#BudaWrestle2018

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)
 

#WrestleIstanbul

Stars to follow in Women's Wrestling at World Qualifier

Monday, May 6, 2024 - 08:14 By Vinay Siwach

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ISTANBUL, Türkiye (May 6) -- Mariya STADNIK (AZE) has endured quite a few heartbreaks in her 16-year-long career. The most recent was her fall against Oksana LIVACH (UKR) in the final five seconds of the match. A win would have confirmed a fifth trip to the Olympics for her.

The four-time Olympic medalist will now be in Istanbul for the World OG Qualifier -- the last chance -- in a bid to earn a Paris 2024 quota. It will also put her one step closer to winning an unprecedented fifth Olympic medal, a feat no one has achieved in wrestling.

But Stadnik isn't the only one with so much to fight for in Istanbul.

Two-time European champion Alina HRUSHYNA (UKR) was also seconds away from earning a spot for Paris when Tokyo silver medalist Iryna KURACHKINA (AIN) scored a takedown to beat her. Hrushyna missed the Tokyo flight after suffering an injury two months before the Games.

Now, she will be in Istanbul along with Tokyo bronze medalist Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL) who is not yet qualified at 57kg. Both will compete for the three spots available along with other top wrestlers like Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE), Giullia PENALBER (BRA), Aurora RUSSO (ITA), Khongorzul BOLDSAIKHAN (MGL), Kateryna ZHYDACHEVSKA (ROU), Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (AIN) and Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR).

In each Olympic weight class, the winner of the semifinals will earn a berth for the Paris Games for their respective countries. The third spot will be earned by the winner of the playoff between the two bronze medalists of the weight class.

This provides an extra opportunity to the wrestler who lost to the two best wrestlers of their respective weight classes. The repechage, bronze-medal bouts and the playoff will be held the next day.

China, which managed three quotas at the Asian OG Qualifier, will be hoping to claim all six spots for Paris as Jia LONG (CHN) and Feng ZHOU (CHN) compete in the 62kg and 68kg respectively.

Ziqi FENG (CHN), Qianyu PANG (CHN), Kexin HONG (CHN) and Juan WANG (CHN) clinched the 50kg, 53kg, 57kg and 76kg spots with the last three coming at the Asian OG Qualifier in Bishkek last month.

For Long, who was in Tokyo, the field at 62kg will be strong. Veranika IVANOVA (AIN), Lais NUNES (BRA), MANSI (IND), Mariana CHERDIVARA (MDA), Kriszta INCZE (ROU) and Nesrin BAS (TUR) are a few wrestlers who can trouble Long.

Bas is an interesting choice by Turkiye as she regularly competes in the 72kg weight class. She was a U23 world champion in the same. But with the 68kg qualification by world champion Buse TOSUN (TUR) and 76kg by European champion Yasemin ADAR (TUR), Bas decided to move down.

At 68kg, Feng will have to raise her game if she wants to represent China in Paris. The weight has 23 wrestlers including the likes of Elis MANOLOVA (AZE), Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL), Linda MORAIS (CAN), Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE), NISHA (IND) and Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU).

Hristova would be doubly motivated to win a quota in Istanbul after she missed it in Baku. Leading 8-0 against Manola SKOBELSKA (UKR) in the quarterfinal, she got put on the mat by Skobelska and the Ukrainian secured a fall, leaving Hristova heartbroken.

A few European stars have not managed to earn a Paris spot at 53kg. Two-time Olympian Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) will be a strong contender to claim one of the three spots at 53kg.

Annika WENDLE (GER), Sztalvira ORSOS (HUN), Zeynep YETGIL (TUR), Mariia VYNNYK (UKR), Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA) and Jowita WRZESIEN (POL) will be fighting it out for the quotas as well.

Karla GODINEZ (CAN), the favorite at the Pan-Am OG Qualifier, suffered a loss and failed to qualify Canada. But she will be in Istanbul to earn that spot and join her sister Ana who qualified at 62kg. Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) will be a strong contender as well.

Among the big names at 76kg, Martina KUENZ (AUT), Anastasiya ZIMIANKOVA (AIN), Yuliana YANEVA (BUL), Samar HAMZA (EGY), Epp MAE (EST), Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) and Anastasiia SHUSTOVA (UKR) are taking the trip to Istanbul.

Despite all the stars assembling in Istanbul, Stadnik will be the center of attraction. How does a 36-year-old bounce back from her first-ever loss in Europe? Is she still good enough to compete against some of the best in the world? Is she a medal threat for Paris 2024?

A win in Istanbul will answer those questions.