#WrestleBudapest

Godinez, Tosun to wrestle for gold at Budapest Ranking Series

By Vinay Siwach

BUDAPEST, Hungary (June 8) -- Greco-Roman and Women's Wrestling will be in action on day three of the Ranking Series with some Olympic seeds to be determined. Iran is holding an Olympic selection as well.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER

13:45: Ana GODINEZ (CAN) will take a lot of confidence from this come-from-behind victory over European champion Grace BULLEN (NOR). Not only did she break Bullen, Godinez managed to complete her attacks and score with most of them. Godinez into the 62kg final with an 11-7 win

13:35: Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) enters the final at 62kg with a solid win over Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL). Koliadenko was defending her lead when Purevdorj used her nails to over a lock and was penalized for the foul and asked to return in par terre with 10 seconds on the clock and a lead of 6-5. She managed to hold it and win

13:20: If Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) thought she would be able to avenge her world championships final loss to Buse TOSUN (TUR) as the two met now in Budapest, she was in for a surprise. Tosun, once again, pins her to get the win. 

13:10: Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) keeps Kayla MIRACLE's (USA) comeback short and wins the 62kg quarterfinal 14-8. She will face Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) in the semifinals.

13:00: Justina DI STASIO (CAN) gets her first victory at 76kg round robin. She catches Tatiana RENTERIA (CAN) and keeps her in danger position till the end of the time to win 5-1.

12:45: Tatiana RENTERIA (COL) with a clutch takedown to beat REETIKA (IND). The Indian wrestler led 2-1 and was happy with that lead but Renteria kept coming with those attacks and managed to break Reetika.

12:40: Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) is looking unstoppable. He posts his second 8-0 at 60kg, this time humbling Dahyun KIM (KOR) after a win over Jamal VALIZADEH (UWW) in the first bout. 

12:30: Marquee match up at 62kg with Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) and Grace BULLEN (NOR) in the quarterfinal. Dudova draws first blood to lead 2-0 but Bullen comes back with a double leg and leads 2-2 on criteria. Bullen is unstoppable after this and concludes a 8-2 win.

11:50: Riza KAYAALP (TUR) faces Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) at 130kg and the Iranian comes out all guns blazing. Hedayati scores from par terre and jumps to a 4-0 lead over Kayaalp at the break. He continues his high paced wrestling in the second period and wins 4-0

11:20: Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) with a clutch throw to pin Anna SHCHERBAKOVA (AIN) after trailing 12-4. On the other mat, Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) holds on to a 2-1 victory over Luisa NIEMESCH (GER) in the opening round of 62kg. 

11:05: Riza KAYAALP (TUR) got both par terre positions in his match against Beka KANDELAKI (AZE) and he added a stepout to win 3-0 at 130kg. Kayaalp was blocked when he was trying to turn in the first par terre and Kandelaki was awarded two points. But Kayaalp challenged and won

10:40: Two entertaining 76kg bouts to kick off the day. Tatiana RENTERIA (COL) hangs on for a 4-2 win over Genesis REASCO (ECU) while REETIKA (IND) dominates Justina DI STASIO (CAN) 8-0.

10:30: Welcome to day three of the Ranking Series with eight weight classes in action. Women's Wrestling will conclude with the five weights and three Greco-Roman weights will be in action as well

#WrestleSantiago

WATCH LIVE: 2023 Pan-American Games, Day Three

By Eric Olanowski

SANTIAGO, Chile (November 3) --- Paris Olympians Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) and Tatiana RENTERIA (COL) headline the entries for the five weights--WW 53kg, WW 62kg WW 76kg, GR 60kg and GR 77kg--that’ll take the mat on the third day of the Pan-American Games.

Yepez and Renteria are both on a quest to become their nation’s second-ever Pan-Am Games gold medalists.

Yepez, who qualified for the Paris Olympic Games through her bronze-medal finish at the 2023 World Championships, is the unquestionable favorite to win gold at 53kg. This season, Yepez medaled in six consecutive events, including gold medals at the Pan-American Championships, the Egypt Ranking Series event and the Poland Open.

Yepez lucked out with her draw, as she is on the opposite side of the bracket as the three other 2023 Pan-American Championship medalists--Betzabeth ARGUELLO (VEN) and Karla ACOSTA (MEX).

Renteria, a 2023 world bronze medalist and Paris Olympic qualifier, is trying to become the first Colombian woman to win a Pan-Am Games gold medal since 2007. To erase that drought, Renteria must get past Kyle WELKER (USA), a two-time age-group world medalist, in the semifinals. If she gets past Welker, it’ll likely set up a Pan-Ams finals rematch with reigning champion Milaimy MARÍN (CUB).

The final women’s wrestling weight we’ll see on Friday is 62kg.

Without reigning Pan-American champion Karla GODINEZ (CAN), two-time world runner-up Kayla MIRACLE (USA) becomes the targeted favorite. Miracle’s biggest test will come in the semifinals, where she’ll face the winner of 2023 Pan-American finalist Nathaly GRIMAN (VEN) and ten-time Pan-American medalist Lais NUNES (BRA)

On the Greco-Roman side of the competition, fans will see 60kg and 77kg on Friday.

In the 60kg brackets, Pan-Am silver medalist Jeremy PERALTA (ECU) sits comfortably on the top side, opposite Raiber RODRIGUEZ (VEN) and Kevin DE ARMAS (CUB), who were both Pan-American bronze medalists this season.

The biggest storyline to follow at 77kg is the quarterfinal meeting between Kamal BEY (USA) and Yosvanys PEÑA FLORES (CUB). The last time these two met, Bey defeated Pena to win Pan-Am gold.

Wuileixis RIVAS (VEN) and Jair CUERO (COL), who were bronze medalists at this year’s Pan-American Championships, sit on the bottom side of the bracket and could meet in the semifinals if they remain unbeaten.

Everything you need to know:
Watch Friday’s action: Women’s wrestling 53kg, 62kg and 76kg // Greco-Roman: 60kg and 77kg
2023 Pan-American Games brackets
- Upcoming bout order