#WrestleIstanbul

Live Blog: Yasar Dogu, Vehbi Emre & Hamit Kaplan Ranking Series Day 3

By United World Wrestling Press

ISTANBUL, Turkey (February 26) -- The Yasar Dogu, Vehbi Emre & Hamit Kaplan Ranking Series event enters the third day with six women's and two men's freestyle weight classes in action.

Three-time Ranking Series gold medalist Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) will be in action at 55kg and can face world champion Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) in the later stages of the tournament. Junior world champion Emma MALMGREN (SWE) and world silver medalist Iulia LEORDA (MDA) are wrestling at 53kg with Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL) also in the same bracket. In the men's 97kg bracket, Mohammad MOHAMMADIAN (IRI) makes a comeback since the Tokyo Olympics.

MATCH ORDER | LIVE STREAM

15:55: A pin for Winchester! She puts Phogat on the back and there is no resistance from the Indian wrestler. Winchester wins her semifinal. At 53kg, world silver medalist Iulia LEORDA (MDA) pulls off a 4-4 semifinal against Milana DADASHEVA (RWF)

15:50: No space given by either wrestler. Phogat is put on the clock in the second period. She has 30 seconds to score. Winchester gets the point. She leads 1-1. A go behind to extend the lead 3-1. She also gets exposure for two more. 5-1 Winchester. Phogat gets a stepout and a caution point. 5-3 Winchester.

15:40: Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) and Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) are on Mat C for their 55kg semifinal. A minute goes by and no points on the board by any wrestler. Both wrestlers get verbal warnings for inactivity. Winchester is put on the clock first. Phogat gets the one point. Phogat tried the whip while Winchester went for a double leg. None materializing. Phogat leads 1-0 at the break

15: 20: Anna SCHELL (GER) and Buse CAVUSOGLU TOSUN (TUR) is just what we needed. Tosun had a 9-2 lead but then Schell worked hard to get it to 11-13. Exposure to make it 13-13 for the German before she closed it out 15-13. 28 points in that 72kg semifinal

15:05: Taha AKGUL (TUR) is into the semifinal at 125kg. He beats Oleg BOLTIN (KAZ) 6-1 with a quick takedown and roll. On Mat B, Mohammad MOHAMMADIAN (IRI) rolls on with another technical superiority win at 97kg

15:00: Forrest MOLINARI (USA) avenges her Ivan Yargiun Grand Prix loss to Emma BRUNTIL (USA) with a pin at 65kg. A cradle to the back to get the fall

14:50: Zhabrailov's strength is just a notch higher than Moore's and he takes the bout 8-2. Taha AKGUL (TUR) coming up on Mat A 

14:45: Kollin MOORE (USA) and Alikhan ZHABRAILOV (RWF) are wrestling on Mat A. The RWF wrestler is up 4-2 at the break. Moore needs a big comeback here

14:35: Forrest MOLINARI (USA) vs Emma BRUNTIL (USA) is coming up on Mat B next!

14:30: Emilia VUC (ROU) moves into the semifinal at 50kg with a 10-5 win over Amy FEARNSIDE (USA). She looks on a mission here in Istanbul

14:25: A big bout at 97kg. Kollin Raymond MOORE (USA) will be up against Alikhan ZHABRAILOV (RWF) on Mat A shortly. Could be some fireworks. The other semifinal will have Mohammad MOHAMMADIAN (IRI) and Mustafa SESSIZ (TUR)

14:15: Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) continues her winning run at 59kg. She has got another pin and will be moving into the semifinals later in the evening.

13:55: Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) over Ekaterina ISAKOVA (RWF) 9-5. Winchester completely tired out Isakova to move on at 55kg. A Phogat-Winchester bout on the line

13:45: Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) was in real trouble against ANJU (IND) after she gave up a four and lost the challenge. But she managed a takedown in the final 15 seconds to secure an 8-7 win. 

13:25: USA wrestlers Emma BRUNTIL and Frank MOLINARI remain on course to face each other as the former wins 10-0 while Molinari pins her opponent

13:05: Tokyo bronze medalist Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL) in her elements as she goes past Pooja GEHLOT (IND) 12-1 at 53kg. Just too easy for the Mongolian

12:55: World silver medalist Iulia LEORDA (MDA) had two chances to pin Emma MALMGREN (SWE) but the Sweden wrestler survived both times. But Leorda gets in the third time. Looks like Malmgrem might have got stuck in a lock there. 

12:50: Taha AKGUL (TUR) is moving on! He dominates Magomedgadzhi NURASULOV (SRB) and makes it looks easy. 11-0 win for him

12:40: Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) with a statement win over Erin GOLSTON (USA). She moves on at 50kg. On Mat A, we have Gennadij CUDINOVIC (GER) leading Khasanboy RAKHIMOV (UZB) 6-1 at 125kg. He pins to win

12:20:  Two-time world medalist Emilia VUC (ROU) is on Mat B. She is wrestling Evin DEMIRHAN YAVUZ (TUR) who has a lot of support in the arena. Vuc leads 1-0 after Demirhan was called for inactivity. A takedown to add two more. Vuc defending every shot attempt from Demirhan. But the Turkey wrestler has a cradle looking for pin. But the clock runs out. Vuc hangs on for a 3-2 win. Wait... There's a challenge from Turkey. Demirhan is asking for another exposure. Challenge lost and it's actually Vuc's move. She gets two points for exposure. One point for Demirhan for reversal. 6-1 win for Vuc

12:00: European champion Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) was not starting the day in any other style. She pins Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE) inside two minutes to win her first bout at 59kg

11:45: Former world champion Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) led 7-0 at the break and then needs 43 seconds more to finish her qualification bout 11-0 against KAPPAR (KAZ).

11:44: World bronze medalist Sartita MOR (IND) is up against Jowita WRZESIEN (POL). The two start off on a slow note. Wrzesin is called passive and Mor has a 1-0 lead. The Poland wrestler scores a takedown and leads 2-1. A takedown for Mor and it's 3-2 for her. Dying moments of the bout Wrzseien seals it with another to win 4-3

11:40: A single leg takedown to finish things off. It's 11-0 win for the Iran wrestler. A comeback on a positive note for the Tokyo Olympian.

11:35: Mohammad MOHAMMADIAN (IRI) is up on Mat C. He is wrestling Mukhammadrasul RAKHIMOV (UZB). A takedown on the edge for Mohammdian to begin the proceedings. He is up 2-0. A step out to add one more. He adds another takedown plus a gut wrench. One more and he leads 9-0 at the break.

11:25: Junior world champion Emma MALMGREN (SWE) begins the day with a convincing pin over Anzhelika VETOSHKINA (RWF). Some clean shots from her to be up 8-1 before getting the fall

11:10: Khasanboy RAKHIMOV (UZB) is wrestling Asian champion Alisher YERGALI (KAZ) at 125kg. Back and forth from the two with Rakhimov leading Yergali 4-4 on criteria. He then gets a takedown close to the danger zone and makes it 6-4. Huge win on his comeback from Rakhimov. He wins 8-4

10:55: Taha AKGUL (TUR) is making his way to Mat A. A loud section of fans. He is wrestling Gabriel TYSZ (SVK). That was quick. Akgul begins with an 11-0 win

10:30: Welcome to the third day of the Ranking Series event here in Istanbul. Women's and men's freestyle wrestlers will be in action in what promises to be an action-packed day.

#WrestleIstanbul

Kolitsopoulos wins Greece's first-ever U17 Worlds gold

By Vinay Siwach

ISTANBUL (August 2) -- Over the years, close to 200 wrestlers from Greece had vied for a U17 World Championships gold medal, but none managed to break through. That changed when Arionas KOLITSOPOULOS (GRE) stepped up. He became the first wrestler from Greece to win a gold medal in the U17 world event in any style, finally breaking the barrier.

While six wrestlers from Greece had secured seven world titles in different age groups and styles, none had achieved it at the U17 level. Kolitsopoulos also put an end to a 24-year drought for a Greco-Roman world gold medal, a feat accomplished by Theofanis ANAGNOSTOU (GRE) at the U20 World Championships in 1999.

No one would have bet on the 17-year-old Kolitsopoulus achieving this historic feat just two months ago. At the U17 European Championships in Triana, Albania, he suffered an opening-round defeat at the hands of Salih YAZICI (TUR) and finished 18th in the tournament.

"At the European Championships, I lost," Kolitsopoulos said. "I was not ready. I got angry."

Fortunately, he channeled that anger in the right way and rallied to beat some of the world's best wrestlers, including U17 Asian champion Ahmadreza MOHAMADIAN (IRI) in the 71kg final, winning the gold medal on the third day of the U17 World Championships.

As Greco-Roman concluded in Istanbul on Wednesday, Iran managed to defend its team title with 113 points, with Azerbaijan finishing a close second with 108 points. Georgia secured the third spot with 96 points, India came in fourth with 88 points, and Armenia claimed the fifth position with 77 points.

Kolitsopoulos' journey began on Tuesday as he secured wins over Cristian RISCA (MDA) in the opening round, Seongmin JANG (KOR) in the pre-quarterfinals, Dias SEITKALIYEV (KAZ) in the quarterfinals, and U17 European champion Abdurakhman ABDULKADYROV (AIN) in the semifinals.

The semifinal win over Abdulkadyrov was just a small hurdle on his path to becoming a champion. On Wednesday, he faced a formidable force in Mohamadian, who even had a 5-3 lead at one point in the final.

During the first period, Mohamadian was put in par terre and Kolitsopoulos managed to get a turn for a 3-0 lead. However, Mohamadian scored a reversal and executed a throw for four points and led 5-3 at the break.

"My plan was to be the aggressor from the start but it was only in the second par terre that I managed to win," he said.

Mohamadian was handed a second passivity in the second period, a rarity in Greco-Roman to see the same wrestler being called passive consecutively. That narrowed Mohamadian's lead to 5-4. Kolitsopoulos executed another turn, taking a 6-5 lead with 37 seconds left. Mohamadian attempted to find an opening but failed, resulting in a historic win for the Greek wrestler.

"I have dreamed it like thousand times," he said. "I am feeling great and I hope kids out there in Greece start training more to become like me or better."

Kolitsopoulos, an ardent follower of Olympic and world champion Mohammareza GERARI (IRI), draws inspiration from his father and coach, Alexios, a former Greco-Roman wrestler who competed at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Both of Arionas' parents cheered him on from the stands in Istanbul.

Though the senior level is still a while away for Kolitsopoulos, he has already set his sights on surpassing his father's achievements.

"The most important thing is the results at the senior level," he said. "So step by step. Maybe next year I will be ready for seniors. I am not ready now because it's different power between senior and U17.

"I made history because my father was a talent. So I am talented but why not be better than him."

Saba PURTSELADZE (GEO)Saba PURTSELADZE (GEO) won the 92kg gold after beating Saipula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (AIN) 7-7 in the final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

In another victory marked by a stunning comeback, Saba PURTSELADZE (GEO) beat Saipula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (AIN), 7-7, to claim the gold medal at 92kg.

The two had clashed in the U17 European Championships final as well and Purtseladze won that bout 4-3 after leading 4-0 at the break.

But in Istanbul, Purtseladze was put in par terre in the first period and Gadzhimagomedov scored exposure using a front headlock to lead 3-0. While for the second exposure, Purtseladze blocked him by pulling his singlet for which he was docked two points. Georgia challenged the call but lost, adding one more point to Gadzhimagomedov's score.

The bout resumed in pat terre but Gadzhimagomedov failed to score any more points and the two wrestlers went into the break with the AIN wrestler leading 6-0.

Purtseladze began the second period with an arm-throw and was awarded two points for the correct throw. Gadzhimagomedov scored a reversal in the same sequence to lead 7-2.

Gadzhimagomedov was called passive 33 seconds later and was put in forced par terre. Purtseladze failed to get any of his moves in par terre and left Gadzhimagomedov 53 seconds to defend the 7-3 score.

But with 36 seconds left on the clock, Purtseladze produced an underhook to throw Gadzhimagomedov back-first on the mat and score four vital points which gave him a 7-7 criteria lead.

Gadzhimagomedov had little energy left in him to score any points to regain his lead and suffered a heartbreaking loss to Purtseladze for the second time in two months.

Ilia KANDALIN (AIN)Ilia KANDALIN (AIN) added a U17 Worlds title to his U17 European gold. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Individual Neutral Athletes did capture one gold and U17 European champion Ilia KANDALIN (AIN) did it in some style.

Wrestling Artur BROYAN (ARM) in the final at 51kg, Kandalin was effortless in the two minutes and 38 seconds he spend on the mat. He put the first points on the scoreboard by getting a stepout using a strong underhook. Broyan was called passive soon and Kandalin used two gut-wrenches to extend his lead to 6-0. Just before the 30-second period, Kandalin scored another stepout to lead 7-0.

It took him 38 seconds more to finish the bout 9-0 and add a world title to the European gold he won in Triana. With his win, Kandalin remains unbeaten internationally in three tournaments. He also has U15 European gold medal to his name.

In the quarterfinals, he defeated Koba KARUMIDZE (GEO) 5-1, a better margin than the 4-3 win he scored over Karumidze in the opening round in Triana.

Roman KARIMOV (AZE)Roman KARIMOV (AZE) attempts a gut-wrench against Saba SURMANIDZE (GEO) in the 60kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 60kg, Roman KARIMOV (AZE) hung on to a one-point lead and beat Saba SURMANIDZE (GEO) 4-3 to win the gold medal.

Surmanidze was called passive in the first period but he defended all attempts from Karimov to score any points. He tried an arm-drag but an alert Karimov fleed. Surmanidze tried to use that momentum for a body throw but Karimov landed on top of Surmanidze, earning himself two points before the break.

Karimov was put in par terre in the second period and Surmanidze tried a reverse left before switching to a chest-wrap. He managed to expose Karimov who got out of the hold and scored a reversal. However, the score read 4-1 as Surmanidze's points were not awarded initially. Georgia challenged and won with the score 4-3 in Karimov's favor and 54 seconds left on the clock.

Despite U17 Euro bronze medalist Surmanidze's best efforts to score a point, Karimov held his lead and won the gold medal.

Rustem ABATSIEV (AIN)Rustem ABATSIEV (AIN), blue, was declared a joint-champion at 45kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Two golds at 45kg
In a rare instance, two wrestlers  -- Turan DASHDAMIROV (AZE) and Rustem ABATSIEV (AIN) -- were declared winners at 45kg after their gold medal bout at the U17 World Championships in Istanbul, Turkiye.

The first final of the night saw Dashdamirov and Abatsiev wrestling with the former getting the first advantage when Abatsiev was called passive. He lifted the AIN wrestler and executed the throw which got him a point as Abatasiev landed out of bounds. Abatsiev was cautioned for using his leg to stop Dashdamirov's attack.

With a 4-0 lead, Dashdamirov was put in par terre in the second period. Abatsiev scored a turn to cut the lead to 4-3 with a minute left on the clock.

At 3:42, the referee warned Dashdamirov for locking fingers and a caution-and-one was given against Dashdamirov with 6.2 seconds left which should have given Abatsiev the criteria advantage. But the scoreboard wrongfully showed Dashdamirov as the bout leader, and after the 6.2 seconds expired, the Azerbaijan wrestler's hand was raised, declaring him the winner of the final.

According to United World Wrestling’s rules, once a winner of a bout is declared, the result cannot be changed. The technical committee of the U17 World Championships held a review and arrived at the decision to award both wrestlers the 45kg title.

Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN)Defending champion Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) defeated NEHA (IND) 8-4 at 57kg. (Photo: UWW / Ulug Bugra Han)

Japan gets 4 in WW finals

Japan would be a happy team after day one of women's wrestling as it managed to get four out of five wrestlers in the final. Mona EZAKA (JPN), Rinka OGAWA (JPN), Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) and Chisato YOSHIDA (JPN) will wrestle for gold on Thursday.

Ezaka, Uchida and Yoshida are returning finalists with only Uchida as the defending champion. She continued from where she left last year and began with two 10-0 wins over Nikola PIECHOCKA (POL) and Kai Yi LI (TPE).

Next up was U17 Asian champion NEHA (IND) and after a few uncomfortable moments in the bout, Uchida was quick to win 8-4. A 10-0 semifinal win against Yeo Jin MIN (KOR) confirmed her place in the final in which she will face Eylem ENGIN (TUR).

Ezaka, the silver medalist from Rome, posted three wins via fall including one over PARVEEN (IND) to reach the final at 43kg. She will now face Morgan TURNER (USA) who defeated Nilufar NURMUKHAMMADOVA (UZB), 4-2, in the other semifinal.

Yoshida, who lost to Harshita MOR (IND) in the final last year, will try to win the gold medal against Duygu GEN (TUR) at 65kg. Both wrestlers defeated AIN wrestlers in the semifinals with Yoshida beating Margarita SALNAZARIAN (AIN) 5-0 while Gen won 10-1 against Maryia MAKARCHANKA (AIN).

Ogawa will be looking for the first U17 world gold as she takes on U17 European champion Sviatlana KATENKA (AIN) in the 49kg final. The two wrestlers were clearly more dominant than the rest of the field at 49kg. Ogawa won the semifinal via fall against Tana TIULIUSH (AIN) while Katena defeated Heather CRULL (USA) 10-1.

In the other final with no Japan wrestler, returning bronze medalist Lotta ENGLICH (GER) will wrestle Piper FOWLER (USA) for the gold at 73kg. Englich defeated Asaloy AMANGELDIEVA (UZB), 2-1, in the semifinal while Fowler was a little more aggressive to win 10-2 against Aliaksandra KAZLOVA (AIN) 10-2.

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RESULTS

Greco-Roman

45kg
GOLD: Turan DASHDAMIROV (AZE) df. RUSTEM ABATSIEV (AIN), 4-4

BRONZE: Yurik MKHITARYAN (ARM) df. Nika TSETSKHLADZE (GEO), 9-0
BRONZE: Alireza AMIRIGHASRODDASHTI (IRI) df. Kadyrbek ALMANBETOV (KGZ), 5-1

51kg
GOLD: Ilia KANDALIN (AIN) df. Artur BROYAN (ARM), 9-0

BRONZE: Koba KARUMIDZE (GEO) df. Dostonbek ORIPOV (UZB), 3-1
BRONZE: Manu YADAV (IND) df. Husniddin ULUGBEKOV (TKM), 9-0 

60kg
GOLD: Roman KARIMOV (AZE) df. Saba SURMANIDZE (GEO), 4-3

BRONZE: Kiryl VALEUSKI (AIN) df. Yerdaulet LASSIM (KAZ), 12-8
BRONZE: Mingiian GORIAEV (AIN) df. VARUN (IND), 15-6

71kg
GOLD: Arionas KOLITSOPOULOS (GRE) df. Ahmadreza MOHAMADIAN (IRI), 6-5

BRONZE: Alkan AKAR (TUR) df. Luka LOMADZE (GEO), 5-1
BRONZE: Abdurakhman ABDULKADYROV (AIN) df. Dias SEITKALIYEV (KAZ), 10-0

92kg
GOLD: Saba PURTSELADZE (GEO) df. Saipula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (AIN), 7-7

BRONZE: Mikayil ISMAYILOV (AZE) df. Aliakbar ASGHAR (IRI), 3-1
BRONZE: Gabriel STAN (ROU) df. Maxim UKRAINTSEV (KAZ), 9-0

Women's Wrestling Semifinals

43kg
GOLD: Mona EZAKA (JPN) vs. Morgan TURNER (USA)

SF 1: Mona EZAKA (JPN) df. Maria GKIKA (GRE), via fall (8-0)
SF 2: Morgan TURNER (USA) df. Nilufar NURMUKHAMMADOVA (UZB), 4-2

49kg
GOLD: Sviatlana KATENKA (AIN) vs. Rinka OGAWA (JPN)

SF 1: Sviatlana KATENKA (AIN) df. Heather CRULL (USA), 10-1
SF 2: Rinka OGAWA (JPN) df. Tana TIULIUSH (AIN), via fall (6-0)

57kg
GOLD: Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) vs. Eylem ENGIN (TUR)

SF 1: Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) df. YeoJin MIN (KOR), 10-0
SF 2: Eylem ENGIN (TUR) df. Aziza KELDIBEKOVA (KGZ), 4-2

65kg
GOLD: Duygu GEN (TUR) vs. Chisato YOSHIDA (JPN)

SF 1: Duygu GEN (TUR) df. Maryia MAKARCHANKA (AIN), 10-1
SF 2: Chisato YOSHIDA (JPN) df. Margarita SALNAZARIAN (AIN), 5-0

73kg
GOLD: Lotta ENGLICH (GER) vs. Piper FOWLER (USA)

SF 1: Lotta ENGLICH (GER) df. Asaloy AMANGELDIEVA (UZB), 2-1
SF 2: Piper FOWLER (USA) df. Aliaksandra KAZLOVA (AIN), 10-2