#WrestleOttawa

Destribats Se Convierte en el Primer Luchador Olímpico de Argentina Desde 1996

By Taylor GREGORIO

Photo of Augustin DESTRIBATS (ARG). By Tony Rotundo. 

Articulo en espanol abajo

OTTAWA, Canada – For the first time since 1996, Argentina will send a male wrestler to the Olympics as Agustin DESTRIBATS (ARG) qualified the 65 kg weight class for his nation on Sunday in Ottawa, Canada.

Destribats began his day with a decisive 7-2 quarterfinals win over Albaro RUDESINDO CAMACHO (DOM). To qualify the weight, he faced 2012 Cadet World champion Zain RETHERFORD (USA) in the semifinals.

Entering as the underdog, Destribats was taken down early and capitalized while down in par terre, putting himself in position to get Retherford on his back for the pin in 1:01.  

Cuba and the United States each qualified three weights for the Tokyo Olympics on Sunday.

The United States now has five men’s freestyle weights qualified for the Games after qualifying the 74 kg and 97 kg weights at the 2019 World Championships.

Earning spots on Sunday for the USA was Thomas GILMAN (57 kg), David TAYLOR (86 kg) and Nick GWIAZDOWSKI (125 kg).

Many eyes were the 86 kg bracket as 2018 World champion Taylor wrestled his first since match last May. Taylor opened his tournament with a pin over Pedro Francisco CEBALLOS FUENTES (VEN), who was fifth at the 2016 Olympics, before defeating 2020 Pan Am champion Yurieski TORREBLANCA QUERALTA (CUB), 8-0, to qualify the weight for USA.

Gilman, a 2018 World silver medalist, knocked off two-time U23 World champion Reineri ANDREU ORTEGA (CUB) in the quarterfinals, 4-3, to put himself in position to land a spot in the finals.

Qualifying for Cuba was Alejandro VALDES TOBIER (65 kg), Jeandry GARZON CABALLERO (74 kg) and Reineris SALAS PEREZ (97 kg).

All three Cubans own multiple World medals. Valdes is a two-time World bronze medalist, Garzon has a 2007 World silver and three bronzes and Salas is a two-time silver medalist with a 2010 bronze.

Canada had multiple qualifiers as well, advancing Jordan STEEN (97 kg) and 2014 Junior World champion Amarveer DHESI (125 kg) to their respective finals.

Other wrestlers qualifying their nations for Tokyo included Oscar TIGREROS URBANO (COL) at 57 kg,  Franklin GOMEZ MATOS (PUR) at 74 kg and Pool AMBROCIO GREIFO (PER) at 86 kg.

Photo of David TAYLOR (USA). By Tony Rotundo. 

En Espanol

OTTAWA, Canada – Por primera vez desde 1996, Argentina enviará un luchador masculino a los Juegos Olímpicos, ya que Agustin DESTRIBATS (ARG) calificó la clase de peso de 65 kg para su nación el domingo en Ottawa, Canadá.

Destribats comenzó su día con una decisiva victoria de 7-2 sobre Albaro RUDESINDO CAMACHO (DOM). Para calificar el peso, se enfrentó al 2012 campeón mundial cadete Zain RETHERFORD (USA) en las semifinales.

Entrando como el desvalido, Destribats estaba perdiendo temprano pero gano por puestaespalda de Retherford en solo 1:01.  

Cuba y Estados Unidos calificaron tres pesos para los Juegos Olímpicos de Tokio el domingo.

Estados Unidos ahora tiene cinco pesos de estilo libre clasificados para los Juegos después de calificar los pesos de 74 kg y 97 kg en el Campeonato Mundial de 2019.

Thomas GILMAN (57 kg), David TAYLOR (86 kg) y Nick GWIAZDOWSKI (125 kg) ganaron puestos el domingo para Estados Unidos.

Muchos estaban viendo la categoria de 86 kg cuando Taylor, el campeón mundial de 2018, luchó por primera vez desde el mayo pasado. Taylor gano contra Pedro Francisco CEBALLOS FUENTES (VEN), quien fue quinto en los Juegos Olímpicos de 2016, en su primer combate antes de derrotar al campeón panamericano de 2020 Yurieski TORREBLANCA QUERALTA (CUB), 8-0, para calificar el peso para EE.UU.

Gilman, medallista de plata mundial de 2018, gano contra al dos veces campeón del mundo U23 Reineri ANDREU ORTEGA (CUB) en el quartofinal, 4-3, para avanzar a los semifinales.

Los clasificados para Cuba fueron Alejandro VALDES TOBIER (65 kg), Jeandry GARZON CABALLERO (74 kg) y Reineris SALAS PEREZ (97 kg).

Los tres cubanos tienen múltiples medallas mundiales. Valdés es dos veces medallista de bronce mundial, Garzón tiene una plata mundial de 2007 y tres bronces y Salas es dos veces medallista de plata con un bronce de 2010.

Canadá también tuvo múltiples clasificatorios, avanzado a Jordan STEEN (97 kg) y al campeón mundial juvenile de 2014 Amarveer DHESI (125 kg) a sus finales.

Otros luchadores que clasificaron sus naciones para Tokio incluyeron Oscar TIGREROS URBANO (COL) con 57 kg, Franklin GOMEZ MATOS (PUR) con 74 kg y Pool AMBROCIO GREIFO (PER) con 86 kg.

Men’s freestyle finals results

57 kg
GOLD -
Thomas Patrick GILMAN (USA) df. Oscar Eduardo TIGREROS URBANO (COL), injury default
BRONZE - Reineri ANDREU ORTEGA (CUB) df. Juan Rubelin RAMIREZ BELTRE (DOM), fall
BRONZE - Pedro Jesus MEJIAS RODRIGUEZ (VEN) df. Bryan Lucas DE OLIVEIRA PEREIRA (BRA), 10-0

65 kg
GOLD -
Alejandro VALDES TOBIER (CUB) df. Agustin DESTRIBATS (ARG), injury default
BRONZE – Zain RETHERFORD (USA) df. Albaro RUDESINDO CAMACHO (DOM), fall
BRONZE - Dillon WILLIAMS (CAN) df. Brandon Disair DIAZ RAMIREZ (MEX), 9-2

74 kg
GOLD -
Jeandry GARZON CABALLERO (CUB) df. Franklin GOMEZ MATOS (PUR), injury default
BRONZE – Jorge LLANO (ARG) df. Anthony MONTERO CHIRINOS (VEN), 3-2
BRONZE - Jasmit PHULKA (CAN) df. Nestor TAFUR BARRIOS (COL), 5-3

86 kg
GOLD – David TAYLOR (USA) df.
Pool AMBROCIO GREIFO (PER), injury default
BRONZE – Gino AVILA DILBERT (HON) df. Angus ARTHUR (JAM), injury default
BRONZE - Yurieski TORREBLANCA QUERALTA (CUB) df. Pedro CEBALLOS FUENTES (VEN), 2-1

97 kg
GOLD –
Reineris SALAS PEREZ (CUB) df. Jordan STEEN (CAN), injury default
BRONZE – Luis PEREZ SOSA (DOM) df. Evan RAMOS (PUR), 12-1

125 kg
GOLD – Nicholas GWIAZDOWSKI (USA) df. Amaveer DHESI (CAN), injury default
BRONZE – Charles MERRILL (PUR) df. Luis VIVENES URBANEJA (VEN), 13-2

Men’s freestyle semifinals results

57 kg
Thomas GILMAN (USA) df. Juan RAMIREZ BELTRE (DOM), 10-0
Oscar TIGREROS URBANO (COL) df. Bryan DE OLIVEIRA PEREIRA (BRA), fall

65 kg
Alejandro VALDES TOBIER (CUB) df. Dillon WILLIAMS (CAN), 10-0
Agustin DESTRIBATS (ARG) df. Zain RETHERFORD (USA), fall

74 kg
Franklin GOMEZ MATOS (PUR) df. Nestor TAFUR BARRIOS (COL), 9-4
Jeandry GARZON CABALLERO (CUB) df. Anthony MONTERO CHIRINOS (VEN), 12-4

86 kg
David TAYLOR (USA) df. Yurieski TORREBLANCA QUERALTA (CUB), 8-0
Pool AMBROCIO GREIFO (PER) df. Angus ARTHUR (JAM), injury default

97 kg
Reineris SALAS PEREZ (CUB) df. Evan RAMOS (PUR), 12-1
Jordan STEEN (CAN) df. Luis PEREZ SOSA (DOM), 13-2

125 kg
Nick GWIAZDOWSKI (USA) df. Luis VIVENES URBANEJA (VEN), 10-0
Amarveer DHESI (CAN) df. Charles Zachary MERRILL (PUR), fall

#WrestleBudapest

Higuchi, Kiyooka reach finals at Budapest Ranking Series

By Vinay Siwach

BUDAPEST, Hungary (June 6) -- The final Ranking Series before the Olympics kicks off in Budapest. Seven weight classes in Freestyle will be in action with top wrestlers in all the weight categories. The ranking, and ultimately the seeds for the Olympics will be determined after this Ranking Series.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER

13:25: Abbas EBRAHIMZADEH (IRI) blanks Haji ALIYEV (AZE) 6-0 in the 65kg semifinal. Top win for the Iran wrestler who will now wrestle Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) for the gold medal. Kiyooka defended well against a storming Austin GOMEZ (MEX) in the second period to win 12-6.

13:00: AMAN (IND) moves into the final of the 57kg after a 14-4 technical superiority win over Aryan TSIUTRYN (AIN). He will wrestle world silver medalist Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) for the gold medal. Higuchi was in all sorts of trouble in his semifinal against Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE) when the Azerbaijan wrestler used a high chest wrap to lead 8-0. But Higuchi managed to defend the last turn. He scores a takedown and uses a gut wrench to finish the bout 18-8 inside the first period.

12:45: An upset from Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ) as he pins Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) in the 125kg final. Petriashvili looks in some trouble with his elbow and has called for a medical timeout. But the pin takes him out of the final. 

12:40: Alisher YERGALI (KAZ) with a stunning late exposure takedown to beat Abolfazl BABALOO (IRI) 3-2 and enter the 97kg final. On Mat C, the 92kg world champion Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) looked like entering the final when he led 5-0 against Magomedkhan MAGOMEDGOV (AZE) but the Azerbaijani world silver medalist came back to beat him 15-7.

12:30: Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) with a fall over Nahshon GARRETT (USA) after building a 10-1 lead in the 61kg semifinal. He will wrestle the winner of Shahdad Ali KHOSRAVI (IRI) and Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) for the gold medal.

12:15: That will sting Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) for some time. Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE) pins Abdullaev in the 57kg quarterfinal and sets up a semifinal against Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) who defeated Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ) 11-0 in the quarterfinal.

12:12: Haji ALIYEV (AZE) cannot find a way past Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) at 65kg! After building a 4-1 lead at the break, he hits a huge four-pointer on Aliyev to steer clear and win 9-3.

12:00: Mason PARRIS (USA) was checked by Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) on different occasions but Parris won the 125kg bout 9-2. The Georgian, who qualified for the Paris Olympics at 97kg, is wrestling at 125kg in this Ranking Series.

11:45: Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO), who got a walkover in his first bout, works to a technical superiority win over Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (AIN) at 125kg. Moments later, at 57kg, AMAN (IND) rolls to an 11-1 win over Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO)

11:35: World champion Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) drops his Round 2 bout! Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) scores three technical points to lead 3-0 but Muszukajev's takedown cuts the lead to 3-2 with 30 seconds left on the clock. Kiyooka defends well and hits a counter takedown in the end, adding lace to win 7-2.  

11:27: Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) does not show up for his Round 2 bout against Haji ALIYEV (AZE) at 65kg. A big result for Aliyev who is now poised to finish at the top of group A.

11:25: Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) dominates Giorgi GONIASHVILI (GEO) at 61kg and wins 18-5 to advance. Harutyunyan will come down to 57kg for the Paris Olympics.

11:20: Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM), wrestling at 70kg instead of his preferred 65kg, rolls to an 11-0 victory at Alibek OSMONOV (KGZ). The ranking points won at 70kg will not be added to the ranking points of Tevanyan at 65kg.

11:15: Paris-bound wrestler Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) comes back from a 2-0 deficit to beat Ali Hossein MOMENIJOUJADEH (IRI) 6-2 at 57kg. He will wrestle Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE) in the quarterfinals.

11:00: Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM) with a top 9-2 win over Evan HENDERSON (USA) at 70kg. The Armenian controlled the bout throughout for the win. 

10:50: World champion Iszmail MUSZUKAKEV (HUN), wrestling for the first time since winning the World Championships, begins with a solid 6-2 win over Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB). He keeps it under control despite many attacks from Jalolov.

10:45: Haji ALIYEV (AZE) vs Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) felt like a long bout! Aliyev got a 1-0 lead at the break for Kiyooka's inactivity. Kiyooka got one point in the second period but Aliyev scored a counter just after the clock expired to lead 3-1. A stepout for Kiyooka with 17 seconds left on the clock. He needed a takedown to win and tried for one but Aliyev bodylocked for a takedown to win 5-2.

10:35: Austin GOMEZ (MEX), qualified for the Olympic Games at 65kg, begins with a 10-0 rout of Gyoergy SZILAGYI (HUN). The 65kg wrestlers are drawn in round-robin and will be wrestling again.

10:30: The first bouts in Budapest are crazy. Austin GOMEZ (MEX) is on Mat C but on Mat B, it's world champion Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) against Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) and on Mat C, it's Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) vs Haji ALIYEV (AZE).