Exciting Semifinals at Olympic Wrestling: Elor and Zhumanazarova Secure Spot in Gold Medal Finals

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ICARO Media Group
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05/08/2024 20h29

In a thrilling day of Olympic wrestling semifinals, athletes showcased their skills and determination in their quest for gold. The first day of semifinal action saw intense matches unfold in the 68 kg women's freestyle and 130 kg Greco-Roman categories. Let's dive into the match notes and see who emerged victorious.

American wrestler Amit Elor, a two-time Senior World champion, made a remarkable shift from 72 kg to 68 kg for the Olympics. She displayed her prowess by defeating top seed Buse Cavusoglu Tosun of Turkey with a score of 10-2 in the opening round. Elor continued her dominance, overpowering Poland's Wiktoria Choluj with an 8-0 victory in the quarters. She now sets her sights on North Korea's Sol Gum Pak in the semifinals, who rallied to secure an impressive 8-6 win in the quarterfinals.

Over in the 60 kg Greco-Roman category, Japan's Fumita Kenichiro faced off against Kyrgyzstan's Zholaman Sharshenbekov in an intense bout. Kenichiro found himself trailing 1-0 after the first period due to a passivity call. However, a stunning four-point throw early in the second period gave him a 4-1 lead. Despite a determined effort from Sharshenbekov, Kenichiro managed to hold on and secure a hard-fought 4-3 win, earning a well-deserved spot in the gold medal finals.

In another nail-biting 60 kg Greco-Roman semifinal, China's Liguo Cao took on North Korea's Se Ung Ri. The match started with a passivity call against Cao, with Ri taking a 1-0 lead. Cao swiftly turned the tables, securing two points with a tight-waist gut and establishing a 3-0 lead. In the second period, Ri fought back, but Cao managed to maintain his advantage. As the final buzzer sounded, Cao clinched a tense 3-3 criteria win, cementing his place in the gold medal finals.

Moving on to the 130 kg Greco-Roman category, Cuba's Mijain Lopez faced off against Azerbaijan's Sabah Shariati. Lopez took control early on, scoring the first point with a passivity call and extending his lead to 3-0 with a turn on top. Despite Shariati's efforts in the second period, it was Lopez who emerged victorious, securing a 4-1 win and setting his sights on his fifth Olympic gold medal.

Lastly, the 68 kg women's freestyle semifinal featured an impressive performance from Kyrgyzstan's Meerim Zhumanazarova against Nigerian wrestler Blessing Oborududu. In a tightly contested match, Oborududu earned an activity point in the first period. However, Zhumanazarova fought back with a low single, leveling the score at 1-1 on criteria. With a crucial takedown in the closing seconds, Zhumanazarova secured a 3-1 win and a place in the gold medal finals, where she will face the formidable Amit Elor.

These semifinals showcased the incredible talent and determination of the wrestlers. As the competition continues, wrestling fans can eagerly anticipate the gold medal finals, where these exceptional athletes will vie for Olympic glory in their respective weight categories.

The views expressed in this article do not reflect the opinion of ICARO, or any of its affiliates.

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