#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.

#wrestlebishkek

Tynybekova continues dominance of Motoki for 6th Asian gold; Feng stuns Sakurai

By Ken Marantz

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 14) -- Throughout a sparkling career that has made her a hero in her homeland, Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) has had a fierce rivalry with a number of Japanese wrestlers. The latest in the line has yet to find a way to break through and beat her.

Tynybekova continued her dominance of Sakura MOTOKI (JPN), using her counterattack style to maximum effect in a 9-6 victory in the women's 62kg final at the Asian Championships on Sunday in Bishkek, giving her a second straight gold and sixth of her career in front of an adoring home crowd.

"Throughout my career, I never got the chance to compete in Kyrgyzstan," Tynybekova said. "This year, when I found out the Asian Championships would be in Kyrgyzstan, I really wanted to compete in front of the home crowd. I am so happy that despite my physical condition, I could win the gold."

In the biggest upset of the tournament, Yongxin FENG (CHN) shocked three-time world champion Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) at 57kg as China came away with two of the four other golds at stake on the fourth day of competition at Bishkek Arena with Qian JIANG (CHN) prevailing at 72kg.

Ji Hyang KIM (PRK) gave DPR Korea its first gold medal in its return to the Asian Championships after a five-year absence with an impressive victory at 53kg, while Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN) triumphed at 65kg to ensure that the Japanese anthem would be played at least once on the night.

Japan, with four golds overall, barely won the team title for the third straight year with 173 points, just one point ahead of China and its three champions. Mongolia finished third with 138, three points ahead of India.

Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ)Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) uses a couter lift against Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) in the 62kg final during the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Tynybekova revealed that she got seriously ill after winning the title at last month's Yasar Dogu tournament in Antalya, Turkey, and even considered pulling out of the Asian Championships, where she now has 11 total medals.

"Two weeks before this continental championships, my coach Nurbek Izabekov proposed not to wrestle here because I didn’t fully recover," the three-time world champion said. "I spent two weeks lying in bed. Despite all this, I am so happy to be able to compete successfully."

Tynybekova, who made Kyrgyz history when she became the nation's first-ever wrestling world champion in 2019, has had her share of wins and losses contending with Japanese opponents through the years. First, there was Yukako KAWAI (JPN), who defeated her in the Tokyo Olympics final, then along came Nonoka OZAKI (JPN), who beat her in the 2022 Asian final.

Motoki, the 2022 world bronze medalist at 59kg, became the next in line when she moved up to 62kg and beat out Ozaki and Kawai in qualifying for the Paris Olympics. But Sunday's loss to Tynybekova was her third loss in three meetings over a seven-month span, and this was not as close as the first two.

"I would like to say that there are no easy or tough opponents," Tynybekova said. "It all depends on my physical condition on that exact day. That’s why me and my coaches will prepare to wrestle every single wrestler in my weight class."

In their first clash, Tynybekova pulled off a late 4-1 victory in the final at last year's World Championships in Belgrade. They met again in the semifinals at the Zagreb Open in January, where Tynybekova eked out a 3-3 win on criteria.

On Sunday, it was Tynybekova who took the early lead, gaining an activity point and then scoring a takedown after throwing Motoki off balance with a snap-down to go ahead 3-0.

In the second period, Motoki had no choice but to press for a takedown, but that was walking right into Tynybekova's trap. In a typical Tynybekova scramble, she initiated a counter lift from which she would score six points while conceding two to Motoki to go up 9-2.

Motoki managed a pair of consolation takedowns in the final 15 seconds, but could not gain additional exposures.

"I lost at the World Championships, then again in Croatia, and this time I wanted to get revenge," said a sobbing Motoki, whose father appeared in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. "I got various advice from a lot of people, and I came to this tournament with confidence. But my opponent was a level better than me today."

Yongxin FENG (CHN)Yongxin FENG (CHN) celebrates after beating world champion Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) in the 57kg final during the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Just as Yui SUSAKI (JPN) experienced the night before, Sakurai was dealt a wake-up call at a tournament that she was using as her final competition before the Paris Olympics. The difference is that Susaki held on to win the 50kg title, while Sakurai was dealt her first defeat in an international tournament in five years when she fell 5-2 to Feng.

Feng, a bronze medalist at the Zagreb Open this year, wrestled a strategically perfect match, grabbing an early lead and then all but neutralizing Sakurai's 2-on-1 attack. It would not be until the end of the match that Sakurai could get close to creating a scoring chance.

"First of all, I believed in my skills, and secondly, in terms of all aspects of my skills and physical condition, I am better than her, so I am more confident," Feng said.

Feng seemed to catch Sakurai flat-footed when she took a shot right off the opening whistle, scoring a takedown with a low single. Before Sakurai realized what had hit her, Feng added two more points with a gut wrench for a 4-0 lead.

"After I scored points in the first period, it made me more confident," Feng said. "Then in the second, I didn't try for many points because of my [earlier] points. I was thinking about being defensive. But I didn't think about defense throughout the whole process. I still want to score more points if I have the opportunity so that I can win for sure."

It would not be until the final minute that Sakurai finally got a clear shot and was able to get in on a double-leg takedown. As Feng reached over for a counter lift, Sakurai pressed ahead for a 2-point expoure.

But time ran out before she could add to the tally, and an unsuccessful challenge looking for a second exposure gave Feng her final point.

"The performance of the Chinese team has been very good," Feng said. "In terms of training, we train so hard, should we have such results? Yeah. I will train hard next and keep doing it. When I get off the podium, everything will be zero. I will continue to work hard."

Sakurai, last October's Asian Games champion and who had won the senior Asian title in her only other appearance in 2022, acknowledged that her opponents are doing their homework, and she will have to come up with a new strategy.

"I think everyone knows my style of wrestling," the 22-year-old Sakurai said. "I have to train so that even if I get stopped, I can still find a way to score points."

Sakurai won her first world title at 55kg in 2021, then moved up to the Olympic weight of 57kg and won back-to-back world golds. Just to get to last year's World Championships, where she secured her ticket to the Paris Olympics, she had to win out in a stacked domestic field that included two-time Olympic champion Risako KINJO (JPN). Her down-to-the-wire battles with Sae NANJO (JPN) were epic.

Now she needs to rebound from the shock of her first international defeat since losing 3-2 to Batbaatar ENKHTSETSEG (MGL) at the 2019 Asian U20 Championships.

"No matter the tournament, my objective is always to win the title," Sakurai said. "When you lose, there has to be a reason for the loss. I will look at this as I'm glad it wasn't the Olympics, and I will practice hard up to August."

Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN)Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN) won the 65kg final via fall. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

In the 65kg final, Yoshitake beat Enkhjin TUVSHINJARGAL (MGL) at her own game, winning by fall to improve on her silver medal from a year ago in Astana.

After gaining an activity point, Yoshitake was under pressure from Tuvshinjargal, but she used it to unleash a headlock throw late in the first period to go ahead 3-0.

In the second period, Tuvshinjargal shot in on the legs, and Yoshitake slipped in underhooks, then pancaked the Mongolian to her back for the fall in 3:05.

Yoshitake, a winner in Antalya last month, became the third wrestler from Nippon Sports Science University to win a gold in Bishkek, following Kento YUMIYA (JPN) and Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) in freestyle.

Ji Hyang KIM (PRK)Ji Hyang KIM (PRK) celebrates after beating ANJU (IND) in the 53kg final at the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

At 53kg, Kim capped a day of dominance with a quick 10-0 victory in the final over ANJU (IND), adding the senior gold to her Asian cadet title from 2019.

Kim shot right off the whistle for a low single which she converted into a takedown, then added an exposure. Back on their feet, she made it 8-0 with a shrug-by takedown and exposure, then finished the match with another shrug-by, all in just over a minute.

Kim won all four of her matches by either fall or technical fall in a weight class that was supposed to feature reigning world champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN), but who withdrew due to an elbow injury. The DPR Korea has entered a different wrestler in the Asian Olympic Qualifier that follows this event on April 19-21 in the same venue.

Qian JIANG (CHN)Qian JIANG (CHN) defeated HARSHITA (IND) in the 76kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

In the final bout of the night and the women's competition, China's Jiang, the 2019 Asian U20 champion at 76kg, scored a takedown in each period in defeating world U20 bronze medalist HARSHITA (IND) 5-2 for the 72kg gold.

Jiang took a 3-0 lead in the first period with a stepout and a snap-down takedown. In the second period, Harshita gained a 2-point exposure countering a takedown attempt. But Jiang came back with a spin-behind takedown to clinch the victory.

Mongolia claims 3 bronzes amid fall-fest

Of the 10 bronze-medal matches, only one went the distance, and Mongolia came away with three via falls by Otgontuya CHINBOLD (MGL) at 53kg, Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL) at 62kg and Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL) at 72kg, while India and Kazakhstan had two each.

Not everything went the Mongolians' way -- Gantuya ENKHBAT (MGL) was on the losing end of a technical fall at 57kg.

Chinbold, the silver medalist last year at 55kg, used a hip throw to send Thi My Trang NGUYEN (VIE) directly to her back and finish her off with a fall in 1:42.

Sukhee, a 2015 world silver medalist, took home her fourth Asian bronze and first in five years when, after a second takedown against Subeen JO (KOR), she trapped her opponent's leg against her chest, then pressed down from above for a pin in 2:42.

Zorigt took the longest of three, pancaking Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ), the Asian Games silver medalist at 68kg, in the second period to end the match in 3:49 with a 7-0 lead.

In the only match that went the full six minutes, Chun LEI (CHN) denied Sri Lanka its first-ever senior Asian medal when she scored a first-period takedown off a fireman's carry, then held on for a 2-0 victory over impressive teenager Nethmi AHINSA (SRI) at 53kg.

Ahinsa was the first-ever Sri Lankan woman to make it to a bronze-medal match, and just the third wrestler overall. Lei was the 2018 champion at 50kg.

India's bronzes came from MANISHA (IND), who recorded a fall in 1:30 at 62kg over Arian CARPIO (PHI) after a 4-point takedown, and ANTIM (IND) by forfeit from Soobin KIM (KOR), who suffered a knee injury in her opening match at 65kg in the afternoon session.

For Kazakhstan, Laura ALMAGANBETOVA (KAZ) needed just 55 seconds to throw Sezim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) to her back with a 4-point takedown and won by fall at 57kg, while Anastassiya PANASSOVICH (KAZ) scored five takedowns in a 10-0 technical fall over Ozoda ZARIPBOEVA (UZB).

Yaru WU (CHN) won China's second bronze of the night by pinning Irina KAZYULINA (KAZ) at 65kg. Wu had an 8-0 lead after a takedown and three tilts when Kazyulina came back with a takedown. But Kazyulina got careless trying for a reverse cradle, and Wu clamped down for a fall at 1:49.

Hyon Ju YUN (PRK) won the other bronze at 57kg when she broke open a close match with Mongolia's Enkhbat by scoring 10 points in the second period for a 12-1 win with five seconds left in the match.

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Day 4 Results

Women's Wrestling

53kg (15 entries)
GOLD: Ji Hyang KIM (PRK) df. ANJU (IND) by TF, 10-0, 1:06

BRONZE: Otgontuya CHINBOLD (MGL) df. Thi My Trang NGUYEN (VIE) by Fall, 1:42 (4-0)
BRONZE: Chun LEI (CHN) df. Nethmi PORUTHOTAGE (SRI), 2-0

57kg (9 entries)
GOLD: Yongxin FENG (CHN) df. Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN), 5-2

BRONZE: Laura ALMAGANBETOVA (KAZ) df. Sezim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) by Fall, :55 (4-0)
BRONZE: Hyon Ju YUN (PRK) df. Gantuya ENKHBAT (MGL) by TF, 12-1, 5:55

62kg (10 entries)
GOLD: Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) df. Sakura MOTOKI (JPN), 9-6

BRONZE: Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL) df. Subeen JO (KOR) by Fall, 2:42 (4-0)
BRONZE: MANISHA (IND) df. Arian CARPIO (PHI) df. by Fall, 1:30 (5-0)

65kg (9 entries)
GOLD: Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN) df. Enkhjin TUVSHINJARGAL (MGL) by Fall, 4:03 (7-0)

BRONZE: ANTIM (IND) df. Soobin KIM (KOR) by inj. def.
BRONZE: Yaru WU (CHN) df. Irina KAZYULINA (KAZ) by Fall, 1:49 (10-2)

72kg (9 entries)
GOLD: Qian JIANG (CHN) df. HARSHITA (IND), 5-2

BRONZE: Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL) df. Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) by Fall, 3:49 (7-0)
BRONZE: Anastassiya PANASSOVICH (KAZ) df. Ozoda ZARIPBOEVA (UZB) by TF, 10-0, 4:51