#WrestleZagreb

Zagreb Open Ranking Series day two finals set

By Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (February 2) -- The Zagreb Open enters its second day with four freestyle and two women's wrestling weight classes. World and Olympic champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN) will be in action with a potential semifinal clash against Mariya STADNIK (AZE). In freestyle, Kyle SNYDER (USA) and Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI) are also in action. The wrestlers have a two-kilogram weight allowance and will be awarded prize money for winning medals at this Ranking Series.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

The finals for the evening session are set

79kg
Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) vs. Ali Bakhtiar SAVADKOUHI (IRI)

92kg
Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) vs. Kollin MOORE (USA)

97kg
Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) vs. Kyle SNYDER (USA)

125kg
Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) vs. Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) 

WW 50kg
Jiang ZHU (CHN) vs. Yui SUSAKI (JPN)

WW 55kg
Round 5: Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) vs. Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA)

13:00: Little anti-climatic finish to the morning session in Zagreb. Mariya STADNIK (AZE) pulls out of the semifinal against Yui SUSAKI (JPN). The 50kg final will feature Susaki and Jiang ZHU (CHN).

12:45: Moving into the 97kg final is Kyle SNYDER (USA) as he beats Radoslaw BARAN (POL) 10-0. He will face Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) in the final who defeated Awusayiman HABILA (CHN) 10-0 in the other semifinal

12:35: Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) moves into the final at 125kg after a controlled 9-2 win over Daniel LIGETI (HUN). He will face Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) for the gold medal. Meshvildishvili defeated Georgi IVANOV (BUL) via fall in the other semifinal 

12:15: Mariya STADNIK (AZE) is up against world silver medalist Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) on Mat B. The strength from Stadnik to score the first takedown! She gets to a single leg and despite the defense from Dolgorjav, she manages to score two points. Another strong tackle from Stadnik and she leads 4-0. She has slowed down since, trying to disperse the pressure from Dolgorjav. Stadnik gives up a stepout, and is cautioned for locking fingers but she does well to defend the rest of the bout and win 6-2.

12:00: Yui SUSAKI (JPN) moves into the semifinals at 50kg with a technical superiority win over Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZB). While she has won every World Championships and Olympics, Susaki is chasing a second Olympic gold in Paris.

11:40: After a 17-month absence, Mariya STADNIK (AZE) is back! She quickly moves into the quarterfinals at 50kg with a technical superiority over Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB). She could clash with Yui SUSAKI (JPN) in the semifinal.

11:30: Kollin MOORE (USA) gave world bronze medalist Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) a tough time in the 92kg quarterfinals. Moore with an 8-3 win to advance to the semifinals.

11:15: Back-to-back falls at 50kg on Mat A. First Ziqi FENG (CHN) pins Emma LUTTENAUER (FRA) before Olympic champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN) pins Meng FAN (CHN).

10:55: On Mat B, Ali SAVAKOUHI (IRI) rolls to a technical superiority win over Peilong LI (CHN) at 79kg. He is the favorite to win the gold here.

10:50: On Mat A, Kyle SNYDER (USA) is up against Mogomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE). Snyder gets the point for Magomedov's passivity. But the Azerbaijan wrestler manages to circle behind and score a takedown to lead 2-1 at the break. A front lift for exposure for Magomedov in the second period, Snyder with a reversal. Snyder is building the pressure and Magomedov cannot keep up. Snyder with two takedowns to lead 6-4. A stepout for Snyder. A fierce battle between the two but Snyder wins 7-4.

10:45: At 97kg, Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) and Nishan Preet RANDHAWA (CAN) are wrestling. Azarpira with a stepout. Azarpira with some constant attacks and he moves to an 11-0 win.

10:30: Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) is the favorite to win the 125kg weight class. He begins respecting that tag and wins 10-0 against Milan KORCSOG (HUN).

10:15: U23 and U20 world champion Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) gives a peek into what this day may look like. She wins 10-0 against Laura STANELYTE (LTU) at 55kg. Japan is returning to a Ranking Series event after five years.

10:00: Welcome to the second day of the Zagreb Open with freestyle 79kg, 92kg, 97kg and 125kg along with women's wrestling 50kg and 55kg.

#development

Libya hosts its first coach and referee course

By United World Wrestling Press

TRIPOLI, Libya (November 17) -- Libya hosted its first ever education courses for coaches and referees from October 27 to November 3 in Tripoli, Libya.

The courses were conducted in conjunction with United World Wrestling, Olympic Solidarity, Libya NOC and the Libya Wrestling Federation. The coaching course was led by Ahmed KHEDHRI. The referee course was led by Kamel BOUAZIZ.

"This course was considered a success, as we were fortunate to have tutors Khedhri and Bouaziz," Khaled EZANKULI, Secretary General of Libyan Olympic Committee, said. "These courses are a step in the Libyan Wrestling Federation's programs and is part of the joint work with Olympic Solidarity, United World Wrestling and the Libyan Olympic Committee. We consider it a step forward in developing the skills of local coaches, raising their level, and relying on their actual abilities to achieve fair competition."

Libya

During the first half of the program, the technical course for coaches was conducted from October 17 to 31. The course was attended by 21 coaches who participated in Level 1 Course [Introduction to Coaching and Safety]. The following topics were covered throughout the course: discovery games, introducing a new technique, coaching skills, giving feedback, risk management, age and developmental stage characteristics.

The coaches actively practiced and developed their skills through practical evaluations. There was special emphasis placed learning new techniques and applying them in a realistic training environment.

"The coaches in the course showed lot of enthusiasm, cooperation, and exchange of experiences which was reflected in the participants’ active engagement and positive interaction throughout both the theoretical and practical sessions," Khedhri said. "This contributed to enhancing the overall learning outcomes and helped participants acquire new knowledge and skills in a professional yet friendly environment."

The Introduction to Refereeing Course was conducted from November 1 to 3. This course was led by Bouaziz and had 18 participants. The participants learned the foundations of what it takes to be a great referee.

The areas covered during the course included: safety of the athletes, evaluation of holds, referee mechanics, positioning, and controlling the bout. 

"A good number of participants already had knowledge of wrestling," Bouaziz said. "They were very attentive to the explanations, which allowed me to pass on as much information as possible. The same was true for the theoretical part, where their participation and interest were remarkable."

The program was praised by the federation and the participants as well.

"I am very pleased with the success achieved by this course on both the technical and organizational levels. It represents an important step toward building a strong training foundation that will contribute to developing coaches and referees and raising the overall standard of wrestling in Libya," Nabil Abou CHAHMA, President of Libyan Wrestling Federation, said.