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#WrestleOslo: USA, Japan Put Three in WW Semifinals as Gray Eyes 6th Title

Tuesday, October 5, 2021 - 12:01 By Vinay Siwach

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OSLO, Norway (October 5) -- Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) lived up to the hype. The 17-year-old from Japan outscored her opponents 21-0 in the two bouts and reached the semifinal of the 53kg weight class at the senior World Championships in Oslo, Norway.

The two-time cadet world champion defeated POOJA (IND) 11-0 and then former World Championships medalist Luisa VALVERDE MELENDRES (ECU) 10-0 in the quarterfinals. Her win took her to the semifinal and she will face Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL) who defeated junior world champion Emma MALMGREN (SWE) via fall in the quarterfinal.

Fujinami's overall wrestling with defense and offense combined made it almost impossible for her opponents to score on her and ultimately giving up points. She won the All Japan Championships to book her ticket to Oslo. Japan's 53kg Tokyo Olympic champion Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) decided to sit out of the tournament.

The other final at 53kg will be between Khrystyna BEREZA (UKR) and Iulia LEORDA (MDA). Bereza defeated Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) 6-3 while Leorda overcame Samantha STEWART (CAN) 10-4.

Tokyo Olympic silver Adeline GRAY (USA) and fifth-place Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) are on course for a finals meeting after they reached their respective semifinals. Gray was once again in her elements as she won both her bouts on Tuesday via first-period fall. She beat KIRAN (IND) in the quarterfinals.

Medet Kyzy also took no time to move past Marina SUROVTSEVA (RWF) 10-0 and set up a meeting with Tokyo Olympian and European champion Epp MAEE (EST). The Kyrgyzstan wrestler wrestled Gray in the Olympic semifinal and lost 3-2 in a nail-biting finish. 

Samar HAMZA (EGY) beat Yasuha MATSUYUKI (JPN) 4-2 to set up a semifinal against Gray. Hamza was trailing 2-2 on criteria but a pushout in the final three seconds gave her a point. Japan challenged the call but lost, adding one more point to Hamza's score.

Sarah HildebrandtSarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) reached the 50kg semifinal. (Photo: UWW / Tony Rotundo)

Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) also remained on course for her second Worlds final as she leg-laced her way to the semifinal. Losa ERSEL (GER) tried to put up a challenge but the USA wrestler was too strong for her. She will wrestle Nadezhda SOKOLOVA (RWF) in the semifinal after the latter made short work of Hanny KUMARI (IND) in a 10-0 win.

In the other semifinal, two-time world silver medalist Emilia VUC (ROU) will face young star Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) who beat Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) via fall. Vuc was up against Madison PARKS (CAN) and was in a bit of trouble early but then got a takedown and four exposures to win 13-3. A lost challenge from Canada added one more point to her score.

A third wrestler for USA reached the semifinal after Forrest MOLINARI managed to pull off a late takedown for a 3-3 criteria win over Koumba LARROQUE (FRA). The France wrestler led 3-1 going into the final ten seconds but was exposed to her back by the American to give up the lead.

Molinari will face Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) in the semifinal after the Japan wrestler defeated Aina TEMIRTASSOVA (KAZ) 6-2 in the quarterfinals.

Junior world champion Irina RINGACI (MDA) was also in top form when she beat Malin MATTSSON (SWE) 6-2 and reached the semifinal against Tokyo Olympian Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL). The Bulgarian wrestler struggled a bit but finally overcame Asli DEMIR (TUR) 7-2.

#WrestleBaku

Paris Olympic qualification bouts in Women's Wrestling set

Saturday, April 6, 2024 - 05:25 By United World Wrestling Press

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BAKU, Azerbaijan (April 6) -- Six Women's Wrestling weight classes will be in action at the European Olympic Games Qualifier in Baku, Azerbaijan on Saturday. To win the 12 Paris 2024 quotas, wrestlers have to win the semifinal in their respective weight classes.

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WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 1 REPORT

Paris 2024 Qualification Bouts Line-Up

50kg
SF 1: Mariya STADNIK (AZE) vs. Oksana LIVACH (UKR)
SF 2: Nadezhda SOKOLOVA (AIN) vs. Anastasia BLAYVAS (GER)

53kg
SF 1: Annika WENDLE (GER) vs. Andreea ANA (ROU)
SF 2: Natalia MALYSHEVA (AIN) vs. Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE)

57kg
SF 1: Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR) vs. Sandra PARUSZEWSKI (GER)
SF 2: Alina HRUSHYNA AKOBIIA (UKR) vs. Iryna KURACHKINA (AIN)

62kg
SF 1: Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) vs. Ameline DOUARRE (FRA)
SF 2: Mariana CHERDIVARA ESANU (MDA) vs. Alina KASABIEVA (AIN)

68kg
SF 1: Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) vs. Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL)
SF 2: Khanum VELIEVA (AIN) vs. Manola SKOBELSKA (UKR)

76kg
SF 1: Pauline LECARPENTIER (FRA) vs. Bernadett NAGY (HUN)
SF 2: Martina KUENZ (AUT) vs. Yasemin ADAR (TUR)

13:10: In the final bout of the session, Nadezhda SOKOLOVA (AIN) denies Miglena SELISHKA (BUL) a spot in the semifinals at 50kg, beating the Bulgarian 5-4.

13:00: Yasemin ADAR (TUR) is in the semifinal at 76kg. She takes out Rita TALISMANOVAAA (AIN) 11-0 and will wrestle for a Paris spot in the evening session.

12:56: Down goes Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist and European silver medalist Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL). Leading 2-1, Nikolova gave up a takedown and Sandra PARUSZEWSKI (GER) got the 3-2 lead. Nikolova tried to score a reversal but the clock expired. Bulgaria challenged but lost, adding one more point to Paruszewski's score.

12:55: Oksana LIVACH (UKR) takes out Julie SABATIE (FRA) 5-0 in the 50kg quarterfinals and sets up the semifinal against Mariya STADNIK (AZE) for a spot for the Paris Games.

12:53: Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) scores a late takedown to beat Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA) 6-6 in the 53kg quarterfinals. She will face Natalia MALYSHEVA (AIN) in the semifinals. Malysheva defeated Zynep YETGIL (TUR) 11-0

12:45: Tokyo silver medalist Iryna KURACHKINA (AIN) scores a takedown with 10 seconds left on the clock to beat Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (AIN) 4-2 in the 57kg quarterfinals. Big win for Kurachkina. 

12:37: 51 seconds and we are done! Mariya STADNIK (AZE) rolls to a 10-0 technical superiority over Gabija DILYTE (LTU) in the 50kg quarterfinal. She will face the winner of Oksana LIVACH (UKR) and Julie SABATIE (FRA)

12:35: Moving into the semifinals at 57kg with another dominant victory is Alina HRUSHYNA (UKR). She rolls to a 10-0 win over Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE).

12:20: Dominance from Martina KUENZ (AUT). She beats the European Championships silver medalist Anastasiia OSNIACH SHUSTOVA (UKR) 10-0 in one minute and moves into the 76kg semifinals for tonight. Kuenz last competed at the Bishkek Ranking Series in June 2023.

12:15: European champion at 55kg Andreea ANA (ROU) moves into the 53kg semifinals with a technical superiority 11-0 win over Veronika RJABOVOLOVA (MKD).

12:05: Annika WENDLE (GER) takes out Sztalvira ORSUS (HUN) 2-1 at 53kg. No action points were scored but Wendle got the technical points to move into the semifinals

11:55: How did that happen? Mimi HRITSOVA (BUL) was leading 8-0 when Manola SKOBELSKA (UKR) got her in a cradle and pinned Hritsova! The Bulgarian is shellshocked.

11:50: European champion Yasemin ADAR (TUR) with a strong gut game to beat Epp MAE (EST) 12-1 at 76kg. Mae will have to try to qualify for the Paris Olympics in Istanbul now.

11:45: Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) doesn't let Johanna LINDBORG (SWE) to take any advantage this time. She avenges her European Championships loss and moves into the semifinals at 62kg with a 9-0 win.

11:35: European silver medalist Anastasiia SHUSTOVA (UKR) was trailing 8-8 on criteria against Vanesa GEORGIEVA (BUL) but came back to beat her 14-8 at 76kg. She moves into the quarterfinals.

11:30: Alina HRUSHYNA (UKR) with a fall over Othelie HOEIE (NOR) in her first bout since the World Championships. Hrushyna was out due to an injury but looks fully recovered 

11:15: Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) sees off Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR) 7-1 and moves on at 53kg. She will face Natalia MALYSHEVA (AIN) for a semifinal spot.

11:10: Annika WENDLE (GER), down 3-1 with 15 seconds remaining, hits a front headlock for four and gets the win over Jowita WRZESIEN (POL). Wendle avoided an attempted big throw from Wrzesien as well.  

11:00: In a battle of two Tokyo Olympians, Mimi HRITSOVA (BUL) holds off Elis MANOLOVA (AZE) 4-2 to advance at 68kg. Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) beats Tindra SJOEBERG (SWE) 10-3 at 68kg.

10:50: Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL), who is down at 68kg from her usual 72kg weight class, rolls to an 11-0 win over Ilana KRATYSH (ISR). At the same weight, Tokyo Olympian Khanum VELIEVA (AIN) beats Elma ZEIDLERE (LAT) 10-0 in a minute and 15 seconds. 

10:40: Johanna LINDBORG (SWE) gets her campaign underway with a 4-1 win over Eniko ELEKES (HUN) at 62kg. She will now face Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) in the quarterfinals. Lindborg defeated Dudova at the European Championships in February

10:30: Welcome to Women's Wrestling day at the European OG Qualifier in Baku. Can Mariya STADNIK (AZE) be the first woman wrestler to qualify for five Olympics? Will Yasemin ADAR (TUR) earn a qualifying or will we see some historic moments?