#Grappling

Kazakhstan dominates Asian Grappling Championships

Friday, June 23, 2023 - 07:07 By Vinay Siwach

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ASTANA, Kazakhstan (June 23) -- Host country Kazakhstan dominated the Asian Grappling Championships, securing the majority of the gold medals in the U15 and U17 age categories.

Kazakhstan is currently hosting the Asian Grappling Championships at the Beeline Arena in Astana, which commenced on April 21 and will conclude on April 24.

In the U15 category, the competition featured ten men's Grappling weight classes, with Kazakhstan claiming eight gold medals. Neighboring Kyrgyzstan secured the remaining two gold medals in the 35kg and 53kg divisions. This outstanding performance granted Kazakhstan the team title with 240 points, while Kyrgyzstan finished second with 82 points. India secured the third position with 65 points.

In the same U15 age category, but in Grappling Gi, Kazakhstan exhibited even greater dominance, winning nine gold medals, leaving Kyrgyzstan with only one. Kazakhstan's remarkable performance earned them 245 points, while Kyrgyzstan secured second place with 72 points. India claimed the third position with 60 points.

Moving on to the U17 Grappling competition, Kazakhstan achieved a clean sweep, securing all nine gold medals across all weight classes. Among the five participating countries, Kazakhstan claimed the top spot, with Kyrgyzstan in second place and India in third. The pattern remained consistent in the U17 men's Grappling Gi, with Kazakhstan once again securing all nine gold medals, and the team rankings reflecting the same order as in the Grappling category.

GrapplingGrappling was held in U15, U17 and Veteran categories on the first two days. (Photo: UWW / Assem Shalgumbayeva)

In the women's Grappling Gi competition at the U17 level, bouts were held in six weight classes, with Kazakhstan winning five gold medals. The remaining gold medal went to India.

Similarly, in the women's Grappling competition, India prevented Kazakhstan from achieving a complete sweep by securing one of the six gold medals on offer.

A Veteran's competition also took place and it saw a change in the gold medalists.

In Veteran A men's Grappling Gi category, Kyrgyzstan and Iran won gold medals in three weight classes. While two gold medals went to Kyrgyzstan, Iran won the gold medal at 84kg.

GrapplingGrappling in women's category saw participants from four countries. (Photo: UWW / Assem Shalgumbayeva)

In Veteran A men's Grappling category, Kyrgyzstan won two more gold medals while the third was won by Kazakhstan. In both Grappling and Grappling Gi, Kazakhstan managed only one gold, two silver and a bronze medal.

All the individual bout results and videos of the tournament can be found exclusively on UWW's Asian Grappling Championships page. 

#WrestleAcapulco

Gray falls as Ecuador wins 2 golds; Dake dominant at Pan-Ams

Saturday, February 24, 2024 - 04:28 By Gaurav Bhatt

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ACAPULCO, Mexico (February 23) -- Day three of the Pan-American Championships saw two wrestling phenoms take the mat in Acapulco. But while four-time world champion Kyle DAKE (USA) rag-dolled his opponents to win his fourth straight 74kg title at the event, six-time world champion Adeline GRAY (USA) stumbled against eventual 76kg champion Genesis REASCO (ECU) and had to settle for a bronze.

Nick SURIANO (61kg) and Chance MARSTELLER (86kg) also struck gold to make it three for Team USA, while Macey KILTY (USA) grabbed the 65kg gold. 

Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) blanked her 53kg opponents to take Ecuador's second gold of the day.

Kyle DAKE (USA)Kyle DAKE (USA) dominated his way to the 74kg gold. (Photo: UWW / William Bains)

Dake stayed levels apart in the 74kg field as the Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist earned victories via fall over Angel CORTES (PAN) and Anthony MONTERO (VEN).

The 32-year-old, who won his first two world titles at 79kg, is not only strong for the 74kg division but also dazzles the field with his explosiveness. He had Bonilla squirming against a pin attempt in less than 5 seconds. Bonilla's desperation only delayed the inevitable, as Dake flattened him inside the first period.

Montero, a former South American champion, made it a scrappy affair but couldn't stop Dake from racking up points. Up against the clock, the Venezuelan went for a last-gasp shot, only for the American to counter into a four-point throw to complete the victory.

Marsteller defeated Jorge LLANO (ARG) in the quarterfinal but didn't get a chance to test his mettle against four-time champion Yurieski TORREBLANCA (CUB). The 34-year-old withdrew from the competition, paving the way for Marsteller to take home the 86kg gold. He also received a forfeit win from Pedro CEBALLOS (VEN). 

The title continues the remarkable life turnaround for the 28-year-old, whose childhood dreams of dominating the wrestling world were derailed by substance addiction. Addicted to alcohol and opioids — Marsteller, who amassed a 166-0 record in his Pennsylvania high school —  went into rehab in 2016. He went back to rehab in 2020 after an under-the-influencer bender saw him wreck his and his wife’s cars in one night. The 28-year-old has been clean since July 2020 and the gold in Acapulco would serve to boost both his morale and profile.

Suriano defeated two-time silver medallist Joseph SILVA (PUR) on his way to the 61kg gold. The 26-year-old, who was one of the main contenders to make the American Olympic team in 2021 before testing positive for COVID-19, also beat Jose VASQUEZ (PER) 12-2, Edwin SEGURA (GUA) via forfeit, and Juan LAVAT (MEX) with a fall (10-2).

Genesis REASCO (ECU)Genesis REASCO (ECU) blanked Adeline GRAY (USA) 10-0 at 76kg. (Photo: UWW / William Bain)

Gray was outpowered by Reasco in their meeting which saw the Ecuadorian secure two tremendous double-leg takedowns within the opening few seconds. The explosive 25-year-old, a four-time medallist at the event, completed the superiority victory over the Tokyo Olympics silver medallist in little over a minute.

Joining Reasco on top of the podium for Ecuador was Yepez, who continues her meteoric rise with a successful title defense in the 53kg category.

The stage was set for a rematch from last year's final against Betzabeth ARGUELLO (VEN), before the five-time medallist pulled out from the gold-medal clash.

Yepez, who also struck gold at the Pan-American Games last November, was the first Ecuadorian woman to win a wrestling world title at the 2021 U23 Worlds, and medalled at last year's senior World Championships.

Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN) won the 59kg women's gold. Beauregard — a four-time medallist at the event, including 2019 and 2022 champion — ran roughshod on Friday. The 26-year-old didn't give up a single point over four bouts.

Kilty grabbed the 65kg gold with two dominant wins. Kilty set the tone with a one-sided rout of 2022 silver medallist Miki ROWBOTTOM (CAN).

After a tight opening minute, Kilty set up the Canadian with quick feints before securing a single-leg takedown. After netting five points from the sequence, Kilty wasted little time in getting another takedown, this time attacking Rowbottom's left leg, and completed the fall victory shortly thereafter.  

Against Andrea LOPEZ (MEX), Kilty showed both speed and strength. After earning a 7-0 lead in the first period, the 22-year-old overwhelmed the hometown favorite and earned the fall win with more than 2 minutes left on the board.

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RESULTS

Women's Wrestling

53kg
GOLD: Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) df. Arguello BETZABETH (VEN), via inj. def.

BRONZE: Gonzalez MARIA (DOM) df. Samantha STEWART (CAN), via fall
BRONZE: Katie GOMEZ (USA) df. Laura HERIN (CUB), 10-0

59kg
GOLD: Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN)
SILVER: Michaela BECK (USA)
BRONZE: Ana PEREIRA (BRA)

65kg
GOLD: Macey KILTY (USA)
SILVER: Andrea LOPEZ (MEX)
BRONZE: Miki ROWBOTTOM (CAN)

76kg
GOLD: Genesis REASCO VALDEZ (ECU) df. Renteria TATIANA (COL), 9-0

BRONZE: Adeline GRAY (USA) df. Shauna KUEBECK (CAN), via inj. def.
BRONZE: Linda MACHUCA (ARG) df. Bautista EMELYN (DOM), 11-0

Freestyle

61kg
GOLD: Nicholas SURIANO (USA)
SILVER: Joseph SILVA (PUR)
BRONZE: Juan LAVAT (MEX)

74kg
GOLD: Kyle DAKE (USA) df. Julio RODRIGUEZ ROMERO (DOM), via inj. def.

BRONZE: Jones SHANE (PUR) df. Thomson ADAM (CAN), 16-5
BRONZE: Anthony MONTERO (VEN) df. Angel CORTES (PAN), 11-0

86kg
GOLD: Chandler MARSTELLER (USA) df. Ceballos PEDRO (VEN), via fall

BRONZE: Carlos IZQUIERDO (COL) df. Pool AMBROCIO GREIFO (PER), 3-1
BRONZE: Jorge LLANO (ARG) df. Yurieski TORREBLANCA (CUB), via inj. def.