#GuatemalaCityWrestle

Rosillo de Cuba Busca su Segundo Oro Panamericano de 2019

By Taylor Miller

Hace dos meses, Gabriel ROSILLO KINDELAN (CUB) ganó el oro en el Campeonato Panamericano de Mayores en 97 kg en grecorromana. Derrotó un luchador experimentado de los Estados Unidos por el título. Y hoy tiene que hacer lo mismo.

Hoy Rosillo está compitiendo en el Campeonato Panamericano Juvenil en la Ciudad de Guatemala, su primera competición de nivel juvenil.

Él sigue ganando en grande, pero hay algo un poco diferente esta vez.

“Hoy me siento bien. No tengo tanta presión porque en Argentina en el Panamericano de Mayores, hubo mucha presión,” dijo Rosillo. “Yo solo tengo 20 años y hoy, no hay ninguna presión.”

Rosillo ha dominado la competencia. De sus cuatro combates hasta el momento, él solo ha luchado menos de 3 minutos en total.

Su victoria más rápida llegó en las semifinales, donde derrotó a Juan CANTILLO TORRES (PAN), 8-0, en 17 segundos.

Por el oro, Rosillo se enfrentará a Braxton AMOS (USA). Ya venció a Amos en la primera sesión de acción, 10-0, en solo 40 segundos, pero se volverán a encontrar esta noche.

Rosillo ya tiene una medalla de oro del Campeonato Panamericano de Mayores de 2019 y también una medalla de bronce del Campeonato Panamericano de Mayores de 2018.

Mira el torneo en vivo en unitedworldwrestling.org. Las finales comienzan a las 6 p.m. CST

#WrestleBudapest

Must-watch storylines from Budapest Ranking Series

By Vinay Siwach

BUDAPEST, Hungary (June 4) -- As the Budapest Ranking Series gets underway Thursday in the Hungary capital, a few intriguing storylines will be seen on the mats. Countries will be finalizing their Olympic line-ups, a few star wrestlers are returning to competition while others are competing for the ranking points.

Here are the top storylines that no wrestling fan should miss at the Budapest Ranking Series which will be live on uww.org using UWW+.

Iran's dilemma

A wrestle-off is set to be held by Iran in Budapest to decide on the Paris Olympic team. Tokyo Olympic champion Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) won the spot by winning bronze at the World Championships. But Saeid ESMAEILI LEIVESI (IRI) won the Asian Championships to lay his claim for the 67kg gold medal.

60kg will also see a wrestle-off as Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) is set to face Amirreza DEHBOZORGI (IRI) to decide who goes to the Paris Games.

Also, Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI) is wrestling!

Hassan YAZDANI (IRI)Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) will wrestle for the first time since winning gold medal at the Asian Games. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Sachiko Hotaka)

Yazdani returns

Undoubtedly Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) returning to competition is the big show in Budapest. Since winning the silver medal at the World Championships in Belgrade, Yazdani has wrestled only once, winning the gold medal at the Asian Games. A shoulder injury kept him out for eight months but Yazdani will be wrestling at 86kg on Thursday.

Before the Ranking Series, there were talks in Iran about a potential clash of Yazdani against 92kg world champion Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) who is looking to make the Paris Olympic team for Iran. But Iran decided to send Yazdani alone and will assess his performance before deciding on a trial between the two.

Ziqi FENG (CHN)Ziqi FENG (CHN) gave a scare to Yui SUSAKI (JPN) in the Asian Championships final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

China's problem of plenty

China rarely sends a portion of its team to the Ranking Series. But it has sent only five wrestlers for Budapest, all in Women's Wrestling. Three wrestlers are entered at 50kg and two at 57kg, expected for a wrestle-off.

Yu ZHANG (CHN), Jiang ZHU (CHN) and Ziqi FENG (CHN) are fighting for the Paris Olympic spot at 50kg. Feng won the quota for China by winning the bronze medal at the World Championships in Belgrade.

Qi ZHANG (CHN) and Kexin HONG (CHN) will wrestle off for the spot at 57kg. Hong won the quota at the Asian Olympic Qualifier in Bishkek. But Zhang, a world champion at 59kg, won the Asian Championships, a run that also had a win over Risako KINJO (JPN) in the first round.

Jamalov's switch

Razambek JAMALOV (UZB) has been waiting for his Uzbekistan debut which will finally happen in Budapest. Jamalov will take the mat at 74kg and can also face Bekzhod ABURKHAMANOV (UZB), meaning that their match can also be a wrestle-off.  Jamalov has not wrestled at an international event since finishing fifth at the 2021 European Championships but has previously shown that he can win against any top wrestler on his day.