#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

World C'ships: Tynybekova fends off latest Japanese challenge; Fujinami regains world crown

By Ken Marantz

BELGRADE, Serbia (September 21) -- Wily Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) found a way to beat the latest hot-shot wrestler that Japan threw at her and end a recent series of losses at the hands of the premier powerhouse in women's wrestling.

Tynybekova claimed her third world title and a ticket to her fourth Olympics by masterfully beating back the attack of Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) for a 4-1 victory in the 62kg final as women's wrestling at the World Championships wrapped up on Thursday night.

"The Japanese wrestlers are very strong," Tynybekova said. "We were preparing specifically for them. The coaches knew who I would have to wrestle at this World Championships, so they prepared a strategy for me.

"I just had to go up on the mat and follow all the instructions they had given me. I think I have met their expectations."

Superteen Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) regained the world title at 53kg to give Japan its sixth women's gold of the tournament, while Buse TOSUN (TUR) became the second Turkish women's champion in history with a dramatic victory at 68kg.

In the lone remaining non-Olympic weight, teen titan Amit ELOR (USA) successfully defended her 72kg title, giving the U.S. its lone gold in the women's competition.

The tournament is also serving as the first qualifying tournament for the 2024 Paris Olympics, with five berths available in each of the Olympic weight classes. Japan was the lone country to secure spots in all six divisions of women's wrestling.

Not surprisingly, with six champions Japan also captured its ninth straight team title, compiling 195 points to finish well ahead of the second-place United States with 135. Mongolia, with three silver medalists, finished third with 80.

Tynybekova, who became a national hero in Kyrgyzstan when she became its first-ever women's world champion and Olympic medalist, has had her share of victories and defeats against Japanese opponents.

In recent years, she lost to Yukako KAWAI (JPN) in the final of the Tokyo Olympics, and fell to Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) at last year's World Championships in Belgrade (she would avenge the latter loss at this year's Asian Championships).

"Some people were texting me that I would never be able to become the world champion again, Asian champion, world champion," Tynybekova said. "I just kept silent. I needed just a little time to prove that we are the best."

Facing her this time on the other side of the mat was Motoki, a bronze medalist at 59kg last year who had moved up to the Olympic weight and beat both Kawai and Ozaki to make the team to Belgrade.

Motoki was the aggressor from the get-go, launching her low single attacks. But each time, Tynybekova calmly sat back on Motoki's shoulder and forced a stalemate. It seemed little concern to Tynybekova when she gave up an activity point for the only point of the first period.

In the second period, Tynybekova suddenly and without warning took her first shot, and hit the target, scoring a takedown with a low single to take the lead.

Motoki increased the pressure, but that only played into Tynybekova's hands, as she scored 2 off a counter lift to pad the lead and put Motoki into a bigger hole. Tynybekova never let her get out of it.

"In order to win this gold, I had to work hard for two years, I had to have patience, overcome all the obstacles," Tynybekova said. "Together with the team, coaches, federation, all together we won this gold."

Amid the sting of the defeat, Motoki can be content with having achieved her objective of securing a ticket to the Paris Olympics. The Japan federation has ruled that any wrestler who wins a medal at the World Championships in an Olympic weight would automatically fill the spot without any further playoffs.

For Motoki, that holds even more significance. Her father, Yasutoshi, wrestled at the 2000 Sydney Olympics in Greco-Roman, and it has been her dream since childhood to join him as an Olympian.

Still, the stinging defeat offered a dose of reality, which she will surely use to motivate her in the years ahead.

"I came into the tournament confident that my wrestling could be competitive on the world level," a sobbing Motoki said. "But I'm still a long way away."

Making it to Paris was also the prime motivation for the 19-year-old Fujinami, who regained the 53kg title that she won in 2021 but was unable to defend when a foot injury kept her out of last year's World Championships.

"Last year an injury kept me from competing and it is a bitter memory," Fujinami said. "I thought, 'Next year, I will definitely win the title at the World Championships and later win the gold at the Paris Olympics.' I achieved one of them, the world title, so I'm really happy."

Facing two-time former champion Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (AIN) in the final, Fujinami was at her devastating best, scoring all of her points on takedowns off her lethal single-leg attack en route to a 10-0 technical fall in 4:43.

The victory, combined with her four wins in the preliminary round Wednesday, extended her current winning streak to 127 matches. She has not lost since the national junior high school championships in June 2017.

Although she secured her ticket to Paris when she won her semifinal on Wednesday, Fujinami kept her focus on the championship match.

"I clinched the spot in Paris, but I've been working the past year to become the world champion," she said. "I was happy yesterday, and I felt relieved. But I still had today to go, so I couldn't be too happy."

Like Tynybekova, Kaladzinskaya has an interesting history in relation to Japanese wrestlers. Both of the Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist's world titles came at the expense of Japanese who ironically would go on to win Olympic titles.

The 30-year-old defeated Eri TOSAKA (JPN) in the 48kg final in 2012 and scored a last-second victory over Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) at 53kg in 2017.

"I got advice from various people and I was able to do my wrestling," Fujinami said of facing Kaladzinskaya. "She's powerful, not a type you find in Japan."

While Fujinami again stamped herself as one of the most dominant wrestlers on the planet, she also showed a hint of vulnerability in her quarterfinal match on Wednesday against Lucia YEPEZ (ECU). But it only makes her more determined to improve.

Yepez opened the match by taking a 5-0 lead and finished with seven points overall, the most-ever scored on Fujinami by a non-Japanese opponent. Fujinami, who ended up winning the match by fall, regarded having to face adversity as a good experience.

"I think I'm still weak, but I want to be the one who stands out, so I have to get stronger and train harder," she said.

"Honestly speaking for this tournament I kept telling myself, 'Just have fun, just have fun.' In reality, it's not that it wasn't enjoyable, but I wasn't able to do much that was fun. I felt the pressure and I couldn't get my legs to move. It's the first time I experienced that, but I feel it's a sign I have also grown."

After her victory, Fujinami celebrated on the mat with her coach, who also happens to be her father Toshikazu and has been coaching her since she started wrestling as a toddler. After playfully tackling him, the two set out together on a victory lap around the mat carrying the Japanese flag.

At 68kg, Tosun made it to the top of the medal podium after twice winning bronze medals at 72kg with a spectacular victory by fall over Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) that left the Turk as stunned as her opponent.

Tosun took a 1-0 lead in the first period after scoring a stepout while on the activity clock. Mongolians are well known for their big throws, and in the opening moments of the second period, Enkhsaikhan hit a beauty for a 4-point move.

The only problem was that Tosun never stopped the momentum and rolled through, putting Enkhsaikhan onto her back before clamping down for the fall in 3:15.

With the triumph, Tosun joined Yasmin ADAR (TUR) as the lone woman to win world titles for Turkiye. Adar won 75/76kg golds in 2017 and 2022. She did not return this year to Belgrade to defend her title.

In the non-Olympic weight on the program, Elor kept a firm grip on the 72kg title by holding off the attacks of Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL), using her tremendous strength to power to an 8-2 victory.

"That was my game plan, I wanted to keep pressure on, I wanted to have close contact, and it looks like that's what she wanted also," Elor said. "So it was interesting, I think it's a really good match for me to look back on and learn from.

"I have a lot to work on, a lot to get better and improve at. But at the end of the day, I'm a world champion, which is amazing. I'm so happy."

Elor took a 3-0 lead in the first period with two stepouts sandwiched around an activity point. In the second period, the American scored a snap-down takedown before Enkh Amar finally broke through the armor and scored a takedown of her own, only to see Elor quickly gain a reversal. Elor then added her final points when she stopped a late throw attempt.

"I'm very confident with my hips," Elor said. "I love to rethrow, I like to score off of someone else's throw. But I need to work on my positioning. I shouldn't get in those positions. But it was a great match and I really enjoyed the fight."

The question now for the two-time world champion is what her plans are regarding the Paris Olympics.

"I don't know for sure yet, but most likely I'll go down [to 68kg]," she said. "We'll see because ever since a young age, I've never cut weight. And so if I do go down, it has to be in a healthy way. It has to be what feels best for me and my body."

Yepez gives Ecuador first medal

Another country joined the list of medal winners when Yepez gave Ecuador its first-ever world medal in any style by sweeping to a 10-3 victory over Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) in a bronze-medal match at 53kg.

In avenging a 14-4 loss to Prevolaraki in the bronze-medal match last year in the same venue, the lightning-quick Yepez blasted out to a 6-0 lead with three takedowns, then held off a late push to secure the historic bronze.

Another up-and-coming wrestler, world U20 champion ANTIM (UWW), took home the other 53kg bronze by beating Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) in arguably the most entertaining match of the night session, a freewheeling 16-6 technical fall completed as time expired.

The 19-year-old Antim, who had a 4-point barrel roll in the first period to lead 6-6 on criteria, went on a 10-point scoring spree in the second to put the match away and win a medal in her senior world debut.

The most dramatic match came at 68kg, where Irina RINGACI (MDA) squandered a 6-1 lead against 2022 silver medalist Ami ISHII (JPN) and fell behind with 45 seconds left, only to score the winning 2 with a counter-lift with 10 seconds for her second straight bronze.

Ishii, needing to win the match to clinch an Olympic berth for herself, gave up a 4-point counterthrow in the first period that would factor into criteria situations, so she worked to take the outright lead. She managed to do it with three takedowns in the second period.

But as she tried to hold off a late throw from Ringaci, the Moldovan reached over the top and lifted her up and over for 2 and a miracle finish. It was Ringaci's third world medal, having also won the gold at 65kg in 2021.

Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) gave the Olympic host country its first women's quota when she overwhelmed Emma BRUNTIL (USA) by a 10-0 technical fall for the other 68kg bronze and her fourth career world medal.

Larroque, a bronze medalist last year at 65kg, struck early with a 4-point arm throw in the first period, then reeled off three takedowns in the second to end the match in 5:13.

Grace BULLEN (NOR) earned a rare Olympic spot for Norway, scoring a takedown in the first period and a stepout in the second for a 3-0 victory over Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) at 62kg.

It was Bullen's second world medal, adding to the 59kg silver she won last year. Dudova was the gold medalist a year ago at 59kg.

The other 62kg bronze went to Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) with a 10-0 technical fall of Luisa NIEMESCH (GER), a repeat of her quarterfinal victory en route to the gold at the European Championships -- right down to the score.

Koliadenko got her first four points one at a time, with three stepouts and an activity point. Then she got a takedown and reeled off two gut wrenches to end the match at 4:29.

Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN), the 2022 world 65kg champion who was wrestling at 72kg for the first time in her life after failing to make Japan's team at 68kg, will return with a bronze medal after beating Kendra DACHER (FRA) 4-2.

Morikawa went ahead with an activity point and stepout in the first period, then added a stepout with a fleeing point to go up 4-0. Dacher managed a consolation takedown with five seconds left.

For what it's worth, Morikawa completed the collection of world medals, having also won a silver in 2021 at 65kg. But what will be of more concern for her was that Ishii's loss reopened the door for her to the Paris Olympics.

Three-time Asian champion Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), the world silver medalist the past two years, will take home the other 72kg bronze after notching a 4-1 win over Natalia STRZALKA (POL).

Bakbergenova seemed to get the spark she needed after giving up an activity point to fall behind 1-1 on criteria, immediately scoring a stepout and then adding a takedown.

Ishii rebounds

Ishii managed to come back from her heartbreaking defeat and secure the only quota in Paris that Japan had not yet clinched -- although to make it hers, she's going to have to go through the same domestic fight that she went through to get to Belgrade.

Ishii, who could barely move off the mat after her exhausting loss to Ringaci, scored a takedown on a low single in the first period and made that stand in a 2-0 victory over Bruntil in the fifth-place playoff at 68kg.

Sweden and Germany gained the other Olympic spots at stake, with Malmgren beating Prevolaraki by fall at 53kg and Niemesch gaining a second-period takedown to edge Dudova 3-2 at 62kg.

Day 6 Results

Women's Wrestling

53kg (31 entries)
GOLD: Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) df. Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (AIN) by TF, 10-0, 4:43

BRONZE: Luisa YEPEZ (ECU) df. Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE), 10-3
BRONZE: ANTIM (UWW) df. Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) by TF, 16-6, 6:00

5th-Place Playoff: Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) df. Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) by Fall, 2:09 (2-0)

62kg (34 entries)
GOLD: Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) df. Sakura MOTOKI (JPN), 4-1

BRONZE: Grace BULLEN (NOR) df. Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL), 3-0
BRONZE: Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) df. Luisa NIEMESCH (GER) by TF, 10-0 4:29

5th-Place Playoff: Luisa NIEMESCH (GER) df. Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL), 3-2

68kg (33 entries)
GOLD: Buse TOSUN (TUR) df. Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) by Fall, 3:14 (3-4)

BRONZE: Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) df. Emma BRUNTIL (USA) by TF, 10-0, 5:13
BRONZE: Irina RINGACI (MDA) df. Ami ISHII (JPN), 8-8

5th-Place Playoff: Ami ISHII (JPN) df. Emma BRUNTIL (USA), 2-0

72kg (18 entries)
GOLD: Amit ELOR (USA) df. Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL), 8-2

BRONZE: Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) df. Natalia STRZALKA (POL), 4-1
BRONZE: Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) df. Kendra DACHER (FRA), 4-2

Greco-Roman

55kg (20 entries)
GOLD: Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) vs. Poya DAD MARZ (IRI)

Semifinal: Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) df. Poya DAD MARZ (IRI), 3-2
Semifinal: Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) df. Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB), 7-4

77kg (45 entries)
GOLD: Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) vs. Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ)

Semifinal: Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) df. Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM), 5-0
Semifinal: Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) df. Nao KUSAKA (JPN), 7-5

82kg (24 entries)
GOLD: Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) vs. Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI)

Semifinal: Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) df. Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR), 5-5
Semifinal: Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI) df. Mihail BRADU (MDA), 5-1

130kg (30 entries)
GOLD: Riza KAYAALP (TUR) vs. Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI)

Semifinal: Riza KAYAALP (TUR) df. Lingzhe MENG (CHN), 3-1
Semifinal: Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) df. Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB), 1-1