#WrestleBelgrade

WW preview: Japan faces new challenges in Belgrade

By Vinay Siwach

BELGRADE, Serbia (August 29) -- A year after the Olympics, 13 medalists from Tokyo will descend upon Belgrade. The 13 include Olympic champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN), Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) and Taymra MENSAH STOCK (USA) as they begin as favorites to win the titles in the Serbian capital.

The 216 wrestlers in women's wrestling for the World Championships will try to win a medal for their countries but as far as the favorites go, Japan, the USA, China and Ukraine are bringing strong teams for the mega event.

However, more than the Tokyo Olympics, Belgrade will serve as the introduction to the Paris Olympics which is less than 24 months away and the qualification cycle begins in less than one year.

Susaki leads a strong Japanese team that includes defending world champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) at 53kg, Mukaida, who moved up to 55kg for Belgrade, world champion Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) who moved from 55kg to 57kg, returning silver medalist at 65kg Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) and 72kg world champion Masako FURUICHI (JPN).

A trio of recently crowned U20 world champions finishes the lineup with returning bronze medalist Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) at 62kg, Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) at 59kg and Ami ISHII (JPN) at 68kg. Asian Championships silver medalist Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) will wrestle at 76kg.

OsloHelen MAROULIS (USA), right, and Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) are the defending champions at 57kg and 53kg respectively. (Photo: UWW / Tony Rotundo)

In a similar star-studded lineup, the USA has Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) at 50kg, defending champion Helen MAROULIS (USA) at 57kg, returning silver at 62kg Kayla MIRACLE (USA), Olympic champion Mensah, U20 world champion Amit ELOR (USA) at 72kg and Dymond GUILFORD (USA) at 76kg. Former world champion Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) will be returning to 55kg.

Maroulis will be eyeing a fourth world title while Hildebrandt and Mensah will like to rise to the top of the podium after missing the chance in Oslo.

At 53kg, the USA has Dominique PARRISH (USA) who won the Pan-Am Championships in May. Abigail NETTE (USA) at 59kg and Mallory VELTE (USA) at 65kg complete the 10-member team.

Alina HRUSHYNA (UKR)European champion Alina HRUSHYNA (UKR) will be wrestling at her first World Championships. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Ukraine won only one medal in Oslo but a number of stars will be returning to the mat after a long break.

European champion at 57kg Alina HRUSHYNA (UKR) will be leading the pack along with other European champions Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) at 62kg and Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR) at 65kg. Tokyo Olympian Oksana LIVACH (UKR) will wrestle at 50kg.

Returning bronze medalist at 55kg Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) will try to change her medal color, Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR) will be at 53kg, Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) at 59kg. Alla BELINSKA (UKR), U23 world champion Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) and Anastasiia SHUSTOVA (UKR) complete the squad.

Feng ZHOU (CHN)China will return to the World Championships after three years. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

China will be returning to the competition after three years as it was forced to miss last year's edition due to the pandemic.

Two Tokyo Olympians will be in action in Belgrade for China with Jia LONG (CHN) wrestling at 65kg and multiple world medalist Feng ZHOU (CHN) at 68kg. Former U23 world silver medalist Ziqi FENG (CHN) is back at 50kg as is '17 world U23 silver Qi ZHANG (CHN) at 59kg.

Asian champion at 55kg in 2019 Mengyu XIE (CHN) will return in a long time. 31-year-old Xiaojuan LUO (CHN) will be taking a third trip to the World Championships in her long career.

At 76kg, Juan WANG (CHN) may prove to be the dark horse as she wrestles with an experience of international events. At the 2019 World Cup, she defeated Kagami convincingly.

Completing the squad are Yuhong ZHONG (CHN) at 53kg, Yongxin FENG (CHN) at 57kg and QIANDEGENCHAGAN (CHN) at 72kg.

Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ)Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) is one of the favorites to win the 76kg title. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

Apart from the powerhouses, Kyrgyzstan and Moldova also have multiple medal hopes wrestling in Belgrade.

Defending champion Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) is running for her third world title at 62kg. She finished with a silver in Tokyo but defeated Ozaki at the Oslo World Championships in the opening round before securing the gold over Miracle.

Another world champion for Kyrgyzstan is Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) as she battles it out at 68kg. She will be in a minefield but will surely be a big threat for the gold medal.

Asian champion and returning bronze Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) has the potential to rise to the top of the podium but she has a star-studded bracket to deal with a 76kg.

Irina RINGACI (MDA)Irina RINGACI (MDA) pinned Olympic silver medalist Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) in Rome in June. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

For Moldova, the eyes will be on 65kg world champion Irina RINGACI (MDA) who is moving up to 68kg as it is an Olympic weight class. She will try to be on the podium in what can be considered the deepest weight class in women's wrestling.

Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) at 59kg, Iulia LEORDA (MDA) at 53kg and Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA) at 55kg are all medal hopes for the nation.

Mongolia won four bronze medals in Oslo and it will hope that the women can outdo their last performance. Three medalists from Oslo -- Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) at 50kg, Davaachimeg ERKHEMBAYAR (MGL) at 57kg and Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL) at 59kg -- are returning while Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL) is at 62kg.

For India, which set the competition on fire at U17 and U20 World Championships, 53kg Tokyo Olympian Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) leads a young group of wrestlers. 59kg top seed and bronze medalist Sarita MOR (IND) is dropping down to 57kg while U23 Asian champion Mansi AHLAWAT (IND) is at 59kg.

ANKUSH (IND) will wrestle at 50kg, Sushma SHOKEEN (IND) at 55kg, U20 world silver medalist Sonam MALIK (IND) at 62kg, SHEFALI (IND) at 65kg, U23 world bronze Nisha DAHIYA (IND) at 68kg, U20 world silver REETIKA (IND) at 72kg and PRIYANKA (IND) at 76kg.

Mariya STADNIK (AZE)Mariya STADNIK (AZE) is going for her third world title. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

A few other stars to look out for will grace the mats. At 50kg, four-time Olympic medalist Mariya STADNIK (AZE) is going for her third world title. Former European champion Miglena SELISHKA (BUL), world finalist Emilia VUC (ROU) and European champion Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) are also entered.

At 53kg, U23 world champion Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU), European champion Jonna MALMGREN (SWE), Euro silver Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE), returning bronze Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL) and former U20 world silver Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) are entered.

55kg will see Pan-Am champion Karla GODINEZ (CAN), returning silver Nina HEMMER (GER), and Andreea ANA (ROU) trying to make it to the podium.

Olympic medalist Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL) will be at 57kg along with U23 world champion Anhelina LYSAK (POL)

The 62kg weight class has some of the big names including Lais DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) who defeated Tynybekova earlier this year. 59kg world champion Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) is also moving up and Canada will have U23 world champion Ana GODINEZ (CAN).

Koumba LARROQUE (FRA)U23 world champion Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) will be wrestling at 65kg in Belgrade. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Former world finalist Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) will return to Serbia after winning the gold at U23 Worlds last year. European silver medalist Kriszta INCZE (ROU) and Asli DEMIR (TUR) are also entered.

Apart from the aforementioned stars at 68kg, Olympic silver Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) will be a favorite to win the gold. Former world champion at 59kg Linda MORAIS (CAN) will be in the same category as will be Asian champion Madina BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ).

Returning silver Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), bronze medalist Buse TOSUN (TUR), U23 world champion Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) and silver medalist Kendra DACHER (FRA) hype up the 72kg weight class.

The 76kg remains a tough weight category as returning silver medalist Epp MAE (EST), Martina KUENZ (AUT), former world champion Justina DI STASIO (CAN), U23 world champion Tatiana RENTERIA (COL), Youth Olympic champion Milaimys POTRILLE (CUB), returning bronze medalist Samar HAMZA (EGY), former world champion and Olympic bronze  Yasemin ADAR (TUR) and Anastasiia SHUSTOVA (UKR) are entered.

Women's wrestling begins September 12 and runs till September 15 at the Stark Arena. All the action will be live on uww.org.

#WrestleBelgrade

Live Blog, U23 World Championships Day 5: FS 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg, 97kg

By United World Wrestling Press

BELGRADE, Serbia (November 5) -- As we move towards the business end of the tournament, freestyle action takes center stage at the U23 World Championships in the Serbian capital. Wrestlers from 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg and 97kg will be on the mat for their qualification and semifinal Friday.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

The semifinals for freestyle will begin at 1645 local time and we will be back for that. Thank you for following and join us for the next session.

1520: What a bout closing out the session! Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) was down 3-4 with about 15 seconds left and then he scores two points via takedown on the edge. Refs white paddle it but Armenia challenge and win it. 5-4 to Tevanyan with nine seconds left. He wins 5-4

1510: Aliakbar FAZLIKHALILI (IRI) and Akmataliev match each other for attacks but it's the latter who has a 4-2 lead. But Fazlikhalili continues to attack. Akmataliev continues to counter. It's 10-6 Akmataliev with 10 seconds to go. It stays that way and Akmataliev makes his way to the semifinals at 70kg

1505: Georgios PILIDIS (GRE) was trailing 0-2 with just seven seconds left but he scored a takedown and leveled it 2-2 to earn the victory and move into the semifinal of 65kg.

1450: Two big matches coming up as Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) is wrestling on Mat A while Georgios PILIDIS (GRE) in on Mat C. 

1425: Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ) led 8-6 against Rezuan KAZHAROV (RUS) when the two arm-locked each other and went out of bounds. The refs called it no points but the Kazakhstan corner challenged it asking for two points. Challenge lost and it became 8-8 with Talgat leading on criteria. Kazharov then scores a final second takedown to win 10-8

1410: Jonathan AIELLO (USA) for the win! He scores a takedown to lead 4-4 on criteria and then hangs on to it to win against Shamil GADZHIALIEV (RUS). He will wrestle in the 97kg semifinals

1400: Strong start from Oslo Worlds silver medalist Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) at 70kg. He gives up two exposure points but has no trouble scoring 12 unanswered points to win 12-2 and reach the quarterfinals

1355: Georgios PILIDIS (GRE) is keeping it simple here. He scores a controlled 4-1 win over PARVINDER (IND). Great defense from the former cadet world champion

1330: The quarterfinals at 97kg are set.

1. Zuriko URTASHVILI (GEO) vs Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI)
2. Radu LEFTER (MDA) vs Milan KORCSOG (HUN)
3. Shamil GADZHIALIEV (RUS) vs Jonathan AIELLO (USA)
4. Sahil AHLAWAT (IND) vs Danylo STASIUK (UKR)  

1315: Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI) continues his winning run and moves into the quarters with a 10-0 thrashing of Oktay HASAN (BUL).

1250: Mohammadnezhadjavan with a big four after Glory's exposure but the USA wrestler still leads. A lot of scramble there and it's 11-5 for Glory. The Iran wrestler has less than a minute to win this. He gets a takedown and then a gut to make it 11-9. He is looking for another gut and gets it on the edge. 11-11. 18 seconds to go. He defends the criteria lead

1240: Patrick GLORY (USA) and Ahmad MOHAMMADNEZHADJAVAN (IRI) are in an intense battle but it's Glory who leads at the half way mark 5-1

1220: Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) had a tough one to start against Shamil USTAEV (GER) but he hangs on for a 3-1 win. A takedown the difference

1200: Toktogul Uulu with a hard-fought win over Arushanian! They traded a takedown each but the Kyrgyzstan wrestler led 4-3 with ten seconds remaining. Arushanian tries hard to get a step out but Uulu circles back as time expire

1145: Pilidis gave up the lead 2-2 on criteria but he finds a final attack with a double leg and score two points to win 4-2. On the other side on Mat A, junior Euro champion Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR) is facing Aibek TOKTOGUL UULU (KGZ).

1130: Junior world silver Ziraddin BAYRAMOV (AZE) gets a walkover in his first bout. We have to wait a little more to see him in action on the mat. Meanwhile, Tokyo Olympian Georgios PILIDIS (GRE) is making his way on Mat C

1120: Ibragim ABDURAKHMANOV (RUS) could not have asked for a better World Championships debut as he beats Colin REALBUTO (ITA) 11-0 with a strong leg lace

1110: On Mat B, Asian silver medalist Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI) scores four straight points to beat VICKY (IND) 4-4 in the opening round at 79kg. It was a little tense for Iran there

1100: Junior Euro bronze Ramaz TURMANIDZE (GEO) is up against Saurabh IGAVE (IND). Two points to start for Igave and then he adds a four-point throw. Turmanidze starts the second period with a four-point and then adds a takedown to make it 7-6. Igave has locked a double leg and he will finish leading 8-7. The Georgian with a front headlock for exposure for two. India reversal and it's 10-9 Igave. Georgia challenge

1030: Welcome to day five of the U23 World Championships in Belgrade. The freestyle wrestlers are ready to begin the day. Another rainy day in the Serbian capital. We will have a few repechage bouts before moving to the qualifications.