#WrestleBelgrade

Japan puts four in World Championships finals

Tuesday, September 19, 2023 - 19:21 By Vinay Siwach

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BELGRADE, Serbia (September 19) -- A few legends of the sport have fallen at this World Championships in Belgrade and Adeline GRAY (USA) joined that unwanted list as Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) defeated her in the quarterfinals at 76kg.

Gray, coming back to wrestling after giving birth to twins, was looking to become a seven-time world champion which would have made her the United States' most successful wrestler. But Kagami ruined that plan by etching a 4-1 win after two takedowns against Gray's one point in the activity period.

Kagami then return to beat Milaimys MARIN (CUB) 5-1 and confirm her ticket to Paris Olympics as Japan will be sending the medalist from the World Championships directly to the 2024 Games.

"I was very excited and nervous for the Gray bout," Kagami said. "But I think I came prepared to win the match."

Kagami will take on Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) for the gold medal as the Kyrgyzstan wrestler defeated Tatiana RENTERIA (COL), another Pan-Am star, via fall in the other semifinal.

Yui SUSAKI (JPN)Yui SUSAKI (JPN) managed to win 4-2 against Ziqi FENG (CHN). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

While she did not lose, Yui SUSAKI (JPN) had a rare off day on the mat as her opponents managed to score three points on her in two bouts. The first was Alisson CARDOZO (ECU) who scored a stepout before Susaki punished her with a leg lace. Susaki pinned Emilia VUC (ROU) in the quarterfinals.

Ziqi FENG (CHN) pushed Susaki to the limits, even scoring exposure over Susaki, but the Tokyo Olympic champion hung on for a 4-2 win and an automatic ticket to Paris where she will look to defend her title.

Susaki, who failed to hold her tears back in an interview, said that it was a tough bout but she was prepared.

"The Chinese wrestler was strong in defense and power," Susaki said. "Before this tournament, I was in a difficult situation which I will talk about only after gold medal tournament."

In a repeat of last year's final, Susaki will take on Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) who now has a 2-1 head-to-head record over Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA).

Dolgorjav defeated Hildebrandt 7-5 in a rematch of last year's semifinal also won by Dolgorjav. Hildebrandt had won by technical superiority when the two met in the Ranking Series in Budapest.

Hildebrandt's loss also means that Mariya STADNIK (AZE), who lost to the USA wrestler, will have to travel to another Olympic Qualifiers to secure a trip to  Paris.

Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN)Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) beat Helen MAROULIS (USA) for the second straight year. (Photo: Amirreza Aliasgari)

In the third Olympic weight class of the day, Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) also confirmed her ticket to Paris after beating (and also spoiled her birthday) Rio Olympic champion Helen MAROULIS (USA) 6-0 in the semifinal. This was her second win over the American as Sakurai won the final last year over Maroulis.

But a tought test awaits her in the final as 59kg world champion Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) dropped to the Olympic weight and dominated her opponents.

She opened with a win over Olympic bronze medalist Evlina NIKOLOVA (BUL) and then went on to beat Odunayo ADEKUROYE (NGR) 10-0 in the quarterfinals. Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR) was no match as Nichita once again won 10-0.

Nonoka OZAKI (JPN)Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) reached the 65kg final at the World Championships. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

In the only non-Olympic weight class in action on Tuesday, 62kg world champion Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) returned to the world finals, this year at 65kg. She beat Tatsiana PAULAVA 10-0 in what was her third win of the day, all without giving up a point.

Macey KILTY (USA) will try to stop her from winning the gold for a second straight year.

#WrestleTirana

U23 Worlds: On return, Otoole leads U.S. dominance in Tirana

Monday, October 23, 2023 - 20:00 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (October 23) -- Last year, the United States had only three Freestyle finalists at the U23 World Championships and failed to win a single gold medal.

The U.S. team this year can certainly hope to better that performance as it managed to enter three of its wrestlers in the finals on day one of the U23 World Championships in Tirana, Albania.

Led by 2021 U20 world champion Keegan OTOOLE (USA), the U.S. was the best-performing nation with three finalists with Turkiye coming second with two finalists. Two Individual Neutral Athletes also made it to the finals.

Japan, Kazakhstan and Moldova earned a finalist each as the competition commenced with five Freestyle weight classes in the Albanian capital.

Otoole last competed internationally in 2021, winning the gold medal at 74kg in Ufa. But on Monday it seemed he had never been away from international wrestling, winning his four bouts with utter domination. 

In the semifinal against Sonny SANTIAGO (PUR), Otoole came out with his cradle and pinned Santiago to reach the final.

Imam GANISHOV (AIN)Imam GANISHOV (AIN) defeated NAVEEN (UWW) 10-0 in the 74kg semifinal. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

To win a second world age-group title, Otoole will have to beat Imam GANISHOV (AIN) who was equally good on the mat as the American.

After beating Vasile DIACON (MDA) 8-0 in his first bout, Ganishov secured three technical superiority wins including a 10-0 win over NAVEEN (UWW) to enter the final.

Aaron BROOKS (USA)Aaron BROOKS (USA) reached the 86kg final after beating Arslan BAGAEV (AIN) 5-4. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Two-time world age-group medalist Aaron BROOKS (USA) was the second high-profile athlete from the U.S. to reach the final as he made his way to the 86kg final after a close 5-4 win over Arslan BAGAEV (AIN) in the semifinal.

Brooks scored a takedown in Bagaev's activity period to go 3-0 up but Bagaev countered one of Brooks' attempts to cut the lead to 3-2. Brooks was called passive in the second period but he swung into action and scored a takedown just before the activity period finished to lead 5-2.

Bagaev, who finished 12th at the World Championships in Belgrade, scored a pushout with 39 seconds remaining and then got a point for negative wrestling from Brooks who still won 5-4.

Tatsuya SHIRAI (JPN)Defending champion at 86kg Tatsuya SHIRAI (JPN) reched the final in Tirana. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan) 

Defending champion Tatsuya SHIRAI (JPN) will look to stop Brooks in the final as he put on another defensive show throughout the day to enter his second straight U23 world final.

Shirai blanked Benjamin GREIL (AUT) 4-0 in the semifinal, taking his total points scored in four bouts to 22 while he conceded only one. He will look to become Japan's first-ever double U23 world champion in Freestyle.

Wyatt HENDRICKSON (USA) was the third American wrestler in the final after he chalked his way with some gritty wins. He opened his day with a big victory over Abdulla KURBANOV (AIN). Hendrickson pinned Kurbanov after leading 17-9. Nicolae STRATULAT (MDA) was handed a 14-1 defeat before Azamat KHOSONOV (GRE), a former U23 world silver medalist, was stopped 4-2 in the semifinal.

Adil MISIRCI (TUR) will look to end Hendrickson's run in Tirana after he made the final from the other side of the bracket. He after scoring two big wins in the morning Misirci kept calm and beat Anirudh KUMAR (UWW) 3-0 in the semifinal.

Muhammed GIMRI (TUR)Muhammed GIMRI (TUR) made it to the 92kg final in Tirana. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Turkiye confirmed another medal as Muhammed GIMRI (TUR) entered the 92kg final and will take on Ion DEMIAN (MDA) for the gold medal.

Gimri had to work hard in his 8-5 semifinal win against Pruthviraj PATIL (UWW). He led 1-1 on criteria at the break but scored a takedown in the second period when Patil was on the activity clock. Once Patil failed to score in the 30-second limit, Gimri led 4-1. He hit a strong double-leg to make it 6-1 before Patil scored a takedown and gave up exposure as Gimri led 8-3. Patil got two more points but it mattered little as Gimri completed an 8-5 win.

Ion DEMIAN (MDA)Ion DEMIAN (MDA) booked his spot in the 92kg semifinal against Muhammed GIMRI (TUR). (Photo: UWW / Ulug Burga Han Degirmenci)

Demian overcame U23 European champion Andro MARGISHVILI (GEO) that too in a spectacular manner, winning the semifinal 11-1 and becoming only the second Moldovan wrestler to reach the final at U23 Worlds after Radu LEFTER (MDA) in 2021.

The Moldovan used three stepout to lead 3-1 at the break before adding two more in the second period. Margishvili was struggling with his conditioning as both wrestlers kept going for their attacks. Margishvili gave up a tame go-behind with a minute left to fall behind 7-1. Margishvili tried a bodylock move but Demian defended well and flung the Georgian, earning four points and an 11-1 win.

Assylzhan YESSENGELDI (KAZ)Assylzhan YESSENGELDI (KAZ), right, stunned returning silver medalist Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) in the 61kg semifinal. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 61kg, Assylzhan YESSENGELDI (KAZ) had a dream run to the final as he avenged his U23 Asian Championships loss to returning silver medalist Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) in the semifinal.

Yessengeldi was up 9-1 in the semifinal when Zhumashbek Uluu mounted a comeback in the second period but fell short despite two cautions to Yessengeldi. Zhumashbek Uluu scored two takedowns in the second period and was awarded two stepouts along with two caution points but Yessengeldi did enough to remain in the bout.

He will take on Bashir MAGOMEDOV (AIN) for the gold medal after Magomedov blanked Ivan HRAMYKA (AIN) 10-0 in the other semifinal. That was Magomedov's third victory via technical superiority in as many matches.

 

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RESULTS

61kg
GOLD: Bashir MAGOMEDOV (AIN) vs. Assylzhan YESSENGELDI (KAZ)

SF 1: Bashir MAGOMEDOV (AIN) df. Ivan HRAMYKA (AIN), 10-0
SF 2: Assylzhan YESSENGELDI (KAZ) df. Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ), 9-7

74kg
GOLD: Keegan OTOOLE (USA) vs. Imam GANISHOV (AIN)

SF 1: Keegan OTOOLE (USA) df. Sonny SANTIAGO (PUR), via fall (8-0)
SF 2: Imam GANISHOV (AIN) df. NAVEEN (UWW), 10-0

86kg
GOLD: Aaron BROOKS (USA) vs. Tatsuya SHIRAI (JPN)

SF 1: Aaron BROOKS (USA) df. Arslan BAGAEV (AIN), 5-4
SF 2: Tatsuya SHIRAI (JPN) df. Benjamin GREIL (AUT), 4-0

92kg
GOLD: Muhammed GIMRI (TUR) vs. Ion DEMIAN (MDA)

SF 1: Muhammed GIMRI (TUR) df. Pruthviraj PATIL (UWW), 8-5 
SF 2: Ion DEMIAN (MDA) df. Andro MARGISHVILI (GEO), 11-1

125kg
GOLD: Wyatt HENDRICKSON (USA) vs. Adil MISIRCI (TUR)

SF 1: Wyatt HENDRICKSON (USA) df. Azamat KHOSONOV (GRE), 4-2
SF 2: Adil MISIRCI (TUR) df. Anirudh KUMAR (UWW), 3-0