#WrestleBelgrade

World Championships day four semis set

By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

BELGRADE, Serbia (September 13) -- The host country is still riding high on the four Greco-Roman gold medals. But the focus on Tuesday will be the women's weight classes with unbeaten wrestler Yui SUSAKI (JPN) returning to action after her Olympic triumph.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

The semifinals for the evening session are set

50kg
Miesinnei GENESIS (NGR) vs. Yui SUSAKI (JPN)
Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) vs. Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL)

53kg
Dominique PARRISH (USA) vs. Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE)
Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) vs. Jonna MALMGREN (SWE)

65kg
Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) vs. Jia LONG (CHN)
Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) vs. Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL)

76kg
Epp MAE (EST) vs. Samar HAMZA (EGY)
Genesis REASCO (ECU) vs. Yasemin ADAR (TUR) 

13:23: 2021 world medalists Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) and Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) set up a semifinal clash at 50kg with near-identical dominant victories. Hildebrandt chalked up an 11-0 technical fall over Oksana LIVACH (UKR), while moments earlier, Dolgorjav secured a fall over Emilia VUC (ROU) while holding an 11-0 lead. Dolgorjav's win was a repeat of the bronze-medal match last year in Oslo.

13:20: In a battle of Commonwealth Games finalists, Miesinnei GENESIS (NGR) proving that her win over Madison PARKS (CAN) in Birmingham was no luck. She leads 6-0 at the break. Parks mounts a comeback in the second period with four points and she cuts the lead to 6-4. A takedown for Parks with just 6 seconds remaining. Nigeria challenges the call. It's only a pushout and one point. A last-second exposure from Parks. It's confirmed but Nigeria challenge again. The time expired before Parks exposed Genesis. She wins 6-5

13:17: This is just ridiculous from Yui SUSAKI (JPN). Just 31 seconds is what she takes to win 10-0 against Anna LUKASIAK (POL) using a leg lace.

13:15: Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) leads 3-0 at the break using a takedown and point for passivity against Laura HERIN (CUB). But she gives up one takedown in the second period as Herin cuts the lead to 3-2. Prevolaraki shoots a double and gets the four; 7-2 lead for her now. A takedown for Herin and a stepout but a 7-5  win Prevolaraki.

13:12: 2021 world junior champion Emma MALGREN (SWE) was down 2-2 on criteria when she pancaked Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) to her back and secured the fall in 5:03 and a spot in the 53kg semifinals.

13:10: Asian silver medalist Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) advances to the 53kg semifinals by injury default when Leyla GURBANOVA (AZE) suffers a shoulder injury in the first period.

13:06: Domimique PARRISH (USA) gets a takedown and like most USA wrestlers she rolls to a 10-0 win using a leg lace. She is a World Championships semifinalist.

13:03: Olympic bronze medalist Yasemin ADAR (TUR) holds on for a nail-biting 4-2 victory over Yuka KAGAMI (JPN), 10 years her junior at age 20, to make the 76kg semifinals. Adar scored a takedown with :26 left to go ahead 3-2. In the final seconds, she desperately held onto a leg as Kagami came razor close to gaining control with a cradle. An unsuccessful challenge added the final point.

13:01: Ecuador has never had a world medalist, and Genesis REASCO VALDEZ (ECU) assured she will be wrestling for one at some point tomorrow night when she defeated Juan WANG (CHN) 5-3 to make the 76kg semifinals.

12:57: Returning bronze medalist Samar HAMZA (EGY) takes a quick 3-0 lead over Martina KUENZ (AUT). In the second period, Kuenz gets a point for Hamza's passivity. But that's all in the second period. Hamza wins 3-1.

12:53: Returning silver medalist at 76kg Epp MAE (EST) and Anastasiia SHUSTOVA (UKR) in the quarterfinals and Mae leads 1-0 at the break. Mae put on the clock in the second period but she gets the shot and takedown after the activity clock before adding a gut to lead 5-1. Shustova got a takedown in the second period but Mae hangs on for a 5-3 win.

12:49: On Mat D, Tokyo Olympian Jia LONG (CHN) wrestles another Tokyo Olympian Elis MANOLOVA (AZE). Long is called for passivity which gives Manolova a 1-0 lead at the break. A takedown for Manovola and she makes it 3-1. With just 10 seconds left, Long gets exposure and one roll to win 5-3 but a challenge from Manolova. But actions are valid and in time. Long wins 6-3.

12:48: 2021 world silver medalist Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN), who had a bye into the 65kg quarterfinals, gets a first-period takedown, and that was the extent of the scoring in a 2-0 victory over Mallory VELTE (USA) in the 65kg quarterfinals. Morikawa will face Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL), a winner over Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR), for a place in the final.

12:40: The 65kg quarterfinals have U23 world champion Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) up against Kriszta INCZE (ROU). Larroque up 1-0 for an activity point against Incze. Single leg shot from Larroque and she gets the takedown and 3-0 lead. Incze gets behind Larroque but it's only confirmed as a stepout. Challenge from Romania. Both wrestlers were out of bounds before the action. 4-1 lead for Larroque. Stepout comfirmed for Larroque. Incze gets one as well but a 5-2 win for Larroque.

12:31: Olympic and world champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN) is looking like she never was on a break. A quick 10-0 win over Thi NGUYEN (VIE) at 50kg.

12:27: Oksana LIVACH (UKR), a 2018 world bronze medalist who was fifth at the Tokyo Olympics, rolls to a 10-0 technical fall in 1:50 over Patricia BERMUDEZ (ARG) at 50kg. Her reward is a quarterfinal clash with Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA).

12:22: European silver medalist Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) moves into the quarterfinals at 53kg with a fall over Marina RUEDA (ESP). She gets Laura HERIN (CUB) next.

12:20: Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Sarah HILDEBRANDT wastes little time grabbing her place in the 50kg quarterfinals, storming to a 10-0 technical fall in :39 over Kamila BARBOSA (BRA).

12:19: Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU), still walking a bit gingerly, appears unaffected by her knee injury when the action gets hot, as she rallies from a 4-3 deficit with a 4-point takedown and 2-point gut wrench with :25 to go for a 9-4 victory over Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL) to make the 53kg quarterfinals.

12:16: Zenep YETGIL (TUR) puts her name in the mix of the favorites to win the gold at 53kg as she picks up an 8-0 win over Tatiana DEBIEN (FRA) and a spot in the quarterfinals. 

12:15: Two-time world silver medalist Emilia VUC (ROU) with a 10-0 technical superiority over Neelam SIROHI (IND) using a gut wrench to a great effect.

12:14: Laura HERIN (CUB) hands returning bronze medalist Samantha STEWART (CAN) a 10-0 loss at 53kg. An absolutely strong performance from the Cuban wrestler.

12:10: Martina KUENZ (AUT) did face a fight from Tatiana RENTERIA (COL) but nothing deterred her from controlling the bout. Kuenz picks up a big 10-0 win at 76kg.

12:09: If 2021 world silver medalist Iulia LEORDA (MDA) makes it back to the medal podium in Belgrade, it will have to be on a lower step after she was dealt a 5-1 defeat by Leyla GURBANOVA (AZE) at women's 53kg.

12:03: European champion Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) takes no time in picking up a fall in her first bout at 53kg. Malmgren will be one of the favorites to win the world title.

12:00: Three-time world bronze medalist Epp MAE (EST) trails 3-1 against Ariunjargal GANBAT (MGL) when she turns the tide and puts the Mongolian onto her back and secures the fall and gains a place in the 76kg quarterfinals.

12:00: Returning bronze medalist Samar HAMZA (EGY) knocks off former world champion Justina DI SATISO (CAN) 3-1 with a passivity point and takedown.

11:57: Yuka KAGAMI (JPN), a former world junior and cadet champion making her debut at the senior worlds, outlasts Francy RAEDELT (GER) 2-1 in a dull bout with all of the points scored on the activity clock to advance to the 76kg quarterfinals.

11:53: Juan WANG (CHN) declares China is indeed back when she knocks off 2021 world bronze medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) 7-1 to advance to the 76kg quarterfinals. With the score knotted at 1-1, she scores two counter takedowns in the last 1:20, capping the second one with a lace lock.

11:50: Olympic bronze Yasemin ADAR (TUR) up against Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA (KAZ) and she uses a leg lace to finish the bout in just 1:16 at 76kg.

11:35: Patricia BERMUDEZ (ARG) pulls off a fall over Zehra DEMIRHAN (TUR) in the opening round. The veteran still looks for a good run there.

11:29: Asian silver medalist Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) pulls off the first surprise of the session when she knocks off 2019 world bronze medalist Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) 7-0 at 53kg. Batkhuyag took a 3-0 in the first period, then slammed Phogat backward to the mat in the final seconds for 4.

11:18: Former world champion Justine DI STASIO (CAN) pancakes Thi Linh DANG (VIE) early in their 76kg bout, and when she can't secure a fall, switches to a lace lock. She grinds out four rolls to end the match 10-0 in 1:10.

11:12: Juan WANG (CHN), who returned from a two-year layoff from international to win a tournament in Bucharest in July, defeated Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU) 9-1 at women's 76kg to set up a round-of-16 clash with 2021 world bronze medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ).

11:01: Veteran Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ), a three-time world medalist from 2007 to 2010 and a 2008 (!) Olympic bronze medalist, falls at women's 65kg to 2020 European champion Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL), who scores a takedown and four exposures in the second period for an 11-1 technical fall.

10:55: Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) continues her unbeaten record against Dymond GUILFORD (USA). She had two wins against her at the Klippan Open and now she wins at 76kg in Belgrade.

10:50: Koumba LARROQUE (FRA), still with a highly strapped knee, begins with a technical superiority win over SHAFALI (IND) at 65kg.

10:29: Greetings from Belgrade to wrestling fans around the world. In today's morning session, save for a handful of repechage matches, the women will command the mats with competition through the quarterfinals at 50kg, 53kg, 65kg and 76kg.

#WrestleAlexandria

#WrestleAlexandria Senior African Championships 2024 Preview

By Vinay Siwach

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt (March 13) -- At last year's African Championships, Nigeria entered finals in all 10 women's weight classes. Out of the 10, it won six gold medals and four silver medals.

Nigeria will look to better its performance from 2023 at the African Championships which will be held on March 18 and 19 in Alexandria, Egypt. The U17 and U20 African Championships will be held before the senior competition at the same venue.

After a two-day break, the African and Oceania OG Qualifiers will also be held in Alexandria, making the African Championships even more important as the countries participating in the first event will be eligible to participate in the qualifiers.

Nigeria will be led by world bronze medalist Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) at 57kg as she returns to competition for the first time since September. She had skipped last year's championships but a gold medal in Alexandria will earn her 10000 points. A win will ensure that Adekuoroye tops the 57kg rankings.

Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) will defend her 68kg gold medal. Oborududu has failed to repeat her performances since winning that silver in Tokyo. However, she won the African title for a record 10th time last year.

The 65kg champion Khadija JLASSI (TUN) is now jumping up to 68kg and will look to challenge Oborududu in the new weight class.

At 50kg, Mercy GENESIS (NGR) is returning to defend her gold as is Christianah OGUNSANYA (NGR) at 53kg, Mercy ADEKUOROYE (NGR) at 59kg and Ebi BIOGOS (NGR) at 72kg.

Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR) finished with a silver medal at 62kg but with Marwa AMRI (TUN) moving into coaching, she will be the favorite to win the gold medal in Alexandria.

The 76kg weight class can throw some interesting match-ups as 72kg bronze medalist Zaineb SGHAIER (TUN) has moved to the Olympic weight class. She will likely face Hannah RUEBEN (NGR) who won a silver medal at 76kg last year.

Yousiff HEMIDA (EGY)Yousiff HEMIDA (EGY) was African champion in 2022. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

Freestyle

The six Olympic weight classes will see intense battles. 57kg champion Diamantino IUNA FAFE (GBS) will be the favorite to win the gold medal but bronze medalist Khalil BARKOUTI (TUN) is returning.

The 65kg weight class will see a new champion as only bronze medalist Zohier IFTENE (ALG) is returning for the African Championships. But it will be difficult to count out Shehabeldin MOHAMED (EGY), Wotna NDOC (GBS), Yassine JAA (MAR), Sylvio DIATTA (SEN) and Mohamed BEN HAFSIA (TUN).

Last year's silver medalist Bacar NDUM (GBS) will start as the favorite at 74kg as Amr REDA (EGY) has decided to skip the championships for the qualifiers.

It will be a similar story in 86kg as only bronze medalist Harrison ONOVWIOMOGBOHWO (NGR) is returning to upgrade his medal. The 2023 gold medalist Fateh BENFERDJALLAH (ALG) will be looking to qualify for Algeria later and he will be replaced by Oussama ABDELLAOUI (ALG) for the championships.

At 97kg, none of the 2023 medalists are entered and a new African champion will be crowned. Fares YAHI (ALG), Abdelrahman ABOUHEIBA (EGY) and Anas SAMIR (MAR) will fancy their chances for the same.

Egypt will be looking to keep the 125kg medal to itself and that responsibility will be on Youssif HEMIDA (EGY) who is replacing the gold medalist Diaaeldin KAMAL (EGY). However, silver medalist Hamza RAHMANI (TUN) hopes to change the color of his medal.

At 61kg, Abdelhak KHERBACHE (ALG) is returning to defend his gold medal while 79kg silver medalist Chems FETAIRIA (ALG) is entered as well.

Moustafa ALAMELDIN (EGY)U20 world champion Moustafa ALAMELDIN (EGY) is the favorite at 67kg. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Greco-Roman

World bronze medalist and defending champion Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY) will be eyeing his eighth African Championships title as he enters the competition at 130kg. He has two African Games gold medals as well.

Mohamed has dominated the super heavyweight class for years in the continent and is likely to have smooth sailing to the gold again.

With most of Algeria's first team entered for the Olympic Qualifiers, Egypt has a huge chance to win gold medals in multiple weight classes. Last year, Egypt and Algeria shared five gold medals each in Greco-Roman.

At 60kg, Haithem MAHMOUD (EGY) will look to defend his gold medal but 55kg champion Mohamed DRIDI (ALG) has jumped up a weight class to challenge Mahmoud. Also in the mix is Ibrahim BUNDUKA (SLE) who finished with a silver medal.

No medalists from last year are entered at 67kg, leaving the weight class open for a new champion. U20 world champion Moustafa ALAMELDIN (EGY) will be the favorite to win the gold. He won a silver medal at the 2022 championships. Fayssal BENFREDJ (ALG) and Oussama NASR (TUN) can challenge Alameldin.

The 77kg will see returning champion Mohamed KHALIL (EGY) hoping to win a second straight gold medal. Algeria has entered Chawki DOULACHE (ALG) and a Freestyle bronze medalist last year Francisco KADIMA (ANG) is entered in Greco-Roman this year.

Haithem ISSAAD (ALG) and Noureldin HASSAN (EGY) are likely to wrestle for the gold medal at 87kg as most of the medalists have skipped this tour for the qualifiers. 

At 97kg, Emad ABOUELATTA (EGY) is challenging himself by moving up a weight class. He won a silver medal at 87kg last year and is entered in the new weight this year. But Amine BENDJELLOUL (ALG) will be keen on getting a hand on the Egyptian. Bendjelloul has big shoes to fill as he has named the replacement for Bachir SID AZARA (ALG).

Algeria has Abdelmalek MERABET (ALG) as the returning champion at 72kg.