Women's World Cup

Susaki, Mukaida Lead Japan at Women's World Cup

Wednesday, November 29, 2017 - 05:30 By Andrew Hipps

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CHEBOKSARY, Russia - Women's wrestling power Japan looks to claim its third straight title at the Women's World Cup.  The two-day event gets underway on Friday in Cheboksary, Russia.

The competition is comprised of eight of the top women's wrestling nations, divided into two pools of four. Nations will compete in dual meets against other nations within their pool, followed by placement matches paring teams from different pools.  

Group A includes Japan, host Russia, USA and Sweden. 

Eight-time Women's World Cup winner Japan is led by world champions Yui SUSAKI (48kg) and Mayu MUKAIDA (53kg). Susaki captured her first senior world title this year after winning three straight world titles at the cadet level. Mukaida was a world silver medalist this year in Paris, a year after winning world titles at both the senior and junior levels in 2016. Japan's roster also includes three-time cadet world champion Masako FURUICHI (75kg) and junior world champion Yurika ITO (63kg). 

Mayu MUKAIDA (53kg)

Russia's roster is headlined by three-time world finalist Irina OLOGONOVA (55kg). She won gold medals this year in Alexander Medved Prizes and Alrosa Cup events. Also competing for Russia is two-time world bronze medalist Elena PEREPELKINA (75kg). This year she was a bronze medalist at the Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix. Other notable wrestlers on Russia's team include junior world champions Valeriya CHEPSARAKOVA (48kg) and Natalia MALYSHEVA (53kg), European champion Anastasia BRATCHIKOVA and Klippan Lady Open champion Yulia PRONTSEVICH (60kg). 

Irina OLOGONOVA (55kg)

USA brings a strong team to the World Cup that includes three-time world champion Adeline GRAY (75kg) and two-time world silver medalist Alli RAGAN (60kg). Gray won world titles in 2012, 2014 and 2015. She took 2017 off.  Ragan's world silver medals have come in each of the last two years.

Adeline GRAY (75kg)

Sweden's roster includes a pair of bronze medalists from last week's U23 World Championships, Elin NILSSON (58kg) and Moa NYGREN (63kg). 

Group B features China, Azerbaijan, Mongolia and Ukraine.

China has won this event six times, with five coming in a row (2007-2011). Olympic champion Jiao WANG (69kg) will lead a talented team. Wang won Olympic gold in 2008 and placed fifth at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Another star competing for China is Yanan SUN, a 2016 Olympic bronze medalist and 2013 world champion. Qian ZHOU (75kg) is a multiple-time world medalist competing for China. Rui XU (63kg) was a 2016 Olympian. 

Yanan SUN (CHN)

Mariya STADNYK (48kg) will lead Azerbaijan at the World Cup. She is a three-time Olympic medalist, world champion and four-time world medalist. Also competing in the same weight class (48kg) for Azerbaijan is Turkan NASIROVA, who wrestled at three world championships this year.  She was a bronze medalist last week at the U23 World Championships last week. Azerbaijan's roster also includes junior and cadet world champion Leyla GURBANOVA (53kg), as well as U23 world bronze medalist Tetiana OMELCHENKO (60kg).

Mariya STADNYK (48kg)

Mongolia will look to make noise with a roster that includes multiple medalists from the recent U23 World Championships, led by junior world champion Battsetseg ALTANTSETSEG (58kg). Otgonjargal GANBAATAR (53kg), Gantuya ENKHBAT (60kg) were bronze medalists at the U23 World Championships. 

Ukraine brings a team that includes two-time cadet world champion Olena KREMZER (55kg), 2014 world bronze medalist Irina CHYKHRADZE (58kg) and world military champion Alla BELINSKAYA (69kg). 

Day ONE (Friday, December 1)

Round 1

Group A: Sweden vs. Japan || 10am/2am ET
Group A: USA vs. Russia || 11am/3am ET

Group B: Ukraine vs. China || 10am/2am ET
Group B: Mongolia vs. Azerbaijan || 11am/3am ET

Round 2 (Friday)

Group A: Russia vs. Japan || 12:30pm/430am ET
Group A: USA vs. Sweden || 1:30pm/530am ET

Group B: Azerbaijan vs. China || 12:30pm/430am ET
Group B: Mongolia vs. Ukraine || 1:30pm/530am ET

Round 3 (Friday)

Group A: USA vs. Japan || 5:30pm/930am ET
Group A: Sweden vs. Russia || 6:30pm/1030am ET

Group B: Mongolia vs. China || 5:30pm/930am ET
Group B: Ukraine vs. Azerbaijan || 6:30pm/1030am ET

Day TWO (Saturday, December 2)

7th Place: Group A (4) v. Group B (4) || 1pm/5am ET
5th Place: Group A (3) v. Group B (3) || 1pm/5am ET

3rd Place: Group A (2) v. Group B (2) || 2pm/6am ET

1st Place: Group A (1) v. Group B (1) ||  3pm/7am ET

#WrestleZagreb

Zagreb Open 2025 Day 2: Iran continues domination

Thursday, February 6, 2025 - 09:39 By United World Wrestling Press

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ZAGREB, Croatia (February 6) -- Zagreb Open day two with four Freestyle weight classes and Women's Wrestling in two weight classes. Day one saw six Freestyle classes with the United States and Iran winning two gold medals each. Azerbaijan and Slovakia won the remaining two.

LIVE MATCH ORDER | WATCH LIVE | 2025 SEASON PREVIEW

13:25: In the women's wrestling semifinal at 55kg, veteran Sam STEWART (CAN) leg laces Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE) and wins 12-1. She will face world bronze medalist Tatiana DEBIEN (FRA) who got the better of Ekaterina VERVINA (AIN) 5-4.

13:15: Mason PARRIS (USA) holds off Hayden ZILLMER (USA) 4-2 in the 125kg semifinal. But his big test will come in the final against Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) who beats Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL) 8-0.

13:05: Kyle SNYDER (USA) back in the Zagreb Open final at 97kg. He blanks Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK) 10-0 and he like take on Abolfazl BABALOO (IRI) who just about managed to beat Jonathan AIELLO (USA) 6-5 in the other semifinal. Aiello was down 6-3 but added two stepouts and almost got the third but the time ran out.

12:55: Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) may have confirmed his European Championships spot at 92kg as he beats Abubakar ABAKAROV (AZE) in the semifinal. Abakarov built a 3-2 but struggled with his shoulder which needed constantly medical attention. He changed the score to 5-4 with a minute remaining but Nurmagomedov scored a takedown to lead 6-5. Abakarov got hold off Nurmagomedov's leg for a good 10 seconds but failed to get a takedown. Nurmagomedov will wrestle Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) in the final

12:40: Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI) breaks Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) with his pace and wins the 79kg semifinal 4-1. Gamkrelidze got a point for Yousefi's passivity in the first period but the Iranian up the pace in the second period, scoring two stepouts and a takedown on the edge to win 4-1. He will face Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) who defeated Rocco WELSH (USA) 4-2

12:30: Semifinals on day two! Paris Olympian at 86kg Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) is up against U20 world champion Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI) at 79kg and Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) has Rocco WELSH (USA).

11:45: Match of the tournament so far! Abubakar ABAKAROV (AZE) has to come back multiple times as Iuza TSERTSVADZE (GEO) threatened to upset him. Tsertsvadze scored a takedown and two turns using a gut wrench to lead 6-0 before Abakarov began the second period with a stepout. He close the differnce to 6-5. Tsertsvadze was on the verge of extending his lead but Abakarov scored a four-pointer using a cut back to make it 9-7. A takedown and turn later, Tsertsvadze led 11-9 but Abakarov hit a single leg attack with 10 seconds left and score the two points needed to win. He is into the 92kg semifinals.

11:41: Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) wrestle with so much authority on the mat. No missed shots or efforts which can get countered. Just controls his way, like he did in a 5-0 win against Murazi MCHEDLIDZE (UKR) and enter the semifinal at 125kg.

11:35: Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) with another controlled win. He gets the better of Michael MACCHIAVELLO (USA) 5-0. He will wrestle in the semifinals

11:25: Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE), coached by his uncle and Olympic champion Sharif SHARIPOV (AZE), puts on a great show of defense and counters to beat Uri KALASHNIKOV (ISR) 5-0 at 92kg.

11:22: Paris Olympian Mason PARRIS (USA) faced compatriot Trent HILLGER (USA) in the opening round at 125kg and after a few stutters, he comes out as a 12-3

11:20: Kyle SNYDER (USA) who won a silver medal here in Zagreb last year begins with a 11-0 win over Richard VEGH (HUN) and moves into the semifinal at 97kg.

11:15: World bronze medalist Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK) looked rusty to begin with and he got U20 world champion Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI) in the first bout. Yousefi pounced on him and won 10-0 inside four minutes at 79kg.

10:55: Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE) holds off former U20 world champion Mohammadmobin AZIMI (IRI). Abakarov led 6-1 before giving up a takedown and turn for four points. He still wins 6-5

10:40: Asian champion Amirhossein FIROZPOUR (IRI) kicks off proceedings in dominant fashion. He scores a 11-0 technical superiority win over Zaur BERADZE (GEO) inside the first period.

10:30: Welcome to day two of the Zagreb Open and we have the remaining four Freestyle weight classes in action along with two in Women's Wrestling.