#WrestleParis

Wrestling at Paris 2024: Fujinami dominates, Orta stunned

By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

PARIS (August 7) -- Third day of wrestling at the Paris 2024 Olympics and we are finishing with the final two weights of Greco-Roman -- 67kg and 87kg. Women's Wrestling is continuing with 53kg.

LIVE MATCH ORDER | PARIS DAY 2

13:46: Saeid ESMAELI (IRI) looks impressive in ending the bid of Luis ORTA (CUB) to win consecutive Olympic golds, scoring two stepouts and a takedown in the second period to finish up a 9-0 victory. Esmaeli opens the first period with a shrug-by takedown, then adds a passivity point. Although he can't turn Orta, he shows he is the more dominant on his feet when he nearly gets a takedown that, on a challenge, results in a 2-point penalty against Orta to make it 5-0 at the break.

13:35: Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM) withstands the attack of Mamadassa SYLLA (FRA) and a boisterous partisan crowd to advance to the Greco 67kg semifinals with a 3-2 win. Galstyan scores a first-period takedown, which gives him the criteria lead when Sylla ties the match with a stepout and a passivity point. Sylla had his chance but couldn't budge Galstyan from par terre, and a somewhat frivolous challenge at the end gives the Armenian his third point.

13:21: What a comeback for Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) in his Greco 67kg quarterfinal. The Tokyo silver medalist trails 6-2 going into the second period against Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ), who had a 4-point takedown to maintain any criteria advantage. But Nasibov scores a takedown, then three consecutive stepouts to win 7-6.

13:12: Qianyu PANG (CHN) gets a 4-point takedown early on and rolls to a 10-0 victory over Jonna MALGREN (SWE) and a spot in the women's 53kg semifinals against Fujinami. Pang and Fujinami faced each other at the 2023 Asian Games, with Fujinami winning 10-0. 

13:07: Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) gets a stepout that is upheld on an unsuccessful challenge, giving him a 3-1 win over Valentin PETIC (MDA) and a spot in the Greco 67kg semifinals.

13:02: Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) falls behind in her women's 53kg quarterfinal against Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL), but it's only momentarily. The Japanese star quickly retakes the lead, then bulls Batkhuyag over and gains a fall. Fujinami spends most of the match fighting off Batkhuyag's whizzer, which the Mongolian used to set up a trip for a takedown that put her ahead 2-2 on criteria early in the second period. But Fujinami quickly comes back with a pair of takedowns, scoring the fall after the second one.

12:54: Luis ORTA (CUB), the Tokyo champion at Greco 60kg, gets her quest to add the gold at 67kg with an 8-0 victory over Asian silver medalist Kyotaro SOGABE (JPN). Orta finishes the match with his third stepout of the first period.  

12:53: It ain't over til it's over. Annika WENDLE (GER) had just given up a takedown and gut wrench to fall behind 5-0 against Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) in their women's 53kg quarterfinal. Wendle, however, bulls Yetgil over on a counter and slams her onto her back for a fall.

12:48: Asian champion Saeid ESMAELI (IRI) hits a 4-point throw from par terre en route to a 10-0 victory over Ishak GHAIOU (ALG) and a place in the Greco 67kg quarterfinals.

12:45: European champion Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) shows why he is the favorite to win gold here in Paris. He rolls over Payton JACOBSON (USA) 10-0 in two minutes and 10 seconds.

12:44: Lucia YEPEZ (VEN) powers into the women's 53kg semifinals with a victory by fall over Andreea ANA (ROU). The world bronze medalist goes ahead 5-0 in the first period with an activity point, takedown, fleeing point and lost challenge. In the second period, she takes Ana down to her back and secures the fall.

12:40: Not much scoring, but a welcome victory for the home team nonetheless. Mamadassa SYLLA (FRA) gets the second of the passivity points and he advances to the Greco 67kg quarterfinals with a 1-1 win on last-point criteria over Souleyman NASR (TUN).  

12:33: Two-time former European champion Emma MALMGREN (SWE), looking to preserve her 3-3 lead on criteria, gets in on a double against Betzabeth ARGUELLO (VEN) in the final minute. As Arguello reaches over for a counter lift, Malmgren presses ahead and ends up with a victory by fall.  

12:30: Not the most action-packed bout Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) manages to beat Bachir SID AZARA (ALG) 2-1 and move to the quarterfinals at 87kg. He will take on Novikov.

12:29: Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM) is made to work hard for his 3-2 victory over a gutsy Andres MONTANO (ECU) at Greco 67kg, scoring a creative 2-point exposure in the second period to secure a place in the quarterfinals.

12:24: Tokyo silver medalist PANG Qianyu (CHN) makes short work of Mia AQUINO (GUM) at women's 53kg, getting a quick takedown and reeling off four gut wrenches for a 10-0 win in 27 seconds.

12:21: 2022 world silver medalist Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) gets a takedown straight to the back and records the fall over Christianah OGUNSANYA (NGR), earning her a clash with Fujinami in the women's 53kg quarterfinals. 

12:15: Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) scores a takedown with :05 left to pull off a 3-2 victory over former world champion Mate NEMES (SRB) at Greco 77kg.

12:15: Two-time world champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) avoids the upset bug that has hit her compatriots, launching her Olympic debut with a victory by fall over Dominique PARRISH (USA) at women's 53kg. It was the match that never was at the 2022 World Championships, where Parrish won the gold after Fujinami withdrew due to injury. With the win, Fujinami stretched her current winning streak to 133 in a row dating back to junior high school.

12:10: Defending champion Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) has no problem seeing off Haitao QIAN (CHN) at 87kg. Followed by Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) defends from par terre and clinches a 5-1 win over Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN)

12:09: Two-time European bronze medalist Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) overwhelms 2022 world bronze medalist ANTIM (IND) for a 10-0 victory at women's 53kg. Staked to a 4-0 lead, Yetgil scores a 4-point takedown, then adds a gut wrench to end the match in 1:41.

12:05: Annika WENDLE (GER) scores a takedown with 52 seconds left, then survives a late surge by eight-time European medalist Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) to hold on for a 3-2 at women's 53kg. The 32-year-old Prevolaraki, who is looking for her first medal in three Olympic appearances, nearly gets a last-second takedown, but it ends up as a stepout on the challenge.

12:03: In a battle of former world bronze medalists, Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ) gets a 4-point throw and 2-point roll from par terre, then stuffs a back roll attempt by Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO) for 4 more in a 12-1 win at Greco 77kg.

11:53: Three-time reigning European 55kg champion Andreea ANA (ROU), a first-round loser three years ago in Tokyo, scores two takedowns in the second period and ousts world bronze medalist Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA) 5-0 at women's 53kg.

11:53: Valentin PETIC (MDA) gets a pair of passivity points and another 2 for an illegal hold penalty to defeat Nestor ALMANZA (CHI) 4-0 to advance to the Greco 77kg quarterfinals.

11:47: How do you start your Olympics? Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI) begins with a huge five-pointer and wins his first bout at 87kg 9-0 against Carlos MUNOZ (COL)

11:42: World bronze medalist and top seed Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) dodges a bullet in edging Asian Games bronze medalist Hyogyong CHOE (PRK) 7-4 at women's 53kg. Yepez leads 4-2 when Choe scores a takedown off a single with :18 left. But Yepez takes the lead right back with a takedown five seconds later, gets a penalty point for stalling by the exhausted Choe, then holds on for the win.

11:41: European champion and two-time world medalist Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) knocks off Tokyo bronze medalist Mohamed ELSAYAD (EGY) 9-0 in the opening match at Greco 67kg. Jafarov can't score from par terre in the first period, but gets a 4-point throw off an underhook to go ahead 5-0. He takes advantage of a second chance in par terre in the second period, getting a 2-point throw to end the match.

11:40: The first world champion wrestling today falls! Ali CENGIZ (TUR) has no answer to Arkadiusz KULYNYCZ (POL) defense and drops his opening bout at 87kg 5-3.

11:18: After a stunning loss in yesterday's quarterfinals derailed his gold-medal hopes, Tokyo silver medalist Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) earns a chance for a bronze medal with a 9-0 rout of Jair CUERO (COL). Makhmudov opens with a 4-point throw, then gets a pair of gut wrenches from par terre in the second period. He will face Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) later tonight in a bid to become a two-time Olympic medalist.

11:08: In a Greco 77kg repechage match to start the action on Mat A, European champion Aram VARDANYAN (ARM) gets three rolls from par terre in the first period, then scores a takedown in the second to close out a 9-0 victory over Abd OUAKALI (ALG).

11:05: With the women's 50kg program reshuffled by the shocking Vinesh disqualification, there is only one repechage match. World bronze medalist Ziqi FENG (CHN) builds up a six-point lead against Ibtissem DOUDOU (ALG), then ends the match at 1:53 with a 4-point throw to advance to the bronze-medal match.

11:02: A big update for tonight's 50kg final of women's wrestling

Vinesh VINESH, from NOC of India in 50kg, failed the weigh-in on day two of her competition which has forced United World Wrestling to promote Yusneylis GUZMAN LOPEZ (CUB) to the final of 50kg at the Paris Olympics. She will take on Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) in the final.

11:00: Welcome to day three at the Champs de Mars Arena.

#WrestleBucharest

European Championships Day Six FS 61kg, 74kg, 86kg, 92kg, 125kg semis set

By United World Wrestling Press

BUCHAREST, Romania (February 17) -- The European Championships is now on day six, the last full day of the competition. The competition will run with the repechage, qualification and semifinals in the morning session before moving to the medal bouts in the evening. 61kg, 74kg, 86kg, 92kg and 125kg weight classes will be in action.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 5 REPORT

Semifinals for the evening session

61kg
Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (AIN) vs. Georgi VANGELOV (BUL)
Niklas STECHELE (GER) vs. Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB)

74kg
Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) vs. Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK)
Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) vs. Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN)

86kg
Myles AMINE (SMR) vs. Osman GOCEN (TUR)
Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) vs. Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE)

92kg
Magomed KURBANOV (AIN) vs. Boris MAKOEV (SVK)
Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) vs. Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR)

125kg
Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) vs. Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (AIN)
Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) vs. Taha AKGUL (TUR)

15:00: Down goes Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL)! He drops his quarterfinal against Osman GOCEN (TUR). The 86kg bout was high on action for six minutes with Gocen leading 4-1 at the break. Ramazanov could never come close as Gocen used two gut wrenches to lead 10-3, the final score of the bout.

14:45: Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) doesn't let his opponents catch his legs so easily. Mohammad MOTTAGHINIA (ESP) found it out in the 74kg quarterfinal when Salkazaov held on to his 3-1 lead till the match ended.

14:20: Abasgazdhi MAGOMEDOV (AIN) looks unstoppable on the mat. Another 10-0 win for the world silver medalist at 61kg. He is likely to face Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) who came back from 5-1 down against Shota PHARTENADZE (GEO). The Georgian had a big throw when both wrestlers body locked each other. However, Abakarov scored a takedown and turn to make it 5-5 with Phartenadze leading on criteria. But a slick takedown in the end gave Abakarov a 7-5 win.

14:00: Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) falls to Magomed KURBANOV (AIN) 5-1. No openings for Nurmagomedov there and he drops his 92kg bout. In the same weight class, Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) and Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR) move into the quarterfinals. 

13:30: Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) beats Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) 11-1 at 74kg followed by defending champion Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) holding off Hayk PAPIKYAN (ARM) 2-1 in typical Salkazanov style.

12:55: Myles AMINE (SMR) was in all sorts of trouble there but he hung on for a 6-5 win over Taimuraz FRIEV (ESP) in his 86kg bout.

12:30: Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) absolutely breaks Mezhlum MEZHLUMYAN (ARM) in the second period and races to a 9-0 win at 61kg. A little earlier, Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (AIN) won 10-0 against Nils LEUTERT (SUI)

12:15: Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) takes all six minutes to beat Johannes LUDESCHER (AUT) 9-0. Taha AKGUL (TUR) is much quicker to see off Kamil  KOSCIOLEK (POL) at 125kg.

12:05: The 125kg stalwarts come on the mat for their qualification round. Alikhan ZHABRAILOV (AIN), a 97kg wrestler, is wrestling at 125kg. Zhabrailov starts with a good 10-0 win over Michael MANEA (ROU)

11:30: Defending champion Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) starts with a 10-0 win over Alan BAGAEV (AIN). That is a big win for Kurugliev as Bagaev was expected to challenge him in the first match.

11:15: The 86kg weight class is the one to look out for today. In the first big bout of the day, Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) was up against Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL). He led 2-0 but Ramazanov scored a takedown to make it 2-2. In the second period, Ramazanov hit a strong counter and held Gamkrelidze to his back for a fall!

10:45: Big upset from the repechage as Andre CLARKE (GER) beats Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) at 65kg. The defending champion will be returning home without a medal this year.

10:30: Welcome to day six of the European Championships from Bucharest, Romania. We are in the last leg of this tournament with five weight classes in Freestyle left.