#Zagreb2018

Shilson Knocks Off Nazarova, Japan Wins Four Women’s Titles on Thursday at #Zagreb2018

By Taylor Miller

ZAGREB, Croatia – The first five Cadet World champions in women’s freestyle were crowned on Thursday night in Zagreb, Croatia.

Highlighting the night was 2017 Cadet World silver medalist Emily Shilson, who knocked off last year’s 38 kg World champion Shahana NAZAROVA (AZE).

Trailing 4-0, Shilson maneuvered her way on top and picked up six gut wrenches for a tech fall and the 2018 Cadet World title at 43 kg.

The rest of the night was dominated by Japan. The nation picked up the next four gold medals with repeat World title performances coming from 2017 World champs Honoka NAKAI (JPN) at 65 kg and Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) at 73 kg.

The closest bout of the night came at 65 kg, where Nakai, the 2018 Cadet Asian champion, picke up a first-period takedown, which was all that would be scored in her 2-0 win over Cadet Asian runner-up Xinru ZHOU (CHN) for a second-consecutive Cadet World title.

Asian champion Kagami wrapped up the night for Japan at 73 kg, where she scored five takedowns on two-time Cadet Asian medalist Qian JIANG (CHN) to claim an 11-0 tech fall for another World gold.

At 49 kg, Cadet Asian champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) won Japan’s first gold medal of the night with a first-period fall over Polina LUKINA (RUS).

Already up 7-0, Fujinami capitalized off an attempted throw from Lukina and pinned the Russian in 1:45.

In the 57 kg final, Cadet Asian champion Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) scored a fast takedown and four leg laces for a 10-0 technical fall over Anna SZEL (HUN) in the first 40 seconds.

The tournament continues tomorrow with women’s freestyle repechage and Greco-Roman preliminaries at 4:30 a.m. ET on unitedworldwrestling.com.

Women’s freestyle team scores going into final day (top 10)
1. Japan - 110
2. Russia - 70
3. Ukraine - 54
4. China - 50
5. United States - 48
6. Belarus - 45
7. India - 31
8. Hungary - 30
9. Azerbaijan - 20
10.
Mongolia - 20

Finals results
43 kg
GOLD - Emily SHILSON (USA)
SILVER - Shahana NAZAROVA (AZE)
BRONZE - Viktoriia ALEKSANDROVA (RUS)
BRONZE - Amina PONOMAROVA (UKR)

1st - Emily Shilson (USA) TF Shahana Nazarova (AZE), 14-4
3rd - Viktoriia Aleksandrova (RUS) fall Simran Simran (IND), 1:05
3rd - Amina Ponomarova (UKR) dec. Anna Ueno (JPN), 6-4

49 kg
GOLD - Akari FUJINAMI (JPN)
SILVER - Polina LUKINA (RUS)
BRONZE - Tiare IKEI (USA)
BRONZE - Natallia VARAKINA (BLR)

1st - Akari Fujinami (JPN) fall Polina Lukina (RUS), 1:45
3rd - Tiare Ikei (USA) fall Munkhgerel Munkhbat (MGL), 1:17
3rd - Natallia Varakina (BLR) dec. Lucia Yepez Guzman (ECU), 9-2

57 kg
GOLD - Nonoka OZAKI  (JPN)
SILVER - Anna Hella SZEL (HUN)
BRONZE - Aryna MARTYNAVA (BLR)
BRONZE - Irina RINGACI (MDA)

1st - Nonoka Ozaki (JPN) TF Anna Hella Szel (HUN), 10-0
3rd - Aryna Martynava (BLR) dec.
Anastasiia Sidelnikova (RUS), 6-4
3rd - Irina Ringaci (MDA) dec. Yaping Zhu (CHN), 11-3

65 kg
GOLD - Honoka NAKAI  (JPN)
SILVER - Xinru ZHOU (CHN)
BRONZE - Ekaterina GLUKHAREVA (RUS)
BRONZE - Sonam SONAM (IND)

1st - Honoka Nakai (JPN) dec. Xinru Zhou (CHN), 2-0
3rd - Ekaterina Glukhareva (RUS) dec. Noémi Szabados (HUN), 7-0
3rd - Sonam Sonam (IND) dec. Oksana Chudyk (UKR), 1-1

73 kg
GOLD - Yuka KAGAMI (JPN)
SILVER - Qian JIANG (CHN)
BRONZE - Elina PYSHKINA (UKR)
BRONZE - Kseniya DZIBUK (BLR)

1st - Yuka Kagami (JPN) TF Qian Jiang (CHN), 11-0
3rd - Elina Pyshkina (UKR) dec. Marion Bye (NOR), 4-4
3rd - Kseniya Dzibuk (BLR) dec. Valeriia Trifonova (RUS), 5-0

#UnitedWorldWrestling

Five-time Olympic champ Lopez named UWW Ambassador

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (June 13) -- United World Wrestling has named Mijain LOPEZ (CUB), five-time Olympic gold medalist, as UWW ambassador.

Lopez, first athlete to win five Olympic gold medals in the same event, will be representing United World Wrestling (UWW) globally as an ambassador of the sport. This includes engaging in international relations, attending official events and championships, delivering masterclasses, and more.

“I’m thrilled to take on this new role as a UWW Ambassador and share my passion for wrestling across the globe," Lopez said. "I’m committed to giving back and inspiring future generations.

"My son has taken up wrestling and is following in my footsteps, so it feels only natural to embrace this role and contribute on a broader level. I’m also actively involved in supporting the training of the Cuban national team as I transition into this new chapter."

Lopez will also serve as an advisor to the UWW President and Bureau, offering strategic input on the future of wrestling and supporting various development projects.

Recently, Lopez attended the International Olympic Committee Athlete Forum in Lausanne organized by the IOC and spent two days at the UWW Headquarters along with UWW Athletes Commission Chair Arsen JULFALAKYAN (ARG).