#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

#WrestleIstanbul Weight-to-Watch: Freestyle 65kg

By Vinay Siwach

ISTANBUL, Turkey (February 9) -- Bajrang PUNIA (IND) is unbeaten at Ranking Series events. The Indian wrestler has five golds and is looking to extend his record as he is scheduled to compete at the Yasar Dogu Ranking Series event in Istanbul Turkey.

But the Yasar Dogu may be his toughest test yet.

The Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist is entered at 65kg alongside five other world medalists who'll be looking to make a splash at the February 24-27 event, making it the competition's Weight-to-watch.

World champion Zagir SHAKIEV (RWF) and Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) are two wrestlers that can make life difficult for Punia in Istanbul while Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL), Shamil MAMEDOV (RWF) and Beka LOMTADZE (GEO) are other wrestlers who can stop him from winning gold on any given day.

Punia, however, feels that it is more about returning to the mat than his unbeaten record at the Ranking Series event which stretches back to 2018.

"I have not wrestled competitively in six months and I am desperate to return," Punia said. "I was looking forward to competing in Rome but now I am focused on the Istanbul event. While I know about my medals, I just want to get going for the year and take it from there. There are some strong wrestlers on the list but when has 65kg been a walk in the park?"

Regarded as one of the deepest weights in the world, 65kg will give wrestling fans some fireworks, aptly on the final day of the tournament.

A Punia-Muszukajev bout has been long been desired by the fans. It will be a match of contrasting styles as Punia high-paced wrestling will be up against Muszukajev's sneaky attacks and defense for six minutes.

Muszukajev has had a see-saw career since taking a transfer from Russia to Hungary. He won a bronze medal at the Worlds in 2019 but failed to win any medal at the European Championships. He also lost his bronze-medal bout at the Tokyo Games.

In Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV's (RWF) absence, Muszukajev, who has lost to Rashidov twice now, may fancy his chances but he will have to go past Shakhiev.

Zagir SHAKHIEV vs Amir YAZDANIZagir SHAKHIEV (RWF) defeated Amirmohammed YAZDANI (IRI) to win gold in Oslo. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Shakhiev, 22, will face the field of Tokyo Olympians for the first time since winning the gold in Oslo four months ago. He will be challenged by the veterans of this weight class and also his compatriot Mamedov as the Russian Wrestling Federation is expected to treat the event as the trial for senior European Championships which are scheduled a month after Yasar Dogu.

Mamedov won the junior world title in August in Ufa, Russia but his Ivan Yargiun gold medal last month earned him a shot to challenge Shakhiev for the Euros spot. In case RWF decides to throw in Tokyo bronze medalist Rashidov, it may become a three-way battle in March.

Tulga Tumur Ochir was also on the podium in Oslo. He has been the dark horse of this weight class for quite some time. He almost had his first Ranking Series gold last year in Rome but Punia defeated him in the dying moments of the final. He can avenge that loss along with the one he suffered in the 2019 Worlds bronze medal bout in which he had Punia on the back but failed to secure the pin. The two also wrestled back in the quarterfinals of the 2018 Worlds in which Punia became first Indian to reach to win two medals at the event.

Lomtadze, the '19 world champion at 61kg, will move up to 65kg to be Georgia's mainstay at the weight after the retirement of world and Olympic champion Vladimir KHINCHEGASHVILI (GEO). The Yasar Dogu will be his third competition up at his new weight class. He also wrestled at the '21 Medved and the World Olympic Qualifier, where he finished in fifth and eighth, respectivly.

Another wrestler who has wrestled Punia twice at Ranking Series is Joseph MC KENNA (USA). A two-time medalist at the Ranking events, McKenna will be looking to make his first final in Istanbul.

Adlan ASKAROV (KAZ) is making a move up to 65kg from his preferred 61kg for this competition. He is a U23 world and Asian championship silver medalist but it will be a big test for Askarov as he tries to fill the shoes of Daulet NIYAZBEKOV (KAZ) who retired after the Tokyo Olympics. 

A few young stars are also named in the category. Ali RAHIMZADE (AZE), a two-time European bronze medalist, will like to be on the podium to earn a chance to challenge Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Haji ALIYEV (AZE) on the national team. It may be a three-way battle as the 2013 junior world champion and 2016 Worlds bronze medalist Akhmednabi GVARZATILOV (AZE) is also looking to make an impact.

20-year-old Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR), who won the Junior European Championships last year, can spring a surprise in the Turkish capital. He will be joined by former Cadet Worlds and Youth Olympic Games champion Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) who will be wrestling at the senior level for the first time.

The 65kg lot in all likelihood will throw some surprises but Punia, Muszukajev, and Tumur Ochir have their reputation on line against some of the upcoming names in the weight class.

For complete coverage of the Ranking Series events, Continental Championships and the World Championships, subscribe to the United World Wrestling's newsletter here. 

65kg
Ali RAHIMZADE (AZE)
Akhmednabi GVARZATILOV (AZE)
Ilman MUKHTAROV (FRA)
Quentin STICKER (FRA)
Beka LOMTADZE (GEO)
Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN)
ROHIT (IND)
Bajrang PUNIA (IND)
Rahman Daryoosh RAHIMPOOR (IRI)
Morteza Hassanali GHIASI CHEKA (IRI)
Adlan ASKAROV (KAZ)
Adil OSPANOV (KAZ)
Bekzat YERMEKBAY (KAZ)
Ikromzhon KHADZHIMURODOV (KGZ)
Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL)
Tsogbadrakh TSEVEENSUREN (MGL)
Nikolai OKHLOPKOV (ROU)
Shamil MAMEDOV (RUS)
Zagir SHAKHIEV (RUS)
Ertugrul KAHVECI (TUR)
Mensur BAYOGLU (TUR)
Munir AKTAS (TUR)
Ozgur GOK (TUR)
Mustafa ZOPALI (TUR)
Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR)
Joseph MC KENNA (USA)
Evan HENDERSON (USA)
Abbos RAKHMONOV (UZB)
Nodir RAKHIMOV (UZB)
Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB)