Rio Medalist Saritov Keeps Olympic Hopes Alive While Demirtas' Bid Ends

Thursday, May 6, 2021 - 15:37 By Ken Marantz

SOFIA, Bulgaria (May 6) -- Rio Olympic bronze medalist Albert SARITOV (ROU) moved one win away from qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics, while Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) saw his dream of another Olympic medal end when he failed to survive in the cut-throat 74kg division.

Saritov had one close call but managed to advance to the semifinals at 97kg as the freestyle competition opened the final world Olympic qualifying tournament with a marathon morning session on Thursday in Sofia, Bulgaria.

The winners of the semifinals in the night session at the spectator-less Arena Armeec Sport Hall earn tickets to Tokyo for their countries, and in most cases, themselves.

Russia and the United States both kept their bids alive to field a complete lineups at the Tokyo Games. Sergei KOZYREV (RUS) secured a place in the final four at 125kg, the only freestyle weight class the European powerhouse had not yet filled, while Jordan OLIVER (USA) did likewise at 65kg.

Kazakhstan, however, will have to be content with entrants in five of the six weight classes in Tokyo after Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) suffered a heartbreaking 2-2 loss to Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE) at 86kg in a clash between former world U23 silver medalists.

Slovenia moved closer to having its first-ever Olympic wrestler when 2017 European bronze medalist David HABAT (SLO) stormed into the 65kg semifinals with a 10-0 technical fall over Ilman MUKHTAROV (FRA). He will face Georgios PILIDIS (GRE) for the Tokyo ticket.

"I am happy about my wrestling," Habat said. "Usually I would give a good interview but I am really focused on the next match right now. The past matches were good because I got here [semifinal]. So that's why I can say that I am happy about how I wrestled. It's good to reflect back and say that I am doing the right thing."

Asked about his dominant victory in the quarterfinals, he replied, "I can improve here and there. I am taking a lot of shots and I want to convert all of them. I am good in those positions but against world class-level guys, it's hard to takedown."

The Russian-born Saritov posted a workmanlike 4-0 victory over Samuel SCHERRER (SUI) to advance to the 97kg semifinals, where he will face Valerii ANDRIITSEV (UKR), who placed fifth at the Rio Olympics. Andriitsev barreled into the last four with a 10-0 technical fall over Timofei XENIDIS (GRE) that took less than a minute.

Saritov survived a scare in the second round, when he was losing 6-5 to Radoslaw BARAN (POL) before catching him with a back trip for 4 points wtih 28 seconds left for a 9-6 win.

In the other smeifinal at 97kg, ex-Russian Ahmed BATAEV (BUL), who placed third at last year's Individual World Cup, will face Abraham CONYEDO RUANO (ITA).

Olympic host Japan could add two more to its lineup as 2017 world champion Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN) at 57kg and Sohsuke TAKATANI (JPN) at 86kg both advanced to the semifinals.

Yuki TAKAHASHI World Olympic Qualifier

Takahashi, who was dispatched to Sofia after Rio 2016 silver medalist Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) failed to make weight at last month's Asian Olympic qualifier in Almaty, was hardly challenged as he chalked up a pair of technical falls, including an 11-0 rout of Vladimir EGOROV (MKD) in the quarterfinals.

"I went at my pace from beginning to end [in my two matches]," Takahashi said. "If I win in the
semifinal, it will clinch an Olympic place, so I will go all out."

Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN) will face Reineri ANDREU (CUB) with the Olympic ticket on the line, a rematch of the bronze-medal match at the 2018 World Championships won by Takahashi.

If Takahashi wins, he will have to face Higuchi in a playoff later this monty for the Tokyo berth.

In the other 57kg semifinal, three-time European champion Giorgi EDISHERASHVILI (AZE) will face 2018 Asian Games champion Bekhbayar ERDENEBAT (MGL) Takatani also won by technical fall in the round-of-8, overwhelming Istvan VEREB (HUN) 12-0, but that came after a nailbiting win in the previous round. Against Taimuraz FRIEV (ESP), he gave up a 4-point takedown at the edge that was awarded on challenge to fall behind on criteria, but scored a stepout with :05 left to win 5-4.

Blocking his path to a third career Olympic appearance is Zbigniew BARANOWSKI (POL), who defeated Hovhannes MKHITARYAN (ARM) by 12-2 technical fall in the quarterfinals.

Abakarov will take on Boris MAKOEV (SVK), who scored a takedown in the final :10 to eke out a 4-2 win over Yurieski TORREBLANCA (CUB).

"I needed to reassess my wrestling for this tournament as this is a big one," Abakarov said. "All the bouts were so tough apart from the second one."

At 74kg, Rio 2016 bronze medalist Demirtas met his match in Magomedkhabib KADIMAGOMEDOV (BLR), the 2020 European champion at 79kg who advanced to the semifinals with an 8-4 victory.

"My wrestling is better than ever and now I just want to win the gold medal here," Kadimagomedov said. "Soner is a very nice guy and a good wrestler, his record talks for itself."

Just to set up that match, Demirtas first had to get past Hetik CABOLOV (SRB) in the second round, coming back from a 3-0 deficit against the native Russian by scoring three takedowns and a roll in the second period to win 8-3.

Kadimagomedov will hardly have it any easier in the semifinals, where he will face red-hot Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK), another Russian transplant who is coming off an impressive run to the gold at the European Championships.

Salkazanov, a 2019 world bronze medalist at 79kg, survived a scare in the quarterfinals against Ali UMARPASHAEV (BUL). He was still trailing on criteria when he knotted the score at 4-4 late in the second period, then scored a takedown with :25 left for a 6-4 win.

"In the beginning of the quarterfinal, I was not good as I conceded four points but as I continued wrestling, I was able to defeat him," Salkazanov said. "I have wrestled him before and he is very tough. I lost to him in the European qualifiers but this time I defeated him.

"There is no secret to my wins or my good wrestling. I just focus on winning and I fight continuously to defeat my opponent."

For Umarpashaev, it was deja vu all over. At the European Olympic qualifier, he lost after leading 6-0 in the semifinals against 2018 world silver medalist Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO).

American-born Mitchell FINESILVER (ISR), a European bronze medalist who wrestled at Duke University in the U.S., put together three solid matches to earn a clash with Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR) in the other semifinal at 74kg.

In the 65kg quarterfinals, Oliver snatched victory from the jaws of defeat when he scored a takedown with :35 left, then held on to edge Gor OGANNESYAN (UKR) 3-3.

Jordan Oliver World Olympic Qualifier

"The Ukrainian is a tough competitor, very good with his hands and hard to penetrate [his defense]," said Oliver, the silver medalist at the 2020 Matteo Pellicone tournament. "If I am being honest with myself I need more attacks, more attempts, put myself in more scoring positions.

"The push was there the whole match, I took it when I needed it. There were a couple of more times I could have put myself in scoring positions."

Oliver said it was particularly difficult to come back on such an opponent.

"These are situations that we go through when we train," he said. "I knew it was coming, I had to make contact. The shot was there to take and I took it. His was very feisty defensively to hold the guy like that in the last 24 seconds. I knew he was bringing everything he had."

Oliver still has a tough hill to get over in semifinal opponent Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL), another former Russian and a two-time former world medalist. Gadzhiev had to get past a formidable foe himself to set up the clash, beating three-time European silver medalist Beka LOMTADZE (GEO) 2-1, with all of the points coming on the activity clock.

"The quarterfinal was definitely a tough fight, but the semifinal is tougher," Gadzhiev said. "So I am going to focus on that."

At 125kg, the young Kozyrev, coming off a silver medal finish at the European Championships, set up a clash in the semifinals with Daniel LIGETI (HUN). Kozyrev topped Robert BARAN (POL) 7-1 in the quarterfinals, while Ligeti made short work of Dilmukhammed NURMUKHAMEDOV (UZB), notching a 10-0 technical fall.

The other semifinal pits Jose DIAZ ROBERTTI (VEN) and Sumit MALIK (IND). Diaz Robertti hanged on for a 3-3 win over Vakhit GALAYEV (AZE), while Malik ousted fellow Asian Rustam ISKANDARI (TJK) 10-5.

With this the last chance for Olympic qualifying, it is understandable that tensions are high, and it caused one wrestler to snap.

In a qualification round bout at 97kg, Minwon SEO (KOR) took exception to being slammed into the matside advertising boards by Altangerel CHINBAT (MGL) as they went out of bounds. Seo kicked out at his opponent, for which he was disqualified.

Freestyle Results

57kg
Semifinals
Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN) vs Reineri ANDREU (CUB)
Giorgi EDISHERASHVILI (AZE) vs Bekhbayar ERDENEBAT (MGL)

Quarterfinals
Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN) df. Vladimir EGOROV (MKD) by TF, 11-0
Bekhbayar ERDENEBAT (MGL) df. Givi DAVIDOVI (ITA), 3-2
Reineri ANDREU (CUB) df. Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ), 7-5
Giorgi EDISHERASHVILI (AZE) df. Muhamad IKROMOV (TJK), 11-4

65kg
Semifinals
Georgios PILIDIS (GRE) vs David HABAT (SLO)
Jordan OLIVER (USA) vs Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL)

Quarterfinals
Georgios PILIDIS (GRE) df. Juan GONZALEZ (ESP) TF, 10-0
Jordan OLIVER (USA) df. Gor OGANNESYAN (UKR), 3-3
Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL) df. Beka LOMTADZE (GEO), 2-1
David HABAT (SLO) df. Ilman MUKHTAROV (FRA) by TF, 10-0

74kg
Semifinals
Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR) vs Mitchell FINESILVER (ISR)
Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) vs Magomedkhabib KADIMAGOMEDOV (BLR)

Quarterfinals
Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) df. Ali UMARPASHAEV (BUL), 6-4
Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR) df. Aimar ANDRUSE (EST) by TF, 11-0
Magomedkhabib KADIMAGOMEDOV (BLR) df. Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR), 8-4
Mitchell FINESILVER (ISR) df. Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE), 9-2

86kg
Semifinals
Zbigniew BARANOWSKI (POL) vs Sohsuke TAKATANI (JPN)
Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE) vs Boris MAKOEV (SVK)

Quarterfinals
Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE) df. Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ), 2-2
Boris MAKOEV (SVK) df. Yurieski TORREBLANCA (CUB), 4-2
Sohsuke TAKATANI (JPN) df. Istvan VEREB (HUN) by TF, 12-0
Zbigniew BARANOWSKI (POL) df. Hovhannes MKHITARYAN (ARM) by TF, 12-2

97kg
Semifinals
Abraham CONYEDO RUANO (ITA) vs Ahmed BATAEV (BUL)
Valerii ANDRIITSEV (UKR) vs Albert SARITOV (ROU)

Quarterfinals
Ahmed BATAEV (BUL) df. Satywart KADIAN (IND), 5-5
Albert SARITOV (ROU) df. Samuel SCHERRER (SUI), 4-0
Abraham CONYEDO RUANO (ITA) df. Ulrich MANOUAN (CIV) by TF, 10-0
Valerii ANDRIITSEV (UKR) df. Timofei XENIDIS (GRE) by TF, 10-0

125kg
Semifinals
Sergei KOZYREV (RUS) vs Daniel LIGETI (HUN)
Jose DIAZ ROBERTTI (VEN) vs Sumit MALIK (IND)

Quarterfinals
Jose DIAZ ROBERTTI (VEN) df. Vakhit GALAYEV (AZE) 3-3
Sumit MALIK (IND) df. Rustam ISKANDARI (TJK), 10-5
Daniel LIGETI (HUN) df. Dilmukhammed NURMUKHAMEDOV (UZB) by TF, 10-0
Sergei KOZYREV (RUS) df. Robert BARAN (POL), 7-1

2026 Muhamet Malo

Muhamet Malo Day 4 Results: Medet Kyzy Beats Reasco to Win 76kg Gold

Saturday, February 28, 2026 - 09:53 By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (February 28) -- The stakes were not the same but Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) will be very satisfied with her win over world champion Genesis REASCO (ECU).

World champion Reasco and silver medalist Medet Kyzy met in the 76kg final of the 2026 Muhamet Malo Ranking Series on Saturday. In the rematch of the World Championships final, Medet Kyzy changed her strategy and kept Reasco tangled in upper body match-up. It worked out well for Medet Kyzy as she defeated Reasco 5-4 to clinch the gold medal.

Five months ago in Zagreb, Reasco led 4-0 with two different takedowns before Medet Kyzy cut it to 4-2 but was unable to score another takedown which would have given her the win.

In Tirana on Saturday, the Kyrgyzstan wrestler did not let Reasco settle down and dictate. She scored the first stepout of the bout to take a 1-0 lead. Reasco and Medet Kyzy then were locked in par terre but the former managed to get her hand out and score a takedown to lead 2-1. Medet Kyzy got a two-on-one and snapped Reasco for takedown and turned her using a gut-wrench to step ahead 5-2 at the break.

Reasco tried her getting a two-on-one on Medet Kyzy but was blocked as Medet Kyzy kept her left arm on the Ecuadorian's forehead. Reasco then switched plans and went for her favorite double-leg attack to get the takedown and cut the lead to 5-4.

But Medet Kyzy did not panic and locked Reasco in double underhooks and then standing to run out the time and claim the victory.

While there were no celebrations from Medet Kyzy but her win makes her the favorite not just for the April's Asian Championships but also the October's World Championships.

Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) finishes her final against Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Bakbergenova Dominates

Three-time world silver medalist Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) was dominant throughout the day and won the gold medal at 72kg.

Coming out of the Nelson bracket as the number one from the group, she won the semifinal, 10-0, against Diksha MALIK (IND). From the other side, world bronze medalist Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) reached the final.

Bakbergenova was put on the activity clock in the first period and Nurtaeva was on the board with a 1-0 lead. But a slide-by from Bakbergenova threw the bout wide open. Bakbergenova elevated Nurtaeva's leg and rolled over for four points but the latter kept her control to get two points.

The Kazakhstan wrestler kept her position and was awarded a point for reversal and then tried to pin Nurtaeva, however, the Kyrgyzstand wrestler flee out of bounds. At the end of the exchange, Bakbergenova led 11-3. Kyrgyzstan challenged the call and lost one more point and Nurtaeva was put in forced par terre.

Bakbergenova sat on Nurtaeva as the latter tried to get out of the hold but going between the former's legs. That was the two points Bakbergenova needed to complete her victory.

Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) turns NEHA (IND) during the 57kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Vynnyk Edges Neha

Albania is turning out to be a happy hunting ground for Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR). After winning her two U23 World Championships gold medals here in 2023 and 2024, Vynnyk won the 57kg gold medal at the Ranking Series on Saturday.

In one of the most exciting finals of the night, Vynnyk defeated NEHA (IND), 8-7, with 13 points coming in the second period. It was the Indian who opened the score with an early takedown to lead 2-0 at the break, before Vynnyk who used a chest wrap to throw her over and led 2-2. She continued the exchange with three turns before a reversal and came out with an 8-3 lead.

Neha, who looked clueless in her defense, used strength to put Vynnyk down for two points to cut the lead to 8-5. With 50 seconds remaining and needing three points to win, Neha elevated Vynnyk's leg, trying to score four points. But Vynnyk defended all attempts to trip her and killed the time as Neha tried to find a way to score.

Eventually, Vynnyk fell on the edge and Neha got only two points, that too after a challenge. Neha was left with only six seconds to win the match and that was always too little against Vynnyk, who improved her bronze from last year.

At 53kg, Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW) won all her four bouts in the Nelson bracket to win the gold medal. She outscored her four opponents 36-3 to stamp her authority.

MEENAKSHI (IND) won the silver medal after beating Zeynep YETGIL (TUR), 2-1, in the Round 5 bout. Yetgil ended with a bronze medal.

Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) won the 67kg gold after a 5-1 win over Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Shermakhanbet Returns With Gold

Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ), who has been out of action for close to a year, returned to international competition with a gold medal at 67kg. The former Asian champion took out Zagreb Open champion Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO), 5-1, in the final. He was the second Georgian who Shermakhanbet defeated as he took out European bronze medalist Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) in the semifinals.

In the final, Shermakhanbet scored a turn from par terre in the first period and then defended his par terre in the second period despite desperate efforts from Chkhikvadze.

The Kazakhstan wrestler got the last two points when Chkhikvadze tried to throw him but landed on his back.

At 63kg, Ziya BABASHOV (AZE) defeated compatriot Sakit GULIYEV (AZE), 1-1, thanks to the first par terre call he got and held criteria.

RESULTS

Women's Wrestling

53kg
GOLD: Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW)
SILVER: MEENAKSHI (IND)
BRONZE: Zeynep YETGIL (TUR)

57kg
GOLD: Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) df. NEHA (IND), 8-7

BRONZE: Nilufar RAIMOVA (KAZ) df. Kristina MIKHNEVA (UWW), via fall (7-7)
BRONZE: Amanda MARTINEZ (USA) df. Felicitas DOMAJEVA (NOR), 5-4

72kg
GOLD: Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) df. Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ), 14-3

BRONZE: Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) df. Diksha MALIK (IND), via fall

76kg
GOLD: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) df. Genesis REASCO (ECU)

BRONZE: Dymond GUILFORD (USA) vs. Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU)
BRONZE: Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA (KAZ) vs. Elmira YASIN (TUR)

Greco-Roman

63kg
GOLD: Ziya BABASHOV (AZE) df. Sakit GULIYEV (AZE), 1-1

BROBZE: Yernur FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ) df. Ali HAJIVAND (IRI), 6-3
BRONZE: Morten THORESEN (NOR) df. Bakytzhan KABDYL (KAZ), 2-1

67kg
GOLD: Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) df. Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO), 5-1

BRONZE: Mahammad SHUKURZADE (AZE) vs. Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO)
BRONZE: Erzu ZAKRIEV (UWW) df. Otto BLACK (USA), 8-0

Morning Session Highlights

15:00: Greco 67kg semifinals - Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) books his spot in the 67kg final after a 4-4 criteria over Otto BLACK (USA). This is the second straight Ranking Series final for Chkhikvadze. Black threatened to upset the Georgian as he scored two takedowns in the first period to lead 4-0. But Chkhikvadze managed to control the second period and scored two takedowns against a tiring Black to win.

Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) denied European bronze medalist Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO), 3-1, in the other semifinal. A takedown from Shermakhanbet which was challenge by Georgia but lost, giving a 3-0 lead to the Kazakhstan. A stepout is all Khetsuriani could score in the second period.

14:45: Greco 63kg semifinals - Sakit GULIYEV (AZE) goes high gut-wrench from par terre and turn (NOR) Morten THORESEN (NOR) four times to finish the semifinal 9-0. He will face compatriot Ziya BABASHOV (AZE) who rode on a strong first period to beat Yernur FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ), 7-3. Babashov hit a four-pointer and turn from par terre to score his points.

14:30: 76kg semifinals - World Championships final rematch in Tirana. World champion Genesis REASCO (ECU) comes back after being 4-2 down against Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) and scores two take downs in the second period to win 6-4. World silver medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) gets past the young Elmira YASIN (TUR), 9-0, to book her chance to avenge that loss from Zagreb

14:20: 72kg semifinals - Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) was put on the activity clock in the second period but she instantly hits Diksha MALIK (IND) with a double leg and then score six points with a lace to lead 9-1. She scores a stepout to finish the semifinal 10-0. Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) will face Bakbergenova in the final after she held off Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) for a 2-1 win

14:10: 57kg semifinals - NEHA (IND), a U20 world bronze medalist, with a 10-0 technical superiority win over Felicitas DOMAJEVA (NOR) in just one minute and 32 seconds. A stiffer challenge awaits in the final as Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR), a U23 world champion, will stand between her and the gold medal. Vynnyk used a strong gut-wrench and then a four-pointer to win her semifinal against Nilufar RAIMOVA (KAZ), 14-2.

Semifinals will begin at 14:00 hours local time

12:55: Quick finish for Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) as she rolls Vanesa GEORGIEVA (BUL) after a takedown to win 10-0 at 76kg. She will wrestle in the semifinals.

12:50: World champion Genesis REASCO (ECU) is too good for European champion Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) at 76kg. She opens with a double-leg four-pointer before Alpyeyeva is hit with caution which makes her score 5-0. A scramble is score two points for Reasco and one for Alpyeyeva which Ukraine challenges but loses the challenge, giving extra point to Reasco who wins 8-5

12:45: Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) shits gears in the final minute to beat Bose TOSUN (TUR) 6-1 at 72kg. Bakbergenova led 2-1 after two activity clock points and then scored a double-leg takedown and roll to complete the victory

12:40: In a battle of age-group stars, Elmira YASIN (TUR) beats KAJAL (IND), 7-5, at 76kg. Kajal led 3-0 when Yasin hit double-leg for four points which Kajal challenged but lost to give Yasin a 5-3 lead. The first two minutes of the second period were slow before Kajal got a takedown but that only made it 5-5 with Yasin holding criteria. A desperate throw from Kajal at the end resulted in Yasin on top, giving the Turkiye wrestler two more points

12:35: Another excellent win for Felicitas DOMAJEVA (NOR) over Samantha STEWART (CAN) at 57kg. Once again, Domajeva with a comeback from 4-0 down to make it 4-4 in the second period and win on criteria.

12:20: Ali HAJIVAND (IRI) and Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) took a long time to finish their 63kg bout and it is the Iranian who comes out on top 6-3. Mammadov took a 3-0 lead in the first period. But, Hajivand got the par terre in the second and Mammadov committed a defensive foul which gave a 3-3 criteria lead to Hajivand. He then hit a correct throw to make it 5-3. Hajivand then almost got Mammadov in a fall but did not complete it but his lead swelled to 7-3. Mammadov challanged that asking for leg foul but lost it which gave Hajivand the additional one point.

12:00: Zagreb Open champion Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) with first-period victory over Erzu ZAKRIEV (UWW) 67kg. Chkhikvadze hits an opening four-pointer and then gets a pushout which was actually a throw but Zakriev did not land in danger. Zakriev challenges for two points for himself but challenge is lost. A two-point takedown and stepout gives Chkhikvadze the 9-1 win

11:50: Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) gets a win over Buse TOSUN (TUR), 12-1, in the Nelson bracket bout. Tosun unusually clueless in that bout was even docked a caution point

11:25: World silver medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) recovers from the first takedown that Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA (KAZ) scored on her to complete a 12-2 victory in her opening bout at 76kg in Tirana.

11:15: World champion Genesis REASCO (ECU) needed a stepout with 20 seconds left to pull off a victory against Dymond GUILFORD (USA) in the opening round bout at 76kg. The United States challenged the call but Guilford stepped out first, giving Reasco another point as she wins 3-2.

11:05: U20 world silver medalist Felicitas DOMAJEVA (NOR) with a activity clock point and a stepout to complete a 2-2 win over Jenna HEMIAE (FIN) at 57kg. Really clutch from Domajeva

10:55: Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), a three-time world silver medalist, with a 4-3 victory over Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) at 72kg

10:45: Starting the day with 53kg as Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW) takes out MEENAKSHI (IND), 5-0, and then Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) hangs on for a 3-3 criteria win over Roksana ZASINA (POL), also at 53kg

10:30: A big day in Tirana as a World Championships final rematch on the cards between champion Genesis REASCO (ECU) and Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) at women's 76kg.

Rio Medalist Saritov Keeps Olympic Hopes Alive While Demirtas' Bid Ends

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Muhamet Malo Day 4 Results: Medet Kyzy Beats Reasco to Win 76kg Gold