Kyrgyzstan basks in wrestlers' golden glory

Sunday, June 4, 2023 - 21:55 By Vinay Siwach

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (June 4) -- Kyrgyzstan once again reminded the world that it is a strong freestyle nation by clinching three gold medals on day four of the Bishkek Ranking Series. Moreover, world bronze medalist Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) was not one of them.

Asian silver medalist Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ) won at 57kg, Asian champion Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) won gold at 61kg and Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ) became the champion at 70kg on the final day of the competition.

Smanbekov began with a 3-1 win over Wanhao ZOU (CHN) in the quarterfinals before beating Beka BUJIASHVILI (GEO), 4-2, in the semifinals to enter the final against fellow Kyrgyzstan wrestler Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ).

A big arm-throw was the highlight of the match for Smanbekov who managed to win the gold after a 6-1 victory in front of a loud home crowd.

The ever-improving Zhumashbek Uulu survived a scare as he won 5-5 against Emrah ORMANOGLU (TUR) in the quarterfinals after getting a walkover by Ravi KUMAR (IND) who pulled out due to a knee injury. He managed to beat PANKAJ (IND) 7-0 in the semifinals before facing Shota PHARTENADZE (GEO) in the final.

Zhumashbek Uulu gave little to Phartenadze and managed to win the gold after an 8-2 victory at 61kg.

Though it was not Akmataliev, the 70kg gold medal went to Kyrgyzstan. Toktomambetov stepped up when Akmataliev lost 11-6 in the semifinal against Syrbaz TALGAT (KGZ).

Toktomambetov began with a strong win over Servet COSKUN (TUR) in the opening round and faced Orts ISAKOV (JOR) in the quarterfinals and won 11-0. Against Mulaym YADAV (IND) in the semifinals, Toktomambetov managed to fina way and win 7-1.

In the final, Toktomambekov was up against Talgat and wrestled one of his toughest match of the tournament. After six minutes, Toktomambetov won 3-2 and the gold medal.

At 65kg, Tulga TUMUR-OCHIR (MGL) captured his third straight Ranking Series gold medal after beating Alibek OSMONOV (KGZ), 5-2.

As usual, Tumur Ochir began with his underhooks and pressured his opponents before scoring the points. He started with a 4-0 win over Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK) followed by a humdinger against Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) which the Mongolian won 6-5.

The semifinals saw him beat Meirzhan ASHIROV (KAZ) 8-4 and he step up a clash against Alibek OSMONOV (KGZ). He used his underhook but Osmonov was quick to defend it. But it wasn't long before Tumur Ochir returned to his preferred attack and after six minutes, he managed to win 8-4.

Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) was one of the two Georgians who claimed gold medals on Sunday.

The U23 world champion claimed the gold medal at 79kg by beating Myrza ZHYRGALBEK UULU (KGZ) 11-0 and Zhiger ZAKIROV (KAZ) 9-1. He then faced Khidir SAIPUDINOV (BRN) in the final and managed to stop Saipudinov from any attacks and won a tense final 3-2 to be crowned champion.

The second Georgian was world bronze medalist Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) who launched Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL) for a big throw which proved to be the difference between the two wrestlers.

Bayramov closer to Belgrade spot

Azerbaijan, for the second straight year, is trying to find the best combination for the all-important World Championships in a Ranking Series. For the same, three wrestlers were entered at 74kg in Bishkek. And for the second straight year, Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) defeated Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE).

Last year in Rome, Bayramov stopped Gadzhiev and repeated it Sunday as he held off the former 2-1 in a classic Bayramov bout.

Gadzhiev tried all his might to beat Bayramov but he failed to find the attack that could have helped him overcome the defensive challenge that Bayramov brings.

RESULTS

57kg
GOLD: Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ) df. Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ), 6-1

BRONZE: Wanhao ZOU (CHN) df. Beka BUJIASHVILI (GEO), 7-0
BRONZE: Meirambek KARTBAY (KAZ) df. Nodirjon SAFAROV (UZB), 12-6

61kg
GOLD: Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) df. Shota PHARTENADZE (GEO), 8-2

BRONZE: Abdymalik KARACHOV (KGZ) df. Sardor RUZIMOV (UZB), via fall
BRONZE: Emrah ORMANOGLU (TUR) df. PANKAJ (IND), 6-1

65kg
GOLD: Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) df. Alibek OSMONOV (KGZ), 5-2

BRONZE: Ikromzhon KHADZHIMURODOV (KGZ) df. Agustin DESTRIBATS (ARG), 8-2
BRONZE: Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK) df. Meirzhan ASHIROV (KAZ), 10-0

70kg
GOLD: Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ) df. Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ), 3-2

BRONZE: Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) df. Giorgi ELBAKIDZE (GEO), 9-0
BRONZE: Servet COSKUN (TUR) df. Mulaym YADAV (IND), 6-6

74kg
GOLD: Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) df. Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE), 2-1

BRONZE: Magomet EVLOEV (TJK) df. Otari BAGAURI (GEO), via fall
BRONZE: Khadzhimurad GADZHIYEV (AZE) df. Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR), 12-7

79kg
GOLD: Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) df. Khidir SAIPUDINOV (BRN), 3-2

BRONZE: Adilet MARATBAEV (KGZ) df. Bibarys NURYLLAULY (KAZ), 10-7
BRONZE: Zhiger ZAKIROV (KAZ) df. Myrza ZHYRGALBEK UULU (KGZ), 11-0

86kg
GOLD: Magomed SHARIPOV (BRN) df. Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE), via inj. def.

BRONZE: Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) df. Nurtilek KARYPBAEV (KGZ), 6-0
BRONZE: Javrail SHAPIEV (UZB) df. Tariel GAPHRINDASHVILI (GEO), 10-9

92kg
GOLD: Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) df. Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL), 6-1

BRONZE: Jumabayi AERGEN (CHN) df. Abdimanap BAIGENZHEYEV (KAZ), 2-0
BRONZE: Andro MARGISHVILI (GEO) df. Nurdaulet BEKENOV (KAZ), 6-2

#WrestleAmman

History at U17 Worlds: India wins first title, Canada crowns champion

Friday, August 23, 2024 - 18:14 By Vinay Siwach

AMMAN, Jordan (August 22) -- The country had been pushing towards the top of the podium in Women's Wrestling at the U17 World Championships for many years but it finally took an impressive 2024 batch for India to claim the women's team title.

India has consistently placed in the top five starting in 2016 and come particularly close to winning the title in 2021 in the absence of Japan. But the United States had sealed the title with the final bout of the competition.

India finished the women's competition at the U17 Worlds in Amman with five gold medals, one silver, two bronzes and a fifth-place finish to win the title with 185 points. Japan finished second with 146 points and Kazakhstan took the third spot with 79 points.

India India won the team title in women's wrestling at the U17 World Championships in Amman. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

The country won four gold medals on Thursday and KAJAL (IND) added a fifth by winning the final at 69kg against Oleksandra RYBAK (UKR). After taking a 5-0 lead at the break using a big counter throw for four, Kajal added two more takedowns in the second period to win 9-2.

The other Indian in the final, Shrutika PATIL (IND), failed to go past the Japanese hurdle in Yuu KATSUME (JPN). The Japanese dominated the final and won 11-0, becoming the first and only gold medalist in women's wrestling for Japan, an odd sentence to write.

India's impressive victory as a team follows a good show at the U17 Asian Championships in which it claimed the crown over China and Japan. Last year, it had won its first U20 World Championships team title as well, incidentally, in Amman.

Kaura COLES (CAN) pins Nana KOZUKA (JPN) in the 53kg final to win the gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

More history was created in Amman as Canada crowned its first-ever world champion in women's wrestling at this level. Kaura COLES (CAN) won the 53kg gold medal with an impressive fall over Nana KOZUKA (JPN) in the final.

Coles took the opening lead but Kozuka answered with a big four to make it 4-2. An exposure from Coles gave criteria to Kozuka who was constantly finding openings for attacks. In the second period, Coles came up with a four-pointer using headlock to take an outright lead. At one point, Kozuka cut the lead to 9-7 but Coles hit another headlockk for four and secured the fall to win the final.

The Canadian has been impressive over the two days, winning three of her five bouts via fall. Only MUSKAN (IND) and Isabelle GONZALES (USA) were able to stop her from pinning them.

Historically, no Canadian had reached the final in women's wrestling and Coles' medal is only the second in the tournament's history. Canada has had a world champion in all other World Championships.

Taina FERNANDEZ (USA) celebrates after winning gold at 61kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

The United States crowned a champion as well. Taina FERNANDEZ (USA) pinned Sae NOGUCHI (JPN) in the 61kg final to make sure the U.S. goes home with at least one gold in women's wrestling. Her tournament run of four wins included three falls and one technical superiority win and only one bout -- the final -- going into the fourth minute of the match.

The final began with Fernandez getting the first point for Noguchi's passivity. The American added a stepout and takedown to make it 4-0. Fernandez got the fall with 38 seconds remaining in the match.

At 40kg, Aleksandra FEDOROVA (AIN) won the gold in a low-scoring final against Kamila KUCHMA (UKR). She won 4-1.

Iran, Kyrgyzstan best in FS semis

Freestyle action began at the U17 World Championships with five weight classes. The United States had four wrestlers in the semifinals but only one made it to the finals. Iran had three and two made it to the gold medal bouts. Kyrgyzstan also shone as it put two wrestlers in the final.

Uzbekistan, Puerto Rico, Georgia and Kazakhstan also had a finalist each while one Individual Neutral Athlete made it to the final.

All 10 women's wrestling world champions in Amman. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

RESULTS

40kg
GOLD: Aleksandra FEDOROVA (AIN) df. Kamila KUCHMA (UKR), 4-1

BRONZE: Raj BALA (IND) df. Monaka UMEKAWA (JPN), 11-5
BRONZE: Nazrin AHMADLI (AZE) df. Vivien SZENTPAL (HUN), 11-6

46kg
GOLD: Yuu KATSUME (JPN) df. Shrutika PATIL (IND), 11-0

BRONZE: Morgan TURNER (USA) df. Jessica TUOMINEN (FIN), via fall (8-0)
BRONZE: Medina KUANYSHBEK (KAZ) df. Yevheniia DRUZENKO (UKR), via fall (6-5)

53kg
GOLD: Kaura COLES (CAN) df. Nana KOZUKA (JPN), via fall (11-7)

BRONZE: MUSKAN (IND) df. Isabella GONZALES (USA), 12-2
BRONZE: Lisette BOETTKER (EST) df. Olesia MALAKHOVA (AIN), via fall (2-4)

61kg
GOLD: Taina FERNANDEZ (USA) df. Sae NOGUCHI (JPN), via fall (6-0)

BRONZE: Hiunai HURBANOVA (AZE) df. RAJNITA (IND), via fall (6-2
BRONZE: Ozdenur OZMEZ (TUR) df. Zhaidar MUKAT (KAZ), 4-0

69kg
GOLD: KAJAL (IND) df. Oleksandra RYBAK (UKR), 9-2

BRONZE: Ako UCHIYAMA (JPN) df. Rahma BEDIWY (EGY), via fall (9-1)
BRONZE: Zahra KARIMZADA (AZE) df. Ilayda CIN (TUR), 6-4

Freestyle Semifinals

48kg
GOLD: Ulugbek RASHIDOV (UZB) vs. Amirabbas ALIZADEH (IRI)

SF 1: Amirabbas ALIZADEH (IRI) df. Henry ASLIKYAN (USA), 6-4
SF 2: Ulugbek RASHIDOV (UZB) df. Chingis SARYGLAR (AIN), 7-5

55kg
GOLD: Joseph BACHMANN (PUR) vs. Kursantbek ISAKOV (KGZ)

SF 1: Kursantbek ISAKOV (KGZ) df. Keanu DILLARD (USA), 10-2
SF 2: Joseph BACHMANN (PUR) df. Huseyn HUSEYNOV (AZE), 5-2

65kg
GOLD: Ramazan ABDULKADYROV (AIN) vs. Rustamzhan KAKHAROV (KGZ)

SF 1: Rustamzhan KAKHAROV (KGZ) df. Bakdaulet AKIMZHAN (KAZ), 12-5
SF 2: Ramazan ABDULKADYROV (AIN) df. Umut USLU (TUR), 4-4

80kg
GOLD: Reza AFSHAR (IRI) vs. Nikoloz MAISURADZE (GEO)

SF 1: Nikoloz MAISURADZE (GEO) df. Artur KOSTIUK (UKR), 4-0
SF 2: Reza AFSHAR (IRI) df. Emmitt SHERLOCK (USA), 8-0

110kg
GOLD: Michael MOCCO (USA) vs. Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ)

SF 1: Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) df. Abolfazl MOHAMMAD NEZHAD (IRI), 4-3
SF 2: Michael MOCCO (USA) df. Gigia LUKUNIDZE (GEO), 10-0

Kyrgyzstan basks in wrestlers' golden glory

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History at U17 Worlds: India wins first title, Canada crowns champion