Bajrang Storms Back to Regain Asian Title at 65kg; Iran Captures 3 of 5 Golds

Tuesday, April 23, 2019 - 16:48 By Ken Marantz

XI’AN, China (April 23) – World silver medalist Bajrang BAJRANG (IND) needed one of his trademark comebacks more than ever. His winded opponent gave him the opening he needed.

Bajrang, overcoming a five-point deficit in the second period, stormed to a 12-7 victory over Sayatbek OKASSOV (KAZ) in the freestyle 65kg final at the Asian Championships in Xi’an to regain the continental title he won two years ago in New Delhi.

Meanwhile, Iran captured three of the five golds at stake on the opening day of the six-day competition—and added bronze medals in the two other weight classes--while Kazakhstan also had a champion crowned.

Bajrang looked to be heading to defeat when Okassov got the Indian’s leg in the air three times, and scored a takedown each time to build up a 7-2 lead early in the second period.

But Okassov started to show fatigue, and Bajrang started twisting the screws. In the last 1:40, he went ahead with a takedown that he followed up with three rolls to put away the match.

“I didn’t feel like I was losing,” Bajrang said. “If you see my matches, I start a bit slow, then I catch up. I gain an understanding of the strategy of the opponent.”

Bajrang acknowledged that he uses his exceptional stamina to his advantage, saying, “I tire the opponent out and score points after that.”

Bajrang’s personal coach for the past year, Greek-born Georgian Shako Bentinidis, expressed concern over the technical lapses in Bajrang’s performance.

“I mind,” Bentinidis said. “The last month, we stayed in India and he had a little problem with the food and [training] partner. That’s why his concentration here was no good.”

But Bajrang’s determination was enough to allow him to prevail. “He has a very good character,” the coach said. “He never thinks about losing, only concentration on winning.”

Although he vanquished all before him on this day, Bajrang felt something was missing. Or someone for that matter.

Takuto OTOGURO (JPN), who defeated Bajrang in a memorable final at the Budapest 2018 world championships, had entered the tournament, but pulled out due to bursitis in his knee.

“All of the athletes here I had already defeated. Only Otoguro I have not. I would have liked to face him,” said Bajrang, who is hoping for a rematch at either this year’s world championships or Tokyo 2020.

Two-time world champion Reza YAZDANI (IRI) defeated Mongolia's ULZIISAIKHAN Batzul, 7-4 in the 97kg gold-medal bout. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Two-time former world champion Reza YAZDANI (IRI) returned from an absence of over two years to win the 97kg gold with a come-from-behind win of his own. He has some unfinished business to attend to at the Tokyo Olympics.

Yazdani twice missed out on Olympic medal, at London 2012 and Rio 2016, after suffering injuries during the competition, and he sees Tokyo as his chance for redemption.

“Unfortunately, I lost two times at the Olympics because I was injured,” Yazdani said. “Now I want to make up for that in Tokyo in 2020. I tried to keep myself fit, watch my weight and train for wrestling, and now I’m back on the national team.”

In the final, Yazdani trailed ULZIISAIKHAN Batzul (MGL) 4-2 in the second period when the Mongolian ran out of gas. Yazdani took advantage and went on to win 7-4, adding to the Asian titles he won in 2010 and 2016.

“The match is six minutes,” said Yazdani, a three-time Asian Games champion. “Sometimes I go down [in the score], and sometimes I go up. I am always training to be in better condition.”

Reza ATRINAGARCHI (IRI), the 57kg champion, was one of three Iranian champions on Day 1. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Iran’s other golds came from Reza ATRINAGARCHI (IRI) at 57kg and Bahman TEYMOURI (IRI) at 70kg.

Atrinagarchi scored all of his points in the second period in posting a 9-3 victory over defending champion KANG Kumsong (PRK), who had defeated former world champion Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN) in the semifinals.

Takahashi, a bronze medalist at the Budapest 2018 world championships, shook off that loss to take a bronze home, scoring a 4-point takedown-and-roll combination with 15 seconds left to defeat Kumar RAVI (IND), 5-3.

“It’s tough to take, but it gives me an idea of where I stand now, and I have to accept that,” Takahashi said of his loss. “But this [tournament] was not my goal. If this were the world championships or Olympics, I would be more disappointed. I have to not let this get me down and keep fighting to get a gold medal.”

Speaking about his 3-1 loss to Kang, Takahashi said, “The opponent was very good. He doesn’t have a strong attack, but his defense is strong. My strong point is offense, but today my offense lost and that was the result. I have to get stronger on attack. Of course, I want to get revenge.”

Teymouri, a 2017 bronze medalist, earned his first Asian gold with a sedate 3-0 win in the 79kg final over Parveen RANA (IND). Teymouri scored a first-period takedown, then received a penalty point in the second.

Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) reached the top of the podium at 70 with a 9-0 shutout win over Japan's Kojiro SHIGA. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

In the day’s other final, Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) overwhelmed Kojiro SHIGA (JPN), 9-0, at 70kg

Host China had three wrestlers in the bronze-medal matches, but only YUAN Shaohua (CHN) made the podium after he crushed Abdullrahman IBRAHIM (QAT) with a 10-0 technical fall in just 34 seconds.

Makhmudjon SHAVKATOV (UZB), last year’s runner-up to Kang at 57kg in Bishkek, took home a bronze this time by beating Hikmatullo VOHIDOV (TJK), 4-0.

Peiman BIABANI (IRI) at 65kg and Yones EMAMICHOGAEI (IRI) at 70kg added to the Iranian medal tally by winning bronzes.

Day 1 Results

Freestyle

57kg (12 entries)
Gold – Reza ATRINAGARCHI (IRI) df. KANG Kumsong (PRK), 9-3
Bronze – Makhmudjon SHAVKATOV (UZB) df. Hikmatullo VOHIDOV (TJK), 4-0
Bronze – Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN) df. Kumar RAVI (IND), 5-3

65kg (16 entries)
Gold – Bajrang BAJRANG (IND) df. Sayatbek OKASSOV (KAZ), 12-7
Bronze – KIM Han Song (PRK) df. Haji Mohamad ALI (BRN) by TF, 10-0, :46
Bronze – Peiman BIABANI (IRI) df. Sirojiddin KHASANOV (UZB), 3-2

70kg (16 entries)
Gold – Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) df. Kojiro SHIGA (JPN), 9-0
Bronze – YUAN Shaohua (CHN) df. Abdullrahman IBRAHIM (QAT) by TF, 10-0, :34
Bronze – Yones EMAMICHOGAEI (IRI) df. Balyr BORJAKOV (TKM) by TF, 11-0, 4:04

79kg (10 entries)
Gold – Bahman TEYMOURI (IRI) df. Parveen RANA (IND), 3-0
Bronze – Oibek NASIROV (KGZ) df. LIN Zeping (CHN) by Fall, 2:50 (2-1)
Bronze – Galymzhan USSERBAYEV (KAZ) df. Yuta ABE (JPN), 6-0

97kg (11 entries)
Gold – Reza YAZDANI (IRI) df. Batzul ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL), 7-4
Bronze – Satywart KADIAN (IND) df. GAO Haobin (CHN), 8-2
Bronze – Alisher YERGALI (KAZ) df. Magomed MUSAEV (KGZ), 6-2

#WrestleBucharest

Nine return to defend European titles in Women's Wrestling

Monday, February 5, 2024 - 10:52 By Vinay Siwach

BUCHAREST, Romania (February 5) -- Nine out of the ten Women's Wrestling European champions will return to the European Championships, hoping to defend their gold medals in Bucharest next week. The one not coming, Alina HRUSHYNA (UKR) is yet to recover from an injury which also kept her out of the World Championships.

Two of them, Andreea ANA (ROU) and Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU), will be the most keen on repeating as European champions. In Zagreb last year, they gave the double gold to Romania but next week, wrestling at home will give them extra motivation to repeat.

Ana and Anghel will be in the non-Olympic weight classes 55kg and 72kg respectively. Ana is a two-time European champion and will be the favorite in Bucharest. If any, former age-group European champion Ekaterina VERBINA (AIN) can trouble Ana as she returns to competition. Ukraine is sending Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) while Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA), Roksana ZASINA (POL) and Tuba DEMIR (TUR) are also in the field.

Anghel, who defeated 68kg world champion Buse TOSUN (TUR) to win the gold medal at 72kg last year, can have a tougher time this year. 68kg European champion Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) is moving to 72kg after losing her place to Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL) at 68kg. Kendra DACHER (FRA), age-group world medalist Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL), U23 world champion Nesrin BAS (TUR) and Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) are also in this weight class.

Yasemin ADAR (TUR) is a six-time European champion. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

2022 world champion Yasemin ADAR (TUR) is returning to the mat after one year, having skipped all competitions after the 2023 Euros. She will, despite her time off, be the favorite to win the 76kg gold medal. Adar is chasing her seventh European title after six golds and a silver medal.

Former European champion Epp MAE (EST) will be her biggest threat as she also looks to return after a medalless World Championships. Mae recently trained in Japan with world champion Yuka KAGAMI (JPN). Anastasiia OSNIACH SHUSTOVA (UKR) will also hope to make the final.

Turkiye's world champion in 2023, Tosun will be at 68kg. She had a disastrous start to the year, losing her first-round bout at the Zagreb Open Ranking Series in January. Tosun will look to put that behind her and start afresh for the Bucharest tournament.

To avoid any disappointments, Tosun will have to navigate past world bronze medalist Koumba LARROQUE (FRA), Elis MANOLOVA (AZE), 65kg European champion Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL) and former European champion Tetiana SOVA RIZHKO (UKR). Larroque won the European Championships gold medal in 2021 and will be keen on getting back on the top of the podium.

Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (AIN) will look to win her first European title since 2020. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Two world silver medalists, Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (AIN) at 53kg and Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) at 59kg, will also be in action in Bucharest.

Kaladzinskaya last wrestled at the European Championships in 2020 and won the gold medal. She will start as the favorite at 53kg despite the likes of Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) and Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) entered for the tournament.

Kaladzinskaya won the silver medal at the World Championships, dropping the final to Akari FUJINAMI (JPN). It was her first competition since winning a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Malmgren, the two-time defending champion, will have her task cut out this year. She lost to Kaladzinskaya at the World Championships but that loss can only be a lesson for the former U20 world champion.

Former Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE), Ekaterina POLESHCHUK (AIN), Sztalvira ORSUS (HUN), Iulia LEORDA (MDA) and Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) can upset the field in Bucharest and finish on the podium.

Defending champion Nichita is the clear front-runner for the gold at 59kg. After finishing with a silver medal at the World Championships at 57kg, Nichita returned to competition in Zagreb but suffered a loss to Kexin HONG (CHN).

Nichita will be drawn at random into the bracket as she has no ranking at 59kg. The top seed will be Othelie HOIE (NOR), a returning European bronze medalist and world bronze medalist. Age-group world medalists Alesia HETMANAVA (AIN) and Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (AIN) can also finish on the podium.

Grace BULLEN (NOR) and Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) put a thriller in the 62kg semifinal last year. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 62kg, world bronze medalist Grace BULLEN (NOR) will have a chance to win her first European gold medal since 2020. She was a silver medalist last after suffering a heartbreaking loss to Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) in the final. She will have a chance to win the gold medal this year. Koliadenko has moved to 65kg for this tournament and is replaced by veteran Yuliia TKACH (UKR) which will also be a big test for Bullen.

Tkach, the silver medalist at 59kg from last year, has moved to 62kg after world bronze medalist Koliadenko moved up to 65kg. Tkach has every trick up her sleeve to keep Bullen at bay. But the Norway wrestler has improved leaps and bounds in recent times and can be called the favorite for this event.

One wrestler who will be waiting keenly to meet Bullen on the mat is Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL). She suffered a 7-6 loss to Bullen in the semifinal last year and finished with a bronze medal. Dudova, a former world champion at 59kg, is still trying to find her feet at 62kg. The two can only meet in the final, thanks to being seeded one and two.

Former U20 world champion Alina KASABIEVA (AIN) will also like to finish on the podium.

Mariya STADNIK (AZE) became a nine-time European champion last year. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

At 50kg, Mariya STADNIK (AZE) will look to extend her record streak of 10 European titles [12 as she has two European Games gold as well]. Last year, Oksana LIVACH (UKR) gave Stadnik a scare in the final but the Azerbaijan wrestler controlled the second period to keep her energy and win the gold.

A year older at 35, Stadnik will once again be tested by the young wrestler who will be participating in Bucharest. Livach will look to avenge the loss from last year while Miglena SELISHKA (BUL) and Emilia VUC (ROU) will also have a chance to upset the wrestling legend.

The 57kg weight class will see a new European champion as Hrushyna has not entered for her title defense. Tokyo silver medalist Iryna KURACHKINA (AIN) will be the favorite along with returning silver medalist Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) and bronze medalist Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL). Veteran Veronika CHUMIKOVA (AIN) and U20 world champion Aurora RUSSO (ITA) and former world bronze medalist Anhelina LYSAK (POL) are also entered.

World bronze medalist and returning silver medalist Irina RINGACI (MDA) will be at 65kg, hoping to win the gold that she dropped against Hristova last year. Ringaci will be tested by Taybe YUSEIN (BUL), Kriszta INCZE (ROU) and world bronze medalist at 62kg Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR).

Bajrang Storms Back to Regain Asian Title at 65kg; Iran Captures 3 of 5 Golds

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Nine return to defend European titles in Women's Wrestling