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Tynybekova Grabs Historic Gold for Kyrgyzstan at Women’s 62kg; Russia Rakes in 2 Freestyle Titles

Friday, September 20, 2019 - 17:25 By Ken Marantz

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NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan (Sept. 20)---The Olympic berth was secondary. This was the time and place for Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) to accomplish a more historic moment for her Central Asian nation.

Tynybekova earned a place in Kyrgyzstan's sporting history as the first wrestler to win a senior world title when she captured the women’s 62kg gold medal with a 5-3 victory over defending champion Taybe YUSEIN (BUL) on Day 7 at the World Championships.

“When I started wrestling, it was just a dream for me to become world champion,” the 26-year-old Tynybekova said. “But today, the dream came true.”

Since Kyrgyzstan made its debut at the world championships in 1994, the former Soviet republic had won nine medals---including Tynybekova’s bronze in 2017---but no one had made it to the top of the podium.

Until Friday night at the Barys Arena in the capital of neighboring Kazakhstan, where a large contingent of compatriots had made the trip and were witness to this moment of national glory.

“Last year, I couldn’t participate in the world championships [in Budapest] because of an injury,” said Tynybekova, who returned to action to win the gold at the Asian Championships in April. 

“It was a serious injury and I missed six months of training. At that time, it was hard watching [the World Championships] because I wanted to be there so badly.”

Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) scored a takedown with 10 seconds left to knock off reigning world champion Taybe YUSEIN (BUL), 5-3.(Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

In the final, Tynybekova gave up a point on the activity clock, then scored a takedown to lead 2-1 going into the second period. She added a stepout point, but fell behind 3-3 on criteria when Yusein scored 2 with a stepover with a minute to go.

“It was important for me to control the match from the first second to the last,” Tynybekova said. “That was the strategy of my coach. When the score was 3-3 and there was just 40 seconds, I didn’t panic. I knew I could score 2 points more.”

Indeed she did, tackling the Bulgarian to her back with about 10 seconds to go to secure the historic victory. 

“Everyone on my team, my coach and the federation believed in me, and that gave me the power to win,” Tynybekova said. 

Tynybekova was a relative late-comer to the sport, only taking it up when she was in her mid-teens. She explained that the countryside where she grew up did not have wrestling clubs. When she became aware of women’s wrestling, she knew that was the sport for her, and made a drastic life decision.

“I was 16 when I started wrestling,” she said. “Before that, I tried many kinds of sports. I was always searching for something interesting.…When I heard there was women’s wrestling in the capital [Bishkek], I gathered all my clothes and moved there.”

Along with the gold medal, Tynybekova also clinched a place at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The top six finishers in each of the Olympic weight classes secure berths for their countries. But that was never the main objective.

“My coach said to me that Olympic qualifying is not the main thing,” Tynybekova said. “He was confident I could get the Olympic license. 

“He said I have to make history for Kyrgyzstan. It’s not only my victory. It’s a victory of my team, of my country. This medal is not only from my effort. Many people contributed.”

After a pair of runner-up finishes, Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (RUS) finally got his long-awaited gold medal. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

Meanwhile, Russia captured the two freestyle golds at stake, with Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (RUS) triumphing in his move up to the Olympic weight of 65kg, and Zavur UGUEV (RUS) successfully defending his title 57kg. Both won by technical falls.

Rashidov, a silver medalist at 61kg the past two years, overwhelmed Daulet NIYAZBEKOV (KAZ) 11-0 in just 1:42, capping the victory with a spin-behind takedown for the final points.

It was by far Rashidov’s easiest match of the tournament, after he had to emerge from a demolition-derby bracket that included victories over defending champion Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) and three-time world champion Haji ALIYEV (AZE).

“I took a very long road to reach this title,” Rashidov said. “My side of the draw was more difficult to get to the final, so that was why the final was easy.”

For Rashidov, the Olympic ramifications made finally taking a gold even more special.

“This victory means a lot for me because this championship is before the Olympic year,” he said. “Tokyo 2020 is waiting for us.” 

Uguev broke open a close match with European champion Suleyman ATLI (TUR) when he scored a takedown in the second period to take a 5-3 lead, then racked up a combination of tilts and rolls to complete a 13-3 victory in 4:40

Tamyra MENSAH STOCK (USA) celebrates after dominating Jenny FRANSSON (SWE), 8-2, in the 68kg finals. (Photo: Tony Rotundo)

Tamyra MENSAH STOCK (USA) gave the United States its third gold medal in women’s wrestling in Nur-Sultan when she grinded out an 8-2 victory over veteran Jenny FRANSSON (SWE) in the 68kg final.

The effervescent Mensah Stock, a bronze medalist a year ago who is unbeaten this year, reeled off three takedowns in the first period. Even when she got caught in a headlock for 2 in the second period, she slipped out of the hold for a reversal, and later got an additional point for an unsuccessful challenge. 

Mensah Stock, like 65kg champion Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) a first-time world champion, became the ninth woman in U.S. wrestling history to win a world gold.

In the bronze-medal matches, Japan had three wrestlers in action, but only one---Yukako KAWAI (JPN) at women’s 62kg---came out with a victory. That is significant because the Japanese federation had decreed that a wrestler winning a medal would automatically fill the Tokyo 2020 berth without further domestic qualifying.

Kawai joined older sister and 57kg champion Rikako on the Japan Olympic team when she rolled to a 12-1 technical fall of KIM Jong Sim (PRK). Henna JOHANSSON (SWE) took the other 62kg bronze by beating Marianna SASTIN (HUN) 4-1.

Rio 2016 Olympic champion Sara DOSHO (JPN) suffered a surprising 4-1 loss at women’s 68kg when Anna SCHELL (GER) scored a 2-point stepover early in the second period and won 4-1. 

Battsetseg SORONZONBOLD (MGL) defeated 2018 champion Alla CHERKASOVA (UKR) 2-2 on last-point criteria for the other 68kg bronze.

Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) defeated reigning world champion Takuto OTOGURO (JPN), 5-3 in the bronze-medal bout at 65kg. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

In freestyle 65kg, Otoguro’s bid to add a bronze to his 2018 gold fell short when he lost 5-3 to Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) in a testy but high-energy bout. 

Otoguro had to play catch-up late in the match, but a caution for head-slapping meant he did not have the advantage of last-point criteria when he tied the match with :24 left. His desperate attempt for the winning points resulted in Muszukajev gaining a medal-clinching takedown.

In the other third-place playoff, 2018 silver medalist Bajrang PUNIA (IND) rallied from an early deficit and a precarious few seconds on his back to edge Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL), 8-7.

At 57kg, the host country picked up a medal when Nurislam SANAYEV (KAZ) edged Stevan MICIC (SER) 4-3. Kumar RAVI (IND) took home the other bronze with a 6-3 win over Reza ATRINAGHARCHI (IRI).

In the women’s team competition, Japan, which was surprisingly limited to just one gold medal, had six medalists overall to top the standings with 137 points. 

Russia, with two golds, a silver and a two bronzes, placed second with 108 points, edging the United States by 3 points. China finished another 3 points behind the Americans in fourth place. 

Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS) scored a stepout with under two seconds left for the second consecutive year to defeat four-time world and Olympic champion Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) (Photo: Tony Rotundo)

Deja vu all over again: Sidanov stops Burroughs for 2nd year in row
Earlier in the night, defending champion Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS) scored with one tick left on the clock for the second year in a row to end a bid by Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) for a fifth world title at 74kg

This year, Sidakov’s late point for a stepout came one round later than in Budepest, giving him a 4-3 victory in the semifinals. He will face two-time world champion Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) in the final on Saturday.

“The one thing that helps me during the match is I really believe and hope that I will win,” Sidakov said. “I know Jordan Burroughs very well and respect him. But I can say my desire to win was even stronger than last year.”

Sidakov went ahead 2-1 with a takedown in the second period, only to see Burroughs, who pulled off two come-from-behind victories in the qualification rounds, go ahead with a go-behind takedown with :45 left. 

As he did in Budapest, Sidakov desperately went on the attack, shooting for a double-leg tackle that Burroughs countered with a sprawl as he was pushed toward the edge. The two tumbled out of bounds together, and Sidakov was awarded a stepout point to clinch the win on criteria. An unsuccessful challenge accounted for the final score. 

“This year, I prepared better,” Sidanov said. “There were 12 training camps before this championships, and I trained for seven straight months. Last year, I didn’t have a world title, so I just went out onto the mat and wrestled.”

In regard to Chamizo, who defeated Zelimkhan KHADIEV (FRA) 4-1 in the other semifinal, Sidanov commented: “When me meet on the mat, it doesn’t matter who is older or younger or who has more titles. Opponents compete win me different than last year. The other wrestlers use all their power against me.”

Reigning two-time world champion Geno PETRAIASHIVILI (GEO) will take on rival Taha AKGAL (TUR) in the gold-medal bout at 125kg on Saturday night. (Photo: Tony Rotundo)

As expected, the 125kg final will feature the latest clash between Geno PETRAIASHIVILI (GEO) and Taha AKGAL (TUR), who both advanced with untroubled wins.

Petraishivili, the two-time defending champion, defeated Oleksandr KHOTSIANIVSKYI (UKR) 6-2, while three-time former champion Akgal scored all of his points in the first period to sweep away 2018 silver medalist DENG Zhiwei (CHN) 5-0.

The final will be a rematch of the gold-medal match at the European Championships in April, which Akgal won 7-0.

At 92kg, J’den COX (USA) earned a shot at a second straight world gold by making the final, where he will face Asian champion Alireza KARAMIMACHIANI (IRI) in a rematch of the semifinals from 2018. 

Cox, a Rio 2018 bronze medalist topped Irakli MTSITURI (GEO) 3-0 and Karamimachiani stormed to a 10-0 technical fall over Alikhan ZHABRAILOV (RUS) in the semifinals.

The host nation will get another chance for a gold medal after Asian champion Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) edged Yones EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI) 7-6 in the 70kg semifinals. He will face David BAEZ (RUS), a 5-2 winner over Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL).

Day 7 Results

Freestyle

57kg (34 entries)
Gold – Zavur UGUEV (RUS) df. Suleyman ATLI (TUR) by TF, 13-3, 4:40 
Bronze – Nurislam SANAYEV (KAZ) df. Stevan MICIC (SER), 4-3
Bronze – Kumar RAVI (IND) df. Reza ATRINAGHARCHI (IRI), 6-3 

65kg (44 entries)
Gold – Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (RUS) df. Daulet NIYAZBEKOV (KAZ) by TF, 11-0, 1:42 
Bronze – Bajrang PUNIA (IND) df. Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL), 8-7 
Bronze – Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) df. Takuto OTOGURO (JPN), 5-3 

70kg (30 entries)
Semifinal – David BAEZ (RUS) df, Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL), 5-2 
Semifinal – Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) df. Yones EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI), 7-6 

74kg (39 entries)
Semifinal – Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) df. Zelimkhan KHADIEV (FRA), 4-1 
Semifinal – Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS) df. Jordan BURROUGHS (USA), 4-3

92kg (18 entries)
Semifinal – J’den COX (USA) df. Irakli MTSITURI (GEO), 3-0 
Semifinal – Alireza KARAMIMACHIANI (IRI) df. Alikhan ZHABRAILOV (RUS) by TF, 10-0, 4:16

125kg (28 entries)
Semifinal – Geno PETRAIASHIVILI (GEO) df. Oleksandr KHOTSIANIVSKYI (UKR), 6-2
Semifinal – Taha AKGAL (TUR) df. DENG Zhiwei (CHN), 5-0

Women’s Wrestling 

62kg (34 entries)
Gold – Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) df. Taybe YUSEIN (BUL), 5-3
Bronze – Henna JOHANSSON (SWE) df. Marianna SASTIN (HUN), 4-1
Bronze – Yukako KAWAI (JPN) df KIM Jong Sim (PRK) by TF, 12-1, 4:03

68kg (32 entries)
Gold – Tamyra MENSAH STOCK (USA) df. Jenny FRANSSON (SWE), 8-2 
Bronze – Battsetseg SORONZONBOLD (MGL) df. Alla CHERKASOVA (UKR), 2-2
Bronze – Anna SCHELL (GER) df. Sara DOSHO (JPN), 4-1 

#WrestleZagreb

World Championships 2025: Day 6 GR 55kg, 77kg, 82kg, 130kg Highlights

Thursday, September 18, 2025 - 08:31 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

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ZAGREB, Croatia (September 18) -- Greco-Roman day at the World Championships in Zagreb. Four weight classes -- 55kg, 77kg, 82kg and 130kg -- are in action with Olympic champion Nao KUSAKA (JPN) and Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) are expected to meet in 77kg quarterfinals.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 5 RESULTS

77kg semifinals
SF 1: Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) vs. Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI)
SF 2: Nao KUSAKA (JPN) vs. Robert FRITSCH (HUN)

14:55: In the most anticipated match of the session, Nao KUSAKA (JPN) repeated his victory Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) from the final at the Paris Olympics to advance to the 77kg semifinals as he pursues a first world gold. Kusaka got the first chance at par terre, but it was Zhadrayev who came out with the points. Kusaka went to his usual cross body lock, but Zhadrayev used the momentum and timed it perfectly to launch a throw himself. Although Kusaka got behind for reversal, it left Zhadrayev ahead 2-2 on criteria. In the second period, a quick charge at the whistle sees Kusaka gain a stepout that is awarded on challenge. Kusaka adds another stepout, then fends off the pressure from Zhadrayev while avoiding getting flagged for passivity and advances with a 4-2 victory. Next up for Kusaka will be Robert FRITSCH (HUN), from the country where the Japanese went to train prior to his triumph in Paris.

14:54: Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) blocks Ahmet YILMAZ (TUR) as the Turkiye tries to turn Amoyan from par tarre to get the two points for danger position. There is no way back for Yilmaz as Amoyan, the Olympic bronze medalist, wins 3-1 to enter the semifinals at 77kg.

14:53: The Iranian win-rush continues as the country puts all four wrestlers in the semifinals with Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI) beating Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE), 3-1, at 77kg. Abdevali turned Suleymanov from par terre to take the lead and the win.

14:50: Robert FRITSCH (HUN) spoils the bid of local hero Antonio KAMENJASEVIC (CRO) to make the 77kg semifinals, scoring a stepout in the first period that proves the difference in a 2-1 victory.

55kg semifinals
SF 1: Emin CAKIR (TUR) vs. Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO)
SF 2: Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) vs. Payam AHMADI (IRI)

14:42: European bronze medalist Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO) is into the world semifinals with a 3-2 victory over Denis MIHAI (ROU). A stepout from Lolua made the difference as he held criteria at 2-2. A lost challenge from Mihai gives another point to Lolua

14:40: In a battle between a 30-something and a teenager, experience wins out, which is not surprising given it involves four-time 55kg world champion Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE). Azizli scores a takedown and gut wrench in the first period against 18-year-0ld Jayden RANEY (USA), who gets his chance on top in par terre in the second, but cannot budge the Azeri, who wins 5-1 to advance to the semifinals.

14:35: Emin CAKIR (TUR) upsets former world bronze medalist Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB) at 55kg, with a 9-0 technical superiority win.

14:31: Payam AHMADI (IRI) quickly joins the Iranian parade into the semifinals, needing just 25 seconds to bull Artiom DELEANU (MDA) down to the mat and execute three quick-fire rolls for an 8-0 victory at 55kg.

82kg semifinals
SF 1: Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN) vs. Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO)
SF 2: Karlo KODRIC (CRO) vs. Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI)

14:28: A match for the ages as Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN), a former world U17 champion and recent world U20 bronze medalist, beats European champion Gurban GURBANOV (AZE), who is cautioned out of the match. Gurbanov had a 6-2 lead but Yoshida, a powerhouse, keeps pressuring Gurbanov who is struggling with conditioning. A slew of stepouts and Yoshida makes it 8-6. On the stepout with 16 seconds left, Gurbanov receives his third caution and is disqualified from the match, giving Yoshida the win.

14:22: Adlet TIULIUBAEV (UWW) thought he had it covered but Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) scores two turns from the third passivity par terre to beat Tiuliubaev 5-4 and enter the semifinals at 82kg.

14:20: Karlo KODRIC (CRO), perhaps charged up by a vocal block of home fans in the stands nearby, steps over for 2 on a gut wrench attempt by Mihail BRADU (MDA), giving him a 4-1 lead midway through the second period of their 82kg quarterfinal. Kodric gives up a late stepout, but walks off a 4-2 winner.

14:15: Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) fights off a whizzer by Ramon BETSCHART (SUI) to secure a takedown, then traps an arm and executes four exposures to advance to the 82kg semifinals with an 8-0 victory in 1:05.

130kg semifinals
SF 1: Darius VITEK (HUN) vs Pavel HLINCHUK (UWW)
SF 2: Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) vs Wenhao JIANG (CHN)

14:07: Wenhao JIANG (CHN) with a pair of stepouts and he's into the 130kg quarterfinals with a 4-1 win over Jello KRAHMER (GER).

14:05: Darius VITEK (HUN) is the beneficiary of the new Greco-Roman rule in which the wrestler with first passivity point win. He beats Mykola KUCHMII (UKR), 1-1, at 130kg.

14:03: Pavel HLINCHUK (UWW) with an over-under throw for four over Hamza BAKIR (TUR) in the 130kg quarterfinals. Bakir tries to come back with a double-arm lock throw but Hlinchuk blocks and secures the fall.

14:01: Elias KUOSMANEN (FIN) surprisingly throws world champion Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) for 4 with an arm throw in their 130kg quarterfinal, but any joy is gone in milliseconds as the Iranian rolls through the move and puts Kuosmanen on his back. Mirzazadeh doesn't waste the opportunity and secures the fall in 1:13.

Quarterfinals will begin at the same time

13:47: Olympic champion Nao KUSAKA (JPN) books an Olympic final rematch with Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) with a 7-0 victory over Ihor BYCHKOV (UKR) at 77kg. He scored all his points in the first period and somehow there were no points in the second period.

13:43: Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) caps a one-sided 10-0 victory over Mateusz BERNATEK (POL) with a 4-point throw in the second period to secure his berth in the 77kg quarterfinals.

13:37: Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) used his head, and not in a good way, and it cost him a shot at a gold medal. Gutu was leading FRITSCH (HUN) 2-0 in their 77kg bout when he was hit with a 2-point penalty for a head butt, which also put him behind on criteria. Fritsch then received a passivity point, and he held on for a 3-2 victory. Ironically, Gutu suffered a head cut from his own action and had to have treatment, including a bandage around his head, which he ripped off and tossed in anger after the match.

13:30: Aleksa ILIC (SRB) almost pulls off a huge upset over Olympic silver medalist Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) at 77kg. Ilic led 5-1 at the break but Zhadrayev, who for the par terre, scored a turn to make it 5-4 but a stepout gave a point to Ilic. Zhadrayev hits a big four-pointer against a tired Ilic his place in the quarterfinal with an 8-6 win.

13:21: World bronze medalist Denis MIHAI (ROU) with a takedown and roll, then a 4-point takedown against an overmatched Alexander CUEVAS (SGP) and he's into the 55kg quarterfinals with an 8-0 victory in just over a minute.

13:10: World U20 champion Payam AHMADI (IRI) gets his debut on the senior level off to an impressive start, manhandling Ulan MURATBEK UULU (KGZ) in a 9-0 win to advance to the 55kg quarterfinals.

13:07: Young Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN), the 2024 Asian champion, extricates himself from a 4-point hole, scoring five points in the second period to top Alexander JOHANSSON (SWE) 6-5 at 82kg. Yoshida, who gave up a 4-point arm throw in the first period, pressures Johansson down for two takedowns, then gets a stepout with :54 left to take the lead for the first time.

13:05: Gurban GURBANOV (AZE)  gets the first of the two passivity calls, and with no other scoring, that makes him a 1-1 winner over Shahin BADAGHIMOFRAD (QAT) at 82kg.

13:04: Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) with powerpacked 8-0 technical superiority win over world silver medalist Erik SZILVASSY (HUN) at 82kg. Szilvassy was never allowed to settle down by Farokhi

13:00: Four-time world champion Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) with a 22-second technical superiority over Anil MOR (IND) at 55kg.

12:58: A stepout with 33 seconds left, Hamza BAKIR (TUR) beats Oscar PINO (CUB) 3-1 at 130kg. Bakir led 1-1 on criteria as he was given the first par terre position. But As Pino tried to score a stepout late in the second period, Bakir turned it around and managed to force Pino to put the hand before Bakir himself did. Cuba challenged the call but lost it.

12:52: With calls of 'Karlo! Karlo!' and the banging of drums reverberating throughout the arena, Karlo KODRIC (CRO) is through to the 82kg quarterfinals with a 5-0 victory over Bekzat ORUNKUL UULU (KGZ).

12:45: Pavel HLINCHUK (UWW) comes back from 3-1 down to beat Razmik KURDYAN (ARM) 4-3, thanks for a successful challenge from Hlinchuk at the end.

12:42: Defending 130kg champion and Olympic bronze medalist Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI)  gets two gut wrenches off par terre for a 5-0 lead over Marko KOSCEVIC (CRO), much to the dismay of the home crowd. In the second period, Mirzazadeh adds a stepout, then scores a takedown for an 8-0 win with just over two minutes left.

12:36: Four-time Asian medalist Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ) rns out of a gas about two minutes to soon, giving Mykola KUCHMII (UKR) two easy takedowns in the second period and a 6-4 win at 130kg.

12:35: Elias KUOSMANEN (FIN) pulls off the biggest surprise of the session so far, scoring a late takedown to topple Sergei SEMENOV (UWW) 3-3 at 130kg. In the first period, Semenov counters a throw attempt for a 2-point takedown, with an additional point for an unsuccessful challenge, but Kuosmanen strikes back with a stepout to make it 3-1 at the break. In the second period, a mighty shove sends Semenov down to the mat, and Kuosmanen pounces to secure the takedown and the shocking victory.

12:12: Jonni SARKKINEN (FIN) gets the first par terre position in the 77kg bout against Olympic silver medalist Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) and he scores from a throw in which the Kazakhstan wrestlers lands outside the zone. Sarkkinen leads 2-0. Just before the break, Zhadrayev gets a stepout to make it 2-1 Zhadrayev got the par terre in the second period to take a 2-2 criteria lead before getting a exposure for two points. Finland challenges the call. The two points are confirmed and Zhadrayev lead grows to 5-2, which remains the winning score.

12:09: Paris Olympic bronze medalist Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM), a former world champion with three world medals, was about to become the beneficiary of the new rule giving the wrestler who scores the first point in a Greco bout that ends 1-1 the victory, but a late challenge over a last-second move instead makes him a 2-1 winner over Kamal BEY (USA).

12:05: Two-time world U23 champion Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) gets off to an awesome start, throwing Lai Hsing YAO (TPE) twice with spectacular four and five pointers to start his campaign at 77kg with a 12-0 win.

11:57: A welcome win for the home team. Antonio KAMENJASEVIC (CRO) rips off four rolls from par terre and he advances with a 9-0 victory over Hyeonjin KANG (KOR) at 77kg.

11:55: Olympic champion Nao KUSAKA (JPN) warms up with an 8-0 technical superiority win over AMAN (IND) at 77kg. He is expected to meet Olympic silver medalist Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) in the quarterfinals if the seeds hold.

11:40: Taiga ONISHI (JPN), whose younger sister Sakura won the women's 59kg gold on Tuesday night, gets a quick takedown, only to have Huoying SHI (CHN) reverse in their opening match at 55kg. Shi goes ahead in the second period with an exposure off an arm throw attempt, then hits a back suplex that is good for another 2. Shi resists a throw attempt and gets another 2, giving him a 7-2 win.

11:19: Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI), winner of the Ranking Series event here in Zagreb, has no need to go to par terre. He alternates three takedowns with two stepouts, then gets a point for a denied challenge to defeat Qingzhe LI (CHN) 9-0 in precisely two minutes at 82kg.

11:15: Four-time world medalist Oscar PINO (CUB), his nation's heir apparent at 130kg to legendary five-time Olympic champion Mijain LOPEZ (CUB), easily executes a gut wrench from par terre, then is a rock when put on the bottom and he's through with a 3-1 victory over Jacob LOGAARD (SWE).

11:05: Pavel HLINCHUK  (UWW), who won 2023 world u23 gold at 97kg, is now at 130kg. He begins his first World Championships at this weight with a 9-0 victory over Sulkhan BUIDZE (GEO).

11:00: Sergei SEMENOV (UWW), a two-time former Olympic bronze medal who has a world gold from 2018, gets a pair of rolls from par terre and, although Cohlton SCHULTZ (USA) managed a reversal after the second one, safely posts a 5-2 victory at 130kg to start the Greco action on Mat D.

10:55: Alexander JOHANSSON (SWE) gets a big win for Sweden as he defeats former European champion and young star Alperen BERBER (TUR) 2-1, at 82kg. Berber is coming back after an injury he suffered at the Mongolian Ranking Series.