#WrestleBucharest

Azerbaijan Leads Russia By Five Points Heading into Day Three

By Eric Olanowski

BUCHAREST, Romania (April 9)  -  Haji ALIYEV (AZE) and Jabrayil HASANOV (AZE) reached the top of the European podium for the third time in their careers and helped Azerbaijan carry a five-point lead over the Russian Federation into the final day of freestyle wrestling at the European Championships.

Returning European champion Haji Aliyev pitched a shutout against Turkey’s Selahattin KILICSALLAYAN in the 65kg finals and brought his overall continental title total to three. Aliyev now has as many European titles as he does world titles.  


Jabrayil HASANOV (AZE) won his third European title after receiving an injury defeat in the 79kg finals. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

Jabrayil Hasanov was the second Azeri who won a European title on the second day of wrestling at Bucharest’s Pollyvalent Hall. Though it wasn’t the way he wanted to win, the reigning world runner-up won his third European championship with an injury default win over Akhmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) who was unable to compete after injuring his right knee on Monday night in the semifinals.

Azerbaijan also picked up points from Aghahuseyn MUSTAFAYEV'S 70kg second-place finish, and bronze medal finishes from Mahir AMIRASLANOV and Nurmagomed GADZHIYEV at 57kg and 92kg respectively. 

The Russian Federation, thanks to Abdulrashid SADULAEV’s gold-medal performance at 97kg, along with four other medals, head into the last day of freestyle wrestling in second place with 95 points. 

In the 97kg gold-medal bout, Sadulaev scored an opening period stepout, then put his agility and athleticism on display when he nearly jumped over Belarus’ Aliaksandr HUSHTYN, scoring the match-deciding takedown. 

Sadualev’s 3-1 win on Tuesday night gave him back-to-back European titles and brought his overall continental total to four. He also won a European title in 2014 and 2015.

In addition to Sadualev’s 25 points gold-medal finish, Russia grabbed 40 points from two runner-up finishes and 30 points from a pair of bronze medal finishes. 


Suleyman ATLI (TUR) became the No. 1 ranked wrestler in the world with his 57kg win on Tuesday night. (Photo: Max Rose-Fyne) 

Turkey, who matched Azerbaijan’s pair of gold medals, sits in a close third place with 87 points. Their two champions were Suleyman ATLI (TUR) and Mustafa KAYA (TUR). 

Atli picked up where he left off after the 2018 World Championships, adding a European title to his resume with an impressive 8-3 showing against Russia’s reigning Ivan Yariguin champion Muslim SADULAEV (RUS). 

The turning point in the 57kg gold-medal bout came when Alti, the 2018 world bronze medalist, scored a takedown and transitioned into a pair of gut wrenches. With that six-point exchange, Alti led 6-1, and never looked back. The Turkish wrestler added another takedown to his total and won the match, 8-3. 

With his win on Tuesday night, Atli moves ahead of reigning world champion Zaur UGUEV (RUS) for the top spot in the world at 57kg with 61 Ranking Series points. 


Mustafa KAYA (TUR) outscored Aghahuseyn MUSTAFAYEV (AZE) 6-0 in the second period and won his first European title. (Photo: Gabor Martin) 

Turkey’s second champion of the day Mustafa Kaya emerged as the victor at 70kg when he outscored Aghahuseyn MUSTAFAYEV (AZE), 6-0, in the second period after giving up an opening period takedown.

Turkey also collected 20 points from Selahattin KILICSALLAYAN's second-place finish at 65kg and 15 points from Muhammet KOTANOGLU's bronze-medal finish at 79kg. 

Wrestling resumes on Wednesday morning at 11:30 with women’s wrestling, followed by the final five freestyle weight class medal matches at 18:00.

SCHEDULE
Wednesday (April 10) 
9:30 - Weigh-in FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg
9:45 - Medical examination & Weigh-in WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
11:30 - Qualification rounds WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
11:30 - Repechage FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg
14:00 - Draw WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg 
17:15 - Semi Final WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg 
18: 00 - Finals FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg / Award ceremonies

Thursday (April 11) 
9:30 - Weigh-in WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
9:45 - Medical examination & Weigh-in WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg 
11:30 - Qualification rounds WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg page4image2914979424 page4image2914979968
14:00 - Repechage WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg 
14:00 - Draw GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg 
17:15 - Semi Final WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg 
18:00 - Finals WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg / Award ceremonies 

Friday (April 12) 
9:30 - Weigh-in WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg
9:45 - Medical examination & Weigh-in GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg 
11:30 - Qualification rounds GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg 
11:30 - Repechage WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg 
15:40 - Draw GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
17:15 - Semi Final GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg 
18:00 - Finals WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg / Award ceremonies

Saturday (April 13) 
9:30 - Weigh-in GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg
9:45 - Medical examination & Weigh-in GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg 
11:30 - Qualification rounds GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg 
11:30 - Repechage GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg 
17:15 - Semi Final GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg 
18:00 - Finals GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg / Award ceremonies

Sunday (April 14) 
9:30 - Weigh-in GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg 
16:00 - Repechage GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg 
18:00 - Finals GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg / Award ceremonies

RESULTS

Team Scores
GOLD - Azerbaijan (100 points)
SILVER - Russia (95 points)
BRONZE - Turkey (87 points)
Fourth - Ukraine (43 points)
Fifth - Belarus (38 points)

57kg 
GOLD - Suleyman ATLI (TUR) vs. Muslim SADULAEV (RUS), 8-3 
BRONZE - Mahir AMIRASLANOV (AZE) df. Georgi VANGELOV (BUL), 8-4 
BRONZE - Vladimir EGOROV (MKD) df. Andrei DUKOV (ROU), 7-4

65kg
GOLD - Haji ALIYEV (AZE) df. Selahattin KILICSALLAYAN (TUR), 7-0 
BRONZE - Nachyn KUULAR (RUS) df. Maxim SACULTAN (MDA), 5-0 
BRONZE - Vasyl SHUPTAR (UKR) df. Krzysztof BIENKOWSKI (POL), via fall 

70kg
GOLD - Mustafa KAYA (TUR) df. Aghahuseyn MUSTAFAYEV (AZE), 6-2 
BRONZE - Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL) df. Semen RADULOV (UKR), 6-0 
BRONZE - Magomedrasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) df. Nicolae COJOCARU (GBR), 11-0 

79kg
GOLD - Jabrayil HASANOV (AZE) vs. Akhmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS)
BRONZE - Nika KENTCHADZE (GEO) df. Andrei KARPACH (BLR), 7-1
BRONZE - Muhammet KOTANOGLU (TUR) df. Oleksii DOMANYTSKYI (UKR), 5-1 

97kg
GOLD - Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) df. Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR), 3-1 
BRONZE - Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO) df. Nicolai CEBAN (MDA), 3-0
BRONZE - Nurmagomed GADZHIYEV (AZE) df. Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD), 5-0 

#WrestleAcapulco

Maroulis, Miracle post contrasting wins to clinch Pan-Am golds

By Gaurav Bhatt

ACAPULCO, Mexico (February 22) -- Kayla MIRACLE (USA) needed miraculous escapes while Helen MAROULIS' (USA) experience was on show as they struck gold for the United States at the Pan-American Championships on Thursday. Overall, the American women earned four gold and two bronze medals in a dominant display in Acapulco.  

Miracle defeated two-time champion Ana GODINEZ (CAN) 6-6 in the 62 kg final to win her second Pan-Am Championships gold. Maroulis beat Giullia PENALBAR (BRA) 4-1 in 57kg to grab her first medal at the event since the 55kg gold in 2012.

After a strong start in her opening bout, Miracle needed to rally back twice on her way to glory. The two-time world silver medallist pinned Astrid MONTERO (VEN) in a thrilling semifinal.

For the majority of the bout, Montero was the more aggressive wrestler. She earned the opening point after Miracle couldn't score on the shot clock, and followed it up with a takedown. Early in the second period, she added two more to take a 5-0 lead.

Miracle fought back with a fantastic sequence. The American went for a double-leg takedown, secured Montero's right leg, got her back and put on the work, eventually pinning her opponent with 90 seconds left on the clock.

Then Miracle got a measure of revenge against Godinez, who had defeated the American in the 62kg final two years ago at the same venue.

Miracle was again put on the shot clock further emboldening Godinez into attacking. Miracle instead reversed the Canadian's shot to pull off two chest wraps. Godinez then secured a single-leg takedown in a flash to finish the first period as the leader at 4-3.

Late in the second period, Godinez earned two points with a double leg, however, Miracle countered the move with another powerful chest wrap to lead 6-5. Godinez earned another point for a step out but Miracle's defense in the final seconds secured her the criteria win.

Godinez went for a desperate takedown and missed it as the clock ran out. The Canadian, who was gunning for a hat-trick of gold medals, sat on the mat in crushing disappointment.

Both wrestlers will take the mat at next week's Pan-Am Olympic qualifier.

Earlier, Maroulis — a three-time World champion and 2016 Olympic gold medallist — brought her big stage experience to the mat against Penalber. The two finalists had sailed into the final without giving up a single point.

Maroulis opened the scoring with a headlock, pushing Penalber out of bounds. The Brazilian was put on the shot clock and couldn't score, giving up a 2-0 lead to end the period.

In the second period, Maroulis conceded her first and only point of the day when she couldn't score on the shot clock. With 10 seconds left on the clock, Penalber went for a lunge onto Maroulis' right leg. The American defended and countered to bring the Brazilian down and finish the match with authority.

The silver was the seventh medal at the event for the two-time champion Penalber, who also won the gold at the Pan-American Games last November.

In the 50kg category, four-time medallist Jacqueline MOLLOCANA (ECU) won her first gold medal, defeating Mariana ROJAS (VEN) 4-3.

Alisha HOWK (USA) took home the 55kg gold with a 4-4 win over Zeltzin HERNANDEZ (MEX). The American had to miss out on a rematch from last year after defending champion Diana WEICKER (CAN) gave walkovers.

Brooklyn HAYS defeated Katie MULKAY (CAN) 6-4 and Edna JIMENEZ (MEX) 11-0 to clinch the 72kg gold while Olivia DI BACCO (CAN) won her first gold at the event with a walkover victory over Soleymi CARAVALLO (VEN).

In Greco-Roman action, the 20-year-old Alexis VARGAS (MEX) won the 72kg gold medal. Two-time champion Kevin MEJIA (HON) defeated last year's bronze medallist Alan VERA (USA) to take home the 97kg title.

RESULTS

Women's Wrestling

50kg
GOLD: Jacqueline MOLLOCANA (ECU) df. Mariana ROJAS DIAZ (VEN), 4-3

BRONZE: Audrey JIMENEZ (USA) df. Katie DUTCHAK (CAN),8-2
BRONZE: Moran YORLENIS MILAGROS (PAN) df. Kamila BARBOSA (BRA), 7-6

55kg
GOLD: Alisha HOWK (USA)
SILVER: Zeltzin HERNANDEZ (MEX)
BRONZE: Diana WEICKER (CAN)

57kg
GOLD: Helen MAROULIS (USA) df. Giullia OLIVEIRA (BRA), 4-1

BRONZE: Yocleidy RAMIREZ (DOM) df. Hannah TAYLOR (CAN), via inj. def.
BRONZE: Luisa VALVERDE (ECU) df. Andrea GONZALEZ (COL), 6-4

62kg
GOLD: Kayla MIRACLE (USA) df. Ana GODINEZ (CAN), 6-6

BRONZE: Lais NUNES (BRA) df. Arely NOVELO (MEX), 11-0
BRONZE: Astrid MONTERO (VEN) df. Katherine RENTERIA (COL), 11-1

68kg
GOLD: Olivia DI BACCO (CAN) df. Caraballo SOLEYMI (VEN), via inj. def.

BRONZE: Ayovi LEONELA (ECU) df. Alejandra RIVERA (MEX), 6-3
BRONZE: Alexandria GLAUDE (USA) df. Nicoll PARRADO (COL), 3-3

Greco-Roman

72kg
GOLD: Alexis VARGAS (MEX)
SILVER: Calebe CORREA (BRA)
BRONZE: Noah WACHSMUTH (USA)

97kg
GOLD: Kevin MEJIA CASTILLO (HON) df. Alan VERA GARCIA (USA), 8-0

BRONZE: Luillys PEREZ (VEN) df. Pedro BELLO (MEX), 5-1
BRONZE: Adames CARLOS (DOM) df. Gomez RICARDO (ARG), 8-0