#WrestleAmman

U20 World Championships Day 4 semifinals set

By Vinay Siwach

AMMAN, Jordan (August 17) -- Women's wrestling will continue on the fourth day of the U20 World Championships in Amman. 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 65kg and 72kg will be in action on Thursday before the evening session sees five new women's wrestling world champions.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

Women's wrestling semifinals for the evening session

53kg
Katie GOMEZ (USA) vs. Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR)
ANTIM (IND) vs. Polina LUKINA (AIN)

57kg
Ichika ARAI (JPN) vs. Gerda TEREK (HUN)
Shugyla OMIRBEK (KAZ) vs. Alina FILIPOVYCH (UKR)

62kg
SAVITA (IND) vs. Iris THIEBAUX (FRA)
Melanie JIMENEZ (MEX) vs. Astrid MONTERO (VEN)

65kg
Ekaterina KOSHKINA (AIN) vs. ANTIM (IND)
Khadija JLASSI (TUN) vs. Eniko ELEKES (HUN)

72kg
HARSHITA (IND) vs. Bukrenaz SERT (TUR)
Yuka FUJIKURA (JPN) vs. Amit ELOR (USA)

13:40: Yuka FUJIKURA (JPN) ends the session on a high for Japan, making her way to the 72kg semifinal after beating Kaiyrkul SHARSHEBAEVA (KGZ) 6-0. 

13:30: The semifinals line-up for 53kg is insane. Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR), an unbeaten wrestler internationally, will take on former U17 world champion and returning bronze medalist Katie GOMEZ (USA). In the other semifinal, defending U20 world champion and senior Asian silver medalist ANTIM (IND) will square off against Polina LUKINA (AIN) who has senior-level experience including a silver medal at the Yasar Dogu Ranking Series in 2022.

13:20: Returning bronze medalist at 62kg Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA) thought she has a foot in the semifinals, leading 5-4 against Melanie JIMENEZ (MEX). But the Mexican U20 Pan-Am champion launches Nwachukwu for a big throw for four with 5 seconds remaining. The United States challenged the call but it stood, giving Jimenez a 9-5 win.

13:15: If there is a secret to beating Amit ELOR (USA), no one has been able to find it. The latest in that attempt was Patrycja CUBER (POL) in the 72kg quarterfinals but Elor pins her inside the first period.

13:10: Suzu SASAKI (JPN) had hoped to avenge her 2022 U17 world final loss to SAVITA (IND) when she booked her spot on the Japan U20 team. It was going well as she led 6-4 but Savita cradled her for a fall in the 62kg quarterfinals. Sasaki left the mat overwhelmed with emotions.

13:07: Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) with another fall. She moves into the 53kg after pinning Gultakin SHIRINOVA (AZE). It will be interesting to see how she responds to wrestlers with extra experience.     

13:05: Returning U20 world champion ANTIM (IND) returns to the semifinals after a 12-2 technical superiority win over Xuejing LIANG (CHN). Total domination from the Indian wrestler.

13:00: Polina LUKINA (AIN) with a clutch performance. She scores four points in the final 10 seconds to beat Nagisa HARADA (JPN) 8-7 at 53kg. Lukina moves into the semifinals.

12:50: Katie GOMEZ (USA) avenges her loss from last year against Altyn SHAGAYEVA (KAZ) as she leg laces her for a 10-0 victory and moves into the 53kg semifinals. Can the former U17 world champion add a U20 world title?

12:45: Khadija JLASSI (TUN) will cherish this win for some time. She hangs on for a 6-5 win over Momoko KITADE (JPN) in the 65kg quarterfinals. Jlassi got a four-pointer from a cradle which kept her in the match which she ultimately won with Kitade straggling with her conditioning.

12:30: As if there ever any doubts! Senior, U23 and U20 world champion Amit ELOR (USA) takes 29 seconds to roll over Shamshiyabanu TASTANBEK (KAZ) using a leg lace and move into the semifinals at 72kg.

12:25: Two U17 world champions from India, SAVITA (IND) and HARSHITA (IND), also pin their campaign with wins at 62kg and 72kg respectively. Amit ELOR (USA) is coming up on Mat B shortly 

12:10: A fall for returning champion at 53kg ANTIM (IND)! Nikola WISNIEWSKA (POL) scored two points but was easily overpowered by Antim who secured a first-period fall

12:00: Returning bronze medalist Katie GOMEZ (USA) runs away to a 10-0 win over Carla JAUME (ESP) at 53kg. Gomez has to be one of the best technical wrestlers out there at this age level.

11:45: Two-time U17 world champion Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) begins her U20 world journey with a fall. An easy win over Nikol KRUMOVA (BUL) at 53kg.

11:25: A better for Japan today after a mixed day on Wednesday. Momoko KITADE (JPN) at 65kg and Ichika ARAI (JPN) at 57kg have both won their respective bouts and moved into the pre-quarters.

11:00: At 62kg, Selvi ILYASOGLU (TUR) was relentless in her attacks against Tynys DUBEK (KAZ) to win 14-4 and advance to the pre-quarterfinals.

10:45: Gerda TEREK (HUN) hangs on for a 5-4 win over Aitolkun MEDET KYZY (KGZ) and advances to the pre-quarterfinals. She will wrestle Ulmeken ESENBAEVA (UZB) next. 

10:30: U20 bronze medalist Sevval CAYIR (TUR) tried challenging U20 European champion Alina FILIPOVYCH (UKR) but could not fight for long. Filipovych won 14-2

10:00: Welcome to the fourth day of the U20 World Championships. The action continues with women's wrestling as Amit ELOR (USA), ANTIM (IND), Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) are among the stars who will wrestle.

#WrestleBudapest

Budapest Ranking Series golds for Higuchi, Kiyooka, Parris

By Vinay Siwach

BUDAPEST, Hungary (June 6) -- For Rei HIGUCHI (JPN), the Ranking Series in Budapest was a chance to assess his preparation for the Olympics. Things were going on track, but Higuchi caught a fever on the day he was to wrestle.

Struggling with a temperature of 38.2 degrees on a hot day in Budapest, Higuchi struggled on the mat but manager to win the gold medal at 57kg in Budapest with some top-class wrestling. He defeated AMAN (IND) 11-1 in the final.

The run to the gold medal also included an incredible comeback in the semifinal against Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE). The Azerbaijan wrestler scored a takedown and hit a high gut to lead 8-0. Higuchi somehow managed to stop the final turn and give himself a chance to stay in the bout.

Higuchi used a gut wrench of his own and scored 18 points to beat Rzazade 18-8 and enter the final. Rzazade later complained of a shoulder dislocation which may rule him out of the Paris Olympics in August as well.

With the win, Higuchi is now second in the rankings below Stevan MICIC (SRB). Aman, for his silver, jumped to the sixth spot.

Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN)Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) defeated Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) in the group stages of the 65kg bracket. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Another Japanese wrestler who had to come back from an 8-0 deficit was Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) as he won the 65kg gold medal. The field at 65kg included Haji ALIYEV (AZE), world champion Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN), Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) and Austin GOMEZ (MEX) among others. But it was Kiyooka who came out on top in the round robin and then clinched the gold medal over Abbas EBRAHIMZADEH (IRI), 12-8.

Like Higuchi, Kiyooka also fell behind 8-0 against Ebrahimzadeh but stopped the final turn. Kiyooka then mounted the comeback and tired Ebrahimzadeh, winning the bout 12-8 in six minutes.

Mason PARRIS (USA)Mason PARRIS (USA) celebrates after pinning Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ) in the 125kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At 125kg, world bronze medalist Mason PARRIS (USA) had a stunning campaign, winning the gold medal with ease. While a Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) and Parris rematch was expected, the Georgian got pinned in the semifinal by Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ). Parris pinned BAtirmurzaev in the final.

Petriashvili returned to win the bronze medal and keep his second spot in the rankings at 125kg that he would have lost to Parris if he had not finished on the podium.

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RESULTS

57kg
GOLD: Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) df. AMAN (IND), 11-1

BRONZE: Aryan TSIUTRYN (AIN) df. Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO), 10-0
BRONZE: Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ) df. Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE), via inj. def.

61kg
GOLD: Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) df. Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ), 4-1

BRONZE: Shahdad KHOSRAVI MARDAKHEH (IRI) df. Giorgi GONIASHVILI (GEO), 8-0
BRONZE: Nahshon GARRETT (USA) df. Nika ZAKASHVILI (GEO), 11-3

65kg
GOLD: Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) df. Abbas EBRAHIMZADEH (IRI), 12-8

BRONZE: Haji ALIYEV (AZE) df. Austin Klee GOMEZ (MEX), 12-3

70kg
GOLD: Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM) df. Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM), via inj. def.

BRONZE: Alibek OSMONOV (KGZ) df. Edemi BOLKVADZE (GEO), 3-3
BRONZE: Akaki KEMERTELIDZE (GEO) df. Evan HENDERSON (USA), 14-4

79kg
GOLD: Otari BAGAURI (GEO) df. Adel PANAEIAN (IRI), 6-5

BRONZE: Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK) df. Chems FETAIRIA (ALG), via inj. def.

97kg
GOLD: Alisher YERGALI (KAZ) df. Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE), via inj. def.

BRONZE: Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) df. Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK), 4-2
BRONZE: Ibrahim CIFTCI (TUR) df. Abolfazl BABALOO (IRI), 4-3

125kg
GOLD: Mason PARRIS (USA) df. Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ), via fall

BRONZE: Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) df. Diaaeldin ABDELMOTTALEB (EGY), 10-0
BRONZE: Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) df. Jonovan SMITH (PUR), 11-0