Weekly FIVE!

Weekly FIVE! June 18, 2018

By Eric Olanowski

Discussing Yui SUSAKI(JPN) avenging her loss against Yuki IRIE (JPN) and Rio WATARI (JPN) winning her battle against cancer. Also taking a look at USA's 2018 world team, along with two rankings series events that kick off this weekend. 

1. Susaki Strikes Back, Avenges Loss to Irie to Grab 50kg Title at Meiji Cup
Yui SUSAKI(JPN), 2017 world champion avenged her devastating December technical fall loss to Yuki IRIE (JPN) in the Emperor’s Cup by claiming the 50kg Meiji Cup title this past weekend. 

Susaki got the revenge she sought and the second chance she needs in her continued quest to defend her world title as the two will now face each other again in a winner-take-all playoff for the berth on the Japanese team in Budapest.


Rio WATARI (JPN) gets emotional after defeating cancer and making Japan's 2018 world team. (Photo by Sachiko Hotaka)

2. Watari Wins Meiji Cup after Defeating Cancer 
Rio WATARI (JPN) capped her remarkable recovery from Hodgkin lymphoma, winning the women’s 68kg title with a 3-2 victory over Chiaki SEKI (JPN) at the All-Japan Invitational Championships in Tokyo,  earning a place on Japan’s team at the world championships in Budapest.

3. Adeline Gray Set to Make World Championship Return After Winning Final X
Adeline GRAY (USA), the three-time world champion made her seventh world team after taking the best-of-three series in two matches against Korinahe BULLOCK (USA). Gray will make her world championship return for the first time since 2015 when she won the gold medal. 

Logan STIEBER (USA),the  2016 world champion locked up his third world team spot, while Kyle DAKE (USA) and David TAYLOR (USA) each made their first world team. 

Freestyle
65kg - Logan STIEBER (USA)  
79 kg - Kyle DAKE (USA)
86 kg - David TAYLOR (USA)

Women's Wrestling 
62 kg - Mallory VELTE (USA)  
72 kg - Erin CLODGO (USA) 
76 kg - Adeline GRAY (USA) 

FINAL X - STATE COLLEGE RESULTS

4. China Open Begins Friday 
The China Open, United World Wrestling's third women's wrestling ranking series event of the year kicks off June 22-23 in Taiyuan, China. 

RANKING SERIES EVENTS
Klippan Lady Open (SWE), February             
Mongolia Open (MGL), June           
China Open (CHN), June                  
Poland Open (POL), September    

5. Hungarian Grand Prix, the Third Greco-Roman Ranking Series Event Starts This Weekend 

The third Greco-Roman ranking series event of the year, the Hungarian Grand Prix kicks off June 23-24 in Gyor, Hungary. 

RANKING SERIES EVENTS
Takhti Cup (IRI), January                             
Granma y Cerro Pelado (CUB), February        
Hungarian GP (HUN), June                    
Vehbi Emre (TUR), July            

Weekly FIVE! In Social Media 

1. Big Move Monday ! FIJLKAM // Jacopo SANDRON, #italia#lotta @fijlkam_official @jacopo_sandron

2. Have a good day! Всем хорошего дня! ??
#wrestling#sport#saturday#uww#arturaleksanyan#olympics#суббота#артуралексанян#олимпиада#спорт#борьба

3. Happy Friday, wrestling fans!  Всем хорошей пятницы! #wrestling#friday#happiness#olympics#олимпиада#пятница#радость#борьба

4. This is historic photo. Guess when and where it was taken? Это историческое фото! Угадате где и когда оно было сделано. #guess#historicphoto#wrestling#womenswrestling#борьба#историческоефото#борьба#женскаяборьба

5. ?? #wrestlingairlines ? @geoffriccio

#UnitedWorldWrestling

UWW President Lalovic meets Azerbaijan Economic Minister, federation President Jabbarov

By United World Wrestling Press

BAKU, Azerbaijan (December 12) -- United World Wrestling President Nenad LALOVIC met with Economic Minister of Azerbaijan Mikayil JABBAROV, who is also the President of the Azerbaijan Wrestling Federation, in Baku on Wednesday.

They were accompanied by Namik ALIYEV, UWW Bureau Member and Gordon TEMPLEMAN, Director of Commercial Operations & Communications at UWW.

The discussions between the two parties revolved around the growth of wrestling in Azerbaijan, Grappling, Pankration, Amateur MMA, and an inaugural pro league in wrestling by UWW.

"We were pleased to meet with Nenad LALOVIC, President of United World Wrestling," Jabbarov wrote in a social media post. "During our discussion, we highlighted the initiatives undertaken to develop wrestling in Azerbaijan, including efforts to train young talents and enhance cooperation to further elevate the professionalism and international achievements of our athletes.

We were pleased to meet with Nenad Lalović, President of United World Wrestling (@wrestling). During our discussion, we highlighted the initiatives undertaken to develop wrestling in #Azerbaijan, including efforts to train young talents and enhance cooperation to further elevate… pic.twitter.com/qtwcY80JS1

— Mikayil Jabbarov (@MikayilJabbarov) December 11, 2024

"We also emphasized that the inclusion of the Azerbaijan Wrestling Federation in the leadership of UWW’s newly established Committee for Grappling, Pankration, and Amateur MMA reflects the high level of trust placed in our country’s wrestling community."

Azerbaijan has been a hotspot of wrestling and hosted the European Olympic Games Qualifier for the Paris Games in 2024. It also hosted the U23 European Championships and European Grappling Championships. In 2022, it played host to the Greco-Roman World Cup. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Azerbaijan qualified 12 wrestlers and won three bronze medals.