#DanKolov2019

Dan Kolov Day Two Finals Set

Thursday, February 28, 2019 - 18:34 By Eric Olanowski

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RUSE, Bulgaria (February 28) - Eight different nations inserted at least one wrestler into Friday night's Dan Kolov freestyle and women's wrestling finals. Russia led the finalist count with three freestyle representatives, but they can only claim a pair of medals because Ilias BEKBULATOV (RUS) and Anzor ZAKUEV (RUS) will wrestle each other for the 70kg gold medal.

To make the 70kg finals, Bekbulatov thumped Asian Games bronze medalist Sirojiddin KHASANOV (UZB), Rio fifth-place finisher Frank Aniello MOLINARO (USA), and two-time Russian National runner-up Viktor RASSADIN (RUS), outscoring the three by a combined score of 28-2. 

In the finals, he'll meet fellow Russian Anzor Zakuev, who's making his first senior-level finals appearance. To reach the gold-medal match, Zakuev defeated Ukraine's two-time Olympian Andriy KVYATKOVSKYY (UKR), 4-1, in the semifinals.

Russia's third freestyle finalist is Magomed KURBANOV (RUS). Tenth-ranked Kurbanov will take on Georgia's Irakli MTSITURI (GEO) in the 92kg gold-medal bout. 

Indian's Sandeep TOMAR (IND) will lace up against returning 57kg world runner-up Nurislam (Artas) SANAYEV (SANAA) (KAZ). But, the match will be up a weight class at 61kg. Sanayev destroyed the United States' 2018 world bronze medalist Joe COLON, 13-2, locking up his spot in the finals, and Tomar shutout Turkey's Munir AKTAS (TUR), 4-0, to reach his second Ranking Series final in the last two seasons. Last year, he lost to Iran's Mohammad YAKHKESHI for the Yasar Dogu gold. 

The lone remaining freestyle gold-medal matchup comes at 79kg where and is between Alexander DIERINGER (USA) and Omaraskhab NAZHMUDINOV (ROU). The American used a 5-1 win over U23 world champion Nika KENTCHADZE (GEO) to reach the finals, and Nazhmudinov inked his way to the gold-medal match with a 7-4 win over Russia's Atsamaz SANAKOEV. 

Meanwhile, in women's wrestling, Sakshi MALIK (IND) stunned defending world champion Petra OLLI (FIN), 4-1, and grabbed the biggest shocker of the tournament.  

The Rio Olympic bronze medalist will wrestle Sweden's 2010 world bronze medalist Henna JOHANSSON (SWE) for the Dan Kolov title. Johansson reached the finals by sticking Maya NELSON (USA) in her semifinals bout. This will be Johansson's second finals appearance in the past two weeks, as she's coming off a gold-medal performance at the Klippan Lady Open. 

Circling back to the 55kg finals where Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ) will meet Greece's Maria PREVOLARAKI for the gold medal. Sedneva grabbed arguably the second biggest upset of the tournament with her semifinals pin over reigning world champion Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR). 

The 59kg weight class had four entries and is a round-robin competition, so the final gold-medal bout on Friday night will be at 72kg, where Alina BEREZHNA STADNIK MAKHYNIA (UKR) will meet fourth-ranked Buse TOSUN (TUR). 

Wrestling resumes tomorrow at 10:00 (local time) with the Friday night finals starting at 18:00. 

SCHEDULE
March 1 (Friday) 
8:00 - Medical examination and weigh-in 1 - FS - 57, 65, 74; GR (+ 2 kg) - 87, 97, 130; WW - 62, 68, 76kg
8: 30 - Weigh-in 2 FS - 61,70,79, 92 kg; GR (+ 2 kg) - 55,63,72,82 kg; WW - 55,59,65, 72 kg Referee meeting
10: 00 - Elimination rounds FS - 57, 65, 74; GR - 87, 97, 130; WW - 62, 68, 76 kg
10: 00 - Repechages FS - 61, 70, 79, 92kg; GR - 55, 63, 72, 82kg; WW - 55, 59, 65, 72kg
16: 30 - Draw - FS - 86, 97, 125; GR - 60, 67, 77kg; WW - 50, 53, 57kg
17: 00 - Semi-finals FS - 57, 65, 74; GR - 87, 97, 130; WW - 62, 68, 76kg
18:00 - Final matches and awarding ceremony - FS - 61,70,79, 92kg; GR - 55, 63, 72, 82kg; WW - 55, 59, 65, 72kg

RESULTS
Freestyle
61kg
GOLD - Sandeep TOMAR (IND) vs. Nurislam (Artas) SANAYEV (SANAA) (KAZ)
SEMIFINAL - Nurislam (Artas) SANAYEV (SANAA) (KAZ) df. Joseph Daniel COLON (USA), 13-2 
SEMIFINAL - Sandeep TOMAR (IND) df. Munir AKTAS (TUR), 4-0 

70kg 
GOLD - Ilias BEKBULATOV (RUS) vs. Anzor ZAKUEV (RUS)
SEMIFINAL - Anzor ZAKUEV (RUS) df. Andriy KVYATKOVSKYY (UKR), 4-1 
SEMIFINAL - Ilias BEKBULATOV (RUS) df. Viktor RASSADIN (RUS), 10-0 

79kg
GOLD - Alexander DIERINGER (USA) vs. Omaraskhab NAZHMUDINOV (ROU) 
SEMIFINAL - Omaraskhab NAZHMUDINOV (ROU) df. Atsamaz SANAKOEV (RUS), 7-4 
SEMIFINAL - Alexander David DIERINGER (USA) df. Nika KENTCHADZE (GEO), 5-1 

92kg
GOLD - Magomed KURBANOV (RUS) vs. Irakli MTSITURI (GEO) 
SEMIFINAL - Irakli MTSITURI (GEO) df. Ibrahim BOLUKBASI (TUR), 7-4 
SEMIFINAL - Magomed KURBANOV (RUS) df. Michael MACCHIAVELLO (USA), 3-2 

Women's Wrestling 
55kg
GOLD - Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ) vs. Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) 
SEMIFINAL - Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) df. Roksana ZASINA (POL), 3-1
SEMIFINAL - Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ) df. Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR), via fall 

59kg
Round-Robin - Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) df. Kornelija ZAICEVAITE (LTU), via forfeit
Round-Robin - Pooja DHANDA (IND) df. Sarita SARITA (IND), 4-3

65kg
GOLD - Henna Katarina JOHANSSON (SWE) vs. Sakshi MALIK (IND)
SEMIFINAL - Sakshi MALIK (IND) df. Petra OLLI (FIN), 4-1
SEMIFINAL - Henna JOHANSSON (SWE) df. Maya NELSON (USA), via fall. 

72kg
GOLD - Alina BEREZHNA STADNIK MAKHYNIA (UKR) vs. Buse TOSUN (TUR)
SEMIFINAL - Buse TOSUN (TUR) df. Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), 9-6 
SEMIFINAL - Alina BEREZHNA STADNIK MAKHYNIA (UKR) df. YAN Chuchu (CHN), 6-2 

#WrestleBudapest

Maroulis golden in Budapest; India wins two Ranking Series golds

Friday, July 18, 2025 - 23:55 By Vinay Siwach

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 18) -- Three pins, zero points given and only 10 minutes spend on the mat for four bouts.

Helen MAROULIS (USA) did not show any signs of a one-year break from international wrestling and won the 57kg gold medal at the Budapest Ranking Series on Friday.

The three-time Olympic medal had not wrestled since winning the bronze-medal at the Paris Games but when she stepped on the mat in Budapest, it felt as if Maroulis was never off it.

Maroulis was the lone gold medalist from the United States among the five World Championships team members competing on Friday. India captured two of the five gold medals on offer in Women's Wrestling as ANTIM (IND) won her second straight Ranking Series gold at 53kg while Asian U20 champion HARSHITA (IND) rose above her level to beat three-time world silver medalist Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) at 72kg.

Hosts Hungary also managed to get a gold, its third-ever in Women's Wrestling at Ranking Series events, as Erika BOGNAR (HUN) defeated Elena BRUGGER (GER) in the 59kg final. Turkiye won the 50kg gold medal through Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR).

Maroulis, who was coached by Paris Olympic champion Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA), drew compatriot Amanda MARTINEZ (USA) in the first round. She had beaten Martinez at the Final X last month to make the World Championships team.

It took Maroulis some time to pick up pace but once she did, the bout was over in two minutes as she pinned Martinez using her signature arm-bar technique.

In the only match she failed to pin her opponent, Maroulis defeated Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Iryna KURACHKINA (UWW), 7-0, keeping her position as solid as possible. In the semifinals, Tamara DOLLAK (HUN) was pinned using the same arm-bar after an 11-0 lead to reach the final.

Neha SANGWAN (IND), world U20 bronze medalist and Mongolia Open winner, reached the other side of the bracket with good wins. She got the taste of elite wrestling when Maroulis foot-swept her on the mat and then secured the fall in just 31 seconds.

Maroulis did her punch in the air celebrations after the final and felt ready for the World Championships in September when she can win her fourth world title.

Twin golds for India

Antim and Harshita were the two gold medal winners for India, the only country to achieve two golds on Friday in Women's Wrestling.

Antim picked up from where she had left off in Ulaanbaatar and won three of her four bouts via technical superiority including a 10-0 opening round victory over Zeynep YETGIL (TUR). Antim had lost 10-0 to Yetgil in the first round of Paris Olympics and left the mat in tears.

But Budapest was entirely different as she did not even let Yetgil reach her legs, forget scoring points on her. In the semifinal, she blanked Felicity TAYLOR (USA), 10-0, and booked a place in final against Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW).

In Ulaanbaatar, Antim had beaten Malysheva twice, both via technical superiority. While the final did not go how she planned, Antim still beat Malysheva 7-4 to win the gold medal for India.

Malysheva was on the activity clock after avoided a few attacks from Antim who scored a takedown soon after the activity period to lead 3-0 in the final. But she got a misdirection takedown in the second period to cut the lead to 3-2.

Antim performance a slide to go-behind and score another takedown and stretch the lead to 5-2. An ankle pick made it 7-2 before a last-second takedown from Malysheva cut the lead to 7-4.

But Antim would the win, two months before the World Championships where she is already has a bronze medal.

Harshita was a little more dominant at 72kg as she won gold over Bakbergenova by blanking the Kazakhstan wrestlers 10-0 in the Round 5 bout as this weight class had five wrestlers.

She opened the day with a fall over Pauline LECARPENTIER (FRA) in the first round. Lecarpentier was not happy with the fall and pushed Harhista as the Indian was trying to stand up after the whistle. Lecarpentier was disqualified for her actions.

Harshita was unfazed by that incident and continued her progress, winning the next bout against Kseniia BURAKOVA (UWW), again via fall. She got a walkover by Kristina BRATCHIKOVA (UWW) in Round 4.

The Round 5 bout against Bakbergenova became a virtual final and Harshita was the underdog against the former Asian champion.

Bakbergenova was put on the activity clock and after getting the one point, Harshita scored a double-leg takedown to make it 3-0. In the second period, Harshita got Bakbergenova in trouble using a double-leg attack but the Kazakhstan wrestler throw her using chest-wrap. Harshita defended it well and kept control on Bakbergenova which ultimately got her four points.

In the same sequence, Harshita rolled Bakbergenova for two more points to lead 9-0. A stepout finished the bout 10-0.

Hosts Hungary celebrated the gold medal at 59kg after Bognar defeated Brugger 2-1 in the 59kg final, with all three points begin activity clock points. Brugger got a passivity against her t o give Bognar the lead. Brugger took a 1-1 criteria lead when Bognar was called passive and put on the activity clock.

There was third passivity it was Brugger who was put on an activity clock. She once again failed to score and Bognar took a 2-1 lead and the victory.

Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) needed a late counterattack against Elizaveta SMIRNOVA (UWW) to win 50kg gold medal.

RESULSTS

50kg
GOLD: Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) df. Elizaveta SMIRNOVA (UWW), 9-6

BRONZE: Natalia PUDOVA (UWW) df. Erin GOLSTON (USA), 10-0
BRONZE: NEELAM (IND) df. Kseniya STANKEVICH (UWW), 6-3

53kg
GOLD: ANTIM (IND) df. Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW), 7-4

BRONZE: Felicity TAYLOR (USA) df. Zeynep YETGIL (TUR), 11-0
BRONZE: Seoyoung PARK (KOR) df. Vestina DANISEVICIUTE (LTU), 5-0

57kg
GOLD:  Helen MAROULIS (USA) df. NEHA (IND), via fall

BRONZE: Nilufar RAIMOVA (KAZ) df. Roza SZENTTAMASI (HUN), 7-4
BRONZE: Iryna KURACHKINA (UWW) df. Tamara DOLLAK (HUN), 10-3

59kg
GOLD: Erika BOGNAR (HUN) df. Elena BRUGGER (GER), 2-1

BRONZE: Nadzeya BULANAYA (UWW) df. Arian CARPIO (PHI), via fall
BRONZE: Abigail NETTE (USA) df. Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (UWW), 7-1

72kg
GOLD: HARSHITA (IND)
SIILVER: Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ)
BRONZE: Kseniia BRATCHIKOVA (UWW)