#WrestleAmman

U20 World Championships, Day 3 semis set

By Vinay Siwach

AMMAN, Jordan (August 16) -- Women's Wrestling will be the talking point of day three of the U20 World Championships in Amman, Jordan as five weight classes -- 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg and 76kg -- will be in action.

Japan, the gold standard of Women's Wrestling, will try to put all five wrestlers in the semifinals while other nations try to stop it.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

Here are the Women's Wrestling semifinals

50kg
Audrey JIMENEZ (USA) vs. Reka HEGEDUS (SVK)
Viktoriia SLOBODENIUK (UKR) vs. Yanrong LI (CHN)

55kg
Albina RILLIA (UKR) vs. Aryna MARTYNAVA (AIN)
Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) vs. Georgiana LIRCA (ROU)

59kg
Alesia HETMANAVA (AIN) vs. Kalmira BILIMBEK KYZY (KGZ)
Alexis JANIAK (USA) vs. Aurora RUSSO (ITA)

68kg
Elizaveta PETLIAKOVA (AIN) vs. ARJU (IND)
Alina SHAUCHUK (AIN) vs. Ray HOSHINO (JPN)

76kg
Kennedy BLADES (USA) vs. PRIYA (IND)
Veronika NYIKOS (HUN) vs. Laura KUEHN (GER)

13:35: Alesia HETMANAVA (AIN) looks unstoppable today. She gets another 10-0 win, this time over Sevim AKBAS (TUR) to reach the semifinals.

13:25: Audrey JIMINEZ (USA) gets over the Japanese hurdle she failed to last year. A 4-2 win over Miruko SAKANE (JPN) at 50kg helps her move into the semifinal. Jiminez scored two takedowns to Sakane's one.

13:10: Insane battle of two world champions on Mat C. 2021 U20 world champion Kennedy BLADES (USA) scored a takedown to lead 2-0 before the 2022 U20 world champion Ayano MORO (JPN) scored a takedown. However, a stepout for Blades along with a lost challenge made it 4-2 for Blades. Moro scored a stepout but the clock ran out as Blades moves into the semifinals against Priya MALIK (IND).

12:43: A stunning comeback from U17 Asian champion Yanrong LI (CHN) after trailing 6-0 against Sviatlana KATENKA (AIN). She suplexes Katenka for four before rolling to a 16-6 win. Gut-wrenched.

12:35: Returning silver medalist Audrey JIMINEZ (USA) raced to a 7-0 lead before Zerda DEMIR (TUR) scored a takedown to cut the lead to 7-2. Jiminez then added another takedown. Jiminez did take some time but she wins 16-6 to advance.

12:20: Miruko SAKANE (JPN) scored a takedown in the second period to lead 2-2 on criteria and despite Priyanshi PRAJAPAT (IND) efforts to score, there was no change in the score. Sakane's win sends her into the quarterfinals at 50kg.

11:45: A 25-second technical superiority win for defending champion Moe KIYOOKA (JPN). She won the title without any trouble last year and looks like she is on her way to a repeat

11:35: Alesia HETMANAVA (AIN), the U20 world champion from 2021, with a technical superiority win over Aleksandra WITOS (POL) at 59kg. 

11:15: First look of the Japan team and Miruko SAKANE (JPN) rolls over Maria CAZALLA (ESP) 10-0 at 59kg. Japan won 10 medals last year including eight gold medals.

10:45: Aleksandra WITOS (POL) with a huge pin over Mia OLIVIER (FRA) at 59kg. Just stuck with a headlock and got the fall before the break. She sets up a pre-quarterfinal against Alesia HETMANAVA (AIN).

10:40: Continuing at 76kg, returning silver medalist Priya MALIK (IND) begins with a 4-0 win over Mariia SILINA (AIN). In the next match, Veronika NYIKOS (HUN), who lost to Malik in the semifinals last year, beats Myah PHILLIPS (CAN) and sets up a quarterfinal against Cancan LIU (CHN).

10:25: The first could not have been any better as Kennedy BLADES (USA) as she mauls Mariia ZENKINA (UKR) 10-0 at 76kg. Next up for her -- defending champion Ayano MORO (JPN) in the quarterfinals.

10:00: Beginning with Women's Wrestling in Amman today. Some of the best U20 talent will be on the mat aiming to win the gold medal.

#WrestleParis

Techniques, safety, focus: UWW referees ready for Paris 2024

By United World Wrestling Press

ATHENS, Greece (August 1) -- United World Wrestling referees for Paris 2024 completed a three-day seminar from June 21 to 23, hosted by the Greek Wrestling Federation in Athens. The seminar was held to prepare for the Olympics, where referees will be ITOs.

The program consisted of self and group analysis of previous performance, theoretical study, mental preparedness, medical and safety training as well as on-the-mat training with Women's Wrestling, Freestyle, and Greco-Roman wrestlers and coaching experts.

Led by the President of the UWW Athletes Commission, Arsen JULFALAKYAN, as well as coaches Alfred TER-MKRTCHYAN, Patrick NUDING and Amiran KARDANOV and wrestlers Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) and Christos KOUTSOURIDIS (GRE), referees analyzed common wrestling techniques and tactics in all styles and the proper philosophy and mechanisms referees should utilize when evaluating these situations.

Referee seminar

During these sessions, Julfalakyan also emphasized concerns and questions he receives from wrestlers and how we can improve the communication between athletes and referees when discussing the application of the rules.

Mental strength training sessions were led by Holger KNOLL, a trained mental strength coach specializing in athlete training. His sessions focused on how referees can improve their concentration and focus before, during and after competitions.

Babak SHADGAN, President of the UWW Medical Commission, provided medical and safety training, with focus on the role a referee plays in injury prevention.

In addition to the referee's instruction, Tristan MORAD, UWW Sports Department Coordinator, provided a presentation on the logistics and schedule of the wrestling of Paris 2024.

United World Wrestling and the UWW Referee Commission graciously thank the Greek Wrestling Federation and its President, Stergios LEONKIS, and UWW Bureau Vice President, Theodore HAMAKOS and numerous volunteers for their organization and hospitality in hosting the seminar.