#WrestleZagreb

Curtain-raiser Zagreb Open offers strong competition

By Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (January 26) -- If you are wondering what wrestling will offer this year, Zagreb Open is a perfect curtain-raiser in a year that will see the Olympic quota offering World Championships in September.

Close to 550 wrestlers are entered for the season-opening Ranking Series event with Olympic, world and continental medalists gearing up for the all-important event in September.

Freestyle will see multiple stars take the mat and Haji ALIYEV (AZE), Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN), Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK), Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI), Hassan YAZDANI (IRI), Jden COX (USA), Kyle SNYDER (USA) and Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) are there to name a few.

The biggest match-up of the tournament can be world champion Kyle SNYDER (USA) facing J'den COX (USA) at 97kg. Cox is a two-time world champion at 92kg and is jumping up a weight class as he prepares to represent the USA at 97kg, a weight class long taken by Snyder.

In other weight classes, a rematch between Aliyev and Muszukajev is on the cards at 65kg. The bout can end up becoming a thriller as Aliyev hopes to avenge his European Championships final's loss. Sebastian RIVERIA (PUR), SUJEET (IND) and Joseph MC KENNA (USA) are also entered.

The Olympic weight classes are packed with strong wrestlers as is the case in 74kg. Yones EMAMI (IRI) will be hoping to get a bout against two-time World Championships silver medalist Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK). Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE), Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) and Jason NOLF (USA) will be challenging them at the weight classes and hoping to pull off an upset or two.

Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI), who became the first Iranian to beat Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) last month at the World Cup, will wrestle at 79kg. A rematch with Burroughs would have been a treat for the fans but he will have to contend with Chandler MARSTELLER (USA) for now.

One of the biggest names in freestyle wrestling -- Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) -- is entered at 86kg and will be the main attraction. While the favorite to win the gold, he will have Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE), Myles AMINE (SMR), Boris MAKOEV (SVK), Zahid VALENCIA (USA) and Mark HALL (USA) challenging him throughout the bracket.

A big match at 92kg is between world bronze medalists Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) and Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) with Kollin MOORE (USA) also in the fray to secure the top medal.

Zare will look to forget the heartbreaking loss at the World Championships semifinals and start the season on a bang in Zagreb. He will have little challenge but Robert BARAN (POL) and Hayden ZILLMER (USA) can be the dark horses.

Yui SUSAKI (JPN)Yui SUSAKI (JPN) celebrates her first ever win over Mariya STADNIK (AZE) back in 2018. (Photo: UWW / Max Rose Fyne)

Women’s Wrestling

Now that Japan is returning to Ranking Series events, most teams will get a taste of what to expect at the World Championships. The team last competed at the 2018 Klippan Lady Open where Yui SUSAKI (JPN) first defeated Mariya STADNIK (AZE).

Susaki will now be returning for her second-ever event and she will see Stadnik. Both are entered at 50kg and are expected to meet in the final if not earlier.

Susaki has, since the Tokyo Olympics, won her third world title and added a U23 world gold as well while Standik will be returning to the mat for the first time after the Tokyo Games apart from one appearance at the Islamic Solidarity Games.

China is sending a big squad with three wrestlers in most weight classes and it is a team that can spring any surprise on a given day. 

Even at 53kg, the field has three athletes from China and Canada while former European champion from Russian Wrestling Federation Stalvira ORSHUSH (HUN) will now be wrestling for Hungary. But it's the return of 2021 world champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) will be the biggest positive for Japan. She missed the international season after the Asian Championships in Mongolia but will be back for the Ranking Series event.

World champion in 2022 Dominique PARRISH (USA) is also entered in the field and a bout against Fujinami will be a big test for the USA wrestler.

Helen MAROULIS (USA) will be the favorite to win the 57kg weight class but with Ningning RONG (CHN), Sae NANJO (JPN), Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) and Anhelina LYSAK (POL) also entered, it won't be a cakewalk.

Maroulis suffered a loss in the World Championships final to Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) but she lost to Nanjo at the Emperor's Cup to lose her first spot in the Japan team. Maroulis has a win over Nanjo at the 2021 World Championships.

Nichita, the world champion at 59kg, will be moving down to 57kg as she begins her preparation to qualify for a second straight Olympic Games later this year. She failed to win a medal at the Tokyo Olympics.

A few wrestlers have moved to 62kg as well. Grace BULLEN (NOR), who was second to Nichita at 59kg, will debut at 62kg. Also changing the weight class are Elis MANOLOVA (AZE), Jia LONG (CHN) and Viktoria VESSO (EST).

In a packed weight class, Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ), Kayla MIRACLE (USA), Taybe YUSEIN (BUL) and Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) are all contenders for the gold medal.

But one name that can surprise all is Sakura MOTOKI (JPN). The bronze medalist at 59kg moved up to 62kg at the Emperor's Cup and defeated world champion Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) to secure her spot on the team.

Koumba LARROQUE (FRA), Fend ZHOU (CHN) and Irina RINGACI (MDA) are the big names at 68kg with both European wrestlers still trying to adjust to the weight class while Zhou is a veteran of the weight.

Samar HAMZA (EGY), Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ), Yelena MAKOYED (USA) and Dymond GUILFORD (USA) make the 76kg weight class a must-watch. Throw in Ayano MORO (JPN) and the weight becomes more interesting.

Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE)Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) defeated Seyed SOHRABI (IRI) at the Greco-Roman World Cup. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Greco-Roman

The Olympic weight classes saw a number of entries but the non-Olympic weight classes are no less in Greco-Roman.

A much-awaited rematch between Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) and Poya DAD MARZ (IRI) can come at 55kg. Both Iran and Azerbaijan are bringing strong squads for the tournament.

At 60kg, Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) and Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) will represent the country while Iran has Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) and Amirreza DEHBOZORGI (IRI). It may well be that the four end up winning the four medals.

Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) will have a chance to make his head-to-head record against Seyed SOHRABI (IRI) two each after winning their last bout at the World Cup in Baku. That loss must be hurting Shorabi as he had defeated Jafarov on two previous occasions.

Apart from the two youngsters, another young star Abror ATABAEV (UZB) is hoping to make a mark in Zagreb. Also entered at 67kg is Olympic champion Luis ORTA (CUB) who has jumped from 60kg to 67kg in one year. 

A lot of action can be expected at 77kg as Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE), Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL), Zoltan LEVAI (HUN), Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) and Yunus BASAR (TUR) give a glimpse of the European Championships.

Iran is sending Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI) in a bid to test his ability as the aging warrior tries to regain his lost glory.

Both Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) and Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) wrestled in an epic World Championships final at 82kg but both are moving up to 87kg and will make their debuts in Zagreb. Islam ABBASOV (AZE) will be returning after a long injury lay-off which kept him out of the World Championships as well. World silver medalist Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN), Istvan TAKACS (HUN), Tamas LEVAI (HUN) and Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) are also entered.

Arif NIFTULLAYEV (AZE), Kiril MILOV (BUL), Alex SZOKE (HUN), Tadeusz MICHALIK (POL) and Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) make the 97kg weight class another interesting watch.

At 130kg, Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB) will be appearing for Cuba and moving closer to the World Championships in which he will try to qualify for the Paris Olympics. If four-time Olympic champion Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) does return for the Paris Games, Pino will have the option of qualifying in freestyle.

In Zagreb, he will be tested by Beka KANDELAKI (AZE), former world champion Aliakbar YOUSOFI (IRI) and world bronze medalist Mantas KNYSTAUTAS (LTU).

#WrestleZagreb

World C'ships Day 5 Live Blog: WW 53kg, 62kg, 68kg and 72kg

By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (September 17) -- Women's Wrestling will continue at the World Championships in 53kg, 62kg, 68kg and 72kg in Zagreb.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 6 RESULTS

62kg semifinals
SF 1: Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) vs. Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL)
SF 2: Ok Ju KIM (PRK) vs. Amina TANDELOVA (UWW)

13:40: Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) worked on five different takedowns before securing the fall over Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR) and reach the 62kg semifinals. Motoki, the Paris Olympic champion, is cashing her first world title.

13:45: Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL), a world champion in 2017, with two big headlocks in her 5-1 victory over Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA). She returns to the World Championships semifinals to face Olympic champion Motoki.

13:42: Ok Ju KIM (PRK) not only advances to the 62kg semifinals, she avenges her loss in the final of this year's Asian Championships MANISHA (IND) with a solid 8-0 victory. Kim accumulates all of her points in the first period, topping each of her two takedowns with a 2-point roll or exposure.

13:37: The activity clock is just about to run out on Amina TANDELOVA (UWW) when she not only gets a score, her 4-point arm throw sends Ana GODINEZ (CAN) sailing onto her back in their 62kg quarterfinal. Tandelova doesn't let the opportunity get away and she secures the fall at 2:02.

53kg semifinals
SF 1: Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) vs. ANTIM (IND)
SF 2: Haruna MURAYAMA (JPN) vs. Hyongyong CHOE (PRK)

13:32: In a battle of young stars, Jin ZHANG (CHN) and ANTIM (IND) square off in the 53kg quarterfinals. Antim gets on board with a go-behind before powering her way to another takedown for a 4-0 lead. A similar takedown for Antim and she races to a 6-0 lead. Zhang fires one back and catch Antim off guard to score two points and cut the lead to 6-2 at the break. Zhang with high pressure and gets the reward with a takedown and two lace turns for an 8-6 lead. Antim gets a reversal for an 8-7 score but she has only 18 seconds to score two points for a win. She remains calm and scores the takedown to win 9-8 for a place in the semifinals at 53kg.

13:30: Olympic silver medalist Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) gets the first takedown against Emma MALMGREN (SWE) and then turns her for a 4-0 lead. Malmgren tries hard in the second period but she can only score a takedown to make it 4-2 as Yepez wins 4-2.

14:29: Haruna MURAYAMA OKUNO (JPN) wrestles tentatively to start against a defensive opponent, Zeynep YETGIL (TUR), gaining just an activity point without taking a shot in the first period of their 53kg quarterfinal. But the three-time world champion finds an opening in the second, scoring with a single leg. She then gets behind twice as Yetgil starts to show fatigue and the Japanese advances with a 7-0 victory.

14:28: Hyogyong CHOE (PRK) continues her impressive run, storming to an 11-0 victory over Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) in their 53kg quarterfinal. Choe goes ahead in the first period with a takedown and two lace-lock rolls -- albeit the referee gave her more than ample time to execute them -- then added a takedown and exposure in the second.

68kg semifinals
SF 1: Buse TOSUN (TUR) vs. Ami ISHII (JPN)
SF 2: Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) vs. Jia LONG (CHN)

13:20: Buse TOSUN (TUR) gets the first passivity call against Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) and the Czechia wrestler leads 1-0 at the break. Tosun on board in the second period with a point before a takedown helps her take a 3-1 lead with a minute remaining. Hanzlickova gets stepout but it's too little too late as Tosun wins 3-2 for a place in the 68kg semifinal.

13:18: Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) scores two takedowns in the last two minutes of the second period, giving her a come-from-behind 8-4 victory over Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU) and a place in the 68kg semifinals. Yaneva opened the scoring with a takedown and gut wrench, only to fall behind on criteria when Zelenkykh scored a takedown on each side of the break.

13:18: Ami ISHII (JPN) and Kennedy BLADES (USA) in a big quarterfinals at 68kg. Ishii blasts with a takedown and then exposure for two more to lead 4-0 against Kennedy BLADES (USA). She uses the arm-dram to score another takedown and lace for an 8-0 lead inside the first two minutes. Blades gets on board with a stepout to make it 8-1. Both scramble but Ishii scores a takedown for a 10-1 lead at the break. Ishii takes some time but manages to power her way to the match winning takedown. A 12-1 victory for Ishii as she reaches the semifinal.

13:17: In an high-profile all-Asian clash in the 68kg quarterfinals with little action, Jia LONG (CHN) scores a takedown in the final seconds to finish off a 4-1 victory over two-time Olympic medalist Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ).

72kg semifinals
SF 1: Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) vs. Alla BELINSKA (UKR)
SF 2: Nesrin BAS (TUR) vs. Zelu LI (CHN)

13:05: Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) with four takedowns against Alexandria GLAUDE (USA) to secure a place in the 72kg semifinals with an 8-4 win.

13:03: After Nesrin BAS (TUR) receives an activity point, Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) goes on the attack as the first-period clock in winding down. Can she finish it off in time? Instead, Bas whizzers her over onto her back and completes the fall with one second to go to earn the spot in the 72kg semifinals.

13:01: Zelu LI (CHN), the Asian champion at 68kg, barges into the 72kg semifinals with a 10-0 victory over Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL). Li takes Zorigt directly to her back and, although she can't complete the fall, she adds a gut wrench. Another takedown and two more turns and she's the winner in 1:45.

13:00: Alla BELINSKA (UKR) steps over and catches Pauline LECARPENTIER (FRA) flat on the mat to secure the fall at 72kg and advance to the semifinal.

12:55: In the last match before the quarterfinals, Asian champion MANISHA (IND) keeps Astrid MONTERO (VEN) at bay at 62kg. Manisha got two points for two passivity calls against Montero who scored one point for the same. But Manisha hangs on for a 2-1 victory. This also means that European champion Iryna BONDAR (UKR) will return empty-handed.

12:45: Olympic champion Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) had just made a leg attack when Nikolett SZABO (HUN) called out injured. She seemed in a lot of pain having injured her knee. She had to carried off the mat on a stretcher. Motoki advances to quarterfinals at 62kg.

12:37: Veteran Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL), eight years removed from her lone world championship, stays on track at 62kg with a comprehensive 10-0 victory over three-time European bronze medalist Veranika IVANOVA (UWW).

12:31: European champion Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) makes short work of Kseniya STANKEVICH (UWW) to advance to the 53kg quarterfinals, taking her straight to her back and recording a fall at 1:26.
 
12:28:
Jin ZHANG (CHN), last year's world silver medalist at 55kg, looks impressive in posting her second straight one-sided win at 53kg when she takes out Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW) with a 10-1 victory. Only an activity point early on kept her from keeping a perfect sheet, but she quickly followed it with a takedown as she took a 6-1 lead at the break.

12:27: Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) scored one takedown to lead 2-1 against Roksana ZASINA (POL) and then held her fort with that lead. Zasina tried desperately for an attack but failed to score and gave up a takedown. Malmgren wins 5-1 at 53kg.

12:25: Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) cannot find a way to break the defenses of Ok Ju KIM (PRK) who scores four different takedowns in their 62kg bout to win 8-0

12:18: Jia LONG (CHN), the 2024 world champion at 65kg, gives up the big points to Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) in their 68kg match, but she piles up more than enough for a 12-6 victory.

12:17: Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA) gives up a 4-point takedown early in her 62kg clash with Johanna LINDBORG (SWE), then erupts for 13 points in the second period, including a pair of 4-pointers of her own, for a 13-6 victory. 

12:05: Ami ISHII (JPN), gunning for a second straight world title after winning last year at 72kg, continues her quest at 68kg by rolling to a 10-0 victory over Noemi SZABADOS (HUN) to advance to the quarterfinals. Ishii scores a single-leg takedown just as she receives an activity point to go up 3-0. After a second similar takedown, she goes to laces and finishes off the win ni 2:42.

12:04: Defending 68kg champion Buse TOSUN (TUR) gets the fall over Grabriela DA ROCHA (BRA) when she put her back on the mat in the second period and held on till the fall was called.

12:03: Haruna MURAYAMA (JPN) takes a 3-0 lead at the break in her 53kg bout against Annika WENDLE (GER). In the second period, she works a takedown and roll to make it 7-9. Another takedown on the edge puts her at 9-0 before she finishes the bout 11-0.

11:57: An upset on Mat C, as Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), aiming for her fifth world medal but first gold at 72kg, will have to settle for bronze at best after falling 3-3 on criteria to Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ). Nurtaeva trails 2-1 after giving up a second activity point, but scores a single-leg takedown with :51 left. Bakbergenova gains a stepout to tie, but trails on criteria, and Nurtaeva fends off a final attack to clinch the win.

11:56: Asian champion Hyogyong CHOE (PRK) goes to the lace lock after a second takedown, and three rolls later she advances at 53kg with a 10-0 victory over Namuuntsetseg TSOGT OCHIR (MGL) in 2:20.

11:55: Olympic silver medalist Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) comes from 4-1 down to get a fall over Laura HERIN AVILA (CUB) and advance at 53kg. Yepez is looking to add to her bronze medal from 2023. 

11:51: A takedown and four quick lace-lock rolls and two-time Asian bronze medalist ANTIM (IND) advances at 53kg with a 10-0 win over Carla JAUME SOLER (ESP).

11:49: Sol Gum PAK (PRK) tries to score the one point she needs to beat Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) at 68kg but Yaneva defends everything that is thrown at her to win 7-6 and advance.

11:49: Two-time Olympic medalist and 2021 world champion Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) opens her campaign with a 10-0 win over Aniseta ACOSTA (ASA) at 68kg. Zhumanazarova had a pair of 4-point moves, the second coming with a hip throw that made it a 10-point difference. The match ended when Acosta fought off her back.

11:45: Kennedy BLADES (USA), the Paris Olympic silver medalist at 76kg who has dropped down to 68kg, gets off to rousing start, overwhelming RADHIKA (IND) for an 11-0 victory in 1:38. Blades gets a 4-point takedown thwarting a Radhika counter to take a 7-0 lead within the first minute. She then bulls her opponent over for a takedown, then caps the proceedings with a classic gut wrench.

11:40: Six-time Asian medalist Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL) is trailing 2-1 against Jyoti BERWAL (IND) in the second period of their 72kg bout when she does what Mongolian's do best -- hit her opponent with a headlock throw, giving her a victory by fall.

11:39: In a case of anything you can do, I can do better, LILI (CHN), a 2023 world bronze medalist at 65kg, scores three exposure tilts after a takedown to give her a 9-7 win over Birgul SOLTANOVA (AZE) at 62kg. Lili's sequence came after Soltanova had gone ahead with three consecutive 2-point lifts to counter a single-leg attempt by Lili.

11:35: After a longish defense from Hyeonyeong PARK (KOR), Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) secures the fall as Park runs out of steam.

11:28: Three-time world champion Haruna MURAYAMA (JPN), looking to fill the 53kg spot following the move up to 57kg by compatriot and Paris Olympic gold medalist Akari FUJINAMI (JPN), opens with an 11-0 victory over Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB). Murayama leads 3-0 in the second period when she scores with a snapdown takedown, then reels off four gut wrenches.

11:32: Ok Ju KIM (PRK) with a fall over Aurora CAMPAGNA (ITA) in her opening bout at 62kg. Kim just too strong for Campagna

11:30: Alexandria GLAUDE (USA) opened the scoring against Masako FURUICHI (JPN) with a stepout before getting a point for inactivity of Furuichi. The Japanese bounces back with a takedown but gives up a reversal as Glaude leads 3-2. She hangs on to that lead to upset Furuichi

11:16: World 55kg silver Jin ZHANG (CHN) works on five different takedowns to beat Felicity TAYLOR (USA), 10-0, at 53kg with 31 seconds left on the clock.

11:11: In a battle of former European champions at 68kg, 2021 world silver medalist Khanum VELIEVA (UWW) gets a stepout just moments after giving up an activity point to Yuliana YANEVA (BUL). But Yaneva dominates the second period, scoring a takedown-gut wrench combination, then putting Velieva onto her back and securing a fall at 4:31.

11:09: Nice win for South America as Astrid MONTERO (VEN) scores two takedowns in the second period to knock off European champion Iryna BONDAR (UKR) 6-4 at 62kg. Montero gets behind for an early takedown, only to see Bondar come back with a takedown and quick exposure to lead 4-2 at the break.

10:50: Two-time Asian silver medalist RADHIKA (IND) gives up a 4-point takedown to the back to Laura GODINO (ITA) at the start of their 68kg qualification bout. That appears to wake up the Indian, who comes back with a takedown and stepout to cut the gap at the break. Another takedown puts Radhika ahead 5-4, then she ends the match by muscling Godino down and over for a fall with just over a minute left.

10:45: World 72kg champion Ami ISHII (JPN), back down at 68kg, starts her bid to win her second world title with a 10-0 victory over Manola SKOBELSKA (UKR) in a minute and 31 seconds.