#WrestleSofia

Nakai wins third Cadet World title, Ozaki and Sakurai claim second gold at #WrestleSofia

Friday, August 2, 2019 - 19:30 By Taylor Miller

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SOFIA, Bulgaria – Honoka NAKAI (JPN), Nonoka OKAZI (JPN) and Hanano SAKURAI (JPN) repeated as World champions on Friday night to help Japan to the team title at the 2019 Cadet World Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Nakai won her third-consecutive World title, winning the 69 kg bracket. A tough match for gold, Nakai outlasted 2019 Cadet Asian bronze medalist Cun LIU (CHN) with a 3-0 decision to cap off the night for Japan.

Her teammate Ozaki, also a 2018 Youth Olympic Games champion, wrapped up her second Cadet World title in just >>> seconds, defeating 2019 Cadet European champion Yulia LESKOVETS (UKR), 10-0.

Winning her second Cadet World title and first since 2017 was Sakurai, who edged out Xueing LIANG (CHN), 6-4, in the gold-medal match at 46 kg.

Overall, Japan claimed six World champions and won the team title with 195 points. China finished second with 127 points and also earned a World champion on Friday.

Zhaojing SHI (CHN), a 2018 Cadet World bronze medalist, topped the podium at 53 kg with a dominating performance over 2018 fifth-place finisher Kalmira BILIMBEK (KGZ).

Shi came out and ended the match in 37 seconds, recording a pin.

The other World champion came at 40 kg as Komal KOMAL (IND) mounted a comeback over 2018 Cadet World bronze medalist Sterling DIAS (USA) for the crown.

Trailing 2-0 at the break, Komal, a 2018 Cadet Asian runner-up, tallied two second-period takedowns for a 4-4 win on criteria.

USA finished third in the team race with 106 points. Rounding out the top-five was Russia in fourth and India in fifth.

Finals matchups
40 kg
GOLD: Komal KOMAL (IND) dec. Sterling DIAS (USA), 4-4
BRONZE: Mushtariy TOLIPBEKOVA (UZB) dec. Alina KURYLENKA (BLR), 4-2
BRONZE: Miu OBATA (JPN) df. Michela CHESSA (ITA), 10-0

46 kg
GOLD: Hanano SAKURAI (JPN) dec. Xueing LIANG (CHN), 6-4
BRONZE: Kumari HANNY (IND) df. Adriana HERNANDEZ SANCHEZ (USA), forfeit
BRONZE: Sitora TOLIPBEKOVA (UZB) df. Serena Rosa DI BENEDETTO (CAN), 11-0

53 kg
GOLD: Zhaojing SHI (CHN) df. Kalmira BILIMBEK (KGZ), fall 0:37
BRONZE: Seira NEMOTO (JPN) dec. Polina LUKINA (RUS), 4-3
BRONZE: Alesia HETMANAVA (BLR) dec. Altyn SHAGAYEVA (KAZ), 6-1

61 kg
GOLD: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) df. Yulia LESKOVETS (UKR), 10-0
BRONZE: Eva FORSBERG (SWE) dec. Bhagyashree FAND (IND), 5-0
BRONZE: Kylie WELKER (USA) df. Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB), fall 0:58

69 kg
GOLD: Honoka NAKAI (JPN) dec. Cun LIU (CHN), 3-0
BRONZE: Amit ELOR (USA) df. Zaineb SGHAIER (TUN), 10-0
BRONZE: Alina MAKSIMAVA (BLR) dec. Anastasia KOZLOVA (RUS), 3-1

Team rankings
1. Japan – 195
2. China – 127
3. USA – 106
4. Russia – 101
5. India – 95
6. Uzbekistan – 71
7. Belarus – 70
8. Ukraine – 66
9. Kyrgyzstan – 44
10. Turkey - 43

 

#WrestleZagreb

Zagreb Open Day 5 Greco Finals Set

Sunday, February 9, 2025 - 09:03 By United World Wrestling Press

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ZAGREB, Croatia (February 9) -- The Zagreb Open 2025 enters its final day with a full day of Greco-Roman wrestling. Wrestlers in 55kg, 60kg, 72kg, 82kg, 97kg and 130kg will be in action.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | BISULTANOV WINS GOLD

14:00: Two losses for Azerbaijan in the 130kg semifinals. Aliakbar YOUSOFI (IRI) beats Sarkhan MAMMADOV (AZE) 9-1 and Beka KANDELAKI (AZE) drops his bout 4-3 against Konsta MAEENPAEAE (FIN). Kandelaki was leading 3-0 but tripped on the mat and Maeenpaeae scored a go behind and turn to win 4-3.

13:52: Quick finishes to the 97kg semifinals! Artur SARGASIAN (AIN) gets a turn, a throw and another turn to beat Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) 9-0 to enter the final. He will take on Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN) also scored a technical superiority win over Shayan HABIBZARE (IRI). 

13:45: Big win for Gholamreza FAROKHI (AZE) who beats Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) 11-3. Farokhi was 3-0 down but got a bodylock for four to lead 4-3 in the first period. He scored a takedown as Gurbanov fell while fleeing a hold and then rolled him three times for six points using a trap-arm. He will take on world silver medalist Erik SZILVASSY (HUN) in the final after the Hungarian defeated Mihail BRADU (MDA) 4-3.

13:35: In the two 72kg semifinals, both of which were Iran vs Hungary, the two countries share a win each. Tokyo Olympic champion Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) falls to Levente LEVAI (HUN) 1-1 despite Geraei getting two par terre advantages. However, in the other semifinal, Danial SOHRABI (IRI) takes out Krisztian VANCZA (HUN) 6-1 to enter the final.

13:25: Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) with a high-paced win over Pouya NASERPOUR (IRI) in the other 60kg semifinal. He gets both par terre advantages and also scores a turn to win 4-0. Ganiev vs Tibilov final.

13:20: Mehroj BAKHRAMOV (UZB) may have beaten two world champion but he can't get past U23 world champion and compatriot Alisher GANIEV (UZB) in the 60kg semifinals. Bakhramov is put in par terre first and Ganiev reels off with two turns before a big four-point throw to win 9-0.

13:00: First semifinals at 55kg. European champion Artium DELEANU (MDA) suffers a big upset as Mahdi AHADI ZENAB (IRI) scores four turns from par terre to win 9-0. He will take on Elmir ALIYEV (AZE) in the final who defeated Brady KOONTZ (USA) 5-0 in the other semifinal.

12:20: Danial SOHRABI (IRI) gets a walk over from world champion Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) who hurt his shoulder in the previous bout at 72kg

12:15: Alisher GANIEV (UZB), U23 world champion at 60kg, just gut wrenched Maxwell BLACK (USA) for a 8-0 win. He will wrestle Mehroj BAKHRAMOV (UZB) in the 60kg semifinals.

12:00: A 97kg bout that was missed due to all the Bakhramov hype! Artur SARGSIAN (AIN) registered a 3-2 win over Alex SZOKE (HUN).

11:40: Mehroj BAKHRAMOV (UZB) has to be the most unfazed wrestler today! After beating Edlaniz AZIZLI (AZE), he takes out another world champion in Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) at 60kg. After a 4-0 lead, Bakhramov got thrown for four points but comes out all guns blazing in the second period to earn a par terre advantage. As he tries to turn Mammadli, a foul committed by the Azerbaijan which was confirmed on challenge. With 7-4 lead, Bakhramov hits a beautiful throw for four. Two stepouts in the final minute but Bakhramov holds on for a 11-6 win

11:30: Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) survived a fall attempt from Iman Khoon MOHAMMADI (IRI) after the latter blocked a headpinch attempt. Geraei was down 3-2 but keeps his calm to win 8-3 at 72kg

11:15: Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN) comes out with a top quality win over Hamidreza BADKAN (IRI) at 97kg. No issue for the Paris Olympian

Wrestling on Mat C is on hold as there is some issue with the mat. Action will resume soon

11:00: 2021 world champion at 130kg, Aliakbar YOUSOFI (IRI) gets his par terre going and rolls to an 11-1 win over European champion Sergei SEMENOV (AIN)

10:50: U23 world champion Alisher GANIEV (UZB) opens his day with a 8-0 technical superiority win over Sadyk LALAEV (AIN) at 60kg. At just 18, Ganiev has built a great resume for himself.

10:45: Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) needed 49 seconds in the second period to see off Melkamu FETENE (ISR) in his opening bout at 60kg! The world champion is hoping to be Azerbaijan's rep for the European Championships.

10:30: Mehroj BAKHRAMOV (UZB) has tossed Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) around from par terre! Azizli, world champion at 55kg, is wrestling at 60kg in Zagreb but perhaps it's not meant to be. Bakhramov with two lifts and easy 9-0 win

10:15: At the Non-Olympic World Championships in Tirana last year, Benjamin PEAK (USA) stunned the wrestling world with a 11-3 victory over Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) at 72kg. However, Sunday is a different story as Geraei draws him first bout here in Zagreb and toys with Peak to win 11-0.

10:10: That is a great start for Iran as Hamidreza BADKAN (IRI) pulls off a 2-1 victory over Kiryl MASKEVICH (AIN) at 97kg.

10:00: Big wrestling day in Zagreb with six Greco-Roman weight classes in action. We have a few current and former world champions wrestling