Ito vs. Gerhart
KUORTANE – Day three of the competitions at the 10th World University Wrestling Championship in Kuortane, Finland, marked the end of the women’s freestyle competition.
In the 55kg category, after two rounds of tough struggle, the match carried on to the third period. The winner was discovered through a clinch-situation and regardless of the opponent’s protest at the last second, Iryna Husyak (UKR) ended up taking the gold metal home, leaving Maria Esanu (MDA) with the silver. Bronze medals in the under 55 kg were handed out to Katarzyna Michalak (POL) and Senlian Yang (CHN).
In the 59kg class, Amanda Gerhart (CAN) and Yurika Ito (JPN) met in the gold medal match. Gerhart won the first period at the last second but the Japanese did not give in and took the first and only points from the second period thus bringing the match to a tie. The third period Ito was leading with two points and managed to hold the leading position until the end and the Japanese was awarded with a gold medal. The bronze medalists in -59 kg free style were Hafize Sahin (TUR) and Iulia Alborova (RUS).
Oancea vs. Prontsevic
In the 63kg category the Ukrainian Yuliya Ostapchuk (2-time European Champion) wrestled against Inna Trazhukova (RUS). The first period ended in a 30 second clinch-situation where the Russian managed to gain a point. Second period went evenly 2-2 until the last seconds but Ostapchuk managed to get the win for the period through a point in higher value in performance, bringing the athletes into a tie and to the third period. The match was solved again in a clinch-situation where the Ukrainian managed to beat her opponent. The Canadian Danielle Lappage and Gabriella Sleisz (HUN) stole the bronze awards for the category under 63 kg.
In the -67kg category, Beatrice Oancea (ROU) fought for the gold medal against Yulia Prontsevich (RUS). The Russian won the first period 2-0 and gained an upper-hand for the second period. Oancea came back fighting and evened the score from the second period to 2-2. After the Romanian’s great efforts Ryzhykova managed to keep the lead and won the gold medal for the match. Due to a low number in participants in the category, Svitslana Ryzhykova (UKR) was given the bronze medal without having to participate in the finals. Other wrestler to win bronze in the category was Chihiro Hashimoto (JPN).
Gray vs. Wiebe
In the 72kg, Adeline Gray (USA) matched up with the Canadian Erica Wiebe for the contest of the gold medal. Gray started the match with lots of energy. Wiebe held her ground at first but Gray took the win for the first period with four points. The match continued fast-paced and the first minute of the second period went without points to either. At the end of the period Gray finally got the first point which led her to a victory over the Canadian. In the women’s -72 kg also one bronze medal was handed directly due to having merely 6 participants in the category and the bronze went to Maryna Panchokha (UKR). The other bronze medal was won in the finals by the Chinese Yinan Xi.
Today, Friday Oct. 5th the men will begin their tournament in the Greco-Roman style wrestling.
(Source: OC & Julien Buhajezuk, WUC Asst.)
RESULTS DAY 3
WOMEN