#WrestleBelgrade

World Champ Tynybekova Cruises into Women's Wrestling Finals

Monday, December 14, 2020 - 19:00 By Andrew Hipps

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BELGRADE, Serbia (December 14) -- Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ), who made history by becoming Kyrgyzstan's first world champion, stands one win away from claiming a gold at the Individual World Cup in Belgrade, Serbia.

The 27-year-old Kyrgyzstani women's wrestler cruised into the 62kg finals. After picking up two 10-0 technical superiorities, Tynybekova dominated 2019 world silver medalist Liubov OVCHAROVA (RUS) 13-2 in the semifinals.

Tynybekova went up 9-0 before Ovcharova scored a takedown late in the first period to cut the deficit to 9-2. In the second period, Tynybekova scored two consecutive step outs before getting a takedown to finish the match. 

She will meet Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (LAT) in the 62kg finals. Grigorjeva, a two-time world medalist, won a high-scoring affair, 9-8, over Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) in the semifinals. 

Annika WENDLE (GER) advanced to the finals at 55kg (Photo/Gabor MARTIN, UWW)

At 55kg, Annika WENDLE (GER) edged Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL) in one of the most exciting finishes of Monday's semifinal round. Krawczyk led 1-0 at the break. Wendle came out strong in the second period, scoring with a four-point move to grab a 4-1 lead. Krawczyk responded a short time later, scoring a four-point move of her own to go up 5-4. She held that lead until late in the match when Wendle scored a go-ahead takedown in the closing moments of the match. The takedown was not awarded initially, but a successful challenge overturned the initial call, giving Wendle the dramatic victory and a place in the finals at 55kg. 

In other 55kg semifinal, Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR) rolled to a 6-1 win over PINKI (IND). Kurachkina used a takedown and gut wrench in the first period to go up 4-0. She added a takedown in the second period to win by five.

Ekaterina POLESHCHUK (RUS) reached the 50kg finals by beating Miglena SELISHKA (BUL) (Photo/Gabor MARTIN, UWW)

2019 world bronze medalist Ekaterina POLESHCHUK (RUS) edged 2020 European champion Miglena SELISHKA (BUL) 2-2 on criteria in the semifinals at 50kg. Selishka scored the first point off a passivity and led 1-0 at the break. Poleshchuk took the lead on a takedown in the second period. Selishka inched closer with a passivity point, but ultimately fell short. 

In the other semifinal at 50kg, Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR) looked strong in picking up a 16-7 win over Lisa ERSEL (GER).

At 53kg, Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) shut out Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR) 4-0 in a battle of multiple-time world medalists. After going up 2-0 on passivity points, Prevolaraki extended her lead in the second period with a takedown. 

Roksana ZASINA (POL) topped Nina HEMMER (GER) 5-2 in the other 53kg semifinal match. Hemmer led late on criteria, but Zasina took control late, scoring a takedown and step out in the final 30 seconds to win by three.

Buse TOSUN (TUR) will wrestle for the gold medal at 72kg (Photo/Gabor MARTIN, UWW)

2018 world bronze medalist Buse TOSUN (TUR) topped Alla BELINSKA (UKR) in the semifinals at 72kg. 

She will meet Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) in the 72kg finals. Yaneva was impressive, scoring three takedowns in the second period on her way to a 6-2 win over Zsuzsanna MOLNAR (SVK).

Women's Wrestling Semifinal Results

50kg
Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR) df. Lisa ERSEL (GER) by VPO1, 16-7
Ekaterina POLESHCHUK (RUS) df. Miglena Georgieva SELISHKA (BUL) by VPO1, 2-2

53kg
Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) df. Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR) by VPO, 4-0
Roksana ZASINA (POL) df. Nina HEMMER (GER) by VPO1, 5-2

55kg
Annika WENDLE (GER) df. Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL) by VPO1, 6-5
Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR) df. Pinki PINKI (IND) by VPO1, 6-1

62kg
Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (LAT) df. Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) by VPO1, 10-9
Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) df. Liubov OVCHAROVA (RUS) by VSU1, 13-2

72kg
Yuliana Vasileva YANEVA (BUL) df. Zsuzsanna MOLNAR (SVK) by VPO1, 7-2
Buse TOSUN (TUR) df. Alla BELINSKA (UKR)  by VPO1, 6-2
 

#WrestleZagreb

Zagreb Open 2026 Day 3 Results: Morikawa, Ozaki in final

Friday, February 6, 2026 - 09:36 By Vinay Siwach

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ZAGREB, Croatia (February 6) -- The third day of the Zagreb Open will see Women's Wrestling in four weight classes and Greco-Roman in two weight classes. Women's Wrestling will be competed in 59kg, 62kg, 65kg and 68kg while GR will be in 63kg and 67kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | YAZDANI vs BUCHANAN FINAL

14:05: GR 67kg semifinals - Two top class matches! Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB), world champion at 63kg, beats Kyotaro SOGABE (JPN), 11-5. He began with an arm-throw for four and added a turn for a 6-0 lead. Sogabe managed to come back a few times but failed to take the lead. Eventually, Khalmakhanov threw Sogabe for two correct throws and win the semifinals.

He will face Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) who defeated another Japanese Katsuaki ENDO (JPN), 11-3. Chkhikvadze scored multiple correct throws in his semifinals to complete the victory.

13:55: GR 63kg semifinals - Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) drops his semifinal against Erfan JARKANI (IRI) 3-1 as the Iranian enters the final. He will face a surprise finalist in CHETAN (IND) who stunned former world champion Meysam DALKHANI (IR), 14-5.

13:40: 68kg semifinals - A fall for Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) in the semifinals over Aleah NICKEL (CAN) after building a 5-0 lead. Morikawa will face her first tough battle against Nesrin BAS (TUR) who stunned Kennedy BLADES (USA) in the other semifinal. In a low scoring bout, Blades went up 1-0 after a activity clock point. In the second period, Bas got the same point and then a stepout to lead 2-1, a lead she defended till the end.

13:25: 62kg semifinals - European silver medalist Johanna LINDBORG (SWE) with a quick 10-0 victory over ANJLI (IND). Lindborg with a drag for four before rolling to a technical superiority. For the gold medal, Lindborg will face Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) who had a tough time beating Macey KILTY (USA), 5-2, in the other semifinal.

13:15: 59kg semifinals - Alexis JANIAK (USA), a former U20 world bronze medalist, gets the better of U20 world silver medalist Hiunai HURBANOVA (AZE) in the semifinals. Janiak with a takedown and turn to make it 4-0. She then counters Hurbanova on three different occasions and wins 10-0. A lost challenge from Azerbaijan makes it 11-0.

Sena NAGAMOTO (JPN) stops the final from being all-USA as she beats Abigail NETTE (USA) 11-0 and secures a place in the final

12:55: Kennedy BLADES (USA) survives a scare against Mansi LATHER (IND) in the 68kg quarterfinal. Blades took a 5-1 in the first period but Lather scored a takedown to close the gap to 5-3. Blades challenged the decision and got it overturned on review. But Lather's pressure made Blades passive, though she defended well. Blades gave up a takedown but that was all as Blades wins and makes it to the semifinals.

12:28: Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB) puts a show and beats Valentin PETIC (MDA), 12-4, at 67kg. After leading 6-4, he hit a four-pointer and then a turn to finish the bout via technical superiority

12:20: Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA), U23 world champion, scores two turns from par terre and beats world champion Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ) at 63kg. Sultangali was down 5-2 but scored an exposure to make it 5-4. However, he failed to score another point which would have given him the win.

12:15: Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) continues her campaign with yet another 10-0 victory at 68kg. She beats Alina SHEVCHENKO (UWW) and moves into the semifinals.

12:10: Nesrin BAS (TUR) who got a walkover in her first bout, leg laces NISHA (IND) for a 10-0 win and make her place in the 68kg semifinal. Bas took a 4-0 lead and then decided to sit on it. But in the last minute, she got a takedown and two turns to win.

12:00: Katsuaki ENDO (JPN) is checked up Sachin SAHRAWAT (IND) but the Japanese star manages to hold on for a 4-2 victory and move into the quarterfinals at 67kg against Morten THORSEN (NOR). 

11:45: World champion at 65kg Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN), now wrestling at 68kg, takes her own time but manages to beat Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU), 10-0, in her opening bout in Zagreb

11:35: Kyotaro SOGABE (JPN) failed to score any points from par terre in the first period but he gets the takedown and moves to a 9-0 victory at 67kg against Anri KHOZREVANIDZE (GEO).

11:30: World champion at 63kg Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB) has moved up to 67kg. And he has no trouble in winning his first bout via technical super superiority. He tries to score a throw when Mohamed ABDELREHIM (EGY) commits a leg foul. Back in par terre, Khalmakhanov completes the turn and wins 10-0

11:25: Kennedy BLADES (USA), world bronze medalist at 68kg, was flying against Karolina POK (HUN) having taken an 11-2 lead. However, she decided to not end the bout via technical superiority and kept her distance in the second period and won with the same scoreline.

11:20: NISHA (IND) stays in total control of her bout against Birgul SOLTANOVA (AZE) and posts an 8-1 victory. While Soltanova did get on a few scrambles, Nisha managed to defend the positions and scored her eight points.

11:15: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN), a world champion at 65kg in 2023 and Paris bronze medalist at 68kg, is back at 62kg. She begins with a 12-2 technical superiority win over Irina KUZNETSOVA (KAZ)

11:10: Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ), world champion at 60kg, now wrestling 63kg gets going with an 8-2 victory over Adham ELSAYED (EGY).

11:00: Former age-group world champion Eniko ELEKES (HUN) gets a 10-0 technical superiority win over Marilyn GARCIA (USA) at 62kg. Excellent control throughout the bout for Elekes.

10:45: Early explosive Greco-Roman action here. Oybek SHARIBJONOV (UZB) gets the technical superiority win over Ahmadreza MOHSEN NEZHAD (IRI) at 67kg in just over two minutes. Mohsen Nezhad, a U20 world champion, tries to front headlock Sharibjonov and score a throw but the Uzbek wrestler gets the control and sends Mohsen Nezhad to danger to get four points. Mohsen Nezhad tries to get another move but lands on his back and gives up two points. Sharibjonov scores a turn and wins 8-0. Iran challenges for the first action for four points but the challenge is lost.

10:30: Another big day of wrestling coming up in Zagreb. The 68kg weight class in Women's Wrestling has a few big names with Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN), Kennedy BLADES (USA), NISHA (IND), Alina SHEVCHENKO (UWW), Nesrin BAS (TUR) competing among others.