Rotter Focken Delivers in Final Women's Match in Belgrade

Wednesday, December 16, 2020 - 20:52 By Andrew Hipps

Links:
Finals Highlights
Day 5 Photos
Interview with Anastasia NICHITA (MDA)

BELGRADE, Serbia (December 16) -- On Wednesday night, Aline ROTTER FOCKEN (GER) delivered in a big way in the final women's wrestling match of the Individual World Cup in Belgrade, Serbia.

The 29-year-old German secured the gold medal at 76kg with a fall over 2017 world champion Yasemin ADAR (TUR).

Rotter Focken, a 2014 world champion and four-time world medalist, led 1-0 at the break after a tactical opening period. Early in the second period, Adar, who defeated Olympic champion Erica WIEBE (CAN) by fall in the semifinals, fired off a double leg. Rotter Focken defended the shot and whipped the Turkish wrestler to her back to secure the fall.

Russia claimed the team title in women's wrestling, finishing with seven medals, including two gold medals. A day after Ekaterina POLESHCHUK (50kg) won gold, Svetlana LIPATOVA gave Russia its second gold in women's wrestling by edging Mariana CHERDIVARA ESANU (MDA) 2-1 at 59kg.

Svetlana LIPATOVA (RUS) gave Russia its second gold in women's wrestling at the Individual World Cup (Photo: Gabor MARTIN, UWW)

After Lipatova scored the only point of the opening period off the activity clock, Cherdivara Esanu came back to take the criteria lead in the second period after scoring a point of her own off the activity clock. A short time later, the Moldovan wrestler was put on the activity clock for a second time. She was unable to score, giving Lipatova her lead back, which was enough to earn the narrow victory.

Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) won the title at 57kg (Photo: Gabor MARTIN, UWW)

Three Moldovan women competed for gold on Wednesday, but only European champion Anastasia NICHITA (57kg) came out victorious.

Nichita earned the gold medal at 57kg with a 5-1 victory over world No.7 Anshu ANSHU (IND). Nichita led 1-0 at the break. She tacked on more points in the second period, scoring a two-point exposure with a throw before adding a takedown midway through the final period.

Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR) throws Irina RINGACI (MDA) for four points (Photo: Gabor MARTIN, UWW)

Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR), a 2018 junior world bronze medalist, used a big second period to help her earn a 14-4 technical superiority over Irina RINGACI (MDA) and capture the gold medal at 65kg. Rizhko went up 4-0 early before Ringaci responded with a takedown and gut wrench to grab the criteria lead heading into the break. Rizhko came out strong in the second period, throwing Ringaci to her back and nearly securing the fall. The Ukrainian built her lead to 8-4 before tossing Ringaci again to her back for four points to go up 12-4. She closed out the match by getting a takedown with 25 seconds remaining.

Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) topped Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) to win gold at 68kg (Photo: Gabor MARTIN, UWW)

Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ), a junior world silver medalist, overcame a slow start to defeat Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) 8-2 and claim the gold at 68kg. Hanzlickova, a 2020 Yasar Dogu champion, led 1-0 at the break after scoring off the activity clock. The 21-year-old Zhumanazarova quickly took the lead in the second period after shooting a double leg and scoring the match's first takedown. She added to her lead with another takedown before Hanzlickova scored a point off a step out to cut the deficit to 4-2. With less than 20 seconds remaining, Zhumanazarova shot a double leg and scored a four-point takedown to blow the match wide open.

Both Russia and Ukraine finished the day with one gold medal and two bronze medals.

Veronika CHUMIKOVA (57kg) and Khanum VELIEVA (68kg) won bronze medals for Russia, while Kateryna ZELENYKH (59kg) and Alina BEREZHNA STADNIK MAKHYNIA (68kg) earned bronze for Ukraine.

Elis MANOLOVA (AZE) and Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL) took the bronze medals at 65kg.

Mehlika OZTURK (TUR) won a bronze at 57kg after getting a fall over Arianna CARIERI (ITA).

Magdalena GLODEK (POL) edged Sandra PARUSZEWSKI (GER) to win a bronze medal at 59kg.

Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR) defeated the Rio Olympic champion Wiebe to win a bronze at 76kg. The other bronze at 76kg was won by Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ).

Women's Wrestling Medal Match Results

57kg
GOLD: Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) df. Anshu ANSHU (IND) by VPO1, 5-1
BRONZE: Veronika CHUMIKOVA (RUS) df. Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE) by VPO1, 2-2
BRONZE: Mehlika OZTURK (TUR) df. Arianna CARIERI (ITA) by VFA, 5-0

59kg
GOLD: Svetlana LIPATOVA (RUS) df. Mariana CHERDIVARA ESANU (MDA) by VPO1, 2-1
BRONZE: Kateryna ZELENYKH (UKR) df. Elif YANIK (TUR) by VSU, 10-0
BRONZE: Magdalena GLODEK (POL) df. Sandra PARUSZEWSKI (GER) by VPO1, 8-7

65kg
GOLD: Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR) df. Irina RINGACI (MDA) by VSU1, 14-4
BRONZE: Elis MANOLOVA (AZE) df. Asli DEMIR (TUR) by VPO, 4-0
BRONZE: Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL) df. Mariia KUZNETSOVA (RUS) by VFA, 6-6

68kg
GOLD: Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) df. Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) by VPO1, 8-2
BRONZE: Khanum VELIEVA (RUS) df. Sofiya Hristova GEORGIEVA (BUL) by VSU1, 13-2
BRONZE: Alina BEREZHNA STADNIK MAKHYNIA (UKR) df. Hanna SADCHANKA (BLR) by VSU, 10-0

76kg
GOLD: Aline ROTTER FOCKEN (GER) df. Yasemin ADAR (TUR) by VFA, 3-0
BRONZE: Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR) df. Erica Elizabeth WIEBE (CAN) by VPO1, 3-1
BRONZE: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) df. Ekaterina BUKINA (RUS) by VPO1, 11-8

#Pankration

World Combat Games: Ukraine dominates Pankration with six golds

Wednesday, October 25, 2023 - 17:37 By United World Wrestling Press

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (October 25) -- Five months ago, they led Ukraine’s march at the Pankration World Championships. On Wednesday, they continued the European powerhouse’s fine run at the World Combat Games in Riyadh as Ukraine grabbed six out of the 10 possible gold medals across men's and women's categories.

Ukrainian athletes reigned supreme in four out of the five categories in the men’s event, with Oleksandr HULIAIEV (71kg), Kyrylo HOROBETS (84kg), Roman KIZIUK (92kg), Bohdan HNIDKO (100kg) winning gold medals.

Ali GULIYEV (AZE) was the only non-Ukrainian to win a gold medal on Wednesday. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

World champion Ihor ZHOVNIR (UKR) suffered a shock defeat in the semifinals to eventual silver medallist Sabit ZHUSSIP (KAZ), which dented Ukraine’s hopes of winning all six gold medals in the men’s section. Ali GULIYEV (AZE) won the gold medal in the 66kg weight class by beating Zhussip.

In the women’s event, Anna BEZHENAR (53kg) and Daria CHIBISOVA (65kg) finished on top of the podium on a memorable day for the country’s athletes at the World Combat Games.

Huliaiev hardly broke a sweat during his three bouts in which he did not concede a single point. He began with a submission win over Ali SHARIFOV (AZE) in the quarterfinals and followed it up with a 5-0 verdict against Zhassulan AKIMZHAN (KAZ) in the semifinals. In the final, Huliaiev defeated Marvin BELECCIU (ROU) via submission after a 10-1 lead to win the gold medal.

Kyrylo HOROBETS (UKR) won the 80kg final 4-2 against Khasan NAFULLAEV (UZB). (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

It wasn’t as easy for Horobets, who began with a 14-5 win over Turkman MAMMADLI (AZE) before conjuring a 10-3 win against Samat SHAGYRAYEV (KAZ) – whom he had beaten in the World Championship final – in the last four. In the final, Horobets beat Khasan NAFULLAEV (UZB) 4-2.

Kiziuk, too, was dominant on his way to the top of the podium as he won all his bouts via superiority. He began by overcoming Daniel GOREA (MDA) 13-1 in the quarterfinals before beating Islom BALTAEV (UZB) 15-1 in the semis. In the final, Kiziuk defeated Duman BALMUKHANOV (KAZ) 13-1.

In another rematch of the World Championship title bout, Hnidko beat Diyar NURGOZHAY (KAZ) 13-1 technical superiority to complete a double over his opponent and win another gold medal.

Anna BEZHENAR (UKR) won the 53kg gold medal. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Meanwhile, in the women’s bouts, Bezhenar was quick off the blocks as she downed Dimitra PAFRA (GRE) via submission in her opening match before defeating Danielle LENTINI (CAN) 11-2 in the semifinals. In the title round, the Ukrainian defeated world championship bronze medallist Mukhlisa NABIJONOVA (UZB) 10-3.

Ukraine’s final gold medal of the day came from Chibisova in the 65kg category. Chibisova defeated Alessia AMENDOLA (ITA) and Esmira MAMMADOVA (AZE) in the early rounds before beating Meruyert IBRAYEVA 9-3 to win the gold.

Khilola SOBIROVA (UZB) earned the 57kg gold medal at the World Combat Games. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Uzbekistan, the United States and Germany were other countries that won gold medals in the women’s events.

Khilola SOBIROVA (UZB) defeated Viktoriia SYNIAVINA (UKR) 6-3 to give Uzbekistan a memorable title in the 57kg category while Lorena CUBERO (GER) gave Germany their first gold medal, beating Vincenza AMENDOLA (ITA) 5-1 in the 70kg final.

The four medalists at 80kg with Madeline SCHELLMAN (USA) with the gold medal. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

The long gold medal for the U.S. was won by Madeline SCHELLMAN (USA) as her opponent Mereke ZHUNUSSOVA (KAZ) was called unfit to continue and injured after Schellman had built a 10-1 lead in the final. Schellman won the gold in the 80kg category.

Rotter Focken Delivers in Final Women's Match in Belgrade

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World Combat Games: Ukraine dominates Pankration with six golds