World Championships Day 3 semis set

Monday, September 12, 2022 - 07:50 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

BELGRADE, Serbia (September 12) -- More wrestling coming your way as the World Championships enter day three in Belgrade. Women's wrestling is also beginning with 55kg and 62kg. The final two Greco-Roman categories will be in action.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

14:09: Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) has her second tough match of the session, but manages to do enough to defeat European silver medalist Luisa NIEMESCH (GER) 4-0 to make the women's 62kg semifinals. Tynybekova gains an activity clock point in the first period, then adds a stepout and a late takedown. Still, she hardly looks like the same wrestler who stormed to the gold in Oslo; perhaps she has not sufficiently recovered from the ankle injury she suffered in losing the final at the Asian Championships in April to Ozaki?

14:05: Returning silver medalist Kayla MIRACLE (USA) shuts out Tetiana OMLECHENKO (AZE) with a 6-1 win in the quarterfinals at 62kg.

14:03: Ana GODINEZ (CAN) hangs on for a 4-1 win over Lais NUNES (BRA) after getting a takedown in the activity period and a stepout. She moves into the 62kg semifinals.

14:01: Blink and you missed it as 2021 world bronze medalist Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) needed just 36 seconds to put away Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR), getting a takedown and locking up the ankles, then four quick rolls and that was that for a 10-0 technical fall.

13:57: Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) stays on track to regain the women's 55kg title she won in 2019 as she held on for a 4-2 quarterfinal victory over Roksana ZASINA (POL). Winchester scores a first-period takedown, then adds a stepout and a shot-clock point in the second.

13:56: Olympic champion Mayu SHIDOCHI (JPN) chalks up a workmanlike 6-0 victory over Mengyu XIE (CHN) to advance to the women's 55kg semifinals as she chases her third career world title. Shidochi scores a takedown in the first period and two in the second as she remains unscored upon in the tournament.

13:52: With 32 seconds remaining, Karla GODINEZ (CAN) leads 2-1 against European champion Andreea ANA (ROU) with all three points being inactivity. But Godinez will move into the semifinals at 55kg.

13:50: At women's 55kg, upcoming star Oleksandra KHOMENETES (UKR) with a four-pointer to lead 6-3 against Sushma SHOKEEN (IND) before adding another takedown and roll to make it 10-3. She gives up a takedown but will take home a 10-5 win and a spot in the semifinals.

13:44: Four-time Asian medalist Muminjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) gets a 4-point headlock in the second period that gives him a 5-2 victory in the Greco 130kg quarterfinals over European silver medalist Danila SOTNIKOV (ITA).

13:41: Oskar MARVIK (NOR) led 1-0 against Mantas KNYSTAUTAS (LTU) but doesn't ask for the par terre position. Knystautas takes the lead when Marvik is called for passivity in the second period. He rolls Marvik two times for a 5-1 lead. He wins the quarterfinal and will wrestle in the 130kg semifinals.

13:40: U23 world champion Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) up against Olympic silver medalist Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO) who gets the first advantage with par terre position. But Kajaia fails to get any turn from par terre. In the second period, Mirzazadeh with a 1-1 lead on criteria. With 1:20 remaining, Kajaia gets the par terre again but fails to get any turn. Mirzazadeh will wrestle in the 130kg semifinal

13:39: Riza KAYAALP (TUR) barrels into the Greco 130kg semifinals by overpowering Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU) with an 8-0 technical fall in 2:17. After three stepouts, Kayaalp gets a passivity point and the top position in par terre. Two slow-motion rolls later and that's it for the Romanian.

13:33: Two-time world champion Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) prevails in a contentious Greco 60kg quarterfinal with Kerem KAMAL (TUR) that was filled with challenges and cautions. Fumita withstands the pressure after twice being put into the bottom of par terre, and scores a last-second takedown for a 6-3 victory.

13:26: 20-year-old Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL), holding the lead on criteria after each received a passivity point, gets a stepout in the second period to clinch a 2-1 victory over 2021 bronze medalist Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) and gain a place in the 60kg semifinals.

13:24: Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ) reverses a par terre position to score a takedown and lead 2-1 against Liguo CAO (CHN). He then gets the par terre before securing a 7-1 win

13:18: Returning silver medalist Zholoman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) with the toss against Ildar HAFIZOV (USA) and secures the fall in the 60kg quarterfinals.

13:10: 2021 world silver medalist Kayla MIRACLE (USA) falls behind 6-5 against Xiaojuan LUO (CHN) in their women's 62kg match, but comes back with a cradle for 2, with a 2-point penalty tacked on. From there it is all Miracle, as she scores a 4-point tackle, then ends the match against the exhausted Luo with a takedown and roll for a 17-6 win.

12:59: In a clash between 2021 gold medalists, defending champion Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) barely holds on to defeat 59kg titlist Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) 3-2 for a spot in the 62kg quarterfinals. In the first period, Tynybekova scores a stepout with one second left on the shot clock. In the second, she goes up 3-0 with a single-leg takedown. Dudova puts the pressure on and scores a stepout with 1:01 left. In the final seconds, she gets in on a double leg, but can't finish it off and only gets another stepout.

12:57: Olympic champion Mayu SHIDOCHI (JPN) puts on an impressive display of driving double-leg takedowns as she powers into the women's 55kg quarterfinals with a 10-0 technical fall in 2:44 over Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ).

12:54: Returning bronze medalist Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) warms up with a 54-second fall over Anna SZEL (HUN). She will face European champion Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) in the quarterfinals.

12:48: On Mat D, Sonam MALIK (IND) wrestling U23 world champion Ana GODINEZ (CAN). Malik with a stepout and Godinez was penalized for passivity. Malik leads 2-0 at the break. In the second period, an activity clock on Malik and she fails to score in the 30 seconds. Godinez shoots for the legs and gets the takedown and a leg lace to lead 5-2. A late takedown and a 7-2 win for Godinez

12:45: European champion Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) with a huge fall over Yagmur CAKMAK (TUR) at 62kg. She used a cradle to get the fall.

12:44: Superstar Riza KAYAALP (TUR), looking for his fifth world title and first since 2019, gets started with a 5-1 victory at Greco 130kg over Oleksandr CHERNETSKYY (UKR) to advance to the quarterfinals.

12:40: In a doozy on Mat A, 2019 Asian champion Mengyu XIE (CHN) gives up the go-ahead takedown to 2021 world silver medalist Nina HEMMER (GER) with :32 left, only to come back with a double-leg takedown of her own with 7 seconds left for a 6-4 win at women's 55kg.

12:30: Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) survived a pin attempt from Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA) and rallied to score points at will to win 13-6 against Dragutan

12:21: Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ) uses a reverse headlock to secure a fall over Gevorg GHARIBYAN (ARM) and advance to the Greco 60kg quarterfinals.

12:20: Oskar MARVIK (NOR), a bronze medalist a year ago in Oslo, proves too much for two-time world junior medalist Cohlton SCHULTZ (USA), notching a 5-0 victory to advance to the Greco 130kg quarterfinals.

12:05: Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL), a 2014 world champion and silver medalist the following year, loses a wild one at women's 62kg to see Xiaojuan LUO (CHN). Sukhee trailed 7-6 in the final 20 seconds when she headlocked Luo to her back, only to have the Chinese roll her over with :04 left and gain a 9-8 win.

11:50: 2021 world U23 bronze medalist Anna SZEL (HUN) secures the fall against Hanbit LEE (KOR) at women's 62kg. That earns her a round-of-16 clash with the mighty Nonoka OZAKI (JPN).

11:45: Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL), the 2021 world champion at women's 59kg who has moved up to the Olympic weight of 62kg, scores a go-behind takedown with :36 left and adds a cross-face exposure to defeat Ameline DOUARRE (FRA) 5-1.

11:45: Olympic champion Mayu SHIDOCHI (JPN) is returning to international competition since her gold in Tokyo. Wrestling Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR) in the 55kg qualification, Shidochi with two single leg attacks to lead 4-0 before a takedown to make it 6-0 at the break. She starts the second period with another takedown, and finishes the bout 10-0 with two minutes remaining.

11:40: European bronze medalist Dariusz VITEK (HUN) gets the fall at 130kg when 2018 world bronze medalist Minseok KIM (KOR), down 5-0, tries desperation back drop but is stopped on his won back.

11:30: Two-time U17 world champion and U20 world silver Sonam MALIK (IND) plans it extremely well with a activity in the first period and slowing it down in the second. She wins 8-0 over Ayaulym KASSYMOVA (KAZ).

11:14: Rabby KILANDI (COD) made history when he notched the first-ever Greco victory by a wrestler from the Democratic Republic of Congo at a World Championships, winning an 11-9 nail-biter over Viktor PETRYK (UKR) at 60kg. Kilandi, an African bronze medalist at 55kg (he also placed fifth in freestyle!), got the winning points with 4-point counter to a bear hug late in the second period.

11:13: In the first featured match of the session, European champion Kerem KAMAL (TUR) puts away former Asian 55kg champion Ilkhom BAKHROMOV (UZB) by a 9-0 technical fall. He'll face Mohsen Nejad next.

11:09: U23 world champion Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) with a 5-0 win over Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ). Mirzazadeh defeated world champion Aliakbar YOUSIFI (IRI) in the trials to win the spot on the national team

11:05: Just like Mohsen Nejad on the adjacent mat, 2021 Asian champion Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ) recorded a fall after he had built up enough for a technical fall against Alexandru TRANDAFIR (ROU). Sultangali was a world bronze medalist in 2018.

11:02: Asian silver medalist Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) advances at 60kg with a fall over Hanjae CHUNG (KOR). Mohsen Nejad scored a takedown and roll to go up 8-0, which would have ended the match anyway but got the fall when his opponent stopped fighting.

10:59: 34-year-old Ildar HAFIZOV (USA), who won an Asian silver in 2011 for his native Uzbekistan, has a successful challenge wipe out eight points by his opponent as he defeats Dicther TORO (COL) 9-6 at 60kg. That avenged a loss in the final of the 2021 Pan Am Championship.

10:56: Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL) will be in the highlight package of every wrestling video. He begins his day in Belgrade with an 11-0 win

10:55: With China returning to the international stage, Liguo CAO (CHN), a two-time fifth-place finisher, takes little time in scoring a 9-0 technical fall over Abdelkarim FERGAT (ALG) to advance at 60kg.

10:39: Gyanender DAHIYA (IND) and Leo TUDEZCA (FRA) in the first qualification bout of the day at 60kg. Dahiya gets the par terre and then two turns to lead 5-1. Second-period par terre for Dahiya again but Tudezca gets takedown and a roll. He cuts down the lead to 6-4 but Dahiya hangs on for the win.

10:29: We're ready for Day 3, with the preliminary rounds in the last two weights in Greco (60kg and 130kg) and the first two in Women's Wrestling (55kg and 62kg).

#WrestleParis

Paris Olympics in Photos: Japan show, Lopez retirement and shockers

Wednesday, December 18, 2024 - 12:55 By Vinay Siwach

PARIS (December 18) -- The 2024 Paris Olympic Games turned out to be history in wrestling. From surprise winners to retirements, there was a lot. The legend of Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) grew, first-time Olympians made it to the podium and a few medal hopefuls went empty-handed.

Here's a trip down the memory lane with photos:

Mijain LOPEZ (CUB)

In the 128-year history of the Summer Olympics, no athlete had ever won five gold medals in the same event in any sport. Until Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) did it in Paris. The Greco-Roman legend put on a show in Paris and won four bouts to win the gold medal.

The 41-year-old went around the Champs de Mars Arena celebrating with anyone and everyone. There will be no sixth gold as Lopez took off his wrestling shoes and left them in the middle of the mat, the universal sign of a wrestler's decision to end his career. Lopez was at his best at describing his five gold medals: "Beijing: youth. London: transcendence. Rio: effort. Tokyo: sacrifice. Paris: joy."

Mijain LOPEZ (CUB)

The only time Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) looked troubled in Paris was when Sahab SHARIATI (AZE), a veteran himself at 35, managed to lift the Cuban off the mat. No one else managed to do this. Even world champion Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI), who lost to Lopez in the quarterfinals, decided not to force the par terre and resume the bout in standing. Shariati, however, could not score. Lopez put on a stiff resistance and when Shariati tried to force a roll, Lopez nimbly stepped over and gained control for a one-point reversal.

Vinesh PHOGAT (IND)

The Paris Olympics had not thrown any big surprises on day one. However, day two could not have had a more chaotic start. Yui SUSAKI (JPN), unbeaten internationally and going for her second straight Olympic gold, was stunned in the opening round itself. Susaki had not given up a single point in Tokyo. However, VINESH (IND) secured a 3-2 win in 50kg. The shock in Susaki's eyes and Vinesh's disbelief tell the story of the match, Susaki's first-ever loss.

Susaki would come back to win a bronze medal but the situation changed dramatically for Vinesh as she failed to make the 50kg weight on second day and was disqualified.

Hassan YAZDANI (IRI)

As far as heartbreaks go, Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) and Iran suffered a big one. For long, Yazdani was troubled by his shoulder, and he got it operated three months before the Olympics. He seemed well at the Budapest Ranking Series and was the favorite to win gold in Paris. All seemed well for Yazdani as he reached the final. But that was it.

Wrestling Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) in the 86kg final, Yazdani dislocated his shoulder moments after the start of the final. Throughout the final, Yazdani took several medical timeouts and could not wrestle to his potential. He ended up with another silver, his second in two successive Olympics.

Akari FUJINAMI (JPN)

Yui SUSAKI (JPN) could not but Paris was Japan's Olympics in wrestling. One of its biggest stars was Akari FUJINAMI (JPN), who won the gold medal at 53kg at the age of 20 years. When she won the final, she had a 137-bout winning streak. She gave up only two points in the tournament. Fujinami is the phenom.

Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN)

Japan won eight gold medals at the Paris Olympics. Kiyooka KIYOOKA (JPN), who won gold at 65kg, started wrestling at age three at a kids wrestling club in Kochi City on the central island of Shikoku. It was there he first met the two-year-old daughter of the club's coach. Her name is Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN), and she won the women's 57kg gold the previous day.

Japan finished its best-ever tournament with a total of eight golds, one silver and two bronzes from the 13 weight classes in which the country had qualified. With Kiyooka's victory, Nippon Sports Science University students and alumni combined for five golds, more than double any other country.

Sakura MOTOKI (JPN)

Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) also won gold. But at one point she was in trouble of losing her semifinal. Trailing against Grace BULLEN (NOR), Motoki was stuck in a trip from outside. A throw would have ended her dream of winning gold. Bullen was ready to create history...

Sakura MOTOKI (JPN)

... But Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) countered it. And did it in a way that stunned the arena. As Grace BULLEN (NOR) was putting forward pressure, Motoki locked her arms and threw her over. Bullen landed on her back and Motoki kept her on the mat to secure a fall. When all was looking good for Bullen, Motoki found a way to upset her.

Grace BULLEN (NOR)

Grace BULLEN (NOR) did create history eventually. She defeated Ana GODINEZ (CAN) in the 62kg bronze medal and became Norway's first Olympic medalist in women's wrestling. Bullen always had the potential to be an Olympic medalist, but it took a change of environment, coaches, and weight classes to finally be one.

Anastasia NICHITA (MDA)

Moldova also had some Olympic history in wrestling. Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) was all but out of her semifinal against Kexin HONG (CHN) who was gut-wrenching Nichita and led 7-0. But Nichita stepped over and stopped another attempt of Hong's turn. And that's when she pinned Hong and entered the 57kg final, becoming Moldova's first-ever Olympic medalist.

Islam DUDAEV (ALB)

In Freestyle, there was more history. Islam DUDAEV (ALB) won a bronze medal at 65kg a day after Cherman VALIEV (ALB) won the same medal at 74kg. While Valiev was the first-ever Olympic medalist for Albania in any sport, Valiev too was part of this history. And he won the bronze medal with a stunning last-second win over world champion Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN).

Zhan BELENIUK (UKR)

There were a slew of retirements as well in Paris. Apart from the aforementioned Lopez's retirement, another major one was that of Zhan BELENUIK (UKR). He won a bronze medal at 87kg in Greco-Roman, completing his set of medals. Beleniuk won a silver medal in 2016 Rio Games, improved to gold medal in Tokyo 2020 and capped off his career with bronze. His name will forever be etched in the Ukrainian history.

Taha AKGUL (TUR)

Taha AKGUL (TUR) also retired. The 2016 Rio Olympic champion in Freestyle 125kg added bronze in Tokyo and Paris before leaving his shoes on the mat. In a rare event, Aiaal LAZAREV (KGZ), Akgul's opponent in the bronze medal bout, also removed his shoes. A double retirement at Olympics.

Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO)

A few moments after the double retirement at 125kg, the final of the weight class was pure drama and thrill. Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) was up against world champion Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) for the gold medal. Petriasvhili had lost the Tokyo final to Gable STEVESON (USA) in the final second when the American scored a takedown to beat the Georgian.

Petriashvili was so determined this time that he came out all guns blazing. He scored a takedown and got Zare in par terre and rolled him for a 10-0 superiority win. Zare was stunned and so was everyone in the arena. Iran challenged the final turn and as it turned out, Zare's head was indeed outside the zone before the final turn. The score was changed to 8-0 and now Petriashvili had to do it again.

Zare, with his high-paced wrestler, troubled Petriashvili who was warned for fleeing and passivity. But call it destiny if you may, Petriashvili won the final 10-9 and the gold medal which eluded him and left a giant like Petriashvili crying at the podium in Tokyo.

He celebrated, as seen in the photo, gesturing towards Zare as if he is wearing the crown, a celebration made popular by Zare himself.

Taha AKGUL (TUR)

Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) had long been one-half of an elite duo in the 125kg class with rival Taha AKGUL (TUR). The two had a stranglehold on the global title from 2014 to 2019, until Gable STEVESON (USA) broke the streak at the Tokyo Olympics and Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) won the world title in 2021. There will be no more battles between the two. Akgul retired after winning the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics in August. Akgul celebrated his 15-year rivalry with Petriashvili and said that both of them are 'legends'. Here's Petriashvili giving a send off to Akgul on the podium.

Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN)

More podium stories from Paris. Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN), Bahrain's first-ever wrestling champion, proudly stands on top after winning gold at 97kg. Two of the biggest names at 97kg are missing from this. We will let you take a guess.

Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI)

That's Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) after winning the gold medal in Greco-Roman 97kg. But his coach Hassan HOSSEIN ZADEH sneaked past the security and joined him on the podium.

Parviz NASIBOV (UKR)

Parviz NASIBOV (UKR), with one open eye, won silver in GR 67kg weight class and at the podium, he brought the cutest singlet. He dedicated his medal to his newborn son. Things that matter!

Podium

That's a selfie from the Greco-Roman 77kg podium. Maybe a retake?

Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ)

The Greco-Roman 77kg weight class was wild. Nao KUSAKA (JPN) won gold but no one expected Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) to his opponent in the final. But Zhadrayev pulled out a performance of lifetime to reach there. His biggest win was over world champion and returning Olympic silver medalist Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ). Here he is throwing Makhmudov using the front lock which sealed the bout for him.

Razambek JAMALOV (UZB)

Another top move from Paris and what courage from Razambek JAMALOV (UZB) to pull it off. Wrestling in the 74kg final, Jamalov got Daichi TAKATANI (JPN) in the cradle and secured a first-period fall to win the gold medal.

Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI)

There are always some great camaraderie among wrestlers. Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) displayed that when he carried Sabah SAHRIATI (AZE) on his shoulders after the latter retired.

The 130kg wrestler won bronze after beating Shariati. Instead of celebrating, he saw Shariati, a bronze medalist from 2016 Rio Olympics, leave his shoes on the mat to mark his retirement from the sport. As he was about to leave the mat, Mirzazadeh congratulated Shariati and lifted him on his shoulder for a lap on the mat. As the crowd cheered, Mirzazadeh moved swiftly in a circle, carrying an over 130kg wrestler to give a fitting end to a long career. But Mirzazadeh's gesture towards Shariati has a deeper reason. Shariati was born in Kurdistan, Iran and wrestled for Iran before wrestling for Azerbaijan from 2013. Soon after the first lap, even the Iranian coaches joined them and all of them completed another lap as the Champs de Mars Arena crowd gave them thunderous applause.

DPR Korea

Two DPR Korea wrestler congratulating each other after they won their respective bouts. Sol gum PAK (PRK) had defeated Nisha DAHIYA (IND) at 68kg while Se ung RI (PRK) had stunned Victor CIOBANU (MDA) in Greco-Roman 60kg and both met as they got off the mat. The two would later go on two win bronze medals in their respective weight classes as Pak became the first woman from DPR Korea to win an Olympic wrestling medal.

Arkadiusz KULYNYCZ (POL)

Olympics are hard. Arkadiusz KULYNYCZ (POL) gives an example.

World Championships Day 3 semis set

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Paris Olympics in Photos: Japan show, Lopez retirement and shockers