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Cuba Califica Todas las Categorias en Estilo Grecorromano para los Juegos Olimpicos

Saturday, March 14, 2020 - 00:37 By Taylor GREGORIO

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Photo of Gabriel ROSILLO KINDELAN (CUB). By Tony Rotundo. 

OTTAWA, Canada – With four Cuban athletes winning their respective semifinals at the Pan American Olympic Qualifier, Cuba has now qualified all six Greco-Roman weights for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

In this weekend’s event, the top-two from each weight class will earn a bid for their countries to the 2020 Olympics.

Cuba entered the weekend with the 67 kg and 130 kg weight classes already qualified, thanks to medal-winning performances at the 2019 World Championships in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan.

Cubans in the other four weight classes advanced to the Pan Am Olympic Qualifier finals on Friday and punched their tickets to Tokyo. They included Luis ORTA SANCHEZ (60 kg), Yosvanys PENA FLORES (77 kg), Daniel GREGORICH HECHAVARRIA (87 kg) and Gabriel ROSILLO KINDELAN (97 kg).

The unofficial team champions from the 2016 Olympic Games, Cuba seeks to continue its dominance, sending a full squad to Tokyo, including returning Olympic champions Ismael BORRERO MOLINA (67 kg) and Mijain LOPEZ NUNEZ (130 kg).

The United States also had four athletes qualify their weights today, advancing to the finals, including Ildar HAFIZOV (60 kg), Alejandro SANCHO (67 kg), Josef RAU (87 kg) and G’Angelo HANCOCK (97 kg).

Other wrestlers that qualified include Julian HORTA ACEVEDO (COL) at 67 kg, Jose VARGAS RUEDA (MEX) at 77 kg, and Yasmani ACOSTA FERNANDEZ (CHI) and Eduard SOGHOMONYAN (BRA) at 130 kg.

At 67 kg, Horta of Colombia was funded by the United World Wrestling Development Technical Assistance program, which allows athletes from developing countries the opportunities to compete at top-level events. Horta’s qualification for the Olympic Games would not have been possible without the support of UWW.

Not only did Horta qualify for the Olympics but he also went on to win gold at the Pan American Olympic Qualifier, defeating Sancho of USA in the 67 kg finals, 4-0.

The finals featured three head-to-head matches between Cuba and the United States: 60 kg, 87 kg and 97 kg.

Orta of Cuba won his third Pan American gold medal on Friday night, defeating Hafizov of USA in a decisive 7-0 victory in the 60 kg finals.

At 87 kg, Rau picked up his second gold medal of the week as two-time U23 World medalist Gregorich was unable to compete, due to injury.  

Rosillo and Hancock battled each other at 97 kg for the third time in less than a week and second time for gold. Hancock won in the finals last week, 10-0, but this time, it was Rosillo taking the gold in an 11-8 shootout, making it one of the most entertaining bouts of the night.

Cuba earned another gold medal at 77 kg as Pena dominated Vargas from Mexico with an 8-0 technical fall.

Claiming the title at 130 kg was 2017 World bronze medalist Acosta of Chile, who overwhelmed Soghomonyan of Brazil with a 9-0 win in the finals.

Action continues tomorrow with the women’s freestyle Pan Am Olympic Qualifier.

Photo of Joe RAU (USA). By Tony Rotundo. 

En Espanol

OTTAWA, Canada – Cuatro Cubanos avanzaron a las finales del Clasificatorio Olímpico Panamericano por lo que consiguieron la plaza para los Juegos Olímpicos 2020; por ello, Cuba ha clasificado atletas en las seis categorías del estilo grecorromano para Tokio.

En este evento, los dos mejores atletas de cada categoría calificaron a sus países a la justa Olímpica.

Cuba llego a este evento con las categorías 67 kg y 130 kg ya clasificadas; en las otras cuatro categorías ganaron sus semifinales este viernes para garantizar sus lugares en Tokio. El representativo cubano está conformado por Luis ORTA SANCHEZ (60 kg), Yosvanys PENA FLORES (77 kg), Daniel GREGORICH HECHAVARRIA (87 kg) y Gabriel ROSILLO KINDELAN (97 kg).

El grupo de calificados cubanos se completa con los dos campeones olímpicos, Ismael BORRERO MOLINA (67 kg) y Mijain LOPEZ NUÑEZ (130 kg).

Los Estados Unidos también calificaron cuatro categorías de peso hoy. Los clasificados fueron Ildar HAFIZOV (60 kg), Alejandro SANCHO (67 kg), Josef RAU (87 kg) y G’Angelo HANCOCK (97 kg).

Luchadores de diversos países completan la lista de invitados a Tokio 2020, Julian HORTA ACEVEDO (COL) en 67 kg, Jose VARGAS RUEDA (MEX) en 77 kg, Yasmani ACOSTA FERNANDEZ (CHI) y Eduard SOGHOMONYAN (BRA) en 130 kg.

En 67 kg, Horta de Colombia fue financiado por el programa United World Wrestling Development Technical Assistance, que brinda a los atletas de países en desarrollo la oportunidad de competir en eventos de alto nivel. La clasificación de él no sería posible sin la apoyo de UWW.

Horta no solo se clasificó para los Juegos Olímpicos, sino que también ganó el oro en el Clasificatorio Olímpico Panamericano, derrotando a Sancho de USA en la final de 67 kg, 4-0.

De tres combates en donde Cuba se enfrentó a los Estados Unidos: 60 kg, 87 kg y 97 kg.

Orta de Cuba venció a Sancho de USA, 7-0, para obtener su tercer medalla de oro panamericana.

En 87 kg, Rau gano su segunda medalla de oro de la semana, ya que en la final, el medallista mundial U23 Gregorich, no pudo competir debido a una lesión.

Rosillo y Hancock lucharon en 97 kg por tercer vez en menos de una semana y por segunda vez el oro fue para Hancock, quien gano la semana pasada 10-0, pero esta vez la historia fue diferente y Rosillo derroto a Hancock 11-8, en unos de los combates más emocionante de la noche.

Cuba gano otra medalla de oro en la categoría 77 kg cuando Peña domino a Vargas de México con una victoria contundente de 8-0. Peña también gano el título del Campeonato Panamericano la semana pasada.

El título en los 130 kg fue para el medallista de bronce mundial en 2017, Yasmani Acosta de Chile, quien superó a Soghomonyan de Brasil con una victoria por 9-0.

Acción continua mañana con el estilo libre femenil.

Greco-Roman finals results

60 kg
GOLD - Luis ORTA SANCHEZ (CUB) df. Ildar HAFIZOV (USA), 7-0
BRONZE - Dicther TORO CASTANEDA (COL) df. Gustavo RODRIGUEZ MARTINEZ (VEN), 12-6
BRONZE - Andres MONTANO ARROYO (ECU) df. Samuel GURRIA VIGUERAS (MEX), 9-7

67 kg
GOLD - Julian HORTA ACEVEDO (COL) df. Alejandro SANCHO (USA), 4-0
BRONZE- Joilson DE BRITO RAMOS JUNIOR (BRA) df. Cristhian RIVAS CASTRO (ECU), 9-0
BRONZE- Manuel LOPEZ SALCEDO (MEX) df. Enyer FELICIANO (DOM), fall

77 kg
GOLD - Yosvanys PENA FLORES (CUB) df. Jose VARGAS RUEDA (MEX), 8-0
BRONZE– Patrick SMITH (USA) df. Jair CUERO MUNOZ (COL), 3-2
BRONZE - Marciano ALI (PUR) df. Wuileixis de Jesus RIVAS ESPINOZA (VEN), injury default

87 kg
GOLD - Josef RAU (USA) df. Daniel GREGORICH HECHAVARRIA (CUB), injury default
BRONZE– Ariel ALFONSO RODRIGUEZ (HON) df. Daniel VICENTE GOMEZ (MEX), 6-2
BRONZE- Luis Eduardo AVENDANO ROJAS (VEN) df. Lesyan Osvaldo COUSIN (JAM), 6-1

97 kg
GOLD - Gabriel ROSILLO KINDELAN (CUB) df. G’Angelo HANCOCK (USA), 11-8
BRONZE– Luillys Jose PEREZ MORA (VEN) df. Kevin MEJIA CASTILLO (HON), injury default

130 kg
GOLD - Yasmani ACOSTA FERNANDEZ (CHI) df. Eduard SOGHOMONYAN (BRA), 9-0
BRONZE– Adam COON (USA) df. Leo Dalis SANTANA HEREDIA (DOM), injury default
BRONZE - Moises PEREZ HELLBURG (VEN) df. Luis ROMAN BARRIOS (MEX), 9-0

Greco-Roman semifinal results

60 kg
Ildar HAFIZOV (USA) df. Samuel GURRIA VIGUERAS (MEX), 7-2
Luis ORTA SANCHEZ (CUB) df. Gustavo RODRIGUEZ MARTINEZ (VEN), 5-2

67 kg
Julian HORTA ACEVEDO (COL) df. Joilson DE BRITO RAMOS JUNIOR (BRA), 9-0
Alejandro SANCHO (USA) df. Manuel LOPEZ SALCEDO (MEX), 8-1

77 kg
Jose VARGAS RUEDA (MEX) df. Marciano ALI (PUR), 3-2
Yosvanys PENA FLORES (CUB) df. Patrick SMITH (USA), 6-1

87 kg
Daniel GREGORICH HECHAVARRIA (CUB) df. Ariel ALFONSO RODRIGUEZ (HON), 6-0
Josef RAU (USA) df. Lesyan COUSIN OTOMURO (JAM), 9-1

97 kg
Gabriel ROSILLO KINDELAN (CUB) df. Luillys Jose PEREZ MORA (VEN), 8-0
G’Angelo HANCOCK (USA) df. Kevin MEJIA CASTILLO (HON), 9-0

130 kg
Yasmani ACOSTA FERNANDEZ (CHI) df. Leo SANTANA HEREDIA, 9-0
Eduard SOGHOMONYAN (BRA) df. Moises PEREZ HELLBURG (VEN), fall

#WrestleParis

10 seeded showdowns we need to see at Paris 2024 (No. 1-5)

Friday, July 19, 2024 - 11:28 By Eric Olanowski

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PARIS, France (July 18) --- Yesterday, we launched the No. 6-10 must-watch seeded matches that could take place in the quarterfinals and semifinals of the upcoming Paris Olympic Games. We continue the series with the top five matchups that could be between seeded athletes in the quarterfinals and semifinals.

SCHEDULE | PARIS 2024 EVENT PAGE 

The top eight Ranking Series point scorers from the 2023 World Championships, 2024 Continental Championships, and the Croatian and Hungarian Ranking Series events earned a top eight seed in Paris. The remaining eight wrestlers will be randomly drawn into their respective brackets.

Here are the top-five seeded showdowns that can take place in Paris:

5. 97kg SEMIFINAL – No. 1 Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) vs. No. 4 Gabriel ROSILLO (CUB)
If you were to rank the ten Greco-Roman favorites expected to win gold at last year’s World Championships, Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) would have been either at the top or second on that list.

Unfortunately (or fortunately), no one told Gabriel Rosillo that the list existed.

In their lone career meeting, Rosillo, with the most perfectly timed arm drag that the wrestling world has seen in recent memory, stopped Aleksanyan from winning his fifth world gold medal. The Cuban sucked in an arm drag to Aleksanyan’s right arm, then perfectly timed a re-drag to the left side just as the Armenian pulled away, giving him the go-ahead takedown with 23 seconds left.

After the match, Aleksanyan said he relaxed at the most inopportune time and he’ll use the loss to Rosillo as motivation heading into Paris.

The second meeting between Aleksanyan and Rosillo could happen on August 6 in the 97kg semifinals.

4. 125kg SEMIFINAL – No. 1 Amir ZARE (IRI) vs. No. 4 Taha AKGUL (TUR)
Zare and Akgul have been going blow for blow for the last three years, with Zare grabbing the 2-1 advantage from his 2021 and 2023 wins, which were sandwiched between a 2022 world championship loss.

Zare picked up the biggest win of his career (at the time) with his win 4-0 shutout win over Akgul at the 2021 Oslo World Championships. Up until that point, the Iranian was looked at as a tier-two heavyweight. His win over Akgul in Norway pushed him into the ranks with Akgul, Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) and Gable STEVESON (USA).

In the second meeting, Akgul stood tall on the United World Wrestling logo in the center of the mat and didn't budge. He evened the score at one match apiece, striking late with a counter-offensive 360 spin, moving into the world finals with a 3-3 win.

Zare regained his crown in the third meeting, with a tactical heavy-handed 4-0 win.

Zare knew Akgul wasn’t much of an offensive threat and couldn't afford to make a similar mistake as he did the year before, giving up the match-deciding takedown with no time left. He remained composed and scored a pair of stepouts and a takedown to win 4-0, giving him the 2-1 advantage heading into Paris.

The fourth meeting between world champions Zare and Akgul could happen on August 9 in the 125kg semifinals.

3. 57kg SEMIFINAL –  No. 2 Rei HIGUCHI (JPN ) vs. No. 3 Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM)
Harutyunyan and Higuchi are two guys with unlimited offensive and have gas tanks that rival a nuclear submarine.

That was on display in last year’s Freestyle Match of the Year, where Harutyunyan and Higuchi put up a combined 30 points in one match—17 points in the first period and 13 in the second.

In their epic second meeting, Higuchi surrendered an early 6-0 lead, but clawed his way back before the ending whistle in the first, taking the 10-7 lead with a beautiful four-point arm-throw. Higuchi’s onslaught of attacks continued as the second period started, scoring six straight points and extending his lead to 16-8. From there, Higuchi seemingly shut it down to conserve energy for the semifinals, as he gave up six unanswered points but still won the bout, 16-14.

The second meeting between Higuchi and Harutyunyan would go down on August 8 in the 57kg semifinals.

2. 97kg SEMIFINAL – No . 2 Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) vs. No. 3 Kyle SNYDER (USA)
Coming into the 2023 World Championships, Tazhudinov was a relatively unknown 20-year-old. The most fans knew about the 21-year-old was that he was a young guy trained by Sadulaev’s coach but left Russia to compete for Bahrain.

That all changed for Tazhudinov after his sub-three-minute quarterfinal routing of world and Olympic champion Kyle SNYDER (USA). The lengthy pupil of the Sadulaev’s School of Wrestling threw Snyder twice for four, using all four of the American’s shot attempts to score his 10 quick points.

Heading into Paris, there’s nothing more that Snyder wants more than revenge against Tazhudinov on his way to a potential third Olympic medal.

“I’m pumped about the bracket. It worked out great, in my opinion,” said Snyder in an interview with FloWrestling. “The third match of the day, that’s probably my best match. Once I start getting warm, I feel like I can wrestle forever.”

Round two of the Snyder vs. Tazhudinov rivalry will take on August 10 in the 97kg Olympic semifinals.

1. 60kg SEMIFINAL  –  No. 1 Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) vs. No. 4 Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN)
The Sharshenbekov and Fumita gold-medal bout from the 2023 World Championships was voted as the 2023 Match of the Year by fans.

In their second career meeting, the pair of two-time world champions wowed the crowd from whistle to whistle, with Sharshebekov scoring the first four-pointer of the match five seconds after the referee blew the whistle.

The points continued to pile up throughout the match. The pair collectively scored 15 points in the opening 90 seconds. They ultimately scored 17 points in the six-minute bout, with Sharshenbekov taking ownership of the world title with an 11-6 victory.

Sharshenbekov and Fumita are scheduled to meet on August 5 in the 60kg semifinals.

Wrestling at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games starts August 5-11 and can be followed on www.uww.org.