#BudaWrestle2018

Russia Advances Pair to Finals, Stefanek Dominant

Friday, October 26, 2018 - 16:02 By Andrew Hipps

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (October 26) -- Sergey EMELIN and Artem SURKOV won their semifinal matches on Friday at the World Championships in Budapest to give Russia a pair of Greco-Roman finalists on Saturday. 

Emelin scored a first-period technical fall over surprise semifinalist Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ) to reach the gold-medal match at 60kg. After scoring a point off a passivity, the 23-year-old Russian locked up a gut wrench and turned Sultangali four times for a 9-0 technical fall. 

He will meet Victor CIOBANU (MDA) in Saturday's gold-medal match at 60kg.

Ciobanu secured his first senior world medal by defeating Kristian FRIS (SRB) in the semifinals at 60kg. Fris jumped out to a 3-0 lead, but Ciobanu turned the tables from the bottom position and put Fris in trouble, nearly getting fall. Trailing by two in the second period, Ciobanu used a body lock and drove Fris to his back for four points, which proved to be the difference in the match. 

Surkov, a returning world bronze medalist, will upgrade his world medal after stopping the run of Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) at 67kg. Surkov won 3-1 in the semifinals, scoring all of his points came in the first period, earning a point off a passivity and then getting a turn using a high gut wrench. Awaiting him in the gold-medal match at 67kg is Olympic champion Davor STEFANEK (SRB). 

Stefanek used a big throw in the second period to close out a technical fall over Gevorg SAHAKYAN (POL) at 67kg. Stefanek led 4-0 at the break and used a turn to go up 3-0. An uncessful challenge gave Stefanek a 4-0 lead at the break. He then a locked up a throw thirty seconds into the period and put the match away. 

Metehan BASAR (TUR) stands one match away from winning a second straight world title after defeating Bekkhan OZDOEV (RUS) 2-1 in the semifinals at 87kg. Ozdeoev led 1-0 at the break, but surrendered his lead early in the second, giving Basar two points after a caution, which closed out the scoring in the match. 

In the other semifinal match at 87kg, Olympic silver medalist Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) defeated Islam ABBASOV (AZE) 5-1. Beleniuk took a 3-0 lead into the break after scoring a passivity point, which he followed up with a gut wrench. He added a late two off a caution to win by four. 

60kg
Victor CIOBANU (MDA) df. Kristian FRIS (SRB) by VPO1, 6-3
Sergey EMELIN (RUS) df. Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ) by VSU, 9-0

67kg
Artem SURKOV (RUS) df. Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) by VPO1, 3-1
Davor STEFANEK (SRB) df. Gevorg SAHAKYAN (POL) by VSU, 8-0

87kg
Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) df. Islam ABBASOV (AZE) by VPO1, 5-1
Metehan BASAR (TUR) df. Bekkhan OZDOEV (RUS) by VPO1, 2-1
 

#WrestleAcapulco

Pan-Am C'ships: Acosta wins 130kg; U.S. grabs two GR golds

Thursday, February 22, 2024 - 03:36 By Gaurav Bhatt

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ACAPULCO, Mexico (February 22) — On what was a mixed day for the contingent, Team USA took home two gold medals and three silvers as the 2024 Pan-American Championships kicked off Wednesday with Greco-Roman action in Acapulco.

Hayden TUMA defeated Hector Sanchez ZAPATA (MEX) 4-0 to win the 63kg gold, while Alejandro SANCHO defeated Andres MONTANO (ECU) 3-1 for the 67kg title.

Tuma, a three-time national champion, had previously competed at the event in the 66kg and 67kg categories, finishing 7th on both occasions. The 29-year-old, who plans to compete in the 60kg category this Olympic cycle, ran through his 63kg opponents on Wednesday, utilizing his larger frame and explosive attacks.

PodiumThe 67kg podium at the Pam-Am Championships with Alejandro SANCHO (USA) winning the gold medal. (Photo: UWW / William Bain)

Sancho — who finished third at his first Pan-Am Championships in 2020 and then secured the 67kg quota for the US at the Olympic qualifier the week after — kept 2021 gold medallist Montano at bay on Wednesday's final. After the cagey opening period finished with Sancho trailing 1-0, the American rallied against the increasingly tired Ecuadorian. 

Oscar PINO’s (CUB) quest to defend his Greco-Roman 130kg title ended in heartbreak as the six-time champion and four-time world medallist conceded a walkover in the final. Yasmani ACOSTA (CHI) grabbed the gold without taking the mat for his last two bouts as Cohlton SCHULTZ (USA) forfeited the semifinal. The American, who began the day with a picture-perfect headlock in the win over Moises PEREZ HELLBURG (VEN), took a shade over 30 seconds to beat the Venezuelan again in the bronze-medal bout.

Daniel HECHAVARRIA (CUB), however, managed to win back-to-back golds as he defended his 87kg title with a win over Luis AVENDANO (VEN). Last year's 82kg champion Spencer WOODS (USA), who had moved up a category, faltered at the first hurdle as he couldn't hold on to a 3-0 lead and lost the bout to eventual bronze medallist Carlos ANDRES (COL).

Raiber OROZCO (VEN)Raiber OROZCO (VEN) defeated Randon MIRANDA (USA) 8-7 in the 60kg final. (Photo: UWW / William Bain)

Raiber OROZCO (VEN) won his first gold medal at the event with a tight 8-7 win over Randon MIRANDA (USA) in the 60kg category. The American — competing in his third final at the event after a 63kg silver in 2021 and the 60kg gold in 2022 — looked trigger-shy in the opening minutes. After giving up a 5-0 lead, Miranda bounced back as the two wrestlers engaged in a feisty contest that saw close calls and challenges upheld for both. In the end, Orozco proved too strong for Miranda. 

The 77kg competition sprang a couple of surprises as favorites Kamal BEY (USA) and Yosvanys PENA FLORES (CUB) lost their semifinal bouts. Jair CUERO (COL) took the gold after Joilson RAMOS (BRA) conceded a walkover in the final. 

In the 55kg category, Marco GARCIA (MEX) was too good for his opponents Camden RUSSELL (USA) and Mario CHOC (GUA). Sosruk KODZOKOV (BRA) won the 82kg gold as Mahmoud SEBIE (USA) finished second.

g

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Marco GARCIA ALVAREZ (MEX)
SILVER: Camden RUSSELL (USA)
BRONZE: Mario CHOC (GUA)

60kg
GOLD:  Raiber OROZCO (VEN) df. Randon MIRANDA (USA), 8-7

BRONZE:  Angel SEGURA TELLEZ (MEX) df. Dicther TORO (COL), 2-1
BRONZE: Liria YERONY (DOM) df. Cristobal TORRES NUNEZ (CHI), 6-1

63kg
GOLD: Hayden TUMA (USA)
SILVER: Hector ZAPATA (MEX)
BRONZE: Carlos VAHOS (VEN)

67kg
GOLD:  Alejandro SANCHO (USA) df. Andres MONTANO ARROYO (ECU), 3-1

BRONZE: Horta JULIAN STIVEN (COL) df. Gavin ELDRIDGE (CAN), 8-0
BRONZE: Almanza NESTOR EVIAN (CHI) df. Laguerre STARLIN (DOM), 9-0

77kg
GOLD: Cuero JAIR (COL) df. Ramos De Brito JOILSON (BRA), via inj. def.

BRONZE: Kamal BEY (USA) df. Rivas Espinoza WUILEIXIS DE JESUS (VEN), 11-0
BRONZE: Pena Flores YOSVANYS (CUB) df. Bernal EDUARDO JOSUE (CHI), 8-0

82kg
GOLD: Sosruko KODZOKOV (BRA)
SILVER: Mahmoud SEBIE (USA)
BRONZE: Diego MACIAS TORRES (MEX)

87kg
GOLD: Daniel GREGORICH HECHAVARRIA (CUB) df. Avendano LUIS (VEN), 4-0

BRONZE: Carlos MUNOZ JARAMILLO (COL) df. Jose MORENO BUSTOS (CHI), 9-0
BRONZE: Alfonso ARIEL ANDRES (HON) df. Jorge LLANO (ARG), 8-0

130kg
GOLD: Yasmani ACOSTA (CHI) df. Oscar PINO (CUB), via inj. def.

BRONZE: Cohlton SCHULTZ (USA) df. Moises Salvador PEREZ HELLBURG (VEN), via fall