Russo, Italy's first world champ in women's wrestling

Thursday, August 17, 2023 - 23:57 By Vinay Siwach

AMMAN, Jordan (August 17) -- Aurora RUSSO (ITA) was left wondering how to pose for photographs with the champion belt. She put it around her waist, over her shoulder and held it over her head with both hands. For those 20 minutes, Russo was zoned out.

Despite being full of emotions and teary-eyed, Russo managed to open the interview with "I am a history maker."

Two years after she came agonizingly close to becoming Italy's first-ever world champion in women's wrestling, Russo achieved the historic feat by winning the gold medal at 59kg at the U20 World Championships in Amman, Jordan on Thursday. She did that by beating a former U20 world champion in Alesia HETMANAVA (AIN), 4-1, in the gold medal bout.

Apart from Russo's incredible feat, four other gold medals in women's wrestling were decided on Thursday. China, Individual Neutral Athletes, Japan and India won one each.

Japan, which dominates women's wrestling, is in danger of losing the team title for the first time at a U20 World Championships in which it has participated. So far, it has only one gold and two bronze medals. It is second in the race that is led by the United States with 75 points while Japan has 63 points.

For Italy, Russo is only the second wrestler in women's wrestling to reach a World Championships final after Dalma CANEVA (ITA) did in 2014 at the U20 level. When Russo did it the first time in Ufa, she lost a close final 8-6 to Nilufar RAIMOVA (KAZ). Since that silver medal, her results have been a mixed bag, winning the U20 Euros this year but suffering losses at the U23 and senior levels.

But the Turin native knew that she will not get a chance to win a U20 worlds again so she left no stone unturned on Thursday.

"I watched a few videos of Hetmanava to study her style," she said. "I learned everything."

Instead of engaging in attacks with Hetmanava, Russo played the counter. Hetmanava can pressure her opponents by taking fake shots and ultimately hitting counters. The final began on a slow note for Russo and she was put on the shot clock. After failing to score, Russo trailed 1-0 but no further damage was done till the break.

Hetmanava was put on the shot clock in the second period and in an attempted single-leg, she was blocked by Russo. The push from Russo imbalanced Hetmanava and the Italian quickly scored a takedown to lead 3-1 with 1:49 left on the clock.

Russo went into defense mode for the remaining time and did not allow Hetmanava to get any points. In the final 10 seconds, Hetmanava did get a high bodylock but Russo controlled her leg throughout even as Hetmanava tried to control the position to get a takedown.

AIN team challenged after no points were awarded but a takedown was not confirmed on review. This added another point to Russo's score as she celebrated, rather emotionally, with her coaches.

"I cannot believe this," Russo said.

Last year, Russo finished seventh at the U20 World Championships after losing to SITO (IND) in the repechage. She credited her international experience for the win in Amman.

"I think in Ufa I was very young but now I have experience and I have wrestled at more international competitions," she said.

In the semifinals against Alexis JANIAK (USA), Russo came back from 8-4 down to win 9-8 by scoring four points in the final 30 seconds. Janiak led 8-8 on criteria when the clock expired but Russo challenged Janiak's fleeing which was confirmed on review, giving Russo a 9-8 win.

"I was injured and got blood all over and I had kind of given up but it's wrestling so I kept going," she said. "I scored four points."

Aryna MARTYNAVA (AIN) leg laces Georgiana LANA (ROU) in the 55kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Another wrestler who finished with a silver medal at the 2021 U20 World Championships claimed the gold medal. Aryna MARTYNAVA (AIN) won the gold medal at 55kg, needing only 21 seconds to finish the final against Georgiana LANA (ROU), who looked in severe discomfort after the final.

Martynava was a silver medalist at 59kg in 2021 but in a drastic change, dropped down to 55kg in Amman. In her three bouts, she won via technical superiorities without giving up a point.

Lana, who stunned everyone by pinning returning champion Moe KIYOOKA (JPN), had heavily padded knees and was unable to move smoothly in the final. Once Martynava got a head-outside-single and transitioned into a takedown, Lara did not defend the lace, ending the bout 10-0 in 21 seconds.

After losing to Lana in the semifinals, Kiyooka returned to win the bronze medal 10-0 but expressed her regret for missing out on the gold for the second straight year.

"I am filled with regret," Kiyooka said. "At this rate, even at the senior level, which is my goal, I think my level is too low to talk about."

Kiyooka explained that it was difficult to digest the semifinal loss as Lana got her in a headlock before securing the fall.

"I went in with the feeling that I would definitely win," Kiyooka said. "I lost in an unexpected way, so when I lost, I didn't know what had happened, I couldn't believe it. It took me a while to accept the loss. I put that aside and approached the bronze-medal bout with the mindset of changing my mind and going home with the bronze medal."

Yanrong LI (CHN) scores exposure against Audrey JIMENEZ (USA) in their 57kg. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

It was a memorable day for China as well as it crowned a U20 world champion after five years. Yuanyuan HUANG (CHN) was the last Chinese to win a U20 world title when she won the gold at 76kg in Trvana in 2018.

Yanrong LI (CHN) ended the drought for a gold medal, winning the 50kg gold in dominant fashion. This was also China's first gold in lower weight classes since 2010 when Yanan SUN (CHN) won the gold at 51kg.

Li defeated returning silver medalist Audrey JIMENEZ (USA) via fall in the final after building an 8-0 lead. She got Jimenez in a cradle and kept turning the American to build an 8-0 lead before sticking Jimenez to the mat to confirm the fall.

The Chinese wrestler was equally dominant if not more on Wednesday as well. She began her world championships with a 16-6 rout of Sviatlana KATENKA (AIN) before pinning Svenja JUNGO (SUI) in the quarterfinals and Viktoriia SLOBODENIUK (UKR) in the semifinals.

Jimenez was looking for her first U20 world title after finishing with a silver medal. But like Umi ITO (JPN) in 2022, Li gave no chance to the 18-year-old from the U.S.

Ray HOSHINO (JPN) held off for a 4-3 win over Elizateva PETLIAKOVA (AIN). (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

For Japan, Ray HOSHINO (JPN) held on to an extremely tough 4-3 win over Elizaveta PETLIAKOVA (AIN) in the 68kg final to give Japan its first gold in women's wrestling.

Hoshino, who was in Amman to win the U20 Asian Championships, began with a single-leg attack four seconds into the bout and converted that for a takedown to lead 4-0. A minute later, Petliakova scored a takedown to lead 2-2 on criteria at the break.

Petliakova shot for Hashino's legs but the Japanese pulled off an incredible defense and score her takedown on the counter. Hashino led 4-2 and was all set to run out the clock. However, Petliakova scored a setpout with 12 seconds remaining to make it 4-3. But nothing else worked for Petriakova as Hoshino won the gold medal.

"I'm happy to have won, but the final was dangerous," Hoshino said. "I thought I should have pushed harder.

"I was under pressure and not satisfied with what I was doing, so I would like to take a closer look at the issues and practice more after returning to Japan.”

Priya MALIK (IND) upgraded her U20 worlds silver to gold in Amman. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Priya MALIK (IND), the silver medalist from 2022, became a three-time age-group world champion as she defeated Laura KUEHN (GER), 5-0, in the 76kg final.

The two-time U17 world champion was clearly a better version of her 2022 self with solid defense and diverse attacks. Unlike her final against Ayano MORO (JPN) last year, Malik had more attacking options and scored early as Kuehn failed to get to Malik's legs most of the time.

"I was much better prepared for this final than last year," Malik said. "I worked on my power and even defense so I can take this world champion belt home."

RESULTS

50kg
GOLD: Yanrong LI (CHN) df. Audrey JIMENEZ (USA), via fall (8-0)

BRONZE: Viktoriia SLOBODENIUK (UKR) df. Svenja JUNGO (SUI), via fall (5-2)
BRONZE: Miruko SAKANE (JPN) df. Reka HEGEDUS (SVK), 10-0

55kg
GOLD: Aryna MARTYNAVA (AIN) df. Georgiana LIRCA (ROU), 10-0

BRONZE: Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) df. Roza SZENTTAMASI (HUN), 10-0
BRONZE: Amani JONES (USA) df. Albina RILLIA (UKR), 5-5

59kg
GOLD: Aurora RUSSO (ITA) df. Alesia HETMANAVA (AIN), 4-1

BRONZE: Alexis JANIAK (USA) df. Elena KUROVA (AIN), 11-0
BRONZE: Kalmira BILIMBEK KYZY (KGZ) df. Sevim AKBAS (TUR), 11-0

68kg
GOLD: Ray HOSHINO (JPN) df. Elizaveta PETLIAKOVA (AIN), 4-3

BRONZE: Alina SHAUCHUK (AIN) df. Isabella MIR (USA), 8-1
BRONZE: ARJU (IND) df. Elif KURT (TUR), 8-1

76kg
GOLD: PRIYA (IND) df. Laura KUEHN (GER), 5-0

BRONZE: Kennedy BLADES (USA) df. Mariia SILINA (AIN), 6-2
BRONZE: Veronika NYIKOS (HUN) df. Daniela TKACHUK (POL), via fall (10-5)

Semifinals

53kg
GOLD: Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) vs. ANTIM (IND)

SF 1: ANTIM (IND) df. Polina LUKINA (AIN), 12-0
SF 2: Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) df. Katie GOMEZ (USA), via fall (2-0)

57kg
GOLD: Ichika ARAI (JPN) vs. Alina FILIPOVYCH (UKR)

SF 1: Alina FILIPOVYCH (UKR) df. Shugyla OMIRBEK (KAZ), via fall (10-4)
SF 2: Ichika ARAI (JPN) df. Gerda TEREK (HUN), 5-3

62kg
GOLD: SAVITA (IND) vs. Astrid MONTERO (VEN)

SF 1: Astrid MONTERO (VEN) df. Melanie JIMENEZ (MEX), 8-0
SF 2: SAVITA (IND) df. Iris THIEBAUX (FRA), via fall

65kg
GOLD: Eniko ELEKES (HUN) vs. ANTIM (IND)

SF 1: Eniko ELEKES (HUN) df. Khadija JLASSI (TUN), 7-0
SF 2: ANTIM (IND) df. Ekaterina KOSHKINA (AIN), 9-5

72kg
GOLD: Amit ELOR (USA) vs. Bukrenaz SERT (TUR)

SF 1: Amit ELOR (USA) df. Yuka FUJIKURA (JPN), 10-0
SF 2: Bukrenaz SERT (TUR) df. HARSHITA (IND), via fall

#WrestleTirana

U23 Worlds: Reetika wins 76kg gold; Bas repeats

Thursday, October 26, 2023 - 21:12 By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (October 26) -- Perhaps the best was saved for the last. After four snoozefests, Reetika HOODA (UWW) and Kennedy BLADES (USA) wrestled in an action-packed final, ironically at 76kg, at the U23 World Championships on Thursday with the former beating Blades 9-2 and denied the former U20 world champion another world title.

The four finals before that went like this -- injury default at 50kg, 4-2 at 55kg, 1-1 at 59kg and 2-1 at 68kg.

The 76kg final was on unexpected lines as Blades, the clear favorite against Hooda who was jumping to 76kg for the first time after spending two years at 72kg, suffered a rather tame loss. Hooda used a gameplan of counter-offense which completely shut Blades in the final.

The first two points for Hooda were stepouts she got as counters to Blades' attacks. The American was put on the activity clock but managed to hit a double-leg for two points to lead 2-2 on criteria. Blades' tried another attack but Hooda pushed Blades out one more time to lead 3-2 at the break.

REETIKA (UWW) Reetika HOODA (UWW) scores against Kennedy BLADES (USA) in the 76kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Hooda, a senior Asian Championships bronze medalist, kept the pressure on and Blades at a distance. Blades desperately tried to attack Hooda's legs but was shot off using underhooks. In one such situation, Hooda got Blades and scored a takedown. A stepout later, she scored another takedown in a similar fashion, before clinching the gold medal with another stepout.

The gold is Hooda's first at a world event and a step towards the Olympic journey at 76kg. Having first stepped on the mat at the age of 14 years, Hooda has earned a considerable name for herself in seven years. She has a U23 Asia title to go with her U20 world bronze and senior Asian bronze.

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Hailing from Rohtak, Haryana in India, she chose to join the CR Stadium, the school that has produced several age-group world medalists including U20 world champion SAVITA, Manshi AHLAWAT, Pooja GEHLOT. In fact, the three UWW medalists on Thursday, Hooda, Neha SHARMA and NITIKA, all hail from the same stadium.

Hooda, pushed by her army veteran father to take up wrestling, will fly directly to Goa for the National Games and try to win another medal at 76kg.

Even Blades will have to quickly regroup and fly to Chile for the Pan-Am Games as she is part of the United States team for the Santiago tournament from November 1.

An estatic Nesrin BAS (TUR) after she won a challenge and the 68kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

The 68kg final too was going towards an upset as U20 world bronze medalist Alina SHAUCHUK (AIN) clinched the gold medal over defending champion Nesrin BAS (TUR) on 1-1 criteria as both wrestlers had exchanged activity points only to see it go after a challenge.

In the final 10 seconds of the bout, Bas got on a double leg and pushed Shauchuk toward the zone. Shauchuk managed to pressure Bas and keep her from scoring a stepout till the clock expired.

Turkiye however challenged hoping for a miracle and on review, a stepout was confirmed as Shauchuk tried to circle back when Bas tried standing up with her hands on Shauchuk's legs. Shauchuk's body was in the air when her leg foot touched outside the zone which the jury deemed as a stepout, giving an additional point to Bas and the gold medal.

Bas, the U23 European champion and bronze medalist at the senior level, is the first wrestler from Turkiye to win the U23 world title for the second time.

Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) celebrates after winning the 59kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

While Shauchuk failed to hold her 1-1 criteria lead, Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) managed to hold off Sena NAGAMOTO (JPN) 1-1 in the 59kg final. Nagamoto never looked convincing in her attacks after trailing and Vynnyk had no trouble to play the time.

Vynnyk gave Ukraine its first gold in Women's Wrestling at the U23 World Championships after the nation drew a blank last year in Pontevedra, Spain where the former European silver medalist had won a bronze medal at 59kg.

Umi IMAI (JPN) won the 55kg gold over Neha SHARMA (UWW). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Japan, the most dominant nation in Women's Wrestling, did win two gold medals as Umi ITO (JPN) won at 50kg and Umi IMAI (JPN) won at 55kg.

Imai wrestled Neha SHARMA (UWW) in the final and opened the scoring in typical Japanese style, hitting an outside single and converting it into a takedown. Despite several efforts by Sharma to get a point on board, Imai was solid in defense and did not allow Sharma to go behind.

The 2022 Asian champion would score another takedown in a similar fashion in the second period to lead 4-0 with a minute and 30 seconds left in the final. Sharma got a counter takedown with 50 seconds left to close the gap to 4-2 but could not score another for the win.

Umi ITO (JPN) added a U23 world title to her U17 and U20 titles. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 50kg, Ito, who has never lost internationally with gold medals at the U17 and U20 World Championships, added the U23 world title after her finals opponent Audrey JIMENEZ (USA) pulled out due to a knee injury.

Ito and Jimenez had wrestled in the U20 World Championships final last year at 50kg with Ito winning 10-0. Even in Tirana, the Japanese wrestler won all three of her bouts via technical superiority.

Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU), second from right, won bronze at 76kg. (Photo: UWW / Ulug Bugra Han Degirmenci)

Lithuania wins bronze

Six years after Danute DOMIKAITYTE (LTU) won Lithuania's last world medal at any level, Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU) ended that drought by winning the bronze medal at 76kg in Tirana. Gaucaite was able to see off Patrycja SLOMSKA (POL) 7-3 in the bronze-medal bout.

The second bronze medal at 76kg went to 2021 U23 world champion Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) who pinned Nodoka YAMAMOTO (JPN) after leading 4-2.

Manola SKOBELSKA (UKR) gave Ukraine the second bronze as she defeated Vusala PARFIANOVICH (AIN), 5-3, at 68kg while Tindra SJOEBERG (SWE) rolled to an 11-0 victory over Vanessa KEEFE (CAN) to earn the second bronze at this weight.

European champion Andreea ANA (ROU) bounced back from her defeat to Imai to beat Mariia VYNNYK (UKR), 3-1, in a tense bout for the bronze medal. U20 world champion Aryna MARTYNAVA (AIN) dug deep to help herself beat Zeinep BAYANOVA (KAZ), 8-5, and take home a bronze medal.

At 50kg, U23 European champion Emma LUTTENAUER (FRA) blanked Aida KERYMOVA (UKR), 7-0, to win bronze, her first world medal. Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE) held off NEELAM (UWW), 8-5, in the other bronze-medal playoff.

Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (AIN) won the bronze medal at 59kg after she defeated Nadzeya BULANAYA (AIN), 6-3, while NITIKA (UWW) pinned Michaela RANKIN (CAN) to claim one for herself as well.

Irina RINGACI (MDA) reached the 65kg final after beating Macey KILTY (USA). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Ringaci, Elor in final

Defending champion Amit ELOR (USA) reached the final after two pins and a 5-0 win at 72kg in Tirana. Elor, chasing a career eighth world title, will take on Jyoti BERWAL (UWW) for the gold medal on Friday.

Elor spent 34 seconds on the mat for her first two pins, the first in 16 seconds and the second in 18 seconds. In the semifinal, she defeated her last year's finals opponent Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL), 5-0.

Berwal defeated U20 world silver medalist Bukrenaz SERT (TUR), 7-0, in the other semifinal to set up the gold medal clash against Elor.

At 65kg, Irina RINGACI (MDA) defended everything Macey KILTY (USA) threw at her to win the semifinal 5-4. She also had two pins to begin with but Kilty, world silver medalist, surprised her with a flurry of attacks early in the semifinal

Kilty got the first takedown and worked for others but Ringaci's defense was too much for her as the Moldovan scored from disadvantageous postition to lead 4-2 at the break.

Ringaci scored a stepout to begin the second period and defended a takedown attempt from Kilty using the split. It took a lot out of Ringaci who still had a minute and a half to defend her 5-2 lead.

Kilty would eventually get a takedown with 30 seconds left on the clock but Ringaci held on to beat Kilty 5-4 and head to her first U23 world final. She will take on Amina TANDELOVA (AIN) who defetaed Elma ZEIDLERE (LAT), 6-2, in the other semifinal.

Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA) was the second Moldovan to reach the final on Thursday as she defeated Altyn SHAGAYEVA (KAZ), 6-2 at 53kg. She will take on Mako OONO (JPN) who also won her semifinal against Ekaterina VERBINA (AIN) with a similar scoreline.

2022 Asian champion Sara NATAMI (JPN) will take on Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) in the 57kg final after she won her semifinal against Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR), 8-1. Aliyeva blanked Mia FRIESEN (CAN), 10-0, in the other semifinal.

Iryna BONDAR (UKR) will have a chance to improve her silver from last year to gold as she returned to the final at 62kg. She defeated Bhagyashree FAND (UWW) 10-0 and will take on Yuzuka INAGAKI (JPN) who won her semifinal over Alina KASABIEVA (AIN), 12-2.

RESULTS

50kg
GOLD: Umi ITO (JPN) df. Audrey JIMENEZ (USA), via inj. def.

BRONZE: Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE) df. NEELAM (UWW), 8-5
BRONZE: Emma LUTTENAUER (FRA) df. Aida KERYMOVA (UKR), 7-0

55kg
GOLD: Umi IMAI (JPN) df. Neha SHARMA (UWW), 4-2

BRONZE: Andreea ANA (ROU) df. Mariia VYNNYK (UKR), 3-1
BRONZE: Aryna MARTYNAVA (AIN) df. Zeinep BAYANOVA (KAZ), 8-5

59kg
GOLD: Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) df. Sena NAGAMOTO (JPN), 1-1

BRONZE: Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (AIN) df. Nadzeya BULANAYA (AIN), 6-3
BRONZE: NITIKA (UWW) df. Michaela RANKIN (CAN), via fall

68kg
GOLD: Nesrin BAS (TUR) df. Alina SHAUCHUK (AIN), 2-1

BRONZE: Tindra SJOEBERG (SWE) df. Vanessa KEEFE (CAN), 11-0
BRONZE: Manola SKOBELSKA (UKR) df. Vusala PARFIANOVICH (AIN), 5-3

76kg
GOLD: REETIKA (UWW) df. Kennedy BLADES (USA), 9-2

BRONZE: Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) df. Nodoka YAMAMOTO (JPN), via fall
BRONZE: Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU) df. Patrycja SLOMSKA (POL), 7-3

SEMIFINALS

53kg
GOLD: Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA) vs. Mako OONO (JPN)

SF 1: Mako OONO (JPN) df. Ekaterina VERBINA (AIN), 6-2
SF 2: Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA) df. Altyn SHAGAYEVA (KAZ), 6-2

57kg
GOLD: Sara NATAMI (JPN) vs. Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE)

SF 1: Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) df. Mia FRIESEN (CAN), 10-0
SF 2: Sara NATAMI (JPN) df. Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR), 8-1

62kg
GOLD: Iryna BONDAR (UKR) vs. Yuzuka INAGAKI (JPN)

SF 1: Yuzuka INAGAKI (JPN) df. Alina KASABIEVA (AIN), 12-2
SF 2: Iryna BONDAR (UKR) df. Bhagyashree FAND (UWW), 10-0

65kg
GOLD: Irina RINGACI (MDA) vs. Amina TANDELOVA (AIN)

SF 1: Amina TANDELOVA (AIN) df. Elma ZEIDLERE (LAT), 6-2
SF 2: Irina RINGACI (MDA) df. Macey KILTY (USA), 5-4

72kg
GOLD: Amit ELOR (USA) vs. Jyoti BERWAL (UWW)

SF 1: Jyoti BERWAL (UWW) df. Bukrenaz SERT (TUR), 7-0
SF 2: Amit ELOR (USA) df. Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL), 5-0

Russo, Italy's first world champ in women's wrestling

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U23 Worlds: Reetika wins 76kg gold; Bas repeats