#wrestlenursultan

Nur-Sultan Mats Ready for Action as Worlds Kick Off with Greco Competition

By Ken Marantz

NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan (September 13) --- The road to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics makes its first stop in Nur-Sultan over the next nine days, where the first Olympic berths will be allotted in the Kazakh capital to the nations of the top six finishers in each weight class. 

The first whistle will be blown Saturday at the gleaming Barys Arena, when the tournament starts with competition in Greco-Roman. Russia will look to exceed its showing from a year ago in Budapest, when it took home six of the 10 golds.

From there, Greco-Roman keeps the stage through Tuesday (Sept. 17), when it will share it with the women, who get started with qualification rounds in four weight classes. How many of the powerful Japanese women can clinch berths for the Olympics in their home country will be the main focus of interest.

The women will continue through the seventh day, Friday (Sept. 20), when the freestylers take to the mat in two weight classes, then close the tournament with four each over the final two days. The final day on Sunday could see the highly anticipated clash at 97kg between titans Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) and Kyle Snyder (USA).  

The opening day Saturday will see action in the four non-Olympic weight classes (55kg, 63kg, 72kg, and 82kg) in Greco-Roman. While Olympic berths will not be stake and the weight classes lost some top wrestlers who moved to Olympic divisions, that doesn’t mean they will be any less competitive.

Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) is one of two returning world champions who kick off their day on Saturday morning. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) and Stepan MARYANYAN (RUS) return to defend their world titles at 55kg and 63kg, respectively, while Maryanyan will be one of four European champions in action along with Vitali KABALOEV (RUS) at 55kg, Abuyazid MANTSIGOV (RUS) at 72kg and Rajbek BISULTANOV (DEN) at 82kg. 

Bilsutanov will have to contend with Budapest 2018 silver medalist Emrah KUS (TUR) and bronze medalists Viktor SASUNOVSKI (BLR) and Maksim MANUKYUAN (ARM). And that’s not to discount Asian champion Saeid ABDVALI (IRI).

Advali is one of four Asian gold medalists in action Saturday. The brother combination of Ilkhom and Islomjon BAKHROMOV (UZB) took the 55kg and 60kg, respectively, at Xi’an 2019, but Islomjon has moved up to 63kg, so the two will be competing on the same day this time. 

Stepan MARYANYAN (RUS) has remained unbeaten during his 2019 campaign after claiming world gold in a season ago. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

The 63kg field, led by Maryanyan, includes Asian champion Erbatu TUO (CHN) and bronze medalist JUNG Jinwoong (KOR). Also entered is Rio 2016 Olympic silver medalist Shinobu OTA (JPN), who moved up to 63kg when he failed to beat 2017 world champion Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) for the place on Japan’s team at 60kg.  

At 72kg, Budapest champion Frank STABLER (GER) has moved down to 67kg, but runner-up Balint KORPASI (HUN) and bronze medalist Aik MNATSAKANIAN (HUN) look to be the top contenders along with Mantsigov and Asian silver medalist ZHANG Hujun (CHN). 

Tournament Schedule   
Saturday, September 14

11:00-16:00 Qualification Rounds GR 55-63-72-82kg  
18:00-19:30 Semifinals GR 55-63-72-82kg

Sunday, September 15
11:00-16:00 Qualification Rounds GR 67-87-97kg
11:00-16:00 Repechage GR 55-63-72-82kg
16:45-17:30 Opening Ceremony
18:00-18:45 Semifinals GR 67-87-97kg
19:00-22:00 Finals GR 55-63-72-82kg

Monday, September 16
11:00-16:00 Qualification Rounds GR 60-77-130kg
11:00-16:00 Repechage GR 67-87-97kg
17:00-17:45 Semifinals GR 60-77-130kg
18:00-20:30 Finals GR 67-87-97kg

Tuesday, September 17
11:00-15:00 Qualification Rounds WW 50-53-55-72kg 
11:00-15:00 Repechage GR 60-77-130kg      
16:45-17:45 Semifinals WW 50-53-55-72kg
18:00-20:30 Finals GR 60-77-130kg

Wednesday, September 18
11:00-15:00 Qualification Rounds WW 57-59-65-76kg
11:00-15:00 Repechage WW 50-53-55-72kg
16:45-17:45 Semifinals WW 57-59-65-76kg
18:00-21:00 Finals WW 50-53-55-72kg

Thursday, September 19
11:00-16:00 Qualification Rounds WW 62-68; FS 57-65
11:00-16:00 Repechage WW 57-59-65-76kg
16:45-17:45 Semifinals WW 62-68; FS 57-65
18:00-21:00 Finals WW 57-59-65-76kg

Friday, September 20
11:00-16:00 Qualification Rounds FS 70-74-92-125kg
11:00-16:00 Repechage WW 62-68; FS 57-65
16:45-17:45 Semifinals FS 70-74-92-125kg
18:00-21:00 Finals WW 62-68; FS 57-65

Saturday, September 21
11:00-16:00 Qualification Rounds FS 61-79-86-97kg 
11:00-16:00 Repechage FS 70-74-92-125kg
16:45-17:45 Semifinals FS 61-79-86-97kg
18:00-21:00 Finals FS 70-74-92-125kg

Sunday, September 22
15:30-17:30 Repechage FS 61-79-86-97kg
18:00-21:00 Finals FS 61-79-86-97kg

#WrestleAthens

U17 World Wrestling Championships: Day 3 Live Results

By Vinay Siwach

ATHENS, Greece (July 30) --  Women's Wrestling will kick off at the World U17 Championships with 43kg, 49kg, 57kg, 65kg and 73kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 2 RESULTS

The semifinals will begin at 17:00 hours local time and the medal bouts in Greco-Roman will begin at 18:00 hours local time.

13:30: Fall for Pan-Am champion Ella Jo POALILLO (USA) over Jolina HEALEY (CAN) at 73kg and she also earns a place in the semifinals. She will take on KAJAL (IND) who also pinned Anna GODELASHVILI (GEO). 

13:25: Asia champ vs European champ at 73kg as Wenjin QIU (CHN) takes on Eylem ENGIN (TUR). Qiu gets the first exposure and two points. Engin tries to score a takedown but Qiu keeps the par terre as both go out. Turkiye challenge. Engin gets one point for stepout. Qiu with a slide-by a takedown and 4-1 lead at the break. Head outside for Engin but whizzer from Qiu as she gets two points. Two more points and a palce in the semifinals for Qiu as she wins 8-1

13:18: Morgan TURNER (USA) catches Komal VERMA (IND) in a laces and turns her to complete a 10-0 win and enter the 49kg semifinals.

13:15: Feenja HERMANN (GER), European silver medalist, pins Anastasiya KOMANAVA (UWW) at 65kg. Hermann with different techniques to score her points and ultimately gets the fall.

13:11: MONI (IND), the Asian U17 champion at 57kg, needs just 15 seconds to secure a fall over Oana DUMITRU (ROU) and advance to the semifinals. On Mat B, another Asian U17 champion from India, Ashvini VISHNOI (IND) pins Anujin ERKHEMBAATAR (MGL) after a series of takedown to advance to semifinals at 65kg.

13:05: RACHANA (IND) needed some extra effort to see of Mareim ABDELAAL (EGY) 13-2 in their 43kg bout. Rachana is former world U17 silver medalist.

13:03: Asian U17 silver medalist Madkhiya USMANOVA (KAZ) blocks a bodylock throw from Ivanna LUKIANENKO (UKR) and puts her down on the mat for four points and an 11-3 victory at 57kg.

12:58:Madison HEALEY (USA) broke down Sayuki HIBARINO (JPN) and then used the arm-bar to get the fall over Hibarino at 43kg. That is the first loss for Japan in Women's today.

12:55: Ella Jo POALILLO (USA), Pan-Am champion, gets the fall at 73kg over Uranzaya TSERENNYAM (MGL). Excellent offense from Paolillo to get points before securing the fall.

12:50: KAJAL (IND), a world champion from 69kg last year, now moves into the quarterfinals at 73kg with a fall over Claudia MANTOG (ROU) with a double-leg attack. She had a 12-0 before securing the fall.

12:45: A rematch from European U17 Championships final, Eylem ENGIN (TUR) beats Khrystyna DEMCHUK (UKR) again at 73kg. Engin with top position and doesn't allow Demchuk to get behind.

12:40: Former world U17 champion Morgan TURNER (USA) with a crafty fall over Saniya SOLTANGALI (KAZ). Turner had her literally perpendicular to the mat. She advances at 49kg.

12:22: European U17 silver medalist Feenja HERMANN (GER) lets out a scream as she blanks Sophia ANASTASE (ROU) 7-0 in their 65kg bout. Hermann looking for a medal at Worlds after finishing 7th last year.

12:20: Dimitra SKOUVAKI (GRE) wins a small regional rivalry battle against Melike KOPARAN (TUR) 4-2 and the local crowd is ecstatic after the win over their neighbouring country.

12:10: Alexandra MOISEI (MDA) gets the fall over Pan-Am champ Violette LASURE (USA) at 65kg. Great throw from Moisei and she held Lasure on the mat.

12:05: A takedown from Sayuki TANADA (JPN) with 0.20 left on the clock as she beats Emma BACON (USA) 5-3 in their 57kg bout. Tanada was leading 2-2 on criteria but Bacon scored a stepout with 15 seconds left. Tanada with a leg attack and just randomly threw Bacon to get exposure and the win.

11:50: European champion Raniia RAKHMANOVA (UWW) with a hard-working 12-2 technical superiority win over Nurana ASADLI (UWW) at 43kg.

11:42: In a battle between two wrestlers at 57kg who finished fifth at the European U17 Championships, Nini TSITSVIDZE (GEO) scores six points to beat Oona PEKKARINEN (FIN) 6-4

11:30: At 43kg, China, Japan and India wrestlers on the mat and all of them show their higher skills. Xin HUANG (CHN) beats Natalia TERZI (MDA), 10-0, in a minute and 54 seconds, Sayuki HIBARINO (JPN) wins 10-0 in two minutes and 30 seconds against Aiza TAALAIBEKOVA (KGZ) and RACHANA (IND) pins Mariza NASU (CAN).

11:25: World U17 champion at 69kg KAJAL (IND), who won silver at Asian U17 in Vietnam and added an Asian U20 title in Bishkek recently, pins Bianka BARANY ALMASI (HUN) in 25 seconds at 73kg.

11:20: Sayuki TANADA (JPN) with that lethal Japanese leg lace as she beats Albina SALYMBEKOVA (KGZ) 11-0 at 57kg

11:10: European U17 champion Anastasiya KOMANAVA (UWW) is tested by Sofiia ALFOROVA (UKR) in the 65kg bout but Komanava gets activity points along with her technical ones to win 4-0.

11:05: A mismatch at 65kg as two-time Asian U17 champion Ashvini VISHNOI (IND) laces Selsabil ROUABAH (ALG) to win her 65kg bout in just 46 seconds.

10:55: Marta MANKOWSKA (POL) held her own for a few minutes against Asian U17 champion MONI (IND) who ultimately breaks Mankowska with two takedowns and wins the opening bout at 57kg 5-1.

10:30: Welcome to day three of the World U17 Championships and soon after the repechage in Greco-Roman, the Women's Wrestling bout will begin in five weight classes.