#WrestleRome

U17 World Championships Day 3 WW semis set

Wednesday, July 27, 2022 - 08:42 By Vinay Siwach

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ROME, Italy (July 27) -- Women's wrestling will begin on day three at theU17 World Championships in Rome, Italy. Five weight classes will be in action and these are 43kg, 49kg, 57kg, 65kg and 73kg. All the qualification bouts and semifinals will be held Wednesday.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER | DAY 2 WRAP

14:31: The final set of semifinals is at 49kg. European champion Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE) once again beats Sevval CAYIR (TUR). She had defeated her 8-5 at the European semis but the bout was closer in Rome as Mammadova managed to win 3-2. She will now face the Asian silver medalist Aiymgul ABYLOVA (KAZ) who beat Anja EPP (SUI) 7-2.

In the other semifinal, Mihoko TAKEUCHI (JPN) will face European silver medalist Fabiana RINELLA (ITA). Takeuchi leg-laced Anastasiia ZADVORNA (UKR) for an 8-0 lead before a duck under gave her the winning takedown. Rinella beat Sama MAHMOUD (EGY) 10-0. 

14:22: The 65kg semifinals are set. Zharkynai NURLAN KYZY (KGZ) pinned ANJALI (IND) and will now face Anju SATO (JPN) who defeated   Sydney PERRY (USA), 3-0. The other semifinal will feature Maria PANTIRU (ROU) who won 9-4 against Mouda HAMDOUN (EGY). She will face Viktoria FOELDESIOVA (SVK) who came back from 7-1 down to beat Tsai YUAN (TPE) 8-7.  

14:18: The 57kg semifinals will see Ulmeken ESENBAEVA (UZB) trying to stop Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) and Gerda TEREK (HUN) facing Tuba DEMIR (TUR) which is a rematch of the European final in which Demir won.

14:14: The 43kg field is just mind-blowing. The four semifinalists include world champion Erica PASTORIZA (USA), European champion Anastasiia POLSKA (UKR), Asian champion RITIKA (IND) and Arina ABDULLINA (KAZ)

SF 1: Erica PASTORIZA (USA) vs Arina ABDULLINA (KAZ)
SF 2: RITIKA (IND) vs Anastasiia POLSKA (UKR)

14:10: If you are wondering how Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) is so good with those low singles, she trains at the JOC Elite Academy which has produced the likes of Yui SUSAKI and Nonoka OZAKI. Uchida beats Shelby MOORE ?? 10-0 to enter the 57kg semifinals

14:00: Asian silver medalist Alina YERTOSTIK (KAZ) beats Pan-Am champ Rupinder Kaur JOHAL (CAN) 10-0 at 73kg. She will now face defending champion Priya MALIK (IND) in the semifinals. Malik defeated Dominika POCHOWSKA (POL) 10-0. Malik vs Yertostik is a rematch from the U17 Asian final in which Malik pinned the Kazak wrestler. 
In the other semifinal, Makoto KOMADA (JPN) will face Mariia ZENKINA (UKR) vs. Lotta ENGLICH (GER) as she defeated Elmira YASIN (TUR) 4-4, thanks to her two takedowns again Yasin's stepouts. Zenkina beat Englich 5-1 in what was a battle of the European bronze medalists.

13:53: European champion at 57kg Tuba DEMIR (TUR) trailed Asian bronze Sofya ZMAZNEVA (KAZ) 3-0 early in the quarterfinal but she gets a four-pointer just before the break to lead 4-3. She begins the second period with a double-leg for four and collects the fall to enter semifinal

13:37: Huge home win for Italy! Fabiana RINELLA (ITA) decimates Audrey JIMENEZ (USA) for a 9-2 win at 49kg. The home crowd loved every moment there.

13:30: Here are the quarterfinals for 43kg

Malak MOUSTAFA (EGY) vs. Arina ABDULLINA (KAZ)
Gulnura RUSLANOVA (UZB) vs. RITIKA (IND)
Dominika KONKEL (POL) vs. Erica PASTORIZA (USA)
Anastasiia POLSKA (UKR) vs. Josephine WRENSCH (GER) 

13:13: Alina FILIPOVYCH (UKR) led 5-0 against Shelby MOORE (USA) and was cruising to victory. Moore scored a takedown in the second period and used four leg laces to lead 10-6. Filipovych tries a four, but it's only awarded two, the referee calls for a pin but the mat chairman doesn't signal the same. A huge 11-8 win for Moore over Filipovych. 

13:00: European silver medalist Gerda TEREK (HUN) trailed 2-1 for a major part of her bout against Liza TOMAR (IND). But she scores two stepouts late in the bout to win 3-2 at 57kg

12:40: Three top bouts at 43kg. U17 Asia champion RITIKA (IND) begins with a 10-0 win over Melissa DOROFTEI (ITA). European champion Anastasiia POLSKA (UKR) is up against Maya JOHANSSON (SWE) and leads 3-0. She gets the fall after the break.

World champion at 40kg Erica PASTORIZA (USA) up against European silver medalist Elvina KARIMZADA (AZE). Pastoriza and Karimzada exchange exposures in the second period. But Pastoriza with an ankle pick and four. Karimzada gets a go behind at the end but Pastoriza wins 7-4

12:30: European champion Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE) with a fall over Ana ROTARU (ROU) in just over a minute of the bout. She is one of the favorites to win the 49kg gold

12:20: At 57kg, Shelby MOORE (USA) starts her day with a stunning 11-0 win over Michalina IGNASZAK (POL). Used the leg lace to perfection.

12:10: Hiunai HURBANOVA (AZE) may have thought she had Gerda TEREK (HUN) in a hold but the Hungarian manages to survive a pin attempt and take the win at 57kg 5-2 

12:05: Pan-Am champion Rupinder JOHAL (CAN) begins her quest for a world title with a good win. She scored a few stepouts against European champion Ambre CHEVREAU (FRA) in a 9-0 win. 

11:54: Quick results at 73kg as Alina YERTOSTIK (KAZ) pins European silver medalist Gabriela MAEVA (BUL) inside the first period, Euro bronze Lotta ENGLICH (GER) works hard for a 4-4 win over Heba IBRAHIM (EGY) and Elmira YASIN (TUR) controls her bout for an 8-1 win over Giorgia D'ANTIMI (ITA).

11:52: Blink and miss stuff from Japan's Makoto KOMADA (JPN) as she rolls to a 12-0 win over Gemma RUSSELL (RSA) in the opening round at 73kg.

11:50: A winning start for defending champion Priya MALIK (IND) at 73kg. She got a point for passivity and then a takedown against Kaiulani GARCIA (USA). In the second period, Malik was called passive but still won 3-1. 

11:30: Welcome to the third day of the U17 World Championships in Rome. Women's wrestling begins with three defending champions in action.

#WrestleTirana

World Championships: Azizli wins record fourth title, leads Azerbaijan's golden run

Tuesday, October 29, 2024 - 22:17 By Ken Marantz

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TIRANA, Albania (October 29) -- In leading a golden night for Azerbaijan, Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) became the country's most successful wrestler on the world stage.

Azizli won his fourth consecutive world title at Greco 55kg, one of three golds won by Azerbaijan on the first night of finals at the Non-Olympic Weight Categories World Championships on Tuesday in Tirana.

Azerbaijan also got golds from Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) at 63kg and Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) at 72kg, while Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI) took the other Greco title at stake at 82kg to claim an elusive world gold after having previously settled for three bronzes.

In the 55kg final, Azizli defeated 2023 bronze medalist Poya DAD MARZ (IRI) for the fourth time in four career meetings, but this one was the closest as he won 1-1 on last-point criteria after each received a passivity point.

"I have met the Iran wrestler before and we know each other well," Azizli said. "That is why it was close. I have beaten him four times and but this time it was closer."

It was an ironic defeat for Dad Marz, who had been on the winning end of the same scoreline in his two previous matches. In their most recent encounter at the Budapest Ranking Series in June, Azizli had bested the Iranian 6-1.

By winning his fourth world title, the 32-year-old Azizli eclipsed the national record of three held by freestyle great Haji ALIYEV (AZE), who won golds in 2014, 2015 and 2017. Aliyev also has two Olympic medals, a prize that Azizli is unable to attain on the current Olympic program.

Looking ahead, Azizli said he would like to win his fifth world Greco gold, a milestone reached by 16 wrestlers, topped by the 12 of Russian legend Aleksandr KARELIN (RUS).

"I don't know what the future holds, but I would like to win five world gold medals," he said. "I will not be at the Europeans [next year], but I will try to win a fifth world title and finish my career."

In a battle of reigning continental champions, Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) took advantage of some impatience on the part of Yerzhet ZHARLYKASSYN (KAZ), scoring twice by stopping throw attempts for a 6-1 victory in the 63kg final.

After keeping Asian champion Zharlykassyn from scoring from par terre in the first period, Mammadli, the European 60kg champion, went ahead by stuffing a back suplex attempt, adding a roll to go ahead 4-1.

When Zharlykassyn tried a front headlock throw at the edge, Mammadli pressed forward and sent him tumbling back for another 2 to put the match out of reach.

At 72kg, Ganizade kept the Azeri juggernaut going and improved on his silver medal from 2022 by dethroning defending champion Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) 3-2.

Ganizade had won a 7-7 nail-biter over Ghanem in the final at the 2023 European Championships, and Tuesday's clash was just as tense. Ganizade was put on the bottom of par terre in the first period, but grabbed Ghanem's head and stopped a roll attempt for a 2-point exposure.

Ghanem received a second passivity point in the second period to make it 2-2, but remained behind on criteria. Perhaps learning a lesson from the first period, he chose to remain standing instead of taking another shot at par terre.

In the end, he could not break down the defenses of Ganizade, who gained a third point when Ghanem unsuccessfully challenged for what he claimed was a grabbed singlet.

In the 82kg final, Geraei was not to be denied in his first chance at world gold, as he stormed to a 9-0 victory over a shell-shocked Erik SZILVASSY (HUN).

"After eight years, I finally got to experience the world finals," Geraei said. "I’m truly happy from the bottom of my heart because I could make my fans and family happy, especially my dear wife 
who stood by me in tough times and understood me, as well as my parents and all my fans.

"I'm grateful to them; they have always been there for me and supported me, and I dedicate this medal to them."

Geraei, normally a 77kg wrestler who was competing at the heaviest weight of his career, encountered no problems handling the extra bulk against Szilvassy, a winner of international tournaments this year in Zagreb and Budapest.

After a quick stepout, Geraei stopped an attempted throw by Szilvassy for a takedown, then transitioned immediately to a gut wrench. An unsuccessful challenge by the Hungary side padded Geraei's lead to 6-0 just a minute into the match.

Geraei, who finished fifth at the Tokyo Olympics but missed the Paris Games due to a suspension, then completed a snap-down, go-behind takedown to finish the match in 1:35 and add the world gold to the bronzes he won at 71kg in 2017 and at 77kg in 2019 and 2021.

"I thought this competition would be really tough, but thank God it ended up being easy," Geraei said. "These past two or three years have been difficult for me, and due to certain circumstances, I couldn't participate in the Olympics and missed out on it. But I hope with this medal I won, I can pave my way to the [next] Olympics and achieve the best medal and my dream."

Serbia's Arsalan takes bronze in 30-point thriller

In the bronze-medal matches, Iranian-born Ali ARSALAN (SRB) picked up his third straight world medal, and he certainly earned it when he rallied to a wild 16-14 win over Hayk MELIKYAN (ARM) at 72kg.

In a thriller filled with big throws and slick counters, Arsalan fell behind 10-5 in the first period. But the 2021 world champion came back in the second with a pair of 4-pointers, the second with 12 seconds to go that was enough for the victory even after Melikyan reversed him for 2.

The other 72kg match was not as high-scoring but was just as entertaining, as Otar ABULADZE (GEO) connected on a pair of 4-point headlock hip throws to defeat Asian bronze medalist Ji LENG (CHN) 9-5 for his first major medal since winning a world cadet bronze in 2017.

Two-time European bronze medalist Denis MIHAI (ROU) added a world bronze by holding on to defeat Haifeng ZHANG (CHN) 8-5 at 55kg. Mihai scored two stepouts and two rolls from par terre for a 7-0 lead, then survived a second-period surge from the Chinese.

Emin SEFERSHAEV (AIN), a silver medalist in 2021, picked up the other 55kg bronze after scoring six points in the first period and holding on for a 7-5 victory over European bronze medalist Manvel KHACHATRYAN (ARM).

At 63kg, Karen ASLANYAN (ARM) sent Abu AMAEV (BUL) flying all over the mat before he knew what hit him, throwing him four times with a front headlock for an 8-0 victory in 30 seconds. A challenge negated one throw but revised two others to 4-pointers to produce the same result.

Aslanyan, who defeated reigning champion Leri ABULADZE (GEO) and newly crowned world U23 champion Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) before losing to Mammadli in the semifinals, had seen little international action since placing ninth at 67kg at the Tokyo Olympics. But now he has a world bronze to go with three European ones he won from 2018 to 2020.

Sadyk LALAEV (AIN), a European bronze medalist at 60kg, took home the other 63kg bronze without a fight as Stefan CLEMENT (FRA) was forced to default due to injury.

At 82kg, Ahmet YILMAZ (TUR) prevented Azerbaijan from medaling in every weight class, denying two-time European U23 champion Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) a senior world bronze with a solid 8-1 victory.

Yilmaz, who normally competes at 77kg, started off with three stepouts before clinching the deal with a classic 4-point throw from par terre for his first major medal on any level.

European bronze medalist Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) gave Japanese teenager and senior Asian champion Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN) a lesson on the big stage, rolling to a 10-2 victory for the other 82kg bronze.

Yoshida, the 2023 world U17 champion, got an opening takedown, but could offer little resistance when Bolkvadze got behind for a takedown and added a gut wrench. The Georgian then used an arm drag for another takedown, and two gut wrenches ended the match at 2:40.

Greco-Roman Results

55kg (16 entries)
GOLD: Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) df. Poya DAD MARZ (IRI), 1-1

BRONZE: Denis MIHAI (ROU) df. Haifeng ZHANG (CHN), 8-5
BRONZE: Emin SEFERSHAEV (AIN) df. Manvel KHACHATRYAN (ARM), 7-5

63kg (21 entries)
GOLD: Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) df. Yerzhet ZHARLYKASSYN (KAZ), 6-1

BRONZE: Karen ASLANYAN (ARM) df. Abu AMAEV (BUL) by TF, 8-0, :30
BRONZE: Sadyk LALAEV (AIN) df. Stefan CLEMENT (FRA) by Inj. Def.

72kg (28 entries)
GOLD: Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) df. Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA), 3-2

BRONZE: Ali ARSALAN (SRB) df. Hayk MELIKYAN (ARM), 16-14
BRONZE: Otar ABULADZE (GEO) df. Ji LENG (CHN), 9-5

82kg (28 entries)
GOLD: Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI) df. Erik SZILVASSY (HUN) by TF, 8-0, 1:35

BRONZE: Ahmet YILMAZ (TUR) df. Gurban GURBANOV (AZE), 8-1
BRONZE: Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) df. Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN) by TF, 10-2, 2:40