#BudaWrestle2018

Snyder-Sadulaev II Set, Japan Puts 2 in Women's Finals

Monday, October 22, 2018 - 15:56 By Andrew Hipps

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (October 22) -- Last year, the 97kg gold-medal final between Kyle SNYDER (USA) and Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) at the World Championships in Paris was called match was called the Match of the Century.That match is on again in Budapest. 

The two Rio Olympic champions took care of business in the semifinal round at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, on Monday. Neither wrestler surrounded a point. 

Snyder picked up a controlled 3-0 victory over Pavlo OLIINYK (HUN). The American scored the only point in the first period off the shot clock. He then added an early takedown in the second period. He now turns his attention to Sadulaev. 

"I'm ready," said Snyder. "I'm prepared. I feel like I'm better than I was last time. It's going to be a great match. We'll both be recovered and ready to fight."

Sadulaev, the 2016 Olympic champion at 86kg, claimed his fourth technical fall in four matches, beating Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO) 10-0 in the semifinals. Sadulaev took a 4-0 lead into the break, and then ended the match early in the second period after a takedown and two consecutive gut wrenches.

At 70kg in freestyle, veteran Adam BATIROV (BRN) will wrestle for his first world medal on the senior level at the age of 33 after dominating Andriy KVYATKOVSKYY (UKR) 10-0 in the semifinals. Batirov used a four-point arm throw in the first period, and then a takedown and two turns to end the match in the second period. 

2015 world champion Magomedrasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) defeated returning world champion Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) 3-1 at 70kg. Iakobishvili led 1-0 after the opening period, but GAZIMAGOMEDOV scored a point in the second period to take the criteria lead and then added to his lead with a late takedown.

Japanese women Mayu MUKAIDA and Risako KAWAI will be looking to add to their gold-medal collection on Tuesday after earning victories in the semifinals. 

Mukaida, a 2016 world champion, was impressive in winning 8-1 over 20-year-old junior silver medalist Qi ZHANG (CHN). She scored off three takedowns in the first period and added another one in the final period to win by seven.

Her finals opponent at 55kg will be Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR), who snuck past Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) in the semifinals. The two traded points off the shot clock before Sidakova forced a step out to take a 2-1 lead. Winchester fired off a double leg in the closing seconds and was initially awarded the takedown, but it was white paddled and Sidakova took the victory.

Kawai, the reigning world and Olympic champion, claimed a 10-0 technical fall in the semifinals over Svetlana LIPATOVA (RUS). She went up 6-0 in the first period after two takedowns and a turn. She then ended the match early in the second period with another takedown and turn. Kawai outscored her opposition 36-0 on Monday.  

In the other semifinal at 59kg, Elif YESILIRMAK (TUR) trailed 1-1 on criteria with 1:30 left before getting a takedown and locking up a lace which he used to score four turns en route to picking up an 11-1 technical fall.  

Semifinal Results

Freestyle

70kg
Adam BATIROV (BRN) df. Andriy KVYATKOVSKYY (UKR) by VSU, 10-0
Magomedrasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) df. Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) by VPO1, 3-1

97kg
Kyle SNYDER (USA) df. Pavlo OLIINYK (HUN) by VPO, 3-0
Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) df. Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO) by VSU, 10-0

Women's wrestling

55kg
Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR) df. Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) by VPO1, 2-1
Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) df. Qi ZHANG (CHN) by VPO1, 8-1

59kg
Elif Jale YESILIRMAK (TUR) df. Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL) by VSU1, 11-1
Risako KAWAI (JPN) df. Svetlana LIPATOVA (RUS) by VSU, 10-0

#WrestleTirana

Wednesday's U23 World Championship semifinals set

Wednesday, October 25, 2023 - 08:43 By Eric Olanowski

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TIRANA, Albania (October 25) --- Welcome to the third day of wrestling at the 2023 U23 World Championships. Today, we'll welcome in five women's wrestling weights--50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg and 76kg.

Top Stars in Action:
50kg - Nada MOHAMED (EGY) - U23 world bronze
53kg - Andreea Beatrice ANA (ROU) - U23 world gold 
53kg - Alisha Sue HOWK (USA) - U23 world bronze 
59kg - Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) - U23 world bronze 
68kg - Nesrin BAS (TUR) - U23 world gold 
68kg - Manola SKOBELSKA (UKR) - U23 world bronze 
76kg - Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) - U23 world bronze 
76kg - Kennedy BLADES (USA) - U20 world gold

Semifinal matches (as they come in):

50kg
Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE) vs. Audrey Rae JIMENEZ (USA)
Emma Solange Irène LUTTENAUER (FRA) vs. Umi ITO (JPN)

55kg
Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) vs. Umi IMAI (JPN)
Neha SHARMA (UWW) vs. Aryna MARTYNAVA (AIN)

59kg
Sena NAGAMOTO (JPN) vs. Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (AIN)
Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) vs. Michaela Amy RANKIN (CAN)

68kg
Vanessa Cheryl Elizabeth KEEFE (CAN) vs. Alina SHAUCHUK (AIN)
Nesrin BAS (TUR) vs. Vusala PARFIANOVICH (AIN)

76kg
Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) vs. Reetika REETIKA (UWW)
Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU) vs. Kennedy Alexis BLADES (USA)

13:49: That's two matches up, and two matches down for Ito. She punched her ticket to tonight's semifinals with another tech fall. This time, it was a 13-2 win over Aida KERYMOVA (UKR).

13:07: I'm waiting for Tindra Linnea SJOEBERG (SWE) to come up on Mat B. She's someone who Sweden has invested heavily into, and their waiting to see the fruits of their efforts. They obviously see the potential or they wouldn't have sent her to six competitions--five of which were senior-level events--this season.

It would be a great one-two punch for Swesen if Sjoeberg can continue to improve over the next six months and somehow find a way to join this year's U23 European champion Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) at the Paris Olympic Games.

With years ahead of them, it feels like Sjoeberg and Malmgren could be the second coming of Swedish greats Sofia MATTSSON (SWE) and Jenny FRANSSON (SWE).

Sjoeberg will wrestle Alina SHAUCHUK (AIN) next on Mat B.

12:49: Ito took Szeker down four times and turned her once for a 10-0 first-period win. She'll compete next against the winner of Amanda TOMCZYK (POL) and Aida KERYMOVA (UKR).

12:22: As a massive Yui SUSAKI (JPN) fan, one think I always pay attention to is her fellow Japanese 50kg countrywomen. I'm trying to project who will be the successor to Susaki's 50kg throne after she goes up to 53kg following the Paris Olympic Games.

For that reason, I'm patiently waiting for Umi ITO (JPN) to take the mat. She's coming up on Mat C against in three matches, where she'll meet Szimonetta Timea SZEKER (HUN).

12:20: There wasn't much to say about the Vynnyk win. She came to the mat, scored ten quick points and left. She'll wrestle Kalmira BILIMBEK KYZY (KGZ) in the quarterfinals.

12:09: '21 U23 world champion Andreea ANA (ROU) just picked up an easy 10-0 win on Mat A. That brings up reigning U23 world bronze medalist Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR).

Vynnyk has been one of the most consistent U23 wrestlers in the world over the last few years. She's only lost twice, winning the U23 European Championships earlier this season and finishing with bronze medals last season at the World and European Championships.

11:34: Although there are no returning U23 world medalists in Japan's lineup, they have the most dominant women's program in the world and are "guarenteed" to win at least five golds.

Since the first edition of the U23 World Championships in 2017--and with the exception of the 2021 U23 World Championships where Japan sat out due to COVID restrictions--the Japanese women have won at least five world titles at every U23 World Championships.

11:25: I've said this before, but it's worth noting the depth of the United States at 76kg. Adeline Gray has to be the front-runner to win the spot, but Blades, Kylie WELKER and Amit ELOR (USA) are all serious threats that Gray should be training for.

I know Elor has repeatedly stated that she's heading down to 68kg, and it would be best for the United States lineup, but she's never cut weight, so don't rule out the potential that she goes up to 76kg just yet.

11:11: Well, that was short-lived. Blades only needed a minute to score the tech fall over Patrycja Monika SLOMSKA (POL). I don't think she's going to have much trouble in the bracket, with her biggest test ultimately coming against U23 world bronze medalist Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR). 

11:05: Kennedy BLADES (USA) is up now on Mat C. Earlier this year, Blades tech'ed six-time world Adeline GRAY (USA) and most thought she would represent the United States at the Senior World Championships. Gray had different thoughts, coming back to beat Blades in two straight matches to take the spot.

10:58: No matter how you spin it, a win is a win at this level. Bas didn't look her best in that opening round match, only scoring a referee-given point, but she ended up holding on to win 1-1 on criteria.

10:51: We just wrapped up our last freestyle repechage match and will now head directly into the women's wrestling qualification round matches. 

The first star up is defending champion Nasren BAS (TUR). She's up now on Mat C against Manola SKOBELSKA (UKR).