Euro

London 2012 Silver Medalist Lorincz Books Ticket to Rio at European OG Qualifier

By William May

ZRENJANIN, Serbia (April 15) – London 2012 silver medalist Tamas LORINCZ (HUN) booked his ticket to a third Olympic Games on Friday with a semifinal victory on the opening day of the European Olympic Games qualifying tournament in north central Serbia.

The three-time European champion snared a 6-4 triumph over European Games bronze medalist Dominik ETLINGER (CRO) in the 66kg semifinals in Greco-Roman to secure a berth for Hungary in Rio de Janiero this summer.

“It feels great to be going to the Olympics for a third time,” Lorincz said, adding with a wry smile “This is definitely my last Olympics – at 66kg.”

Much of Lorincz’s success the last two years, including two of his European titles, has come at the non-Olympic weight category of 71kg, while he has missed the medals podium on two of his last three trips to the world championships at 66kg.

With a ticket to Rio hanging in the balance in his bout with Etlinger, Lorincz appeared to be guilty of a false start in par terre making the score 4-4 with one minute remaining. A video review, however, resulted in a reversed call and a 6-2 lead for Lorincz.

“I thought it was about 50-50 that the challenge would be successful, but I trust my coach and now I’m happy he made the challenge,” Lorincz said.

With the victory, Lorincz joins younger brother Viktor LORINCZ (HUN) as the second wrestler on Hungary’s Rio 2016 team. The younger Lorincz qualified at last September’s world championships in Las Vegas with a fifth-place finish at 85kg in Greco-Roman.

In Friday evening’s finals, Lorincz will face Shmagi BOLKVADZE (GEO) who grabbed Georgia’s first Rio 2016 ticket in Greco-Roman with a 5-0 victory over Dawid KARECINSKI (POL).  Bolkvadze converted in par terre with a front headlock and throw for four points in his win over Karecinski.

In other semifinals, Sanal SEMENOV (RUS) plugged one hole in Russia’s Greco-Roman juggernaut with a technical fall over Aleksandar KOSTADINOV (BUL) at 59kg. Semenov’s win gives Russia a fifth ticket in the six Greco-Roman categories for Rio 2016.

Meanwhile, Bulgaria and Poland each grabbed a pair of tickets to Rio.

Vladimir DUBOV (BUL), a world bronze medalist at the non-Olympic weight category of 61kg, rolled up three technical falls on his way to the finals at 57kg, while European Games runner-up Elitsa YANKOVA (BUL) outscored three opponents, 28-6, at 48kg in the women’s events.

Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL) opened up a 5-0 lead over 2013 world champion David SAFARYAN (ARM) in the freestyle semifinals at 65kg and a cruised home with a 7-2 victory. Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL), meanwhile, turned away European champion Irina OLOGONOVA (RUS), 10-7, in the quarterfinals on her way to a Rio 2016 berth.

The hometown fans also had plenty to cheer about as former world bronze medalist Kristijan FRIS (SRB) blanked three opponents at 59kg to earn his second trip to the Olympic Games, following a seventh place finish at Beijing 2008.

Freestyle
 

57kg (17 entries)

Semifinal – Garnik MNATSAKANYAN (ARM) df. Anatoli BURUIAN (MDA), 5-3

Semifinal – Vladimir DUBOV (BUL) df. Zoheir EL OUARRAQE (FRA) by TF, 12-0, 4:50

 

Gold – Garnik MNATSAKANYAN (ARM) v Vladimir DUBOV (BUL)

Bronze – Suleyman ATLI (TUR) v Anatoli BURUIAN (MDA)

Bronze – Levan METREVELI (ESP) v Zoheir EL OUARRAQE (FRA)


65kg (16 entries)

Semifinal – Andriy KVYATKOVSKY (UKR) df. Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO), 2-2 

Semifinal – Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL) df. David SAFARYAN (ARM), 7-2


Gold – Andriy KVYATKOVSKY (UKR) v Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL)

Bronze – Niko AROUZMANIDIS (GRE) v Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO)

Bronze – Maximilian AUSSERLEITNER (AUT) v David SAFARYAN (ARM)


Greco-Roman

59kg (19 entries)

Semifinal – Kristian FRIS (SRB) df. Stig-Andre BERGE (NOR) by TF, 8-0, 1:45

Semifinal – Sanal SEMENOV (RUS) df. Aleksandar KOSTADINOV (BUL) by TF, 11-2, 2:56


Gold – Kristian FRIS (SRB) v Sanal SEMENOV (RUS)

Bronze – Jani HAAPAMAEKI (FIN) v Stig-Andre BERGE (NOR)

Bronze – Ardit FAZLJIJA (SWE) v Aleksandar KOSTADINOV (BUL)


66kg (20 entries)

Semifinal – Shmagi BOLKVADZE (GEO) df. Dawid KARECINSKI (POL), 5-0

Semifinal – Tamas LORINCZ (HUN) df. Dominik ETLINGER (CRO), 6-4


Gold – Shamgi BOLKVADZE (GEO) v Tamas LORINCZ (HUN)

Bronze – Marius THOMMESEN (NOR) v Dawid KARECINSKI (POL)

Bronze – Artak MARGARYAN (FRA) v Dominik ETLINGER (CRO)


Women’s Wrestling

48kg (11 entries)

Semifinal – Emilia VUC (ROM) df. Natalya PULKOVSKA (UKR), 6-5 

Semifinal – Elista YANKOVA (BUL) df. Maryna MARKEVICH (BLR), 6-2


Gold – Emilia VUC (ROM) v Elista YANKOVA (BUL)

Bronze – Jacquline SCHELLIN (GER) v Natalya PULKOVSKA (UKR)

Bronze – Evin DEMIRKAN (TUR) v Maryna MARKEVICH (BLR)


53kg (14 entries)

Semifinal – Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL) df. Francesca MORI (ITA) by TF, 11-1, 3:19

Semifinal – Nina HEMMER (GER) df. Yulia KHAVALDZHY BLAHINYA (UKR), 10-8


Gold – Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL) v Nina HEMMER (GER)

Bronze – Irina OLOGONOVA (RUS) v Francesca MORI (ITA)

Bronze – Yulia KHAVALDZHY (UKR) v Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR)

#WrestleAmman

U20 World Championships Day 4 semifinals set

By Vinay Siwach

AMMAN, Jordan (August 17) -- Women's wrestling will continue on the fourth day of the U20 World Championships in Amman. 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 65kg and 72kg will be in action on Thursday before the evening session sees five new women's wrestling world champions.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

Women's wrestling semifinals for the evening session

53kg
Katie GOMEZ (USA) vs. Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR)
ANTIM (IND) vs. Polina LUKINA (AIN)

57kg
Ichika ARAI (JPN) vs. Gerda TEREK (HUN)
Shugyla OMIRBEK (KAZ) vs. Alina FILIPOVYCH (UKR)

62kg
SAVITA (IND) vs. Iris THIEBAUX (FRA)
Melanie JIMENEZ (MEX) vs. Astrid MONTERO (VEN)

65kg
Ekaterina KOSHKINA (AIN) vs. ANTIM (IND)
Khadija JLASSI (TUN) vs. Eniko ELEKES (HUN)

72kg
HARSHITA (IND) vs. Bukrenaz SERT (TUR)
Yuka FUJIKURA (JPN) vs. Amit ELOR (USA)

13:40: Yuka FUJIKURA (JPN) ends the session on a high for Japan, making her way to the 72kg semifinal after beating Kaiyrkul SHARSHEBAEVA (KGZ) 6-0. 

13:30: The semifinals line-up for 53kg is insane. Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR), an unbeaten wrestler internationally, will take on former U17 world champion and returning bronze medalist Katie GOMEZ (USA). In the other semifinal, defending U20 world champion and senior Asian silver medalist ANTIM (IND) will square off against Polina LUKINA (AIN) who has senior-level experience including a silver medal at the Yasar Dogu Ranking Series in 2022.

13:20: Returning bronze medalist at 62kg Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA) thought she has a foot in the semifinals, leading 5-4 against Melanie JIMENEZ (MEX). But the Mexican U20 Pan-Am champion launches Nwachukwu for a big throw for four with 5 seconds remaining. The United States challenged the call but it stood, giving Jimenez a 9-5 win.

13:15: If there is a secret to beating Amit ELOR (USA), no one has been able to find it. The latest in that attempt was Patrycja CUBER (POL) in the 72kg quarterfinals but Elor pins her inside the first period.

13:10: Suzu SASAKI (JPN) had hoped to avenge her 2022 U17 world final loss to SAVITA (IND) when she booked her spot on the Japan U20 team. It was going well as she led 6-4 but Savita cradled her for a fall in the 62kg quarterfinals. Sasaki left the mat overwhelmed with emotions.

13:07: Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) with another fall. She moves into the 53kg after pinning Gultakin SHIRINOVA (AZE). It will be interesting to see how she responds to wrestlers with extra experience.     

13:05: Returning U20 world champion ANTIM (IND) returns to the semifinals after a 12-2 technical superiority win over Xuejing LIANG (CHN). Total domination from the Indian wrestler.

13:00: Polina LUKINA (AIN) with a clutch performance. She scores four points in the final 10 seconds to beat Nagisa HARADA (JPN) 8-7 at 53kg. Lukina moves into the semifinals.

12:50: Katie GOMEZ (USA) avenges her loss from last year against Altyn SHAGAYEVA (KAZ) as she leg laces her for a 10-0 victory and moves into the 53kg semifinals. Can the former U17 world champion add a U20 world title?

12:45: Khadija JLASSI (TUN) will cherish this win for some time. She hangs on for a 6-5 win over Momoko KITADE (JPN) in the 65kg quarterfinals. Jlassi got a four-pointer from a cradle which kept her in the match which she ultimately won with Kitade straggling with her conditioning.

12:30: As if there ever any doubts! Senior, U23 and U20 world champion Amit ELOR (USA) takes 29 seconds to roll over Shamshiyabanu TASTANBEK (KAZ) using a leg lace and move into the semifinals at 72kg.

12:25: Two U17 world champions from India, SAVITA (IND) and HARSHITA (IND), also pin their campaign with wins at 62kg and 72kg respectively. Amit ELOR (USA) is coming up on Mat B shortly 

12:10: A fall for returning champion at 53kg ANTIM (IND)! Nikola WISNIEWSKA (POL) scored two points but was easily overpowered by Antim who secured a first-period fall

12:00: Returning bronze medalist Katie GOMEZ (USA) runs away to a 10-0 win over Carla JAUME (ESP) at 53kg. Gomez has to be one of the best technical wrestlers out there at this age level.

11:45: Two-time U17 world champion Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) begins her U20 world journey with a fall. An easy win over Nikol KRUMOVA (BUL) at 53kg.

11:25: A better for Japan today after a mixed day on Wednesday. Momoko KITADE (JPN) at 65kg and Ichika ARAI (JPN) at 57kg have both won their respective bouts and moved into the pre-quarters.

11:00: At 62kg, Selvi ILYASOGLU (TUR) was relentless in her attacks against Tynys DUBEK (KAZ) to win 14-4 and advance to the pre-quarterfinals.

10:45: Gerda TEREK (HUN) hangs on for a 5-4 win over Aitolkun MEDET KYZY (KGZ) and advances to the pre-quarterfinals. She will wrestle Ulmeken ESENBAEVA (UZB) next. 

10:30: U20 bronze medalist Sevval CAYIR (TUR) tried challenging U20 European champion Alina FILIPOVYCH (UKR) but could not fight for long. Filipovych won 14-2

10:00: Welcome to the fourth day of the U20 World Championships. The action continues with women's wrestling as Amit ELOR (USA), ANTIM (IND), Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) are among the stars who will wrestle.