#WrestleRome

Lorincz Locks up Sixth Career Ranking Series Gold Medal

By Eric Olanowski

ROME, Italy (January 15) --- Coming into the Matteo Pellicone, Viktor LORINCZ (HUN) already owned a Ranking Series title for every finger on one hand. The 2019 Greco-Roman Wrestler of the Year now has to move to a second hand to count his Ranking Series gold medals after he captured his sixth career Ranking Series title on Wednesday night in the Roman seaside town of Ostia.

The Hungarian tallied 19 wins in his previous five Ranking Series appearances. With his quartet of wins on Wednesday, Lorincz improved his Ranking Series record to a perfect 23-0 with a 2-1 win over last year’s Asian silver medalist Kumar SUNIL (IND) in the 87kg finals.

“I am very happy to win this tournament. I want to continue this very good series for me. I want to win the last two qualifications (European Championships and Poland Open) because it helps my seed for the Olympic Games,” said Lorincz.

In the finals, Lorincz, last year's world runner-up, picked up an inactivity point and a stepout in the first period. He had his lead cut to a single point when he was dinged for an inactivity point himself. But the Hungarian Hammer relied on his world-renound defensive skills and hung on to win an unprecedented sixth Ranking Series title, 2-1.

“I came here to win. I had some hard matches, and I’m not where I want to be. I want to (build) my strength and power for the other tournaments.” 

Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA) won his second Ranking Series title on home soil with a 5-4 win over Felix BALDAUF (NOR).(Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Kakhelashvili Wins Second Ranking Series Gold on Home Soil
Last year’s City of Sassari champion Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA) edged Felix BALDAUF (NOR) in the 97kg finals and seized his second Ranking Series title on home soil. “I’m so happy that I won in my country,” Kakhelashvili said. “Today was a big tournament. I think it’s good that I won, and I felt very strong. Now I hope to win the European Championships.”

In the 97kg gold-medal bout, Kakhelashvili jumped out to a five-point opening-period lead, but surrendered four unanswered points against his Norwegian opponent and narrowly won, 5-4. “I was a little bit nervous. I thought it was a touché, but I won the match, so everything is okay.”

Sailike WALIHAN (CHN) won his first Ranking Series gold medal after dropping his two previous trips to the finals. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Walihan, Bakhshilloev and Mohamed Claim Remaining Three Olympic Weight Golds
The remaining trio of Olympic weight gold medals of the day went to Sailike WALIHAN (CHN), Makhmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB) and Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY), who topped the podium at 60kg, 67kg and 130kg, respectively.

At 60kg, Walihan was 70 seconds away from seeing his hopes of winning a first Ranking Series gold disappear after he allowed a three-point second-period lead dwindle to nothing against Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB). But in the end, the Chinese wrestler capitalized on a late stepout and scooped up the one-point victory. 

Walihan, a 2018 world bronze medalist, scored an inactivity point and a gut wrench and carried the 3-0 lead late into the closing frame. That all changed when Walihan’s opponent, Bakhramov, a four-time Ranking Series finalist, scored an inactivity point that was quickly followed by a two-point tight low-level gut wrench and stole the 3-3 lead on criteria.

But like the savvy veteran he is, Walihan responded when it was needed the most. He scored a stepout with just under a minute left and hung on to win his first Ranking Series gold medal, 4-3.

Makhmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB) gut wrenched Abouhalima ABOUHALIMA (EGY) and won the 67kg title, 3-1. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

In the finals at 67kg, junior world champion Bakshilloev sealed up a 3-1 win over Rio Olympian Abouhalima ABOUHALIMA (EGY) by scoring a first-period inactivity point and gut wrench.

Abdellatif Mohamed, a two-time Ranking Series finalist, only needed 83 seconds to pick up the fall against Moises Salvador PEREZ HELLBURG (VEN) in the 130kg finals. Mohamed's Wednesday night fall put him in rare company, as he joined Mohamed EL SAYED as the only other Egyptian Greco-Roman wrestler to win a Ranking Series gold medal. 

Andres Roberto MONTANO ARROYO (ECU) took down Rio Olympic bronze medalist Stig-Andre BERGE (NOR), 11-0, on his way to the 63kg title. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan) 

Ayazci and Montano Arroyo Win Nordic Golds
Dogus AYAZCI (TUR) and Andres Roberto MONTANO ARROYO (ECU) claimed the final two opening-day golds, which both came in Nordic-style brackets. Their wins came in the non-Olympic weight classes of 55kg and 63kg, respectively.

Ayazci outscored his three opponents 22-0 en route to the 55kg gold medal, while Montano Arroya’s 11-0 thumping of Rio Olympic bronze medalist Stig-Andre BERGE (NOR) highlighted his run to the 63kg title.

RESULTS
50kg 
GOLD - Dogus AYAZCI (TUR) 
SILVER - Max NOWRY (USA)
BRONZE - Andrii SEMENCHUK (UKR)

60kg 
GOLD - Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) vs. Sailike WALIHAN (CHN)
BRONZE - Erbatu TUO (CHN) vs. Kerem KAMAL (TUR), 7-1 
BRONZE - Firuz TUKHTAEV (UZB) df. Sachin RANA (IND), 9-0 

63kg 
GOLD – Andres Roberto MONTANO ARROYO (ECU)
SILVER – Stig-Andre BERGE (NOR)
BRONZE – Erik TORBA (HUN)

67kg 
GOLD - Makhmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB) df. Abouhalima ABOUHALIMA (EGY), 3-2
BRONZE - Qiye TIAN (CHN) df. Ashu ASHU (IND), 9-0 
BRONZE - Anthony PALENCIA PUENTES (VEN) df. Ruben MARVICE (ITA), 10-1

87kg
GOLD - Viktor LORINCZ (HUN) df. Kumar SUNIL (IND), 2-1 
BRONZE - Ali CENGIZ (TUR) df. Josef Patrick RAU (USA), 9-0 
BRONZE - Luis Eduardo AVENDANO ROJAS (VEN) df. Patrick Anthony MARTINEZ (USA), 4-1 

97kg
GOLD - Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA)df. Felix BALDAUF (NOR), 5-4
BRONZE - Mélonin NOUMONVI (FRA) df. Matti Elias KUOSMANEN (FIN), 3-2
BRONZE - Gangelo HANCOCK (USA) df. Semen NOVIKOV (UKR), 10-0

130kg
GOLD - Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY) vdf Moises PEREZ HELLBURG (VEN), via fall (4:37)
BRONZE - Lingzhe MENG (CHN) df. Adam Jacob COON (USA), 4-2 
BRONZE – Muminjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) df. Oskar MARVIK (NOR), 3-3

#WrestleRome

World Championships, Day 5 semis set

By Vinay Siwach

ROME, Italy (July 29) -- The U17 World Championships enters day five with five freestyle weights. Wrestlers from 48kg, 55kg, 65kg, 80kg and 110kg will take the mat in Rome. Only three returning medalists are entered into the field.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER | DAY 4 WRAP

14:57: The final set of semifinals is at 80kg

Reza SOLEIMANIAN (IRI) vs. Muhammadamin ABDULOEV (TJK)
Sachin MOR (IND) vs. Yehor HOROKH (UKR) 

14:56: The 110kg semifinals are set. An Iran-USA final is on the cards

Koy HOPKE (USA) vs. Khikmatullo KURBONOV (UZB)
Mohammadreza LOTFI (IRI) vs. Levan LAGVILAVA (FRA) 

14:55: Another India-USA clash in the semifinals

Ilyas ISAYEV (AZE) vs. Goga OTINASHVILI (GEO)
ANKIT (IND) vs. Tyler KASAK (USA) 

14:50: The 55kg semifinals

Jannis Valerien REBHOLZ (GER) vs. Daryn ASKERBEK (KAZ)
Jaxen FORREST (USA) vs. Vaibhav PATIL (IND) 

14:35: The 48kg semifinals are set

Lalit KUMAR (IND) vs. Vasif BAGHIROV (AZE)
Rassoul GALBOURAEV (FRA) vs. Christian CASTILLO (USA)

14:33: Vaibhav PATIL (IND) once again with that strong attacking game. He reaches the 55kg semifinal with a 19-8 win over Saba GAMBASHIDZE (GEO).

14:30: Arshia HADDADI (IRI) and Christian CASTILLO (USA) put on a show. Castillo got a takedown and arm-trap to lead 6-0. Haddadi then scores two takedowns to trim it to 6-4. He then has a takedown with 5 seconds left to lead 6-6. Castillo jumps over Haddadi and scores a takedown in the final second to win 8-6

14:20: What a bout! Zalkarbek TABALDIEV (KGZ) and Jaxen FORREST (USA) with some stunning scrambles. Forrest survived a cradle for a pin and then scored takedowns at regular intervals to win 10-6 at 55kg

14:15: A 28-point thriller on Mat B. Sahin ACAR (TUR) led 14-8 with less than 30 seconds remaining but Ergyun SHUKRI (BUL) hit a four and then a takedown to win 14-14 at 55kg

14:00: Down goes European champion at 110kg Yusif DURSUNOV (AZE)Khikmatullo KURBONOV (UZB) kept coming back despite trailing on different occasions. He wins 8-7 and will face Koy HOPKE (USA) as the American defeated Mateusz PUDLOWSKI (POL) 11-2

13:43: Vasif BAGHIROV (AZE) continues his stunning form from the European Championships. He now reaches the 48kg semifinals after beating Ramil RASSIM (KAZ) 11-0. He will face Lalit KUMAR (IND) in the semifinal after the Indian defeated Hayko GASPARYAN (ARM) 3-1 

13:30: Sachin MOR (IND) looks solid in Rome. After beating the European champion, he now takes out bronze medalist Shamistan AKHUNDOV (AZE) 7-0 to reach the 80kg quarterfinals

13:20: Vaibhav PATIL (IND) finished fifth at last year's Worlds. Can he win a medal this year? He begins with a 10-0 win over Illia SHKETYK (UKR) at 55kg.   

13:15: Zalkarbek TABALDIEV (KGZ) had five seconds to beat European champion at 55kg Jamal ABBASOV (AZE). He comes up with a big double leg to score a four-pointer. He wins 12-9

12:55: European champion Ilyas ISAYEV (AZE) vs. Asian champion Alp BEGENJOV (TKM) in the 65kg quarterfinals. Isayev with a takedown but Begenjov adds one as well. It is scored two each and reversal for Begenjov. Isayev leads 4-3. Turkmenistan challenge. It wins the challenge and Begenjov holds the criteria 2-2. Isayev gets on a single and scores a stepout. With 5 seconds remaining, Begenjov tries a head-pinch and gets the exposure but Isayev is holding on to his leg and will be awarded two points. Isayev wins 5-2

12:45: Rematch of the U17 European Championships final at 110kg. Yusif DURSUNOV (AZE) won that final agaisnt Taha TEMEL (TUR) 6-0. It's a little closer than that but Dursunov wins 5-2 in Rome. 

12:35: The USA opens its account with Koy HOPKE (USA) winning against Ramini GULITASHVILI (GEO). Strong display as he wins 14-3 

12:21: Arshia HADDADI (IRI) is up against Azim ABDYKALYKOV (KGZ) at 48kg. Haddadi was called passive but he scores a takedown in the activity period and then leg laces to lead 6-0 at the break. Haddadi adds a takedown to win 8-0

12:20: European champion Ilyas ISAYEV (AZE) wrestling Mohammad MAMIVAND (IRI) in their 65kg opening round bout. Isayev leads 1-0 at the break after Mamivand's passivity. Isayev gets the cradle and exposure for two points. The bout will end 3-0 for Isayev

12:00: Reza SOLEIMANIAN (IRI) with a big result at 80kg. He beats Zackary RYDER (USA) 10-0. Sachin MOR (IND) defeats European champion Alexandru BORS (MDA) 3-0 

11:57: U17 Asian champion Alp BEGENJOV (TKM) begins with a solid 8-1 win against European bronze medalist Narek NIKOGHOSYAN (ARM). He moves into the 65kg 1/8 finals. 

11:50: Some quick bouts at 65kg

Goga OTINASHVILI (GEO) df. Erdal GALIP (BUL), 10-0
Fatih ACAR (TUR) df. Maksat TABYLDYEV (KGZ), 10-0
Akobir RAHIMOV (UZB) df. Serghei CILCIC (MDA), 7-2
Raschid ABAKAROV (AUT) df. Terence Junior ESTERHUIZEN (RSA), via fall

11:30: Welcome to the coverage of U17 World Championships day five from Rome. After the Greco-Roman and women's wrestling, freestyle qualification and semifinals will be decided Friday.