#WrestleUfa

Women's Wrestling Takes Centerstage at #WrestleUfa

Tuesday, August 17, 2021 - 11:33 By Vinay Siwach

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UFA, Russia (August 17) -- Amit ELOR (USA), Emily SHILSON (USA) and Irina RINGACI (MDA) highlight a field of 19 former age group world medalists as women's wrestling gets underway at the Junior World Championships Wednesday in Ufa, Russia.

Though Japan and China are going to miss a second consecutive age-group World Championships, USA will look to repeat their team title winning performance from the cadet World Championships in Budapest, Hungary last month.

Elor was with that team winning the gold medal at the 69kg weight class in dominating fashion. Still 17, she will be at her first junior Worlds and is the prime contender for the gold medal.

USA is bringing a strong team to Ufa with former world champion at the cadet level Shilson looking for her first junior world title. She also had a silver medal in 2017.

But SIMRAN (IND) would like to avenge her loss from the Youth Olympic Games final against Shilson. She is also entered the competition at 50kg.

Two more wrestlers from that 2018 Worlds are also entered in Natallia VARAKINA (BLR), bronze medalist and Viktoriia ALEKSANDROVA (RUS), also a bronze medalist.

For Elor, she is unlikely to face trouble from any of the competitors and this tournament could mark the start of a long title-winning career for her.

Another wrestler from the USA to look out for is Kennedy BLADES (USA) at 72kg who stunned everyone with her run at the US Olympic team trials by reaching the final. She lost to Taymra MENSAH STOCK (USA) who won the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics.

At 65kg, Alara BOYD (USA) will try to capture the gold after winning a silver and bronze at the cadet Worlds level. But a big match up against Ringaci awaits her.

Ringaci is the most accomplished wrestler in the field with gold medals at the senior and U23 European Championships in 2021, a gold at the U23 Worlds in 2019.

Kylie WELKER (USA), who wrestled Adeline GRAY (USA) in the final of the US Team Trial, will be hoping to improve on her bronze medal finish at the 2019 cadet Worlds, which she won at 61kg.

Kseniya DZIBUK (BLR), who won bronze for Ukraine at that Worlds, will also entered at 76kg and so is 2021 European champion Melisa SARITAC (TUR).

Four former world medalists are entered at 55kg as well. Alesia HETMANAVA (BLR) won a bronze medal at the 2019 cadet Worlds and will be looking to improve on that performance in Ufa. From the same Worlds, Kalmira BILIMBEK KYZY (KGZ) won a silver medal.

Munkhgerel MUNKHBAT (MGL) also has won a bronze medal at the 2019 cadet Worlds at the 49kg and is now entered at 55kg.

A former junior World Championships bronze medalist Mansi AHLAWAT (IND) is entered at 57kg and she will be looking to make her first final at this level. But home favourite Anastasiia KOZLOVA (RUS) and Claire DICUGNO (USA) will be big threats for her.

At 59kg, Anna SZEL (HUN) will be the favourite given she already has two cadet World medals apart from a host of European medals.

Women's wrestling begins Wednesday with five weight classes -- 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg and 76kg -- followed by the remaining five on Thursday.

#WrestleBelgrade

2023 Wrestling World Championships 57kg, 74kg, 79kg, 92kg semis set

Sunday, September 17, 2023 - 08:23 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

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BELGRADE, Serbia (September 17) -- The World Championships enters its second day with more Freestyle action. Four new weight categories will be on the mat 57kg, 74kg, 79kg and 92kg with the first two being Olympic weight classes. Later in the evening, Paris Olympic quotas will be handed out.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

The semifinals at 57kg, 74kg, 79kg and 92kg

79kg
Akhmed USMANOV (AIN) vs. Orkhan ABASOV (AZE)
Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) vs. Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR)

92kg
Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) vs. Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ)
Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) vs. Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE)

57kg
Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) vs. Meirambek KARTBAY (KAZ)
Stevan MICIC (SRB) vs. Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB)

74kg
Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) vs. Zaurbek SIDAKOV (AIN)
Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) vs. Kyle DAKE (USA)

15:48: Zaurbek SIDAKOV (AIN) avoids the fate of fellow Olympic champion Zavur UGUEV (AIN) when he staves off the upset bid of a hometown favorite, beating former world champion Hetik CABOLOV (SRB) 6-4 to make the 74kg semifinals. Sidakov trailed 3-2 going into the second period when he scored a takedown with just under two minutes left. Cabolov gets a stepout, but he still trails on criteria. Sidakov seals the deal with a late stepout for the win.

15:45: Kyle DAKE (USA) survives a scare in his bid to defend his 74kg title, scoring a stepout with 27 seconds left to go ahead en route to a 6-4 win over Daichi TAKATANI (JPN). Takatani gained a 4-point move off a lift-up-and-dump in the first period, and that kept him ahead on criteria when Dake tied the score in the second period. A late but futile challenge added the final point. 

15:45: If you need any more surprises! Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) with a 4-3 win over Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) at 74kg! Kougioumtsidis had a 3-3 criteria lead but tried throwing Salkazanov in the final seconds. The referees gave Salkazanov two points as Kougioumtsidis fell on his back. But a challenge from Greece saw it overturned. Salkazanov's head had moved out first.

He will meet Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) in the semifinals who survived a comeback from Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) to win 5-4.

15:34: Stevan MICIC (SR) pulls off the biggest surprise of the day, much to the thrill of the hometown crowd, when he overcomes a five-point deficit in the last 40 seconds, scoring the winning takedown at the buzzer to stun Olympic champion Zavur UGUEV (AIN) 9-7 in their 57kg quarterfinal.

15:30: Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) stunned Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) with a four to start and then transitioned into a leg lace but Higuchi held on. Harutyunyan comes out leading 7-2. But Higuchi settles back and gets a takedown and gut to cut it to 7-6. A double from Higuchi for four and a lead of 10-7 at the break. A takedown to start the second period for Higuchi. Looks like Harutyunyan is out of steam. Higuchi with another four. He now leads 16-8. A takedown from Harutyunyan cut the lead to 16-10 with a minute to go. Two stepouts for the Armenian and it's 16-12. He adds another with a caution and Harutyunyan closes in with 16-14. Higuchi hangs on!

15:20: Osman NURMAGAOMEDOV (AZE), a bronze medalist last year, is trailing on criteria when he scores two takedowns in the final 40 seconds to upend Zahid VALENCIA (USA) 5-1 and secure a place in the 92kg semifinals. 

15:15: Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) with a fall over Pruthviraj PATIL (UWW) to move into the 92kg semifinals. He will take on Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) who beats Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL).

15:05: Akhmed USMANOV (AIN) takes the lead for the first time with a double-leg takedown with 45 seconds left, then gets a late one off a desperation leap in a 5-2 victory at 79kg over 2022 silver medalist Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI). Usamanov will face Orkhan ABASOV (AZE), a 9-3 winner over Chance MARSTELLER (USA), in the semifinals.

15:05: U23 world champion Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) worked hard for a 5-1 lead over Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ) and kept attacking to finish the bout 7-1 and move into the semifinals against Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR). The Ukrainian came out all guns blazing against Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK) and won the quarterfinal 5-2

14:54: Defending 74kg champion Kyle DAKE (USA) comes out like gangbusters against two-time Asian champion Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ), bulldozing to a 9-0 first-period lead. But he takes his foot off the gas in the second and gives up four points, but he's into the quarterfinals with a 9-4 win. He will face Daichi TAKATANi (JPN), whose older brother Sohsuke he defeated at the 2018 World Cup.

14:35: Stevan MICIC (SRB) was up 5-0 at the break and added another takedown in the second period against Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) to win 7-2 at 57kg. Top win for Micic there

14:25: Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) will get a chance to avenge his quarterfinal loss from last year at 61kg to Rei HIGUCHI (JPN), and in the same round, after he mauled Vladimir EGOROV (MKD) 11-0 at 57kg.

14:18: Two Olympic champions, Zavur UGUEV (AIN) and Zaurbek SIDAKOV (AIN), both won by the same score in back-to-back matches on Mat B to advance to the quarterfinals. Uguev takes out Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL) 6-0 at 57kg, then Sidakov scores three takedowns to beat Yones EMAMI (IRI) by the same score at 74kg. 

14:15: Arash YOSHIDA (JPN), on his world debut, beats Vladislav VALIEV (AIN) 7-0 at 92kg. What a start for the teenager. Valiev was a 2019 European champion.

14:05: Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) with a strong arm throw and gets a four over AMAN (UWW). He gets to a leg lace and an 11-0 win over Aman at 57kg.

14:00: Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) continues to use his low single to maximum effect, advancing to the 57kg quarterfinals by scoring a pair of stepouts and a takedown in the first period and holding off any attacks in a 4-0 victory over Wanhao ZOU (CHN).

13:55: Both returning bronze medalists at 92kg, Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) and Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO), with technical superiority win. The Georgian wins over Rustam SHODIEV (UZB) while the Azerbaijan wrestler wins over Denys SAHALIUK (UKR).

13:50: Chance MARSTELLER (USA), who had to beat former world and Olympic champion Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) just to make the U.S. team and get to Belgrade, scores three hard-fought takedowns in a 7-2 victory over Chems FATAIRIA (ALG) to advance to the 79kg quarterfinals. 

13:20: Zaurbek SIDAKOV (AIN) with a 3-0 win over Bekzod ABDURAKHAMANOV (UZB) at 74kg. An activity point and a takedown for Sidakov as he moves into the 1/8 finals

13:00: Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) needed some time but he won 10-0 over Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN) at 74kg. He moves into the 1/8 finals

12:57: Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) with a technical superiority win over Gayan Kathurangana (SRI) as he warms up at 57kg. Next up on Mat D is Asian champion AMAN (UWW) against Igor CHICHIOI (MDA). He gets one takedown and a point for Chichioi's passivity to lead 3-0 at the break. He gets a figure-four and wins 11-2

12:55: Stevan MICIC (SRB) gets the crowd going as he wins at 57kg, a technical superiority over Gukhyeon KIM (KOR). He was a bronze medalist last year at 61kg.

12:52: Tokyo Olympic and two-time former world champion Zavur UGUEV (AIN) gets off to a roaring start at 57kg. He scores two quick takedowns against Levan METREVELI (ESP)  and after the second one, he applies an arm bar and levers the Spaniard over three times for a 10-0 win in 1:34.

12:49: An upset on Mat C as Niklas STECHELE (GER) scores a takedown with 30 seconds to go and defeats two-time world medalist Suleyman ATLI (TUR) 7-6 at 57kg.

12:35: Rei HIGUCHI (JPN), the 61kg champion last year who is on a mission to win the Olympic 57kg gold that he barely missed out on at Rio 2016, shows no mercy in pummeling Georgi VANGELOV (BUL) in a 10-0 victory in 1:10. Higuchi counters Vangelov's counter with legs and a cross-face to go up 4-0. When Vengelov squirms out, Higuchi goes to a tight lace lock and forces the three rolls he needs to end the match.

12:30: Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) with a 14-2 win over Simone PIRRODU (ITA) at 57kg. Seems like that leg lace has hurt Pirrodu as he limps off the mat

12:16: A thriller on Mat C puts Olympic silver medalist Magomedkhabib KADIMAGOMEDOV (AIN) out of the gold-medal chase. Georgis KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) scores a takedown and stepout off a subsequent scramble to go up 5-4 with 40 seconds left. But Kadimagomedov gets 2 off a counter lift with 7 seconds left, only to see the Greek scramble out and get a 2-point exposure with 2 seconds left for a dramatic 7-6 win.

12:10: Daichi TAKATANI (JPN) knocks off two-time world champion Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) 7-2 at 74kg! Chamizo scored two points but Takatani scored a takedown and a stepout. But he got on a double-leg and got the turn to win 7-2

12:05: Veteran Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB) doesn't seem to have lost a step at 33 as he aims for his third world medal and first since 2018. The Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist uses his sweeping low singles to knock off Kamil RYBICKI (POL) with a comprehensive 12-1 technical fall at 74kg.

12:00: Zaurbek SIDAKOV (AIN) and Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) in a rematch of the 2018 World Championships final on Mat D. Kentchadze is put on activity clock but fails to score. He manages a stepout and lead 1-1 at the break. Sidakov shoots for single leg in the second period but Kentchadze gets the cradle for four and a danger position gives Sidakov two points. Sidakov challenges the call but it holds. 6-3 lead for Kentchadze. Sidakov switches levels and gets a takedown to cut the lead to 6-5. And the Tokyo Olympic champion hits a double leg for takedown to take the 7-6 lead which he maintains for the end of the clock. What a start for Sidakov at 74kg.

11:45: Returning bronze medalist Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (KGZ) has a tight bout against Tim MUELLER (GER) but manages to hang on for a 3-1 win. Budazhapov would hope to win a bronze again and qualify Kyrgyzstan for the Paris Olympics.

11:41: Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM), a bronze medalist at 61kg the past two years, begins his foray at the Olympic weight of 57kg by overwhelming gritty Kamil KERYMOV (UKR). He fights off a whizzer for a takedown and a 14-3 technical fall with one tick left on the clock.

11:35: Vladislav VALIEV (AIN) warms up with a 10-0 win over Dan CHEPTAI (KEN) at 92kg. The 2019 European champion is a huge gold medal favorite

11:31: Amirali AZAPIRA (IRI), the two-time reigning world U23 champion at 97kg, gets Iran off to a winning start, gaining a driving takedown early in the second period to finish off an 11-0 technical fall over Woomin JANG (KOR) at 92kg. That sets up an Iran-USA clash with Zahid VALENCIA (USA) in the round of 16.

11:20: 2021 European champion Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK) holds on to a 2-2 win over Gurbanmyrat OVEZBERDIYEV (TKM) in the 79kg opening bout. Both wrestlers did not stop their pace.

11:12: Consecutive matches at 79kg on Mat B show why coaches tell their athletes to fight to the end, no matter how badly they are losing. Shuhrat BOZOROV (TJK) trails Mihail GEORGIEV (BUL) 6-0 late in the second period, but scores a takedown, then uses a cross-face ride to secure a fall with 40 seconds left. Byambadorj BAT ERDENE (MGL) follows by spotting Peilong LI (CHN) an eight-point lead, then whittles it down before putting Li on his back and going ahead 10-8. Bat Erdene stops a last-ditch throw attempt and gains a fall in the final seconds.

10:55: Akhmed USMANOV (AIN) opens the action at 79kg by scoring a late stepout off a scramble to hold on for a 3-2 victory over European bronze medalist Ahmad MAGOMEDOV (MKD).

10:30: Big day of wrestling in front of us. Two Olympic weight classes, 57kg and 74kg, will be in action along with 79kg and 92kg, the two non-Olympic weight classes.