Jones, Mir win repechage, to go for bronze at U20 World Championships
by Richard Immel, USA Wrestling
AMMAN, JORDAN – The U.S. women had two athletes compete in the repechage rounds on Thursday morning at the U20 World Championships—Amani Jones and Bella Mir both won their bouts to qualify for the bronze medal match in their respective weight classes.
Up first was Jones, who closed a tight 7-4 contest against Aysanem Kurbanbaeva of Uzbekistan. Jones trailed 2-2 on criteria at the break but came back with a pair of second period takedowns to grab the win. She has advanced to the 55 kg bronze medal match against returning U20 World silver medalist Albina Rillia of Ukraine.
Mir powered through a tough opponent in Poland’s Karolina Jaworska in her 68 kg repechage bout. The Iowa Hawkeye picked up a pair of takedowns in the early stages of the match to lead 4-1. She gave up a four-point double leg to surrender the lead but came right back with a takedown to the back, securing a pin at the 4:53 mark to advance. Mir will battle Individual Neutral Athlete Alina Shauchuk for bronze.
With the two repechage wins, the U.S. will have all five group one athletes competing for a medal this evening at Princess Sumaya Lounge. Returning U20 World silver medalist Audrey Jimenez is in the 50 kg finals once again. Alexis Janiak and Kennedy Blades join Jones and Mir in the bronze medal hunt.
The women’s freestyle group one medal matches at the U20 World Championships are set for 6 p.m. local time. Amman, Jordan, is in the GMT +3 time zone, which is seven hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Time.
Those in the U.S. can watch all the action live on FloWrestling.com. Brackets and updated results will be provided by United World Wrestling on uww.org and the UWW mobile app.
2023 U20 World Championships
At Amman, Jordan, August 14-20
U.S. Women’s Freestyle Group One (50-55-59-68-76 kg) Results
50 kg – Audrey Jimenez (Tucson, Arizona/Sunkist Kids WC)
WIN Zerda Demir (Turkey), tech. fall, 16-6
WIN Miruko Sakane (Japan), 4-2
WIN Reka Hegedus (Slovakia), tech. fall, 12-2
GOLD Yanrong Li (China)
55 kg – Amani Jones (Jonesboro, Georgia/Cardinal WC)
WIN Lina Nita (Moldova), tech. fall, 11-1
LOSS Aryna Martynava (Individual Neutral Athlete), tech. fall, 10-0
WIN Aysanem Kurbanbaeva (Uzbekistan), 7-4
BRONZE Albina Rillia (Ukraine)
59 kg – Alexis Janiak (Plainfield, Illinois/SPAR Wrestling Academy)
WIN Jovana Radivojevic (Serbia), tech. fall, 10-0
WIN Annatina Lippuner (Switzerland), fall, 1:55
LOSS Aurora Russo (Italy), 9-8
BRONZE Elena Kurova (Individual Neutral Athlete)
68 kg – Isabella Mir (Las Vegas, Nevada/Iowa Women’s WC)
WIN Manola Skobelska (Ukraine), 12-8
LOSS Ray Hoshino (Japan), tech. fall, 12-1
WIN Karolina Jaworska (Poland), fall, 4:53
BRONZE Alina Shauchuk (Individual Neutral Athlete)
76 kg – Kennedy Blades (Chicago, Illinois/Sunkist Kids WC
WIN Mariia Senkina (Ukraine), tech. fall, 10-0
WIN Ayano Moro (Japan), 4-3
LOSS Priya Priya (India), tech. fall, 10-0
BRONZE Mariia Silina (Individual Neutral Athlete)