#WrestleOttawa

Arthur Wins First Pan Am Title for Jamaica, Three From USA Win Gold in Women’s Freestyle

Monday, March 9, 2020 - 02:34 By Taylor GREGORIO

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Tony Rotundo

Photo of Angus ARTHUR (JAM) by Tony Rotundo. 

OTTAWA, Canada – Angus ARTHUR (JAM) made history on Sunday, becoming the first wrestler from Jamaica to win a Pan American Championships gold medal, winning the 92 kg men’s freestyle weight class.

Two men’s freestyle weights—79 kg and 92 kg—were contested on Sunday, with the other eight scheduled for Monday.

While there were only two people registered at 92 kg, Arthur impressed in his finals match, dominating Maxwell LACEY GARITA (CRC), 13-1, using high-powered offense to snag the gold.

The other men’s freestyle gold medal went to Jason NOLF (USA), who went 2-0 in round-robin action. He began the day with a 10-0 tech fall over Guseyn RUSLANZADA (CAN), and won his second bout by injury default against Victor HERNANDEZ LUNA (MEX).

Photo: the medalists at 76 kg. By Tony Rotundo.

The women’s freestyle action wrapped up in Ottawa, with the United States emerging victorious in three of the day’s six weight classes.

2019 World champion Tamyra MENSAH-STOCK (USA) won her second-straight continental title at 68 kg. Mensah-Stock was also a 2019 Pan American Games champion.

For the second year in a row, she had to defeat 2018 U23 World champion Yudari SANCHEZ RODRIGUEZ (CUB). This time, Mensah-Stock went up 6-0 in the second period before getting the pin in 4:46.

Because she won all four of matches by either tech fall or pin, Mensah-Stock was awarded the Outstanding Wrestler award.

At 62 kg, Mallory VELTE (USA) avenged her loss from last year’s Pan Am finals, taking out Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA). Velte scored a four-point throw in the first period that gave her a lead that was too big to overcome, and she won the bout 6-2.

Victoria ANTHONY (USA) won her third Pan American title with a solid performance at 50 kg.

Though she won her finals by injury default over Carolina CASTILLO HIDALGO (COL), Anthony was dominant in the first half of the day, winning both of her matches with 10-0 technical falls.  

Anthony also won Pan Am golds in 2014 and 2017.

Photo of Luisa VALVERDE MELENDRES (ECU) by Tony Rotundo. 

Thanks to its three individual titles, the United States won the team race with 152 points, edging out Canada’s 141 points.

Other countries winning titles in women’s freestyle were Ecuador, Brazil and Canada.

Entering this week with six Pan Am medals, Luisa VALVERDE MELENDRES (ECU) finally earned her first Pan Am gold medal, winning the 53 kg bracket.

Wrestling in a five-person round-robin, Valverde went a perfect 4-0 on the day, defeating all of her opponents by either technical fall or pin.

In her last bout, Valverde dominated Zeltzin HERNANDEZ GUERRA (MEX), 10-0, in less than two minutes to secure the title.

In the 57 kg finals, Giullia RODRIGUES PENALBER DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) defeated Hannah TAYLOR (CAN) by fall in the final seconds of the bout. Rodrigues led on criteria 1-1 with 25 seconds left. She hit a four-pointer to put Taylor to her back and earned the fall in 5:47.

A three-time Pan Am finalist, this marks Rodrigues’ first continental title.

2018 World champion Justina DI STASIO (CAN) took the crown at 76 kg, with an injury default victory over Adeline GRAY (USA) in the finals.

Di Stasio had an impressive road to the gold-medal bout as she scored a last-second four-point takedown against 2019 Junior and U23 World champion Milaimys de la Caridad MARIN POTRILLE (CUB) to win 5-2 in the first round, and outlasted 2014 Senior World silver medalist Aline DA SILVA FERREIRA (BRA), 5-2.

Six athletes that won medals were funded by United World Wrestling Development Technical Assistance program, including Arthur, Lacey, da Silva, Nunes, Valverde and Maria ACOSTA ACOSTA (VEN). 

The Pan American Championships will conclude on Monday with the final eight men’s freestyle weight classes scheduled to be contested.

Women’s freestyle team standings
1. United States – 152
2. Canada – 141
3. Brazil – 103
4. Ecuador – 66
5. Venezuela – 62
6. Cuba – 53
7. Colombia – 51
8. Mexico – 46
9. Peru – 35
10. Puerto Rico – 20

Women’s freestyle results

50 kg
GOLD – Victoria ANTHONY (USA) df. Carolina CASTILLO HIDALGO (COL),injury default
BRONZE - Kamila BARBOSA VITO DA SILVA (BRA) df. Genesis MILANO OLIVIO (VEN), 7-4
BRONZE - Jacqueline MOLLOCANA ELENO (ECU) df. Thalia MALLQUI PECHE (PER), 2-1

53 kg
GOLD - Luisa VALVERDE MELENDRES (ECU)
SILVER - Jade PARSONS (CAN)
BRONZE– Lianna de la Caridad MONTERO HERRERA (CUB)

57 kg
GOLD – Giullia RODRIGUES PENALBER DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) df. Hannah TAYLOR (CAN), fall
BRONZE – Betzabeth SARCO COLMENAREZ (VEN) win by injury default

62 kg
GOLD - Mallory VELTE (USA) df. Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA), 6-2
BRONZE– Nathaly GRIMAN HERRERA (VEN) df. Jessica BROUILLETTE (CAN), 5-4

68 kg
GOLD - Tamyra MENSAH-STOCK (USA) df. Yudari SANCHEZ RODRIGUEZ (CUB), fall
BRONZE– Maria Jose ACOSTA ACOSTA (VEN) df. Luz VAZQUEZ (ARG), 11-0
BRONZE – Olivia DI BACCO (CAN) df. Ambar GARNICA FLORES (MEX), 11-2

76 kg
GOLD - Justina DI STASTIO (CAN) df. Adeline GRAY (USA), injury default
BRONZE – Aline DA SILVA FERREIRA (BRA) df. Milaimys de la Caridad MARIN POTRILLE (CUB), fall
BRONZE – Andrea OLAYA GUTIERREZ (COL) df. Andrimar LAZARO DIAZ (VEN), 8-0

Men’s freestyle

79 kg
GOLD – Jason NOLF (USA)
SILVER- Guseyn RUSLANZADA (CAN)
BRONZE – Victor HERNANDEZ LUNA (MEX)

92 kg
GOLD – Angus ARTHUR (JAM)
SILVER - Maxwell LACEY GARITA (CRC)

#WrestleUlaanbaatar

Ulaanbaatar Open 2025 Live Blog: Day 2

Friday, May 30, 2025 - 02:48 By Vinay Siwach

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ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (May 30) -- The action after Ulaanbaatar Open 2025 continues with three Greco-Roman weight classes and five Women's Wrestling weight classes in the Mongolian capital. European champion Kerem KAMAL (TUR) is at 63kg while a strong women's field will also be on the mat.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 1 RESULTS

14:55: NEHA (IND) ends the 57kg semifinal with a double-leg attack for four points and beats Ana PEREIRA (BRA) 11-0 to enter the final at 57kg against Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL).

14:50: Mongolia has a finalist! Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL) manages to beat European silver medalist Elvira SULEYMAN KAMALOGLU (TUR) 4-0 in the 57kg semifinal.

14:40: Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW) enters the final at 53kg after an 11-4 win over Otgontuya CHINBOLD (MGL). Apart from the four-point throw from Chinbold, Malysheva never looked in trouble in the semifinal. She will face Antim in the final, who won their round-robin match.

14:27: ANTIM (IND) puts on a takedown masterclass in the 53kg semifinal and beats Ariunzaya ODONCHIMEG (MGL) 10-0 to enter the final.

14:24: Another pin in semifinals! Natalia PUDOVA (UWW) survives a pin attempt from Munkhnar BYAMBASUREN (MGL) and then flips the script with a over-under throw and secures the fall. She will wrestle Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) for the gold medal.

14:20: Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) and NEELAM (IND) put on a show in the 50kg semifinal. Neelam tried to trip Demirhan who counter trips for four points. India challenge but is lost. Neelam goes behind in the next action and throw Demirhan for four points. But Demirhan keeps Neelam in a headlock and secures the pin.

14:10: Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) books a rematch with Kerem KAMAL (TUR) in the 63kg final after a hard-fought victory over Mohammad KESHTKAR (IRI). Keshtkar was cautioned early and Chung led 1-0. He got the par terre to be 2-0 up but failed to score. Keshtkar got on board with the par terre point in the second period but did not score any points. He threw everything he had at Chung who defended all attacks for a 2-1 win.

14:00: In the first semifinal at 63kg, Kerem KAMAL (TUR) manages to hold off an attacking Aref MOHAMMADI (QAT) for a 6-3 win. Mohammadi scored a takedown early to lead 2-0 but Kamal got a reverse left for two points from par terre and then a takedown to lead 6-2. A stepout late made it 6-3 but that was all as Kamal enters the final.

13:40: In the final match of the session, Enes BASAR (TUR) bounces back after being 2-0 down with a series of gut wrenches and wins 10-2 at 60kg. The semifinals for a few weight classes will begin now. 

13:10: ANTIM (IND) was kept quiet for the first two minutes of the bout but Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW) gives up a takedown and Antim goes for the leg lace for a turn. Malysheva defends but Antim then goes the other way for lace and gets the 11-0 win at 53kg.

13:00: Asian medalist and former world U17 champion HARSHITA (IND) with her second win at 72kg. She beats Kristina BRATCHIKOVA (UWW) 11-0 in Round 3

12:55: Bediha GUN (TUR) would be upset with herself as he lets go off an advantageous situation and leads 6-6 on criteria to Anudari BATKHUYAG (MGL) at 59kg.

12:45: Kerem KAMAL (TUR) continues to power his way at 63kg as he downs Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) majorly with his defense. Chung got the par terre advantage but Kamal managed to sneak out of a bodylock. He failed to score from par terre as well but scored a takedown later to make it 3-1. Lost challenge from Korea gave him another point.  

12:35: NEHA (IND) seems unfazed in her first senior international tournament. She pins Munkhchimeg URJIN (MGL) in her second bout of the day.

12:30: Enes BASAR (TUR) needs only one minute and 18 seconds to beat SURAJ (IND) 8-0 at 60kg and take a big step towards the gold medal.

12:15: Hamza BAKIR (TUR) keeps his winning run at 130kg. He beats PREM (IND) via technical superiority and is now the favorite to win the gold medal.

11:55: Big win for world U20 bronze medalist NEHA (IND) over European silver medalist Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR) at 57kg. The 18-year-old physical overpowered Kamaloglu and scored takedown. Kamaloglu scored a four-pointer but still went down 7-4 in a Round 2.

11:45: Natalia PUDOVA (UWW) with a big comeback win over NEELAM (IND). Pudova claims a 6-5 win at 50kg. The two wrestlers may wrestle again in the final if they can win all their remaining matches.

11:35: Akyl SULAIMANOV (KGZ) gave a scare to Enes BASAR (TUR) when he made it 5-5 with two minutes to go but Basar never got deterred with the score. He remains calm and wins 15-5.

11:26: European champion Kerem KAMAL (TUR) with a 4-1 win over Doolotbek CHOIBEKOV (KGZ). Kamal scored a turn from par terre and also had a point for lost challenge and then defended from par terre to win 4-1 at 63kg.

11:15: The only Brazil wrestler to have made the long trip to Ulaanbaatar Open makes it worth it as Ana PEREIRA (BRA) begins with a 2-1 win over Enkhtuvshin BALJINNYAM (MGL) at 57kg.

11:00: A little heated bout on Mat C between Mohammad KESHTKAR (IRI) and Aref MOHAMMADI (QAT) at 63kg, which ends in a thrilling fashion. Mohammadi was given both passivity advantages and he led 2-0 till the final 10 seconds. However, Keshtkar tried desperate headlock which Mohammadi seemed to have blocked. As Mohammadi scored the takedown, Keshtkar countered with a continuous roll and got two points. It was scored two points for Mohammadi and two points for Keshtkar. However, Iran challenged the call and on review, it was scored only two points for Keshtkar, as his attempted headpinch was called a slip throw. Keshtkar wins 2-2 on criteria.

10:55: Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) with two massive throws to stun Doolotbek CHOIBEKOV (KGZ) in the Round 1 bout of 63kg. Chung has been a former Asian Championships medalist and always a threat for medal.

10:50: Former world U17 champion SURAJ (IND) got throw for a four-pointer from Ganbayar NAMSRAI (MGL) but that was his only loss in concentration as he wins 8-5 against Namsrai at 60kg.

10:45: Paris Olympian Enes BASAR (TUR) defended well from par terre and beats Kurmanbek ZHAPAROV (KGZ) 8-3 to start his 63kg campaign.

10:30: Mongolia had some wrestle-offs to decide its competitors for the main draw as it had 5 wrestlers entered in a few categories. But we are all set for the Greco-Roman and Women's Wrestling now.