Toronto, Pan Am Games

Lopez Leads Trio of Cubans into Finals at Pan Am Games

Thursday, July 16, 2015 - 22:55 By William May

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TORONTO, Canada (July 15) – World and Olympic Games champion Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) rolled up a pair of technical falls to advance to the 130kg gold medal final in Greco-Roman on Thursday, the second day of the Pan American Games wrestling competition.

Lopez, seeking his fourth gold medal at the Pan American Games, made short work of Moises PEREZ (VEN) and Pan American championships winner Robby SMITH (USA) to join Yasmany LUGO (CUB) and Yakelin ESTORNELL (CUB) into Thursday evening’s gold medal matches.

 

In the Greco-Roman finale, Lopez will meet two-time South American champion Andres AYUB (CHI) whose late gut wrench in the semifinals made him the first wrestling gold medal finalist from Chile in the history of the Games.

On Wednesday evening, teammate Cristobal TORRES became the first wrestling medalist at the Games from Chile when he won a bronze medal in Greco-Roman at 59kg.

Meanwhile, Lugo rolled up a pair of technical falls to advance to the 98kg gold medal final on his first trip to the Games.  The four-time Pan American championships winner will meet another Pan American junor champion Kevin MEJIA (HON).

Unlike with the Cuban men who rolled into the finals, Yakelin ESTORNELL (CUB) forged two wins of criteria, defeating 2014 Pan Am champ Lissette ANTES (ECU), 5-5, and 2012 champ Sandra ROA (COL), 4-4,for her place in the women’s 58kg final.

Estornell, the 2013 Pan Am champion, will meet Joice SILVA (BRA), winner of the 2015 continental crown in April.

With action in women’s wrestling getting under way at Mississauga Sports Center, Genevieve MORRISON (CAN) advanced to the 48kg final to the delight of the hometown fans. Morrison will meet with 2013 champion Thalia MALLQUI (PER) for the gold medal.

Whitney CONDER (USA), a runner-up in the 2012 Pan Am championships, will hope to go one better in the 53kg final against Alma VALENCIA (MEX), who has blitzed into the final with an 11-0 drubbing of 2014 Pan Am champ Luisa VALVERDE (ECU.

Greco-Roman - 98kg (8 entries)
GOLD: Yasmany LUGO (CUB) df. Kevin MEJIA (HON) by Fall 
BRONZE: Luillys PEREZ (VEN) df. Jose ROCHA (MEX), 4-0 
BRONZE: Davi ALBINO (BRA) df. Oscar LOANGO (COL), 5-1 

Semifinals: Kevin MEJIA (HON) df. Luillys PEREZ (VEN), 8-2
Semifinals: Yasmany LUGO (CUB) df. Davi ALBINO (BRA) by TF, 8-0 

1/4 Finals: Kevin MEJIA (HON) df. Jose ROCHA (MEX), 6-0 
1/4 Finals: Luillys PEREZ (VEN) df. Caylor WILLIAMS (USA), 11-4
1/4 Finals: Yasmany LUGO (CUB) df. Oscar LOANGO (COL) by TF, 9-0
1/4 Finals: Davi ALBINO (BRA) df. Jeremy LATOUR (CAN) by TF, 10-1


Greco-Roman - 130kg (8 entries)
GOLD: Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) df. Andres AYUB (CHI) by TF, 8-0 
BRONZE: Josue ENCARNACION (DOM) df. Charles THOMS (CAN), 2-0 
BRONZE: Robby SMITH (USA) df. Moises PEREZ (VEN) by Default

Semifinals: Andres AYUB (CHI) df. Josue ENCARNACION (DOM), 3-3 
Semifinals: Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) df. Robby SMITH (USA) by TF, 8-0

1/4 Finals: Josue ENCARNACION (DOM) df. Luciano DEL RIO (ARG), 6-5 
1/4 Finals: Andres AYUB (CHI) df. Charles THOMS (CAN) by TF, 10-2 
1/4 Finals: Robby SMITH (USA) df. Edgardo LOPEZ (PUR) by Fall 
1/4 Finals: Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) df. Moises PEREZ (VEN) by TF, 9-0


Women’s Wrestling - 48kg (8 entries)
GOLD: Genevieve MORRISON (CAN) df. Thalia MALLQUI (PER), 5-4
BRONZE: Alyssa LAMPE (USA) df. Yusnelis GUZMAN (CUB) by TF, 12-2
BRONZE: Carolina CASTILLO (COL) df. Angelica BUSTOS (ECU), 1-1

Semifinals: Genevieve MORRISON (CAN) df. Yusnelis GUZMAN (CUB), 6-0 
Semifinals: Thalia MALLQUI (PER) df. Carolina CASTILLO (COL), 4-3 

1/4 Finals: Yusnelis GUZMAN (CUB) df. Kamila BARBOSA (BRA) by TF, 15-4
1/4 Finals: Genevieve MORRISON (CAN) df. Alyssa LAMPE (USA), 12-8
1/4 Finals: Thalia MALLQUI (PER) df. Angelica BUSTOS (ECU), 3-0
1/4 Finals: Carolina CASTILLO (COL) df. Sehilyn OLIVEIROS (VEN) by TF, 10-0

Women’s Wrestling - 53kg (7 entries)
GOLD: Whitney CONDER (USA) df. Alma VALENCIA (MEX), 3-2
BRONZE: Yamilka DEL VALLE (CUB) – uncontested
BRONZE: Betzabeth ARGUELLO (VEN) df. Luisa VALVERDE (ECU) by Fall

Semifinals: Whitney CONDER (USA) df. Yamilka DEL VALLE (CUB) by Fall
Semifinals: Alma VALENCIA (MEX) df. Luisa VALVERDE (ECU) by TF, 11-0

Qualifications: Yamilka DEL VALLE (CUB) df. Brianne BARNEY (CAN), 10-1 
Qualifications: Luisa VALVERDE (ECU) df. Giulia RODRIGUES (BRA), 5-4
Qualifications: Alma VALENCIA (MEX) df. Betzabeth ARGUELLO (VEN) by TF, 12-1

Women’s Wrestling - 58kg (8 entries)
GOLD: Joice SILVA (BRA) df. Yakelin ESTORNELL (CUB), 6-5
BRONZE: Lissette ANTES (ECU) df. Sandra ROA (COL) by TF, 12-1
BRONZE: Yanet SOVERO (PER) df. Alejandra ROMERO (MEX), 6-6 

Semifinals: Yakelin ESTORNELL (CUB) df. Sandra ROA (COL), 4-4
Semifinals: Joice SILVA (BRA) df. Yanet SOVERO (PER), 5-3

1/4 Finals: Yakelin ESTORNELL (CUB) df. Lissette ANTES (ECU), 5-5
1/4 Finals: Sandra ROA (COL) df. Michelle FAZZARI (CAN), 8-5 
1/4 Finals: Yanet SOVERO (PER) df. Betzabeth SARCOS (VEN), 3-2
1/4 Finals: Joice SILVA (BRA) df. Alejandra ROMERO (MEX), 2-1

#development

Moldova steps up, hosts coaching and referee courses

Wednesday, December 10, 2025 - 19:57 By United World Wrestling Press

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KISHINEV, Moldova (December 10) -- Moldova, a country rich with wrestling history and some good performances in recent years, continues to develop the sport.

Moldovan Wrestling Federation has taken steps to train and improve its coaches, referees and wrestlers and organized two courses [Level 3 Coaching and Level 2 National Referee] and a competition from November 23 to 29.

The two courses were organized in conjunction with Olympic Solidarity, UWW and Moldova Olympic Committee. United World Wrestling also supported their national tournament that was held at the conclusion of the courses.

"We are pleased with the successful implementation of the Level 3 coaching program and Level 2 referee program," said Ivan GHEORGHIU, President of the Moldova Wrestling Federation. "The course introduced modern international coaching and refereeing methodologies that are essential for the continued development of wrestling in Moldova. We value the collaboration with UWW and Olympic Solidarity and look forward to further educational initiatives."

The Level 3 coaching course was led by Yusup ABDUSALAMOV (UWW Educator). The course focused on performance analysis periodization and preparation, coaching philosophy training load management, and safe sport. There were 17 individuals that participated in the course.

“The course progressed smoothly and the participants showed interest, discipline, and engagement during all sessions," Abdusalamov said. "They actively participated in theoretical discussions and performed well during practical and micro-training tasks. I am confident that the skills they developed will significantly improve the effectiveness of their training work."

Anatolie GUIDEA, one of the coaches who attended the course expressed his appreciation and said, "I greatly appreciated the depth of information on periodization and training load management. The micro-training sessions were especially useful, as they provided clear practical tools that I can apply immediately in my own training environment."

Moldova

The Level 2 referee course was also held and was called Referee Foundations. This course was led by Igor LIGAY (IS Referee and UWW Educator) and included 22 participants.

During the course, the referees went through more advanced scoring situations including risk, out of bounds, takedown and control, and attack vs counter attack. They also worked on strategies for controlling the bout and being a mat chairman. Their training included theoretical and practical sessions.

"All participants actively took part in discussions, successfully handled practical exercises during the competitions, and I am confident that the skills and knowledge they acquired will enhance their effectiveness and raise the overall standard of judging at competitions," Ligay said.

In addition to the courses, Moldova hosted a national competition that was also supported by UWW. This competition featured wrestlers from 26 clubs and included 134 Freestyle wrestlers, 121 Greco-Roman wrestlers, and 27 women wrestlers.