Host Serbia puts two into GR finals on opening day of Worlds

Saturday, September 10, 2022 - 20:16 By Ken Marantz

BELGRADE, Serbia (September 10) -- The opening act of the World Championships was a smash for the home team, as host Serbia saw two wrestlers advance to the finals of the four Greco-Roman weight classes that kicked off the tournament on Saturday in Belgrade.

Defending champion Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) put himself in a position for a repeat of the 87kg gold medal he won last year in Oslo, while Iran-born Ali ARSALAN (SRB) earned a shot at a first world title at 72kg.

Azerbaijan will also have two wrestlers in action on the first night of finals at Stark Arena on Sunday when Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) will look to regain the world 55kg title that he won in 2018, and European bronze medalist Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) will go for gold at 72kg.

Meanwhile, Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) made his first world final at 77kg, earning a clash with surprising Zoltan LEVAI (HUN), who denied Serbia a third finalist when he knocked off former world champion Viktor NEMES (SRB).

Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) won his 87kg semifinal 4-3. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Datunashvili, sporting his trademark cornrow braids, had to scrape his way into the 87kg final, where he will try to prevent European champion Turpan BISULTANOV (DEN) from becoming Denmark's first-ever world champion in Greco-Roman.

"For the Serbian people, for Serbian sports, I want to win it tomorrow," Datunashvili said.

All three of Datsunashvili's matches went the distance, including a 4-3 nail-biter in the semifinals over 2021 world U23 silver medalist David LOSONCZI (HUN). His ability to stay calm under pressure earned the Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist a trip back to the finals.

Against Losonczi, Datunashvili barely managed to gain a 2-point exposure from par terre, then managed to hang on after Losonczi scored a stepout that had a one-point fleeing penalty tacked on and cut the gap to a point.

Turpan BISULTANOV (DEN), blue, defeated Ali CENGIZ (TUR) 6-0 in the semifinal. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

In the final match of the session, Bisultanov took advantage of a rare second passivity call in his favor against Ali CENGIZ (TUR), scoring a 4-point throw in the second period to secure a 6-0 victory. That made him the first Dane to make a world Greco final since 2015 when Mark MADSEN (DEN) won the fourth and last of his silver medals at 74-75kg.

"I am very looking forward to it [the final]," Bisultanov said. "I was thinking that he or Hungarian will go to the final and yeah, they were both in the semifinals and had a very close match. I don't know, we will see what happens tomorrow, I and my coaches will see what we can do and I will do my best tomorrow."

Bisultanov said the vocal group of Danish fans in the venue will take away some of the home-field advantage of his opponent.

"Of course, every time you are at home you feel more energy, you have to do something for your home, for your fans," he said. "But luckily I got my crazy Danish fans here. I hope my fans will beat the Serbian fans, and I'll beat him as well."

Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) celebrates after scoring a 9-0 win over Max NOWRY (USA) in the 55kg semifinal. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

At 55kg, the final will be a clash between the two bronze medalists from Oslo 2021 -- both former world champions, as well -- although Azizli will seem to have the upper hand on Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO), having beaten him six months ago in the final at the European Championships.

Azizli stormed into the final with his third technical fall of the day, overwhelming Max NOWRY (USA) 9-0 in 1:44 in the first semifinal. Put on top in par terre, Azizli went right to work, ripping off a pair of gut wrenches before transitioning to a 4-point throw.

Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) will try to win his second world title on Sunday. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Tsurtsumia, the 2019 world champion, advanced to the final with a 5-3 victory over Asian silver medalist Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ). Tsurtsumia fell behind 3-3 on criteria when he gave up a defensive takedown early in the second period, but he immediately came back with a stepout to regain the lead.

The final will be the third meeting between Azizli and Tsurtsumia in two years. The two also met in the quarterfinals of the 2021 European Championships, with Azizli winning 10-1 en route to a bronze medal.

"I've lost to Azizli around seven or even eight times," Tsurtsumia said. "But it doesn't matter, because tomorrow I will wrestle till the very end. I'm not going to tell you now what exactly I'm gonna do, but you will see it all tomorrow. I'll take revenge."

Ali ARSALAN (SRB) pinned Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) in the 72kg semifinal. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

In the 72kg semifinals, Arsalan had the play of the day when he used a slick duck-under to a half-nelson that put Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) onto his back, where he secured a fall at 2:33.

That had come after Arsalan, a 2017 Asian bronze medalist who began competing for Serbia last year, had scored a reversal from the bottom of par terre.

"First of all, I am so glad that I made it to the final, it's really good for me," Arsalan said, "but it's not enough for me. I should recover myself and my body and my mind. Tomorrow I should be myself on the mat."

Earlier in the day, Arsalan defeated Robert FRITSCH (HUN) 7-3 to avenge a loss in the quarterfinals of the European Championships in June, where he won a bronze medal.

Ganizade made the final by edging Selcuk CAN (TUR) 4-3 in a battle of 2020 European bronze medalists. Both scored 2-point throws from par terre, but Ganizade added a stepout after his to provide the margin of difference.

Olympic silver medalist Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ), red, defeated Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR) 4-1 in the 77kg semifinal. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

At 77kg, Makhmudov and Levai made it through a grueling gauntlet of 33 entries which saw three world medalists from 2021, including the champion at 72kg, and an Olympic bronze medalist fall by the wayside.

"Tomorrow there will be revenge against Zoltan Levai," Makhmudov said. "I already lost to him once and I defeated him once as well. I want to do my best to show the Kyrgyz soul, to show what our wrestlers are capable of."

Makhmudov once again confirmed a changing of the guard in Asia when the 23-year-old knocked off veteran Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR) 4-1 in the semifinals. After a successful defense from the bottom of par terre, Makhmudov scored with a roll during his turn on top.

"I am really satisfied with today's performance," said Makhmudov, who beat Kim in the semifinals of the Asian Championships in April, where he won his second continental title.

Kim won a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics and bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) celebrates after beating Viktor NEMES (SRB) 3-1 in the 72kg semifinal. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Levai finished off a long and exhausting day by beating Nemes 3-1 in the other semifinal. It was his fifth match of the day, which started with a 3-3 win over 2021 world 72kg champion Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM).

It's been a good year for Levai. He came into Belgrade having won international tournaments in Rome, Warsaw and Mladenovac, Serbia, over a three-month span through August.

At least Amoyan still has a shot at a bronze medal. Among those who didn't make it to the repechage were 2021 silver medalist Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE), 2021 bronze medalist Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI) and Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Shohei YABIKU (JPN).

On Sunday, competition through the semifinals will be held in Greco 63kg, 67kg, 82kg and 97kg.

Day 1 Greco-Roman Results

55kg (18 entries)

Semifinals
Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) df. Max NOWRY (USA) by TF, 9-0, 1:44
Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) df. Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ), 5-3

72kg (25 entries)

Semifinals
Ali ARSALAN (SRB) df. Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) by fall, 2:33 (5-1)
Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) df. Selcuk CAN (TUR), 4-3

77kg (33 entries)

Semifinals
Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) df. Viktor NEMES (SRB), 3-1
Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) df. Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR), 4-1

87kg (30 entries)

Semifinals
Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) df. David LOSONCZI (HUN), 4-3
Turpan BISULTANOV (DEN) df. Ali CENGIZ (TUR), 6-0

#UWWAwards

End of the year women's wrestling rankings

Wednesday, November 9, 2022 - 10:19 By Eric Olanowski & Vinay Siwach

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY (November 9) -- With the ranking season coming to an end with the World Championships in Belgrade, wrestlers managed to shift their rankings based on points solely earned in 2022.

The performances at the senior world and continental championships, four ranking series events and select Games, wrestlers with the highest participating and medals were rewarded at the end of the year.

Here are the new rankings after the senior World Championships with points from 2022 tournaments only.

Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) finished at the top at 50kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

50kg
1. Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) - $5000
2. Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) - $3000
3. Anna LUKASIAK (POL) - $2000

Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) takes the top spot at 50kg with her silver medal at the World Championships. In 2022, the Mongolian also has bronze medals at two ranking series events. The three medals earned her 52400 points.

She has 400 more than world bronze medalist Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) who is ranked second in the world for her medals at World Championships, Pan-Am Championships and the ranking series event in Tunis.

Hildebrandt got 13000 points for her Pan-Am gold, 8000 points for Zouhaier Sghaier and 31000 points for the bronze at Worlds. However, Dolgorjav earned 10200 and 5200 points for bronze medals at Yasar Dogu and Bolat Turlykhanov Cup respectively. Her biggest collection was from the Worlds as the silver medal was worth 37000 points, taking her ahead of Hildebrandt.

The third spot goes to Anna LUKASIAK (POL), the second bronze medalist from the World Championships. The 31000 points along with the 6500 points from European Championships, 7800 points from Yasar Dogu and 5200 points from Matteo Pellicone.

World champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN) comes in at fourth with 45000 points, all collected for her gold in Belgrade. She only participated in one event in 2022.

Dominique PARRISH (USA) became the world champion at 53kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

53kg
1. Dominique PARRISH (USA) - $5000
2. Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) - $3000
3. Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) - $2000

Dominique PARRISH (USA) not only became the world champion in her first apperance, she will end the season as the top ranked wrestler at 53kg, pocketing $5000 for her achievement.

Participating in four events that offered ranking points, Parrish began with the Yasar Dogu in Istanbul, winning bronze for 10200 points. She then added the Pan-Am title to her collection for another 13000 points. She did not win a medal at the Zouhaier Sghaier Cup but still got 4640 points. In September, her run to the gold at World Championships clinched the top rank for her with 45000 points.

Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) never came close to beating Parrish for the number one spot and finished second. She began the season with silver at the European Championships to earn 8000 points before winning the gold at the Mediterranean Games for another 8000 points. It was her bronze at the World Championships that earned her 31000 points, taking her tally to 47000 points.

Two silver medals in 2022 were enough for Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) to earn 45000 points and the third spot. She won her first silver at the Asian Championships for 8000 points before finishing with similar color at the World Championships for 37000 points.

Mayu SHIDOCHI (JPN) defeated Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) in the 55kg final at World Championships. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

55kg
1. Mayu SHIDOCHI (JPN) - $5000
2. Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) - $3000
3. Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) - $2000

It could not have got any closer than this. Both Mayu SHIDOCHI (JPN) and Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) finished with 45000 points but it was the former's gold at the World Championships which helped her outrank Khomenets who won the silver in Belgrade.

All of Shidochi's points came from the World Championships while Khomenets earned 37000 points for her silver. The other 8000 points are for the silver medal she won at the European Championships.

At third comes Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) who fell short of the top rank by only 1000 points. Finishing with 44000 points, Winchester earned them in three different events in 2022. Her first was in Istanbul where she won gold for 11000 points before silver at the Pan-Am Championships for 8000 points.

She finished fifth at the World Championships with an injured knee but still managed 25000 points to reach the third spot in rankings.

Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) became the 57kg world champion to claim the top spot. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

57kg
1. Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) - $5000
2. Alina HRUSHYNA (UKR) - $3000
3. Anhelina LYSAK (POL) - $2000

World and Asian champion Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) clinched the top spot with her two gold medals of 2022. She received 10000 points for gold in Mongolia and then 45000 when she became the world champion at 57kg over Helen MAROULIS (USA).

Finishing second at 57kg is Alina HRUSHYNA (UKR) with 49000 points. She won gold medals at the European Championships and Matteo Pellicone for a combined 18000 points. In September, she added a world bronze to her name for 31000 points and the second spot in the rankings.

Another world bronze medalist, Anhelina LYSAK (POL), finished third with 45000 points. Her bronze in Belgrade was the only medal of 2022 but she finished fifth in Istanbul and the European Championships which helped her with 14000 points. She got 9000 points for Yasar Dogu event and 5000 points for the Euros. 31000 points were added when she won the bronze at the Worlds.

Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) finished ranked one at 59kg after winning the gold at World Championships. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

59kg
1. Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) - $5000
2. Jowita WRZESIEN (POL) - $3000
3. Grace BULLEN (NOR) - $2000

Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) may have been around for long but she won her first senior world title in Belgrade. Her three gold medals in 2022 cleared her path to be the top wrestler at 59kg with 64000 points. She got 45000 points for the gold medal in Belgrade adding to her 10000 points from European Championships and 11000 points from Yasar Dogu.

Jowita WRZESIEN (POL) jumped to second spot with 51600 points after bronze at the World Championships. She competed at four events for rankings points and won medals at all four of them. Beginning the season with bronze in Istanbul, she got 8200 points for that. Silver at the European Championships earned her 8000 points before another silver, at Matteo Pellicone, added 6400 points to her tally.

The wrestler who won the Matteo Pellicone gold was Grace BULLEN (NOR) who later reach the final at the World Championships which helped her finish third in the weight class. She got 37000 points for her silver in Belgrade and 8000 points for the gold in Rome.

Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) is ranked number one at 62kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

62kg
1. Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) - $5000
2. Kayla MIRACLE (USA) - $3000
3. Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) - $2000

Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) went unscathed in 2022 and earned the world’s top billing at 62kg. The 20-year-old Japanese star went 16-0, and collected gold medals at the U20, U23 and Senior World Championships. Although she won three world titles and five competitions during her ’22 campaign, her Asian and Belgrade titles were the only two competitions that counted towards her 55,000-point total.

World silver medalist Kayla MIRACLE (USA) closed out the season ranked second in the world at 62kg with 45,000 points. This season, the American only dropped two matches and won silver medals at the Pan-American and World Championships. She fell to top-ranked Ozaki in the world finals and Ana GODINEZ GONZALEZ (CAN) but avenged that Acapulco loss en route to the Belgrade world finals.

Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) strung together an impressive season, medaling at the World and European Championships and the Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series event. She earned the third spot in the ranking with 43,900 points – 1,100 points shy of Miracle's No. 2 spot.

Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) claimed the top spot at 65kg. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

65kg
1. Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) - $5000
2. Elis MANOLOVA (AZE) - $3000
3. Mallory VELTE (USA) - $2000

In one of the closest races to the top spot in the rankings, Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) outclassed Elis MANOLOVA (AZE) by 1,400 points to steal the top spot at 65kg.

Morikawa moved past Manolova with gold-medal wins at the Asian and World Championships. Although it didn’t count towards her 2022 ranking total, the 23-year-old also won a gold medal in Spain at the U23 World Championships.

Manolova finished in the top five of the four competitions she entered, winning silver medals at the European Championships and Bolat Turlykhanov Cup and finished in fifth place at the World Championships and the Yasar Dogu. If the 26-year-old Azeri finished with a medal at either the World Championships or the Yasar Dogu, she would have closed out the year ranked first in the world.

Mallory VELTE (USA) finished the season as the third-ranked wrestler at 65kg. After opening the season in Istanbul with a silver medal, she closed out the season with a bronze medal in Belgrade at the World Championships.

Olympic and world champion Tamyra MENSAH STOCK (USA) earned 49000 points. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

68kg
1. Tamyra MENSAH STOCK (USA) - $5000
2. Irina RINGACI (MDA) - $3000
3. Ami ISHII (JPN) - $2000

The battle for the top billing at 68kg went through fellow world champions Tamyra STOCK MENSAH (USA) and Irina RINGACI (MDA).

Mensah reached the summit of the world podium for the second time since 2019 and finished 1,600 points ahead of 2021 world champion Ringaci for the weight’s top ranking. Despite competiting in one less event, Mensah-Stock’s golds at the World Championships and Zouhaier Sghaier Ranking Series events trumped Ringaci’s World bronze, European gold and Matteo Pellicone silver.

Mensah ended 2022 with 49000 points while Ringaci had 47400 points.

Ami ISHII (JPN) rounded out the top three in the rankings with 37,000 points after finishing with a silver medal at the World Championships.

Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) earned the top spot at 72kg with 52000 points. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

72kg
1. Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) - $5000
2. Amit ELOR (USA) - $3000
3. Buse TOSUN CAVUSOGLU (TUR) - $2000

Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) had arguably the most complete season out of any women’s wrestler in the world. Her 2022 campaign featured a 13-match win streak and included gold medals at the Asian Championships, Yasar Dogu and Bolat Turlykhanov Cup Ranking Series events before settling for a silver medal at the World Championships. She closed out the season with 52,000, which was 9,000 points ahead of second-ranked Amit ELOR (USA).

Elor had a season that’ll be talked about for years to come. The 19-year-old budding superstar won a trio of world titles in a three-month span and leaped into the third spot in the rankings. She won gold medals at the U20, U23 and Senior World Championships.

Buse TOSUN CAVUSOGLU (TUR) medaled in three of the five events she entered this season and finished ranked third at 72kg. She started the season with a fifth-place finish at the Yasar Dogu before grabbing consecutive medals at the European Championships, XIX Mediterranean Games and Zouhaier Sghaier Ranking Series event before closing out the year with a world fifth-place finish.

Samar HAMZA (EGY) won a silver medal at the World Championships to finish at top at 76kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

76kg
1. Samar HAMZA (EGY) - $5000
2. Yasemin ADAR (TUR) - $3000
3. Epp MAE (EST) - $2000

Samar HAMZA (EGY) made history in becoming the first women’s wrestler from Egypt to reach the world finals and rounded out the season ranked atop the world standings at 76kg.

Hamza wrestled six times in 2022 and earned medals in five events. After going 1-1 and finishing ninth at the Yasar Dogu, the 26-year-old Egyptian went on a five-competition medal run. She grabbed the African title for the fifth time in her career, silver medals at the World Championships and Bolat Turlykhanov Cup Ranking Series event, and bronze medals at the Mediterranean Games and Zouhaier Sghaier Ranking Series event.

In a year where she took the reigns as the Turkish Federation Vice President, Yasemin ADAR (TUR) still managed to end the season ranked second in the world at 76kg. She finished the season with a perfect 10-0 record through her gold-medal finishes at the World and European Championships and the Mediterranean Games.

Epp MAE (EST) picked up a bronze medal at the World Championships and a silver medal at the European Championships and finished the season in the third position.

Host Serbia puts two into GR finals on opening day of Worlds

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End of the year women's wrestling rankings