#WrestleWarsaw

Larrouque, Vinesh Warm-Up for Tokyo with Poland Open titles

Friday, June 11, 2021 - 21:39 By Vinay Siwach

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WARSAW, Poland (June 11) --- Wrestling at Tokyo Olympics may be 50 days away but Warsaw witnessed a mini-Olympics at the Poland Open as eight out of the 16 qualified women's wrestlers were in action at the 68kg on Friday.

The final ranking series event saw wrestlers eyeing to earn the points to improve their seeds for the Tokyo Games. But with 50 percent wrestling, there was no change in the seeding at the end.

Poland Open

Koumba LARROUQUE (FRA) claimed the gold medal at 68kg with a defensive masterclass throughout the day but her 16 points were not enough to earn her a place in the top four.

Wrestling second seeded Tokyo Olympian Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR), the French was skeptical of injuring her heavily padded knee.

“The opponents are very strong here and I did not want to take any chance,” Larrouque said.

All her bouts were against qualified wrestlers and after shutting off Anna SCHELL (GER) 3-1, she defeated Danielle LAPPAGE (CAN) 4-0 in the quarterfinals. Against Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ), she looked a lot uncomfortable but managed to keep her away with a 3-1 win.

In the final, while on the clock in the first period, she used Oborududu’s over hook to pick up a pair of exposure points, then scored a stepout in the second to secure her first Ranking Series title, 3-0.

That’s three consecutive gold medals heading into the Tokyo Olympic Games for the two-time world medalist. She’s reached the top of the podium at the European Championships, European Olympic Qualifier and the Poland Open.

If Larrouque's defensive display was epic, Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) at 57kg showed offense was her style as she won the gold medal in Warsaw. Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR) forfeited her final against the Nigerian.

But it was the morning session where Adekuoroye was absolutely phenomenal, taking out Rio Olympic champ Helen MAROULIS (USA) and silver medalist Valeria KOBLOVA ZHOLOBOVA (RUS) with zero points scored on her.

“I had been waiting to wrestle Helen and I was planning a lot for this,” Adekuoroye said.

In a dash of explosive power, she scored two four-point throws and two takedowns combined with a point for Helen's passivity to win the bout 13-0.

She had lost to the American twice before, 6-6 in 2015 and 4-1 in 2018, but on Thursday, Helen had no answer to her attacks.

Vinesh Phogat Poland

At 53kg, Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) passed Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) and Yong Mi PAK (PRK) for the top seed in Tokyo after winning her fourth consecutive Ranking Series title. The world bronze medalist collected 14 points to move up to the first place.

Vinesh quickly dialed in and found her distance in the gold medal match against Khrystyna BEREZA (UKR). She struck twice on open double legs and commanded the comfortable 4-0 opening-period lead. In the closing frame, she used a counter-offensive quarter nelson to expose Bereza before adding one last takedown for good measures for the 8-0 win.

The win takes her to 69 points in the seeding while Pak will be at 60. Mukaida will be at third with 55 points. Luisa Elizabeth VALVERDE MELENDRES (ECU) will claim the fourth spot with 50 points.

The home country also had a lot to cheer about as Anhelina LYSAK (POL) gave it a gold medal after whipping over Yuliia LISOVSKA (UKR) in the finals for the fall. Lysak’s Ukrainian opponent shot a head outside single when she was put on the activity clock.

Anhelina LYSAK Poland Open

Lysak got Lisovska's head to put her down on the mat. She held on to that until the pin was called in a minute and 51 seconds.

The Pole was in destructive mood on Thursday as she gave up only one point in the four matches she wrestled.

Ukraine did manage to take the gold medal from Warsaw as Alla BELINSKA (UKR) won all her four bouts in the nelson bracket to claim the gold at 72kg.

Throughout the day, the Ukrainian beat Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) 6-5, Catalina AXENTE (ROU) via fall, Evgeniia ZAKHARCHENKO (RUS) via fall and Buse TOSUN (TUR) 5-4.

RESULTS

53kg
GOLD - Vinesh VINESH (IND) df. Khrystyna BEREZA (UKR), 8-0
BRONZE - Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL) df. Milana DADASHEVA (RUS), via cautions
BRONZE - Amy Ann FEARNSIDE (USA) df. Ekaterina POLESHCHUK (RUS), 2-1

57kg
GOLD - Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) df. Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR), via forfeit
BRONZE - Jowita WRZESIEN (POL) df Magdalena GLODEK (POL), 8-0
BRONZE - Tetyana KIT (UKR) df. Valeria KOBLOVA ZHOLOBOVA (RUS), 8-7

59kg
GOLD - Anhelina LYSAK (POL) df. Yuliia LISOVSKA (UKR), via fall
BRONZE - Diana KAYUMOVA (KAZ) df. Elif YANIK (TUR), 14-4

68kg
GOLD - Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) df. Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR), 3-0
BRONZE - Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) df. Danielle LAPPAGE (CAN), 3-1
BRONZE - Forrest MOLINARI (USA) df. Khanum VELIEVA (RUS), via fall

72kg
GOLD – Alla BELINSKA (UKR) (4-0)
SILVER - Buse TOSUN (TUR) (3-1)
BRONZE - Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) (2-2)

#WrestleSamokov

Iliasov levels up to win 130kg gold; Iran Greco champ again

Sunday, August 24, 2025 - 19:38 By Vinay Siwach

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SAMOKOV, Bulgaria (August 24) -- Ali ILIASOV (UWW) made his international wrestling debut at the European U20 Championships in July and won a silver medal. Two months later, the 18-year-old is a world champion.

Wrestling at his career first World U20 Championships on Sunday, Iliasov emerged at the champion in the 130kg weight with victories over rivals more experienced and heavier, literally, than him.

Weighing only 115kg for the 130kg final, Iliasov defeated returning silver medalist Abolfazl FATHITAZANGI (IRI) in the semifinals and on Sunday, he managed to humble two-time world U17 champion Yusuf BAKIR (TUR) in the final and win the gold medal.

"I’m underweight for the class but I feel a kind of relief," Iliasov said. "I’ve fulfilled a small dream of mine. I still haven’t fully realized that I’ve become a world champion."

Overall, Iran became the team champions with 117 points. Armenia managed second-place finish with 98 points and Azerbaijan was third with 90 points. This was Iran's fourth straight team win in Greco at the World U20 Championships.

Ali ILIASOV (UWW)Ali ILIASOV (UWW) turns Yusuf BAKIR (TUR) for two points during the 130kg final at the World U20 Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Iliasov was only 10 seconds into the final against Bakir when he used an arm-drag and had Bakir in trouble. Bakir managed to stop the takedown but he stepped out and was cautioned for fleeing as well. Iliasov led 2-0 after this sequence.

A similar arm drag brought down Bakir to the mat and Iliasov scored his first takedown. A stepout made the score 5-0. Iliasov remained relesntless in his attacks and a snapdown helped him score another takedown on Bakir. He then turned Bakir for the match-winning gut-wrench.

"I managed to beat my opponent so decisively was because I was extremely confident in myself, even more confident than he was," he said.

While he blanked Bakir in the final, Iliasov did have his share of close bout in Samokov. In his opening bout, Iliasov had a close 7-6 victory over Viachaslau FEDARYNA (UWW). He scored a technical superiority win over Leonhard JUNGER (AUT) in the second match before facing Fathitanzangi in the semifinals.

"I would say I was warming up, a little nervous [in the first bout]," he said. "After that first match I completely opened up."

In the semifinals, Iliasov led 3-0 when Fathitanzangi went for a pushout. Iliasov tried to stop it by throwing Fathitanzangi but he landed on his back and the Iranian wrestler was given two points.

As Fathitanzangi was awarded par terre position in the second period, he also got the 3-3 criteria lead over Iliasov. The Iranian tried defending his lead for the win but Iliasov managed to circle around and bring him down for two points. Fathitanzangi pulled one back with a stepout but that was all as Iliasov entered the gold-medal bout with a 5-4 win.

"My performance can be rated 9 out of 10," he said. "Because in the semifinal I strayed a bit from my tactics, lost focus, and almost gave away points."

With experience from this World U20 Championships, Iliasov now wants to switch to senior level as early as next year.

"I’ll try at the senior level," he said. "Of course, that’s another level, wrestler with much more experience. But I’ll do my best to test myself."

Georgia double

Georgia earned two gold medals on the final day of the World U20 Championships, a feat the country has not achieved since 2016.

Anri PUTKARADZE (GEO) and Luka KOCHALIDZE (GEO) came out with dominant performances in the 77kg and 87kg finals respectively to bring home two golds for Georgia.

Anri PUTKARADZE (GEO)Anri PUTKARADZE (GEO) hits a counter attack against Ahoura BOUVEIRI (IRI) during the 77kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At 77kg, Putkaradze was up against Ahoura BOUVEIRI (IRI) in the final and got the par terre position. He managed to turn Bouveiri two times for a 5-0 lead. In the second period Bouveiri had the chance to turn it around when he the top position in par terre.

Things, however, did not go that way. As Bouveiri was trying lift Putkaradze, the Georgian countered with a bodylock and then slammed him for two-point takedown. He then turned the Iranian for two more points and won the gold medal, 9-1. Iran challenged for a foul but there was none and one more point was added to his score to make it 10-1.

Luka KOCHALIDZE (GEO)Luka KOCHALIDZE (GEO) celebrates with his coach after winning the 87kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

The second gold came from Kochalidze as he pinned Abdurakhman ABDULKADYROV (UWW) in the 87kg final. In a rematch of the European U20 Championships final at 87kg, Abdulkadyrov was hoping to avenge his loss from Carole, Italy.

He was given the par terre advantage in the first period and he tried turning Kochalidze, who blocked the turn but lost his grip as well and the turns were called neutral. As Abdulkadyrov was back on top, he again tried to turn Kochalidze who managed stop Abdulkadyrov and kept him on the mat till the fall was called.

Georgia was the only country to win two gold medals in this competition in Greco-Roman.

At 63kg, senior Asian champion Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB) proved why he will be medal threat in Zagreb with a dominant run to gold-medal. He defeated Aleks MARGARYAN (ARM), 12-2, with two big four-point throws.

Khalmakhanov began with a underhook throw for a takedown in the first 20 seconds. He tried the same move again but Margaryan blocked and scored a takedown for a 2-2 criteria lead. Late in the first period, Khalmakhanov was awarded the par terre position for one point but he failed to score and led 3-2 at the break.

If Margaryan hoped for a better second period, Khalmakhanov had no such idea. He slammed Margaryan from standing using the underhook for four points. He continued the sequence and lifted Margaryan and slammed him forward for four more points.

The two big throws for Khalmakhanov were enough for him for the win despite a challenge from Armenia. The lost challenged made his score 12-2.

RESULTS

63kg
GOLD: Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB) df. Aleks MARGARYAN (ARM), 12-2

BRONZE: Mohammad ABOUTALEBI (IRI) df. Kristiyan MILENKOV (BUL), 9-0
BRONZE: Igor PUNCHENKO (UWW) df. Damir IBRASHOV (KAZ), 5-1

77kg
GOLD: Anri PUTKARADZE (GEO) df. Ahoura BOUVEIRI (IRI), 10-1

BRONZE: Zaur BESLEKOEV (UWW) df. Raatbek PAIAZBEKOV (KGZ), 8-0
BRONZE: Kiryl VALEUSKI (UWW) df. Leister BOWLING (USA), 9-0

87kg
GOLD: Luka KOCHALIDZE (GEO) df. Abdurakhman ABDULKADYROV (UWW), via fall

BRONZE: Erik TER MATEVOSYAN ( ARM) df. Elias LYYSKI (FIN), 1-1
BRONZE: Temirlan TURDAKYN (KAZ) df. Orkhan HAJIYEV (AZE), 4-4

130kg
GOLD: Ali ILIASOV (UWW) df. Yusuf BAKIR (TUR), 9-0

BRONZE: Ivan YANKOVSKYI (UKR) df. Mazaim MARDANOV (AZE), 8-0
BRONZE: Abolfazl FATHITAZANGI (IRI) df. Viachaslau FEDARYNA (UWW), 5-1