Gruenwald injured during semifinals

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Meredith Wilson (TheMat.com)
10/05/2003


  CRETEIL, FRANCE - An emotional Jim Gruenwald refused to be taken from the mat by stretcher after what appeared to be the dislocation of his shoulder and having to injury default his semi finals match against. Armen Nazarian of Bulgaria.     Gruenwald battled Nazarian, a two-time Olympic champion, four-time European champion, and now two-time World champion to a 1-1 tie at the break. Nazarian first scored with a lift, which Gruenwald reversed for a point. Just before the five-minute mark, Gruenwald was called for passivity and put in the par terre position. Gruenwald's left should was dislocated during a throw by Nazarian. A group of medics and trainers attended to Gruenwald on the mat and called for a stretcher. Gruenwald, in tears from the pain of the injury and disappointment from the loss, refused the stretcher getting up on his own and shaking the hand of his opponent.    Confirmation of the injury and it's severity are not available at this time, although it is likely Gruenwald will default his bronze medal match to Eusebiu Diaconu of Romania. More information will be published as soon as it becomes available.    Earlier this morning Gruenwald earned his way to the semifinal match, handily winning a 5-0 decision against Mohamed Ashraf of Egypt. Gruenwald jumped out to an early lead scoring two-points exposure countering a shot by Ashraf, and extended the lead with a two-point gut wrench. Gruenwald score the final point of the match with a takedown at the two-minute mark in the first period.    Second Group Finals Results  Gold Medal Matchups  60 KG: Roberto Monzon (CUB) v. Armen Nazarian (BUL)  74 KG: Alexci Glushkov (RUS) v. Konstantin Schneider (GER)  96 KG: Karam Gaber (EGY) v. Martin Lidberg (SWE)    Bronze Medal Matchups  60 KG: Eusebiu Diaconu (ROM) win by injury default Jim Gruenwald (USA)   74 KG: Danil Khalimov (KAZ) v. Jin Soo Kim (KOR)   96 KG: Ramaz  Nozadze (GEO) v. Davyd Saldadze (UKR)    Semi Finals Results  60 KG: Roberto Monzon (CUB) dec. Eusebiu Diaconu (ROM), 8-5  60 KG: Armen Nazarian (BUL) win by injury default Jim Gruenwald (USA)  74 KG: Alexci Glushkov (RUS) dec. Danil Khalimov (KAZ), 3-0  74 KG: Konstantin Schneider (GER) dec. Jin Soo Kim (KOR), 7-2 OT  96 KG: Karam Gaber (EGY) tech fall Ramaz  Nozadze (GEO), 10-0 in :43  96 KG: Martin Lidberg (SWE)dec. Davyd Saldadze (UKR), 3-1