Weekly FIVE! April 23, 2018

Sunday, April 22, 2018 - 13:18 By Eric Olanowski

Reviewing next weeks European Championships, the Burroughs and Chamizo super match-up and Pan-American line-up release date.

1. Burroughs, Chamizo Match-Up Set for May 17
Last week, Beat the Streets New York announced that the colossal match-up between reigning superstar world champions Jordan BURROUGHS (USA), and Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) has been set for May 17 in New York City.

Burroughs, the 29-year-old offensive juggernaut is a five-time world medalist and the reigning world champion at 74kg. Since stepping on the international scene in 2011, the 2012 London Olympic champion has dominated the 74kg weight category, winning four gold medals at the World Championships.

Chamizo, the 25-year-old defensive wizard and reigning world champion at 70kg has since moved up to 74kg in preparation for the 2018 World Championships in Budapest, Hungry. Since moving up this season, Chamzio has produced 74kg gold medals at the International Ukrainian Tournament where he beat 2011 world silver medalist, Franklin GOMEZ (PUR) and the Dan Kolov - Nikola Petrov Tournament where he bested reigning European Champion, Soener DEMIRTAS (TUR).

Two-time Olympic champion, Roman VLASOV (RUS). Photo by Tony Rotundo.

2. European Championships – Greco-Roman Begins Next Monday
Steered by the duo of Olympic champions in Roman VLASOV (RUS) and Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM), the Greco-Roman field at the European Championships is littered with Olympic medalists.

Rio finalist Riza KAYAALP (TUR), the three-time world champions from Turkey will be looking for his seventh European title. Other medalists from the Rio Game include bronze medalists Stig-Andre BERGE (NOR), Cenk ILDEM (TUR), Rasul CHUNAYEV (AZE), Denis Maksymilian KUDLA (GER) and Sabah SHARIATI (AZE).

April 30 - 55kg, 63kg, 77kg, 87kg, and 130kg
May 1 - 60kg, 67kg, 72kg, 82kg, and 97kg

LINE-UPS: uww.io/Zm1A3

2017 world champion, Yasemin ADAR (TUR). Photo by Tony Rotundo.

3. European Championships – Women’s Wrestling Starts Next Wednesday
The women’s wrestling field is guided by returning world and European champions, Yasemin ADAR (TUR) and Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR) and boasts entries from seven of the eight defending champions. Last year’s 60kg champion, Lyubov OVCHAROVA (RUS) is the singular 2017 titleholder who will not be competing next week in Dagestan, Russia.

Mariya STADNIK (AZE), the Olympic silver medalist and 2011 world champion will be looking for her seventh European championship. Stadnik hasn't suffered a defeat at the European championships during her time at the senior-level.

The four remaining defending champions are Anastasia BRATCHIKOVA (RUS), Grace BULLEN (NOR), Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) and Monika MICHALIK (POL).

May 2 - 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg, and 76kg
May 3 - 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 65kg, and 72kg

LINE-UPS: http://uww.io/jLeYc

Olympic champion, Taha AKGUEL (TUR). Photo by Tony Rotundo.

4. European Championships – Freestyle Actions Opens up Next Friday
Headed by the trio of Olympic gold medalists, Taha AKGUEL (TUR), Vladimir KHINCHEGASHVILI (GEO) and Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS), freestyle features seven of the eight returning champions. Dauren KURUGLIEV (RUS) is the lone champion who does not return from the 2017 Novi Sad European Championships.

Other notable wrestlers that'll be competing in Dagestan are returning champions, Ilias BEKBULATOV (RUS), Frank Chamizo, Soner Demirtas, Giorgi EDISHERASHVILI (AZE) and Riza YILDIRIM (TUR).

In addition to the returning champions, Azerbaijan's three Olympic medalists in Haji ALIYEV (AZE), Jabrayil HASANOV (AZE), and Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE) are expected to be in the hunt for a gold medal.

May 4 - 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg, and 97kg
May 5 - 61kg, 74kg, 86kg, 92kg, and 125kg

LINE-UPS: uww.io/b3kNR

Three-time world and Olympic champion, Kyle SNYDER (USA). Photo by Tony Rotundo.
5. Pan-American Championship Rosters to be Released Tuesday
The Pan-American championships preliminary line-ups which feature the threesome of Olympic champions in Ismael BORRERO MOLINA (CUB), Jordan Burroughs and Kyle SNYDER (USA) will be released on Tuesday, April 24.

Weekly FIVE! In Social Media
1. 2018 European C'ships - Official Teaser #kaspeuro2018 @wrestrus_ru @wrestrus.ru @dagestan.wrestling @wrestdag_rd @wrestling.dagestan

2. 7 Days To Go #kaspeuro2018
@sadulaev_abdulrashid @sadulaev_86 @wrestling.dagestan @dagestan.wrestling @wrestdag_rd @wrestrus.ru @wrestrus_ru
#dagestan #russia #freestyle #wrestler #olympic #champion #wrestling

3. @alliseeisgold and @frankchamizo92 set to headline @beatthestreets on May 17.

4. When you love wrestling too much?
TAP WITH WHO YOU WANNA TRY IT
Когда ты сильно любишь борьбу?
ОТМЕТЬ ТОГО С КЕМ ХОТЕЛ БЫ ПОВТОРИТЬ
Video by @kazwrestlingonline @amonya65

5. ?“Endure the hardships
When you succeed
Have a fantastic story to define
سختی ها رو تحمل کن
وقتی به موفقیت رسیدی
یه داستان فوق العاده برا تعریف داری
#greco_roman #77 #wrestling #Tokyo2020” @aligaraii ?

#WrestleZagreb

Motoki leads Japanese trio to Worlds finals

Wednesday, September 17, 2025 - 15:47 By Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (September 17) -- After a slightly subdued start to its Women's Wrestling, Japan managed to show up at the World Championships.

Japan put three wrestlers in the final out of the four weight classes that were in action on Wednesday in Zagreb. Olympic champion Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) remained on course for her first world title at 62kg while Haruna MURAYAMA (JPN) and Ami ISHII (JPN) will look to add to their world titles at 53kg and 68kg.

Motoki was up against former world champion Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) in the semifinals and she began with a four-pointer. Purevdorj got a reversal but that was all she managed in the match as Motoki kept coming up with different ways to score the takedowns. At 10-1, she scored another four-pointer to win 14-1 and enter her second world final.

For the elusive gold, she will face Ok Ju KIM (PRK) who pinned Amina TANDELOVA (UWW) in the other semifinal after building a 14-3 lead.

Murayama, a three-time world champion, will wrestle for her fourth world title after she won a close semifinal against Hyogyong CHOE (PRK). Both traded activity points but Murayama had a stepout which proved to the be difference as she won 2-1.

On Thursday, she will face Olympic silver medalist Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) in the final after the Ecuadorian defeated world bronze medalist ANTIM (IND), 5-3, majorly with four-pointer in the first period and protecting her lead.

Yepez hit a duck under to throw Antim for four and gave up a reversal to lead 4-1 in the break. The Indian tried to find the opening but she only got one in the final 10 seconds after giving up a takedown. Yepez was happy to give up that final takedown as it did not affect her win and only changed the score to 5-3.

Ecuador, a country which did not have a world finalist till Tuesday, now has two. Yepez is the second on consecutive day after Genesis REASCO (ECU) entered the 76kg final to create history.

World 72kg champion Ishii, who dropped down to 68kg this year, took a step closer to her second world title after she bullied through two Olympic medalist in quarterfinals and semifinals.

Ishii dominated silver medalist from Paris Kennedy BLADES (USA), 12-2, and had a similar match against bronze medalist against Buse TOSUN (TUR) in the semifinals.

Ishii was straight to work in the semifinal with a four-pointer as Tosun landed on her back despite controlling Ishii's legs. Turkiye challenged that scoring but lost it, giving one more point to Ishii.

She scored three different takedowns to finish the match 11-0 inside the first period and enter her second world final.

Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) will look to stop Ishii from winning the gold medal after she upset world 65kg champion Jia LONG (CHN) in the semifinal. Yaneva fell behind 1-1 on criteria but scored a takedown with around one minute and 30 seconds on the clock to lead 3-1.

From there on, Long was on the backfoot and a win seemed further away as she was cautioned for a point for locking fingers. As she tried to trip Yaneva, the Bulgarian blocked her and got the winning takedown for a 6-1 win.

At 72kg, multiple age-group world medalist Nesrin BAS (TUR) managed to reach her first-ever senior world final after she won a thrilling semifinal against Zelu LI (CHN), 9-6.

Bas scored a four-pointer using a whizzer to lead 4-1 at the break. Li scored a takedown to begin the second period but Bas elevated her leg from the front to score two points and lead 6-3. Turkiye challenged the call and the scored for reversed to 8-4. Li tried to mount a comeback from there but she managed only two points while Bas scored a reversal to win 9-6.

For her first world title, she will face Alla BELINSKA (UKR) who used a whizzer to pin Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) in the other semifinal.

RESULTS

53kg
GOLD: Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) vs. Haruna MURAYAMA (JPN)

SF 1: Haruna MURAYAMA (JPN) df. Hyogyong CHOE (PRK), 2-1
SF 2: Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) df. ANTIM (IND), 5-3

62kg
GOLD: Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) vs. Ok Ju KIM (PRK)

SF 1: Ok Ju KIM (PRK) df. Amina TANDELOVA (UWW), via fall
SF 2: Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) df. Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL), 14-1

68kg
GOLD: Ami ISHII (JPN) vs. Yuliana YANEVA (BUL)

SF 1: Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) df. Jia LONG (CHN), 6-1
SF 2: Ami ISHII (JPN) df. Buse TOSUN (TUR), 11-0

72kg
GOLD: Nesrin BAS (TUR) vs. Alla BELINSKA (UKR)

SF 1: Nesrin BAS (TUR) df. Zelu LI (CHN), 9-6
SF 2: Alla BELINSKA (UKR) df. Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ), via fall

Weekly FIVE! April 23, 2018

Comments

Motoki leads Japanese trio to Worlds finals