#WrestleTallinn

Junior World Preview

By Eric Olanowski

TALLINN, Estonia (August 9) --- With the lineup Japan has inserted into the Junior World Championships, you’d think they were gearing up to make a run at a team title in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, at the Senior World Championships. They are led by a pair of young guns who have not only been exposed to veteran competition -- but surpassed expectations when it comes to competing with those greats.  The Japanese women’s team will follow the lead of Haruna OKUNO (JPN) and Yui SUSAKI (JPN), who are both two-time reigning senior world champions that fell in their wrestle-off and won’t compete in September at the Nur-Sultan World Championships. 

Okuno wrestled twice at the Cadet World Championships but skipped the junior level on her way to capturing a pair of world titles on the senior circuit. Japan’s second two-time reigning world champion Yui Susaki returns to the Junior Worlds for the second consecutive year with hopes of striking her seventh overall world title since stepping onto the international scene just five short years ago.

Last year, Susaki, who was months shy from defending her Paris world title, shocked the wrestling world by using the Junior World Championships as a tune-up tournament for the Budapest World Championships. The Japanese superstar didn’t break a sweat at junior worlds, then bulldozed the competition in Hungary and won her second consecutive senior world title -- bringing her grand total to six world golds. In total, through the junior and senior World Championships, Susaki won all eight of her matches and outscored the opposition 78-0 en route to her pair of 2018 world titles. 

But this year is much different for Susaki, who failed to make Japan’s senior-level world team for the first time since she took over the weight class from 2016 Rio Olympic champion Erie TOSAKA (JPN) at the Paris World Championships. The queen of the 50kg weight class lost her starting spot in early June to her arch-nemesis Yuki IRIE (JPN) and won’t make the trip to Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, for the senior World Championships. 

Though she won’t be heading to Kazakhstan, Susaki comes to Estonia heavily favored to win a 50kg weight class that lacks a returning junior world medalist but does have a pair of 2018 cadet world podium finishers in Shahana NAZAROVA (AZE) and Natallia VARAKINA (BLR). Nazarova finished in second place and Varakina finished in third place at the 2018 Cadet World Championships.

Okuno, who has four world titles on her resume, lost her 53kg starting spot to Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) who was a two-time 55kg world champion but dropped down to the Olympic weight of 53kg with hopes of making a gold-medal run at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.  

Okuno doesn’t have much to worry about in the 53kg weight class as the weight lacks any returning cadet or junior world medalists.

Velieva on the Verge of Winning Fifth World Title 
Khanum VELIEVA (RUS) is on the verge of winning her fifth age-group world title. The two-time defending junior world champion and United World Wrestling’s 2018 Junior Female Wrestler of the Year enters the World Championships riding an undefeated streak that spans over three years. She hasn’t lost a match at the junior level since the 2016 European Championships where she finished in third place. 

At her most recent Junior World Championships, Velieva bolstered her resume with a second consecutive junior world title. Her two biggest tests were expected to come in the opening round against Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) and in the finals against Macey KILTY (USA) – but she passed both of those tests with flying colors. 

The Russian wrestler scored a convincing 6-2 win against Morikawa, Japan’s three-time age-group world medalist in the opening round. Then, she added a 10-0 win over Rihem AYARI (TUN) and a fall against PARK Hyeonyeong (KOR) to set up an all-star finals matchup against the then reigning cadet world champion Macey Kilty. In the finals, Velieva throttled the American, shutting her down offensively en route to an easy 7-0 shutout victory. 

Velieva will again compete at 68kg, but Kilty and Morikawa have since dropped down to 65kg. Although the weight loses those two returning world medalists, it’ll be replenished with a pair other returning world medalists in ENKHSAIKHAN Delgermaa (MGL) and Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN). Enkhsaikhan was a 2018 junior world runner-up at 65kg and Matsuyuki was last year’s junior world bronze medalist at 72kg. 

Two Others Looking to Defend 2018 Women’s World Titles
Susaki and Velieva will be joined by Saki IGARASHI (JPN) and Anastasia NICHITA (MDA), who are also trying their hand at winning at least a second consecutive junior world title. 

Igarashi is set to compete at 55kg where she’s the defending world champion. Last year in Trnava, the Japanese wrestler had four matches and finished all of them in dominant fashion. She wrapped up her first run to a world title outscoring her opponents 28-0 – which included a fall and two wins via technical superiority. Two months after winning her junior world gold, Igarashi added a U23 world title to her resume with a gold-medal performance in Bucharest, Romania.  

At this year’s Junior World Championships, Igarashi’s toughest tests are expected to be BATBAATAR Enkhtsetseg (MGL) and Anna SZEL (HUN). Both are returning world bronze medalist, but Batbaatar’s bronze came at the junior level, while Szel won hers at the cadet level. 

Anastasia Nichita is the fourth returning world gold medalist who’ll be looking to claim at least her second consecutive world title. Nichita, last year’s 59kg world champion, comes into Tallinn riding a 10 tournament stretch where she’s finished on the podium. And that streak doesn’t pertain to just the junior level. Nichita made her senior-level debut earlier this year in Bucharest, Romania, at the European Championships where she finished in third place. Then, she tacked on another continental bronze medal at the European Games in Minsk, Belarus.

Nichita will be joined by Sae NANJO (JPN) and Anshu ANSHU (IND) at 59kg. Nanjo is a returning junior world finalist and Anshu was last year’s cadet world bronze medalist. 

Trio of World Champs Headline Freestyle Competition. 
On the freestyle side of the competition, the entry list is littered with world-level talent, but it’s headlined by Abbas Ali FOROUTANRAMI (IRI), Khadzhimurad GADZHIYEV (AZE) and Akhmed IDRISOV (RUS) – all of which are returning world champs. 

This’ll be Foroutanrami’s first competition back down at the junior level since he won the 92kg world title a year ago. Since winning that world title, he’s made the jump up to the U23 and senior level where he’s continued to find success.

At the U23 level, Foroutanrami went 4-0 and captured an Asian title. This was his first time reaching the top of the continental podium. And at the senior level, he finished in second place at the final Ranking Series event of the year, the Sassari City Tournament. His only loss on the Italian island of Sardinia came from age-group world and continental champion Hamed Talebizarrinkamar (IRI). 

Foroutanrami will wrestle at 97kg where he’s the lone returning world medalist from the cadet or junior level. 

Gadzhiyev, last year’s 70kg junior world champ, will also be making his first appearance back down at the junior level since claiming gold in 2018. Since grabbing his Trnava world title, Gadzhiyev has been representing Azerbaijan at 74kg and is expected to be their world team representative at the Nur-Sultan World Championships. That is, if he’s able to defeat London Olympic champion Togurl ASGAROV (AZE) for the spot. 

This season, the Azeri won the Takhti Cup and has a pair of continental top-five finishes on the senior circuit. He finished in fifth place at the European Championships but improved to a third-place finish at the European Games. 

Akhmed Idrisov is the third freestyle world champion that’ll compete in Tallinn next week. Idrisov will wrestle at 57kg where he be joined by Giorgi GEGELASHVILI (GEO) and Vitali ARUJAU (USA). Gegelashvili was last year’s cadet world bronze medalist while Arujau was a 2016 cadet world finalist. 

Kamal Chasing Third Junior World Title 
The Turkish highlight reelKerem KAMAL (TUR) will be looking to throw his way to a third junior world title. Kamal, who frequents the U23 and senior scene, will be stepping back down to the junior level for the first time since winning a second consecutive junior world title last year in Slovakia. While at the junior level, Kamal has only faced defeat once and has stacked up an impressive resume filled with a Balkans and European title and a pair of world gold medals. 

In addition to his success at the junior level, Kamal has also been a fixture on the U23 and senior level for Turkey’s Greco-Roman squad for the past few years. He’s ranked seventh in the world at 60kg thanks to his title-winning effort at the first Ranking Series event of the year, the Grand Prix of Zagreb, and a bronze-medal finish at the European Championships. Kamal’s only loss came in Bucharest at the European Championships which was against defending world champion Sergey EMELIN (RUS). 

Earlier this year, Kamal, who is the reigning U23 European champion, said that he expects to represent Turkey at the Junior, U23 and Senior World Championships. 

Japan’s Kazuki YABE is Kamal’s biggest threat at stopping a three-peat. Last year, Yabe finished with a bronze medal at the Junior World Championships.



Macey KILTY (USA) is one of eight 2018 cadet world champions looking to add a junior world title to their resume. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

Eight Cadet World Champions Make Leap to Junior Level
The seven reigning junior world champions will be outnumbered by 2018 cadet world champions in Estonia. There are eight cadets who won a world title last year that are competing next week. Freestyle houses four of those worlds champions, while Greco-Roman and women’s wrestling reach have a pair of reigning cadet world gold medalists.

Here are the eight cadets looking to add a junior world title to their resume:

Freestyle
65kg - Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE)
79kg - Bagrati GAGNIDZE (GEO)
92kg - Ali ABDOLLAHI(IRI)
125kg - Amir ZARE (IRI)

Greco-Roman 
82kg - Karen KHACHATRYAN (ARM)
130kg - Muhammet Hamza BAKIR (TUR)

Women’s Wrestling 
65kg - Macey KILTY (USA)
72kg - Yuka KAGAMI (JPN)

SCHEDULE
Sunday (August 11)
17.00 - Draw FS – 57-65-70-79-97kg 

Monday (August 12) 
8.30 –Medical examination & Weigh-in FS – 57-65-70-79-97kg
10.30 – Qualification rounds FS – 57-65-70-79-97kg
14.15 – Draw FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg
18.00 – Final FS – 57-65-70-79-97kg 

Tuesday (August 13) 
8.30 – Weigh-in FS – 57-65-70-79-97kg
8.45 –
Medical examination & Weigh-in FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg​​​​​​​
10.30 – Qualification rounds FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg
10.30 – Repechage FS – 57-65-70-79-97kg
14.15 – Draw WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
16.45 – Opening Ceremony
17.15 – Semi Final FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg
18.00 – Finals FS – 57-65-70-79-97kg

Wednesday (August 14) 
8.30 – Weigh-in FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg
8. 45 – Medical examination & Weigh-in WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
10.30 – Qualification rounds WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
10.30 – Repechage FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg
13.45 – Draw WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg
17.15 – Semi Final WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
18.00 – Finals FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg

Thursday (August 15) 
8.30 – Weigh-in WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
8.45 – Medical examination & Weigh-in WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg
10.30 – Qualification rounds WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg
10.30 – Repechage WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
13.45 – Draw GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg
17.15 – Semi Final WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg
18.00 – Finals WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg

Friday (August 16) 
8.30 – Weigh-in WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg
8.45 – Medical examination & Weigh-in GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg
10.30 – Qualification rounds GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg
10.30 – Repechage WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg
15.15 – Draw GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
17.15 – Semi Final GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg
18.00 – Finals WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg

Saturday (August 17) 
8.30 – Weigh-in GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg
8.45 – Medical Examination & Weigh-in GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg 
10.30 – Qualification rounds GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
10.30 – Repechage GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg
16.00 – Entertainment for the audience
17.15 – Semi Final GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
18.00 – Finals GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg

Sunday (August 18) 
8.30 – Weigh-in GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
16.00 – Repechage GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
18.00 – Finals GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
21.00 – Final banquet

#WrestleZagreb

Motoki works her magic to snatch elusive world gold

By Ken Marantz

ZAGREB, Croatia (September 17) -- Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) finally has a world gold to go with the one she won at the Paris Olympics. And she did it with another
dramatic victory, this time in the final.

As is becoming her forte, Motoki snatched a victory in the dying seconds of a match, beating Asian silver medalist Ok Ju KIM (PRK) 5-4 in the 62kg final at the World Championships on Thursday, as the women's competition concluded with a banner day for Japan.

"Just like at the Olympics, I went from a point where I thought I would lose, then the outcome suddenly changed and I was able to win," Motoki said. "It's the same feeling of happiness and feeling of relief, and brought me to tears."

Japan won two of the three other golds at stake, with Haruna MURAYAMA (JPN) winning at 53kg for her fourth career world gold, and Ami ISHII (JPN) triumphing
at 68kg to become a two-time world champion.

The fourth and final gold of the night went to Alla BELINSKA (UKR), who repeated her victory over Nesrin BAS (TUR) from the final of the European Championships -- right down to winning by fall.

The three golds padded Japan's total in the team race, as the Asian powerhouse had clinched the title before the night began. Japan, which won five of the 10 golds, finished on top with 162 points, followed by the DPR Korea with 115 points. China edged the United States for third, 87-83.

Motoki made a name for herself around the world at the Paris Olympics, where her hopes of a gold seemed to be over in the semifinals, when she was trailing Grace BULLEN (NOR) 7-2 and was being tripped backwards for what might end the match.

But Motoki suddenly locked Bullen's arms and bridged, then turned her over and recorded a stunning fall to the shock of those in the Champ de Mars Arena and around the world. The next day she defeated Irina KOLIADENKO (UKR) for the gold.

Motoki had to survive a grueling qualifying process just to get to Paris. A world bronze medalist at 59kg, she moved up to the Olympic weight and had to win out among a domestic field that included Tokyo Olympic champion Yukako KAWAI (JPN) and world champion Nonoka OZAKI (JPN).

And she basically had to repeat the process to get to Zagreb. As she did in Paris, Motoki pulled a rabbit out of the hat and defeated Ozaki by scoring a takedown literally in the final second of a playoff for Japan's team.

On Thursday, Kim became the latest to fall victim to the Motoki magic. The Japanese took a 3-0 lead in the first period on an activity point and a sweeping single-leg takedown.

Trying to defend in the second period, Motoki gave up a single-leg takedown to Kim, which the Japanese was willing to concede. But she wasn't prepared for being
gut-wrenched over to suddenly fall behind 4-3 with :35 left.

"I had a three-point lead and when she got in on a single leg, I thought it would be alright to give up two [points]," Motoki said. "But then when I was rolled, I thought, 'This is bad. Once again I'm going to get this far and not win?'"

Ok Ju KIM (PRK)Ok Ju KIM (PRK) turns Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) to take a 4-3 lead in the 62kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

In her two previous trips to the World Championships, Motoki fell short of the gold, taking the bronze in 2022 and the silver in 2023, losing to Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) in the final. Would she miss out on the gold again?

With 12 seconds left, she launched her attack, transitioning from one thing to another in a desperate attempt. First a low single, then an arm throw, then back to
a single. All were defended. Then she tried a headlock throw, and that sent Kim sideway to the mat as time ran out.

The referee gave no points, but on challenge, it was determined that Kim's shoulders broke the 90-degree plane -- with :00.3 seconds on the clock.

"In the last 12 seconds, I launched an attack, and when the tackles failed, I thought, 'Oh no, that's the end,'" Motoki said. "When I looked back, she was on my back. I thought if I threw her, I could make it. I just put everything into the throw, but I didn't know if I turned her. Really, it was lucky."

Sakura MOTOKI (JPN)Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) won her first world gold medal in Zagreb. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Motoki said her earlier losses at the worlds served as incentive to work harder and always give everything up to the final whistle. She told the Japanese press earlier this year that she uses the UWW music played during the medal ceremony as her morning alarm -- a constant reminder of the agony she never wanted to experience again.

"Three years ago and two years ago, I lost on this stage, and the feeling of disappointment and of being inferior, even after winning at the Olympics, did not go away," Motoki said. "But by losing, it made me stronger and made me what I am now. To win here makes me so happy."

Motoki will embark on another quest in a month's time when she competes at the World U23 Championships on October 20-27. Already a world U17 and U20 champion, a victory in Novi Sad, Serbia, will make her just the third member -- along with Yui SUSAKI (JPN) and Amit ELOR (USA) -- of the elite "Golden Grand Slam" club, those who have won on the senior and all three age-group levels as well as at the Olympics.

"One might think that winning on the age-group level would put you at the forefront, but that's not the case," Motoki said. "After I won the U17, I had an injury and became weaker. I lost in the first round at the Inter High. Then I went to college and thought I had progressed, only to have a major injury.

"To achieve the Grand Slam would be due to overcoming the hard times with the support of many others."

Haruna MURAYAMA (JPN)Haruna MURAYAMA (JPN) controls Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) during the 53kg final at the World Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 53kg, Murayama established herself as the frontrunner in the weight class in the runup to the 2028 Los Angeles, following the decision by Paris gold medalist Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) to move up to 57kg.

Murayama scored takedowns in each period to defeat Paris silver medalist Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) 5-0 and add to her world golds from 2017, 2018 and 2023, all won under her maiden name of OKUNO.

It marks the continuation of a remarkable turnaround for Murayama, who sank into the depths of despair after losing out on the berth for the Tokyo Olympics to collegiate teammate and eventual gold medalist Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN).

"I had half given up on the idea of competing at events like the World Championships in an Olympic weight class," Murayama said. "So just being able to stand on this stage and leave this kind of result behind -- it’s something that two or three years ago, I couldn’t even have imagined."

It was Yepez who famously scored seven points off Fujinami in the quarterfinals at the 2023 World Championships, albeit the Japanese came back and scored 16 of
her own before winning by fall. But the Ecuadorean, her country's first-ever world and Olympic medalist, established herself as a dangerous foe.

In the final, Murayama wrestled cautiously but methodically, using a front headlock to spin behind for a takedown just as she was receiving an activity point in the first period. She added a second takedown by getting behind again in the second period.

Murayama and Yepez had met once before, with the Japanese winning 10-0 in the final of the U23 World Championships in October 2022.

Ami ISHII (JPN)Ami ISHII (JPN) tries to score on Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) in the 68kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At 68kg, Ishii had plowed through the field to make the final, where she met stiff resistance from four-time European medalist Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) and needed a second-period takedown to secure a 4-2 victory.

It was Yaneva who struck first when she adroitly used a counter lift for a two-point lead. Ishii came back with a stepout, but an apparent takedown was wiped out on challenge as having been completed after the buzzer.

Down by a point, Ishii warily avoided the counter and went with an arm drag to get behind for a takedown to go ahead 3-2. A short time later, Yaneva shot in for a single, but Ishii slipped under and grabbed Yaneva's leg, then clung on to force a stalemate. An unsuccessful challenge at the end gave Ishii her final point.

"I thought I might get countered again," Ishii said of her strategy for the second period. "Still, I had to get points. It would be the end if I lost my nerve. Even if I couldn't get in [on a tackle], I had to find a way to get points."

Ishii has been a workhorse since missing out on the Paris Olympics when she suffered a heartbreaking, last-second loss for the 68kg spot to Ozaki. She won the 72kg gold at last year's Non-Olympic World Championships as a sort of consolation, so winning at 68kg holds more significance.

"Without a doubt, it's getting to a place closer to the Olympics," Ishii said, adding that her mission now will be staying at the top of the division in Japan. "It's tough to be at this level, and I can't just keep going as I am now. I need to raise my level, so I have to train even harder."

In the last match of the night, two-time European champion Belinska, who had received an activity point in the first period, came out in the second and caught Bas in a headlock before securing the fall in 4:25.

"The final was tense, but I had prepared my throw, and I’m very happy that I managed to execute it," Belinska said. "In the first period, I couldn’t make that move, and the tension started to build -- but even in a stressful situation, I was still able to pull it off."

Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL)Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) defeated Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR) to win bronze at 62kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Purevdorj captures bronze 8 years after striking gold

Eight years after winning a world gold, Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) finally picked up her another medal, taking a 62kg bronze by rallying to a nail-biting 6-5 victory over Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR).

After Purevdorj received an activity point in the first period, she fell into a large hole by giving up a 4-point takedown at the edge to open the second period. Purevdorj picked up a 2-point exposure on a scramble, which, after a scramble, revealed a foul by Kolawole. That gave Purevdorj a point and, significantly, put her on top in par terre.

She took advantage by executing a gut wrench and, even though Kolawole reversed, it left the Mongolian with a 6-5 advantage that she maintained through the end.

Amina TANDELOVA (UWW) earned her first world medal when she scored a duck under takedown in the final minute to defeat Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) 4-2 for the other 62kg bronze.

Asian champion Hyongyong CHOE (PRK) added the senior world bronze to her Olympic bronze from Paris with a victory at 53kg by second-period fall over Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB) after building up an 8-0 lead.

Choe went for the kill at all times, scoring two exposures off a head lock, then ending the match when she scored a takedown and immediately applied a half-nelson to turn Akhmedova over.

Two-time Asian bronze medalist ANTIM (IND) gave India its first medal through six days in Zagreb, capping a 9-1 victory over Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) with a 4-point takedown for the other 53kg bronze.

Kennedy BLADES (USA), the Paris silver medalist at 76kg who made the drop all the way down to 68kg but couldn't get past Ishii, assured she wouldn't leave empty-handed when she routed Buse TOSUN (TUR) 12-1 for the bronze medal.

Jia LONG (CHN), last year's champion at 65kg at the Non-Olympic Worlds, defeated Sol Gum PAK (PRK) 6-1 for the other 68kg bronze. Long scored all of her points in the first period, with a takedown-roll combo followed by a go-behind takedown.

China also picked up a bronze at 72kg, when Zelu LI (CHN) fought off her back after a 4-point headlock by Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) to start the match, gradually chipping away until she came away with a 7-4 victory with three takedowns.

Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) scored a takedown in each period to top Pauline LECARPENTIER (FRA) 5-0 for the other 72kg bronze.

Day 6 Results

Women's Wrestling

53kg (23 entries)
GOLD: Haruna MURAYAMA (JPN) df. Lucia YEPEZ (ECU), 5-0

BRONZE: ANTIM (IND) df. Jonna MALMGREN (SWE), 9-1
BRONZE: Hyongyong CHOE (PRK) df. Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB) by Fall, 4:00 (8-0)

62kg (22 entries)
GOLD: Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) df. Ok Ju KIM (PRK), 5-4

BRONZE: Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) df. Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR), 6-5
BRONZE: Amina TANDELOVA (UWW) df. Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL), 4-2

68kg (24 entries)
GOLD: Ami ISHII (JPN) df. Yuliana YANEVA (BUL), 4-2

BRONZE: Kennedy BLADES (USA) df. Buse TOSUN (TUR) by TF, 12-1, 5:22
BRONZE: Jia LONG (CHN) df. Sol Gum PAK (PRK), 6-1

72kg (17 entries)
GOLD: Alla BELINSKA (UKR) df. Nesrin BAS (TUR) by Fall, 4:25 (5-0)

BRONZE: Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) df. Pauline LECARPENTIER (FRA), 5-0
BRONZE: Zelu LI (CHN) df. Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU), 7-4

Greco-Roman

55kg (18 entries)
SEMIFINAL: Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO) df. Emin CAKIR (TUR) 2-2
SEMIFINAL: Payam AHMADI (IRI) df. Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) 3-1

77kg (33 entries)
SEMIFINAL: Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) df. Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI), 5-1
SEMIFINAL: Nao KUSAKA (JPN) df. Robert FRITSCH (HUN), 3-1

82kg (26 entries)
SEMIFINAL: Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) df. Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN), 8-5
SEMIFINAL: Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) df. Karlo KODRIC (CRO), 7-1

130kg (27 entries)
SF 1: Darius VITEK (HUN) df. Pavel HLINCHUK (UWW), 3-1
SF 2: Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) df. Wenhao JIANG (CHN), 3-1