#WrestleBelgrade

World Championships WW 50kg, 57kg, 65kg, 76kg semis set

By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

BELGRADE, Serbia (September 19) -- The World Championships will see the first women's wrestling Olympic weight classes in action with 50kg, 57kg and 76kg. A non-Olympic weight is also in action -- 65kg. Yui SUSAKI (JPN), Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN), Helen MAROULIS (USA), Adeline GRAY (USA), Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) are some names in action.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER | SADULAEV UPDATE

14:54: Literally seconds apart, Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) and Helen MAROULIS (USA) set up a rematch of last year's final at 57kg, this time in the semifinals. Sakurai, aiming for her third straight world title and second in a row at 57kg, disposed of 2022 bronze medalist Anhelina LYSAK (POL), scoring three takedowns in a 7-0 victory. On the adjacent mat, Maroulis had one blip against European silver medalist Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE), getting stuffed on a gut-wrench attempt to give up 2, but otherwise was in control in an 8-3 victory. Sakurai beat Maroulis 3-0 in last year's final.

14:50: A 1-1 criteria victory for Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR) over Ramona GALAMBOS (HUN) in the 57kg. Kamaloglu held on to her passivity lead if her life depended on it.

14:45: Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) gets Odunayo ADEKUROYE (NGR) in an arm trap and turns her until the referee blows the whistle. Nichita, who pinned Adekuroye in the Tokyo Olympics after being 8-0 down, has looked extremely dominant so far.

14:40: Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL), the losing finalist last year to Susaki, manhandles two-time European bronze medalist Kseniya STANKEVICH (AIN) 12-1 to advance to the 50kg semifinals. She will face Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA), a wrestler the Mongolian beat in the semis a year ago. The American has since avenged that loss with a technical superiority win in the Budapest Ranking Series.

14:40: Marquee match-up on Mat D. Four-time Olympic medalist Mariya STADNIK (AZE) is wrestling Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA). The two exchange takedowns with Hildebrandt leading 4-3. But Stadnik feels the heat and gives up easy takedowns and Hildebrandt builds a 12-3 lead before a lace to finish 12-3.

14:33: Yui SUSAKI (JPN) a fall over Emilia VUC (ROU) and she moves to the 50kg semifinals. On a different level.

14:30: Another one of the sport's titans has fallen! Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) scores a takedown in each period and never gives six-time world champion Adeline GRAY (USA) an opening to win 4-1 for the biggest victory of her young career. Gray's lone point comes on the activity clock.

14:27: Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) was looking for a fall over Milaimys MARIN (CUB) but the Cuban survives but Alpeyeyeva holds a 2-2 lead. But Marin with a buzzer-beater to win and book a spot in the 76kg semifinal 

14:23: Tatiana RENTERIA (COL) with a high lift and feet to back to get the fall over Samar HAMZA (EGY). Egypt challenged the call for a stepout but it was continuous action and Renteria won.

14:14: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN), deprived of a chance to defend her 62kg title when she lost out at the Japan trials, moved closer to the consolation prize of a 65kg gold by moving into the semifinals with a one-sided 9-0 victory over Kadriye AKSOY (TUR). Ozaki showed she could handle the extra weight of three powerful takedowns in the first period. She scores a stepout the second, then spends the rest of the period locked up with Aksoy, who gets underhooks and futilely attempts back trips. Ozaki thwarts a desperation lateral drop at the end for her final 2 points.

14:00: Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) holds on to a 6-4 lead over SARITA (IND) in the 57kg 1/8 final and moves to the quarterfinals in which she will face Anastasia NICHITA (MDA).

13:34: Helen MAROULIS (USA) remains laser-focused in her mission to regain the 57kg title, making short work of Graciela SANCHEZ DIAZ (ESP) in a 10-0 victory in 2:13 to advance to the quarterfinals, where European silver medalist Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) awaits.

13:30: NEELAM (UWW) stops Oksana LIVACH (UKR) in the 50kg 1/8 finals with a 4-2 win. She will however have Ziqi FENG (CHN) in the quarterfinal

13:06: A dream match has been set up in the 50kg quarterfinals, where ageless Mariya STADNIK (AZE) and Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) will square off after victories by technical superiority. Stadnik finds various ways to score in beating Polinia LUKINA (AIN) 12-1, and Hildebrandt follows with a takedown-lace lock 10-0 win over Miseon KWON (KOR).

12:57: Returning 76kg bronze medalist Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) scores a takedown while on the activity clock, then adds two more in a 6-0 win over Yuanyuan HUANG (CHN). Her reward? A shot at Adeline GRAY (USA) in the quarterfinals.

12:50: Yui SUSAKI (JPN) gave up a point but then punished Alisson CARDOZO (COL) with a lace and won her first bout at 50kg 12-1.

12:35: Adeline GRAY (USA) with an 11-0 technical superiority over returning bronze medalist Epp MAE (EST). Gray is returning to international competition after two years and looking to become a seven-time world champion which will make her the most successful wrestler from the United States

12:19: Helen MAROULIS (USA) gets her bid for a fourth world title at 57kg off to a rousing start, scoring 4 with nifty fireman's carry against Nes RODRIGUEZ (PUR). She builds up a 10-point lead as she stacks up her opponent and ends the match with a fall.

12:14: Olympic silver medalist Iryna KURACHKINA (AIN) snatches a victory from the jaws of defeat at 57kg in an ill-tempered clash between neutral athletes. She had just given up a takedown to fall behind 4-0 against Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (AIN) when she went to a cradle off a takedown and secured a fall at 4:10.

12:05: Anastasia NICHITA (MDA), who became Moldova's first-ever female world champion when she won the 59kg gold last year, got off to a good start at the Olympic weight of 57kg by whipping Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL). Nichita charged to an 8-0 lead, then threw Nikolova to her back for a fall in just over two minutes.

11:52: In a freestyle 97kg repechage match, three-time champion Kyle SNYDER (USA) bounces back from his stunning quarterfinal loss to Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) by defeating Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB) 10-6 to advance to the bronze-medal match later today. Snyder gave up a 4-point counter lift, but had a 4-point cradle of his own to put away the two-time Asian champion.

11:34: Anna LUKASIAK (POL), a bronze medalist a year ago at 50kg, gives up a pair of stepouts and that proves the difference in a 2-1 loss to European silver medalist Oksana LIVICH (UKR)

11:25: Returning bronze medalist Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) starts with a pin over Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU) at 76kg. She lost to Yasemin ADAR (TUR) last year but Adar is not wrestling this year.

11:07: Two years away from the world stage to get married and have twins, and six-time champion Adeline GRAY (USA) spends just 31 seconds in her opening match at women's 76kg. A takedown to lace lock, four spins and that's it for Jimin BAEK (KOR). The unseeded Gray will next face longtime foe Epp MAE (EST) in a rematch of the 2021 world final.

11:05: A takedown to a lace lock and 2021 world bronze medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) finishes off an 11-0 rout of Catalina AXENTE (ROU) at women's 76kg.

11:00: Macey KILTY (USA) channels the Greco wrestlers when she hits a 4-point back suplex to cap a 10-0 win over Valeriia DONDUPOVA SUVOROVA (AIN) in the qualification round at women's 65kg

10:30: Welcome to day four of the World Championships. A big breaking news to start the day as Olympic champion Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) has forfeited his repechage bout which means that Japan will remain without an Olympic quota here.

#WrestleBelgrade

World Championships GR 63kg, 67kg, 87kg semis set

By Vinay Siwach

BELGRADE, Serbia (September 23) -- The final full day of the World Championships, which has been unimaginable, is here. Two more Olympic weight classes in Greco-Roman and one non-Olympic weight class will be in action. The Olympic weight classes are 67kg and 87kg while 63kg is the non-Olympic weight class.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER | DAY 7 RESULTS

14:28: In an entertaining match between the Olympic and world champions that caps the session, Luis ORTA (CUB) gets a stepout in the second period to clinch a 3-2 victory that ends the world reign of Mate NEMES (SRB) at 67kg. Nemes opens the match with a 2-point throw, and Orta responds with a takedown. Noticeably and unusually, there were no passivity points. Orta, the Tokyo Olympic champ at 60kg, is looking for his first world medal.

14:22: Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ) comes up with a pair of big throws -- although one bordered on the dangerous -- to oust Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) 10-0 in their 67kg quarterfinal. Ismailov, a bronze medalist a year ago, gets a takedown and immediately secures a reverse body lock. He executes a lift-and-dump for 5, then repeats it. But the second doesn't go as well, and Khetsuriani hits chest-first on the mat. Ismailov still gets 2 for it, which the Georgian side challenges and loses.

15:24: Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) gets it done! He gets two four-pointers in his big win over Olympic champion Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) for a 10-0 win in the 67kg quarterfinals. He will take on Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM) who moved on with a 9-0 win over Alejandro SANCHO (USA).

15:16: Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) gets it done with a 5-3 win over Alex KESSIDIS (SWE) and he moves into the 87kg semifinals. He will take on Losonczi.

15:15: David LOSONCZI (HUN) celebrated his 9-1 win as he got a four-pointer against Kiryl MASKEVICH (AIN) but on a challenge, it was just two. The score was reversed to 6-1 but Losonczi still got it done to move into the semifinals at 87kg.

15:14: Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ) avenges his loss in the final of the Asian Championships in April to Naser ALIZADEH (IRI), nailing a 4-point headlock throw in the second period to clinch a 9-4 win and a place in the semifinals at 87kg.

15:11: 2022 bronze medalist Ali CENGIZ (TUR) makes the most of the point-less second chance at par terre, scoring with a gut wrench to edge two-time world medalist Jalagasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) 3-3 on last-point criteria and grab a place in the 87kg semifinals.

15:00: Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) with some strong defense against Hrachya POGHOSYAN (ARM) and wins 3-1 in the 63kg quarterfinal. On Mat D, Stefan CLEMENT (FRA) with a victory via superiority against Astemir BIZHOEV (AIN). He will take on Leri ABULADZE (GEO)

15:00: Leri ABULADZE (GEO) gets the second passivity point and that's enough to get by Oleksandr HRUSHYN (UKR) 1-1 on last-point criteria, putting last year's silver medalist into the 63kg semifinals. 

14:58: Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) gives the host country its first semifinalist of the night, hitting a 4-point throw from par terre in the second period to defeat Ivan LIZATOVIV (CRO) 5-2 at 63kg. Tibilov was a European bronze medalist at 60kg who is making his senior world debut. 

We are beginning with the quarterfinals on day eight at 63kg, 67kg and 87kg

14:40: If only wrestling was easy! Kyotaro SOGABE (JPN) got a 7-0 lead over Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) in the first period but Geraei began the second with a takedown, big lift for four points which Sogabe reversed and won 16-5. Iran challenged for a foul and on review, the score was reversed to 8-7 Geraei leading. Sogabe is aware of the Geraei's low gas tank. Geraei is penalized for fleeing. He holds 10-10 criteria lead. Geraei with an 11-10 win after Japan's challenge for fleeing but Japan lost the challenge

14:30: Olympic champion Luis ORTA (CUB) makes short work of Mihai MIHUT (ROU) in the 67kg bout and he earns a shot at world champion Mate NEMES (SRB) in the quarterfinals.

14:20: Former world silver medalist Kiryl MASKEVICH (AIN) with a 5-3 win over Hannes WAGNER (GER) after he hit a big four-pointer in the second period. He moves into the 87kg quarterfinals

14:06: Mate NEMES (SRB) stays on track toward a second straight title at 67kg with a 5-1 victory over Vinayak PATIL (UWW). Nemes will know in a few minutes if he will be facing Olympic champion Luis ORTA (CUB) in the quarterfinals.

14:03: A classic 5-1 win for returning bronze medalist Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) over Krisztian VANCZA (HUN) as he moves into the quarterfinals at 67kg    

13:57: Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ), a bronze medalist a year ago, launches a 5-point throw to finish off Madamadassa SYLLA (FRA) 8-0 and book a spot in the 67kg quarterfinals.

13:50: Ali CENGIZ (TUR) ends the gold-medal aspirations of Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) with a 3-1 victory at 87kg to advance to the quarterfinals. Cengiz has the criteria after receiving the second passivity point, and he gets 2 when he stops a front-headlock roll attempt by the Olympic champion.

13:48: Lasha GOBADZE (GEO), the 2019 champion at 82kg and a three-time medalist, is out of the gold hunt at 87kg after being dealt a 3-1 loss by Semen NOVIKOV (BUL), who is into the quarterfinals.

13:45: Victor CIOBANU (MDA) tries an arm spin when leading 7-6 in the final 15 seconds but  Liguo CAO (CHN) defends the moves and is awarded two points. Moldova challenges for a slip but loses the challenge and the match 9-7 in the 60kg repechage

13:26: Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB), the silver medalist last year at 82kg who has moved up to the Olympic weight of 87kg, gets into the quarterfinals by the skin of his teeth. Trailing 2-0 against world U23 champion Exauce MUKUBU (NOR), he gets the passivity point. He can't fully complete his throw attempt, but upon challenge, is awarded 1 for a stepout. That gives him a 2-2 win on last-point criteria.

13:08: Olympic silver medalist Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) falls at the first hurdle at 67kg to 2022 European champion Murat FIRAT (TUR). Firat scores a pair of rolls from par terre in the first period and never looks back in posting an 8-1 win.

12:57: Olympic champion Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) is on his way to giving up a stepout when hits a lateral drop for 4 against Asian champion Abror ATABAEV (UZB). Atabaev gets a gut wrench from par terre in the second period, but it's not enough and the Iranian star advances to the 67kg 1/8 finals with a 6-3 win. He will next face the Asian silver medalist, Kyotaro SOGABE (JPN), who annihilated Niklas OEHLEN (SWE) 9-0.

12:44: Defending champion Mate NEMES (SRB) survives a last chance for a throw by Minseong KWON (KOR) and adds a last-second takedown for a 6-2 win at 67kg and a place in the quarterfinals. Nemes got both passivity points, adding a gut wrench after the first one. Kwon scored a takedown in the first period and, trailing 4-2 in the second period, had a chance on top in par terre. He got Nemes off his feet, but could not execute a proper throw for points.

12:30: Luis ORTA (CUB), the Tokyo Olympic champion at 60kg, made quick work of Souleyman NASR (TUN) in his opening match at 67kg, scoring a takedown and reeling off four gut wrenches for an 8-0 win in 1:30. Orta comes into Belgrade coming off a pair of third-place finishes at Ranking Series events in Bishkek and Zagreb.

12:17: It was third-time lucky for three-time Asian champion Naser ALIZADEH (IRI), who twice lost points on challenges until a third one was overruled, giving him the lead with 15 seconds left in a 6-4 victory over Ilias PAGKALIDIS (GRE). Pagkalidis led 4-3 when Alizadeh appeared to score on two occasions, but both times the Greek side successfully challenged. But as time was running out, Pagkalidis was flagged for fleeing. This time, the Greeks lost the challenge, and Alizadeh added a stepout at the end.

12:02: Returning bronze medalist and top seed Ali CENGIZ (TUR) falls behind but hits a 4-point move at the end of the first period to go ahead 4-3 against Toni METSOMAEKI (FIN) at 87kg. He adds a takedown and ends up with a 7-3 win. But he can't relax now: next up is Olympic champion Zhan BELENIUK (UKR).

11:50: Olympic champion Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) returns to the World Championships after four years and wins his first bout over Zachary BRAUNAGEL (USA) 5-1 at 87kg. He turned Braunagel twice from par terre to secure the win

11:47: David LOSONCZI (HUN), a bronze medalist here a year ago, reels off two gut wrenches from par terre in the first period against 2020 Asian silver medalist Azat SALIDINOV (KGZ), then ends it with a takedown at the edge for an 8-0 win at 87kg.

11:29: Enes BASAR (TUR) welcomes world U23 bronze-medalist to the big time, reeling off four rolls from par terre for a 9-0 whitewashing at 63kg. Basar will next face top seed and last year's silver medalist Leri ABULADZE (GEO).

11:19: Masato SUMI (JPN), coming off a 2nd-place finish at the Grand Prix of Germany in August, picks up his first-ever win in his fifth trip to the World Championships when he gets both passivity points in a 2-0 win over Andreas VAELIS (EST) in an 87-kg qualification match.

11:05: Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) breaks Milad ALIRZAEV (AIN) and rolls to a 7-1 win at 87kg, the Olympic weight class he moved up to from 87kg.

11:04: Two-time former world U23 bronze medalist Islam ABBASOV (AZE), looking to join the Azeri medal parade, gets a pair of gut wrenches in par terre and comes out a 5-1 winner in his qualification match at 87kg over Viorel BURDUJA (MDA).

10:52: Ali ARSALAN (SRB) gets the home crowd fired up with some nasty front headlock throws en route to a 12-3 victory over Jamol JUMABAEV (UZB) in the 72kg repechage to earn a place in the bronze-medal match tonight.

10:30: Welcome to yet another full day, though the last, of the World Championships. The insane talent of 67kg will be on display and wrestlers at 87kg also taking the mat. The non-Olympic weight is 63kg.