#WrestleSofia

LIVE BLOG: World Olympic Qualifiers, Day Two

By United World Wrestling Press

Women's wrestling gets underway in Sofia as 12 Olympic spots will be decided at the World Olympic Qualifiers on Friday. (Day 1 Wrap)

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER | PHOTOS

SEMIFINALS (As they come in)

50kg

Anna LUKASIAK (POL) vs. Seema SEEMA (IND)
Lucia Yamileth YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU) vs. Patricia Alejandra BERMUDEZ (ARG) 

53kg 
Betzabeth angelica ARGUELLO VILLEGAS (VEN) vs. Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (RUS) 
Andreea Beatrice ANA (ROU) vs. Samantha Leigh STEWART (CAN) 

57kg
Giullia OLIVEIRA (BRA) vs. Mathilde Hélène RIVIERE (FRA) 
Veronika CHUMIKOVA (RUS) vs. Grace Jacob BULLEN (NOR) 

62kg
Veranika IVANOVA (BLR) vs. Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL) 
Liubov OVCHAROVA (RUS) vs. Luisa Helga Gerda NIEMESCH (GER) 

68kg
Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) vs. Elis MANOLOVA (AZE) 
Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL) vs.Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE)

76kg
Yasemin ADAR (TUR) vs. Martina KUENZ (AUT) 
Maria Jose ACOSTA ACOSTA (VEN) vs. Alla BELINSKA (UKR) 

13:27: The quarterfinals are underway in Bulgaria! The match order is listed below.

12:54: That was unexpected! Bullen crushed Morais, 12-2, in less than two minutes and moved into the 57kg quarterfinals. She'll now face Johanna LINDBORG (SWE) for a spot in tonight's quarterfinals

12:47:  The matchup between world champions Linda Morais and U23 world champion Grace Bullen is up now on Mat B!

11:58: That was short-lived. Adar rallied off 16 unanswered points and moved into the quarterfinals with an 18-7 win. She'll wrestle U23 and junior world champion Milaimys de la Caridad MARIN POTRILLE (CUB) for a spot in tonight's semifinals.

11:55: There's a huge upset brewing on Mat A. Genesis Rosangela REASCO VALDEZ (ECU) leads '17 world champion Yasemin ADAR (TUR), 7-2, after the opening period.

11:50: That's back-to-back massive wins for Kriszta Incze. In her two patches, she's defeated two-time Olympic bronze medalist Jackeline Renteria Castillo and world runner-up Elif Jale Yesilrmak. She'll take on world silver medalist Liubov OVCHAROVA (RUS) next.

11:47: Two-time Olympic bronze medalist Renteria trails Incze, 3-2, with 80 seconds left. They are wrestling on Mat A.

11:21:  How about this upcoming match between world champions on Mat B (Bout 201)? It'll be Linda Morais and U23 world champion Grace BULLEN (NOR).

10:56: World champion Linda Morais opens up her day with an impressive three-minute 10-0 routing of '16 Olympian Bediha GUN (TUR).

10:33: Mat A is about to heat up! Two-time world bronze medalist from Hungary Emese BARKA and world champion Linda MORAIS (CAN) will wrestle in back-to-back matches. 

10:08:  How about that timing? Kriszta INCZE (ROU) scored a step out with three seconds left and ended Elif YESILIRMAK's (TUR) quest to become the first Turkish woman to reach the Olympic Games on three occasions. 

10:02: What a way to kick off our women's wrestling opening session! We'll have two-time Olympic bronze medalist Jackeline RENTERIA CASTILLO (COL) beginning the day on Mat A. 

10:00: Just minutes away from action here in Sofia

#WrestleBudapest

Budapest Ranking Series Greco-Roman Highlights

By Vinay Siwach

BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 20) -- The Budapest Ranking Series final day will see Greco-Roman action in seven weight classes -- 55kg, 60kg, 63kg, 67kg, 77kg, 82kg, 97kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 3 RESULTS

16:30: The end of the semifinals in Budapest. Giorgi MELIA (GEO) makes it to the 97kg final after a 5-1 victory over Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE). He will take on  Hayk KHLOYAN (ARM) who sneaks through with a 5-4 win over Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN).

16:12: Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) gets the benefit of Beka MELELASHVILI (USA) defensive fouls and win 4-3 at 82kg semifinals. He will face Adlet TIULIUBAEV (UWW) for the gold who defeated Rafael IUNUSOV (UWW), 5-1.

16:00: Robert Attila FRITSCH (HUN) launches Sergei STEPANOV (UWW) for a huge four-pointer in the last minute and wins the 77kg semifinal 6-3 to set up a final against Sergei KUTUZOV (UWW) after he defeated Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) 8-6. Suleymanov was going well with a 6-0 lead but when Kutuzov got the par terre, he reverse lifted Suleymanov for a four and another for two points to lead 7-6. A lost challenge made it 8-6 for the win.

15:40: European bronze medalist Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) rolls to a 8-0 technical superiority win over Daniial AGAEV (UWW) in the 67kg final. But there will be no all-Georgian final as Leri ABULADZE (GEO) drops his semifinal to Valentic PETIC (MDA) 5-3.

15:25: Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) takes out European silver medalist Karen ASLANYAN (ARM) 5-3 to enter the final at 63kg. Surprising win for Eriomenco but he will face Sergey EMELIN (UWW) for the gold medal. Emelin had a injury walkover in the other semifinal.

15:05: Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) showing why he is the best in the world at 60kg as he beats Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) in a rematch of the European final. He defends most of Tibilov's attacks to win 3-2. He will face SUMIT (IND) in the 60kg final after the Indian pinned Galym KABDUNASSAROV (KAZ).

14:45: Emin SEFERSHAEV (UWW) needs all the luck he can as he beats Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB), 5-5, on criteria in the 55kg semifinal. He will take on Marlan MUKASHEV (KAZ) for the gold medal after he defeated Alpamys DASTANBEK (KAZ), 8-0, in just a minute and 20 seconds.

Semifinals

14:15: Sergei KUTUZOV (UWW) scores turns from par terre and beats Asian champion Aram VARDANYAN (UZB) 9-0 to book a place in the semifinal against Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) at 77kg.

14:00: Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) keeps and simple and gets both par terre advantages in the against Mehroj BAKHRAMOV (UZB) and beats him 4-0 at 60kg. This avenges his loss to Bakhramov at the Zagreb Open earlier this year.

13:55: Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) takes out Amiran SHAVADZE (GEO) 5-5 in the 60kg quarterfinals via criteria. Tibilov will face Mammadli in the semifinal, a rematch of the European final which Mammadli won

13:40: SUMIT (IND) breaks Dahyun KIM (KOR) down with his pace and secures the fall after an early scare in the 60kg bout. He moves into the semifinals of the Ranking Series.

13:35: European champion Emin SEFERSHAEV (UWW) comes strong in defense, blocking Anil MOR (IND) when the Indian was trying to turn Sefershaev from par terre. He also pushed him out for a point. Sefershaev win 4-1 at 55kg. 

13:25: Alex SZOKE (HUN) sends the local crowd into frenzy after beating Artur SARGASIAN (UWW) 6-6 on criteria at 97kg. Szoke had three two point techniques while Sargasian managed only two and the Hungarian kept the criteria.

13:15: European silver medalist Karen ASLANYAN (ARM) puts another clinical show and beats Ellis COLEMAN (USA) 6-1 at 63kg. He enters the semifinals.

12:45: World and European champion Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) takes a little injury timeout before par terre but gets to work and finishes the bout against Seunghak KIM (KOR), 9-0, at 60kg.

12:20: Two huge losses as Sadyk LALAEV (UWW) drops his match 9-3 to SUMIT (IND) and on Mat D, Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (UWW) loses 9-0 to Dahyun KIM (KOR) at 60kg. Both were looking to be on the team to Zagreb but what unexpected losses.

12:00: Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) manages to blank Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) in the opening round at 77kg. A takedown to open the scoring for Suleymanov before he scores a turn from par terre. Gutu challenges for the hand-below-waist but it's lost. A takedown in the second period and Suleymanov wins 8-0.

11:50: European champion Emin SEFERSHAEV (UWW) gives no chance to Artium DELEANU (MDA) and wins an easy 7-1 opening round.

11:45: Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) and Dinislam BAMMATOV (UWW) are involved in a battle but it's the Moldovan who comes out on top 5-5 on criteria.

11:35: European silver medalist Karen ASLANYAN (ARM) bosses his opening round bout at 63kg and beats Yerkebulan ARDAKOV (KAZ), 9-0 to advance. In the next match on Mat D, 

11:20: World U23 champion Alisher GANIEV (UZB), one of the most explosive wrestler in the world, wins his first bout at 63kg via disqualification of Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ). Ganiev was already leading 7-0 by then.

11:05: Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) opens with a 10-0 victory over Seungjun KIM (KOR) at 97kg. Savolainen has not enjoyed similar success like he did before the Paris Olympic cycle.  

10:55: Aram VARDANYAN (UZB) needs a challenge to overturn a defeated to victory against Doniyorkhon NAKIBOV (UZB). Vardanyan got a exposure at the end but was not scored. However, he won the challenge and Nakibov is devasted.

10:40: Former world champion Ulvu GANIZADE (AZE) wins his first bout at 77kg with a 1-1 score against Antonio KAMENJASEVIC (CRO) as he was the first to get the par terre points.

10:30: Welcome to the final day of the Budapest Ranking Series. It will be Greco-Roman action the whole day in seven weight classes