Curtain-raiser Zagreb Open offers strong competition

Monday, January 30, 2023 - 12:38 By Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (January 26) -- If you are wondering what wrestling will offer this year, Zagreb Open is a perfect curtain-raiser in a year that will see the Olympic quota offering World Championships in September.

Close to 550 wrestlers are entered for the season-opening Ranking Series event with Olympic, world and continental medalists gearing up for the all-important event in September.

Freestyle will see multiple stars take the mat and Haji ALIYEV (AZE), Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN), Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK), Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI), Hassan YAZDANI (IRI), Jden COX (USA), Kyle SNYDER (USA) and Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) are there to name a few.

The biggest match-up of the tournament can be world champion Kyle SNYDER (USA) facing J'den COX (USA) at 97kg. Cox is a two-time world champion at 92kg and is jumping up a weight class as he prepares to represent the USA at 97kg, a weight class long taken by Snyder.

In other weight classes, a rematch between Aliyev and Muszukajev is on the cards at 65kg. The bout can end up becoming a thriller as Aliyev hopes to avenge his European Championships final's loss. Sebastian RIVERIA (PUR), SUJEET (IND) and Joseph MC KENNA (USA) are also entered.

The Olympic weight classes are packed with strong wrestlers as is the case in 74kg. Yones EMAMI (IRI) will be hoping to get a bout against two-time World Championships silver medalist Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK). Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE), Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) and Jason NOLF (USA) will be challenging them at the weight classes and hoping to pull off an upset or two.

Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI), who became the first Iranian to beat Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) last month at the World Cup, will wrestle at 79kg. A rematch with Burroughs would have been a treat for the fans but he will have to contend with Chandler MARSTELLER (USA) for now.

One of the biggest names in freestyle wrestling -- Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) -- is entered at 86kg and will be the main attraction. While the favorite to win the gold, he will have Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE), Myles AMINE (SMR), Boris MAKOEV (SVK), Zahid VALENCIA (USA) and Mark HALL (USA) challenging him throughout the bracket.

A big match at 92kg is between world bronze medalists Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) and Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) with Kollin MOORE (USA) also in the fray to secure the top medal.

Zare will look to forget the heartbreaking loss at the World Championships semifinals and start the season on a bang in Zagreb. He will have little challenge but Robert BARAN (POL) and Hayden ZILLMER (USA) can be the dark horses.

Yui SUSAKI (JPN) celebrates her first ever win over Mariya STADNIK (AZE) back in 2018. (Photo: UWW / Max Rose Fyne)

Women’s Wrestling

Now that Japan is returning to Ranking Series events, most teams will get a taste of what to expect at the World Championships. The team last competed at the 2018 Klippan Lady Open where Yui SUSAKI (JPN) first defeated Mariya STADNIK (AZE).

Susaki will now be returning for her second-ever event and she will see Stadnik. Both are entered at 50kg and are expected to meet in the final if not earlier.

Susaki has, since the Tokyo Olympics, won her third world title and added a U23 world gold as well while Standik will be returning to the mat for the first time after the Tokyo Games apart from one appearance at the Islamic Solidarity Games.

China is sending a big squad with three wrestlers in most weight classes and it is a team that can spring any surprise on a given day.

Even at 53kg, the field has three athletes from China and Canada while former European champion from Russian Wrestling Federation Stalvira ORSHUSH (HUN) will now be wrestling for Hungary. But it's the return of 2021 world champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) will be the biggest positive for Japan. She missed the international season after the Asian Championships in Mongolia but will be back for the Ranking Series event.

World champion in 2022 Dominique PARRISH (USA) is also entered in the field and a bout against Fujinami will be a big test for the USA wrestler.

Helen MAROULIS (USA) will be the favorite to win the 57kg weight class but with Ningning RONG (CHN), Sae NANJO (JPN), Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) and Anhelina LYSAK (POL) also entered, it won't be a cakewalk.

Maroulis suffered a loss in the World Championships final to Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) but she lost to Nanjo at the Emperor's Cup to lose her first spot in the Japan team. Maroulis has a win over Nanjo at the 2021 World Championships.

Nichita, the world champion at 59kg, will be moving down to 57kg as she begins her preparation to qualify for a second straight Olympic Games later this year. She failed to win a medal at the Tokyo Olympics.

A few wrestlers have moved to 62kg as well. Grace BULLEN (NOR), who was second to Nichita at 59kg, will debut at 62kg. Also changing the weight class are Elis MANOLOVA (AZE), Jia LONG (CHN) and Viktoria VESSO (EST).

In a packed weight class, Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ), Kayla MIRACLE (USA), Taybe YUSEIN (BUL) and Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) are all contenders for the gold medal.

But one name that can surprise all is Sakura MOTOKI (JPN). The bronze medalist at 59kg moved up to 62kg at the Emperor's Cup and defeated world champion Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) to secure her spot on the team.

Koumba LARROQUE (FRA), Fend ZHOU (CHN) and Irina RINGACI (MDA) are the big names at 68kg with both European wrestlers still trying to adjust to the weight class while Zhou is a veteran of the weight.

Samar HAMZA (EGY), Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ), Yelena MAKOYED (USA) and Dymond GUILFORD (USA) make the 76kg weight class a must-watch. Throw in Ayano MORO (JPN) and the weight becomes more interesting.

Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) defeated Seyed SOHRABI (IRI) at the Greco-Roman World Cup. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Greco-Roman

The Olympic weight classes saw a number of entries but the non-Olympic weight classes are no less in Greco-Roman.

A much-awaited rematch between Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) and Poya DAD MARZ (IRI) can come at 55kg. Both Iran and Azerbaijan are bringing strong squads for the tournament.

At 60kg, Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) and Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) will represent the country while Iran has Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) and Amirreza DEHBOZORGI (IRI). It may well be that the four end up winning the four medals.

Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) will have a chance to make his head-to-head record against Seyed SOHRABI (IRI) two each after winning their last bout at the World Cup in Baku. That loss must be hurting Shorabi as he had defeated Jafarov on two previous occasions.

Apart from the two youngsters, another young star Abror ATABAEV (UZB) is hoping to make a mark in Zagreb. Also entered at 67kg is Olympic champion Luis ORTA (CUB) who has jumped from 60kg to 67kg in one year.

A lot of action can be expected at 77kg as Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE), Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL), Zoltan LEVAI (HUN), Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) and Yunus BASAR (TUR) give a glimpse of the European Championships.

Iran is sending Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI) in a bid to test his ability as the aging warrior tries to regain his lost glory.

Both Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) and Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) wrestled in an epic World Championships final at 82kg but both are moving up to 87kg and will make their debuts in Zagreb. Islam ABBASOV (AZE) will be returning after a long injury lay-off which kept him out of the World Championships as well. World silver medalist Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN), Istvan TAKACS (HUN), Tamas LEVAI (HUN) and Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) are also entered.

Arif NIFTULLAYEV (AZE), Kiril MILOV (BUL), Alex SZOKE (HUN), Tadeusz MICHALIK (POL) and Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) make the 97kg weight class another interesting watch.

At 130kg, Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB) will be appearing for Cuba and moving closer to the World Championships in which he will try to qualify for the Paris Olympics. If four-time Olympic champion Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) does return for the Paris Games, Pino will have the option of qualifying in freestyle.

In Zagreb, he will be tested by Beka KANDELAKI (AZE), former world champion Aliakbar YOUSOFI (IRI) and world bronze medalist Mantas KNYSTAUTAS (LTU).

#WrestleParis

Wrestling at Paris 2024: Fujinami dominates, Orta stunned

Wednesday, August 7, 2024 - 08:41 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

PARIS (August 7) -- Third day of wrestling at the Paris 2024 Olympics and we are finishing with the final two weights of Greco-Roman -- 67kg and 87kg. Women's Wrestling is continuing with 53kg.

LIVE MATCH ORDER | PARIS DAY 2

13:46: Saeid ESMAELI (IRI) looks impressive in ending the bid of Luis ORTA (CUB) to win consecutive Olympic golds, scoring two stepouts and a takedown in the second period to finish up a 9-0 victory. Esmaeli opens the first period with a shrug-by takedown, then adds a passivity point. Although he can't turn Orta, he shows he is the more dominant on his feet when he nearly gets a takedown that, on a challenge, results in a 2-point penalty against Orta to make it 5-0 at the break.

13:35: Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM) withstands the attack of Mamadassa SYLLA (FRA) and a boisterous partisan crowd to advance to the Greco 67kg semifinals with a 3-2 win. Galstyan scores a first-period takedown, which gives him the criteria lead when Sylla ties the match with a stepout and a passivity point. Sylla had his chance but couldn't budge Galstyan from par terre, and a somewhat frivolous challenge at the end gives the Armenian his third point.

13:21: What a comeback for Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) in his Greco 67kg quarterfinal. The Tokyo silver medalist trails 6-2 going into the second period against Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ), who had a 4-point takedown to maintain any criteria advantage. But Nasibov scores a takedown, then three consecutive stepouts to win 7-6.

13:12: Qianyu PANG (CHN) gets a 4-point takedown early on and rolls to a 10-0 victory over Jonna MALGREN (SWE) and a spot in the women's 53kg semifinals against Fujinami. Pang and Fujinami faced each other at the 2023 Asian Games, with Fujinami winning 10-0.

13:07: Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) gets a stepout that is upheld on an unsuccessful challenge, giving him a 3-1 win over Valentin PETIC (MDA) and a spot in the Greco 67kg semifinals.

13:02: Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) falls behind in her women's 53kg quarterfinal against Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL), but it's only momentarily. The Japanese star quickly retakes the lead, then bulls Batkhuyag over and gains a fall. Fujinami spends most of the match fighting off Batkhuyag's whizzer, which the Mongolian used to set up a trip for a takedown that put her ahead 2-2 on criteria early in the second period. But Fujinami quickly comes back with a pair of takedowns, scoring the fall after the second one.

12:54: Luis ORTA (CUB), the Tokyo champion at Greco 60kg, gets her quest to add the gold at 67kg with an 8-0 victory over Asian silver medalist Kyotaro SOGABE (JPN). Orta finishes the match with his third stepout of the first period.

12:53: It ain't over til it's over. Annika WENDLE (GER) had just given up a takedown and gut wrench to fall behind 5-0 against Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) in their women's 53kg quarterfinal. Wendle, however, bulls Yetgil over on a counter and slams her onto her back for a fall.

12:48: Asian champion Saeid ESMAELI (IRI) hits a 4-point throw from par terre en route to a 10-0 victory over Ishak GHAIOU (ALG) and a place in the Greco 67kg quarterfinals.

12:45: European champion Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) shows why he is the favorite to win gold here in Paris. He rolls over Payton JACOBSON (USA) 10-0 in two minutes and 10 seconds.

12:44: Lucia YEPEZ (VEN) powers into the women's 53kg semifinals with a victory by fall over Andreea ANA (ROU). The world bronze medalist goes ahead 5-0 in the first period with an activity point, takedown, fleeing point and lost challenge. In the second period, she takes Ana down to her back and secures the fall.

12:40: Not much scoring, but a welcome victory for the home team nonetheless. Mamadassa SYLLA (FRA) gets the second of the passivity points and he advances to the Greco 67kg quarterfinals with a 1-1 win on last-point criteria over Souleyman NASR (TUN).

12:33: Two-time former European champion Emma MALMGREN (SWE), looking to preserve her 3-3 lead on criteria, gets in on a double against Betzabeth ARGUELLO (VEN) in the final minute. As Arguello reaches over for a counter lift, Malmgren presses ahead and ends up with a victory by fall.

12:30: Not the most action-packed bout Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) manages to beat Bachir SID AZARA (ALG) 2-1 and move to the quarterfinals at 87kg. He will take on Novikov.

12:29: Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM) is made to work hard for his 3-2 victory over a gutsy Andres MONTANO (ECU) at Greco 67kg, scoring a creative 2-point exposure in the second period to secure a place in the quarterfinals.

12:24: Tokyo silver medalist PANG Qianyu (CHN) makes short work of Mia AQUINO (GUM) at women's 53kg, getting a quick takedown and reeling off four gut wrenches for a 10-0 win in 27 seconds.

12:21: 2022 world silver medalist Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) gets a takedown straight to the back and records the fall over Christianah OGUNSANYA (NGR), earning her a clash with Fujinami in the women's 53kg quarterfinals.

12:15: Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) scores a takedown with :05 left to pull off a 3-2 victory over former world champion Mate NEMES (SRB) at Greco 77kg.

12:15: Two-time world champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) avoids the upset bug that has hit her compatriots, launching her Olympic debut with a victory by fall over Dominique PARRISH (USA) at women's 53kg. It was the match that never was at the 2022 World Championships, where Parrish won the gold after Fujinami withdrew due to injury. With the win, Fujinami stretched her current winning streak to 133 in a row dating back to junior high school.

12:10: Defending champion Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) has no problem seeing off Haitao QIAN (CHN) at 87kg. Followed by Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) defends from par terre and clinches a 5-1 win over Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN)

12:09: Two-time European bronze medalist Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) overwhelms 2022 world bronze medalist ANTIM (IND) for a 10-0 victory at women's 53kg. Staked to a 4-0 lead, Yetgil scores a 4-point takedown, then adds a gut wrench to end the match in 1:41.

12:05: Annika WENDLE (GER) scores a takedown with 52 seconds left, then survives a late surge by eight-time European medalist Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) to hold on for a 3-2 at women's 53kg. The 32-year-old Prevolaraki, who is looking for her first medal in three Olympic appearances, nearly gets a last-second takedown, but it ends up as a stepout on the challenge.

12:03: In a battle of former world bronze medalists, Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ) gets a 4-point throw and 2-point roll from par terre, then stuffs a back roll attempt by Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO) for 4 more in a 12-1 win at Greco 77kg.

11:53: Three-time reigning European 55kg champion Andreea ANA (ROU), a first-round loser three years ago in Tokyo, scores two takedowns in the second period and ousts world bronze medalist Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA) 5-0 at women's 53kg.

11:53: Valentin PETIC (MDA) gets a pair of passivity points and another 2 for an illegal hold penalty to defeat Nestor ALMANZA (CHI) 4-0 to advance to the Greco 77kg quarterfinals.

11:47: How do you start your Olympics? Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI) begins with a huge five-pointer and wins his first bout at 87kg 9-0 against Carlos MUNOZ (COL)

11:42: World bronze medalist and top seed Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) dodges a bullet in edging Asian Games bronze medalist Hyogyong CHOE (PRK) 7-4 at women's 53kg. Yepez leads 4-2 when Choe scores a takedown off a single with :18 left. But Yepez takes the lead right back with a takedown five seconds later, gets a penalty point for stalling by the exhausted Choe, then holds on for the win.

11:41: European champion and two-time world medalist Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) knocks off Tokyo bronze medalist Mohamed ELSAYAD (EGY) 9-0 in the opening match at Greco 67kg. Jafarov can't score from par terre in the first period, but gets a 4-point throw off an underhook to go ahead 5-0. He takes advantage of a second chance in par terre in the second period, getting a 2-point throw to end the match.

11:40: The first world champion wrestling today falls! Ali CENGIZ (TUR) has no answer to Arkadiusz KULYNYCZ (POL) defense and drops his opening bout at 87kg 5-3.

11:18: After a stunning loss in yesterday's quarterfinals derailed his gold-medal hopes, Tokyo silver medalist Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) earns a chance for a bronze medal with a 9-0 rout of Jair CUERO (COL). Makhmudov opens with a 4-point throw, then gets a pair of gut wrenches from par terre in the second period. He will face Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) later tonight in a bid to become a two-time Olympic medalist.

11:08: In a Greco 77kg repechage match to start the action on Mat A, European champion Aram VARDANYAN (ARM) gets three rolls from par terre in the first period, then scores a takedown in the second to close out a 9-0 victory over Abd OUAKALI (ALG).

11:05: With the women's 50kg program reshuffled by the shocking Vinesh disqualification, there is only one repechage match. World bronze medalist Ziqi FENG (CHN) builds up a six-point lead against Ibtissem DOUDOU (ALG), then ends the match at 1:53 with a 4-point throw to advance to the bronze-medal match.

11:02: A big update for tonight's 50kg final of women's wrestling

Vinesh VINESH, from NOC of India in 50kg, failed the weigh-in on day two of her competition which has forced United World Wrestling to promote Yusneylis GUZMAN LOPEZ (CUB) to the final of 50kg at the Paris Olympics. She will take on Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) in the final.

11:00: Welcome to day three at the Champs de Mars Arena.

Curtain-raiser Zagreb Open offers strong competition

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Wrestling at Paris 2024: Fujinami dominates, Orta stunned