#WrestleWarsaw

#WrestleWarsaw European C'ship Entries

Wednesday, April 14, 2021 - 17:24 By Eric Olanowski

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WARSAW, Poland (April 14) --- All eyes will be on Warsaw, Poland next week (April 19-25) as 444 athletes from 37 countries will compete for continental gold at the European Championship. Greco-Roman leads the tournament entries with 77 athletes while there will be 156 freestyle competitors and 111 women's wrestlers.

Freestyle wrestling kicks off the competition next Monday (April 19). The spotlight turns to women's wrestling on Wednesday, while Greco-Roman takes center-stage starting on Friday.

*Please note that these entries were pulled on Wednesday (April 14) and are subject to change.

57kg
Afgan KHASHALOV (AZE)
Aryan TSIUTRYN (BLR)
Mikyay Salim NAIM (BUL)
Beka BUJIASHVILI (GEO)
Ioannis MARTIDIS (GRE)
Givi DAVIDOVI (ITA)
Anatolii BURUIAN (MDA)
Razvan Marian KOVACS (ROU)
Nachyn MONGUSH (RUS)
Suleyman ATLI (TUR)
Kamil KERYMOV (UKR)

61kg
Akhmednabi GVARZATILOV (AZE)
Dzimchyk RYNCHYNAU (BLR)
Georgi Valentinov VANGELOV (BUL)
Arman Norik ELOYAN (FRA)
Beka LOMTADZE (GEO)
Viktor Viktorowitsch LYZEN (GER)
Richard VILHELM (HUN)
Daniel POPOV (ISR)
Simone Vincenzo PIRODDU (ITA)
Leomid COLESNIC (MDA)
Vladimir EGOROV (MKD)
Eduard GRIGOREV (POL)
Ivan GUIDEA (ROU)
Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RUS)
Sebastian KOLOMPAR (SRB)
Emrah ORMANOGLU (TUR)
Andrii DZHELEP (UKR)

65kg
Gevorg TADEVOSYAN (ARM)
Gabriel JANATSCH (AUT)
Ali RAHIMZADE (AZE)
Andrei BEKRENEU (BLR)
Ruhan Hyusnyu RASIM (BUL)
Quentin Jean-René STICKER (FRA)
George Anthony RAMM (GBR)
Shmagi TODUA (GEO)
Niklas Dietmar DORN (GER)
Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN)
Maxim SACULTAN (MDA)
Krzysztof BIENKOWSKI (POL)
Nikolai OKHLOPKOV (ROU)
Zagir SHAKHIEV (RUS)
Hamza ALACA (TUR)
Andrii SVYRYD (UKR)

70kg
Orges LILA (ALB)
Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM)
Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE)
Dzianis SALAVEI (BLR)
Nicolae COJOCARU (GBR)
Davit TLASHADZE (GEO)
Daniel ANTAL (HUN)
Gianluca TALAMO (ITA)
Artem AUGA (LTU)
Mihail SAVA (MDA)
Fati VEJSELI (MKD)
Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL)
Israil KASUMOV (RUS)
Daniel CHOMANIC (SVK)
Haydar YAVUZ (TUR)
Ihor NYKYFORUK (UKR)

74kg
Hrayr ALIKHANYAN (ARM) 
Simon MARCHL (AUT)
Ashraf ASHIROV (AZE)
Davud ALIZALAU (BLR)
Miroslav Stefanov KIROV (BUL)
Aimar ANDRUSE (EST)
Charlie James BOWLING (GBR)
Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO)
Daniel SARTAKOV (GER)
Csaba VIDA (HUN)
Mitchell Louis FINESILVER (ISR)
Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ (ITA)
Valentin BORZIN (MDA)
Kamil RYBICKI (POL)
Zurab KAPRAEV (ROU)
Razambek ZHAMALOV (RUS)
Malik Michael AMINE (SMR)
Hetik CABOLOV (SRB)
Marc DIETSCHE (SUI)
Tajmuraz Mairbekovic SALKAZANOV (SVK)
Fazli ERYILMAZ (TUR)
Semen RADULOV (UKR)

79kg
Osman HAJDARI (ALB)
Arman AVAGYAN (ARM)
Rashad YUSIFLI (AZE)
Andrei KARPACH (BLR)
Oktay Ruzhdi HASAN (BUL)
Erik REINBOK (EST)
Saifedine ALEKMA (FRA)
Nika KENTCHADZE (GEO)
Eduard TATARINOV (GER)
Salvatore DIANA (ITA)
Alans AMIROVS (LAT)
Eugeniu MIHALCEAN (MDA)
Dejan MITROV (MKD)
Andrzej Piotr SOKALSKI (POL)
Malik SHAVAEV (RUS)
Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK)
Muhammet Nuri KOTANOGLU (TUR)
Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR)

86kg
Benjamin GREIL (AUT)
Gadzhimurad MAGOMEDSAIDOV (AZE)
Ali SHABANAU (BLR)
Dzhemal Rushen ALI (BUL)|
Akhmed AIBUEV (FRA)
Sandro AMINASHVILI (GEO)
Joshua Philipp David MORODION(GER)
Uri KALASHNIKOV (ISR)
Simone IANNATTONI (ITA)
Edgaras VOITECHOVSKIS (LTU)
Gheorghi PASCALOV (MDA)
Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL)
Artur NAIFONOV (RUS)
Myles Nazem AMINE (SMR)
Stefan REICHMUTH (SUI)
Boris MAKOEV (SVK)
Osman GOCEN (TUR)
Mraz DZHAFARIAN (UKR)

92kg
Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE)
Hajy RAJABAU (BLR)
Akhmed Adamovitch MAGAMAEV (BUL)
Irakli MTSITURI (GEO)
Robin Michael FERDINAND (GER)
Ivars SAMUSONOKS (LAT)
Georgii RUBAEV (MDA)
Radoslaw MARCINKIEWICZ (POL)
Magomed Guseynovitch KURBANOV (RUS)
Samuel SCHERRER (SUI)
Erhan YAYLACI (TUR)
AndriI VLASOV (UKR)

97kg
Shamil ZUBAIROV (AZE)
Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR)
Ahmed Sultanovich BATAEV (BUL)
Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO)
Abraham de Jesus CONYEDO RUANO (ITA)
Lukas KRASAUSKAS (LTU)
Radu LEFTER (MDA)
Magomedgadji Omardibirovich NUROV (MKD)
Radoslaw BARAN (POL)
Albert SARITOV (ROU)
Alikhan ZHABRAILOV (RUS)
Suleyman KARADENIZ (TUR)
Murazi MCHEDLIDZE (UKR)

125kg
Paris KAREPI (ALB)
Johannes LUDESCHER (AUT)
Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (BLR)
Islam Timurovich ADIZOV (BUL)
Jere Tapani HEINO (FIN)
Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO)
Daniel LIGETI (HUN)
Egzon SHALA (KOS)
Samhan JABRAILOV (MDA)
Kamil Tomasz KOSCIOLEK (POL)
Sergei KOZYREV (RUS)
Taha AKGUL (TUR)
Oleksandr KHOTSIANIVSKYI (UKR)

Riza KAYAALP (TUR) is on a quest to win his tenth European title. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Greco-Roman
55kg
Rudik MKRTCHYAN (ARM)
Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE)
Artsiom KATSAR (BLR)
Nedyalko Petrov PETROV (BUL)
Mattias Tero Alarik POUTANEN (FIN)
Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO)
Fabian Bernhard SCHMITT (GER)
Andre Ricardo CARDOSO OLIVEIRA SILVA (POR)
Teodor HORATAU (ROU)
Viktor VEDERNIKOV (RUS)
Sebastian KOLOMPAR (SRB)
Ekrem OZTURK (TUR)
Mykhaylo STUPIN (UKR)

60kg
Gevorg GHARIBYAN (ARM)
Murad BAZAROV (AZE)
Hleb MAKARANKA (BLR)
Helary MAEGISALU (EST)
Irakli DZIMISTARISHVILI (GEO)
Jozsef ANDRASI (HUN)
Jacopo SANDRON (ITA)
Nicolai BURGHILA (MDA)
Michal Jacek TRACZ (POL)
Grzegorz KUNKEL (POL)
Antonio MARTINS CABRAL (POR)
Razvan ARNAUT (ROU)
Sergey EMELIN (RUS)
Kerem KAMAL (TUR)
Viktor PETRYK (UKR)

63kg
Hrachya POGHOSYAN (ARM)
Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE)
Soslan DAUROV (BLR)
Nikolay Ivanov VICHEV (BUL)
Yasin OZAY (FRA)
Leri ABULADZE (GEO)
Andrej GINC (GER)
Erik TORBA (HUN)
Andrea SETTI (ITA)
Aleksandrs JURKJANS (LAT)
Mateusz Radoslaw SZEWCZUK (POL)
Julinho Benjamim CORREIA DJU (POR)
Mihai Radu MIHUT (ROU)
Zhambolat LOKYAEV (RUS)
Perica DIMITRIJEVIC (SRB)
Niklas Jan Olov Pontus OEHLEN (SWE)
Abdurrahman ALTAN (TUR)
Oleksandr HRUSHYN (UKR)

67kg
Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM)
Namaz RUSTAMOV (AZE)
Maksim NEHODA (BLR)
Ivo Krasimirov ILIEV (BUL)
Fredrik Holmquist BJERREHUUS (DEN)
Stefan Roger CLEMENT (FRA)
Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO)
Witalis LAZOVSKI (GER)
Mate KRASZNAI (HUN)
Zaur KABALOEV (ITA)
Edgaras VENCKAITIS (LTU)
Donior ISLAMOV (MDA)
Mateusz Lucjan BERNATEK (POL)
Artem SURKOV (RUS)
Mate NEMES (SRB)
Andreas VETSCH (SUI)
Murat FIRAT (TUR)
Oleksii MASYK (UKR)
Aker AL OBAIDI (UWW)

72kg
Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM)
Christoph BURGER (AUT)
Khasay HASANLI (AZE)
Anton KORABAU (BLR)
Alen FODOR (CRO)
Mikko Petteri PELTOKANGAS (FIN)
Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamed Hassan GHANEM (FRA)
Shmagi BOLKVADZE (GEO)|
Frank STAEBLER (GER)
Robert Attila FRITSCH (HUN)
Valentin PETIC (MDA)
Juan Sebastian AAK (NOR)
Roman PACURKOWSKI (POL)
Chingiz LABAZANOV (RUS)
Aleksandar MAKSIMOVIC (SRB)
Leos DRMOLA (SVK)
Daniel Mattias SOINI (SWE)
Selcuk CAN (TUR)
Maksym YEVTUSHENKO (UKR)

77kg
Varuzhan GRIGORYAN (ARM)
Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE)
Tsimur BERDYIEU (BLR)
Stoyan Stoychev KUBATOV (BUL)
Antonio KAMENJASEVIC (CRO)
Jakub BIELESZ (CZE)
Waltteri Harri Kristian LATVALA (FIN)
Johnny Just BUR (FRA)
Sachino DAVITAIA (GEO)
Michael Felix WIDMAYER (GER)
Georgios PREVOLARAKIS (GRE)
Tamas LORINCZ (HUN)
Roman ZHERNOVETSKI (ISR)
Riccardo Vito ABBRESCIA (ITA)
Mantas Kazimieras SINKEVICIUS (LTU)
Daniel CATARAGA (MDA)
Exauce MUKUBU (NOR)
Iwan NYLYPIUK (POL)
Ilie COJOCARI (ROU)
Abuiazid MANTSIGOV (RUS)
Aleksa ERSKI (SRB)
Fabio DIETSCHE (SUI)
Denis HORVATH (SVK)
Bogdan KOURINNOI (SWE)
Yunus Emre BASAR (TUR)
Dmytro PYSHKOV (UKR)

82kg
Karapet CHALYAN (ARM)
Tunjay VAZIRZADE (AZE)
Radzik KULIYEU (BLR)
Rosian Ognyanov DERMANSKI (BUL)
Filip SACIC (CRO)
Rajbek Alvievich BISULTANOV (DEN)
Ranet KALJOLA (EST)
Mikko Tapani LYTTINEN (FIN)
Aivengo RIKADZE (GEO)
Hannes WAGNER (GER)
Laszlo SZABO (HUN)
Igor PETRISHIN (ISR)
Mihail BRADU (MDA)
Edgar BABAYAN (POL)
Adlan AKIEV (RUS)
Branko KOVACEVIC (SRB)
Marc WEBER (SUI)
Alex Michel BJURBERG KESSIDIS (SWE)
Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR)
Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR)

87kg 
Michael WAGNER (AUT)
Kiryl MASKEVICH (BLR)
Svetoslav Nikolaev NIKOLOV (BUL)
Vjekoslav LUBURIC (CRO)
Petr NOVAK (CZE)
Turpan Ali Alvievich BISULTANOV (DEN)
Andreas VAELIS (EST)
Tornike DZAMASHVILI (GEO)
Denis Maksymilian KUDLA (GER)
Dimitrios PAPADOPOULOS (GRE)
Viktor LORINCZ (HUN)
Fabio PARISI (ITA)
Martynas NEMSEVICIUS (LTU)
Viorel BURDUJA (MDA)
Arkadiusz Marcin KULYNYCZ (POL)
Milad Valerikovitch ALIRZAEV (RUS)
Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB)
Oskar Alexander Patrick JOHANSSON (SWE)
Dogan GOKTAS (TUR)
Zhan BELENIUK (UKR)

97kg 
Markus RAGGINGER (AUT)
Zamir MAGOMEDOV (AZE)
Mikalai STADUB (BLR)
Kiril Milenov MILOV (BUL)
Artur OMAROV (CZE)
Arvi Martin SAVOLAINEN (FIN)
Giorgi MELIA (GEO)
Balazs KISS (HUN)
Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA)
Tadeusz MICHALIK (POL)
Musa EVLOEV (RUS)
Mihail KAJAIA (SRB)
Ibrahim TIGCI( TUR)
Yevhenii SAVETA (UKR)

130kg
Pavel RUDAKOU (BLR)
Marko KOSCEVIC (CRO)
Stepan DAVID (CZE)
Konsta Johannes MAEENPAEAE (FIN)
Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO)
Eduard POPP (GER)
Alexandros PAPADATOS (GRE)
Romas FRIDRIKAS (LTU)
Rafal Andrzej KRAJEWSKI (POL)
Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU)
Zurabi GEDEKHAURI (RUS)
Riza KAYAALP (TUR)
Oleksandr CHERNETSKYY (UKR)

Two-time world champion Mariya STADNIK (AZE) leads the women's wrestling entries. She's entered at 50kg. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Women's Wrestling
50kg
Mariya STADNIK (AZE)
Natallia VARAKINA (BLR)
Miglena Georgieva SELISHKA (BUL)
Julie Martine SABATIE (FRA)
Emilia CIRICU BUDEANU (MDA)
Ramona ERIKSEN (NOR)
Anna LUKASIAK (POL)
Emilia Alina VUC (ROU)
Ekaterina POLESHCHUK (RUS)
Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR)
Oksana LIVACH (UKR)

53kg
Tatyana VARANSOVA (AZE)
Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR)
Annika WENDLE (GER)
Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE)
Kamile SERNAUSKAITE (LTU)
Iulia LEORDA (MDA)
Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL)
Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (RUS)
Zeynep YETGIL (TUR)
Mariia VYNNYK (UKR)

55kg
Katsiaryna PICHKOUSKAYA (BLR)
Sezen Behchetova BELBEROVA (BUL)
Hilary Ysaline HONORINE (FRA)
Mercedesz DENES (HUN)
Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA)
Jessica Cornelia Francisca BLASZKA (NED)
Roksana Marta ZASINA (POL)
Andreea Beatrice ANA (ROU)
Stalvira ORSHUSH (RUS)
Sofia Magdalena MATTSSON (SWE)
Eda TEKIN (TUR)
Khrystyna Zoryana DEMKO (UKR)

57kg
Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR)
Evelina Georgieva NIKOLOVA (BUL)
Mathilde Hélène RIVIERE (FRA)
Sandra PARUSZEWSKI (GER)
Ramona GALAMBOS (HUN)
Francesca INDELICATO (ITA)
Anhelina LYSAK (POL)
Svetlana LIPATOVA (RUS)
Mehlika OZTURK (TUR)
Alina HRUSHYNA AKOBIIA (UKR)

59kg
Krystsina SAZYKINA (BLR)
Bilyana Zhivkova DUDOVA (BUL)
Ineta DANTAITE (LTU)
Anastasia NICHITA (MDA)
Grace Jacob BULLEN (NOR)
Jowita Maria WRZESIEN (POL)
Kateryna ZHYDACHEVSKA (ROU)
Veronika CHUMIKOVA (RUS)
Elif YANIK (TUR)
Kateryna ZELENYKH (UKR)

62kg
Veranika IVANOVA (BLR)
Taybe Mustafa YUSEIN (BUL)
Debora LAWNITZAK (GER)
Marianna SASTIN (HUN)
Sara DA COL (ITA)
Mariana CHERDIVARA ESANU (MDA)
Katarzyna MADROWSKA (POL)
Valeria KOBLOVA ZHOLOBOVA (RUS)
Malin Johanna MATTSSON (SWE)
Cansu AKSOY (TUR)
Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR)

65kg
IrIna  Petrovna NETREBA (AZE)
Tatsiana PAULAVA (BLR)
Sofiya Hristova GEORGIEVA (BUL)
Eyleen SEWINA (GER)
Irina RINGACI (MDA)
Aleksandra WOLCZYNSKA (POL)
Kriszta Tunde INCZE (ROU)
Liubov OVCHAROVA (RUS)
Henna Katarina JOHANSSON (SWE)
Asli TUGCU (TUR)
Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR)

68kg
Elis MANOLOVA (AZE)
Hanna SADCHANKA (BLR)
Mimi Nikolova HRISTOVA (BUL)
Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE)
Koumba Selene Fanta LARROQUE (FRA)
Ilana KRATYSH (ISR)
Elma ZEIDLERE (LAT)
Danute DOMIKAITYTE (LTU)
Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL)
Khanum VELIEVA (RUS)
Tindra Linnea SJOEBERG (SWE)
Nesrin BAS (TUR)
Alina BEREZHNA STADNIK MAKHYNIA (UKR)

72kg
Yuliana Vasileva YANEVA (BUL)
Maria SELMAIER (GER)
Dalma CANEVA (ITA)
Natalia Iwona STRZALKA (POL)
Catalina AXENTE (ROU)
Evgeniia ZAKHARCHENKO (RUS)
Merve PUL (TUR)
Alla BELINSKA (UKR)

76kg
Martina KUENZ (AUT)
Sabira ALIYEVA (AZE)
Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR)
Mariya Gerginova ORYASHKOVA (BUL)
Epp MAEE (EST)
Cynthia Vanessa VESCAN (FRA)
Aline ROTTER FOCKEN (GER)
Zsanett NEMETH (HUN)
Eleni PJOLLAJ (ITA)
Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU)
Iselin Maria Moen SOLHEIM (NOR)
Patrycja SPERKA (POL)
Natalia VOROBEVA (RUS)
Aysegul OZBEGE (TUR)
Anastasiia OSNIACH SHUSTOVA (UKR)

#WrestleTirana

U23 Worlds: Reetika wins 76kg gold; Bas repeats

Thursday, October 26, 2023 - 21:12 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (October 26) -- Perhaps the best was saved for the last. After four snoozefests, Reetika HOODA (UWW) and Kennedy BLADES (USA) wrestled in an action-packed final, ironically at 76kg, at the U23 World Championships on Thursday with the former beating Blades 9-2 and denied the former U20 world champion another world title.

The four finals before that went like this -- injury default at 50kg, 4-2 at 55kg, 1-1 at 59kg and 2-1 at 68kg.

The 76kg final was on unexpected lines as Blades, the clear favorite against Hooda who was jumping to 76kg for the first time after spending two years at 72kg, suffered a rather tame loss. Hooda used a gameplan of counter-offense which completely shut Blades in the final.

The first two points for Hooda were stepouts she got as counters to Blades' attacks. The American was put on the activity clock but managed to hit a double-leg for two points to lead 2-2 on criteria. Blades' tried another attack but Hooda pushed Blades out one more time to lead 3-2 at the break.

REETIKA (UWW)Reetika HOODA (UWW) scores against Kennedy BLADES (USA) in the 76kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Hooda, a senior Asian Championships bronze medalist, kept the pressure on and Blades at a distance. Blades desperately tried to attack Hooda's legs but was shot off using underhooks. In one such situation, Hooda got Blades and scored a takedown. A stepout later, she scored another takedown in a similar fashion, before clinching the gold medal with another stepout.

The gold is Hooda's first at a world event and a step towards the Olympic journey at 76kg. Having first stepped on the mat at the age of 14 years, Hooda has earned a considerable name for herself in seven years. She has a U23 Asia title to go with her U20 world bronze and senior Asian bronze.

 

 

Hailing from Rohtak, Haryana in India, she chose to join the CR Stadium, the school that has produced several age-group world medalists including U20 world champion SAVITA, Manshi AHLAWAT, Pooja GEHLOT. In fact, the three UWW medalists on Thursday, Hooda, Neha SHARMA and NITIKA, all hail from the same stadium.

Hooda, pushed by her army veteran father to take up wrestling, will fly directly to Goa for the National Games and try to win another medal at 76kg.

Even Blades will have to quickly regroup and fly to Chile for the Pan-Am Games as she is part of the United States team for the Santiago tournament from November 1.

Nesrin BAS (TUR)An estatic Nesrin BAS (TUR) after she won a challenge and the 68kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

The 68kg final too was going towards an upset as U20 world bronze medalist Alina SHAUCHUK (AIN) clinched the gold medal over defending champion Nesrin BAS (TUR) on 1-1 criteria as both wrestlers had exchanged activity points only to see it go after a challenge.

In the final 10 seconds of the bout, Bas got on a double leg and pushed Shauchuk toward the zone. Shauchuk managed to pressure Bas and keep her from scoring a stepout till the clock expired.

Turkiye however challenged hoping for a miracle and on review, a stepout was confirmed as Shauchuk tried to circle back when Bas tried standing up with her hands on Shauchuk's legs. Shauchuk's body was in the air when her leg foot touched outside the zone which the jury deemed as a stepout, giving an additional point to Bas and the gold medal.

Bas, the U23 European champion and bronze medalist at the senior level, is the first wrestler from Turkiye to win the U23 world title for the second time.

Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR)Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) celebrates after winning the 59kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

While Shauchuk failed to hold her 1-1 criteria lead, Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) managed to hold off Sena NAGAMOTO (JPN) 1-1 in the 59kg final. Nagamoto never looked convincing in her attacks after trailing and Vynnyk had no trouble to play the time.

Vynnyk gave Ukraine its first gold in Women's Wrestling at the U23 World Championships after the nation drew a blank last year in Pontevedra, Spain where the former European silver medalist had won a bronze medal at 59kg.

Umi IMAI (JPN)Umi IMAI (JPN) won the 55kg gold over Neha SHARMA (UWW). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Japan, the most dominant nation in Women's Wrestling, did win two gold medals as Umi ITO (JPN) won at 50kg and Umi IMAI (JPN) won at 55kg.

Imai wrestled Neha SHARMA (UWW) in the final and opened the scoring in typical Japanese style, hitting an outside single and converting it into a takedown. Despite several efforts by Sharma to get a point on board, Imai was solid in defense and did not allow Sharma to go behind.

The 2022 Asian champion would score another takedown in a similar fashion in the second period to lead 4-0 with a minute and 30 seconds left in the final. Sharma got a counter takedown with 50 seconds left to close the gap to 4-2 but could not score another for the win.

Umi ITO (JPN)Umi ITO (JPN) added a U23 world title to her U17 and U20 titles. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 50kg, Ito, who has never lost internationally with gold medals at the U17 and U20 World Championships, added the U23 world title after her finals opponent Audrey JIMENEZ (USA) pulled out due to a knee injury.

Ito and Jimenez had wrestled in the U20 World Championships final last year at 50kg with Ito winning 10-0. Even in Tirana, the Japanese wrestler won all three of her bouts via technical superiority.

Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU)Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU), second from right, won bronze at 76kg. (Photo: UWW / Ulug Bugra Han Degirmenci)

Lithuania wins bronze

Six years after Danute DOMIKAITYTE (LTU) won Lithuania's last world medal at any level, Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU) ended that drought by winning the bronze medal at 76kg in Tirana. Gaucaite was able to see off Patrycja SLOMSKA (POL) 7-3 in the bronze-medal bout.

The second bronze medal at 76kg went to 2021 U23 world champion Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) who pinned Nodoka YAMAMOTO (JPN) after leading 4-2.

Manola SKOBELSKA (UKR) gave Ukraine the second bronze as she defeated Vusala PARFIANOVICH (AIN), 5-3, at 68kg while Tindra SJOEBERG (SWE) rolled to an 11-0 victory over Vanessa KEEFE (CAN) to earn the second bronze at this weight.

European champion Andreea ANA (ROU) bounced back from her defeat to Imai to beat Mariia VYNNYK (UKR), 3-1, in a tense bout for the bronze medal. U20 world champion Aryna MARTYNAVA (AIN) dug deep to help herself beat Zeinep BAYANOVA (KAZ), 8-5, and take home a bronze medal.

At 50kg, U23 European champion Emma LUTTENAUER (FRA) blanked Aida KERYMOVA (UKR), 7-0, to win bronze, her first world medal. Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE) held off NEELAM (UWW), 8-5, in the other bronze-medal playoff.

Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (AIN) won the bronze medal at 59kg after she defeated Nadzeya BULANAYA (AIN), 6-3, while NITIKA (UWW) pinned Michaela RANKIN (CAN) to claim one for herself as well.

Irina RINGACI (MDA)Irina RINGACI (MDA) reached the 65kg final after beating Macey KILTY (USA). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Ringaci, Elor in final

Defending champion Amit ELOR (USA) reached the final after two pins and a 5-0 win at 72kg in Tirana. Elor, chasing a career eighth world title, will take on Jyoti BERWAL (UWW) for the gold medal on Friday.

Elor spent 34 seconds on the mat for her first two pins, the first in 16 seconds and the second in 18 seconds. In the semifinal, she defeated her last year's finals opponent Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL), 5-0.

Berwal defeated U20 world silver medalist Bukrenaz SERT (TUR), 7-0, in the other semifinal to set up the gold medal clash against Elor.

At 65kg, Irina RINGACI (MDA) defended everything Macey KILTY (USA) threw at her to win the semifinal 5-4. She also had two pins to begin with but Kilty, world silver medalist, surprised her with a flurry of attacks early in the semifinal

Kilty got the first takedown and worked for others but Ringaci's defense was too much for her as the Moldovan scored from disadvantageous postition to lead 4-2 at the break.

Ringaci scored a stepout to begin the second period and defended a takedown attempt from Kilty using the split. It took a lot out of Ringaci who still had a minute and a half to defend her 5-2 lead.

Kilty would eventually get a takedown with 30 seconds left on the clock but Ringaci held on to beat Kilty 5-4 and head to her first U23 world final. She will take on Amina TANDELOVA (AIN) who defetaed Elma ZEIDLERE (LAT), 6-2, in the other semifinal.

Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA) was the second Moldovan to reach the final on Thursday as she defeated Altyn SHAGAYEVA (KAZ), 6-2 at 53kg. She will take on Mako OONO (JPN) who also won her semifinal against Ekaterina VERBINA (AIN) with a similar scoreline.

2022 Asian champion Sara NATAMI (JPN) will take on Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) in the 57kg final after she won her semifinal against Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR), 8-1. Aliyeva blanked Mia FRIESEN (CAN), 10-0, in the other semifinal.

Iryna BONDAR (UKR) will have a chance to improve her silver from last year to gold as she returned to the final at 62kg. She defeated Bhagyashree FAND (UWW) 10-0 and will take on Yuzuka INAGAKI (JPN) who won her semifinal over Alina KASABIEVA (AIN), 12-2.

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RESULTS

50kg
GOLD: Umi ITO (JPN) df. Audrey JIMENEZ (USA), via inj. def.

BRONZE: Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE) df. NEELAM (UWW), 8-5
BRONZE: Emma LUTTENAUER (FRA) df. Aida KERYMOVA (UKR), 7-0

55kg
GOLD: Umi IMAI (JPN) df. Neha SHARMA (UWW), 4-2

BRONZE: Andreea ANA (ROU) df. Mariia VYNNYK (UKR), 3-1
BRONZE: Aryna MARTYNAVA (AIN) df. Zeinep BAYANOVA (KAZ), 8-5

59kg
GOLD: Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) df. Sena NAGAMOTO (JPN), 1-1

BRONZE: Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (AIN) df. Nadzeya BULANAYA (AIN), 6-3
BRONZE: NITIKA (UWW) df. Michaela RANKIN (CAN), via fall

68kg
GOLD: Nesrin BAS (TUR) df. Alina SHAUCHUK (AIN), 2-1

BRONZE: Tindra SJOEBERG (SWE) df. Vanessa KEEFE (CAN), 11-0
BRONZE: Manola SKOBELSKA (UKR) df. Vusala PARFIANOVICH (AIN), 5-3

76kg
GOLD: REETIKA (UWW) df. Kennedy BLADES (USA), 9-2

BRONZE: Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) df. Nodoka YAMAMOTO (JPN), via fall
BRONZE: Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU) df. Patrycja SLOMSKA (POL), 7-3

SEMIFINALS

53kg
GOLD: Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA) vs. Mako OONO (JPN)

SF 1: Mako OONO (JPN) df. Ekaterina VERBINA (AIN), 6-2
SF 2: Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA) df. Altyn SHAGAYEVA (KAZ), 6-2

57kg
GOLD: Sara NATAMI (JPN) vs. Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE)

SF 1: Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) df. Mia FRIESEN (CAN), 10-0
SF 2: Sara NATAMI (JPN) df. Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR), 8-1

62kg
GOLD: Iryna BONDAR (UKR) vs. Yuzuka INAGAKI (JPN)

SF 1: Yuzuka INAGAKI (JPN) df. Alina KASABIEVA (AIN), 12-2
SF 2: Iryna BONDAR (UKR) df. Bhagyashree FAND (UWW), 10-0

65kg
GOLD: Irina RINGACI (MDA) vs. Amina TANDELOVA (AIN)

SF 1: Amina TANDELOVA (AIN) df. Elma ZEIDLERE (LAT), 6-2
SF 2: Irina RINGACI (MDA) df. Macey KILTY (USA), 5-4

72kg
GOLD: Amit ELOR (USA) vs. Jyoti BERWAL (UWW)

SF 1: Jyoti BERWAL (UWW) df. Bukrenaz SERT (TUR), 7-0
SF 2: Amit ELOR (USA) df. Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL), 5-0