#WrestleDortmund

Chudyk Leads as Ukraine Captures Three Gold at #WrestleDortmund

By Vinay Siwach

DORTMUND, Germany (July 1) --- Ukraine women made a stunning start to their campaign at the junior European Championships in Dortmund, Germany as they won five medals on Thursday. After entering four in the finals and one in the bronze medal bout, three returned with gold, one with silver and remaining one with a bronze medal.

Five women's weight categories – 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg and 76kg -- had their medal bouts Thursday at the Helmut-Körnig Halle which is out of bounds for the spectators.

Led by U23 European champion Oksana CHUDYK (UKR), Ukraine's gold rush took them to top spot in the title race. They have 110 points, 30 more than second place Russia.

Chudyk began from where she had left at the U23 Euros in Skopje, North Macedonia in May. Over her three bouts in Dortmund, she gave up only one point, outscoring her opponents 22-1. In the final against local wrestler Sophia SCHAEFLE (GER), Chudyk started on a slow note with no wrestler breaking the tie for the first minute.

But once the Ukrainian found an opening, she scored via snap downs and counters, leading 4-0 at the break. Schaegle tried to lunge and reach for Chudyk's leg on multiple occasions but the latter was smart enough to keep the distance. The lead had doubled to 8-0 with 34 seconds to go in the bout and she finished with a takedown on the edge to win 10-0.

The two-time cadet world bronze medalist added to her cadet European and junior European title which she had won in 2018.

Aleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) df Roza SZENTTAMASI (HUN)Aleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) celebrates after beating Roza SZENTTAMASI (HUN) in the 55kg final in Dortmund. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Another cadet world medalist and European champion Yulia LESKOVETS (UKR) captured the gold medal at the 59kg weight class. Leskovets, a silver medal at the 2019 cadet Worlds, had to work hard for the gold against Anna SZEL (HUN), also a silver medalist at cadet Worlds in 2018.

Szel looked set for her first junior Euro title as she led 4-2 going into the final minute of the bout. She won the first point for Leskovets' passivity and then a double leg along with a warning for the Ukrainian made it 4-2. But Leskovets kept the pressure up and got a takedown before exposing Szel with a bent leg turk to make it 6-4.

She held on to that lead till the end of the time to win the gold medal. Szel was visibly dejected having given up the lead in the final minute and finish with a silver for the second time at the junior continental event.

The hat-trick of gold included a stunning pin from Aleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) in the 55kg final against Roza SZENTTAMASI (HUN). This was the first of the two Ukraine-Hungary finals.

Khomenets had a dominant run in Dortmund as she won her two bouts via fall and the semifinal against Anastasia IANDUSHKINA (RUS) 10-0 before pinning the Hungarian.

Ukraine could have had their fourth gold medal but 2020 Individual World Cup silver medalist Liliya MALANCHUK (UKR) suffered a defeat at the hands of Polina LUKINA (RUS) in just two minutes.

Polina LUKINA (RUS) df Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR)Polina LUKINA (RUS) celebrates after winning 50kg gold medal in Dortmund. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Silver medalist at the 2018 cadet World Championships, Lukina countered a Malanchuk attack to get a takedown and then exposed her to lead 4-2, having given up a double leg early in the bout. But her moment came when she got the Ukrainian in a fix close to the danger zone and after a long struggle managed to pin her back to the mat.

Malanchuk had a dream run as she won her bouts without given up a point. She won two bout via technical superiority and one via fall before suffering the defeat in the final.

The final gold medal of the day was captured by Melisa SARITAC (TUR) as she hammered Daniela TKACHUK (POL) 11-0 in the 76kg final.

While the Polish wrestler tried hard to get her attacks going, she was outpowered by Saritac with the difference in strength given the Turkish wrestler the advantage.

All the points scored by Saritac were on counter attacks. She got five different takedowns in the bout plus a point for Poland's lost challenge.

The Ukrainian at this weight, Maria ORLEVICH (UKR) defeated Carla LERA CELDA (ESP) to win the bronze medal, ending a five-out-of-five day for her country.

Ukraine will look to maintain their perfect record on Friday as the remaining five of their wrestlers entered the finals, confirming atleast a silver medal.

Wrestling will continue with Greco-Roman action beginning in five weight categories apart from the women's wrestling medal bouts in Dortmund.

European Championships Junior DortmundMelisa SARITAC (TUR) won the gold medal at 76kg in Dortmund. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

RESULTS WW

50kg
GOLD: Polina LUKINA (RUS) df Liliya MALANCHUK (UKR), via fall

BRONZE: Georgiana ANTUCA (ROU) df Gabija DILYTE (LTU), 5-2
BRONZE: Zehra DEMIRHAN (TUR) df Natallia VARAKINA (TUR), 5-0

55kg
GOLD: Aleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) df Roza SZENTTAMASI (HUN), via fall

BRONZE: Anastasia IANDUSHKINA (RUS) df Elena IONESCU (ROU), via fall
BRONZE: Melda DERNEKCI (TUR) df Viktoryia VOLK (BLR), 12-1

59kg
GOLD: Yulia LESKOVETS (UKR) df Anna SZEL (HUN), 6-4

BRONZE: Anastasia SIDELNIKOVA (RUS) df Selvi ILYASOGLU (TUR), 10-0
BRONZE: Aleksandra WITOS (POL) df Agnes NYGREN (SWE), 10-0

68kg
GOLD: Oksana CHUDYK (UKR) df Sophia SCHAEFLE (GER), 10-0

BRONZE: Elizaveta PETLIAKOVA (RUS) df Nesrin BAS (TUR), via fall
BRONZE: Alina MIKLASHEUSKAYA (BLR) df Patrycja SLOMSKA (POL), 3-3

76kg
GOLD: Melisa SARITAC (TUR) df Daniela TKACHUK (POL), 11-0

BRONZE: Maria ORLEVYCH (UKR) df Carla LERA CELDA (ESP), via fall
BRONZE: Kseniya DZIBUK (BLR) df Maria SILINA (RUS), 5-2

#WrestleHangzhou

Asian Games Wrestling: Amouzad beats Bajrang, Ozaki beats Tynybekova

By Vinay Siwach

LIN'AN, Hangzhou, China (October 5) -- The Asian Games will see Freestyle action on Friday as 57kg and 65kg wrestlers take the mat. Women's Wrestling will continue with 62kg, 68kg and 76kg weight classes.

LIVE MATCH ORDER | BRACKETS | DAY 2 RESULTS

Here are the finals for the evening session

WW 62kg
Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK) vs. Nonoka OZAKI (PRK)

WW 68kg
Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) vs. Feng ZHOU (CHN)

WW 76kg
Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) vs Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ)

FS 57kg
Toshihiro HASEGAWA (JPN) vs. Chongsong HAN (PRK)

FS 65kg
Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) vs Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI)

13:20: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) uses two big four-point moves to beat BAJRANG 8-1 in the 65kg semifinal. Tulga TUMUR OCHIR with a big fall over Kwang Jin KIM (PRK) to enter the final at 65kg. Rahman AMOUZAD vs Tulga TUMUR OCHIR for the gold medal.

13:00: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) with a fall over Irina KUZNETSOVA (KAZ) to reach the 62kg final while Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) pins KIRAN to enter the 76kg final. She will wrestle returning bronze medalist Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ)

12:50: Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK) pins SONAM to reach the final at 62kg while in Freestyle 57kg, Chongsong HAN (PRK) with a final second takedown to beat Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ) 3-2. He will face Hasegawa in the final.

12:45: AMAN's comeback in the semifinal falls short as Toshihiro HASEGAWA (JPN) closes out the match 12-10. Hasegawa led 6-1 but Aman made it 8-5. But a seatbelt move gave Hasegawa four points as he won 12-10.

12:30: Defending champion BAJRANG with a controlled 4-0 victory over Alibeg ALIBEGOV (BRN) to enter the semifinal against Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI). It will be a rematch of the 2022 Asian Championships final which Amouzad won 3-1

12:15: Defending Asian Games champion at 68kg Feng ZHOU (CHN) with a quick 10-0 win over KANHA CHEA (CAM). On Mat B, Hui Tsz CHANG (TPE) pins Seoyeon JEONG (KOR) at 76kg. Tulga TUMUR OCHIR won 6-0 to advance to the 65kg semifinals. 

12:10: Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) and Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) going for their fifth encounter in two years. Both wrestlers have won two bouts each. Tynybekova is put on the activity clock and Ozaki will go into the break leading 1-0. Tynybekova has a solid defense to Ozaki's double-leg shot. Ozaki put on the activity clock. She scores a takedown as soon as the activity clock expires to lead 3-1. Tynybekova tries to score a takedown for the win but Ozaki defends the 3-1 lead to win.

12:00: Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) with a fall over Ariunjargal GANBAT (MGL) at 76kg. The two-time world silver medalist at 72kg is making her debut at 76kg at an international competition.

11:50: AMAN up on Mat B against Ebrahim KHARI (IRI) in the 57kg quarterfinals. Khari with the first takedown but Aman scores a reversal. Khari with the second takedown to make it 4-1. Solid underhook from Khari and he manages to make it 6-1 as Aman struggles with his defense. A slip from Aman and Khari goes behind to score another takedown 8-1. Aman with an outside single to close the gap 8-3 at the break. An exposure to start the second period and then a double leg counter from Aman. He comes out with a lace to lead 9-8. Another takedown for Aman 11-8. A medical break for Khari and he comes out blazing but he can't score. Aman will get the takedown to make it 13-8. Aman now making Khari pay for the high-pace of wrestling. Aman will come back from 8-1 down to win 19-8 at 57kg.

11:40: After the mini break, quarterfinal action resumes. Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ), world silver medalist, pins Thi Linh DANG (VIE) at 76kg while Naruha MATSUYUKI (JPN) with a fall over Hyeonyeong PARK (KOR) at 68kg

11:20: KIRAN holds on to a 3-0 win over former U20 Asian champion Nodoka YAMAMOTO (JPN) to move to the 76kg semifinals.

11:10: Tulga TUMUR-OCHIR (MGL) with another 10-0 win. Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) manages to see off Kaiki YAMAGUCHI (JPN) 2-1 in an absolutely no-action bout. He will move into the quarterfinals. On Mat B, BAJRANG, wrestling in his first bout in over a year, starts with a 10-0 win over RONIL TUBOG (PHI). He will take on Alibeg ALIBEGOV (BRN) in the 65kg quarterfinals.

10:47: Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) with a fall at 76kg, Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) with a 10-0 win at 62kg and U20 Asian champion Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK) wins 11-0 against Alibek OSMONOV (KGZ) at 65kg. Things moving so fast here.

10:45: A DPR Korea wrestler advancing at the expense of a Chinese wrestler, again! Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK) led 3-1 against Jia LONG (CHN) before using an underhook throw to pin Long and advance at 62kg.

10:40: SONAM with a quick fall over Sushila CHAND (NEP) at 62kg but world champion Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) is even quicker to pin SALINEE SRISOMBAT (THA)

10:35: Asian champion AMAN takes full six minutes to go past Sunggwon KIM (KOR) at 57kg. He scored two takedowns in his 6-1 win.

10:25: Former U23 world champion Toshihiro HASEGAWA (JPN) starts his 57kg campaign with a 7-0 win over Minghu LIU (CHN). A solid warm-up for the Japanese.

10:10: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) with a stepout before Abbos RAKHMANOV (UZB) scored a takedown and roll. Amouzad gets a reversal. A takedown to make it 4-4 with Rakhmonov leading on criteria. Amouzad with another takedown to take a 6-4 lead. Rakhmonov with a single leg and takedown to reclaim the criteria lead 6-6 with two minutes still on the clock. Amouzad with a cross double leg finish, 8-6 lead for Amouzad. Rakhmonov shoots but Amouzad jumps and comes behind to increase the gap to four points. Rakhmonov with some desperate attempts but Amouzad hangs on for a 12-6 win.

10:12: Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) has no trouble in beating Sanzhar MUKHTAR (KAZ) 10-0 with 36 seconds left on the clock. The underhook supremacy!

10:05: The first win of the day goes to Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ) as he takes three minutes and 30 seconds to beat Nattawut KAEWKHUANCHUM (THA) 10-0 at 57kg.

10:00: Welcome to day three of the Asian Games. Five weight classes, two in Freestyle and three in Women's Wrestling highlight the day. Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI), Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL), Bajrang PUNIA, AMAN, Nonoka OZAKI (JPN), Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ), Feng ZHOU (CHN), Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) are some of the stars in action.