#WrestleIstanbul

Thursday's U17 World Championship semifinals set

By Eric Olanowski

ISTANBUL, Turkiye (August 3) --- The fourth day of wrestling at the 2023 U17 World Championships continue with women's wrestling action at 40kg, 46kg, 53kg, 61kg and 69kg. 

The morning session, which starts at 11:00 (local time), will run through the quarterfinals before taking our mid-day break. We'll return at 17:00 for the semifinals, then roll directly into the first set of women's wrestling medal bouts at 18:00.

Thursday's opening session will feature 23 medalists from this year's continental champions, including eight wrestlers who reached the top of the podium at the 2023 Asian, European, African or Pan-American Championships.

Everything you need to know:
📍Istanbul, Turkiye 🇹🇷
🗓️: July 31-August 6
Qualification: 11:00
🥇🥈🥉= 18:00
#️⃣#WrestleIstanbul
🖥️: uww.org 
📱: UWW App

Here's a list of the reigning continental champs in action on Thursday:
40kg - Klara WINKLER (GER)
46kg - Dounia ZITOUNI (ALG)
53kg - Fabiana RINELLA (ITA)
61kg - Ekaterina RADYSHEVA (AIN)
61kg - Savita SAVITA (IND)
69kg - Srishti SRISHTI (IND)
69kg - Veronika VILK (CRO)
69kg - Joseth Sasa MAVUNGU (ANG)

Thursday's semifinal matchups:

40kg
Jaclyn Rose BOUZAKIS (USA) vs. Rachana RACHANA (IND)
Koharu AKUTSU (JPN) vs. Klara WINKLER (GER)

46kg
Natsumi MASUDA (JPN) vs. Daniella Tara HOSSEIN BEKY (NOR)
Meiramgul AKHMETZHAN (KAZ) vs. Muskan MUSKAN (IND)

53kg
Olga OVCHINNIKOVA (AIN) vs. Sakibjamal ESBOSYNOVA (UZB)
Fabiana RINELLA (ITA) vs. Sakura ONISHI (JPN)

61kg
Konami ONO (JPN) vs. Leah Melina Falkeid SAMSONSEN (NOR)
Haylie Emma JAFFEE (USA) vs. Savita SAVITA (IND)

69kg
Veronika VILK (CRO) vs. Evelin UJHELJI (SRB)
Srishti SRISHTI (IND) vs. Jasmine Dolores ROBINSON (USA)

13:21: That'll do it for the morning session. I'll update the semifinal matches as soon as the system refreshes. We'll see you back here at 17:00 for the semifinals, then 18:00 for the first set of women's wrestling medal matches. 

13:04: It looks like it'll be a short day. We only have two matches left on each mat before we head into the break.

13:02:  Savita SAVITA (IND) continued her dominance over the field at 61kg. She's scored 29 points in two matches, beating Beyza Nur AKKUS (TUR) and Sofya ZMAZNEVA (KAZ), 13-1 and 16-5, respectively.

12:42: U17 European champion Veronika VILK (CRO) headlocked Karyna FISHCHUK (AIN) in just over a minute and punched her ticket to the semifinal in the most stacked weight class of today, 69kg. She awaits the winner of Evelin UJHELJI (SRB) and Zahra KARIMZADA (AZE).

12:39: Reinging U17 Europaen champion Klara WINKLER (GER) defeated Anel BURKUTBAYEVA (KAZ), 6-1, in the 40kg quarterfinals, setting up a semifinal meeting with the winner of Koharu AKUTSU (JPN) and Shokhista SHONAZAROVA (UZB).

12:14: Despite falling to Olga OVCHINNIKOVA (AIN)Miranda KAPANADZE (GEO) just became the fourth Georgian woman to compete at the U17 World Championships. With all the success Georgia has on the freestyle side of the sport, it's good to see things growing on the women's wrestling side.

11:57: Welcome to the World Championships, Jasmine Dolores ROBINSON (USA). The American just handled Ai SAKAI (JPN), 12-0, in the opening period.

11:53: This crowd has been incredible for the last four days--especially for the Turkish athletes. Elif Sevval KURT (TUR) just brought them to their feet, pinning Ingkar YERGALI (KAZ) in the opening round match at 69kg. She'll wrestle Srishti in the quarterfinals.

11:48: Srishti picked up the easy 10-0 win in 45 seconds, punching her ticket to the 69kg quarterfinals.

11:31: The first of the eight continental champions--Srishti SRISHTI (IND)--is coming up in two matches on Mat A. The reigning U17 Asian champion will wrestle U15 and U17 fifth-place finisher Viktorija IRKLE (LAT).

11:05: The first three matches on each mat are repechage bouts to determine who will compete in tonight's bronze-medal matches. 

10:40: We're 20 minutes away from the first whistles. We'll see you back here shortly.

#WrestleSamokov

U20 World Championships 2025 Day 7 Highlights

By Vinay Siwach

SAMOKOV, Bulgaria (August 23) -- With four Greco-Roman weight classes, the U20 World Championships come towards the end. 63kg, 77kg, 87kg and 130kg wrestlers will be in action in Samokov, Bulgaria.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 6 RESULTS

13:55: In the final match of the morning session, former world U17 champion Yusuf BAKIR (TUR) needed a stepout with 40 seconds remaining to beat Mazaim MARDANOV (AZE), 4-3 at 130kg. Bakir with a 3-0 lead after he scored a turn from par terre, Mardanov takes criteria lead with a exposure from par terre and he tries to defend his criteria lead. However, Bakir manages a pushout to win 4-3.

13:45: Abolfazl FATHITAZANGI (IRI), the returning silver medalist, is not troubled by a Hungarian wrestler as he beats Koppany LASZLO (HUN) in the 130kg semifinal. Fathitazangi scored three stepouts while Laszlo had two as the Iranian wins 4-2.

13:25: Elias LYYSKI (FIN) stops world U17 champion Amirsam MOHAMMADI (IRI) in the 87kg quarterfinal with a 6-4 win. After he led 6-0 in the first period, Lyyski holds on to it and only gives four points in the second period.

13:15: Senior Asian champion Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB) lets out a huge scream as he down European U20 champion Igor PUNCHENKO (UWW) in the 63kg quarterfinal. Khalmakhanov got his defense in the second period and defended his lead to win 6-4.  

13:05: Damir IBRASHOV (KAZ) needed a challenge to beat Tural AHMADOV (AZE), 1-1, at 63kg. Ibrashov had the criteria from first par terre but was cautioned for fleeing but Kazakhstan challenged the call and won it to win 1-1.

12:50: Returning world champion from 72kg Zaur BESLEKOEV (UWW), who is now at 77kg, has no trouble in seeing off Petro SHAFRANSKYI (UKR), 8-0. Beslekoev is looking to win his second straight title.

12:40: Abdurakhman ABDULKADYROV (UWW), the European silver medalist at U20s, pins Orkhan HAJIYEV (AZE) and advance at 87kg.

12:32: Anri PUTKARADZE (GEO), European U20 champion and former world U17 champion, enters the 77kg quarterfinals with a 5-3 win over Asian U23 champion Akzhan YKYLASSOV (KAZ)

12:30: Martin LJOSAAK (NOR) will be ruing the chances he missed as he drops his 87kg bout 11-9 against world U17 champion Amirsam MOHAMMADI (IRI). was down 10-7 but Mohammadi was cautioned for blocking but Ljosaak can't finish the match

12:20: Ilias LAAOUINA (NED) is on a hot run here in Samokov. He now beats European U20 bronze medalist Bende OLASZ (HUN) at 63kg and into the quarterfinals.

12:17: Igor PUNCHENKO (UWW) with a technical superiority 9-0 victory over Al Bara CHOPALAEV (EST) and reach the 63kg quarterfinals. Punchenko looking to complete the world and continental double.

12:15: Tural AHMADOV (AZE) with a first par terre advantage and he keeps it until the end of the bout to win 1-1 against GAURAV (IND) at 63kg and advance to the quarterfinals.

12:10: Senior Asian champion AYTJAN KHALMAKHANOV (UZB) with a first-period fall over Manato NAKAMURA (JPN) at 63kg and wins his opening bout. Khalmakhanov is a 2022 world U17 champion

11:45: No problems for returning silver medalist at 130kg Abolfazl FATHITAZANGI (IRI) as he pins Saba PURTSELADZE (GEO), a former world U17 champion.

11:35: Big match between European U20 silver medalist Davud MAMMADOV (AZE) and bronze medalist Samvel TERTERYAN (ARM) at 77kg. Both wrestlers can't turn from par terre but Terteryan got the first point and he holds on to his criteria lead to win win 1-1.

11:20: Luka KOCHALIDZE (GEO), European U20 champion at 87kg, with a close 2-1 victory over Branko DUKIC (SRB).

11:12: Amirsam MOHAMMADI (IRI), who was recently crowned world U17 champion in Greece, is tested by Antonio LUKAC (CRO) in his first 87kg bout but Mohammadi wins 3-1. Perhaps he is feeling the difference in strength in the upper age-group.

10:55: Returning world U20 bronze medalist at 87kg Temirlan TURDAKYN (KAZ) looked a little rusty but manages to see off Wojciech IWANOWSKI (POL), 3-2.

10:40: Ilias LAAOUINA (NED) with an upset win over Asian U20 champion Emirlan DUISHENALIEV (KGZ). He manages to score 8 points from par terre and win 9-0 at 63kg.

10:30: European U20 champion Igor PUNCHENKO (UWW) faces William EKEROT (SWE), a European U20 bronze medalist. After a slow start Punchenko finishes the match in the second period with a fall and advance at 63kg.