#WrestleBudapest

WATCH LIVE: Budapest Ranking Series, Day 2 finals

By United World Wrestling Press

BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 14) -- The second day of the Ranking Series in Budapest will see women's wrestling in five weight classes alongwith freestyle wrestling in three weights. A host of stars will be on the mat.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

Here are the finals for tonight

FS 61kg - Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) vs Ossimzhan DASTANBEK (KAZ)

FS 70kg - Ihor NYKYFORUK (UKR) vs Joseph MC KENNA (USA)

FS 79kg - Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) vs Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO)

WW 50kg - Ziqi FENG (CHN) vs Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA)

WW 53kg Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) vs Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL)

WW 57kg Kexin HONG (CHN) vs Anastasia NICHITA (MDA)

WW 62kg Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) vs Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ)

WW 68kg Feng ZHOU (CHN) vs Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR)

15:00: Forrest MOLINARI (USA) and Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) were in a fierce battle once again. Molinari led 4-0 but two warnings to Larroque for being passive, one to Molinari for blocking. But in the end, Molinari beats Larroque 7-1.

14:40: Olivia DI BACCO (CAN) had the chance to pin Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) who survived the attempt. Later, Oborududu comes back and pins Di Bacco at 68kg.

13:30: Big results at 68kg. Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) moves into the quarterfinals with a 7-0 win over Tayla FORD (NZL)Forrest MOLINARI (USA) beats Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) 6-0 while Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) wins 3-0 against Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL).

13:15: Olivia DI BACCO (CAN) was trailing 4-0 after Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ) hit an arm-throw but Di Bacco steps over and secures the fall at 68kg.

13:00: Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) posts a 10-0 win over Yasmine SOLIMAN (HUN) to move into the quarterfinals at 62kg. So does Lais NUNES (BRA) as she beats Aleksandra WOLCZYNSKA (POL) 6-0.

12:35: Viktoria VESSO (EST) brings out a perfect headlock and throw against Kayla MIRACLE (USA) and gets the fall at 62kg. What an upset!

12:30: Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) has one of the best defense in the game. He holds off Vitali ARUJAU (USA) 2-0 with ease despite Arujau's continuous attacks.

12:00: Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI) takes it slow but wins 3-0 against Daniel ANTAL (HUN). Another star at 70kg, Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) beat U23 world champion Giorgi ELBAKIDZE (GEO) to advance.

11:50: Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI) moves into the next round at 79kg. The first Iran wrestler to beat Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) will be eyeing the gold in Budapest.

11:45: Two-time World Championships silver medalist Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) opens up with an easy win over Simon MARCHL (AUT). He will face Chandler MARSTELLER (USA) who defeated Ramazan SARI (TUR) at 79kg

11:30: Sarah Ann HILDEBRANDT (USA) avenges her World Championships loss against Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) 10-0. Absolute domination from Hildebrandt there as she puts a series of takedowns.

11:15: Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) survived a barrage of attacks from Luisa NIEMESCH (GER) in the final minute of their 62kg bout to win 2-0. In another bout at 62kg, Lais NUNES (BRA) comes on top 5-3 against Ana GODINEZ (CAN)

11:00: Women's wrestling 50kg saw Emma LUTTENAUER (FRA) win 11-0 over Vestina DANISEVICIUTE (LTU) and Ziqi FENG (CHN) beat Bianka FATH (HUN) 10-0.

10:30: Welcome to day two of the Ranking Series in Budapest. A total of eight weight classes are in action with five in women's wrestling and three in freestyle.

Obituary

Japan legend Hanahara passes away at 84

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (February 9) -- United World Wrestling and the Japanese Wrestling Federation, with heavy hearts, announce the passing of Mr. Tsutomu HANAHARA, a revered Olympic champion who etched his name in history through his extraordinary feats in the realm of Greco-Roman wrestling.

Mr. Hanahara, at the age of 84, passed away February 5th, 2024, at approximately 23:00, succumbing to illness.

Mr. Hanahara's crowning achievement came at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games, where he captured the hearts of a nation by defeating Angel KERESOV (BUL), clinching the 52kg Greco-Roman gold medal.

Following his career on the mat, Mr. Hanahara continued to shape the landscape of Greco-Roman wrestling in Japan, assuming the role as Chairman of the Strengthening Committee of the Japanese Wrestling Federation. His leadership was instrumental in propelling the Japanese wrestling team to new heights, notably steering them at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games.

As a coach, Mr. Hanahara led his alma mater, Nippon Sports Science University, to 18 consecutive East Japan Student League Championships, spanning from 1979 to 1996.

Mr. Hanahara's passion for wrestling carried over to his son and grandson. His son, Daisuke HANAHARA (JPN), finished in 11th place at the 1992 Olympic Games, where he competed in the 57kg Greco-Roman bracket. Furthermore, his grandson, Hiroto HANAHARA (JPN), clinched a 57kg freestyle bronze medal at the 2023 U15 Asian Championships.

UWW and the Japan Wrestling Federation mourn the passing Mr. Hanahara and express our deepest sympathies to the Hanahara family.