#WrestleSofia

Japan, China, Russia and USA Put Multiple Wrestlers in Women's Finals at #WrestleSofia

Wednesday, July 31, 2019 - 19:52 By Taylor Miller

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Photo of Ruka NATAMI (JPN).

SOFIA, Bulgaria – Four nations put multiple finalists into the first set of women’s freestyle gold-medal matches at the 2019 Cadet World Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Leading the way is Japan with three finalists, followed by China, Russia and USA, which each pushed two into the gold bout. India also advanced an athlete to the finals.

Japan will go head-to-head with USA in two matches tomorrow night.

At 49 kg, 2018 U15 Cadet Asian champion Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) will do battle against Cristelle RODRGIUEZ (USA).

In the semifinals, Kiyooka edged out 2018 Cadet World bronze medalist Xaomin XIE (CHN), 9-9, and Rodriguez pinned Yung Hsun LIN (TPE) in the first 20 seconds.

For the championship at 57 kg, 2018 Cadet Asian silver medalist Ruka NATAMI (JPN) will go against Skylar HATTENDORF (USA).

Both dominated their semifinals matches to advance to the finals. Natami collected a 9-0 win over 2019 Cadet Asian silver medalist Yifan TANG (CHN), while Hattendorf, like her American teammate, picked up a first-period fall over 2019 Cadet European bronze winner Birgul SOLTANOVA (AZE).

Photo of Luchana BEKBAULOVA (RUS).

Japan will also be represented in the final at 43 kg as Nagisa HARADA (JPN) overpowered Nazik MIRLAN KYZY (KGZ) in the semifinals, 11-0.

For gold, Harada must go through reigning 2018 Cadet World champion and 2017 Cadet World bronze medalist Luchana BEKBAULOVA (RUS).

Bekbaulova put together an impressive performance on the first day, outscoring her opponents 18-0 in her two matches.

The other Russian representative in the finals is 2019 Cadet European champion Olga KOZYREVA (RUS), who will face off another continental gold medalist, 2019 Cadet Asian champion Yifeng LU (CHN).

Lu dominated the returning World silver medalist Julia FRIDLUND (SWE) in the semifinals, scoring two big throws for a 12-2 technical superiority.

Joining Lu in the gold medal match for China is Binbin XIANG (CHN), who had no issues taking out 2019 Cadet European silver medalist Veronica BRASCHI (ITA) in the 65 kg semifinals, 5-0.

In order to get on top of the podium, Xiang will battle Sonam SONAM (IND), 2017 Cadet World champion and 2018 Cadet World bronze medalist.

Sonam blanked 2019 Cadet European champion Ekaterina GLUKHAREVA (RUS) with a 4-0 victory.

The finals will take place Thursday at 6 p.m. local time (11 a.m. ET) live on unitedworldwrestling.org.

Finals matchups
43 kg: Luchana BEKBAULOVA (RUS) vs. Nagisa HARADA (JPN)
49 kg: Cristelle RODRIGUEZ (USA) vs. Moe KIYOOKA (JPN)
57 kg: Skylar HATTENDORF (USA) vs. Ruka NATAMI (JPN)
65 kg: Sonam SONAM (IND) vs. Binbin XIANG (CHN)
73 kg: Yifeng LU (CHN) vs. Olga KOZYREVA (RUS)

#WrestleBudapest

Must-watch storylines from Budapest Ranking Series

Tuesday, June 4, 2024 - 23:52 By Vinay Siwach

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (June 4) -- As the Budapest Ranking Series gets underway Thursday in the Hungary capital, a few intriguing storylines will be seen on the mats. Countries will be finalizing their Olympic line-ups, a few star wrestlers are returning to competition while others are competing for the ranking points.

Here are the top storylines that no wrestling fan should miss at the Budapest Ranking Series which will be live on uww.org using UWW+.

Iran's dilemma

A wrestle-off is set to be held by Iran in Budapest to decide on the Paris Olympic team. Tokyo Olympic champion Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) won the spot by winning bronze at the World Championships. But Saeid ESMAEILI LEIVESI (IRI) won the Asian Championships to lay his claim for the 67kg gold medal.

60kg will also see a wrestle-off as Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) is set to face Amirreza DEHBOZORGI (IRI) to decide who goes to the Paris Games.

Also, Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI) is wrestling!

Hassan YAZDANI (IRI)Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) will wrestle for the first time since winning gold medal at the Asian Games. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Sachiko Hotaka)

Yazdani returns

Undoubtedly Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) returning to competition is the big show in Budapest. Since winning the silver medal at the World Championships in Belgrade, Yazdani has wrestled only once, winning the gold medal at the Asian Games. A shoulder injury kept him out for eight months but Yazdani will be wrestling at 86kg on Thursday.

Before the Ranking Series, there were talks in Iran about a potential clash of Yazdani against 92kg world champion Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) who is looking to make the Paris Olympic team for Iran. But Iran decided to send Yazdani alone and will assess his performance before deciding on a trial between the two.

Ziqi FENG (CHN)Ziqi FENG (CHN) gave a scare to Yui SUSAKI (JPN) in the Asian Championships final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

China's problem of plenty

China rarely sends a portion of its team to the Ranking Series. But it has sent only five wrestlers for Budapest, all in Women's Wrestling. Three wrestlers are entered at 50kg and two at 57kg, expected for a wrestle-off.

Yu ZHANG (CHN), Jiang ZHU (CHN) and Ziqi FENG (CHN) are fighting for the Paris Olympic spot at 50kg. Feng won the quota for China by winning the bronze medal at the World Championships in Belgrade.

Qi ZHANG (CHN) and Kexin HONG (CHN) will wrestle off for the spot at 57kg. Hong won the quota at the Asian Olympic Qualifier in Bishkek. But Zhang, a world champion at 59kg, won the Asian Championships, a run that also had a win over Risako KINJO (JPN) in the first round.

Jamalov's switch

Razambek JAMALOV (UZB) has been waiting for his Uzbekistan debut which will finally happen in Budapest. Jamalov will take the mat at 74kg and can also face Bekzhod ABURKHAMANOV (UZB), meaning that their match can also be a wrestle-off.  Jamalov has not wrestled at an international event since finishing fifth at the 2021 European Championships but has previously shown that he can win against any top wrestler on his day.