 4 -- which was enough for a 4-0 victory over 2023 champion Isami HORIKITA.

The victory added to Kusaka's lone other title, won at 72kg in 2019, and capped a year in which he also won a silver medal at the World Championships.

At Greco 67kg, defending champion Katsuaki ENDO won the latest in the seemingly endless series of finals with former Nippon Sports Science University teammate and top rival Kyotaro SOGABE, scoring a second-period gut wrench for a 3-1 victory.

It was Endo's fourth career title as he and Sogabe have now combined to win the last five golds.

Day 4 Results

Freestyle

65kg (15 entries)
GOLD: Kotaro KIYOOKA df. Takara SUDA, 5-2

BRONZE: Kaiji OGINO df. Shinnosuke SUWAMA, 3-0
BRONZE: Kaisei TANABE df. Futa MIYAZAKI by TF, 11-0, 3:45

74kg (11 entries)
GOLD: Yoshinosuke AOYAGI df. Kota TAKAHASHI, 4-4

BRONZE: Toki OGAWA df. Yujin TAKIZAWA, 4-1
BRONZE: Hikaru TAKATA df. Tatsuki KAMIYA by TF, 12-0, 2:35

Greco-Roman

67kg (13 entries)
GOLD: Katsuaki ENDO df. Kyotaro SOGABE, 3-1

BRONZE: Kensuke SHIMIZU df. Takaku SUZUKI by Fall, 4:30 (8-0)
BRONZE: Haruto YABE df. Kojiro HASEGAWA by TF, 13-2, 2:25

77kg (13 entries)
GOLD: Nao KUSAKA df. Isami HORIKITA, 4-0

BRONZE: Kiriru SHIMABUKURO df. Naoki KADODE, 7-1
BRONZE: Issei HONNA def. Kodai SAKURABA by Inj. Def.

Women's Wrestling

50kg (17 entries)
GOLD: Yui SUSAKI df. Haruna MORIKAWA, 3-0

BRONZE: Mako ONO df. Yuu SAKAMOTO, 3-1
BRONZE: Rinka OGAWA df. Kurumi KANAYAMA, 9-0

57kg (10 entries)
GOLD: Akari FUJINAMI df. Himeka TOKUHARA, 4-2

BRONZE: Rin KINOSHITA df. Risa MOTOHARA, 2-1
BRONZE: Sara NATAMI df. Miyu IWASAKI by Fall, 1:59 (4-0)

62kg (9 entries)
GOLD: Nonoka OZAKI df. Sakura MOTOKI, 3-3

BRONZE: Yuzuka INAGAKI df. Hana YOSHIKAWA by TF, 10-0, 3:38
BRONZE: Sakura ONISHI, no opponent