#WrestleParis

Paris 2024 Wrestling Day 4: Yazdani, Lee, makes semis; Sakurai vs Maroulis set

By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

PARIS (August 9) -- Freestyle action kicks off in Paris with 57kg and 86kg as Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) and Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) look to change their silver medals from past Olympics to gold. In 57kg, Helen MAROULIS (USA) is trying to do the same but world champion Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) is in her way.

LIVE MATCH ORDER | PARIS 2024 DAY 3

13:31: Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) is back in the Olympic semifinals! He got thrown for a huge four from Dauren KURGULIEV (GRE) but he comes back to break Kurguliev and win 9-4 and book a spot against Myles AMINE (SMR)

13:20: A bout for the ages as returning bronze medalist Myles AMINE (SMR) beats Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) 16-14 to book his spot in the semifinal! Nurmagomedov took the lead using a leg lace but Amine hit the same and reclaimed the lead. At 16-12, Amine was happy to keep his distance from Nurmagomedov even if that meant giving up a takedown.

13:08: Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) pins Javrail SHAPIEV (UZB) in the second period. What a win for Ramazanov and he moves into the semifinal at 86kg. He will face Aaron BROOKS (USA) for a spot in the final

13:06: Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) with a first-period fall of Giullia PENALBER (BRA) to book her spot in the women's 57kg semifinals. The former 59kg world champion will face Hong.

13:04: Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) gets a 4-point counter and three takedowns in a 12-5 victory over Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) and he's into the freestyle 57kg semifinal and a date with Lee.

13:00: Kexin HONG (CHN) wins a thriller in the women's 57kg quarterfinals over Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR), finishing off the Nigerian with a cradle for a fall with :44 left after she had just surrendered the lead. Adekuoroye strikes first with a pair of takedowns, but Hong responds with a takedown and three lace-lock rolls to go up 8-4. In the second period, Adekuoroye goes ahead on criteria with a takedown and lace lock, but Hong strikes back by getting her into a cradle and securing the fall.

12:55: Aaron BROOKS (USA) is on mission today! He takes out Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN) 11-1 at 86kg. The pace of that bout was unreal and completely broke Ishiguro

12:51: Helen MAROULIS (USA) scores three takedowns and she's into the women's 57kg with a 7-4 victory over Alina HRUSHYNA AKOBIIA (UKR). She will face Sakurai in a rematch of the semifinals at last year's worlds in Belgrade, which Sakurai won 6-0.

12:49: Spencer LEE (USA) gives up an early takedown to Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ) in their freestyle 57kg quarterfinal, but then he gets to work. He twice gets a takedown-exposure combo, then finishes off a 12-2 win with a 4-point takedown with 58 seconds left in the first period.

12:45: Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) has been spotted. He begins with a 10-0 win over Jayden LAWRENCE (AUS) who has scored two points over Yazdani at the World Championships.

12:41: AMAN (IND) earns a clash with Higuchi in the freestyle 57kg semis after using the lace lock to chalk up a 12-0 victory over Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB).

12:39: Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) is at her dominating best, piling up the points with both offensive and defensive takedowns and a pair of stepouts against Luisa VALVERDE (ECU). When it hits 11-0, she is in the middle of applying an arm bar that puts Valverde onto her back for a fall at 4:35.

12:28: Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) is coming in hot! He moves into the quarterfinals with an 11-0 win over Ethan RAMOS (PUR). His likely quarterfinal opponent -- Hassan YAZDANI (IRI)

12:33: Rio Olympic silver medalist Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) takes the mat for the first time in the freestyle 57kg quarterfinals after his first-round opponent, Alireza SARLAK (IRI), failed to make weight. Higuchi dominates Darian CRUZ (PUR), scoring with some creative exposures to finish off a 12-2 victory early in the second period.

12:30: World silver medalist Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) easily gets past Sandra PARUSZEWSKI (GER) 9-0 to secure a place in the women's 57kg quarterfinals.

12:26: Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) makes his Olympic debut with a win over Bat Erdene BYAMBASUREN (MGL) at 86kg. A top 12-2 win to advance to the quarterfinals.

12:22: Three-time world bronze medalist Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) grabs the final place in the freestyle 57kg quarterfinals with a 13-3 win over Roman BRAVO (MEX).

12:19: Giullia PENALBER (BRA) makes short work of Rckaela AQUINO (GUM), slamming to her back for a 4-point takedown and securing the fall in 1:02 to advance at women's 57kg.

12:16: Returning bronze medalist Myles AMINE (SMR) shows why he is a threat. Top defense as he beats Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR) 7-4 to move into the quarterfinals at 86kg.

12:15: Kexin HONG (CHN), a winner this year in Budapest and Zagreb, wins a lively clash with Khongorzul BOLDSAIKHAN (MGL), advancing at women's 57kg with a 16-12 victory. Hong takes an 8-0 lead, but Boldsaikhan cuts the lead to 2 in the second period. Hong puts up 6 with a takedown-lace lock combination, only for Boldsaikhan to get 4 with a counter lift. But Hong gets a final 2-point exposure to notch the win.

12:11: Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) gets a 4-point throw in the first period, then gets a pair of exposures countering a front headlock roll in the second in an 11-4 win over Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE) at freestyle 57kg.

12:04: World bronze medalist Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR), looking for her first Olympic medal in a thrid appearance, advances at women's 57kg by injury default when Chaimaa AOUISSI (ALG) suffers a head gash and is unable to continue.

12:02: Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) pulls out his 'A' game to beat Alexander MOORE (CAN) 12-2 in the opening round. He will face Javrail SHAPIEV (UZB) who defeated Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) 5-2 in the other bout.

12:00: Spencer LEE (USA), competing on a top world stage for the first time since winning back-to-back world junior titles in 2015-16, scores a takedown and activity point in the first period, and holds on for a 3-2 win over Wanhao ZOU (CHN) at freestyle 57kg. Zou gets a pair of stepouts late in the second period but just ran out of time.

11:59: In a wild clash of 2022 world bronze medalists, Alina HRUSHYNA AKOBIIA (UKR) rallies out of an eight-point hold to defeat Anhelina LYSAK (POL) 16-13 at women's 57kg. Lysak had three 4-point moves and led 13-5 when Hrushyna Akobiia hit a 4-pointer of her own. In the final 30 seconds, she picked up a takedown and a stepout to go ahead, then added a late takedown. Whew!

11:47: Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ) scores a second-period takedown with Asian bronze medalist Meirambek KARTBAY (KAZ) on the activity clock to take a 3-1 lead, then adds a stepout for a 4-1 victory at freestyle 57kg.

11:45: Hayato ISHIGURO (JPN) has no trouble disposing of Fateh BENFERDJALLAH (ALG) via technical superiority and sets up a 86kg quarterfinal with Aaron BROOKS (USA).

11:41: Helen MAROULIS (USA), looking for her second Olympic gold and third medal overall, repeats her victory from the 2021 world final over ANSHU (IND) to advance to the women's 57kg quarterfinals 7-2. Maroulis uses an effective single-leg attack to score three takedowns

11:38: Aaron BROOKS (USA), who defeated David TAYLOR (USA) in the U.S. trials, gave up an early stepout but bounced back with two takedowns and beat top seed Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) 4-1 in the opening round at 86kg. 

11:36: Diamantino IUNA FAFE (GBS), only the third wrestler in Guinea-Bissau history to appear in the Olympics, looks like a seasoned pro in taking a 6-0 lead against world bronze medalist Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) at freestyle 57kg. But the match is six minutes, and Abakarov comes back with two takedowns, adding a lace lock after the second. An unsuccessful challenge adds a point as Abakarov advances 7-6.

11:33: An impressive start for Luisa VALVERDE (ECU), who opens with a 4-point takedown against Aurora RUSSO (ITA) at women's 57kg, then scores a takedown to the back and secures the fall at 2:34.  

11:27: Two-time reigning world champion Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) opens her Olympic debut at women's 57kg with an activity point, then a slick ankle pick for a takedown against Hannah TAYLOR (CAN), but gets reversed going for a lace lock. She adds a stepout and another takedown in the second period for a hard-fought 6-1 win.

11:26: 2023 Asian champion AMAN (IND) uses a shrug-by to get behind Russian-born 2021 European champion Vladimir EGOROV (MKD) for the clinching takedown in a 10-0 win at freestyle 57kg.

11:17: Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) spots Dominique PARRISH (USA) a four-point lead in their women's 53k repechage, then storms back to go ahead 10-4 with a back trip before latching onto a cradle for a fall.

11:14: Darian CRUZ (PUR) picks up a big win for the Caribbean nation, locking up Gamal MOHAMED (EGY) in a cradle and securing the fall in their freestyle 57kg opener.

11:09: Luis ORTA (CUB), denied in his bid for a second straight Olympic gold, will get a chance for a bronze after storming to a 9-0 victory over Ishak GHAIOU (ALG) in the 67kg repechage.

11:08: Hyogyong CHOE (PRK) stays on track to give the DPR Korea its first-ever women's Olympic medal with an 11-0 repechage victory over European champion Andreea ANA (ROU) at 53kg. Choe will take on Annika WENDLE (GER).

11:04: In the opening match on Mat A, Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ) uses an arm throw for a quick 4-pointer, then lifts and throws Mate NEMES (SRB) for 4 more and an 8-0 win in their Greco 67kg repechage. He will face Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) in a bid for Kyrgyzstan's third bronze medal in Greco later tonight.

10:45: We are beginning with Freestyle at Paris 2024 in two weight classes and women's wrestling will continue with 57kg.

2026 U17 World Championships

U17 World Championships 2026 Day 4 Women's Wrestling Results & Highlights

By Vinay Siwach

BAKU, Azerbaijan (July 30) -- The U17 World Wrestling Championships will see Women's Wrestling in 40kg, 46kg, 53kg, 61kg and 69kg. Here are the storylines for Women's Wrestling.

Use code BUNDLE20 to get 20 percent off on UWW+ subscription and watch U17, U20 and U23 World Championships.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 3 RESULTS

The semifinals will begin at 17:00 hours local time

13:45: Taina FERNANDEZ (USA) with a second fall of the day to enter the semifinal at 69kg. She gets the pin over Sophia ANASTASE (ROU) and is now two wins away from history.

13:35: Wrestlers from neither Tunisia nor Colombia had ever wrestled for a medal at the U17 World Championships. With Rahma REZGUI (TUN) and Alejandra SERRANO (COL) in the 53kg quarterfinals, that was about to change. For most of the bout, it seemed that Rezgui will go to the semifinal as she had a comfortable 6-0 lead. But Serrano with the turnaround in the second period against a tiring Rezgui and she win 7-6 with points in the final five seconds!

13:31: Marlee SOLOMON (USA) with a fall over Fatima BAYRAMOVA (AZE) at 53kg! The match was in balance at the break with Solomon leading only 2-1 but she changed the approach in the second period, leading 8-1 before getting the fall

13:29: Graciela ENINGO (ESP) with a surprise win over Waka AWANO (JPN) at 69kg and that too with a fall. Eningo was leading 3-1 when Awano hit a four-pointer but Eningo recovered and put Awano in danger with a headlock. The fall was called with 15 seconds left.

13:24: Aruzhan BAKYTNUR (KAZ) ends Mariama KABA (GUI) dream run at 61kg. Kaba reached the quarterfinals but could not get past Bakytnur who won 6-2.

13:22: Zaytuna SAPAROVA (UZB) was leading Sophia VALDEZ (USA) 2-2 and she tried to spin behind and tried to fling Valdez who landed on top of Saparova and got the fall.    

13:20: Azerbaijan was close to getting its first semifinalist as Gulkhanim SHIRINOVA (AZE) was leading 4-2 in the 40kg match against Tasmin ATHIMNI (TUN). But the Tunisia wrestler hits a bog throw and then gets the fall over Shirinova who has been reduced to tears.

13:15: Natsumi SASAKI (JPN) with her quick low single attacks to unsettle Rohini DEVBA (IND) who had no gameplan against Sasaki who wins the 40kg bout, 10-0.

13:14: Sandhya VISHNOI (IND) counters everything that Alina BARANOVA (RUS) threw at her in the 46kg quarterfinals. She wins the bout 10-0 and advances to the semifinals.

13:08: Kamila TEMIRAEVA (RUS) threw Landri VON GONTEN (USA) for four points and lead 4-2 at the break in their 61kg bout. She then scored a takedown to extend her lead to 6-2. But as the time ticked, Von Gonten scored a four-pointer to take a 6-6 criteria lead and win the bout. After a long challenge, the result does not change but Von Gonton gets two points for the late go-behind, making her an 8-6 winner.

13:02: Madison HEALEY (USA) a counter lift for exposure and two points against Kokona MAKINO (JPN) but that was all Makino allowed her. Makino brought out those low singles and completed an 8-2 win over Healey at 46kg.

12:47: Hibiki IIDA (JPN) needed to defend only for six more seconds as Khuslen MUNKHBAYASGALAN (MGL) was trying to pin for over a minute. But Munkhbayasgalan put so much pressure that Iida could not defend and gave up the fall with 2:06 left.  

12:33: Two-time U17 world champion Taina FERNANDEZ (USA) opens her campaign and a historic chase of third gold with a fall over TANIYA (IND). A very quick fall for the American which has left Taniya in shock.

12:22: Returning bronze medalist Mariia ZHYTOVOZ (HUN) is left in shock after Marlee SOLOMON (USA) beats her 5-4 at 53kg in the final 2 seconds. Zhytovoz took a 4-0 but Solomon scored a takedown in the second period to cut the lead to 4-2. Zhytovoz was backing away in the final 10 seconds when Solomon scored a front exposure for two points and take the 4-4 criteria win. Zhytovoz challenged the call but there was change in the result, only a point was added to Solomon's score for lost challenge.

12:20: Mariama KABA (GUI), the first-ever U17 wrestler from Guinea, is now into the 61kg quarterfinals after a 12-2 win over Marharyta OVCHARENKO (ISR).

12:10: Landri VON GONTEN (USA) with another dominant win. She beats Marisa ITURRINO (PUR) at 61kg and advances to the quarterfinals.

12:05: Alejandra SERRANO (COL), hoping to becoming Colombia's first world medalist in Women's Wrestling at U17 level, gets a fall over Nomin SHINEBAYAR (MGL) at 61kg. Serrano with a powerful takedown and keep Shinebayar on the mat till the fall is called.

11:53: Much better day for Japan so far. Kokona MAKINO (JPN) gut wrenches Mungunchimeg GAVAA (MGL) to win her 46kg bout, 10-0. At 61kg, Waka AWANO (JPN) (EST) wins 12-1 against Karol TAMSON (EST).

11:45: U17 European champion at 46kg Alina BARANOVA (RUS) outclasses Kateryna HOZHELOVA (UKR), 10-0, in her opening bout. Baranov's gut-wrench completely unsettled Hozhelova

11:35: Rion OGAWA (JPN) starts her 53kg campaign with a 10-0 technical superiority win over Ecrin SALIK (TUR). Ogawa is younger sister of Rinka, a U20 and U17 world champion

11:20 Mariia ZHYTOVOZ (HUN), the returning bronze medalist at 53kg, starts with a 10-0 technical superiority win over Zuzanna SOKOLOWSKA (POL). The Hungary wrestler used the gut-wrench to score her points.

11:15: Landri VON GONTEN (USA) and AVANSHIKA (IND) were going toe-to-toe before Von Gonten got an armbar and pinned Avanshika to advance at 61kg.

11:05: Waka AWANO (JPN) was no where in the bout against Yuliia HOLHOVSKA (UKR) at 61kg. But in the second period, she managed to take a 4-4 criteria lead. Holhovska lost her balance and Awano scored a go-behind for a 6-4 lead. She transitioned into a lace and won the bout 14-4.

10:30: The repechage bouts will kick off the day with at least three matches on each mat. The qualification rounds begins after.