#WrestleTirana

Wednesday's U23 World Championship semifinals set

Wednesday, October 25, 2023 - 08:43 By Eric Olanowski

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TIRANA, Albania (October 25) --- Welcome to the third day of wrestling at the 2023 U23 World Championships. Today, we'll welcome in five women's wrestling weights--50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg and 76kg.

Top Stars in Action:
50kg - Nada MOHAMED (EGY) - U23 world bronze
53kg - Andreea Beatrice ANA (ROU) - U23 world gold 
53kg - Alisha Sue HOWK (USA) - U23 world bronze 
59kg - Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) - U23 world bronze 
68kg - Nesrin BAS (TUR) - U23 world gold 
68kg - Manola SKOBELSKA (UKR) - U23 world bronze 
76kg - Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) - U23 world bronze 
76kg - Kennedy BLADES (USA) - U20 world gold

Semifinal matches (as they come in):

50kg
Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE) vs. Audrey Rae JIMENEZ (USA)
Emma Solange Irène LUTTENAUER (FRA) vs. Umi ITO (JPN)

55kg
Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) vs. Umi IMAI (JPN)
Neha SHARMA (UWW) vs. Aryna MARTYNAVA (AIN)

59kg
Sena NAGAMOTO (JPN) vs. Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (AIN)
Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) vs. Michaela Amy RANKIN (CAN)

68kg
Vanessa Cheryl Elizabeth KEEFE (CAN) vs. Alina SHAUCHUK (AIN)
Nesrin BAS (TUR) vs. Vusala PARFIANOVICH (AIN)

76kg
Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) vs. Reetika REETIKA (UWW)
Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU) vs. Kennedy Alexis BLADES (USA)

13:49: That's two matches up, and two matches down for Ito. She punched her ticket to tonight's semifinals with another tech fall. This time, it was a 13-2 win over Aida KERYMOVA (UKR).

13:07: I'm waiting for Tindra Linnea SJOEBERG (SWE) to come up on Mat B. She's someone who Sweden has invested heavily into, and their waiting to see the fruits of their efforts. They obviously see the potential or they wouldn't have sent her to six competitions--five of which were senior-level events--this season.

It would be a great one-two punch for Swesen if Sjoeberg can continue to improve over the next six months and somehow find a way to join this year's U23 European champion Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) at the Paris Olympic Games.

With years ahead of them, it feels like Sjoeberg and Malmgren could be the second coming of Swedish greats Sofia MATTSSON (SWE) and Jenny FRANSSON (SWE).

Sjoeberg will wrestle Alina SHAUCHUK (AIN) next on Mat B.

12:49: Ito took Szeker down four times and turned her once for a 10-0 first-period win. She'll compete next against the winner of Amanda TOMCZYK (POL) and Aida KERYMOVA (UKR).

12:22: As a massive Yui SUSAKI (JPN) fan, one think I always pay attention to is her fellow Japanese 50kg countrywomen. I'm trying to project who will be the successor to Susaki's 50kg throne after she goes up to 53kg following the Paris Olympic Games.

For that reason, I'm patiently waiting for Umi ITO (JPN) to take the mat. She's coming up on Mat C against in three matches, where she'll meet Szimonetta Timea SZEKER (HUN).

12:20: There wasn't much to say about the Vynnyk win. She came to the mat, scored ten quick points and left. She'll wrestle Kalmira BILIMBEK KYZY (KGZ) in the quarterfinals.

12:09: '21 U23 world champion Andreea ANA (ROU) just picked up an easy 10-0 win on Mat A. That brings up reigning U23 world bronze medalist Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR).

Vynnyk has been one of the most consistent U23 wrestlers in the world over the last few years. She's only lost twice, winning the U23 European Championships earlier this season and finishing with bronze medals last season at the World and European Championships.

11:34: Although there are no returning U23 world medalists in Japan's lineup, they have the most dominant women's program in the world and are "guarenteed" to win at least five golds.

Since the first edition of the U23 World Championships in 2017--and with the exception of the 2021 U23 World Championships where Japan sat out due to COVID restrictions--the Japanese women have won at least five world titles at every U23 World Championships.

11:25: I've said this before, but it's worth noting the depth of the United States at 76kg. Adeline Gray has to be the front-runner to win the spot, but Blades, Kylie WELKER and Amit ELOR (USA) are all serious threats that Gray should be training for.

I know Elor has repeatedly stated that she's heading down to 68kg, and it would be best for the United States lineup, but she's never cut weight, so don't rule out the potential that she goes up to 76kg just yet.

11:11: Well, that was short-lived. Blades only needed a minute to score the tech fall over Patrycja Monika SLOMSKA (POL). I don't think she's going to have much trouble in the bracket, with her biggest test ultimately coming against U23 world bronze medalist Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR). 

11:05: Kennedy BLADES (USA) is up now on Mat C. Earlier this year, Blades tech'ed six-time world Adeline GRAY (USA) and most thought she would represent the United States at the Senior World Championships. Gray had different thoughts, coming back to beat Blades in two straight matches to take the spot.

10:58: No matter how you spin it, a win is a win at this level. Bas didn't look her best in that opening round match, only scoring a referee-given point, but she ended up holding on to win 1-1 on criteria.

10:51: We just wrapped up our last freestyle repechage match and will now head directly into the women's wrestling qualification round matches. 

The first star up is defending champion Nasren BAS (TUR). She's up now on Mat C against Manola SKOBELSKA (UKR).

#WrestleBudapest

Budapest Ranking Series Greco-Roman Highlights

Sunday, July 20, 2025 - 08:52 By Vinay Siwach

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 20) -- The Budapest Ranking Series final day will see Greco-Roman action in seven weight classes -- 55kg, 60kg, 63kg, 67kg, 77kg, 82kg, 97kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 3 RESULTS

16:30: The end of the semifinals in Budapest. Giorgi MELIA (GEO) makes it to the 97kg final after a 5-1 victory over Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE). He will take on  Hayk KHLOYAN (ARM) who sneaks through with a 5-4 win over Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN).

16:12: Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) gets the benefit of Beka MELELASHVILI (USA) defensive fouls and win 4-3 at 82kg semifinals. He will face Adlet TIULIUBAEV (UWW) for the gold who defeated Rafael IUNUSOV (UWW), 5-1.

16:00: Robert Attila FRITSCH (HUN) launches Sergei STEPANOV (UWW) for a huge four-pointer in the last minute and wins the 77kg semifinal 6-3 to set up a final against Sergei KUTUZOV (UWW) after he defeated Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) 8-6. Suleymanov was going well with a 6-0 lead but when Kutuzov got the par terre, he reverse lifted Suleymanov for a four and another for two points to lead 7-6. A lost challenge made it 8-6 for the win.

15:40: European bronze medalist Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) rolls to a 8-0 technical superiority win over Daniial AGAEV (UWW) in the 67kg final. But there will be no all-Georgian final as Leri ABULADZE (GEO) drops his semifinal to Valentic PETIC (MDA) 5-3.

15:25: Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) takes out European silver medalist Karen ASLANYAN (ARM) 5-3 to enter the final at 63kg. Surprising win for Eriomenco but he will face Sergey EMELIN (UWW) for the gold medal. Emelin had a injury walkover in the other semifinal.

15:05: Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) showing why he is the best in the world at 60kg as he beats Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) in a rematch of the European final. He defends most of Tibilov's attacks to win 3-2. He will face SUMIT (IND) in the 60kg final after the Indian pinned Galym KABDUNASSAROV (KAZ).

14:45: Emin SEFERSHAEV (UWW) needs all the luck he can as he beats Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB), 5-5, on criteria in the 55kg semifinal. He will take on Marlan MUKASHEV (KAZ) for the gold medal after he defeated Alpamys DASTANBEK (KAZ), 8-0, in just a minute and 20 seconds.

Semifinals

14:15: Sergei KUTUZOV (UWW) scores turns from par terre and beats Asian champion Aram VARDANYAN (UZB) 9-0 to book a place in the semifinal against Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) at 77kg.

14:00: Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) keeps and simple and gets both par terre advantages in the against Mehroj BAKHRAMOV (UZB) and beats him 4-0 at 60kg. This avenges his loss to Bakhramov at the Zagreb Open earlier this year.

13:55: Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) takes out Amiran SHAVADZE (GEO) 5-5 in the 60kg quarterfinals via criteria. Tibilov will face Mammadli in the semifinal, a rematch of the European final which Mammadli won

13:40: SUMIT (IND) breaks Dahyun KIM (KOR) down with his pace and secures the fall after an early scare in the 60kg bout. He moves into the semifinals of the Ranking Series.

13:35: European champion Emin SEFERSHAEV (UWW) comes strong in defense, blocking Anil MOR (IND) when the Indian was trying to turn Sefershaev from par terre. He also pushed him out for a point. Sefershaev win 4-1 at 55kg. 

13:25: Alex SZOKE (HUN) sends the local crowd into frenzy after beating Artur SARGASIAN (UWW) 6-6 on criteria at 97kg. Szoke had three two point techniques while Sargasian managed only two and the Hungarian kept the criteria.

13:15: European silver medalist Karen ASLANYAN (ARM) puts another clinical show and beats Ellis COLEMAN (USA) 6-1 at 63kg. He enters the semifinals.

12:45: World and European champion Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) takes a little injury timeout before par terre but gets to work and finishes the bout against Seunghak KIM (KOR), 9-0, at 60kg.

12:20: Two huge losses as Sadyk LALAEV (UWW) drops his match 9-3 to SUMIT (IND) and on Mat D, Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (UWW) loses 9-0 to Dahyun KIM (KOR) at 60kg. Both were looking to be on the team to Zagreb but what unexpected losses.

12:00: Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) manages to blank Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) in the opening round at 77kg. A takedown to open the scoring for Suleymanov before he scores a turn from par terre. Gutu challenges for the hand-below-waist but it's lost. A takedown in the second period and Suleymanov wins 8-0.

11:50: European champion Emin SEFERSHAEV (UWW) gives no chance to Artium DELEANU (MDA) and wins an easy 7-1 opening round.

11:45: Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) and Dinislam BAMMATOV (UWW) are involved in a battle but it's the Moldovan who comes out on top 5-5 on criteria.

11:35: European silver medalist Karen ASLANYAN (ARM) bosses his opening round bout at 63kg and beats Yerkebulan ARDAKOV (KAZ), 9-0 to advance. In the next match on Mat D, 

11:20: World U23 champion Alisher GANIEV (UZB), one of the most explosive wrestler in the world, wins his first bout at 63kg via disqualification of Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ). Ganiev was already leading 7-0 by then.

11:05: Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) opens with a 10-0 victory over Seungjun KIM (KOR) at 97kg. Savolainen has not enjoyed similar success like he did before the Paris Olympic cycle.  

10:55: Aram VARDANYAN (UZB) needs a challenge to overturn a defeated to victory against Doniyorkhon NAKIBOV (UZB). Vardanyan got a exposure at the end but was not scored. However, he won the challenge and Nakibov is devasted.

10:40: Former world champion Ulvu GANIZADE (AZE) wins his first bout at 77kg with a 1-1 score against Antonio KAMENJASEVIC (CRO) as he was the first to get the par terre points.

10:30: Welcome to the final day of the Budapest Ranking Series. It will be Greco-Roman action the whole day in seven weight classes