#WrestleSkopje

Russia, Ukraine in Thrilling WW Title Race at #WrestleSkopje

Thursday, May 20, 2021 - 19:49 By Vinay Siwach

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SKOPJE, North Macedonia (May 20) --- Ukraine and Russia are involved in a thrilling team title race in women's wrestling at the U23 European Championships.

While Russia dominated with four finalists on Wednesday compared to Ukraine's two, the latter entered three into the finals on Thursday while Russia fell behind to only two.

On Thursday, Ukraine saw their wrestlers reaching the semifinal in each weight class that was in action at the Jane Sandanski Arena in Skopje, North Macedonia. Two, however, failed to reach the finals.

Alina AKOBIYA (UKR), Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR) and Kateryna ZELENYKH (UKR) reached the finals in 57kg, 62kg and 65kg weight category for Ukraine. For Russia, Ekaterina VERBINA (RUS) and Marina SUROVTSEVA (RUS) entered the 50kg and 72kg final.

The Ukraine wrestlers just did not reach the finals, but they made sure their opponents know it, Of the 10 semifinals, five were decided via fall and three of them were performed by wrestlers from Ukraine.

Alina AKOBIYA U23 European Championships

Akobiya led the way for them with victory in the 57kg semifinal against Sezen BELBEROVA (BUL). She began with a takedown to lead 2-0 and added another with a single leg which she managed to convert into a fall. But in the process, Belberova was hit on the forehead which resulted in bleeding before the fall action began. That only delayed the eventual result.

The wrestlers were called to the center with Akobiya leading 6-0. Belberova was put in a par terre position from which Akobiya managed to pin her.

That was not the first of the day for Akobiya as she had won both her previous bouts in similar fashion. Eda TEKIN (TUR) was pinned in the first period during the qualification bout while U23 Euro champ at 55kg Viktoriia VAULINA (RUS) was stunned as well with a fall after 12-1 score.

Akobiya will be eyeing her first U23 Euro gold after falling short in Novi Sad in 2019. But Patrycja GIL (POL) will be between her and the gold.

Gil, a junior world champion, used three takedowns and two stepouts to beat Othelie HOEIE (NOR) 8-0 in the other semifinal. In the quarterfinal, she defeated Hanna VAHER (BLR) 2-1.

Individual World Cup champ Rizhko will also be looking for her first U23 Euro title after she reached the final at 62kg. She humbled senior and U23 European medalist Anhelina LYSAK (POL) in the semifinal. Rizhko had an early takedown and then she got Lysak in a head lock and threw her over the shoulder. A fall was confirmed as Rizhko won in two minutes and 43 seconds.

Tatsiana PAULAVA (BLR) will try and stop Rizhko from winning the gold as she reached the summit clash from the top side of the bracket. In the semifinal, she scored couple of takedowns and a gut against Cansu AKSOY (TUR) to lead 6-0 at the break before a hitting a counter for four points and claiming the pin.

But her bigger win came in the quarterfinal where she defeated junior Euro champion and Russian Championships bronze medalist Maria LACHUGINA (RUS) 4-2.

At 65kg, Zelenykh was the quickest among the semifinalists to get the pin as she finished the bout in just one minute in 43 seconds. Even in that small period, a total of 11 points were scored. Zelenykh scored a 4 using a hip-toss before a takedown against Asli DEMIR (TUR). The Turkey wrestler also responded with a takedown at the edge. Her corner challenged the call, asking for four points but lost the challenge and Zelenykh led 7-2.

A single leg attack to expose Demir to her back before getting the fall gave the Ukrainian a spot in the final where she will face Irina RINGACI (MDA).

Quickly becoming one of the most feared wrestlers in 62-65kg weight classes, Ringaci also finished her semifinal against Kamila KULWICKA (POL) via fall.

Kulwicka made several attempts to get points on Ringaci but failed every time as the Moldova wrestler countered her moves. She got the first takedown via a counter before another and an exposure made it 6-0. Kulwicka again came with a single leg attack but Ringaci defended that and scored two points. Ringaci took some time but the pin was secured in 4:08.

There was disappointment as well for Ukraine as Maria VYNNYK (UKR) at 53kg and Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) at 72kg failed to win their semifinals.

Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) upset Vynnyk in the final second by scoring a stepout and winning 3-3 on criteria. Yetgil will now take on Verbina who controlled her semifinal against Szimonetta SZEKER (HUN) 6-0.

At 72kg, Alpyeyeva gave a tough fight but Surovtseva was too strong for her. After a couple of takedowns, the Russian led 4-0 at the break. Alpyeyeva managed an attack with caught the Russian off guard. But the win was secured by Surovtseva 6-2 with ease.

She will wrestle Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) in the final on Friday. Choluj needs to thank her Gods as she managed to sneak past Anastasiya ZIMIANKOVA (BLR) 2-1 in the semifinal.

With the bout tied 1-1 with 24 seconds left, Choluj managed to get a step out and a 2-1 lead which she kept until the clock expired.

Russia, Ukraine win 2 gold each

By the time the final session ended in Skopje, Russia, with 90 points, had a small four-point led over Ukraine in the team title race.

Ukraine stopped Russia from gaining a big lead as Khrystyna DEMKO (UKR) defeated Aleksandra SKIRENKO (RUS) in the 55kg final while Oksana CHUDYK (UKR) held off Vusala PARFIANOVICH (RUS) in the 68kg final.

The two defeats hurt Russia despite their two gold medals at 50kg and 76kg.

Ukraine earned bronze medals at 50kg and 59kg but their absence from the podium at 76kg may come back to hurt them in the final scores.

The lone gold winner who did not represent the two countries was Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) as she defeated Tamara DOLLAK (HUN) 10-0 in a blink of an eye.

The defending European and world medalist put on a show of strength as she trapped Dollack in a arm to chest lock to get four turns and the win as she defended her U23 Euro gold.

Mariia TIUMEREKOVA (RUS) won the gold at 50kg as she eased past Anastasiya YANOTOVA (BLR) 7-2. Using single leg attacks, the Russian got a 5-0 lead at the break before Yanotova scored two step outs. But a takedown late in the bout sealed the gold for Tiumerekova.

DEMKO

Demko combined a takedwon and gut thrice in the final against Aleksandra SKIRENKO (RUS) to win 12-1 at 59kg. This was her first European title at the U23 level.

In another Ukraine-Russia final, Chudyk scored a takedown via an arm drag against Vusala PARFIANOVICH (RUS) in the last 30 seconds of their 68kg final to lead 3-2. She managed to keep the Russian at bay and win the gold medal. This adds to her cadet and junior European titles.

Russia managed to lock the gold at 76kg as Evgeniia ZAKHARCHENKO (RUS) needed only two minutes and 21 seconds to win 10-0 against Aysegul OZBEGE (TUR). She snapped Ozbege at the 40th second of the bout and got three exposures to lead 8-0. The final takedown was also scored via a snap down.

Focus will shift to Greco-Roman as wrestler from five weight classes – 55kg, 63kg, 77kg, 87kg, 130kg – will take the mat.

Results: WW Semifinals

53kg
GOLD: Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) vs Ekaterina VERBINA (RUS)

SF 1: Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) df Mariia VYNNYK (UKR), 3-3
SF 2: Ekaterina VERBINA (RUS) df Szimonetta SZEKER (HUN), 6-0

57kg
GOLD: Patrycja GIL (POL) vs Alina AKOBIIA (UKR)

SF 1: Patrycja GIL (POL) df Othelie HOEIE (NOR), 8-0
SF 2: Alina AKOBIIA (UKR) df Sezen BELBEROVA (BUL), via fall (10-0)

62kg
GOLD: Tatsiana PAULAVA (BLR) vs Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR)

SF 1: Tatsiana PAULAVA (BLR) df Cansu AKSOY (TUR), via fall (10-2)
SF 2: Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR) df Anhelina LYSAK (POL), via fall (6-0)

65kg
GOLD: Irina RINGACI (MDA) vs Kateryna ZELENYKH (UKR)

SF 1: Irina RINGACI (MDA) df Kamila KULWICKA (POL), via fall (11-0)
SF 2: Kateryna ZELENYKH (UKR) df Asli DEMIR (TUR), via fall (9-2)

72kg
GOLD: Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) vs Marina SUROVTSEVA (RUS)

SF 1: Marina SUROVTSEVA (RUS) df Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR), 6-2
SF 2: Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) df Anastasiya ZIMIANKOVA (BLR), 2-1

U23 European Championships

WW Medal Bouts

50kg
GOLD: Mariia TIUMEREKOVA (RUS) df Anastasiya YANOTOVA (BLR), 7-2

BRONZE: Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR) df Lisa ERSEL (GER), via fall (6-2)
BRONZE: Aynur ERGE (TUR) df Maria LEORDA (MDA), 10-0

55kg
GOLD: Khrystyna DEMKO (UKR) df Aleksandra SKIRENKO (RUS), 12-1

BRONZE: Esra PUL (TUR) df Beatrice FERENT (ROU), via fall (5-1)
BRONZE: Dominika KULWICKA (POL) df Aleksandrina KASHINOVA (BUL), 3-2

59kg
GOLD: Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) df Tamara DOLLAK (HUN), 10-0

BRONZE: Krystsina SAZYKINA (BLR) df Maria BAEZ DILONE (ESP), 4-3
BRONZE: Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) df Anne NUERNBERGER (GER), 14-4

68kg
GOLD: Oksana CHUDYK (UKR) df Vusala PARFIANOVICH (RUS), 3-2

BRONZE: Ewelina CIUNEK (POL) df Kendra DACHER (FRA), via fall (6-2)
BRONZE: Nesrin BAS (TUR) df Natallia BELSKAYA (BLR), via fall (9-0)

76kg
GOLD: Evgeniia ZAKHARCHENKO (RUS) df Aysegul OZBEGE (TUR), 10-0

BRONZE: Diana VLASCEANU (ROU) df Andela PRIJOVIC (SRB), 10-0
BRONZE: Enrica RINALDI (ITA) df Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU), via fall (4-0)

#WrestlePontevedra

U20 Worlds: Iran wins golds, U.S. team title

Sunday, September 8, 2024 - 23:21 By Vinay Siwach

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PONTEVEDRA, Spain (September 8) -- Iran won two gold, a silver, and a bronze medal on the final day of the U20 World Championships, but it failed to stop the United States from winning the team title. The U.S. collected the top rank in the team race with 175 points, 15 better than Iran, which finished second. Japan finished third with 90 points.

This was the first time since 2017 that the U.S. won the team title and stopped Iran from completing a hat trick of top-place finishes. All 10 U.S. wrestlers competed for a medal and nine won a medal.

The U.S. fielded a very young team, with five wrestlers who were only 18 years old and eight wrestlers who could wrestle at the U20 level again next year.

"Everyone put themselves in the position to get on the podium and win the best medal they could," J'den COX, coach of Team USA, said. "Everyone is going to get better but overall it was great. They are the best in the world. I get it that individually in some cases we didn't get where we wanted to go but as a whole, we wrestled an amazing tournament."

Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI)Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) scores a takedown against Benjamin KUETER (USA). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

However, the final day of the U20 Worlds in Pontevedra, Spain did not go as planned for the U.S. It had five wrestlers on the mat and only one won his match. Marcus BLAZE (USA) won a bronze medal over Tolga OZBEK (TUR).

Ladarion LOCKETT (USA), Joshua BARR (USA) and Benjamin KUETER (USA) all dropped their finals while Connor MIRASOLA (USA) lost his bronze medal match.

Kueter, a U20 world champion at 97kg in 2022, was wrestling at 125kg and reached the final. However, he ran into a mountain named Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) who already has a U23 world gold, two U20 world golds, and a U17 world gold.

Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI)Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) gestures towards the crowd after winning the 125kg final in Pontevedra. (Photo: United World Championships / Jake Kirkman)

Masoumi added a third U20 world gold medal to his name after he won the 125kg final 4-2 over Kueter and is now a five-time age-group world champion. A naturally aggressive wrestler, Masoumi dropped that approach and was happy to win his matches by sitting on the lead.

He did the same against Kueter in the final as he scored a takedown, a point for Kueter's passivity and a stepout. As he defended his 4-0 lead, Kueter managed to trip him in the final 30 seconds to score a takedown for two points.

"My opponent in the final is a well-known wrestler as he won the World Championships Sofia, Bulgaria, two years ago," Masoumi said. "He had taken a year off from wrestling but had improved a lot since then. He’s a skilled and accomplished wrestler. Thank God I was able to use my knowledge of him to wrestle smartly and win 4-2"

Kueter did trouble Masoumi in the final but Masoumi, despite wrestling with a heavily tapped left hand, never dropped his guard. Masoumi said he had broken his wrist before coming to Spain so he was careful with his attacks.

While he won his four bouts outscoring his opponents 32-3, Masoumi had only one technical superiority win. In 2022, when he won both the U20 and U23 world titles, Masoumi won all but one of his matches via superiority.

"I had an injury in my hand and it was broken, so I tried to be careful with it," he said. "Otherwise, I’m always aggressive and a fighter."

He will be in Tirana, Albania in a month's time to wrestle at the U23 World Championships. He won the gold medal in 2022 but skipped the 2023 edition. But Masoumi said his main focus is to make the senior team. 

"In the match against Amirhossein ZARE (IRI) in Croatia, I lost," he said of his 5-0 loss to Olympic silver medalist Zare at the Ranking Series in Zagreb in January. "Some might say that Amir Reza Masoumi has settled, but no, I’m not satisfied at all. I’m preparing myself for the World Championships in Zagreb, aiming for the national team selection."

Ali REZAEI (IRI)Ali REZAEI (IRI) scores the match-winning takedown against Ladarion LOCKETT (USA) in the 74kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Ali REZAEI (IRI) was the second gold medal for the day for Iran after he defeated 2023 U17 world champion Lockett 3-3 on criteria in a thrilling 74kg final. Rezaei is the first U20 world champion from Iran at 74kg in 15 years.

Lockett was leading the final 3-1 after scoring a takedown in the second period and Rezaei, who won a silver medal last year, needed at least a takedown to win.

It came in the fifth minute of the bout when Lockett missed a sweep single and Rezaei showed exceptional speed to get him a bodylock and finish with a takedown. Leading 3-3 on criteria, Rezaei did not allow Lockett to get into any attacking positions and won the gold medal. 

Ali REZAEI (IRI)Ali REZAEI (IRI) defends an attack from Ladarion LOCKETT (USA) in the 74kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

"I went through a tough final but with the great analysis from the coaches, I managed to defeat the strong American opponent," Rezaei said. "I hope to continue on this path and become a world and Olympic champion."

In Amman, Rezaei dropped the 70kg final against Meyer SHAPIRO (USA) 11-6 but planned to win the gold in Pontevedra.

"Last year, I won silver," he said. "I’ve been waiting for this moment for about a year and a half, and thankfully, in the final, my opponent was an American, and I managed to beat him. This journey continues."

Ibragim KADIEV (AIN)Ibragim KADIEV (AIN) won the 86kg gold medal in Pontevedra. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

The third American to suffer a loss in the final was Burr as Ibragim KADIEV (AIN) beat him 8-2 in the 86kg final. Kadiev won his second U20 world gold medal after winning the 79kg gold in Amman last year.

In the final against Burr, Kadiev jumped to a 3-0 lead 15 seconds into the match. Burr did get on a few leg attacks but he was able to score only a stepout in the first period, cutting the lead to 3-1 at the break.

Kadiev, who took multiple medical timeouts for his injured knee, scored a counter against Burr and got two more points. The U.S. challenged the decision to award two points to Kadiev as Burr was never in danger but the replays showed Burr's back on the mat. The lost challenge made the score 6-1. Burr scored a stepout with 12 seconds left and then tried a front headlock throw but Kadiev stopped it to get two points and an 8-2 win.

"The American opponent was the toughest one for me," Kadiev said. "I also injured my knee. I didn’t attack much, because I couldn’t risk it. If only I hadn’t injured the knee, the match would have gone in a different way. My wrestling style is to attack from the very first second, and then in the second period the opponent gets tired and it’s easier to finish him."

Kadiev will get a chance to showcase his skills again at the U23 Worlds next month in Tirana. He also said that winning the gold medal last year made his more happy than this year.

"When I first won the U20 Worlds, I was much happier than now," he said. "This time there is no such feeling of excitement as it was last time. I wrestle more confidently, and we’ve worked on our mistakes with the coaches. I don’t know how fast I can recover from this knee injury. Hopefully, I can still make it to the U23 Worlds."

At 92kg, Mustafagadzhi MALACHDIBIROV (AIN) got some motivation from Kadiev as he finished his final against Sali SALIEV (BUL), 11-0, well before time.

Malachdibirov got Saliev in a gut-wrench and managed to turn him to win the gold medal at 92kg.

Masanosuke ONO (JPN)Masanosuke ONO (JPN) asks for the 'champion belt' after his 61kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman) 

Ono warning before Tirana

At the non-Olympic World Championships in Tirana from October 28 to 31, one wrestler to watch will be Masanosuke ONO (JPN) who destroyed everyone in Pontevedra to win the 61kg gold medal.

After winning his four bouts on Saturday, Ono returned to wrestle Ebrahim KHARI (IRI) for the final. It was expected to be an action-packed final but Ono finished it in one action.

As soon as the referee blew the whistle, Ono got an attack on Khari and scored a takedown. 26 seconds later, Ono had finished the final using the gut-wrench to win the gold medal in 26 seconds.

"I was surprised that it ended sooner than I expected, but it was a very enjoyable 25 seconds," Ono said. "I'm satisfied."

Ono will now look to win the gold medal at 61kg in Tirana. However, he is aware that his opponents in Tirana will be more powerful.

"I'm still not satisfied unless I win there (Tirana)," he said.

Ono began wrestling only after his teacher in the music class during kindergarten encouraged him to wrestle. Ono, now at the Yamanashi Gakuin University, trains under former world champion Yuka TAKAHASHI (JPN) and is from the Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture, which is in the countryside.

RESULTS

61kg
GOLD: Masanosuke ONO (JPN) df. Ebrahim KHARI (IRI), 10-0

BRONZE: BHUVANESH (IND) df. Abdinur NURLANBEK (KAZ), 6-5
BRONZE: Marcus BLAZE (USA) df. Tolga OZBEK (TUR), 5-0

74kg
GOLD: Ali REZAEI (IRI) df. Ladarion LOCKETT (USA), 3-3

BRONZE: Aghanazar NOVRUZOV (AZE) df. Tamir ESHINIMAEV (AIN), 4-1
BRONZE: Shingo ANDO (JPN) df. Muhamed BEKTEMIROV (AUT), 9-3

86kg
GOLD: Ibragim KADIEV (AIN) df. Joshua BARR (USA), 8-2

BRONZE: Ahmet YAGAN (TUR) df. Ryogo ASANO (JPN), 3-2
BRONZE: Abolfazl RAHMANI (IRI) df. Gabriele NICCOLINI (ITA), 9-2

92kg
GOLD: Mustafagadzhi MALACHDIBIROV (AIN) vs. Sali SALIEV (BUL), 11-0

BRONZE: Kamil KURUGLIYEV (KAZ) df. Amirreza DALIRI (IRI), 8-5
BRONZE: Anar JAFARLI (AZE) df. Connor MIRASOLA (USA), 6-2

125kg
GOLD: Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) df. Benjamin KUETER (USA), 4-2

BRONZE: Nambardagva BATBAYAR (MGL) df. Alikhan KUSSAINOV (KAZ), 4-1
BRONZE: Hakan BUYUKCINGIL (TUR) df. Jaspooran SINGH (IND), 3-2