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.

#WrestleAmman

U20 stars gear up for Japan test in Women's Wrestling

Thursday, August 10, 2023 - 01:26 By Vinay Siwach

AMMAN, Jordan (August 10) -- Among the 663 wrestlers competing at the U20 World Championships in Amman next week, 187 are women. But wrestling fans around the world will be looking up to 10 women wrestlers who are expected to not only win a medal, but gold.

Japan will be entering the U20 World Championships as the defending team champion, a title it has won 10 times out of 11. The only time Japan did not win was when it skipped the 2021 edition of the tournament due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last year, Japan won eight gold and two bronze medals and two of the eight gold medalists, Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) and Ayano MORO (JPN) are returning to defend their titles.

China, among the best in Women's Wrestling, will be returning to the U20 Worlds after four years as it missed the 2021 and 2022 editions citing travel restrictions during the pandemic.

The only other country to win the women's team title ever in 2021, the United States is sending a strong squad led by senior world champion Amit ELOR (USA) who is also a two-time defending champion.

India, a team that has shown constant progress, will look to improve on its performance from Sofia where it won one gold, three silver and two bronze medals.

Women's wrestling will begin August 16 and all action will be live on uww.org and the UWW App.

Audrey JIMENEZ (USA) is a returning silver medalist at 50kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

50kg
The lightest weight class will see returning silver medalist Audrey JIMENEZ (USA) lead the challenge for the U.S. Jimenez has participated in two senior-level international tours this year and won a medal in both. She would like to make amends after losing in the final to Umi ITO (JPN) last year.

Taking Ito's place is Miruko SAKANE (JPN), an 18-year-old on her first international trip. In the selection trials in Japan, she won four bouts.

Among the continental champions, 17-year-old Yu ZHANG (CHN) won the U17 and U20 Asian Championships and will be looking to make her mark at the world level along with Viktoriia SLOBODENIUK (UKR) who won the U20 European Championships.

For India, Priyanshi PRAJAPAT (IND) will hope to win back-to-back medals after finishing with a bronze medal last year. But challenges include Sviatlana KATENKA (AIN) who won a silver medal at the U17 World Championships last week and also the U17 European champion, 2021 U17 Worlds bronze medalist Elvina KARIMZADA (AZE) and fellow U20 Asian bronze medalist Laura GANIKYZY (KAZ).

53kg
Perhaps one of the few weight classes in which a Japanese may not be the favorite on paper. Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR), an internationally unbeaten wrestler in seven competitions and a two-time champion at the U20 European, U17 World, U17 European and U15 European Championships makes her the top contender for gold.

At last year's U17 World Championships, she defeated Sakura ONISHI (JPN) who won the gold last year without surrendering a point. Yefremova also won the U20 European gold without giving up a point in four bouts.

But winning the gold in Amman will not be easy. Nagisa HARADA (JPN) was dominant in Japan's selection trials with three technical superiority wins. Harada is also a 2019 U17 world champ and won a silver medal at the 2023 Klippan Lady's Open, losing European champion Jonna MALMGREN (SWE).

ANTIM (IND) won the gold medal at the 2022 U20 World Championships. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

And also in the fray is defending champion ANTIM (IND), the first women's U20 world champion from the country. A silver medalist at the senior Asian Championships this year, Antim will aim to defend her title from Sofia.

The U.S. will be banking on returning bronze medalist and 2021 U17 world champ Katie GOMEZ (USA). She suffered a fall in the quarterfinals last year to Altyn SHAGAYEVA (KAZ) who is also returning for another run for the gold medal. At the U20 Asian Championships, Shagayeva finished with a bronze medal after a close 5-4 loss to the eventual champ Liuxuan CHEN (CHN). The Chinese wrestler will be in Amman to try and win a world title.

Mihaela SAMOIL (MDA), who won a silver medal at the 2022 U23 World Championships, would like to win a medal in Amman after missing it last year as she suffered a loss in the quarterfinal.

A darkhorse will at 53kg will be Polina LUKINA (AIN) who won the 2021 U20 Worlds silver medal and also has a silver medal from the Istanbul Ranking Series in 2022. U20 European silver medalist Gultakin SHIRINOVA (AZE) and Emine CAKMAK (TUR), a former U20 Worlds bronze medalist, would like to make their mark as well.

Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) is a U20 and U23 world champion at 55kg. (Photo: UWW /Kostandin Andonov)

55kg
Defending champion Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) will be the hot favorite to repeat. She won four of her bouts via technical superiorities last year and added a U23 world gold in November. In February this year, the former U17 world champion won the Zagreg Open Ranking Series and finished second to Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) in Japan's selection trials for the senior World Championships.

Hoping to upset Kiyooka will be returning silver Albina RILLIA (UKR) after she suffered a 10-0 loss in the final to Kiyooka. Rillia, however, will have to be careful as U20 European champ and returning bronze medalist Tuba DEMIR (TUR) is waiting to avenge her quarterfinals loss from Sofia.

Demir will be tested by another returning bronze medalist Roza SZENTTAMASI (HUN), who lost to Demir via fall at the U20 European Championships. Georgiana LIRCA (ROU), who will be in Amman, lost to Demir in the final.

Representing India will be JYOTI (IND) who won a silver medal at the U20 Asian Championships but forfeited her final. She is also joined by U20 Asian bronze medalist Zeinep BAYANOVA (KAZ) who wrestled at 57kg last year and finished fifth.

Alina FILIPOVYCH (UKR), the U20 European champion, will be one of the favorites at 57kg. (Photo: UWW / Kostandin Andonov)

57kg
Since 57kg has been included in the U20 Worlds program, Japan has won all gold medals barring one. In 2021, when Japan skipped the tournament, Nilufar RAIMOVA (KAZ) won the gold medal in a historic final against Aurora RUSSO (ITA). Amman may present an opportunity for a non-Japanese wrestler to win the gold.

Ichika ARAI (JPN) will be on her first international trip after winning the Junior Queen's Cup in Japan. To keep the gold at home which Ruka NATAMI (JPN) won last year, Arai will have to go through some tough wrestlers including U20 Asian and European champions.

REENA (IND) won the gold in Amman last month and she will fancy her chances to go all the way at 57kg. European champ Alina FILIPOVYCH (UKR) has the caliber to win the title along with Gerda TEREK (HUN) who finished second to her in the continent. Terek also has silver from the 2022 U17 Worlds.

Joining them in a bid to win gold is U17 Asian champion Jin ZHANG (CHN), two-time U20 African champion Louji YASSIN (EGY), U20 Pan-Am silver medalist Bertha ROJAS (MEX), U20 European bronze Sevval CAYIR (TUR), former U17 world silver medalist Cristelle RODRIGUEZ (USA), who lost to Kiyooka in 2019 and Ulmeken ESENBAEVA (UZB) who won bronze at U20 Asia and is a 2022 U17 world bronze medalist.

Can Aurora RUSSO (ITA) become Italy's first world champion in Women's Wrestling. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

59kg
All four continental champions are entered at 59kg along with a former U20 world champ. In 2021, Alesia HETMANAVA (AIN) had a dream run and won the 55kg gold at the U20 World Championships as a 17-year-old. She will be back to win another U20 title, this time 59kg.

Trying to stop her are U20 Pan-Am champ Camila AMARILLA (ARG), U20 African champ Farah HUSSEIN (EGY), U20 Asia champ NITIKA (IND) and U20 European champ Russo who won silver at 57kg in the same World Championships.

Japan will be sending 18-year-old Kanami YAMANOUCHI (JPN) who won the U15 Asia gold in 2019. In the selection trials, she won three bouts to clinch the spot. Madina AMAN (KAZ) is a returning bronze medalist and will look to improve. She won her bronze after beating Aleksandra WITOS (POL) who also returns.

Klippan Lady's Open and U20 European silver medalist Annatina LIPPUNER (SUI) will be a wrestler to keep an eye on after her run at the continent tour in which won three bouts before losing the final to Russo.

Both U20 Euro bronze medalists Sevim AKBAS (TUR) and Yuliia PAKHNIUK (UKR) are entered along with U20 Asia silver medalist Sarbinaz JIENBAEVA (UZB).

Suzu SASAKI (JPN) will look to avenge her U17 World Championships loss against SAVITA (IND). (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

62kg
Suzu SASAKI (JPN) had to mount a comeback after trailing 6-0 in the final of the Junior Queen's Cup to seal her spot for the U20 World Championships. While winning the gold medal is her top priority, she also wants to avenge her 2022 U17 World Championships loss to eventual champion SAVITA (IND).

Savita, who won defended her U17 Worlds gold at 61kg last week in Istanbul, will be looking to add to her U20 Asia title but has to deal with Sasaki, who won the Klippan Lady's Open earlier this year, along with a host of other stars who will try to win the gold.

The biggest names include returning bronze and U20 and U23 European champion Iryna BONDAR (UKR) who lost to Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) last year. She later went on to win a silver at the U23 World Championships as well, once again losing to Ozaki in the final.

But Bondar will be one of the top prospects to win the gold even as Savita and Sasaki renew their rivalry. The other returning bronze medalist Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA) too will try to find a way to the final.

Two-time U20 Pan-Am champion Melanie JIMENEZ (MEX), silver to her Mayara RAMOS (BRA), U20 European silver medalist Iris THIEBAUX (FRA) and U23 Worlds bronze medalist Astrid MONTERO (VEN) can cause upsets.

Eniko ELEKES (HUN) will be looking for her first U20 world title. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

65kg
Eniko ELEKES (HUN) suffered a first-round loss last year in Sofia but could have been a one-off. She was the 2021 U17 world champ and is now a U20 European champion going into the U20 Worlds in Amman. A medal looks like a big possibility for Elekes at 65kg.

Alicja NOWOSAD (POL) was second to Elekes in Europe and will be in Amman with a medal and revenge on her mind. She will be joined by U20 Euro bronze medalists Nikoleta BARMPA (GRE) (68kg) and Maria PANTIRU (ROU).

Returning bronze medalist and senior African champ Khadija JLASSI (TUN) will look to become the first Tunisian wrestler to reach the final at the age-group World Championships.

Duygu GEN (TUR), who won the U17 Europeans, will turn up in Amman, 10 days after winning a silver medal at the U17 Worlds in Istanbul. A medal in Amman will be a huge success for the youngster.

U20 Asian silver medalist ANTIM (IND) and U20 Pan-Am silver medalist Gleymaris BERIA (VEN) are also entered.

68kg
She was not able to do it last year at 65kg but Manola SKOBELSKA (UKR) will look to win the title this year at 68kg. A three-time U20 European champ Skobelska, who won a bronze at the U23 Worlds as well, will be one of the favorites at 68kg. Returning bronze medalist Sophia SCHAEFLE (GER) who lost to Skobelska in the final, will try to reverse the result on the world stage.

All three U20 Asian medalists in silver medalist Gulnura TASHTANBEKOVA (KGZ) and two bronze medalists Zhibekzhan SABYRZHANOVA (KAZ) and ARJU (IND), who finished fifth last year in Sofia, will be in Amman.

The U.S. is sending Isabella MIR (USA) who won the Spain Grand Prix this year and will be a trouble for other wrestlers. She is the daughter of Frank MIR.

Amit ELOR (USA) is the U20, U23 and senior world champion. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

72kg
We'll take Amit ELOR (USA)!

Ayano MORO (JPN), blue, and PRIYA (IND) finished first and second respectively at the last U20 World Championships. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

76kg
Amman will see the return of the phenomenal Kennedy BLADES (USA) who won the U20 world title in 2021 at 72kg. This year, she has already won the Alexandria Ranking Series at the senior level and finished second in the U.S. world team trials.

She will be joined by three returning medalists including champion Ayano MORO (JPN), silver medalist Priya MALIK (IND) and bronze medalist Veronika NYIKOS (HUN).

Moro will defend her title after she dominated the Japan selection trials, winning both bouts 10-0. She will be tested by two-time U17 world champ Malik who lost 3-1 in the final last year. Malik won the U20 Asian gold in Amman in July.

U20 European champ Nyikos will hope to reach the final which she missed last year after a close loss to Malik in the semifinals, her second to the Indian.

Laura KUEHN (GER), however, will look to avenge her U20 Euro final loss to Nyikos while Yuqi LIU (CHN) hopes to do the same against Malik who won against the Chinese wrestler twice at the U20 Asia.

Myah PHILLIPS (CAN) is the U20 Pan-Am silver medalist while Daniela TKACHUK (POL) will have her last opportunity to win a medal after finishing fifth at the last two U20 Worlds.

Matteo Pellicone freestyle preview

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U20 stars gear up for Japan test in Women's Wrestling