#WrestleBelgrade

World Championships WW 53kg, 62kg, 68kg and 72kg semis set

By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

BELGRADE, Serbia (September 20) -- All women's wrestling day as the World Championships enters its fifth day. Three Olympic and one non-Olympic weight classes were in action on Tuesday and three more Olympic weight classes, 53kg, 62kg and 68kg, will be in action on Wednesday. One non-Olympic weight class in action is 72kg.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER | DAY 4 RESULTS

14:38: Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) gains a first-period takedown, and that proves to be the minimum to get her over the line and into the 62kg semifinals with a 2-2 victory over Iryna KOLIADENKO (URK). Koliadenko scores a stepout with one second left on the activity clock, then Tynybekova comes back with a double-leg takedown. In the second period, Koliadenko gains another stepout, but it is not enough to keep Tynybekova from winning on criteria. The result was far different than their semifinal at the Tokyo Olympics, which Tynybekova won 10-0.  Tynybekova will next face Luisa NIEMESCH (GER), pulled off a last-second victory over Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL).

14:27: Grace BULLEN (NOR) is into the semifinals at 62kg! She blasts Kriszta INCZE (ROU) 10-0 in the quarterfinals. She will have to get through Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) in the semifinals after the Japanese beat Lias NUNES (BRA) 10-0.

14:22: Having taken one major scalp already, Bose CAVUSOGLU TOSUN (TUR) will get a chance for another after whipping Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) 8-0 in their 68kg quarterfinal. That puts Cavusoglu Tosun into the semifinals against Ishii. The Turk pulled off a major upset in the first round when she ousted Irina RINGACI (MDA)

14:22: A double 2-1 win at 68kg! Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) takes out Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) while Emma BRUNTIL (USA) beats Vusala PARFIANOVICH (AIN). They both face each other

14:15: Ami ISHII (JPN) gets a free pass into the 68kg semifinals with a victory by injury default over Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) who injured her knee in her previous bout

14:10: Teen star Amit ELOR (USA) proves too much for fellow 2022 world champion Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN), scoring a pair of takedowns and two activity points in a 6-0 victory to advance to the 72kg semifinals. Elor is the defending champion, while Morikawa triumphed at 65kg last year.

14:08: At 72kg, Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) beats Sofia GEORGIEVA (BUL) and she will now take on two-time silver medalist Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) in the semifinal. Bakbergenova defeated Kseniia BURAKOVA (AIN)    

13:58: Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) survives the biggest scare of her international career when Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU) comes roaring out of the gate in their 53kg quarterfinal and tags the Japanese for five points. Fujinami recovers from the shock to notch three takedowns to go into the break up 6-5. In the second period, she gains a takedown and three lace-lock rolls to move one point from a technical fall, but Yepez Guzman fires back with a double-leg takedown. Fujinami responds with a barrel roll to the back, then gets a headlock and scores a fall. It was the most points ever scored against Fujinami by a non-Japanese opponent. Fujinami had beaten Yepez Guzman twice before, including a 10-0 win at this year's Zagreb Open in February.

13:55: Emma MALMGREN (SWE) with a big four over Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (AIN) but the Tokyo bronze medalist comes back to score a takedown and a stepout to win 6-4. Kaladzinskaya is into the semifinals and she will take on ANTIM (IND). On Mat A, Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) is back in the semifinal with a 1-1 win over Andreea ANA (ROU).

13:45: Grace BULLEN (NOR) saved her big four-pointer for the second period. She hits Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR) with a big throw and confirms the fall to move into the 62kg quarterfinals.

13:40: Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) uses her big throws to put Ana GODINEZ (CAN) on her back and secure a 13-7 win at 62kg. She moves into the quarterfinal and will face Luisa NIEMESCH (GER).

13:28: No wasting any time for Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ). The two-time champion gets a 4-point takedown right off the bat against Mariana CHERDIVARA (MDA), then stacks her up for a fall in 49 seconds that puts her into the 62kg quarterfinals.

13:25: At 62kg, Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) joins her Ikuei University teammate Ishii in the quarterfinals by also beating a Bulgarian opponent. Motoki, the 59kg champ last year, scores two takedowns in the first period and concedes nothing in a 4-0 victory over 2021 59kg gold medalist Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL).

13:20: Emma BRUNTIL (USA) takes on Feng ZHOU (CHN) at 68kg. She moves into the quarterfinals. Bruntil's 6-3 win over Zhou puts her against Vusala PARFIANOVICH (AIN) who just upset Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) with a late takedown and win 2-2

13:14: Ami ISHII (JPN) survives a late rally and a tenuous situation at the hands of European champion Yuliana YELEVA (BUL) to advance to the 68kg quarterfinals with an 8-4 victory. Ishii had gone up 8-0 in the second period with a takedown and a pair of gut wrenches, when Yeleva scored a takedown and was on the verge of turning Ishii over. But the Japanese managed to hold firm and squirm out of the predicament, enabling her to keep a big lead which came into play when Yeleva scored a late takedown.

13:02: Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (AIN) with a huge 9-2 win over Stalvira ORSHUSH (HUN) in the 53kg 1/16 finals. She will face Malmgren in the quarterfinals

12:55: Young Amit ELOR (USA) begins defense of her 72kg title by scoring three takedowns in a 7-0 victory over Nesrin BAS (TUR), the 2022 world U23 champion at 68kg. That sets up a final-worthy quarterfinal with Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN), the 65kg champion a year ago who held off QIANDEGENCHAGAN (CHN) 5-2 on the adjacent mat.

12:52: European champion Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) scores a second passivity point to see off Samantha STEWART (CAN) 2-1 and reach the 53kg semifinals. On Mat A, Andreea ANA (ROU) with a 9-0 shutout over Iulia LEORDA (MDA) to reach the semifinal against Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE)

12:44: Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) with a fall over Christianah OGUNSANYA (NGR) and she moves into the quarterfinals at 53kg. She will have to beat Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) to book her spot to the semifinals.

12:33: Olympic silver medalist Qianyu PANG (CHN) becomes the latest victim of the upset bug. Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE), a bronze medalist last year, scores a 4-point takedown in the final seconds to pull out an 8-4 victory.

12:32: Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) cruises into the 53kg quarterfinals, adding two lace-lock rolls to her third takedown in a 10-0 victory over Jeongbin OH (KOR) in 1:32. Her winning streak is now at 124.

12:31: Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) hangs on for a 75- win over Jia LONG (CHN) in the 62kg 1/16 final. Purevdorj is an Asian silver medalist while Long was the champion at 65kg at the Asian event

12:25: Grace BULLEN (NOR) with a fall over Angelina RODRIGUES (CPV) at 62kg. Bullen was a silver medalist at 59kg last year. Rodrigues is the first-ever woman wrestler from Cape Verde

12:21: Olympic silver medalist Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA, aiming for her third world title at 62kg, has her hands full with  Aleksandra WOLCZYNSKA (POL). Tynybekova leads 4-2 in the second period when she powers a double-leg takedown to the back for 4, then stacks up Wolczynska for a fall.

12:10: Quick win at 62kg for Sakura MOTOKI (JPN), the 59kg champion last year who moved up to the Olympic weight and beat out world champion Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) for the spot on the Japan team to Belgrade. A takedown to the back and three lace-lock rolls give Motoki a 10-0 win over Ariukhan JUMABAEVA (UZB) in 46 seconds. Next up is Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) in a clash of the last two gold medalists at 59kg

12:09: Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) with a fall over Tokyo bronze medalist Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL) after leading 14-7 in the 57kg repechage. Adekuoroye will now wrestle for bronze and an Olympic quota.

12:03: Adeline GRAY (USA) secures a fall at the first-period buzzer in her 76kg repechage match against Yuanyuan HUANG (CHN) to earn a place in the bronze-medal match later tonight. Not only will the six-time champion Gray be going for her ninth career world medal, and first bronze since 2011, but just as importantly the Paris Olympic quota that goes with it.

11:46: The first major shock of the day comes on Mat C, and Irina RINCACI (MDA) is the victim. Buse CAVUSOGLU TOSUN (TUR) takes Rincaci down with a half-nelson right to her back, then clamps down for a fall at 68kg. Rincaci had started off with a takedown, but paid the price for letting her guard down. Rincaci made history in 2021 when won the 65kg title to become Moldova's first-ever female world champion, and won a bronze last year at 68kg.

11:42: Ami ISHII (JPN) launches her bid to improve on her 68kg silver from last year by quickly dispatching Dieu Thuoug LAI (VIE). An ankle pick to the back and Ishii with the fall in 26 seconds.

11:36: Koumba LARROQUE (FRA), back at the Olympic weight of 68kg after winning her third world medal last year with a bronze at 65kg, gets a 4-point takedown to go up 10-0 but secures the fall anyway against Zsuzsanna MOLNAR (SVK).

11:30: Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN), last year's world champion at 65kg, begins her quest for a second world title, this year at 72kg, with a 3-0 win over Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ).

11:16: Dominique PARRISH (USA), who won the 53kg title last year in Fujinami's absence, has seen her reign end after one match. With Parrish on the activity clock, Asian silver medalist ANTIM (UWW) scores a takedown with 1:20 left and holds on for a 3-2 victory.

11:02: Tokyo Olympic silver medal Qianyu PANG (CHN) is up against Altyn SHAGAYEVA (KAZ) on Mat A. After they traded passivities, Pang with a stepout to win 2-1

10:55: A fall on Mat C for Iulia LEORDA (MDA), the losing finalist at 53kg in 2021 to Fujinami, over Sandy PARRA (COL). She and Fujinami could meet in the semifinals this time.

10:53: Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) gets off to a roaring start in her bid to regain the 2021 title at 53kg that she had to give up when she was injured last year. She scores an early single-leg takedown against Tuba DEMIR (TUR), then after a spin-behind takedown, applies the lace lock and spins three times for a 10-0 win in 1:19. The win runs her current winning streak to 123 matches.

10:30: Big day for women's wrestling as three more Olympic weight classes go on mat today. Wrestlers in 53kg, 62kg and 68kg will try to win a spot for the Paris Olympics.

#wrestlebishkek

Asian Championships Day 6 Greco-Roman Finals Set

By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 16) -- The final day of the Asian Championships here in Bishkek with the last five Greco-Roman weight classes. World champion Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) will hope to defend his Asian title at 60kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 5 REPORT

The finals for the five Greco-Roman weight classes are set

60kg - Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) vs Kaito INABA (JPN)

67kg - Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) vs. Saeid ESMAEILI LEIVESI (IRI)

72kg - Shingo HARADA (JPN) vs. Mohammadreza ROSTAMI (IRI)

82kg - Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN) vs. Rasoul GARMSIRI (IRI) 

97kg - Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) vs. Iussuf MATSIYEV (KAZ)

14:40: Two-time world bronze medalist Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) simply overpowered Jeongyul KWON (KOR) at 97kg to make his first final since winning the gold in 2020. Saravi chalked up four stepouts to go with an arm drag takedown in cruising to an 8-0 victory that ended with a point for an unsuccessful challenge by the Koreans of the final stepout.

14:36: Iussuf MATSIYEV (KAZ) will wrestle for the 97kg gold medal as he beats Houzhi HAO (CHN) 8-0 in the semifinals. Matsiyev gets a stepout and then finishes the bout with three turns from par terre.

14:29: Was that the match of the day? Rasoul GARMSIRI (IRI hangs on for 7-7 criteria win over Bekzat ORUNKUL UULU (KGZ) in the 82kg semifinals. Orunkul Uulu hits a four-pointer in the first period to lead 5-0 but Garmsiri begins the second period with a front headlock four which Kyrgyzstan challenge. The four points are upheld and Kyrgyzstan loses the challenge, giving Garmsiri a 5-5 criteria lead. Orunkul Uulu scores a takedown to regain the lead 7-5. But Garmsiri doesn't give up and uses another headlock for two throws but the referees offer no points. Iran challenges and after review, Garmsiri gets two points for the first throw but the second throw is clean. A 7-7 criteria lead for Garmsiri is enough as he sees off the final 24 seconds without any trouble.

14:23: Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN), the first high schooler to represent Japan at the Asian Championships since 1989, will be wrestling for gold in his international senior debut after ousting 2022 bronze medalist Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB) 9-2 at 82kg. In the first period, Yoshida slips behind and throws Rasulov for 4 at the edge. Put on top in par terre, Yoshida is unable to turn and takes a 5-0 lead into the second period. With 30 seconds left, Rasulov launches a 'flying squirrel' over-the-top attempt, but Yoshida lands on top for another 4, while Rasulov is awarded 2.

14:10: Kaito INABA (JPN) has been throwing around his opponents the whole day and Galym KABDUNASSAROV (KAZ) is his latest victim. Inaba stops Kabdunassarov in the middle of a second turn from par terre, lifts him for a beautiful four-pointer and leads 5-3 at the break. He gets a par terre on top in the second period, to go up 6-3 when Kubadunassarov is called for a leg foul and Inaba goes up 8-3. A late stepout from Kabdunassarov but Inaba wins 8-4 to set up a 60kg final against Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ)

14:07: Double world champion Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) will get a shot at third straight Asian gold at 60kg after knocking off Amirreza DEHBOZORGI (IRI) 9-0. Sharshenbekov showed why he is at the top of the sport when, in par terre, he was unable to toss Dehbozorgi while in a standing bear hug, but went back to the mat and scored with a gut wrench. Dehbozorgi was assessed a 2-point penalty for an illegal move that gave Sharshenbekova a 5-0 lead but also caused some discomfort in his shoulder. It hardly slowed him down in the second period as he scored a takedown and finished off the match with a 2-point throw at the edge.

13:56: Shingo HARADA (JPN) learned his lesson from a failed throw in the first period, coming back with a 4-pointer in the second en route to a 9-2 victory over Abdullo ALIEV (UZB) to make the 72kg final at his first Asian Championships. Aliev, on the bottom of par terre in the first period, disrupted a throw by Harada to score a 2-point exposure. In the second period, Harada jumped behind for a takedown, then followed with a textbook-perfect reverse lift for 4, before adding another takedown.

13:50: A 10-0 rout from Mohammadreza ROSTAMI (IRI) of Adilkhan SATAYEV (LAZ) in the 72kg semifinals. Rostami with two rolls from par terre and Satayev gets hit for two-point caution. The bout resumes in par terre and Rostami gets the roll to win 9-0. A lost challenge from Kazakhstan gives Rostami the final point.

13:44: Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) thrills the crowd by hanging on for a 2-1 victory over Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) in their 67kg semifinal. With Beishekeev in par terre first, Chung reverses a roll attempt, but instead, Beishekeev gets a fortunate stepout from the scramble for a 2-0 lead. Chung can't get a turn from par terre in the second period, so the 63kg silver medalist from last year will be fighting for a bronze at best.

13:35: Saeid ESMAEILI LEIVESI (IRI) needs only 58 seconds to finish the 67kg semifinal against Rovshen ATDAYEV (TKM). Esmaeili Leivesi with a takedown and roll, then adds another takedown to make it 6-0. A lift and full throw to win 10-0.

13:15: World U20 bronze medalist Amirreza DEHBOZORGI (IRI) makes it 5 out of 5 for Iranians in the semifinals when he outlasts Aslamdzhon AZIZOV (TJK) 8-5 to make the final four at 60kg.

13:07: It would be hard to get a more impressive win than the one that Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) just posted against Ilkhom BAKHROMOV (UZB) in the 60kg quarterfinals. After powering to a 4-point takedown, Sharshenbekov comes back by flipping Bakhromov for another 4-pointer to end the match in 27 seconds.

13:05: High schooler Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN) gets his senior debut off to a good start with a 7-2 win over Rohit DAHIYA (IND) to make the 82kg semifinals.

13:00: Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB) ends Sultan EID's (JOR) inspired campaign with a 9-0 technical superiority. Rasulov with four turns from par terre to win.

12:56: Not to be for Beksultan MAKHMUDOV (KGZ)! He tries a big throw to get a four but falls on his back and Iussuf MATSIYEV (KAZ) sticks him to get the fall at 97kg. Matsiyev led 7-4 when Makhmudov tried the arm throw.

12:52: World and Olympic bronze medalist Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI), one of the bigger names in action on the final day,  reels off four rolls from par terre for a quickfire 9-0 victory over Badamdorj BALTMUNKH (MGL). Saravi has an Asian gold from 2020.

12:45: Mohammadreza ROSTAMI (IRI) with two rolls from par terre to take a 5-0 lead against Ji LENG (CHN) who did get a turn from par terre in the second period but failed to stop Rostami from winning 5-3 and advanced to the 72kg semifinals.

12:44: Returning bronze medalist Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) has a roll from par terre eliminated on challenge, but comes back in the second period with a 4-point throw in his second chance to defeat Almatbek AMANBEK (KAZ) 7-1 in the 67kg quarterfinals.

12:39: Saeid ESMAEILI LEIVESI (IRI) books his place in the 67kg semifinals with an 8-0 win over Firuz MIRZORAJABOV (TJK). Esmaeili Leivesi hits a 4-point throw in the first period and ends the match with a takedown 34 seconds into the second.

12:35: A last-ditch headlock throw from Rovshen ATDAYEV (TKM) gets him a 9-6 win over Man Gwang SON (PRK) at 67kg. Atdayev led 5-0 when Son scored a four-pointer and then got the par terre position to take a 5-5 criteria lead. Son scored a stepout to be 6-5 clear but Atdayev hit a solid throw for the win.

12:33: Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) is through to the 67kg semifinals with a 7-1 win over Vinayak PATIL (IND).

12:28: Ilkhom BAKHROMOV (UZB), the 2019 champion and 2021 silver medalist, trails 3-2 in the second period against Hyok SONG (PRK) at 60kg when bulls his way to a takedown, gets 2 points for a penalty, then adds a takedown for an 8-3 win. Bakhromov's brother Islomjon failed to medal at 63kg on Monday.

12:23: World bronze medalist Liguo CAO (CHN) finishes off a 9-1 victory over Baljinnyam TSEVEENRAVDAN (MGL) with a stepout to advance to the 60kg quarterfinals, where he will face Kaito INABE (JPN).

12:20: Galym KABDUNASSAROV (KAZ) with two front headlock throws to beat PRAVESH (IND) 9-0 at 60kg. He will face Seunghak KIM (KOR) in the quarterfinals as Kim defeated Umit DURDYYEV (TKM) 8-0 in an earlier bout.

12:18: With the arena still buzzing over the loss by local hero Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) the previous night, the host country's other Greco world and Asian champion Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) powers into the 60kg quarterfinals. Needing just one point to finish off SUPARMANTO (INA), Sharshenbekov hits a 4-pointer to win 11-0 in 1:20.

12:14: Former U20 world champion Amirreza DEHBOZORGI (IRI) wins his opening bout at 60kg 9-0 against Jui Chi HUANG (TPE). No slip up from the Iranian wrestler in that bout

12:13: Sultan EID (JOR) still has a long way to go to become Jordan's first Asian medalist since 2013, but he's off to a good start with a 5-1 victory over 82kg over 2019 world U23 bronze medalist Yevgeniy POLIVADOV (KAZ). Eid is not a totally unknown entity, having won a bronze at 87kg at the Kolov-Petrov tournament in Bulgaria in March.

12:03: Two-time bronze medalist Adilkhan NURLANBEKOV (KGZ) gets a 2-point throw in his second chance at par terre to take a 4-0 lead over Jiyeon LEE (KOR) in their 72kg match. Lee gets a takedown with 20 seconds to go, but it's not enough and Nurlanbekov walks off a 4-2 winner.

11:58: Shermukhammad SHARIBJANOV (UZB), the silver medalist last year at 63kg, falls at the first stage at 67kg to Man Gwang SON (PRK), who scores from par terre in the first period and overcomes a leg cramp in the second to win 4-1.

11:53: Saeid ESMAEILI LEIVESI (IRI), the 2022 world U20 champion and this year's Yasar Dogu winner at 67kg, gets off to a roaring start with a 4-point reverse throw in his opener against Lei LI (CHN). Esmaeili Leivesi adds a throw from par terre for a 7-0 lead after one period, then ends the match with a 4-point throw midway through the second period.

11:41: Hyok SONG (PRK) is in a tight match with Ali ALBIDHAN (IRQ)at 60kg when the Iraqi seems to run out of gas late in the third period. Song slams him to his back and Albidhan meekly concedes a fall.

11:41: Hanjae CHUNG (KOR), the silver medalist last year at 63kg and Asian Games bronze medalist at 60kg, takes the mat at 67kg against world U23 bronze medalist Haruto YABE (JPN). Chung scores a first-period takedown, then survives unscathed in a stint on the bottom of par terre in the second for a 3-1 win.

11:35: What a start to the day! Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) with two huge reverse lifts to beat Ganbayar NAMSRAI (MGL) 14-0 at 67kg.

11:30: Can Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) do what Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) failed to do? Can he give the Bishkek crowd something to cheer about on the final day of the Asian Championships?