NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan – The Canadian team had tough first day of competition at the 2019 Senior World Championships with opening round loses from Jade Dufour, Diana Weicker, Jade Parsons, and Dejah Slater.

Weicker fell in the 53 kg qualification round by a score of 4-3 against Roksana Zasina of Poland. Weicker, the 53 kg 2018 World Championship bronze medallist, trailed 0-3 at the break, but scored on a passivity call and two push-outs to make it 3-3, but trailed on criteria. In the final seconds, the 30-year-old appeared to score on a takedown, but was ruled to have taken place after time expired. After a failed Canadian challenge, the match ended at 4-3.

“I’m devastated at this point,” said the Brock wrestler. “I know I’m better than that, I know I can beat her. He only points were on a mess-up of mine, and I can already see all the little mistakes I made and how to correct them.”

“Obviously today’s not my day, but that’s the beauty of sport and that’s why I compete.”

Despite her first-round loss, Diana Weicker is focused on getting better and moving forward

“I’m taking all of this back home and keep working away to that goal of mine”#WrestleNurSultan pic.twitter.com/WMPRwpqMFO

— Wrestling Canada Lutte (@WrestlingCanada) September 17, 2019

Dufour, who was a last-minute addition to the team was defeated 10-6 in the 50 kg qualifying round against Meng Hsieh of Taipei. Dufour had less than a week to prepare for the tournament after an injury forced Natasha Fox to withdraw from the 50 kg spot. The Montreal Wrestling Club athlete was competing in her first Senior World Championships.

“I think I did pretty good considering everything. I had a bit of a tougher time making weight,” said the 22-year-old. “It’s always a great experience wrestling for Canada.”

Parsons lost the 55 kg 1/8 final to Nanami Irie of Japan 10-0. She’ll have another chance to wrestle though, after being pulled back into the repechage.

The Brock wrestle will take on Russia’s Olga Khoroshavtseva for a spot in the bronze medal match.

 

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Tough first day for Canadian wrestlers at the World Championships. Diana Weicker, Jade Dufour, Dejah Slater, and Jade Parsons each lost in their opening round matches. #WrestleNurSultan

A post shared by Wrestling Canada Lutte (@wrestlingcanada) on Sep 17, 2019 at 3:33am PDT

Slater, of Toronto, lost her qualification round match to American Victoria Francis 5-0. Slater was also competing at her first Senior World Championships. The 19-year-old won gold at the Senior Pan Am Championships in April.

“Mentally I was there, I just wish physically my body did what my head was saying to do,” said the Team Impact wrestler. “I feel like it could have gone another way if I listened to myself.”

The competition resumes tomorrow with four more Canadian women competing. Hannah Taylor (57 kg), Linda Morais (59 kg), Jessica Brouillette (65 kg), and Erica Wiebe (76 kg) will step on the mats for Canada.

Complete results and webcasts are available here.