#BudaWrestle2018

Hungarians Korpasi, Bacsi Electrify Crowd with Semifinal Victories

By Andrew Hipps

BUDAPEST, Hungary (October 25) -- Balint KORPASI and Peter BACSI electrified the crowd in Budapest and gave Hungary two finalists on the opening day of the Greco-Roman competition at the World Championships. 

Korpasi, a 2016 world champion, punched his ticket to the gold-medal match with a 3-1 win over Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) in the semifinals at 72kg. The 31-year-old Hungarian scored with a gut wrench in the first period, which proved to the difference in the match. He will face two-time world champion Frank STAEBLER (GER) in the gold-medal match at 72kg.

Staebler broke open a close semifinal match against 2015 world champion Rasul CHUNAYEV (AZE) late in the match with a takedown and two throws to claim a 9-1 technical fall.

Bacsi found himself in an early 4-0 hole after giving up a takedown and turn to Atabek AZISBEKOV (KGZ) in the semifinals at 82kg. But Bacsi chipped away and cut the deficit to 4-2 in the second period before getting on top and scoring with a gut wrench and four-point throw to go up by four points. He would close out a technical fall victory a short time later with a gut wrench. His finals opponent will be Emrah KUS (TUR), who came back to defeat Saeid ABDVALI (IRI) 6-4 in the semifinals. 

Abdvali raced out to a 4-0 lead on the strength of a body lock twenty seconds into the match. But Kus would come back in the second period, using a four-point throw to take the lead. He would add a point off a failed challenge to win by two.  

Nineteen-year-old Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) dominated world university champion Ekrem OZTURK (TUR) to reach the gold-medal match at 55kg, earning a 9-0 technical fall.  Sharshenbekov has not surrounded a point in three matches, picking up three technical falls and outscoring his opposition 29-0. He now meets two-time junior world champion Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) in the gold-medal match at 55kg.

Azizli topped Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) 6-3, scoring all six of his points in the first period, getting a takedown before locking up a gut wrench for two turns. Tsurtsumia scored a takedown with a minute remaining to cut the deficit to three but could not complete the comeback. 

Olympic bronze medalist Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB) used a four-point throw in the first period on his way to a 4-3 win over Lenur TEMIROV (UKR) in the semifinals at 63kg. Temirov scored a takedown with a minute and twenty seconds left, but Tasmuradov held on for the narrow victory. 

Stepan MARYANYAN (RUS), a world bronze medalist in 2017, knocked off 19-year-old Hassan MOHAMED (EGY) 7-1 to reach the gold-medal match at 63kg. The two traded passivity points until the second period when Maryanyan was able to get on top and lock up his gut wrench for three turns to break the match open. 

Semifinal Results

Greco-Roman

55kg
Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) df. Ekrem OZTURK (TUR) by VSU, 9-0
Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) df. Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) by VPO1, 6-3

63kg
Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB) df. Lenur TEMIROV (UKR) by VPO1, 4-3
Stepan MARYANYAN (RUS) df. Hassan MOHAMED (EGY) by VPO1, 7-1

72kg
Balint KORPASI (HUN) df. Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) by VPO1, 3-1
Frank STAEBLER (GER) df. Rasul CHUNAYEV (AZE) by VSU1, 9-1

82kg
Emrah KUS (TUR) df. Saeid Morad ABDVALI (IRI) by VPO1, 6-4
Peter BACSI (HUN) df. Atabek AZISBEKOV (KGZ) by VSU1, 12-4
 

#WrestleAcapulco

Pan-Am C'ships: Acosta wins 130kg; U.S. grabs two GR golds

By Gaurav Bhatt

ACAPULCO, Mexico (February 22) — On what was a mixed day for the contingent, Team USA took home two gold medals and three silvers as the 2024 Pan-American Championships kicked off Wednesday with Greco-Roman action in Acapulco.

Hayden TUMA defeated Hector Sanchez ZAPATA (MEX) 4-0 to win the 63kg gold, while Alejandro SANCHO defeated Andres MONTANO (ECU) 3-1 for the 67kg title.

Tuma, a three-time national champion, had previously competed at the event in the 66kg and 67kg categories, finishing 7th on both occasions. The 29-year-old, who plans to compete in the 60kg category this Olympic cycle, ran through his 63kg opponents on Wednesday, utilizing his larger frame and explosive attacks.

PodiumThe 67kg podium at the Pam-Am Championships with Alejandro SANCHO (USA) winning the gold medal. (Photo: UWW / William Bain)

Sancho — who finished third at his first Pan-Am Championships in 2020 and then secured the 67kg quota for the US at the Olympic qualifier the week after — kept 2021 gold medallist Montano at bay on Wednesday's final. After the cagey opening period finished with Sancho trailing 1-0, the American rallied against the increasingly tired Ecuadorian. 

Oscar PINO’s (CUB) quest to defend his Greco-Roman 130kg title ended in heartbreak as the six-time champion and four-time world medallist conceded a walkover in the final. Yasmani ACOSTA (CHI) grabbed the gold without taking the mat for his last two bouts as Cohlton SCHULTZ (USA) forfeited the semifinal. The American, who began the day with a picture-perfect headlock in the win over Moises PEREZ HELLBURG (VEN), took a shade over 30 seconds to beat the Venezuelan again in the bronze-medal bout.

Daniel HECHAVARRIA (CUB), however, managed to win back-to-back golds as he defended his 87kg title with a win over Luis AVENDANO (VEN). Last year's 82kg champion Spencer WOODS (USA), who had moved up a category, faltered at the first hurdle as he couldn't hold on to a 3-0 lead and lost the bout to eventual bronze medallist Carlos ANDRES (COL).

Raiber OROZCO (VEN)Raiber OROZCO (VEN) defeated Randon MIRANDA (USA) 8-7 in the 60kg final. (Photo: UWW / William Bain)

Raiber OROZCO (VEN) won his first gold medal at the event with a tight 8-7 win over Randon MIRANDA (USA) in the 60kg category. The American — competing in his third final at the event after a 63kg silver in 2021 and the 60kg gold in 2022 — looked trigger-shy in the opening minutes. After giving up a 5-0 lead, Miranda bounced back as the two wrestlers engaged in a feisty contest that saw close calls and challenges upheld for both. In the end, Orozco proved too strong for Miranda. 

The 77kg competition sprang a couple of surprises as favorites Kamal BEY (USA) and Yosvanys PENA FLORES (CUB) lost their semifinal bouts. Jair CUERO (COL) took the gold after Joilson RAMOS (BRA) conceded a walkover in the final. 

In the 55kg category, Marco GARCIA (MEX) was too good for his opponents Camden RUSSELL (USA) and Mario CHOC (GUA). Sosruk KODZOKOV (BRA) won the 82kg gold as Mahmoud SEBIE (USA) finished second.

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RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Marco GARCIA ALVAREZ (MEX)
SILVER: Camden RUSSELL (USA)
BRONZE: Mario CHOC (GUA)

60kg
GOLD:  Raiber OROZCO (VEN) df. Randon MIRANDA (USA), 8-7

BRONZE:  Angel SEGURA TELLEZ (MEX) df. Dicther TORO (COL), 2-1
BRONZE: Liria YERONY (DOM) df. Cristobal TORRES NUNEZ (CHI), 6-1

63kg
GOLD: Hayden TUMA (USA)
SILVER: Hector ZAPATA (MEX)
BRONZE: Carlos VAHOS (VEN)

67kg
GOLD:  Alejandro SANCHO (USA) df. Andres MONTANO ARROYO (ECU), 3-1

BRONZE: Horta JULIAN STIVEN (COL) df. Gavin ELDRIDGE (CAN), 8-0
BRONZE: Almanza NESTOR EVIAN (CHI) df. Laguerre STARLIN (DOM), 9-0

77kg
GOLD: Cuero JAIR (COL) df. Ramos De Brito JOILSON (BRA), via inj. def.

BRONZE: Kamal BEY (USA) df. Rivas Espinoza WUILEIXIS DE JESUS (VEN), 11-0
BRONZE: Pena Flores YOSVANYS (CUB) df. Bernal EDUARDO JOSUE (CHI), 8-0

82kg
GOLD: Sosruko KODZOKOV (BRA)
SILVER: Mahmoud SEBIE (USA)
BRONZE: Diego MACIAS TORRES (MEX)

87kg
GOLD: Daniel GREGORICH HECHAVARRIA (CUB) df. Avendano LUIS (VEN), 4-0

BRONZE: Carlos MUNOZ JARAMILLO (COL) df. Jose MORENO BUSTOS (CHI), 9-0
BRONZE: Alfonso ARIEL ANDRES (HON) df. Jorge LLANO (ARG), 8-0

130kg
GOLD: Yasmani ACOSTA (CHI) df. Oscar PINO (CUB), via inj. def.

BRONZE: Cohlton SCHULTZ (USA) df. Moises Salvador PEREZ HELLBURG (VEN), via fall