#WrestleBelgrade

Live Blog, U23 World Championships Day 4: WW 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 65kg, 72kg

By Vinay Siwach

BELGRADE, Serbia (November 4) -- Day four of the U23 World Championships and we are continuing with women's wrestling as five more weight classes are in action. Wrestlers from 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 65kg and 72kg will try to reach the semifinal at the end of the day.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

1315: Excellent session of women's wrestling at the U23 World Championships. All five Ukraine wrestlers reach the semifinals. Russia has 3 while Turkey and Italy have 2 each. Eight other nationals have one wrestler each

1310: Alina AKOBIIA (UKR) lives up to the billing at 57kg. She pins NITIKA (IND) and enters the semifinal. She looks unstoppable here in Belgrade

1255: Othelie HOEIE (NOR) is heading to the semifinal at 57kg. She secures a victory via fall over Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR). The Norway camp is ecstatic

1240: Nigeria brought one competitor for the women's part of the U23 Worlds and she has reached the semifinal. Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR) gives no chance to Amanda MARTINEZ (USA) and wins 11-0 at 57kg

1230: What a start for Euro U23 silver Zeynep YETGIL (TUR). She reaches the 53kg semifinals with a pin in the first period. She is looking for a second medal at the U23 Worlds after a bronze in the last edition.

1215: Aurora CAMPAGNA (ITA) marches on! She beats Emma BRUNTIL (USA) with technical superiority and reaches the semifinal here in the U23 Worlds.

1150: Alina AKOBIIA (UKR) could not have started on a better note. A huge pin to begin with against Hannah TAYLOR (CAN). She makes it look so easy

1125: A couple of upsets early here. Two-time Asian champion Divya KAKRAN (IND) falls 4-13 against Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR). She could never get her double leg attack used to get the fall. On Mat B, unheralded Kendra DACHER (FRA) beats junior world silver Lilly SCHNEIDER with technical superiority. Great technique from Dacher to block and counter Schneider

1100: Big wins for Bruntil and Paulava. On Mat B, Aurora CAMPAGNA (ITA) pins Zineb HASSOUNE (MAR) who looks in pain after that bout. Nice gesture from Campagna to check on her opponent after the win

1045: We kick off proceedings of the qualification round with Emma BRUNTIL (USA) taking on Yagmur CAKMAK (TUR). Big bout on Mat A as Tatsiana PAULAVA (BLR) takes on Ameline DOUARRE (FRA)

1030: Welcome to day four of the U23 World Championships from the Belexpocentar in Belgrade. It's a windy day here in the Serbian capital but the mats have been sanitized, the wrestlers have warmed up and we are ready for action

#WrestleAthens

U17 Worlds 2025: Iran, U.S. put two each in Freestyle finals

By Vinay Siwach

ATHENS, Greece (August 1) -- Iran and the United States emerged as the best performers on day one of Freestyle competition at the World U17 Championships in Athens, Greece after placing two wrestlers each in the gold medal bouts.

Five Freestyle weight classes were in action on Friday, as the tournament entered its final three days.

Iran and the U.S. will face off in the 48kg final after Ariah MILLS (USA) and Sina BOUSTANI (IRI) won their respective semifinals.

Mills defeated European U17 champion Ravan HASANZADE (AZE) 7-2 using his attacking style. After being put on the activity clock, Mills began his attacks and though he was not able to score in the 30-second, he hit a single leg for four points that gave him a 4-1 lead going into the break.

Hasanzade got on the leg attacks but Mills was quick to counter and scored an exposure for two points which was challenged by Azerbaijan. On review, it was given only two points for Mills and Azerbaijan lost the challenge and Mills reached the final 7-2.

Boustani had to stop some serious attacks from Masamune USHIMADO (JPN) in the second period. After taking a 6-0 lead, Boustani was put in danger by Ushimado as he scored a takedown. He then made it 6-3 with a stepout. With 13 seconds remaining, he hit another big throw but it was scored just two points as Boustani won 6-5.

The second finalist for the U.S. was Pan-Am U17 champion Arsenii KIKINIOU (USA) who came from behind to beat Morteza HAJ (IRI), 3-2, in the 65kg semifinals. Trailing 2-0, Kikiniou first scored a stepout and then managed to transition a leg attack into takedown with 13 seconds left. He held on to his lead to win.

For the gold, he will face 2024 silver medalist from 60kg, Huseyn ISMAYILOV (AZE) who barely went past Yeraly ASKERBEK (KAZ), 3-1, in the other semifinal. Ismayilov was down 1-1 on criteria but scored point just in time to win the match.

Mohammadparsa KARAMI (IRI) was the second finalist for Iran after he dominated Dinmukhammed KASSYMBEK (KAZ) and beat him 11-4 in the 80kg semifinals. For the gold, he will take on European U17 champion Artur KOSTIUK (UKR) after the Ukrainian earned himself a chance to win a world U17 goldm reaching the final with a 2-1 win over  Issa ZANGIEV (UWW).

At 55kg, returning bronze medalist from 51kg Jinnosuke OKONOGI (JPN) denied Greyton BURNETT (USA) after beating him 8-2 in the semifinal. Okonogi never let Burnett to settle down and scored three takedowns in his win.

Having already upgraded his medal, Okonogi will look to win the gold over Asian U17 silver medalist Abdumalik JALOLDINOV (UWW) who scored a late stepout to win his semifinal against Chingis SARYGLAR (UWW), who was a bronze medalist from 48kg last year.

At 110kg, it will be a battle of continental champions as European U17 champion Magomedrasul OMAROV (UWW) defeated Stefan STEFANOV (BUL), 2-0, after getting both passivity points.

He will take on Asian U17 champion LACKY (IND) who defeated European U17 champion Amirhossein NAGHDALIPOUR (IRI), via fall, with a comeback.

Naghdalipour led 5-0 when he got a par terre and as he tried the gut-wrench, Lacky blocked him and scored two points. A double-leg takedown made it 5-4.

Lacky was called passive in the second period and Naghdalipout got another point and led 6-4. That is when Lacky got hold of the Iranian and sent him for four points. Iran challenged and lost, making the score 9-6 for Lacky.

Naghdalipour scored a stepout to cut the lead to 9-7 but as he tried another takedown, Lacky slammed him for four and a turn before securing the fall just as the time expired.

RESULTS

48kg
GOLD: Ariah MILLS (USA) vs. Sina BOUSTANI (IRI)

SF 1: Ariah MILLS (USA) df. Ravan HASANZADE (AZE), 7-2
SF 2: Sina BOUSTANI (IRI) df. Masamune USHIMADO (JPN), 6-5

55kg
GOLD: Jinnosuke OKONOGI (JPN) vs. Abdumalik JALOLDINOV (UZB)

SF 1: Jinnosuke OKONOGI (JPN) df. Greyton BURNETT (USA), 8-2 
SF 2: Abdumalik JALOLDINOV (UZB) df. Chingis SARYGLAR (UWW), 2-1

65kg
GOLD: Arseni KIKINIOU (USA) vs. Huseyn ISMAYILOV (AZE)

SF 1: Arseni KIKINIOU (USA) df. Morteza HAJ (IRI), 3-2
SF 2: Huseyn ISMAYILOV (AZE) df. Yeraly ASKERBEK (KAZ), 3-1

80kg
GOLD: Artur KOSTIUK (UKR) vs. Mohammadparsa KARAMI (IRI)

SF 1: Artur KOSTIUK (UKR) df. Issa ZANGIEV (UWW), 2-1
SF 2: Mohammadparsa KARAMI (IRI) df. Dinmukhammed KASSYMBEK (KAZ), 11-4

110kg
GOLD: LACKY (IND) vs. Magomedrasul OMAROV (UWW)

SF 1: LACKY (IND) df. Amirhossein NAGHDALIPOUR (IRI), via fall (15-7)
SF 2: Magomedrasul OMAROV (UWW) df. Stefan STEFANOV (BUL), 2-0