KLIPPAN, Sweden (February 14) – Reigning world champion Yulia TKACH (UKR) eased her way through a minefield of challengers on the second day of the Klippan Ladies Open wrestling tournament while eight other world champs in the meet fell by the wayside.

Tkach, who won the 63kg crown in Tashkent last September, was joined by Maria STADNYK (AZE) and ZHANG Fengliu (CHN) as the only other world champs to make it to the championship finals at the Klippan Hall of Sport. 

Tkach, competing in her first event since winning the world title, will face world bronze medalist Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (LAT) in Sunday’s 63kg championship final. In the early rounds, Tkach stopped two-time Olympic Games bronze medalist Jackeline RENTERIA (COL) and 2011 world champ XILUO Zhuoma (CHN).

Stadnyk, meanwhile, will square off with three-time cadet world champion Kika KAGATA (JPN), who pinned SUN Yanan (CHN) in the semifinals after the 2013 world champ injured her elbow trying to block a front headlock and turn by the Tokyo youngster.

“I knew something was wrong (after Sun rolled onto her back), but I pressed for the fall anyway – since I wasn’t sure” Kagata said after the match. “I went into the match with the spirit of a challenger and I will do my best in the final.”

On her way to the final, Stadnyk avenged a loss to Iwona MATKOWSKA (POL) in the world championships with a 6-1 triumph.

In the upper half of the bracket at 48kg, Sun defeated 2012 world champion Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR), who had bumped off 2008 world champ Clarissa CHUN (USA) in the second round.

Along with Sun, 2009 world champion and London 2012 Olympic Games bronze medalist Yulia RATKEVICH (AZE) was also tripped by a younger wrestler in the semifinals.

In a battle of defending Klippan champions, Ratkevich built up a 4-0 lead in the first period but three-time junior world bronze medalist Petra OLLI (FIN) scored a go-behind takedown and leg hold and turn with only five seconds remaining for a 4-4 win on last point critera.

Local fan favorite and former world champion Sofia MATTSSON (SWE) was sidelined with a sore back and was scratched from competition. 

Meanwhile, in addition to Kagata, Youth Olympic Games gold medalist Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) advanced to the final at 53kg, while Grace BULLEN (NOR), another YOG gold medalist, will wrestle for bronze medal at 58kg.

Bullen, also a cadet world champ last year, advanced to the semifinals at 58kg but was flattened by Pan American champ Michelle FAZZARi (CAN).

The final day of competition in Klippan will feature the repechage bouts as well as the gold and bronze medal finals.

48kg (24 entries)
Gold Medal: Kika KAGATA (JPN) v. Maria STADNYK (AZE)
Semifinals: Kika KAGATA (JPN) df. SUN Yanan (CHN) by fall, 3:16 (6-5)
Semifinals: Maria STADNYK (AZE) df. Iwona MATKOWSKA (POL), 6-1

53kg (21 entries)
Gold Medal: Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) v. PANG Qianyu (CHN)
Semifinals: Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) df. Katherine FULP-ALLEN (USA), 9-1
Semifinals: PANG Qianyu (CHN) df. Ekaterina KRASNOVA (RUS) by fall, 5:40 (4-2)

55kg (14 entries)
Gold Medal: Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL) v. Veronika CHUMIKOVA (RUS)
Semifinals: Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL) df. Dorsaf GHARSSI (TUN) by fall, 2:38 (6-0)
Semifinals: Veronika CHUMIKOVA (RUS) df. Becca LEATHERS (USA) by TF, 11-0, 2:04

58kg (17 entries)
Gold Medal: Michelle FAZZARI (CAN) v. ZHOU Zhangting (CHN)
Semifinals: Michelle FAZZARI (CAN) df. Grace BULLEN (NOR) by fall, 1:38 (4-2)
Semifinals: – ZHOU Zhangting (CHN) df. Taybe YUSEIN (BUL), 16-10

60kg (15 entries)
Gold Medal: LUO Xiaojuan (CHN) v. Petra OLLI (FIN)
Semifinals: LUO Xiaojuan (CHN) df. Kathleen KENT (CAN) by fall, 0:29 (4-0)
Semifinals: Petra OLLI (FIN) df. Yulia RATKEVICH (AZE), 4-4

63kg (26 entries)
Gold Medal: Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (LAT) v. Yulia TKACH (UKR), 9-0
Semifinals: Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (LAT) df. Agnieszka KROL (POL) by fall, 1:28 (6-0)
Semifinals: Yulia TKACH (UKR) df. Stacie ANAKA (CAN), 9-0

69kg (19 entries)
Gold Medal: Luz Clara VAZQUEZ (ARG) v. ZHOU Feng (CHN)
Semifinals: Luz Clara VAZQUEZ (ARG) df. Nadia MUSHKA (AZE) by fall, 5:23 (9-4)
Semifinals: ZHOU Feng (CHN) df. Leah CALLAHAN (CAN) by TF, 12-2, 1:45

75kg (16 entries)
Gold Medal: Erica WIEBE (CAN) v. ZHANG Fengliu (CHN)
Semifinals: Erica WIEBE (CAN) df. Brittany ROBERTS (USA), 7-0
Semifinals: ZHANG Fengliu (CHN) df. Alena STARODUBTSEVA (RUS), 2-2