#WrestleBelgrade

Taylor wins latest duel against Yazdani; Burroughs claims sixth gold

By Ken Marantz

BELGRADE, Serbia (September 16) -- With military-like precision and power, David TAYLOR (USA) came out on top in the latest edition of the top-gun rivalry that currently has the wrestling world abuzz.

Taylor avenged a loss to Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) at last year's World Championships with a well-earned 7-1 victory in the 86kg final, giving the American his second world title in one of four freestyle finals on Friday in Belgrade.

"This is the first time I've really gone into wrestling Yazdani with super strict intentions," Taylor said. "And I followed that. He's burning that fire for me to continue going. He's that barrier to me and a gold medal in Paris."

Earlier, Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) captured the 79kg title to tie Adeline GRAY (USA) for the most-ever world golds by an American with six, while an unheralded and unorthodox Japanese shed some rain on the American victory parade with a surprisingly one-sided win over Zain RETHERFORD (USA) in the 70kg final.

Taha AKGUL (TUR) captured the final title at stake on the seventh day of competition with a victory at 125kg, giving him a third world title and first since 2015.

David TAYLOR (USA)David TAYLOR (USA) never let off the pressure against Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) in the 86kg final. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Taylor's victory over Yazdani was his fourth in five career meetings between the two superstars, the last three of which have come in global finals. Last year, Taylor came out on top 4-3 in the final of the Tokyo Olympics, an outcome Yazdani reversed three months later with a 6-2 win for the gold in Oslo.

"Going there and losing, it was hard," said Taylor, who said he at one time considered retiring.

In every previous match, Yazdani took the initial lead, and Friday night's clash was no exception. Yazdani received an activity point, but few could have foreseen that that would be the limit to his scoring.

After Yazdani tip-toed out of a takedown attempt, Taylor came right back at him and gained a single-leg takedown to lead 2-1 going into the second period. A sweeping tackle and a stepout off a single-leg attempt put the American up 5-1.

Yazdani looked like he was going to cut the lead to a manageable margin when he very nearly got behind for a takedown in the final minute, but Taylor reached back and prevented the Iranian from completing the move. Yazdani still had a shot when moved to the side for a crotch lift, but Taylor resisted that for a stalemate.

With Yazdani putting the pressure on to score, it was Taylor who came up with a final takedown to put the victory on ice.

Taylor said that for some time, he lost his desire to continue the sport, and only relit the flame through the support of his family and others around him.

"I tell you why this year has been so hard for me," he said. "I contemplated retiring multiple times. I just didn't know if I wanted to do it anymore. I've been at the top of what I want to do since I was a little kid. Olympic champion. I believe if I didn't go the World Championships, eight weeks later, I'd probably be done."

Taylor and Yazdani are both Olympic champions with the latter winning at the 2016 Rio Olympics, but became rivals when Yazdani made the move from 74kg up to Taylor's domain at 86kg.

In their first two encounters, Taylor won by fall at the 2017 World Cup, then 11-6 in the first round at the 2018 World Championships, which he won for his first senior world crown.

"We're the number one rivalry in the world for a reason," Taylor said. "You know, we're putting it on the line for wrestling. We're dog-tired out there. You know, it's just like, listen, that's what we're here for, you know. I mean, you gotta be a little bit showman, you know I am the Magic Man for a reason. I was able to be on top today and it feels pretty good."

Yazdani, a three-time champion, now has six world medals. Combined with his two from the Olympics, the 28-year-old has the most global medals in Iranian's storied history, with certainly more on the way in the years ahead.

"We'll go down to two greatest wrestlers of all time, we'll be battling to push each other the entire time so thankful for him," Taylor said. "But it feels good to be a champ."

Asked what he would tell Yazdani, Taylor replied, "Losing sucks. You're gonna get better, I'm gonna get better. And next year, we're gonna put it on the line again. I know you'll be there. I'll be there. And let's put another show for the fans. Give them something else to remember. That and the record books. I'll be there. I know you will, too. Let's go battle."

Jordan BURROUGHS (USA)Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) is now a six-time world champion, the best record for a male USA wrestler. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

For Burroughs, his hard-fought 4-2 victory over Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) in the 79kg final -- a repeat of 2021 final which the American won 5-1 -- made him the most decorated wrestler in American history when taking into consideration both world and Olympic golds.

"I feel amazing," Burroughs said. "All I can say is, God is good. My family, my coaches, and my training partners. I just think about all of the people who put so much work into helping me get to this platform. You guys get to see the championships, the hard double-legs, and the commitment here, but you rarely get to see the definition of what makes a champion behind the scenes."

Burroughs now has seven combined golds, breaking a tie with the legendary John SMITH (USA), and 10 medals overall. "I thank John for pushing me indirectly," he said.

While Nokhodi received an activity point for the lone point of the first period, Burroughs was far and away the aggressor in the second, launching a succession of takedown attempts that bore fruit with one stepout and a trademark blast double-leg tackle for a takedown.

"The refs hadn't been giving me favorable calls throughout the week, so I knew I had to do something extra," Burroughs said. "But honestly, I just wanted a takedown. I knew he couldn't get to my legs."

An activity point for Burroughs and a late stepout by Nokhodi completed the scoring.

Burroughs won his first four world golds in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017 at 74kg, the same weight he won his lone Olympic title in London in 2012. He moved up to 79kg in 2021 and won gold No. 5. He also has bronze medals from 2014, 2018 and 2019.

For now, Burroughs said he has no thoughts of retiring, despite the demands of being one of the elites of the sport.

"Before every match, I always remind myself that I chose this," he said. "This is chosen suffering. It's difficult, it's hard, it's scary as heck, but I know that God equipped me with the right tools to be the person to go out there and do this repeatedly. I'm 34 years old, I'm the father of four, been married for almost a decade, and I'm still at the top of my game."

Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN)Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN) won the 70kg gold medal with a quick win over Zain RETHERFORD (USA) in the final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Earlier, Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN) had dealt the U.S. a shock when he powered to a 10-0 technical fall over Retherford in the 70kg final.

"I can't put it into words," the 24-year-old Narikuni said of his stunning win. "I really went through a lot. I finally made it to this point."

Narikuni, who first appeared on the world radar when he won the Asian title in April in his first major senior competition, scored a takedown on a counter, then added two points with an exposure in which he put his head between Retherford's legs, lifted up and rotated. He then transitioned to a lace lock.

"I thought I probably wouldn't get that chance again, so I wanted to end it there in one shot," he said. "If the match continued and gone longer, the match might have gone at his pace and I might have lost."

Reeling off three rolls, Narikuni ended the match in 2:10 for gold that he said he will not be defending next year. And not because he will be moving to an Olympic weight class. In fact, he won't even be wrestling freestyle.

"I'm planning to get away from freestyle for a while," Narikuni said. "Without having doubts, I think I can make it in Greco at 67kg. My thinking is to become a world champion in both styles. I won't concede to anyone. This had been my objective before I came here and I definitely think I can achieve it."

All of his life, Narikuni has felt like he was living in the shadow of a two-time world champion. And literally, he was, as it was his mother who won two world golds under her maiden name of Akiko IIJIMA in the 1990s.

She runs Gold Kids, the Tokyo wrestling club where he, Olympic champion Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) and a number of other top Japanese got their start in the sport, and where he is now a coach (he also works part-time at a karaoke parlor). Growing up, he developed a complex about being compared to his mother, and winning the gold in Belgrade puts him halfway to redeeming himself in his own eyes.

But equaling her with two golds is not enough. He will try to outdo her by winning the second title in Greco-Roman. He is no stranger to the style, having finished seventh at the world juniors 2017.

In fact, he might have already been wrestling that style, but the tournament he was going to enter to qualify in Greco for last year's national championships got canceled due to the pandemic.

"She won two titles, and I've only won one," Narikuni said. "I've closed the gap a little. If I win at Greco, no one can deny what I have done. If I don't win at Greco, I will never feel in my heart that I've caught up to her."

Narikuni is also an anomaly in that he spends little time actually wrestling in his training, preferring to mainly hit the weight room. The techniques that he has been learning as a toddler and the power he has built up have served him well.

Taha AKGUL (TUR)Taha AKGUL (TUR) won the world title for the third time and first since 2015. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

In the last match of the night, Akgul won a clash of 2021 bronze medalists, scoring a single-leg takedown and a gut wrench in the second period to rally to a 6-2 win over Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL).

"It was very difficult," Akgul said. "The exhaustion from yesterday was very noticeable, but it's important that I won, to finally become world champion again after seven years and to show the world that I can still be the best."

Akgul had a stepout and received an activity point in the first period, but Munkhtur went ahead by opening the second with a takedown. Munkhtur was attempting to become Mongolia's first world gold medalist in freestyle since 1975.

Akgul was coming off a grueling 4-2 win in the semifinal over defending champion Amir ZARE (IRI), which he won with a takedown in the last second. He said that victory was about more than avenging a loss to Zare in last year's semifinals.

"I prepared well, my opponent beat me last year, but Zare made a "KING" gesture when he won," Akgul said. "Geno [Petrashvili] or I never did that. Respect is very important in sports. This move of mine was for him."

Asked about the difference between his two titles, Akgul replied, "Nothing has changed. I have lost twice in the final in the past, that was very annoying. I would have been world champion five times if that had not happened. If I stay healthy and train well, I can beat everyone."

Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO)Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) won a bronze medal with by beating Oleg BOLTIN (KAZ). (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Georgia, Kyrgyzstan take 2 bronzes each

Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO), who once dominated the weight class along with Akgul in one of the sport's fiercest rivalries, picked up his seventh world medal when he outclassed Oleg BOLTIN (KAZ) 11-4 to take home one of the bronze medals at 125kg.

Petriashvili, who had a three-peat of world golds from 2017 to 2019, fell behind 4-2 early in the second period, but turned on the jets and reeled off nine unanswered points to give Georgia its second bronze of the night.

Earlier, Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO), a world champion in 2017, picked up his third world bronze and second in a row with a wild 5-5 victory over Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM) at 70kg in a repeat of this year's European final.

Iakobishvili's 4-point takedown early in the second period proved the difference after Andreasyan tied the score at 5-5 with a takedown, but a 2-point title awarded by the referee was taken away when a challenge showed Iakobishvili's back never broke the 90-degree plane.

Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ)Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) countered Naveen MALIK (IND) attacks to win the bronze at 70kg. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ), the 2021 silver medalist and runner-up to Narikuni at the Asian Championships in April, won the other 70kg bronze and the first of two for Kyrgyzstan when he scored all of his points on counters in a 4-1 over Naveen MALIK (IND).

Malik opened the scoring with a stepoout, but that would be all that Akmataliev would concede as he continued to fend off the Indian's attacks, going ahead with a counter to exposure for a 2-1 lead. In the second period, he countered a double-leg attack and went behind to pad his lead to 4-1.

Zare took home the other 125kg bronze when he bounced back from a disappointing loss to Akgul in the semifinals by scoring four takedowns in an 8-0 loss to Amarveer DHESI (CAN), an important win for Iran in the team race with the rival U.S.

At 79kg, Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (KGZ) captured his country's second straight bronze of the night when he scored two takedowns in the second period in a 5-1 victory over Ali UMARPASHAEV (BUL).

The other 79kg bronze when to Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR), who gained a decisive stepout off a scramble with :15 left and edged veteran Olympic bronze medalist Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB), with the final score becoming 5-3 following a subsequent unsuccessful challenge.

Taking home the 86kg bronzes were Asian champion Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) and Boris MAKOEV (SVK).

Dauletbekov, limited to two points in the first period, overwhelmed Ethan RAMOS (PUR) in the second rolling to a 10-0 technical fall in 4:25 for his third career world medal. The loss kept Ramos, now an assistant coach at Duke University in the U.S., from becoming just the second world medalist in Puerto Rican history.

The Russian-born Makoev, a silver medalist in 2017 in his first year competing for Slovakia, was behind on criteria when he scored a takedown with a minute to go to defeat Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL) 3-1.

Thomas GILMAN (USA)Defending world champion Thomas GILMAN (USA) reached the final at 57kg. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor) 

U.S. puts 3 into finals

In the semifinals in three weight classes held earlier in the night session, it was an American trifecta as defending champions Thomas GILMAN (USA) and Kyle DAKE (USA) and 2021 bronze medalist Jden COX (USA) all advanced to Saturday night's finals. For both Dake and Cox, their final will be a rematch from the 2021 World Championships.

Gilman, a bronze medalist at the Tokyo Olympics, got the juggernaut going at 57kg, when he used his snap-down attack to great effect for a comprehensive 8-2 win over 2018 world U23 bronze medalist Wanhao ZOU (CHN).

Keeping the pressure constantly on the Chinese, scored three takedowns from a snap-down setup, which he combined with an activity clock point and a stepout. Defensively, Gilman, who also has a 2017 world bronze, limited Zou to a pair of stepouts.

In the final, he will face Russian-born Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB), who scored a takedown and a counter lift for 2 in defeating American-born and bred Stevan MICIC (SRB) 6-1. Abakarov began competing for Albania this year with limited success, although he did win the Kolov-Petrov tournament in Bulgaria in February at 61kg.

Dake, aiming for his fourth consecutive world title and second straight at 74kg, survived a low-scoring but titanic battle with Asian champion Yones EMAMI (IRI) to eke out a 2-2 win.

Emami controlled the first period, taking a 2-0 lead with an activity point and a stepout from a counter, but it was only Dake's passive defense that prevented the Iranian from scoring more. Twice Dake managed to escape the situation when Emami got in deep on a single.

In the second period, Dake, also an Olympic bronze medalist in Tokyo, drove Emami to the edge and as they went out, then launched a backdrop. The call on the mat was for 4, but the Iranian side challenged. The move was reduced to a stepout, but an additional point was tacked on for fleeing, making it 2-2 with Dake holding the advantage on criteria.

Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK)Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) held off Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) 3-0 in the 74kg semifinal. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Standing between Dake and another world title will be Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK), the same opponent he defeated 7-3 a year ago for the gold in Oslo.

Salkazanov scored a pair of stepouts to defeat two-time former world champion Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) 3-0 in the other semifinal. That was a repeat of this year's European Championships final, which Salkazanov won 7-5 for his second straight crown.

At 92kg, Cox will get a chance to avenge a semifinal loss at the same stage in Oslo that forced him to settle for a bronze medal when he takes on defending champion Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI).

gth

Day 7 Results

Freestyle

57kg (31 entries)
Semifinal - Thomas GILMAN (USA) df. Wanhao ZOU (CHN), 8-2
Semifinal - Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) df. Stevan MICIC (SRB), 6-1

70kg (28 entries)
Gold - Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN) df. Zain RETHERFORD (USA) by TF, 10-0, 2:20

Bronze - Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) df. Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM), 5-5
Bronze - Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) df. Naveen MALIK (IND), 4-1

74kg (34 entries)
Semifinal - Kyle DAKE (USA) df. Yones EMAMI (IRI), 2-2
Semifinal - Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) df. Frank CHAMIZO (ITA), 3-0

79kg (32 entries)
Gold - Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) df. Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI), 4-2

Bronze - Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (KGZ) df. Ali UMARPASHAEV (BUL), 5-1
Bronze - Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR) df. Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB), 5-3

86kg (30 entries)
Gold - David TAYLOR (USA) df. Hassan YAZDANI (IRI), 7-1

Bronze - Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) df. Ethan RAMOS (PUR) by TF, 10-0, 4:25
Bronze - Boris MAKOEV (SVK) df. Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL), 3-1

92kg (23 entries)
Semifinal - Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) df. Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO), 5-0
Semifinal - Jden COX (USA) df. Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE), 7-0

125kg (24 entries)
Gold - Taha AKGUL (TUR) df. Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL), 6-2

Bronze - Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) df. Oleg BOLTIN (KAZ), 11-4
Bronze - Amir ZARE (IRI) df. Amarveer DHESI (CAN), 8-0

#WrestleBelgrade

Susaki defends 50kg title, leads Japan sweep of WW golds

By Ken Marantz

BELGRADE, Serbia (September 20) -- A day after showing a few chinks in her armor, Yui SUSAKI (JPN) completed her crusade to a fourth world title and a shot at a second straight Olympic gold with a display of her old dominance.

Susaki blasted away Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) with a 10-0 technical fall to retain the women's 50kg title at the World Championships, leading a Japanese sweep of the four gold medals at stake in women's wrestling on Wednesday at Belgrade's Stark Arena.

"As a Tokyo Olympic champion, I want to be one who pulls the Japanese team up and can be relied on," said Susaki, whose preparations for Belgrade were severely curtailed by a torn ligament of her right knee.

In the other Olympic weights, Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) successfully defended her title at 57kg for her third straight world gold, and Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) won at 76kg, making her the first Japanese woman to win a world title at the heaviest weight in two decades. 

Meanwhile, Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) captured a second straight world title with a bittersweet victory in the non-Olympic weight of 65kg.

Susaki's match against Dolgorjav was a rematch of the final a year ago in the same arena, and it went better than expected, given the problems Susaki had in her preparations for Belgrade and the vulnerability she showed in her matches on Tuesday.

It was vintage Susaki, who came out firing on all cylinders, scoring a single-leg takedown and immediately going into her devastating lace lock. She could only manage three spins, but that only delayed the inevitable as she quickly scored another single-leg takedown to finish off the match in 1:29.

The 24-year-old Susaki, who won her previous world titles in 2017, 2018 and 2022, had been unable to properly train in the run-up to Belgrade and even skipped a national team training camp, which is otherwise unheard of.

But she said that with a strong support team, she managed to be ready enough for the mission at hand. "If I had to do it on my own, I would not have made it here," Susaki said.

Susaki turned heads during the preliminary rounds on Tuesday when she gave up rare points in two matches, a far cry from her winning run at the Tokyo Olympics and last year's worlds, where she struck gold without conceding a point.

Yui SUSAKI (JPN)Yui SUSAKI (JPN) is now a four-time senior world champion. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Susaki said she gained inspiration from the Japan men's basketball team, which earlier this month put on amazing rallies at the World Cup to clinch a place at the Paris Olympics.

"At that time, coach [Tom] HOVASSE used the word 'Believe,'" Susaki said. "My sister sent me a video of the clinching game and said, 'Yui, we believe in you. If you are hurt or things are going tough, we believe you will become a world champion and get to the Paris Olympics.'

"That really gave me strength and by believing, I won the world title."

The Belgrade worlds also serves as the first qualifier for spots at the 2024 Paris Olympics, with five quotas available in each weight class. For the Japanese wrestlers, their federation has decreed that winning a medal means that they fill the spot without having to go through a playoff process.

"There is going to be pressure and other circumstances in the year heading to the Paris Olympics, but I'm really looking forward to all of it," Susaki said. "I definitely want to win a second straight title in Paris.

Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN)Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) defeated Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) to become a three-time world champion. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Sakurai captured her third world title overall and the ticket to Paris with a 3-2 victory over Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) in a battle of 2022 world champions.

Sakurai gained an activity point in the first period but had trouble finishing off her takedown attempts against Nichita, the gold medalist last year at 59kg who dropped down to the Olympic weight. But Sakurai finally broke through off a 2-on-1 for a 3-0 lead.

Nichita gained a takedown with 25 seconds left to make it interesting, but Sakurai staved off her late attempts to secure the win.

Like the other Japanese, Sakurai had to go through a grueling process just to make the team to Belgrade. In her case, it meant beating Tokyo Olympic champion Risako KAWAI (JPN) (now KINJO) among others.

"I trained for the purpose of winning this gold medal," said the 22-year-old Sakurai, who also won the world title at 55kg in 2021. "There were tough times, but I'm glad I practiced hard."

Sakurai said she received many messages of congratulations after winning her semifinal on Tuesday, which clinched the Olympic spot. But for her, the job was not finished.

"To me, I had one more match to win, so I went into today with a different mind," she said. "I practiced to win the title, not get to the Olympics.

"It's interesting to think about what the Olympics is like. I think I will be studied more [by my opponents], so I want to train hard to become a strong wrestler who can beat any opponent."

Yuka KAGAMI (JPN)Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) won the 76kg gold medal for her first world title. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

At 76kg, Kagami added her first senior title to her collection of age-group golds when Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) sadly had to default after suffering a knee injury.

Kagami scored a takedown on a low single early in the second period but wrenched Medet Kyzy's right knee in the process. Medet Kyzy would continue, but Kagami increased the lead to 8-0 and eventually, the tournament doctor decided Medet Kyzy was unable to go on.

While it was not the optimal way to win, it did not take away from the joy felt by Kagami, who had to overcome a shoulder injury herself that required surgery early in the year.

"This is the best and happiest day of my life," said Kagami, who won a bronze medal last year. "In December I was injured, and it was a hard recovery for six months. Every day I was out of breath and crying as I practiced.

"The competition in Japan is hard and it's even harder in the world, but I didn't set limits for myself and I set a goal. My objective was to win a gold medal."

Kagami, who turned 22 last week, is a product of the JOC Elite Academy which also produced Susaki and Ozaki. Her victory makes her the first Japanese champion at the heaviest women's weight since Kyoko HAMAGUCHI (JPN) won at 72kg in 2003.

Nonoka OZAKI (JPN)Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) used the lace to beat Macey KILTY (USA) 10-0 in the 65kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Ozaki won the world gold last year at 62kg but lost out to Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) for a place on the Japan team at that weight. When Motoki advanced to the 62kg final earlier in the day, it all but closed off Ozaki's path to Paris, barring injury or other unforeseen circumstances.

That realization came to the fore after she defeated Macey KILTY (USA) in the 65kg final. She managed a smile, but would soon be reduced to tears about taking home what for her is a consolation prize.

"When I won the title, it hit me that it wasn't in an Olympic weight class," Ozaki said of breaking down in tears after taking a victory lap with the Japanese flag.

Ozaki rolled to her third 10-0 technical fall in four matches -- the other was a 9-0 victory -- overwhelming Kilty in the final for her second world gold and third medal overall.

Ozaki gained a single-leg takedown, then reeled off a pair of lace-lock rolls. When Kilty managed to squirm out of the hold, Ozaki bulled her over for another 2, then applied the coup to grace by turning her over a final time with a cross-face and leg lift at 1:01.

"It was tough to see someone else clinch the team spot in my weight class," said Ozaki, who broke down while speaking to the media in the mixed zone. "It was my own fault. Sports is like that. I have to accept it."

Ozaki will now look to bounce back at the Asian Games early next month.

"I have the option of going to the Asian Games," Ozaki said. "The 62kg division has Aisuluu [TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ)] and the strong Mongolian [Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL)]. We will be leaving one week after I get home. I have no choice but to put this behind me."

Helen MAROULIS (USA)Helen MAROULIS (USA) won a bronze medal at 57kg after victory over Anhelina LYSAK (POL). (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Maroulis, Gray grab bronzes, Paris places

American 30-something stars Helen MAROULIS (USA) and Adeline GRAY (USA) both added to their extensive world medal collections and claimed an Olympic berth in their weight class with 10-6 victories in the bronze-medal matches.

Maroulis gave up a 4-point throw during her clash with Anhelina LYSAK (POL), but stuffed her twice for points en route to win 10-6 at 57kg.

Gray, whose loss in the quarterfinals to Kagami ended her bid for a seventh world gold, punctuated her takedowns with points from par terre, and that made the difference in her 10-6 decision over Milaimys MARIN (CUB) at 76kg.

It was still a triumph of sorts for Gray, who returned to the mat this year for the first time since her gold-medal run in 2021 after getting married and giving birth to twins.

Earlier, compatriot and Olympic bronze medalist Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) earned her second straight bronze medal and fourth world medal overall, scoring a takedown in each period to defeat 2022 European champion Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) 5-0 at 50kg.

Tatiana RENTERIA (COL)Tatiana RENTERIA (COL) won the bronze medal, only the second for Colombia at the World Championships. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Colombia had two chances to get just the second world medal in its history, and after Alisson CARDOZO (COL) came up short at 50kg, Tatiana RENTERIA (COL) pulled it off at 76kg.

Renteria, the 2022 world U23 champion, had a 6-1 lead when she stopped a desperation throw attempt by Catalina AXENTE (ROU), fell on top of her and secured a fall with one second left on the clock.

With the victory, Renteria joins namesake Jackeline RENTERIA (COL), a bronze medalist at 63kg in 2017, as Colombia's world medalist.

Asian bronze medalist Ziqi FENG (CHN) gave China its first Olympic berth with a Japanese-like, lace-locked-filled technical fall over Cardozo at 50kg. Feng gained a single-leg takedown, then immediately locked up the ankles and ripped off four rolls for a 10-0 victory in 2:19.

Odunayo ADEKUOROYE )COLOdunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) won the 57kg bronze and qualified Nigeria for the Paris Olympics. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

In the other third-place match at 57kg, Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) picked up her fourth world medal by putting on a late rush and then holding on to defeat Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR) 9-5.

Akekuoroye was trailing 1-1 on criteria when she scored a takedown with a minute to go, then seemed to put the match away with three lace-lock rolls. But Kamalaglu put the pressure on and got two stepouts, each with a fleeing point tacked on, but it was not enough to deny the Nigerian.

At 65kg, European champion Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL) picked up her first world medal, muscling Tatsiana PAULAVA (AIN) into a cradle and securing a fall at 1:51 of their bronze-medal match.

LILI (CHN) also got her opponent into a cradle, but although she was at the edge and didn't have the room to turn Kadriye AKSOY (TUR) over, the takedown was enough to give her a 3-2 victory and the other 65kg bronze.

Turkiye, Poland, Cuba win 5th-place playoffs

Turkiye, Poland and Cuba each picked up a Paris quota when their wrestler won the fifth-place playoff in their respective weight class.

Turkiye's Demirhan scored a first-period takedown and defeated Cardozo 4-1 at 50kg, but her country was prevented from a second one when Poland's Lysak pinned Kamaloglu at 57kg.

Lysak twice gave up exposure points after scoring with a throw, but on the third attempt, managed to hold down Kamaloglu for the fall.

At 76kg, Cuba's Marin made short work of Axente, using a blast double to send her to her back and scoring a fall in 49 seconds.

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Day 4 Results

Women

50kg (28 entries)
GOLD: Yui SUSAKI (JPN) df. Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) by TF, 10-0, 1:29

BRONZE: Ziqi FENG (CHN) df. Alisson CARDOZO (COL) by TF, 10-0, 2:18
BRONZE: Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) df. Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) by 5-0

5th-Place Playoff: Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) df. Alisson CARDOZO (COL), 4-1

53kg (31 entries)
GOLD: Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) vs. Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (AIN)

Semifinal: Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) df. Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) by TF, 10-0, 00:42
Semifinal: Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (AIN) df. ANTIM (UWW), 5-4

57kg (36 entries)
GOLD:  Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) df. Anastasia NICHITA (MDA), 3-2

BRONZE: Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) df. Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR), 9-5
BRONZE: Helen MAROULIS (USA) df. Anhelina LYSAK (POL), 10-6

5th-Place Playoff: Anhelina LYSAK (POL) df. Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR) by Fall, 1:56 (8-4)

62kg (34 entries)
GOLD: Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) vs. Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ)

Semifinal: Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) df. Grace BULLEN (NOR), 2-1
Semifinal: Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) df. Luisa NIEMESCH (GER), 4-2

65kg (17 entries)
GOLD: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) df. Macey KILTY (USA) by TF, 10-0, 1:00

BRONZE: Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL) df. Tatsiana PAULAVA (AIN) by Fall, 1:51 (4-2)
BRONZE: Lili LILI (CHN) df. Kadriye AKSOY (TUR), 3-2

68kg (33 entries)
GOLD: Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) vs. Buse CAVUSOGLU TOSUN (TUR)

Semifinal: Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) df. Emma BRUNTIL (USA) by Fall, 2:44 (6-0)
Semifinal: Buse CAVUSOGLU TOSUN (TUR) df. Ami ISHII (JPN) by TF, 11-1, 2:40

72kg (18 entries)
GOLD: Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) vs. Amit ELOR (USA)

Semifinal: Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) df. Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), 6-2
Semifinal: Amit ELOR (USA) df. Kendra DACHER (FRA) by TF, 12-2, 5:24

76kg (29 entries)
GOLD: Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) df. Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) by Inj. Def., 5:06 (8-0)

BRONZE: Tatiana RENTERIA (COL) df. Catalina AXENTE (ROU) by Fall, 5:58 (8-1)
BRONZE: Adeline GRAY (USA) df. Milaimys MARIN (CUB), 10-6

5th-Place Playoff: Milaimys MARIN (CUB) df. Catalina AXENTE (ROU) by Fall, :49 (8-0)