Marianna Sastin of Hungary celebrates moments after winning the 59kg World Championship in front of her home crowd in Budapest. Sastin used two throws late in the second period to secure Hungary's first-ever world title in women's wrestling. Photo: T.R. Foley

BUDAPEST,HUNGARY(September 19) – Saori YOSHIDA (JPN) won her 11th world title and Kaori ICHO her eighth, but it was the first world title for local favorite Marianna SASTIN (HUN) that kicked off the party at Papp Laszlo Budapest Sports Arena on Thursday, September 19.

SASTIN, who was a silver medalist in 2005 and again in 2011, became Hungary’s first world champion in women’s freestyle wrestling when she defeated Taybe YUSEIN (BUL) by technical fall in the 59kg championship match.

SASTIN, who surrendered the lead with only 30 seconds remaining in the championship bout, regained the lead with a double-leg lift and drop to the back. Then, SASTIN capped the win with a back-arching throw for three more points and the technical fall.

SASTIN won her first world medal, a silver, at the 2005 world championships in Budapest.  She took a bronze in 2009 and another silver in 2011.

To add to the party atmosphere in the arena, Emese BARKA (HUN) led off the evening with a victory in the bronze medals bouts for 55kg.  With the victory, BARKA became the first Hungarian woman, other than SASTIN, to win a medal at the world championships.

In other gold medal bouts, YOSHIDA stopped European champion Sofia MATTSSON (SWE) for the women’s 55kg title at Papp Laszlo Budapest Sports Arena for No.11 while ICHO picked apart World University Games champion Battsesteg SORONZONBOLD (MGL) for No.8 at 63kg.

YOSHIDA and ICHO also put Japan into the lead in the team rankings, 38-31, over Mongolia.  The United States in third with 28 points.

Women’s freestyle events conclude Friday, September 20, with the two heaviest weight categories – 67kg and 72kg.  Wrestling in Greco-Roman also gets under way with the men’s lightest weight category, 55kg.

55kg – Challenger Sofia MATTSSON (SWE) did not allow the three-time Olympic Games gold medalist Saori YOSHIDA (JPN) to score with one of her patented double-leg takedowns.

YOSHIDA, however, unlocked the door with a pair of go-behind takedowns, which good enough in a 5-0 victory.

Emese BARKA (HUN) countered a single-leg attack by Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL) and came to the front for a half-nelson and body press for the fall at 2:49 to kick off the evening in Budapest.

In a re-match of the World University Games Final in July, Valeria KOBLOVA (RUS) scored takedowns with head and leg control, a quick dump to the back and then a step-over with back exposure for an 8-0 technical fall win over Iryna HUYSAK (UKR).

59kg – Marianna SASTIN (HUN) opened the scoring with a shuck to go-behind takedown that she made stand until the final 30 seconds of the bout.  Taybe YUSEIN (BUL), a world silver medalist one year ago, hit a double-leg for a takedown and the advantage in a 2-2 tie situation.

SASTIN, however, would not settle for a second silver medal in Papp Laszlo Arena and rushed in for a double-leg and lift to the back for a 5-2 lead at 5:35.  Then, when YUSEIN, the 2011 junior world champ rushed in for her attack, SASTIN got behind and launched an back-arching throw for another three points and the technical fall.

In the bronze medal matches, Ayaka ITO (JPN) took the early lead, but Asian silver medalist Munkhtuya TUNGALAG (MGL) hit an arm-and-leg throw (fireman’s carry) for three points and then pressed for the fall at the stroke of time.  The bronze medal was TUNGALAG’s second after the same result last year.

London 2012 bronze medalist Yulia RATKEVICH (AZE) rebounded from a shocking semifinals loss in the afternoon for a 7-4 win over European bronze medalist Tetyana LAVRENCHUK (UKR).

In the semifinals, YUSEIN surprised RATKEVICH (AZE) with a quick takedown that trapped the 2009 world champion on her back for the fall at 1:58.

63kg – Kaori ICHO (JPN) wrestled cautiously against her unorthodox opponent Battestseg SORONZONBOLD (MGL), but found an opening for an ankle pick and then a go-behind in the first period. ICHO wasted little time in the second period with a double-leg attack to cross-ankle turn to secure the technical fall.

On her way to the final, ICHO defeated 2011 world champion at 67kg XI LUZHUOMA (CHN), and two-time Olympic Games bronze medalist Jackeline RENTERIO CASTILLO (CHN) before facing 2010 world champion at 59kg and London 2012 bronze medalist SORONZONBOLD (MGL) in the final.

In the bronze medal matches, Asia junior champion Yekaterina LARIONOVA (KAZ) caught two-time Olympic Games bronze medalist Jackeline RENTERIA CASTILLO (COL) in a quick throw and press for the fall only 30 seconds from the opening whistle.

Elena PIROZHKOVA (USA), the world champion one year ago, shucked Anastasia BRATCHIKOVA (RUS) by for a takedown in the first period and made it stand for a 2-0 victory and the bronze medal.

Rremaining Schedule for the Wrestling World Championships

September 20, Friday

1 p.m. – 6 p.m. Elimination rounds and repechage: FW 67kg, 72kg, GR 55kg

7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Finals and awards ceremonies: FW 67kg, 72kg, GR 55kg

September 21, Saturday

1 p.m. – 6 p.m.  Elimination rounds and repechage: GR 60kg, 84kg, 96kg

7 p.m. – 9 p.m.  Finals and awards ceremonies: GR 60kg, 84kg, 96kg

September 22, Sunday

1 p.m. – 6 p.m.  Elimination rounds and repechage: GR 66kg, 74kg, 120kg

7 p.m. – 9 p.m.  Finals and awards ceremonies: GR 66kg, 74kg, 120kg

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