Pan Am Games, Toronto

Canadians Reel ‘Em In, but ‘Big One’ Gets Away in Pan Am Games

Saturday, July 18, 2015 - 04:17 By William May

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TORONTO, Canada (July 17) – Canada’s young trio of female entries on Friday reeled in nearly all the top-ranked wrestlers on the final day of women’s wrestling events at the Pan America Games.  But, in the end, the “Big One” got away.

World champion Adeline GRAY (USA) turned upset-minded Justina DI STASIO (CAN) as time expired in the 75kg gold medal final for a 7-6 victory while denying Canada a perfect day on the mats in front of their adoring fans.

Ranked No.1 at 75kg by United World Wrestling, Gray notched a pair of technical falls in the afternoon, including a 10-0 thumping of world silver medalist Aline FERREIRA (BRA), who rebounded for a bronze medal in the evening session.

Gray, however, may have been surprised in the final by the tenacious Di Stasio, who scored a four-point takedown early in the second period for the lead – a lead that seesawed back and forth until the world champ’s last-second turn.

Earlier, Di Stasio bumped off 2011 Pan American Games gold medalist Lisset HECHEVARRIA (CUB), 4-4, in the semifinals in a rematch of their final at the Pan American championships. Di Stasio won the April match-up 5-3.

Braxton STONE (CAN) also bumped off a 2011 Pan American Games gold medalist in the 63kg final where she defeated Katerina VIDIAUX (CUB), 7-3. In the afternoon session, the 20-year-old Stone rallied for six points in the second period for a 6-5 triumph over two-time Olympic Games bronze medalist Jackeline RENTERIA (COL).

Meanwhile, former junior world champion Dorothy YEATS (CAN) got Canada rolling by pinning Pan American championships winner Yudaris SANCHEZ (CUB) in the quarterfinals at 69kg and the following up with a 14-3 technical fall over runner-up Luz VAZQUEZ (ARG) in the semifinals.

Yeats later locked up a cross-ankle lock and worked in for points on her way to a 13-2 win over Maria ACOSTA (VEN) in the final. Yeats’ win and Vazquez victory over Sanchez in the bronze medal bout secured the unofficial team title, 47-46, over Cuba.

 

Also, on the first day of men’s freestyle action at the Games, Yowlys BONNE (CUB) and Brent METCALF (USA) each won in the 57kg and 65kg finals, respectively, as Cuba and the U.S. split the two gold medal match-ups.

Bonne wrestled cautiously against Angel ESCOBEDO (USA), but when Escobedo attempted to lock up for a big throw, the world bronze medalist countered with a drop for four points and then, a lift and another drop for four more and a 10-0 technical fall.

Metcalf, meanwhile, got rolling in the second period of the 65kg with a pair of outside single-leg attacks and finished with a double-leg for an 8-2 victory over 2013 Pan American champ Franklin MAREN (CUB).

Wrestling at the Pan American Games concludes Saturday with the final four weight categories in freestyle – 74kg, 86kg, 97kg and 125kg.

Women’s Wrestling
63kg
GOLD: Braxton STONE (CAN) df. Katerina VIDIAUX LOPEZ (CUB), 7-3
BRONZE: Jackeline RENTERIA (COL) df. Jessica OLIVARES (PER), 8-5
BRONZE: Erin CLODGO (USA) df Dennisse ANTES (ECU) by Default

69kg
GOLD: Dorothy YEATS (CAN) df. Maria ACOSTA (VEN) by TF, 13-2
BRONZE: Diana MIRANDA (MEX) df. Dayanara RIVERA (PUR), 1-1
BRONZE: Luz VAZQUEZ (ARG) df. Yudaris SANCHEZ (CUB), 7-1

75kg
GOLD: Adeline GRAY (USA) df. Justina DISTASIO (CAN), 7-6
BRONZE: Lisset HECHEVARRIA (CUB) df. Jarismit WEFFER GUANIPE (VEN), 2-1
BRONZE: Aline FERREIRA (BRA) df. Ana GONZALEZ (PUR) by Fall

Freestyle
57kg
GOLD: Yowlys BONNE (CUB) df. Angel ESCOBEDO (USA) by TF, 10-0
BRONZE: Emir HERNANDEZ (COL) df. Pablo BENITEZ (PER), 6-1
BRONZE: Pedro MEJIAS (VEN) df. Kevin BONILLA (HON), 7-0

65kg
GOLD: Brent METCALF (USA) df. Franklin MAREN (CUB), 8-2
BRONZE: Franklin GOMEZ (PUR) df. Marvin MIRANDA (GUA) by TF, 10-0
BRONZE: Haislan GARCIA (CAN) df. Hernan GUZMAN (COL), 2-0
Gallery
2015 Pan American Games - Day 3

#WrestleUlaanbaatar

Young Indian team hauls four WW golds at Ulaanbaatar Open

Friday, May 30, 2025 - 17:56 By Vinay Siwach

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ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (May 30) -- A young Indian team captured four out of five gold medals on offer in Women's Wrestling at the Ulaanbaatar Open on Friday.

Three teenagers -- NEHA (IND), MUSKAN (IND) and HARSHITA (IND) -- defeated opponents much experienced than them to win gold at 57kg, 59kg and 72kg.

Paris Olympian and Asian bronze medalist ANTIM (IND) captured the gold medal at 53kg after beating Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW), 10-0, in the final. 

The fifth Indian in action on Friday, NEELAM (IND), won bronze medal at 50kg after she lost her semifinal but returned to beat Munkhnar BYAMBASUREN (MGL) in the bronze-medal bout.

Natalia PUDOVA (UWW) defeated Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR), 7-6, in a thrilling 50kg final to clinch gold medal.

Neha, a former world U17 champion and world U20 bronze medalist, was the most impressive wrestler of the lot, winning gold in her debut senior international tournament.

In a Nelson bracket format, Neha got European silver medalist Elvira SULEYMAN KAMALOGLU (TUR) in the first bout and showed nerves, taking a 7-0 lead. Kamaloglu hit a four-pointer in the second period but Neha managed to keep herself calm and clinched the victory. She pinned Munkhchimeg URJIN (MGL) in her next bout before beating Ana PEREIRA (BRA), 11-0, in the semifinal. In the final, Neha wrestled Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL) and kept it simple with a 4-0 victory.

"I was little hesitant because this is my first-ever senior tournament," Neha said. "But the competition was very similar to a U20 level competition."

Neha has lost only to Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) in her international career, once at World U17 Championships and then at the World U20 Championships. However, this year she wants to win the champion belt at the World U20 Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria.

"I want beat her and win the belt," she said.

MUSKAN (IND)MUSKAN (IND), blue, won gold medal at 59kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Muskan, 17, won bronze medal at the Asian Championships this year in Amman and has now added gold medal at the Ranking Series in the 59kg weight class, winning four bouts.

The weight had five wrestlers which meant all wrestlers had to wrestle each other. Muskan began with a fall over Anudari BATKHUYAG (MGL) before a tough 5-4 win over European silver medalist Bediha GUN (TUR) in Round 2.

Both wrestler were put on activity clocks and both failed to score. Gun led 1-1 on criteria in the second period when Muskan tried a takedown but Gun used the momentum and threw Muskan on her back for two points. Muskan recovered and got two points of her won to lead 3-3 on criteria.

Soon after, Muskan scored a takedown to make it 5-3 with a minute left in match. In the final second, Gun got a step out but Muskan hung on for the win.

In her next two bouts, Muskan posted controlled wins over Gantuya ENKHBAT (MGL), 8-2, and Altjin TOGTOKH (MGL), 9-0, to win the gold medal.

HARSHITA (IND)HARSHITA (IND) posted four wins to capture gold medal at 72kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Another former world U17 champion and Asian silver medalist, HARSHITA (IND), won gold medal at 72kg after winning four one-sided bouts.

After receiving a walkover in her first bout, Harshita blanked Kristina BRATCHIKOVA (UWW) 11-0 in the second bout and pinned Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL) in the next one after building a 13-0 lead.

In the evening session, Harshita got taken down and turned by Tsogzolmaa DORJSUREN (MGL) but she was already leading 6-0 by then. Ultimately, she defeated Dorjsuren 14-4 to win the gold medal.

ANTIM (IND)ANTIM (IND) outscored her opponents 37-0 in four bouts to win gold at 53kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Antim, world and Asian bronze medalist, was at her best on Friday, winning four bouts without giving up a point. She pinned Namuuntsetseg TSOGTOCHIR (MGL) in the first bout before leg-lacing Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW) for an 11-0 win.

In the semifinal, she managed a 10-0 win over Ariunzaya ODONCHIMEG (MGL) before she got Malysheva in the final again as the weight class had only seven wrestlers divided in two group. Top two wrestlers from each group enter the semifinal where they clash in cross, making it possible for wrestlers from same group to reach the final.

The final against Malysheva was no different than the group stage bout as Antim used the leg-lace again and won the gold medal after another 10-0 win.

Natalia PUDOVA (UWW)Natalia PUDOVA (UWW) defeated Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) to win gold medal at 50kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At 50kg, Natalia PUDOVA (UWW) held on for a 7-6 victory over Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) to claim the gold medal.

Pudova got on board first in the final after Demirhan was called for passivity. Demirhan took the lead in the second period by tripping Pudova with a knee-pinch for four points.

As Pudova tried to pressure for an attack, Demirhan was docked a caution point for singlet-grabbing, making the score 4-2. The Turkish wrestler tried an arm throw but was blocked by Pudova who managed to get a takedown to make it 4-4. A reversal for Demirhan kept the lead for her 5-4.

The next attempt for a headlock throw from Demirhan was awarded two points for Pudova which the Türkiye corner challenged but on review, it was seen that Pudova was attacking and Demirhan made only a defense attempt to throw which was not awarded a slip throw.

Pudova now led 7-5 and was given the par terre advantage but she failed to score any points from that position. A stepout got Demirhan closer but she still dropped the bout 7-6.

Photo

RESULTS

50kg
GOLD: Natalia PUDOVA (UWW) df. Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR), 7-6

BRONZE: NEELAM (IND) df. Munkhnar BYAMBASUREN (MGL), 9-1

53kg
GOLD: ANTIM (IND) df. Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW), 10-0

BRONZE: Otgontuya CHINBOLD (MGL) df. Ariunzaya ODONCHIMEG (MGL), 5-2

57kg
GOLD: NEHA (IND) df. Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL), 4-0

BRONZE: Elvira SULEYMAN KAMALOGLU (TUR) df. Ana PEREIRA FRANCA (BRA), via fall

59kg
GOLD: MUSKAN (IND)
SILVER: Altjin TOGTOKH (MGL)
BRONZE: Gantuya ENKHBAT (MGL)

72kg
GOLD: HARSHITA (IND)
SILVER: Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL)
BRONZE: Kristina BRATCHIKOVA (UWW)