#WrestleBelgrade WW Preview: U23 Stars Ready to Shine at World Championships

Tuesday, October 26, 2021 - 07:00 By Vinay Siwach

BELGRADE, Serbia (October 25) -- As the current 76kg senior-level landscape sits, it's tough to hand one wrestler supremacy in that weight. A similar situation is arising in the 76kg bracket at the upcoming U23 World Championships. As many as 10 extraordinarily talented and proven wrestlers head into Belgrade eyeing 76kg gold.

Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) stands out with her Tokyo Olympics experience and the bronze medal at the Senior World Championships earlier this month. The former junior world champion is a part of Kyrgyzstan's women's wrestling trio, which is quickly becoming a force to reckon with.

Medet Kyzy lost a close semifinal at the Tokyo Olympics and later at the World Championships in Oslo. But that experience will help her when she takes the mat at the U23 event as one of the top contenders of her weight class, looking for her first world title since 2017.

Kylie WELKER is a 2021 junior world champion. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Challenging her will be the most recent junior world champion Kylie WELKER (USA). The 18-year-old Welker, who also competed at the Senior Worlds, would like to put her Oslo disappointment behind her and capture her second world title of the year.

Ufa silver medalist BIPASHA (IND) and bronze medalists Kseniya DZIBUK (BLR) and Dilnaz MULKINOVA (KAZ) are also making the trip to Belgrade with the ambition to change the color of their medals.

Another quartet of medalists will be from the U23 European Championships as gold medalist Evgeniia ZAKHARCHENKO (RWF), silver medalist Aysegul OZBEGE (TUR), and two bronze medalists Enrica RINALDI (ITA) and Diana VLASCEANU (ROU) try to add a world medal to their continental one.

Zakharchenko, a returning bronze medalist, defeated Ozbege 10-0 in the final of the U23 Euros in Skopje after blanking Rindali 8-0 in the semifinal. From the other side, Ozbege and Blasceanu battled it out in the semifinal with the Turkish wrestler coming out on top 6-5.

Given her exploits from the U23 Euros, Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU) can cause a few upsets and reach the podium, which she missed in Skopje.

Emily SHILSON (USA) is eyeing her third age-group world title. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Another weight class that promises to be highly competitive is the 50kg with a Russian Wrestling Federation-USA rivalry on the cards. Junior world champion Emily SHILSON (USA) and U23 European champion Mariia TIUMEREKOVA (RWF) are two of the hottest prospects in the field.

Shilson, a former cadet world champion, showed what she is capable of in Ufa, gut-wrenching her opponents on way to the junior title. She has been to a U23 Worlds before but failed to medal. Tiumerekova too has won a medal at most of the competitions she has entered and can challenge Shilson in Serbia.

Other big names in the weight class are Anastasiya YANOTAVA (BLR) who was second to Tiumerekova in the Skopje tournament, Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU) who wrestled at the Tokyo Olympics and junior world bronze medalist Munkhgerel MUNKHBAT (MGL).

But as a team, Ukraine will be a severe threat to the team title, with most of the medal-winning members from U23 Euros being part of the squad. The list includes 55kg champion Khrystyna DEMKO (UKR), Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR) at 62kg and gold medalist at 68kg Oksana CHUDYK (UKR).

Alina AKOBIYA U23 European Championships Alina AKOBIIA (UKR) is a returning silver medalist in Belgrade. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 57kg, the ever-improving Alina HRUSHYNA AKOBIIA (UKR) is gunning for the gold medal which she missed in 2019 after losing the final to Sae NANJO (JPN). Hrushyna Akobiia, who has a U23 bronze as well from 2017, will be the favorite to win the title in the absence of women's wrestling powerhouses like Japan and China as she has already won the continental tour without giving up a point in the process. The Ukraine wrestler has not competed since May but it's unlikely that anyone will challenge her to the final.

Silver medalist to her in Skopje, Patrycja GIL (POL), and the two bronze medalists from the same event Othelie HOEIE (NOR) and Viktoriia VAULINA (RWF) are also part of the field looking for a U23 medal. Junior world silver medalist Aurora RUSSO (ITA) can surprise the field, similar to how she did in Ufa.

Individual World Cup winner Rizhko will be trying to win her first world title in her long career, which began with a cadet European title back in 2013 when she was 15. In Skopje, she manhandled everyone, winning her four bouts via fall or technical superiority, including the final against Tatsiana PAULAVA (BLR). The Belarusian will try to avenge that loss if the two meet in Belgrade.

At 55kg, Demko will be making her third trip to the U23 Worlds but is yet to win a medal. In 2019, she lost the bronze medal bout while finishing eighth in 2018. This year, Tokyo Olympian Andreea ANA (ROU) will be her toughest challenge, along with Aleksandra SKIRENKO (RWF), who finished second to Demko at the U23 Euros. Both were dominant at the Skopje event, but the final was one-sided, with Demko winning 12-1.

With two European titles under her belt this year at 68kg, Chudyk is in red-hot form and is expected to continue that when she wrestles at her first U23 Worlds. But it won't be a cakewalk for her, especially with Vusala PARFIANOVICH (RWF) and Nesrin BAS (TUR) waiting to avenge their losses from Skopje. This will be the second U23 Worlds for Parfianovich, but she can bank on her silver medal-winning run at the U23 Euros to turn around her performance.

Another team looking for a place on the podium is the Russian Wrestling Federation. They'll bring a few future stars, too. Ekaterina VERBINA (RWF), the U23 European gold, will try to make this opportunity count after losing in the bronze medal bout at the 2019 U23 Worlds. No one was able to score a point on her during the Skopje tournament. In the final, Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) conceded an injury default.

If Yetgil, a returning bronze medalist, can repeat her performance from Euros, a thrilling bout is expected against Verbina. The Turkey wrestler placed seventh at the Senior World Championships in Oslo but not before shocking Tokyo bronze medalist Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL).

Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) is also in contention, given that she only lost to Yetgil 3-3 in Skopje.

At 72kg, Marina SUROVTSEVA (RUS) will use her Oslo experience to win a medal in Belgrade. The silver medalist from U23 Euros juggled 76kg and 72kg, but after a ninth-place finish in Oslo, she moved back to the lower division.

But two-time Asian champion Divya KAKRAN (IND) and junior Worlds silver Lilly SCHNEIDER (GER) will be her biggest threats, along with Anastasiya ZIMIANKOV (BLR), the bronze medalist from U23 Euros.

Anastasia NICHITA Anastasia NCHITA (MDA) is looking to her first U23 World title. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

Though there is no doubt that Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) will be the clear favorite to win the 59kg weight class, junior world champion Anastasia SIDELNIKOVA (RWF), returning bronze medalist Anhelina LYSAK (POL) and Krystsina SAZYKINA (BLR) can stop the Moldovan.

Nichita has European titles at all levels, including the senior one, which she won in 2020 after beating 2021 world champion Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL). Her performance at the gold-winning Individual World Cup and later at the U23 Euros confirm the fact that it will be near impossible to get past her in Belgrade.

Koumba LARROQUE (FRA), blue, is a U23 world champion from 2017. (Photo: UWW / Tony Rotundo)

A similar story can run in the 65kg weight class in which two-time senior World medalist Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) begins her quest to capture the second U23 World title. The 2017 champion has been struggling with a knee injury which makes it even more difficult to make a comeback since that silver medal at the 2018 senior Worlds.

She did win the senior European title this year, but the chink in her armor -- to give up points late in the bouts -- could be a cause of concern for her. At the Individual World Cup, Olympics Games and even the Oslo World Championships, Larroque suffered heartbreaking losses.

One wrestler who can cause an upset is Kateryna ZELENYKH (UKR), a silver medalist from U23 Euros. Zlenykh was unstoppable at that tournament and it was only in the final that she met Irina RIGACI (MDA) and lost 5-9. But her ability to chalk out a big throw from nowhere did catch a lot of her opponents and she used it well to claim falls.

Women's wrestling begins Wednesday, November 3, with five weight classes followed by the qualification rounds of the remaining five weights on Thursday at the Belexpocentar arena.

#WrestleBelgrade

World Championships WW 53kg, 62kg, 68kg and 72kg semis set

Wednesday, September 20, 2023 - 00:32 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

BELGRADE, Serbia (September 20) -- All women's wrestling day as the World Championships enters its fifth day. Three Olympic and one non-Olympic weight classes were in action on Tuesday and three more Olympic weight classes, 53kg, 62kg and 68kg, will be in action on Wednesday. One non-Olympic weight class in action is 72kg.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER | DAY 4 RESULTS

14:38: Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) gains a first-period takedown, and that proves to be the minimum to get her over the line and into the 62kg semifinals with a 2-2 victory over Iryna KOLIADENKO (URK). Koliadenko scores a stepout with one second left on the activity clock, then Tynybekova comes back with a double-leg takedown. In the second period, Koliadenko gains another stepout, but it is not enough to keep Tynybekova from winning on criteria. The result was far different than their semifinal at the Tokyo Olympics, which Tynybekova won 10-0. Tynybekova will next face Luisa NIEMESCH (GER), pulled off a last-second victory over Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL).

14:27: Grace BULLEN (NOR) is into the semifinals at 62kg! She blasts Kriszta INCZE (ROU) 10-0 in the quarterfinals. She will have to get through Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) in the semifinals after the Japanese beat Lias NUNES (BRA) 10-0.

14:22: Having taken one major scalp already, Bose CAVUSOGLU TOSUN (TUR) will get a chance for another after whipping Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) 8-0 in their 68kg quarterfinal. That puts Cavusoglu Tosun into the semifinals against Ishii. The Turk pulled off a major upset in the first round when she ousted Irina RINGACI (MDA)

14:22: A double 2-1 win at 68kg! Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) takes out Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) while Emma BRUNTIL (USA) beats Vusala PARFIANOVICH (AIN). They both face each other

14:15: Ami ISHII (JPN) gets a free pass into the 68kg semifinals with a victory by injury default over Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) who injured her knee in her previous bout

14:10: Teen star Amit ELOR (USA) proves too much for fellow 2022 world champion Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN), scoring a pair of takedowns and two activity points in a 6-0 victory to advance to the 72kg semifinals. Elor is the defending champion, while Morikawa triumphed at 65kg last year.

14:08: At 72kg, Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) beats Sofia GEORGIEVA (BUL) and she will now take on two-time silver medalist Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) in the semifinal. Bakbergenova defeated Kseniia BURAKOVA (AIN)

13:58: Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) survives the biggest scare of her international career when Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU) comes roaring out of the gate in their 53kg quarterfinal and tags the Japanese for five points. Fujinami recovers from the shock to notch three takedowns to go into the break up 6-5. In the second period, she gains a takedown and three lace-lock rolls to move one point from a technical fall, but Yepez Guzman fires back with a double-leg takedown. Fujinami responds with a barrel roll to the back, then gets a headlock and scores a fall. It was the most points ever scored against Fujinami by a non-Japanese opponent. Fujinami had beaten Yepez Guzman twice before, including a 10-0 win at this year's Zagreb Open in February.

13:55: Emma MALMGREN (SWE) with a big four over Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (AIN) but the Tokyo bronze medalist comes back to score a takedown and a stepout to win 6-4. Kaladzinskaya is into the semifinals and she will take on ANTIM (IND). On Mat A, Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) is back in the semifinal with a 1-1 win over Andreea ANA (ROU).

13:45: Grace BULLEN (NOR) saved her big four-pointer for the second period. She hits Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR) with a big throw and confirms the fall to move into the 62kg quarterfinals.

13:40: Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) uses her big throws to put Ana GODINEZ (CAN) on her back and secure a 13-7 win at 62kg. She moves into the quarterfinal and will face Luisa NIEMESCH (GER).

13:28: No wasting any time for Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ). The two-time champion gets a 4-point takedown right off the bat against Mariana CHERDIVARA (MDA), then stacks her up for a fall in 49 seconds that puts her into the 62kg quarterfinals.

13:25: At 62kg, Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) joins her Ikuei University teammate Ishii in the quarterfinals by also beating a Bulgarian opponent. Motoki, the 59kg champ last year, scores two takedowns in the first period and concedes nothing in a 4-0 victory over 2021 59kg gold medalist Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL).

13:20: Emma BRUNTIL (USA) takes on Feng ZHOU (CHN) at 68kg. She moves into the quarterfinals. Bruntil's 6-3 win over Zhou puts her against Vusala PARFIANOVICH (AIN) who just upset Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) with a late takedown and win 2-2

13:14: Ami ISHII (JPN) survives a late rally and a tenuous situation at the hands of European champion Yuliana YELEVA (BUL) to advance to the 68kg quarterfinals with an 8-4 victory. Ishii had gone up 8-0 in the second period with a takedown and a pair of gut wrenches, when Yeleva scored a takedown and was on the verge of turning Ishii over. But the Japanese managed to hold firm and squirm out of the predicament, enabling her to keep a big lead which came into play when Yeleva scored a late takedown.

13:02: Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (AIN) with a huge 9-2 win over Stalvira ORSHUSH (HUN) in the 53kg 1/16 finals. She will face Malmgren in the quarterfinals

12:55: Young Amit ELOR (USA) begins defense of her 72kg title by scoring three takedowns in a 7-0 victory over Nesrin BAS (TUR), the 2022 world U23 champion at 68kg. That sets up a final-worthy quarterfinal with Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN), the 65kg champion a year ago who held off QIANDEGENCHAGAN (CHN) 5-2 on the adjacent mat.

12:52: European champion Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) scores a second passivity point to see off Samantha STEWART (CAN) 2-1 and reach the 53kg semifinals. On Mat A, Andreea ANA (ROU) with a 9-0 shutout over Iulia LEORDA (MDA) to reach the semifinal against Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE)

12:44: Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) with a fall over Christianah OGUNSANYA (NGR) and she moves into the quarterfinals at 53kg. She will have to beat Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) to book her spot to the semifinals.

12:33: Olympic silver medalist Qianyu PANG (CHN) becomes the latest victim of the upset bug. Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE), a bronze medalist last year, scores a 4-point takedown in the final seconds to pull out an 8-4 victory.

12:32: Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) cruises into the 53kg quarterfinals, adding two lace-lock rolls to her third takedown in a 10-0 victory over Jeongbin OH (KOR) in 1:32. Her winning streak is now at 124.

12:31: Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) hangs on for a 75- win over Jia LONG (CHN) in the 62kg 1/16 final. Purevdorj is an Asian silver medalist while Long was the champion at 65kg at the Asian event

12:25: Grace BULLEN (NOR) with a fall over Angelina RODRIGUES (CPV) at 62kg. Bullen was a silver medalist at 59kg last year. Rodrigues is the first-ever woman wrestler from Cape Verde

12:21: Olympic silver medalist Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA, aiming for her third world title at 62kg, has her hands full with Aleksandra WOLCZYNSKA (POL). Tynybekova leads 4-2 in the second period when she powers a double-leg takedown to the back for 4, then stacks up Wolczynska for a fall.

12:10: Quick win at 62kg for Sakura MOTOKI (JPN), the 59kg champion last year who moved up to the Olympic weight and beat out world champion Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) for the spot on the Japan team to Belgrade. A takedown to the back and three lace-lock rolls give Motoki a 10-0 win over Ariukhan JUMABAEVA (UZB) in 46 seconds. Next up is Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) in a clash of the last two gold medalists at 59kg

12:09: Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) with a fall over Tokyo bronze medalist Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL) after leading 14-7 in the 57kg repechage. Adekuoroye will now wrestle for bronze and an Olympic quota.

12:03: Adeline GRAY (USA) secures a fall at the first-period buzzer in her 76kg repechage match against Yuanyuan HUANG (CHN) to earn a place in the bronze-medal match later tonight. Not only will the six-time champion Gray be going for her ninth career world medal, and first bronze since 2011, but just as importantly the Paris Olympic quota that goes with it.

11:46: The first major shock of the day comes on Mat C, and Irina RINCACI (MDA) is the victim. Buse CAVUSOGLU TOSUN (TUR) takes Rincaci down with a half-nelson right to her back, then clamps down for a fall at 68kg. Rincaci had started off with a takedown, but paid the price for letting her guard down. Rincaci made history in 2021 when won the 65kg title to become Moldova's first-ever female world champion, and won a bronze last year at 68kg.

11:42: Ami ISHII (JPN) launches her bid to improve on her 68kg silver from last year by quickly dispatching Dieu Thuoug LAI (VIE). An ankle pick to the back and Ishii with the fall in 26 seconds.

11:36: Koumba LARROQUE (FRA), back at the Olympic weight of 68kg after winning her third world medal last year with a bronze at 65kg, gets a 4-point takedown to go up 10-0 but secures the fall anyway against Zsuzsanna MOLNAR (SVK).

11:30: Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN), last year's world champion at 65kg, begins her quest for a second world title, this year at 72kg, with a 3-0 win over Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ).

11:16: Dominique PARRISH (USA), who won the 53kg title last year in Fujinami's absence, has seen her reign end after one match. With Parrish on the activity clock, Asian silver medalist ANTIM (UWW) scores a takedown with 1:20 left and holds on for a 3-2 victory.

11:02: Tokyo Olympic silver medal Qianyu PANG (CHN) is up against Altyn SHAGAYEVA (KAZ) on Mat A. After they traded passivities, Pang with a stepout to win 2-1

10:55: A fall on Mat C for Iulia LEORDA (MDA), the losing finalist at 53kg in 2021 to Fujinami, over Sandy PARRA (COL). She and Fujinami could meet in the semifinals this time.

10:53: Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) gets off to a roaring start in her bid to regain the 2021 title at 53kg that she had to give up when she was injured last year. She scores an early single-leg takedown against Tuba DEMIR (TUR), then after a spin-behind takedown, applies the lace lock and spins three times for a 10-0 win in 1:19. The win runs her current winning streak to 123 matches.

10:30: Big day for women's wrestling as three more Olympic weight classes go on mat today. Wrestlers in 53kg, 62kg and 68kg will try to win a spot for the Paris Olympics.

#WrestleBelgrade WW Preview: U23 Stars Ready to Shine at World Championships

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World Championships WW 53kg, 62kg, 68kg and 72kg semis set