Pan Am Games, Toronto

Lopez Goes For Fourth Gold in Pan American Games Wrestling

Tuesday, July 14, 2015 - 01:48 By William May

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TORONTO (July 13) – Five-time world champion Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) attempts to become the third wrestler in Pan American Games history to win four gold medals when action gets under Wednesday in Mississagua, west of Toronto.

If successful, Lopez will join Greco-Roman greats Hector MILIAN (CUB) and Juan MAREN (CUB) as the only winners of four gold medals in Pan American Games wrestling.

Milian won four gold medals from 1987 to 1999 at 100kg and 130kg, while Maren struck gold four times (1991-2003) at 62kg, 63kg and 66kg.

In addition to his three Games’ gold medals, Lopez is also a nine-time Pan American championships titlist, winner of five world championship titles, as well as being gold medalist at the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympic Games.

Along with Lopez’ bid for a fourth gold medal on the second day of the wrestling competition, five wrestlers in freestyle and three in women’s wrestling will seek their second gold medals at these continental Games.

The United States will try to double up on the final day of wrestling competition as 2011 gold medalists Jordan BURROUGHS (74kg) and Jake HERBERT (86kg) all hoping to repeat their success of four years ago in Guadalajara, Mexico.

World bronze medalist Livan LOPEZ AZCUY (CUB), who won the gold medal at 66kg in Guadalajara, will have to unseat Burroughs at 74kg if he wants to make it two in a row.

Meanwhile, Franklin GOMEZ (PUR), world silver medalist and Pan Am Games champion at 60kg in 2011, is entered at 65kg and will likely have to face Brent METCALF (USA), currently ranked No.5 in the world, if he is to repeat as a Pan Am Games champ.

In the women’s events, two-time Olympic Games bronze medalist Jackeline RENTERIA CASTILLO (COL) seeks her first gold medal in the Pan Am Games since winning at 55kg in Rio de Janeiro in 2007.

Renteria is entered at 63kg for Toronto and could face defending champion Katerina VIDIAUX (CUB) for the gold medal, while Lisset HECHEVARRIA (CUB) must overcome a crowded field at 75kg to repeat.

Greco-Roman

Cuba has been the dominant force in the classic style over the last eight Pan Am Games and has amassed 57 gold medals overall – more than double the 27 gold medals won by the U.S. since Greco-Roman was first contested in 1975.

Cuba won six of the seven gold medals on offer in Guadalajara and swept all seven categories at Santo Domingo (DOM) 2003. The last time Cuba did not win a majority of the gold medals was in San Juan in 1979, when Cuba and the U.S. each won four with Canada grabbing the remaining two.

In addition to super heavyweight Lopez, Cuba sends three-time Pan American champion Ismael BORRERO (59kg) along with 2015 Pan Am winners Miguel MARTINEZ (66kg) and Julio BASTIDA (74kg) to Toronto.

The U.S. has been Cuba’s main challenger in the Americas the last 40 years and comes to Toronto with world bronze medalist Andy BISEK (75kg), April’s Pan Am winner Robert SMITH (130kg) and 2014 Pan Am champ Jon ANDERSON (85kg).

Spenser MANGO (59kg) and Borrero both finished in fifth place at the 2014 world championships and could be headed for a showdown in the featherweight final. Jansel RAMIREZ (DOM), 2010 Pan Am champ, will challenge for a place on the podium.

The Dominican Republic, which won a total of six medals in 2011, sends only three wrestlers, including Ramirez. Notably absent is Guadalajara bronze medalist and Pan Am runner-up Ramon Antonio GARCIA (130kg), but freestyle entry Josue ENCARNACION (125kg) also has Greco-Roman experience.

Women’s Wrestling

Women’s Wrestling was first contested at Santo Domingo 2003 and over the first three meetings, action was only contested in the four previous Olympic weight categories – 48, 55, 63 and 72kg.  Action in Mississagua will be held, for the first time, in six weight categories.

The United States ran away with all four gold medals in 2003 and leads the overall medal standings for women with seven, followed by Canada and Cuba with two each.

Canada’s two gold medals were won by Beijing 2008 gold medalist Carol HUYNH (48kg) in 2003 and 2007. Genevieve MORRISON (CAN), winner of the Pan Am title in April, will try to keep the flyweight crown in Canada.

Angelica BUSTOS BONE (ECU), the 2014 Pan Am champ, 2013 world bronze medalist Alyssa LAMPE (USA) and 2011 bronze medal winner Carolina CASTILLO HIDALGO (COL) lead a pack of wrestlers trying to take the 48kg title south of the Canadian border.

Along with Morrison, Pan Am champ Justine DISTACIO (75kg), 2014 Pan Am champion Michell FAZZARI (58kg) and two-time junior world champ Dorothy YEATS (69kg) will also be prospecting for gold.

World champ Adeline GRAY (USA), No.1 in the current world rankings, will face a crowded field at 75kg which includes world silver medalist Aline FERREIRA (BRA), 2011 Pan Am gold medalist Hechevarria and Andrea OLAYA GUTIERREZ (COL), a bronze medal winner at the Pan Am championships in April.

Along with Renteria and Vidiaux at 63kg, other favorites in the women’s events include Pan Am champs Sayury CANON (COL) at 53kg, Joice SILVA (BRA) at 58kg and Yudaris SANCHEZ (CUB) at 69kg.

Freestyle

In the first two Pan American Games in 1951 and 1955, Argentina and the U.S. split the gold medals, 4-4, in both years. But, U.S. wrestlers swept the gold medals the next three meetings and never looked back.

The U.S. leads the freestyle medal standings with 91 gold medals followed by Cuba with 30. Argentina is in third place with its eight gold medals from 60 years ago.

But in 2011, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico picked up their first Pan American Games gold medalists with Juan RAMIREZ BELTRE (DOM) at 55kg and Franklin GOMEZ (PUR) at 60kg.

With four of the seven 2011 gold medalists returning, the early favorites in 2015 have already emerged with Gomez and Metcalf the go-to guys at 65kg, Azcuy and Burroughs at 74kg -- where Burroughs owns a win over Azcuy in last year’s Pan Am finals.

Meanwhile, world bronze medalist at 61kg Yowlys BONNE (CUB) appears to be on a tear since dropping to 57kg this spring, but John PINEDA (CAN) will try to trip up or, at least, slow down the 2011 bronze medal winner at 60kg.

Two-time world silver medalist Reineris SALAS (CUB) has won four Pan Am championship titles but gets his first chance at the Pan American Games. Herbert, the Games’ defending champion, is also the 2009 world silver medalist.

At 97kg, Javier CORTINA LACERRA (CUB) is the 2014 Pan Am champ as well as a bronze medal winner at the world championships. Former junior world champ Kyle SNYDER (USA) is the new kid on the block after defeating defending Games’ champion Jacob VARNER (USA) in the U.S. world team trials.

Schedule

Tuesday, July 14
16:30–18:15 – Medical exam & Weigh-in: Greco-Roman 59-66-75-85kg

Wednesday, July 15
14:30–17:30 – Qualification & Repechage Rounds: Greco-Roman 59-66-75-85kg
16:30–18:15 – Medical exam & Weigh-in: Greco-Roman 98-130kg; Women 48-53-58kg
20:00–22:30 – Finals & Award Ceremonies: Greco-Roman 59-66-75-85kg

Thursday, July 16
14:30–17:30 – Qualification & Repechage Rounds: Greco-Roman 98-130kg; Women 48-53-58kg
16:30–18:15 – Medical exam & Weigh-in:  Women 63-69-75kg; Freestyle 57-65kg
20:00–23:00 – Finals & Award Ceremonies: Greco-Roman 98-130kg; Women 48-53-58kg

Friday, July 17
14:30–17:30 – Qualification & Repechage Rounds: Women 63-69-75kg; Freestyle 57-65kg
16:30–18:15 – Medical exam & Weigh-in: Freestyle 74-86-97-125kg
20:00–23:00 – Finals & Award Ceremonies: Women 63-69-75kg; Freestyle 57-65kg

Saturday, July 18
14:30–17:30 – Qualification & Repechage Rounds: Freestyle 74-86-97-125kg
20:00–22:30 – Finals & Award Ceremonies: Freestyle 74-86-97-125kg

#WrestleAmman

U17 Worlds: Kyrgyzstan shows up with 2 golds in Freestyle

Saturday, August 24, 2024 - 21:04 By Vinay Siwach

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AMMAN, Jordan (August 24) -- Kyrgyzstan is dominating wrestling at all levels. After the rise of the nation at the senior level with world champions and Olympic medalists in Greco-Roman and Women's Wrestling, the Freestyle team is showing its class at the age-group level.

27 years after it last won a gold medal at the U17 World Championships in Freestyle, Kyrgyzstan won two on Saturday at in Amman, Jordan to end the drought.

Kursantbek ISAKOV (KGZ) at 55kg and Rustamzhan KAKHAROV (KGZ) at 65kg posted thrilling wins to earn two golds for the country with Omurbek ASAN UULU (KGZ) to fight for the gold medal on Sunday at 60kg.

Kursantbek ISAKOV (KGZ)Kursantbek ISAKOV (KGZ) scores the match-winning stepout against Joseph BACHMANN (PUR) in the 55kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Isakov was up against Joseph BACHMANN (PUR) who was trying to create history for Puerto Rico by winning the gold medal in 49 years at the U17 World Championships. But Isakov had other ideas and a challenge to deny Bachmann.

Bachmann was called for passivity in both the period which gave Isakov a 2-0 lead. Bachmann completed a throw with seven seconds remaining on the clock and it was awarded four, giving Bachmann a 4-2 lead. Kyrgyzstan challenged it was changed to 2-2 with Bachmann holding criteria.

Isakov forced a stepout in the next five seconds and secured a 3-2 lead. Bachmann challenged the call but lost it to add another point to Isakov's score. Isakov secured the win and the gold medal.

 
 
 
Kursantbek ISAKOV (KGZ)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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A few minutes later, Kakharov stunned Ramazan ABDULKADYROV (AIN), 7-6, in a thrilling 65kg final, scoring a late lace to earn a second gold medal for the country.

Abdulkadyrov got the first stepout and Kakharov spun from outside to score a takedown. The referees awarded Abdulkadyrov stepout which was challenged by Kyrgyzstan and lost. A similar sequence made the score 4-0 for Abdulkadyrov. But Kakharov took his step off the pedal and opened his scoring with an out-of-bounds point which started as a big headlock counter. Abdulkadyrov led 4-1 at the break.

Kakharov hit a single leg but Abdulkadyrov scored two points for exposure while Kakharov was also awarded two points for the same. With a 6-3 lead, Abdulkadyrov tried playing the clock and was successful for most of the last minute. But Kakharov scored a takedown and turn to claim a 7-6 lead with 13 seconds remaining.

Rustamzhan KAKHAROV (KGZ)Rustamzhan KAKHAROV (KGZ) celebrates after winning the 65kg gold medal in Amman. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Abdulkadyrov had no comeback after that Kakharov won the gold medal, the second of the night for Kyrgyzstan.

"I was very confident that I would win the match," Kakharov said. "From the very beginning of the match till the end, I knew I was going to win it. Thank God he gave this win to me."

A native of Kochkor-Ata, a popular football city in northwestern Kyrgyzstan, Kakharov has been training for the last 10 years in wrestling after his brother, who is a footballer, introduced him to the sport.

"I’ve graduated from school this year and I’ll start my first year at university," he said. "I’ve entered the geology [department]."

Since the Soviet period, Kochkor-Ata has had a popular oil depot and Kakhrov, once he is done with wrestling, will like to work in the depot, a good enough reason to choose geology.

"There is an oil depot in my city," he said. "I want to work there one day, that’s why I’ve chosen this major. But for now, it’s wrestling time."

The two gold medals were enough to put Kyrgyzstan in line to finish on the podium in the team race for the first time. But it is the United States and Iran that are fighting for the top spot.

Both countries won one gold medal on Saturday but the U.S. leads by one point after five weight classes. With five more to go, the race is going to the wire on Sunday.

Michael MOCCO (USA), son of former Pan-Am champion Steve, won the 110kg gold medal after winning the final in just 18 seconds. He leg-laced Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ) in no time to claim the gold medal.

Mocco's performance in the final was not the only dominant one. He won all four of his bouts via technical superiority with none going the full four minutes.

Reza AFSHAR (IRI)Reza AFSHAR (IRI) celebrates after winning the 80kg final 1-1. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Iran's gold medal came at 80kg with Reza AFSHAR (IRI) holding on to a 1-1 criteria victory over Nikoloz MAISURADZE (GEO) in the final.

Maisuradze was awarded the first point after Afshar was put on the activity clock in the first period. Afshar got the criteria lead in the second after Maisuradze was put on the clock in the second period and the Iranian managed to keep him off for the remaining time.

Iran could have won its second gold medal but Amirabbas ALIZADEH (IRI) failed to put up a challenge against Ulugbek RASHIDOV (UZB) in the 48kg final.

Rashidov finished the final in a minute and 47 seconds as he laced Alizadeh to win the gold medal 11-0.

Konstantine PETRIASHVILI (GEO)Konstantine PETRIASHVILI (GEO) will wrestle for the 92kg gold medal on Sunday. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostandin Andonov)

Iran and the U.S. face each other in the 45kg final on Sunday but the latter has a significant advantage at 51kg with former U17 world champion Domenic MUNARETTO (USA) reaching the final and Iran scoring no points at this weight class. Munaretto will take on Frederick BACHMANN (PUR), whose brother Joseph lost the 55kg final.

Abolfazl SHAMSIPOUR (IRI) is one finalist for Iran at 71kg and he faces Manuel WAGIN (GER), who won bronze at 65kg last year and is looking to become Germany's first U17 world champion in Freestyle.

At 60kg, Omurbek ASAN UULU (KGZ) will face Huseyn ISMAYILOV (AZE) for the gold medal. Azerbaijan is looking to win at least one gold as it had done in 2022 and 2023.

Konstantine PETRIASHVILI (GEO), younger brother of newly crowned Olympic champion Geno, will look to win his first world title at 92kg. He takes on Rodion SANAKOEV (AIN) in the final after some big wins on Saturday.

RESULTS

48kg
GOLD: Ulugbek RASHIDOV (UZB) df. Amirabbas ALIZADEH (IRI), 11-0

BRONZE: Henry ASLIKYAN (USA) df. Vladyslav KAIDAKOV (UKR), 2-1
BRONZE: Chingis SARYGLAR (AIN) df. Temuri TUTARASHVILI (GEO), 9-2

55kg
GOLD: Kursantbek ISAKOV (KGZ) df. Joseph BACHMANN (PUR), 4-2

BRONZE: Keanu DILLARD (USA) df. Yukiya KITADE (JPN), 10-0
BRONZE: Huseyn HUSEYNOV (AZE) df. Gagik GHAZARYAN (ARM), 2-1

65kg
GOLD: Rustamzhan KAKHAROV (KGZ) df. Ramazan ABDULKADYROV (AIN), 7-6

BRONZE: Bakdaulet AKIMZHAN (KAZ) df. Rati REVAZASHVILI (GEO), 9-1
BRONZE: Umut Talha USLU (TUR) df. Roman PRONAK (UKR), 12-1

80kg
GOLD: Reza AFSHAR (IRI) df. Nikoloz MAISURADZE (GEO), 1-1

BRONZE: Artur KOSTIUK (UKR) df. Mahammad ABASZADA (AZE), 5-5
BRONZE: Darius SAS (ROU) df. Emmitt SHERLOCK (USA), 8-6

110kg
GOLD: Michael MOCCO (USA) df. Yedige KASSIMBEK (KAZ), 10-0

BRONZE: Abolfazl MOHAMMAD (IRI) df. Jaspooran SINGH (IND), 2-1
BRONZE: Mukhamad GANTEMIROV (AZE) df. Gigia LUKUNIDZE (GEO), 7-0

df

Semifinals

45kg
GOLD: Amirabbas RAMEZANI (IRI) vs. Samuel SANCHEZ (USA)

SF 1: Samuel SANCHEZ (USA) df. Dzhamal BAKAEV (AIN), via fall (7-4)
SF 2: Amirabbas RAMEZANI (IRI) df. Ravan HASANZADE (AZE), 4-2

51kg
GOLD: Domenic MUNARETTO (USA) vs. Frederick BACHMANN (PUR)

SF 1: Frederick BACHMANN (PUR) df. Akhmed ATANGERIEV (AIN), 4-1
SF 2: Domenic MUNARETTO (USA) df. Marlen ABDRAIMOV (KGZ), 5-1

60kg
GOLD: Omurbek ASAN UULU (KGZ) vs. Huseyn ISMAYILOV (AZE)

SF 1: Huseyn ISMAYILOV (AZE) df. Hayk AVANESYAN (ARM), 4-2
SF 2: Omurbek ASAN UULU (KGZ) df. Jordyn RANEY (USA), via fall (12-6)

71kg
GOLD: Manuel WAGIN (GER) vs. Abolfazl SHAMSIPOUR (IRI)

SF 1: Abolfazl SHAMSIPOUR (IRI) df. Mark LAPOSA (HUN), 5-1
SF 2: Manuel WAGIN (GER) df. Kairi ITO (JPN), 10-0

92kg
GOLD: Rodion SANAKOEV (AIN) vs. Konstantine PETRIASHVILI (GEO)

SF 1: Konstantine PETRIASHVILI (GEO) df. Aliaksei KHADUNOU (AIN), 14-4
SF 2: Rodion SANAKOEV (AIN) df. Amir Reza ALI POUR (IRI), 5-4