Matteo Pellicone freestyle preview

Tuesday, June 21, 2022 - 09:26 By Vinay Siwach

ROME, Italy (June 20) -- A year ago, Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) was one of the most active wrestlers in the world. He competed in eight competitions including the Olympic Games, three World Championships and two continental ones. It seemed that Bayramov would be the go-to-wrestler for Azerbaijan at 74kg.

But at the beginning of 2022, Bayramov ran into Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) at the Dan Kolov tournament in Bulgaria. While the final was not action-packed, Gadzhiev scored two technical points against one of Bayramov to win the gold.

Still, Azerbaijan sent Bayramov to the senior European Championships in which he won bronze while Gadzhiev won the gold at the U23 European Championships.

Khadzhimurad GADZHIYEV (AZE) is returning to competition after one year. (Photo: UWW / Gabor Martin)

Azerbaijan is now entering the Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series event in Rome with both of them competing at 74kg. The battle is now three-way as Khadzhimurad GADZHIYEV (AZE) returns after being away for a year due to injury.

Gadzhiyev had qualified Azerbaijan for the Tokyo Olympics from the European Olympic Qualifiers but injured his knee in practice and Bayramov took his place on the team. But with Islamic Games in August and the World Championships in September, Azerbaijan is in a dilemma with the three wrestlers trying to make the same weight class.

Winning gold in Rome won't be a guarantee as European champion and world silver medalist Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) will be eyeing his second straight Ranking Series gold. He won the 74kg title at the Bolat Turlykhanov Cup in Almaty earlier this month.

The weight class is one of the deepest in the world and Azerbaijan may not want to suffer a slip on its part at the World Championships by not sending its best wrestler to Belgrade.

Horst LEHR (GER) will be competing at 57kg in Rome. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

With the same thought in mind, they have entered two wrestlers in the 57kg weight class as well. U23 world champion and European Championships silver medalist Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE) will be the favorite to win the gold in Rome but compatriot Afgan KHASHALOV (AZE) will be up for the task if he wants to make the team at 57kg.

World bronze medalist Horst LEHR (GER) is returning to competition since becoming Germany's first-ever U23 European champion in February. His experience and unique style of wrestling may upset the flow of the Azerbaijan pair.

Former U17 world champion Andrii YATSENKO (UKR) will also be raging to be competition ready in Rome. He last competed at the European Olympic Qualifiers in March last year.

Ukraine's two big stars, junior European champion Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR) and Vasyl SHUPTAR (UKR) are entered at 65kg. While the 31-year-old Shuptar participated in the Oslo World Championships, a better result for Arushanian may see him make the cut for the Belgrade event.

But it won't be a cakewalk for him as European champion Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) is eyeing his first Ranking Series gold medal of the year. The Hungarian defeated Olympic silver medalist Haji ALIYEV (AZE) in the final in Budapest.

Apart from him, former world champion Beka LOMTADZE (GEO), Pan-Am silver medalist Sebastian RIVERA (PUR), U23 European bronze medalist Hamza ALACA (TUR) and Ali RAHIMZADE (AZE), who is competing for the first time since Oslo, are entered at 65kg.

Haji ALIYEV (AZE) will be jumping up to 70kg for the Matteo Pellicone. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Aliyev had the opportunity to avenge his Budapest loss against Muszukajev but made a jump to 70kg for the tournament. Aliyev has wrestled in the weight class once before -- at the '21 Poland Open Ranking Series. He ended up winning bronze.

If he wants to win the gold now, he will have to go through two crafty wrestlers in European champion Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) and World and Asian silver medalist Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ).

The Georgian has not competed since winning the 70kg title in Budapest after winning bronze at the Yasar Dogu Ranking Series at the start of the year.

Akmataliev failed to win a medal in Istanbul but returned to win silver at the Asian Championships. He suffered a 4-3 loss in the final against Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN). But Akmataliev will now be looking to win his second Ranking Series gold after he won the top medal in Almaty.

For Azerbaijan, world bronze medalists Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE) and Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) will be the favorite to win the 86kg and 92kg respectively.

While European silver medalist Abakarov has Boris MAKOEV (SVK) and U23 world champion Mukhmammed ALIIEV (UKR) as his top opponents, Nurmagomedov may face Erhan YAYLACI (TUR).

The two wrestled at the '21 U23 European Championships and Nurmagomedov had all but sealed the gold medal. In the dying second, he resorted to keeping a distance from Yaylaci and on the final attack from the Turkey wrestler, Nurmagomedov committed a single-pull. The penalty point cost him the continental title.

The 97kg field for Rome can be dubbed as a mini European Championships. All the top six wrestlers from Budapest are entered for Rome led by gold medalist Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE). Silver to him in Budapest Vladislav BAITSAEV (HUN) will be eyeing revenge if the two meet on the mat.

The two bronze medalists Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK) and Zbigniew BARANOWSKI (POL) will also look to reverse the results from Budapest. The Slovakia wrestler had lost to Baitsaev in the opening round while Baranowski suffered a semifinal loss to Magomedov.

In the bronze medal bouts, Tsakulov, who won the gold at the Bolat Turlykhanov Cup, defeated Erik THIELE (GER) while Baranowski went past veteran Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO).

But entering his first Ranking Series event since 2018, Odikadze will hope to extend his perfect record at such tournaments. In 2018, he won gold at both Ranking Series events.

Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) will be the favorite to win the 125kg gold in Rome. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Another Georgian star and Olympic silver medalist Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) is the favorite to win the gold at 125kg. After losing to Taha AKGUL (TUR) in the European Championships final, Petriashvili would like to return to winning ways before the grand event in September.

But Robert BARAN (POL) may have other ideas. In a thrilling semifinal at the European Championships, Baran managed to hold off Petriashvili for the majority of the time. He ultimately suffered a 2-1 loss but in Rome, he would back himself to reverse the result.

U23 world silver medalist Azamat KHOSONOV (GRE) and former U23 European champion Anil KILICSALLAYAN (TUR) may finish at the podium.

At 79kg, U23 and senior European champion Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) will be the one to watch as he tries to prove that his two continental titles in two months were not flukes.

Freestyle action begins Friday and can be watched live at uww.org.

#WrestleTirana

U23 Worlds: Reetika wins 76kg gold; Bas repeats

Thursday, October 26, 2023 - 21:12 By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (October 26) -- Perhaps the best was saved for the last. After four snoozefests, Reetika HOODA (UWW) and Kennedy BLADES (USA) wrestled in an action-packed final, ironically at 76kg, at the U23 World Championships on Thursday with the former beating Blades 9-2 and denied the former U20 world champion another world title.

The four finals before that went like this -- injury default at 50kg, 4-2 at 55kg, 1-1 at 59kg and 2-1 at 68kg.

The 76kg final was on unexpected lines as Blades, the clear favorite against Hooda who was jumping to 76kg for the first time after spending two years at 72kg, suffered a rather tame loss. Hooda used a gameplan of counter-offense which completely shut Blades in the final.

The first two points for Hooda were stepouts she got as counters to Blades' attacks. The American was put on the activity clock but managed to hit a double-leg for two points to lead 2-2 on criteria. Blades' tried another attack but Hooda pushed Blades out one more time to lead 3-2 at the break.

REETIKA (UWW) Reetika HOODA (UWW) scores against Kennedy BLADES (USA) in the 76kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Hooda, a senior Asian Championships bronze medalist, kept the pressure on and Blades at a distance. Blades desperately tried to attack Hooda's legs but was shot off using underhooks. In one such situation, Hooda got Blades and scored a takedown. A stepout later, she scored another takedown in a similar fashion, before clinching the gold medal with another stepout.

The gold is Hooda's first at a world event and a step towards the Olympic journey at 76kg. Having first stepped on the mat at the age of 14 years, Hooda has earned a considerable name for herself in seven years. She has a U23 Asia title to go with her U20 world bronze and senior Asian bronze.

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Hailing from Rohtak, Haryana in India, she chose to join the CR Stadium, the school that has produced several age-group world medalists including U20 world champion SAVITA, Manshi AHLAWAT, Pooja GEHLOT. In fact, the three UWW medalists on Thursday, Hooda, Neha SHARMA and NITIKA, all hail from the same stadium.

Hooda, pushed by her army veteran father to take up wrestling, will fly directly to Goa for the National Games and try to win another medal at 76kg.

Even Blades will have to quickly regroup and fly to Chile for the Pan-Am Games as she is part of the United States team for the Santiago tournament from November 1.

An estatic Nesrin BAS (TUR) after she won a challenge and the 68kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

The 68kg final too was going towards an upset as U20 world bronze medalist Alina SHAUCHUK (AIN) clinched the gold medal over defending champion Nesrin BAS (TUR) on 1-1 criteria as both wrestlers had exchanged activity points only to see it go after a challenge.

In the final 10 seconds of the bout, Bas got on a double leg and pushed Shauchuk toward the zone. Shauchuk managed to pressure Bas and keep her from scoring a stepout till the clock expired.

Turkiye however challenged hoping for a miracle and on review, a stepout was confirmed as Shauchuk tried to circle back when Bas tried standing up with her hands on Shauchuk's legs. Shauchuk's body was in the air when her leg foot touched outside the zone which the jury deemed as a stepout, giving an additional point to Bas and the gold medal.

Bas, the U23 European champion and bronze medalist at the senior level, is the first wrestler from Turkiye to win the U23 world title for the second time.

Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) celebrates after winning the 59kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

While Shauchuk failed to hold her 1-1 criteria lead, Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) managed to hold off Sena NAGAMOTO (JPN) 1-1 in the 59kg final. Nagamoto never looked convincing in her attacks after trailing and Vynnyk had no trouble to play the time.

Vynnyk gave Ukraine its first gold in Women's Wrestling at the U23 World Championships after the nation drew a blank last year in Pontevedra, Spain where the former European silver medalist had won a bronze medal at 59kg.

Umi IMAI (JPN) won the 55kg gold over Neha SHARMA (UWW). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Japan, the most dominant nation in Women's Wrestling, did win two gold medals as Umi ITO (JPN) won at 50kg and Umi IMAI (JPN) won at 55kg.

Imai wrestled Neha SHARMA (UWW) in the final and opened the scoring in typical Japanese style, hitting an outside single and converting it into a takedown. Despite several efforts by Sharma to get a point on board, Imai was solid in defense and did not allow Sharma to go behind.

The 2022 Asian champion would score another takedown in a similar fashion in the second period to lead 4-0 with a minute and 30 seconds left in the final. Sharma got a counter takedown with 50 seconds left to close the gap to 4-2 but could not score another for the win.

Umi ITO (JPN) added a U23 world title to her U17 and U20 titles. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 50kg, Ito, who has never lost internationally with gold medals at the U17 and U20 World Championships, added the U23 world title after her finals opponent Audrey JIMENEZ (USA) pulled out due to a knee injury.

Ito and Jimenez had wrestled in the U20 World Championships final last year at 50kg with Ito winning 10-0. Even in Tirana, the Japanese wrestler won all three of her bouts via technical superiority.

Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU), second from right, won bronze at 76kg. (Photo: UWW / Ulug Bugra Han Degirmenci)

Lithuania wins bronze

Six years after Danute DOMIKAITYTE (LTU) won Lithuania's last world medal at any level, Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU) ended that drought by winning the bronze medal at 76kg in Tirana. Gaucaite was able to see off Patrycja SLOMSKA (POL) 7-3 in the bronze-medal bout.

The second bronze medal at 76kg went to 2021 U23 world champion Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) who pinned Nodoka YAMAMOTO (JPN) after leading 4-2.

Manola SKOBELSKA (UKR) gave Ukraine the second bronze as she defeated Vusala PARFIANOVICH (AIN), 5-3, at 68kg while Tindra SJOEBERG (SWE) rolled to an 11-0 victory over Vanessa KEEFE (CAN) to earn the second bronze at this weight.

European champion Andreea ANA (ROU) bounced back from her defeat to Imai to beat Mariia VYNNYK (UKR), 3-1, in a tense bout for the bronze medal. U20 world champion Aryna MARTYNAVA (AIN) dug deep to help herself beat Zeinep BAYANOVA (KAZ), 8-5, and take home a bronze medal.

At 50kg, U23 European champion Emma LUTTENAUER (FRA) blanked Aida KERYMOVA (UKR), 7-0, to win bronze, her first world medal. Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE) held off NEELAM (UWW), 8-5, in the other bronze-medal playoff.

Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (AIN) won the bronze medal at 59kg after she defeated Nadzeya BULANAYA (AIN), 6-3, while NITIKA (UWW) pinned Michaela RANKIN (CAN) to claim one for herself as well.

Irina RINGACI (MDA) reached the 65kg final after beating Macey KILTY (USA). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Ringaci, Elor in final

Defending champion Amit ELOR (USA) reached the final after two pins and a 5-0 win at 72kg in Tirana. Elor, chasing a career eighth world title, will take on Jyoti BERWAL (UWW) for the gold medal on Friday.

Elor spent 34 seconds on the mat for her first two pins, the first in 16 seconds and the second in 18 seconds. In the semifinal, she defeated her last year's finals opponent Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL), 5-0.

Berwal defeated U20 world silver medalist Bukrenaz SERT (TUR), 7-0, in the other semifinal to set up the gold medal clash against Elor.

At 65kg, Irina RINGACI (MDA) defended everything Macey KILTY (USA) threw at her to win the semifinal 5-4. She also had two pins to begin with but Kilty, world silver medalist, surprised her with a flurry of attacks early in the semifinal

Kilty got the first takedown and worked for others but Ringaci's defense was too much for her as the Moldovan scored from disadvantageous postition to lead 4-2 at the break.

Ringaci scored a stepout to begin the second period and defended a takedown attempt from Kilty using the split. It took a lot out of Ringaci who still had a minute and a half to defend her 5-2 lead.

Kilty would eventually get a takedown with 30 seconds left on the clock but Ringaci held on to beat Kilty 5-4 and head to her first U23 world final. She will take on Amina TANDELOVA (AIN) who defetaed Elma ZEIDLERE (LAT), 6-2, in the other semifinal.

Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA) was the second Moldovan to reach the final on Thursday as she defeated Altyn SHAGAYEVA (KAZ), 6-2 at 53kg. She will take on Mako OONO (JPN) who also won her semifinal against Ekaterina VERBINA (AIN) with a similar scoreline.

2022 Asian champion Sara NATAMI (JPN) will take on Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) in the 57kg final after she won her semifinal against Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR), 8-1. Aliyeva blanked Mia FRIESEN (CAN), 10-0, in the other semifinal.

Iryna BONDAR (UKR) will have a chance to improve her silver from last year to gold as she returned to the final at 62kg. She defeated Bhagyashree FAND (UWW) 10-0 and will take on Yuzuka INAGAKI (JPN) who won her semifinal over Alina KASABIEVA (AIN), 12-2.

RESULTS

50kg
GOLD: Umi ITO (JPN) df. Audrey JIMENEZ (USA), via inj. def.

BRONZE: Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE) df. NEELAM (UWW), 8-5
BRONZE: Emma LUTTENAUER (FRA) df. Aida KERYMOVA (UKR), 7-0

55kg
GOLD: Umi IMAI (JPN) df. Neha SHARMA (UWW), 4-2

BRONZE: Andreea ANA (ROU) df. Mariia VYNNYK (UKR), 3-1
BRONZE: Aryna MARTYNAVA (AIN) df. Zeinep BAYANOVA (KAZ), 8-5

59kg
GOLD: Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) df. Sena NAGAMOTO (JPN), 1-1

BRONZE: Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (AIN) df. Nadzeya BULANAYA (AIN), 6-3
BRONZE: NITIKA (UWW) df. Michaela RANKIN (CAN), via fall

68kg
GOLD: Nesrin BAS (TUR) df. Alina SHAUCHUK (AIN), 2-1

BRONZE: Tindra SJOEBERG (SWE) df. Vanessa KEEFE (CAN), 11-0
BRONZE: Manola SKOBELSKA (UKR) df. Vusala PARFIANOVICH (AIN), 5-3

76kg
GOLD: REETIKA (UWW) df. Kennedy BLADES (USA), 9-2

BRONZE: Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) df. Nodoka YAMAMOTO (JPN), via fall
BRONZE: Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU) df. Patrycja SLOMSKA (POL), 7-3

SEMIFINALS

53kg
GOLD: Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA) vs. Mako OONO (JPN)

SF 1: Mako OONO (JPN) df. Ekaterina VERBINA (AIN), 6-2
SF 2: Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA) df. Altyn SHAGAYEVA (KAZ), 6-2

57kg
GOLD: Sara NATAMI (JPN) vs. Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE)

SF 1: Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) df. Mia FRIESEN (CAN), 10-0
SF 2: Sara NATAMI (JPN) df. Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR), 8-1

62kg
GOLD: Iryna BONDAR (UKR) vs. Yuzuka INAGAKI (JPN)

SF 1: Yuzuka INAGAKI (JPN) df. Alina KASABIEVA (AIN), 12-2
SF 2: Iryna BONDAR (UKR) df. Bhagyashree FAND (UWW), 10-0

65kg
GOLD: Irina RINGACI (MDA) vs. Amina TANDELOVA (AIN)

SF 1: Amina TANDELOVA (AIN) df. Elma ZEIDLERE (LAT), 6-2
SF 2: Irina RINGACI (MDA) df. Macey KILTY (USA), 5-4

72kg
GOLD: Amit ELOR (USA) vs. Jyoti BERWAL (UWW)

SF 1: Jyoti BERWAL (UWW) df. Bukrenaz SERT (TUR), 7-0
SF 2: Amit ELOR (USA) df. Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL), 5-0

Matteo Pellicone freestyle preview

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U23 Worlds: Reetika wins 76kg gold; Bas repeats