KLIPPAN, Sweden (February 15) – World champion Yulia TKACH (UKR) edged rival Anastasija GRIGOROJEVA (LAT) for the 63kg crown and Petra OLLI (FIN) triumphed for a third year in a row as the curtain came down the Klippan Ladies Open.

China, meanwhile, sent four wrestlers to the finals but was held to only two titles in Klippan after winning six events in the Paris Grand Prix two weeks ago. Wrestlers from six other countries divided up the rest the gold.

Tkach, in her first major action since winning the world title in September, shut down Grigorijeva’s judo-style attacks throughout the 63kg final, and broke up an attempted inside trip in the second period for a key takedown in her 3-0 victory.

“I only started serious training after the New Year, so my condition is only about 60 percent, so I’m happy with the win here,” said Tkach, adding “I still have a lot of work to do before the European Games (in Baku) and the world championships.”

One bout earlier in the 60kg final, Olli broke open a 2-2 tie with LUO Xiaojuan (CHN) by slipping behind for a takedown at 4:00 and ratcheting over a pair of gut wrenches for an 8-2 lead on her way to her third Klippan crown.

“I felt really good after that exchange because I knew I had won the match,” said Olli, who confided “I don’t know why I’m so lucky in Klippan, but I really love wrestling here.”

Maria STADNYK (AZE) was the only other world champion to reach the top of the medals podium, after a 10-0 drubbing of three-time cadet world champion Kika KAGATA (JPN) in just over two minutes of the 48kg final.

Kagata’s teammate, Youth Olympic Games gold medalist Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) scored with a front headlock and dump early in the second period of the 53kg final and cruised to an 8-4 win over PANG Qianyu (CHN). The victory was the first senior-level crown for the former cadet world champ.

Asian Games gold medalist ZHOU Feng (CHN) won one title for China at 69kg with a fall over 2013 South American champion Luz Clara VAZQUEZ (ARG) while Paris winner ZHOU Zhangting (CHN) won by injury default over Pan American champ Michelle FAZZARI (CAN) at 58kg.

Yarygin Grand Prix titlist and defending Klippan champion Erica WIEBE (CAN) broke a 1-1 tie in the second period with a force-out and then added another takedown for a hard-fought 5-1 win over 2013 world champ ZHANG Fengliu (CHN).

Russian Open bronze medalist Veronika CHUMIKOVA (RUS) scored off three double-leg attacks, including a four-point dump midway through the second period, to defeat Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL) in the 55kg final for her first major international title.

48kg (24 entries)
Gold: Maria STADNYK (AZE) df. Kika KAGATA (JPN) by TF, 10-0, 2:07
Bronze: Erin GOLSTON (USA) df. SUN Yanan (CHN) by default, 0:00
Bronze: Iwona MATKOWSKA (POL) df. Miho IGARASHI (JPN), 4-2

53kg (21 entries)
Gold: Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) df. PANG Qianyu (CHN), 8-4
Bronze:  Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL) df. Katherine FULP-ALLEN (USA), 9-3
Bronze: Ekaterina KRASNOVA (RUS) df. Cornelia KRONVALL (SWE) by fall, 0:52 (6-0)

55kg (14 entries)
Gold: Veronika CHUMIKOVA (RUS) df. Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL) by TF, 10-0, 5:33
Bronze: Yuumi KON (JPN) df. Dorsaf GHARSSI (TUN) by TF, 10-0, 2:26
Bronze: Becca LEATHERS (USA) df. Sandra PARUSZEWSKI (GER), 4-4

58kg (17 entries)
Gold: ZHOU Zhangting (CHN) df. Michelle FAZZARI (CAN) by injury default, 4:45 (4-2)
Bronze: Grace BULLEN (NOR) df. Trinity GRIFFIN (USA) by fall, 1:54 (4-2)
Bronze: Taybe YUSEIN (BUL) df. Irina NETREBA (AZE) by fall, 5:36 (8-0)

60kg (15 entries)
Gold: Petra OLLI (FIN) df. LUO Xiaojuan (CHN), 8-4
Bronze: Rim AYARI (TUN) df. Kathleen KENT (CAN) by fall, 1:11 (5-0)
Bronze: Anastasiya HUCHOK (BLR) df. Yulia RATKEVICH (AZE) by fall, 1:58 (10-2)

63kg (26 entries)
Gold: Yulia TKACH (UKR) df. Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (LAT), 3-0
Bronze: Valeria LAZINSKAIA (RUS) df. Agnieszka KROL (POL) by fall, 4:13 (9-0)
Bronze: Jackeline RENTERIA (COL) df. Stacie ANAKA (CAN), 6-6

69kg (19 entries)
Gold: ZHOU Feng (CHN) df. Luz Clara VAZQUEZ (ARG) by fall, 2:16 (2-2)
Bronze: Alla CHERKASOVA (RUS) df. Nadia MUSHKA (AZE), 8-0
Bronze: HONG Yan (CHN) df. Leah CALLAHAN (CAN), 5-4

75kg (16 entries)
Gold: Erica WIEBE (CAN) df. ZHANG Fengliu (CHN), 5-1
Bronze: QIANDEGEN Chagan (CHN) df. Alena STARODUBSTEVA (RUS), 7-5
Bronze: WANG Juan (CHN) df. Brittany ROBERTS (USA) by TF, 16-5, 4:22