Akobiia Powers Ukraine to Historic Team Title at #WrestleBelgrade

Friday, November 5, 2021 - 21:36 By Vinay Siwach

BELGRADE, Serbia (November 5) – Alina AKOBIIA (UKR) has made four trips to the U23 World Championships but never returned with a gold medal.

She won a bronze in 2017, failed to medal in 2018 and reached the final in 2019 but Sae NANJO (JPN) proved too strong as Akobiia finished with a silver medal.

But the wait for gold finally ended Friday as the U23 European champion won the 57kg weight class at the U23 Worlds in Belgrade, Serbia. Not only it was a personal achievement but her gold added to Ukraine's stunning campaign which saw them win the team title for the first time at any World Championships.

“I finally won the gold medal,” Akobiia said. “It’s the first world title in my sporting career. I am very happy and thankful.”

Born in a small village in Poltava, Ukraine, Akobiia made evident the gulf of class between her and others in Belgrade, reaching the final after pinning every opponent.

A day later, the script had a slight change as she failed to pin Kristina MIKHNEVA (RUS) but the end result was the same. Akobiia was held scoreless in the first period, but a pair of takedowns with less than 40 seconds left in the bout pushed her past the Russian for a 5-1 win.

Heading into the final session, Ukraine sat in third place and trailed Russia by 14 points. Akobiia’s gold-medal win helped Ukraine leap the United States for second place and by the time the last final -- 72kg -- ended, they stole the title from Russia, 161 points to 140. The USA finished third with 102 points, two more than India. Turkey took fifth place in the race.

Anastasiia LAVRENCHUK (UKR) and Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) won the two other gold medals for Ukraine at 65kg and 72kg respectively while Ana GODINEZ GONZALEZ (CAN) stopped them from winning a fourth as she denied Kateryna ZELENYKH (UKR) with a 10-7 win in the 62kg final, giving Canada its first gold medal of the tournament.

Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU) became her country's first-ever female world champion. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU) created history when she won the 53kg gold medal, becoming the first-ever female world champion from her country.

The Tokyo Olympian faced U23 European champion Ekaterina VERBINA (RUS) in the final but unfazed by her opponent, she only used 70 seconds of the six minutes in the finals to pick up the fall. She became the fourth women’s wrestler of the #WrestleBelgrade competition to win their country's first-ever U23 world title.

A teary-eyed Yepez Guzman was filled with emotions as she talked to her family over the phone after the gold medal bout.

“It's a historic medal for Ecuador,” Yepez Guzman said. “I have been training for this for 10 years and I had studied the Russian wrestler. I am happy to win this.”

Alina AKOBIA Alina AKOBIIA (UKR) won a U23 World gold medal in her fourth attempt. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Akobiia's medal got Ukraine going for the night as the team title hung in balance between Russia and Ukraine in the absence of women's wrestling powerhouses Japan and China.

The former junior world silver has had an exceptional year winning a bronze medal at the European Championships, qualifying Ukraine for the Tokyo Olympics and winning the U23 gold at the continental level.

“The Euros gold was also very important to me,” she said. “It’s a great feeling when you run around with the Ukrainian flag. I’ve been a European champion four times, but I have never been the world champion before, that’s why I am so happy.”

But two weeks before the Olympics she injured her elbow, forcing her to miss the Games but the gold Friday eased some of the pain she felt in August.

“The injury didn’t let me compete at the Olympics,” she said. “At the beginning when I was just injured, I didn’t realize what happened, I was shocked. Now when the Olympics have finished, I realized that I lost my opportunity. But I didn’t give up, a few months later, I came here and became a world champion.”

The 22-year-old is now ready to win a medal at the senior World Championships and is already focused on the 2024 Olympics.

“I haven’t competed at the senior worlds yet, but I hope I will win a medal as soon as I go there,” she said. “It’s the new Olympic cycle, it’s time to get ready.”

Anastasiia LAVRENCHUK (UKR) won the 65kg gold medal for Ukraine. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 65kg, Lavrenchuk secured a fall over Dinara KUDAEVA SALIKHOVA (RUS) and jumped around to celebrate her world title. She only needed 88 seconds for the pin.

“I’ve been trying to win the gold for so long,” Lavrenchuk said. “I had many injuries but I was ready to do anything to win.”

Lavrenchuk was in Oslo as well but at 68kg and lost 0-8 against Tamyra MENSAH STOCK (USA) after winning her opening round via fall. That experience helped her prepare for Belgrade.

“After the senior worlds in Oslo, I believed in myself to make it. The competition is tough in my category in Ukraine,” she said.

Talking about the team title win, she said that Ukraine deserves it because they have been training hard even during COVID-19.

“Even in the two years of coronavirus we kept training,” she said. “Our coaches are the best as they organize the training camps, prepare the schedule of the competitions.”

Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) won the 72kg world title. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Part of that team and another gold medalist was Alpyeyeva who overcame a tough challenge in Kendra DACHER (FRA) in the 72kg final. She trailed 0-1 going into the second period but scored a takedown to lead 2-1.

She held Dacher in danger position which the mat chairman called neutral but Ukraine challenged it and won, giving her two more points. Dacher, who was looking to win a second world gold for France, failed to add any more points.

“I can’t believe I won it,” she said adding that it was even more important to prove that their team is the best in the world.

“Our team is very friendly and our coaches raise the team spirit in us,” she said. “We proved long ago that our team is the best at the European level and it was important to prove the same thing on the world level.

Ana GODINEZ GONZALEZ (CAN) won the gold medal at 62kg in Belgrade. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Ukraine could have won another gold but Godinez Gonzalez had other ideas. As the 62kg final began, Zelenykh caught Godinez Gonzalez on her heels with a double leg and put the first two points on the board. She added a step out from a single-leg attempt and led 3-0. The Ukrainian tacked on a second takedown and extended her lead to 5-0 after the opening three minutes.

Zenykh scored the third takedown after her Canadian opponent snapped her right into a double leg. But the match quickly turned in favor of the Canadian.

Zenykh dove in on a shot and surrendered a spin behind, cutting her lead to, 7-2. The Canadian scored four additional takedowns in the second period to steal the U23 world title.

“I feel like crying,” Godinez said. “I have been working very hard and to come back after losing a month ago at the senior Worlds in Oslo [lost to Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) in the quarterfinals].”

But Godinez has spent the last one year traveling around Europe to get more experience as she aims to be successful at the senior level.

“The European style is different from North America,” she said. “I am trying to get more and more international experience and come to camps in Europe and I want to win senior worlds.”

The camps in Tallin, Estonia and Spala, Poland helped improve her wrestling. With an added advantage of superior conditioning, the Langely, British Colombia wrestler found it easier to wrestle six minutes than her opponent.

“After a couple of minutes I noticed that she was slowing down,” she said. “I worked really hard on my conditioning and I could see on her face that she was broken. I wrestled well and followed my game plan. It did not go accordingly in the final but a win is a win.”

Ukraine Ukraine won the women's team title at the U23 World Championships in Belgrade. (Photo: UWW / Belgrade)

RESULTS

53kg
GOLD: Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU) df Ekaterina VERBINA (RUS), via fall

BRONZE: Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) df Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA), 9-6
BRONZE: Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) df Munkhgerel MUNKHBAT (MGL), 8-3

57kg
GOLD: Alina AKOBIIA (UKR) df Kristina MIKHNEVA (RUS), 5-1

BRONZE: Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR) df Patrycja GIL (POL), 9-8
BRONZE: Hannah TAYLOR (CAN) df Othelie HOEIE (NOR), 12-8

62kg
GOLD: Ana GODINEZ GONZALEZ (CAN) df Kateryna ZELENYKH (UKR), 10-7

BRONZE: RADHIKA (IND) df Aurora CAMPAGNA (ITA), 6-4
BRONZE: Anastasiia PAROKHINA (RUS) df Anna FABIAN (SRB), 8-1

65kg
GOLD: Anastasiia LAVRENCHUK (UKR) df Dinara KUDAEVA SALIKHOVA (RUS), via fall

BRONZE: Nisha DAHIYA (IND) df Elma ZEIDLERE (LAT), 10-0
BRONZE: Asli DEMIR (TUR) df Elena ESPOSITO (ITA), 3-2

72kg
GOLD: Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) df Kendra DACHER (FRA), 4-1

BRONZE: Eleni PJOLLAJ (ITA) df Anastasiya ZIMIANKOVA (BLR), via fall
BRONZE: Divya KAKRAN (IND) df Kayla MARANO (USA), via fall

#WrestleBelgrade

World Championships day four semis set

Tuesday, September 13, 2022 - 08:23 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

BELGRADE, Serbia (September 13) -- The host country is still riding high on the four Greco-Roman gold medals. But the focus on Tuesday will be the women's weight classes with unbeaten wrestler Yui SUSAKI (JPN) returning to action after her Olympic triumph.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

The semifinals for the evening session are set

50kg
Miesinnei GENESIS (NGR) vs. Yui SUSAKI (JPN)
Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) vs. Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL)

53kg
Dominique PARRISH (USA) vs. Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE)
Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) vs. Jonna MALMGREN (SWE)

65kg
Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) vs. Jia LONG (CHN)
Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) vs. Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL)

76kg
Epp MAE (EST) vs. Samar HAMZA (EGY)
Genesis REASCO (ECU) vs. Yasemin ADAR (TUR)

13:23: 2021 world medalists Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) and Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) set up a semifinal clash at 50kg with near-identical dominant victories. Hildebrandt chalked up an 11-0 technical fall over Oksana LIVACH (UKR), while moments earlier, Dolgorjav secured a fall over Emilia VUC (ROU) while holding an 11-0 lead. Dolgorjav's win was a repeat of the bronze-medal match last year in Oslo.

13:20: In a battle of Commonwealth Games finalists, Miesinnei GENESIS (NGR) proving that her win over Madison PARKS (CAN) in Birmingham was no luck. She leads 6-0 at the break. Parks mounts a comeback in the second period with four points and she cuts the lead to 6-4. A takedown for Parks with just 6 seconds remaining. Nigeria challenges the call. It's only a pushout and one point. A last-second exposure from Parks. It's confirmed but Nigeria challenge again. The time expired before Parks exposed Genesis. She wins 6-5

13:17: This is just ridiculous from Yui SUSAKI (JPN). Just 31 seconds is what she takes to win 10-0 against Anna LUKASIAK (POL) using a leg lace.

13:15: Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) leads 3-0 at the break using a takedown and point for passivity against Laura HERIN (CUB). But she gives up one takedown in the second period as Herin cuts the lead to 3-2. Prevolaraki shoots a double and gets the four; 7-2 lead for her now. A takedown for Herin and a stepout but a 7-5 win Prevolaraki.

13:12: 2021 world junior champion Emma MALGREN (SWE) was down 2-2 on criteria when she pancaked Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) to her back and secured the fall in 5:03 and a spot in the 53kg semifinals.

13:10: Asian silver medalist Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) advances to the 53kg semifinals by injury default when Leyla GURBANOVA (AZE) suffers a shoulder injury in the first period.

13:06: Domimique PARRISH (USA) gets a takedown and like most USA wrestlers she rolls to a 10-0 win using a leg lace. She is a World Championships semifinalist.

13:03: Olympic bronze medalist Yasemin ADAR (TUR) holds on for a nail-biting 4-2 victory over Yuka KAGAMI (JPN), 10 years her junior at age 20, to make the 76kg semifinals. Adar scored a takedown with :26 left to go ahead 3-2. In the final seconds, she desperately held onto a leg as Kagami came razor close to gaining control with a cradle. An unsuccessful challenge added the final point.

13:01: Ecuador has never had a world medalist, and Genesis REASCO VALDEZ (ECU) assured she will be wrestling for one at some point tomorrow night when she defeated Juan WANG (CHN) 5-3 to make the 76kg semifinals.

12:57: Returning bronze medalist Samar HAMZA (EGY) takes a quick 3-0 lead over Martina KUENZ (AUT). In the second period, Kuenz gets a point for Hamza's passivity. But that's all in the second period. Hamza wins 3-1.

12:53: Returning silver medalist at 76kg Epp MAE (EST) and Anastasiia SHUSTOVA (UKR) in the quarterfinals and Mae leads 1-0 at the break. Mae put on the clock in the second period but she gets the shot and takedown after the activity clock before adding a gut to lead 5-1. Shustova got a takedown in the second period but Mae hangs on for a 5-3 win.

12:49: On Mat D, Tokyo Olympian Jia LONG (CHN) wrestles another Tokyo Olympian Elis MANOLOVA (AZE). Long is called for passivity which gives Manolova a 1-0 lead at the break. A takedown for Manovola and she makes it 3-1. With just 10 seconds left, Long gets exposure and one roll to win 5-3 but a challenge from Manolova. But actions are valid and in time. Long wins 6-3.

12:48: 2021 world silver medalist Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN), who had a bye into the 65kg quarterfinals, gets a first-period takedown, and that was the extent of the scoring in a 2-0 victory over Mallory VELTE (USA) in the 65kg quarterfinals. Morikawa will face Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL), a winner over Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR), for a place in the final.

12:40: The 65kg quarterfinals have U23 world champion Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) up against Kriszta INCZE (ROU). Larroque up 1-0 for an activity point against Incze. Single leg shot from Larroque and she gets the takedown and 3-0 lead. Incze gets behind Larroque but it's only confirmed as a stepout. Challenge from Romania. Both wrestlers were out of bounds before the action. 4-1 lead for Larroque. Stepout comfirmed for Larroque. Incze gets one as well but a 5-2 win for Larroque.

12:31: Olympic and world champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN) is looking like she never was on a break. A quick 10-0 win over Thi NGUYEN (VIE) at 50kg.

12:27: Oksana LIVACH (UKR), a 2018 world bronze medalist who was fifth at the Tokyo Olympics, rolls to a 10-0 technical fall in 1:50 over Patricia BERMUDEZ (ARG) at 50kg. Her reward is a quarterfinal clash with Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA).

12:22: European silver medalist Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) moves into the quarterfinals at 53kg with a fall over Marina RUEDA (ESP). She gets Laura HERIN (CUB) next.

12:20: Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Sarah HILDEBRANDT wastes little time grabbing her place in the 50kg quarterfinals, storming to a 10-0 technical fall in :39 over Kamila BARBOSA (BRA).

12:19: Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU), still walking a bit gingerly, appears unaffected by her knee injury when the action gets hot, as she rallies from a 4-3 deficit with a 4-point takedown and 2-point gut wrench with :25 to go for a 9-4 victory over Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL) to make the 53kg quarterfinals.

12:16: Zenep YETGIL (TUR) puts her name in the mix of the favorites to win the gold at 53kg as she picks up an 8-0 win over Tatiana DEBIEN (FRA) and a spot in the quarterfinals.

12:15: Two-time world silver medalist Emilia VUC (ROU) with a 10-0 technical superiority over Neelam SIROHI (IND) using a gut wrench to a great effect.

12:14: Laura HERIN (CUB) hands returning bronze medalist Samantha STEWART (CAN) a 10-0 loss at 53kg. An absolutely strong performance from the Cuban wrestler.

12:10: Martina KUENZ (AUT) did face a fight from Tatiana RENTERIA (COL) but nothing deterred her from controlling the bout. Kuenz picks up a big 10-0 win at 76kg.

12:09: If 2021 world silver medalist Iulia LEORDA (MDA) makes it back to the medal podium in Belgrade, it will have to be on a lower step after she was dealt a 5-1 defeat by Leyla GURBANOVA (AZE) at women's 53kg.

12:03: European champion Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) takes no time in picking up a fall in her first bout at 53kg. Malmgren will be one of the favorites to win the world title.

12:00: Three-time world bronze medalist Epp MAE (EST) trails 3-1 against Ariunjargal GANBAT (MGL) when she turns the tide and puts the Mongolian onto her back and secures the fall and gains a place in the 76kg quarterfinals.

12:00: Returning bronze medalist Samar HAMZA (EGY) knocks off former world champion Justina DI SATISO (CAN) 3-1 with a passivity point and takedown.

11:57: Yuka KAGAMI (JPN), a former world junior and cadet champion making her debut at the senior worlds, outlasts Francy RAEDELT (GER) 2-1 in a dull bout with all of the points scored on the activity clock to advance to the 76kg quarterfinals.

11:53: Juan WANG (CHN) declares China is indeed back when she knocks off 2021 world bronze medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) 7-1 to advance to the 76kg quarterfinals. With the score knotted at 1-1, she scores two counter takedowns in the last 1:20, capping the second one with a lace lock.

11:50: Olympic bronze Yasemin ADAR (TUR) up against Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA (KAZ) and she uses a leg lace to finish the bout in just 1:16 at 76kg.

11:35: Patricia BERMUDEZ (ARG) pulls off a fall over Zehra DEMIRHAN (TUR) in the opening round. The veteran still looks for a good run there.

11:29: Asian silver medalist Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) pulls off the first surprise of the session when she knocks off 2019 world bronze medalist Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) 7-0 at 53kg. Batkhuyag took a 3-0 in the first period, then slammed Phogat backward to the mat in the final seconds for 4.

11:18: Former world champion Justine DI STASIO (CAN) pancakes Thi Linh DANG (VIE) early in their 76kg bout, and when she can't secure a fall, switches to a lace lock. She grinds out four rolls to end the match 10-0 in 1:10.

11:12: Juan WANG (CHN), who returned from a two-year layoff from international to win a tournament in Bucharest in July, defeated Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU) 9-1 at women's 76kg to set up a round-of-16 clash with 2021 world bronze medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ).

11:01: Veteran Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ), a three-time world medalist from 2007 to 2010 and a 2008 (!) Olympic bronze medalist, falls at women's 65kg to 2020 European champion Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL), who scores a takedown and four exposures in the second period for an 11-1 technical fall.

10:55: Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) continues her unbeaten record against Dymond GUILFORD (USA). She had two wins against her at the Klippan Open and now she wins at 76kg in Belgrade.

10:50: Koumba LARROQUE (FRA), still with a highly strapped knee, begins with a technical superiority win over SHAFALI (IND) at 65kg.

10:29: Greetings from Belgrade to wrestling fans around the world. In today's morning session, save for a handful of repechage matches, the women will command the mats with competition through the quarterfinals at 50kg, 53kg, 65kg and 76kg.

Akobiia Powers Ukraine to Historic Team Title at #WrestleBelgrade

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World Championships day four semis set