Chun, Pirozhkova receive draws for final day of Women’s World Championships in Canada
Gary Abbott USA Wrestling
09/28/2012
SHERWOOD PARK, Canada – The final two U.S. women’s freestyle wrestlers have weighed in and received their draws for the final day of competition at the Women’s World Championships in Canada. Both U.S. wrestlers competing on Saturday were members of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Teams.
Clarissa Chun (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) opens against Vanessa Kaladzynskaya of Belarus. Kaladzynskaya was eighth at the 2012 Olympic Games and was a 2011 European Junior bronze medalist.
Should she win, Chun may face 2010 World champion Alexandra Kohut of Ukraine, who Chun beat at the 2011 World Championships. Kohut won her World title at 51 kg.
Chun is a 2008 World champion and 2012 Olympic bronze medalist. She has been on two Olympic teams, and now five U.S. World Teams.
“Clarissa is coming off some good wins at the Olympic Games. Hopefully, she is ready to battle again. We will have to be in a battle tomorrow to win here. If we come in with that mindset, we will be fine. Clarissa is a very talented athlete, very capable of coming out here the victor,” said National Women’s Coach Terry Steiner.
Elena Pirozhkova (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) will face Min-Wen Hou of Chinese Taipei in her first match. Hou was a 2008 University World bronze medalist, and was a 2012 Asian Championships runner-up.
Pirozhkova, a 2010 World silver medalist, is competing on her sixth straight U.S. team, including all five World Championships from 2008-12 as well as the 2012 Olympic Games.
“With Elena, the biggest thing is her making up her mind that she wants to win this now and get this thing taken care of,” said Steiner. “She has to commit to doing what she needs to do to win those matches on the mat. Not just hope but have conviction behind it. She is very capable of coming out of here on top. She has got to demand a little bit of herself to get that done.”
WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Sherwood Park, Canada
U.S. women's freestyle draws for Saturday
48 kg/105.5. lbs. – Clarissa Chun, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
Vs. Vanessa Kaladzynskaya (Belarus)
63 kg/1387.75 lbs. – Elena Pirozhkova, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
Vs. Min-Wen Hou (Chinese Taipei)
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