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Stefanek Rolls into Semifinals, Kazakhstan Wrestlers Stun Olympic Medalists

Friday, October 26, 2018 - 13:14 By Andrew Hipps

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (October 26) -- Olympic champion Davor STEFANEK (SRB) looks primed for another shot at world gold.

The 33-year-old Serb needed just 19 seconds to earn a fall over Fredrik BJERREHUUS (DEN) in the quarterfinals of the World Championships at 67kg on Friday. He had two technical fall victories prior to the quarterfinals and did not surrender a point. 

Stefanek, a 2014 world champion, now faces Gevorg SAHAKYAN (POL), who also earned a fall in the quarterfinals. 

Kazakhstan advanced two wrestlers to the semifinals. Both stunned Olympic medalists in Friday's opening session. 

Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) picked up two technical falls and a fall to reach the semifinals at 67kg. The fall came in his second match over 2016 Olympic champion Ismael BORRERO MOLINA (CUB). The Cuban star jumped out to a 5-0 lead before Shermakhanbet stormed back to take the lead and eventually earn the fall. 

In the quarterfinals, he faced Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI). Shermakhanbet used a four-point throw, which he followed up with a gut wrench, to take a 6-0 lead. He closed out the technical fall a short time later. Shermakhanbet's opponent in the semifinals will be two-time world bronze medalist Artem SURKOV (RUS).

Surkov, a European champion, topped Kamran MAMMADOV (AZE) 5-1 in the quarterfinals. The 25-year-old Russian trailed 1-0 at the break but scored with two gut wrenches in the final period after getting a passivity point. Many expected Surkov to face two-time world champion Hansu RYU (KOR), but he fell early to Denys DEMYANKOV (UKR). 

Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ) stunned 2016 Olympic silver medalist Shinobu OTA (JPN) 7-5 in the round of 16 at 60kg. In the quarterfinals, Sultangali cruised to a 9-1 technical fall over Kaly SULAIMANOV (KGZ). He will now meet Sergey EMELIN (RUS), who blanked Se Ung RI (PRK) 7-0. 

Kristian FRIS (SRB), a 2007 world bronze medalist, earned his spot in the semifinals at 60kg by getting a fall over Luis Alberto ORTA SANCHEZ (CUB). Fris led 3-1 in the second period before throwing Sanchez to his back for the fall. In the semifinals he will face Victor CIOBANU (MDA).

Ciobanu edged Sailike WALIHAN (CHN) 6-6 on criteria in the quarterfinals. Walihan held a 5-2 lead in the second period before Ciobanu used a body lock for four points to take the lead. He held on for the victory.

Reigning world champion Metehan BASAR (TUR) edged returning world bronze medalist Roberti KOBLIASHVILI (GEO) 1-1 on criteria in the quarterfinals at 87kg. It sets up a semifinal meeting with Bekkhan OZDOEV (RUS). 

Ozdoev went up 6-0 early against Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) after a takedown and two turns. Assakalov would get back in the match but come up short.

Olympic silver medalist Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) trailed 2-0 in the second period of his quarterfinal match before throwing 2017 world bronze medalist Hossein Ahmad NOURI (IRI) for four points to take the lead. He held on for the 4-2 victory. He now faces Islam ABBASOV (AZE) in the semifinals. 

Like Beleniuk, Abbasov trailed after the opening period of his quarterfinal match against before grabbing the lead after a passivity and gut wrench, which was enough to take the 4-1 victory over returning world silver medalist Radzik KULIYEU (BLR) and earn a spot in the semifinals.

The semifinals are scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. local time.

Semifinal Matchups

Greco-Roman

60kg
Kristian FRIS (SRB) vs. Victor CIOBANU (MDA) 
Sergey EMELIN (RUS) vs. Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ) 

67kg
Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) vs. Artem SURKOV (RUS) 
Davor STEFANEK (SRB) vs. Gevorg SAHAKYAN (POL)

87kg
Islam ABBASOV (AZE) vs. Zhan BELENIUK (UKR)
Metehan BASAR (TUR) vs. Bekkhan OZDOEV (RUS)
 

U23 World Championships 2025 Day 4 Results & Highlights

Thursday, October 23, 2025 - 07:53 By Vinay Siwach

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NOVI SAD, Serbia (October 23) -- The day four of the U23 World Championships will be all Women's Wrestling in four weight classes -- 55kg, 57kg, 65kg and 68kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 3 RESULTS

The semifinals will begin at 17:00 hours local time

13:10: Aryna DZEMCHANKA MARTYNAVA (UWW) with a fall over Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) at 57kg. She built an 8-0 lead in the first minute before securing the pin.

12:30: Akari FUJINAMIM (JPN) gets her second 10-0 technical superiority win at 57kg. She switches her attacks and uses the leg lace to win against Neha SHARMA (IND). 

12:15: Cristelle RODRIGUEZ (USA) had begun well against Amory ANDRICH (GER) and led 6-0 before Andrich held her on the mat to secure a fall at 55kg. Rodriguez is left stunned.

12:05: Beyza AKKUS (TUR) with a powerful gut-wrench against Nana IKEHATA (JPN) to post a 10-0 technical superiority win at 65kg.

12:00: Akari FUJINAMI's (JPN) debut at 57kg begins with a 10-0 win over Yifan TANG (CHN) in just a minute and 38 seconds. Fujinami with a pick to get four points before adding a takedown and turn to lead 8-0. A single leg finish for takedown for the technical superiority win.

11:40: Neha SHARMA (IND) continues her winning run with a 5-0 blanking of Nilufar RAIMOVA (KAZ). However, she is likely to get Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) next

11:30: Roza SZENTTAMASI (HUN) ends Nethmi PORUTHOTAGE (SRI) debut at the U23 World Championships as the Hungarian beats the Sri Lankan 6-2 at 57kg.

11:10: Cristelle RODRIGUEZ (USA) with a massive throw to pin Gultakin SHIRINOVA (AZE) at 55kg. Rodriguez is a former U20 world champion and recently wrestled at the senior Worlds in Zagreb.

11:00: Upset of the morning session as NISHU (IND) launches a perfect headlock throw and holds Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) on the mat to secure the fall at 55kg! Nishu was lead 2-2 on criteria when she hit the big throw.

10:45: Three four-point moves in the 15-10 match between Nethmi PORUTHOTAGE (SRI) and Inna ALIMOVA (LTU). Poruthotage never surrendered her lead once she was up 4-2 early in the bout despite various comebacks form Alimova. In the end, Poruthotage held a 12-10 lead and when Alimova hit an attack, the Sri Lankan blocked her and scored two points on exposure. A lost challenge from Lithuania made it 15-10.

10:40: Former U20 world champion Eniko ELEKES (HUN) with a huge win over Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE) at 57kg. Elekes was up 3-2 when Mammadova, a U23 European champion, tries to hit a big throw but Elekes blocks her and lands on top and holds Mammadova to win 5-2.

10:20: After a few Greco-Roman and Women's Wrestling repechage bouts, the qualification rounds in Women's Wrestling begin. Olympic champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) is returning to international competition for the first time since winning the gold in Paris at 53kg. She is now at 57kg.