Russo, Italy's first world champ in women's wrestling

Thursday, August 17, 2023 - 23:57 By Vinay Siwach

AMMAN, Jordan (August 17) -- Aurora RUSSO (ITA) was left wondering how to pose for photographs with the champion belt. She put it around her waist, over her shoulder and held it over her head with both hands. For those 20 minutes, Russo was zoned out.

Despite being full of emotions and teary-eyed, Russo managed to open the interview with "I am a history maker."

Two years after she came agonizingly close to becoming Italy's first-ever world champion in women's wrestling, Russo achieved the historic feat by winning the gold medal at 59kg at the U20 World Championships in Amman, Jordan on Thursday. She did that by beating a former U20 world champion in Alesia HETMANAVA (AIN), 4-1, in the gold medal bout.

Apart from Russo's incredible feat, four other gold medals in women's wrestling were decided on Thursday. China, Individual Neutral Athletes, Japan and India won one each.

Japan, which dominates women's wrestling, is in danger of losing the team title for the first time at a U20 World Championships in which it has participated. So far, it has only one gold and two bronze medals. It is second in the race that is led by the United States with 75 points while Japan has 63 points.

For Italy, Russo is only the second wrestler in women's wrestling to reach a World Championships final after Dalma CANEVA (ITA) did in 2014 at the U20 level. When Russo did it the first time in Ufa, she lost a close final 8-6 to Nilufar RAIMOVA (KAZ). Since that silver medal, her results have been a mixed bag, winning the U20 Euros this year but suffering losses at the U23 and senior levels.

But the Turin native knew that she will not get a chance to win a U20 worlds again so she left no stone unturned on Thursday.

"I watched a few videos of Hetmanava to study her style," she said. "I learned everything."

Instead of engaging in attacks with Hetmanava, Russo played the counter. Hetmanava can pressure her opponents by taking fake shots and ultimately hitting counters. The final began on a slow note for Russo and she was put on the shot clock. After failing to score, Russo trailed 1-0 but no further damage was done till the break.

Hetmanava was put on the shot clock in the second period and in an attempted single-leg, she was blocked by Russo. The push from Russo imbalanced Hetmanava and the Italian quickly scored a takedown to lead 3-1 with 1:49 left on the clock.

Russo went into defense mode for the remaining time and did not allow Hetmanava to get any points. In the final 10 seconds, Hetmanava did get a high bodylock but Russo controlled her leg throughout even as Hetmanava tried to control the position to get a takedown.

AIN team challenged after no points were awarded but a takedown was not confirmed on review. This added another point to Russo's score as she celebrated, rather emotionally, with her coaches.

"I cannot believe this," Russo said.

Last year, Russo finished seventh at the U20 World Championships after losing to SITO (IND) in the repechage. She credited her international experience for the win in Amman.

"I think in Ufa I was very young but now I have experience and I have wrestled at more international competitions," she said.

In the semifinals against Alexis JANIAK (USA), Russo came back from 8-4 down to win 9-8 by scoring four points in the final 30 seconds. Janiak led 8-8 on criteria when the clock expired but Russo challenged Janiak's fleeing which was confirmed on review, giving Russo a 9-8 win.

"I was injured and got blood all over and I had kind of given up but it's wrestling so I kept going," she said. "I scored four points."

Aryna MARTYNAVA (AIN) leg laces Georgiana LANA (ROU) in the 55kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Another wrestler who finished with a silver medal at the 2021 U20 World Championships claimed the gold medal. Aryna MARTYNAVA (AIN) won the gold medal at 55kg, needing only 21 seconds to finish the final against Georgiana LANA (ROU), who looked in severe discomfort after the final.

Martynava was a silver medalist at 59kg in 2021 but in a drastic change, dropped down to 55kg in Amman. In her three bouts, she won via technical superiorities without giving up a point.

Lana, who stunned everyone by pinning returning champion Moe KIYOOKA (JPN), had heavily padded knees and was unable to move smoothly in the final. Once Martynava got a head-outside-single and transitioned into a takedown, Lara did not defend the lace, ending the bout 10-0 in 21 seconds.

After losing to Lana in the semifinals, Kiyooka returned to win the bronze medal 10-0 but expressed her regret for missing out on the gold for the second straight year.

"I am filled with regret," Kiyooka said. "At this rate, even at the senior level, which is my goal, I think my level is too low to talk about."

Kiyooka explained that it was difficult to digest the semifinal loss as Lana got her in a headlock before securing the fall.

"I went in with the feeling that I would definitely win," Kiyooka said. "I lost in an unexpected way, so when I lost, I didn't know what had happened, I couldn't believe it. It took me a while to accept the loss. I put that aside and approached the bronze-medal bout with the mindset of changing my mind and going home with the bronze medal."

Yanrong LI (CHN) scores exposure against Audrey JIMENEZ (USA) in their 57kg. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

It was a memorable day for China as well as it crowned a U20 world champion after five years. Yuanyuan HUANG (CHN) was the last Chinese to win a U20 world title when she won the gold at 76kg in Trvana in 2018.

Yanrong LI (CHN) ended the drought for a gold medal, winning the 50kg gold in dominant fashion. This was also China's first gold in lower weight classes since 2010 when Yanan SUN (CHN) won the gold at 51kg.

Li defeated returning silver medalist Audrey JIMENEZ (USA) via fall in the final after building an 8-0 lead. She got Jimenez in a cradle and kept turning the American to build an 8-0 lead before sticking Jimenez to the mat to confirm the fall.

The Chinese wrestler was equally dominant if not more on Wednesday as well. She began her world championships with a 16-6 rout of Sviatlana KATENKA (AIN) before pinning Svenja JUNGO (SUI) in the quarterfinals and Viktoriia SLOBODENIUK (UKR) in the semifinals.

Jimenez was looking for her first U20 world title after finishing with a silver medal. But like Umi ITO (JPN) in 2022, Li gave no chance to the 18-year-old from the U.S.

Ray HOSHINO (JPN) held off for a 4-3 win over Elizateva PETLIAKOVA (AIN). (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

For Japan, Ray HOSHINO (JPN) held on to an extremely tough 4-3 win over Elizaveta PETLIAKOVA (AIN) in the 68kg final to give Japan its first gold in women's wrestling.

Hoshino, who was in Amman to win the U20 Asian Championships, began with a single-leg attack four seconds into the bout and converted that for a takedown to lead 4-0. A minute later, Petliakova scored a takedown to lead 2-2 on criteria at the break.

Petliakova shot for Hashino's legs but the Japanese pulled off an incredible defense and score her takedown on the counter. Hashino led 4-2 and was all set to run out the clock. However, Petliakova scored a setpout with 12 seconds remaining to make it 4-3. But nothing else worked for Petriakova as Hoshino won the gold medal.

"I'm happy to have won, but the final was dangerous," Hoshino said. "I thought I should have pushed harder.

"I was under pressure and not satisfied with what I was doing, so I would like to take a closer look at the issues and practice more after returning to Japan.”

Priya MALIK (IND) upgraded her U20 worlds silver to gold in Amman. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Priya MALIK (IND), the silver medalist from 2022, became a three-time age-group world champion as she defeated Laura KUEHN (GER), 5-0, in the 76kg final.

The two-time U17 world champion was clearly a better version of her 2022 self with solid defense and diverse attacks. Unlike her final against Ayano MORO (JPN) last year, Malik had more attacking options and scored early as Kuehn failed to get to Malik's legs most of the time.

"I was much better prepared for this final than last year," Malik said. "I worked on my power and even defense so I can take this world champion belt home."

RESULTS

50kg
GOLD: Yanrong LI (CHN) df. Audrey JIMENEZ (USA), via fall (8-0)

BRONZE: Viktoriia SLOBODENIUK (UKR) df. Svenja JUNGO (SUI), via fall (5-2)
BRONZE: Miruko SAKANE (JPN) df. Reka HEGEDUS (SVK), 10-0

55kg
GOLD: Aryna MARTYNAVA (AIN) df. Georgiana LIRCA (ROU), 10-0

BRONZE: Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) df. Roza SZENTTAMASI (HUN), 10-0
BRONZE: Amani JONES (USA) df. Albina RILLIA (UKR), 5-5

59kg
GOLD: Aurora RUSSO (ITA) df. Alesia HETMANAVA (AIN), 4-1

BRONZE: Alexis JANIAK (USA) df. Elena KUROVA (AIN), 11-0
BRONZE: Kalmira BILIMBEK KYZY (KGZ) df. Sevim AKBAS (TUR), 11-0

68kg
GOLD: Ray HOSHINO (JPN) df. Elizaveta PETLIAKOVA (AIN), 4-3

BRONZE: Alina SHAUCHUK (AIN) df. Isabella MIR (USA), 8-1
BRONZE: ARJU (IND) df. Elif KURT (TUR), 8-1

76kg
GOLD: PRIYA (IND) df. Laura KUEHN (GER), 5-0

BRONZE: Kennedy BLADES (USA) df. Mariia SILINA (AIN), 6-2
BRONZE: Veronika NYIKOS (HUN) df. Daniela TKACHUK (POL), via fall (10-5)

Semifinals

53kg
GOLD: Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) vs. ANTIM (IND)

SF 1: ANTIM (IND) df. Polina LUKINA (AIN), 12-0
SF 2: Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) df. Katie GOMEZ (USA), via fall (2-0)

57kg
GOLD: Ichika ARAI (JPN) vs. Alina FILIPOVYCH (UKR)

SF 1: Alina FILIPOVYCH (UKR) df. Shugyla OMIRBEK (KAZ), via fall (10-4)
SF 2: Ichika ARAI (JPN) df. Gerda TEREK (HUN), 5-3

62kg
GOLD: SAVITA (IND) vs. Astrid MONTERO (VEN)

SF 1: Astrid MONTERO (VEN) df. Melanie JIMENEZ (MEX), 8-0
SF 2: SAVITA (IND) df. Iris THIEBAUX (FRA), via fall

65kg
GOLD: Eniko ELEKES (HUN) vs. ANTIM (IND)

SF 1: Eniko ELEKES (HUN) df. Khadija JLASSI (TUN), 7-0
SF 2: ANTIM (IND) df. Ekaterina KOSHKINA (AIN), 9-5

72kg
GOLD: Amit ELOR (USA) vs. Bukrenaz SERT (TUR)

SF 1: Amit ELOR (USA) df. Yuka FUJIKURA (JPN), 10-0
SF 2: Bukrenaz SERT (TUR) df. HARSHITA (IND), via fall

#WrestleBucharest

Semenov denies Kayaalp European gold, history

Wednesday, February 14, 2024 - 06:31 By Vinay Siwach

BUCHAREST, Romania (February 13) -- Riza KAYAALP (TUR) seemed unstoppable. He got the par terre position, he got the stepout in the second period to reduce the chances of a passivity call against him, the stands were full of his supporters and his family was waiting patiently like everyone else.

Kayaalp was two minutes and 30 seconds away from becoming a 13-time European champion. He was on track. Then Sergei SEMENOV (AIN) wrapped Kayaalp with his arms like a seatbelt and threw the 130kg wrestler for a slam. He held Kayaalp in that position till the referee called it a pin.

In a match where Kayaalp was hoping to go past Aleksandar KARELIN's record of 12 European Championships gold medals, Kayaalp got pinned and fell short. Semenov would get the pin with just over two minutes remaining in the bout.

"I’ve been practicing that throw for a long time, it’s my signature move," Semenov said.

Sergei SEMENOV (AIN) pins Riza KAYAALP (TUR) in the 130kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Leading 1-0 at the break after his par terre advantage, Kayaalp got a stepout to make it 2-0. Semenov remained calm and began pushing Kayaalp toward the zone with a body lock. Kayaalp maintained his distance from Semenov. As Semenov tried to push Kayaalp more, the latter resisted it and Semenov was smart enough to use Kayaalp's forward momentum to complete the throw.

Kayaalp was on the mat. The Bucharest crowd let out a sigh together. Semenov was not letting Kayaalp move. The referee asked for a pin and the judges confirmed it.

A heartbroken and shocked Kayaalp took his time to stand up but he knew that it was over. He will have to wait to be Europe's most successful wrestler.

Semenov on the other hand rushed to his coach who slammed him in a celebration.

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"Everyone knows, that only a few can clinch, but I could do it and I felt that I could make that throw and I’ve done it," Semenov said. "I think we wrestled equally. He pushed me out at the beginning of the second period, but I was calm and I knew I could score points."

Despite his celebrations, Semenov showed to his opponent, walking to him after both were off the mat and sharing a hug.

"I didn’t pay attention to his records. He is a legendary wrestler," he said. "It’s even more enjoyable to win against such wrestlers, there is two times more motivation. It’s possible to say that it’s one of the biggest victories in my career."

Aleksandar KOMAROV (SRB) won his first-ever European Championships. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Turkiye suffered more heartbreak as world champion Ali CENGIZ (TUR) dropped his 87kg final 4-1 against Aleksandar KOMAROV (SRB) who won his first European gold medal.

As soon as the final began, Komarov used an arm drag to pull Cengiz who fled towards the zone. Komarov scored a stepout and was also awarded a point for Cengiz's fleeing. He was awarded the par terre advantage but Cengiz did well to avoid conceding any points. In the second period, Cengiz got the par terre advantage but he appealed to the referee that Komarov was blocking his attack.

The referee called it clean and Turkiye challenged. The jury upheld the decision of the referee, giving one more point to Komarov.

"I am very thrilled, I don't even know what to say, to be honest," Komarov said. "I was ready and I did some good wrestling. I'm very satisfied with everything that happened today."

The 87kg weight class was one of the deepest brackets in Bucharest and Komarov had to go through beating defending champion Istvan TAKACS (HUN), Tokyo Olympic champion Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) and Islam ABBASOV (AZE) in the semifinal. However, Komarov said that he did not think too much about the bracket.

"I didn't look at the draw before the competition day," he said. "When I finally saw the draw, to be honest, I was very surprised in that moment. But, I set my head that I have to suffer and that I have to do what I do and what we practiced at the training."

Bucharest hosted the European Championships in 2019 and Komarov was part of that competition. He finished with a bronze medal which was his first international loss. In January, he was in Zagreb for the Ranking Series and won bronze.

"I went Porec for training camp after Zagreb," he said. "There were 250 athletes and after a couple of days we went back home to rest and then we went to Zrenjanin for 10 days for training."

In two months, Komarov will be looking to win an Olympic quota for Serbia in Baku,

"It is my wish and goal to get quota for the Olympic Games," he said. "I'm focused on that right now, it is my goal, and with God's help everything ends up like I wish to be."

Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) throws Yunus BASAR (TUR) for four points in the 77kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Amoyan wins third gold

Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) won his third consecutive European gold medal and second at 77kg after beating Yunus BASAR (TUR) 7-0 in a very one-sided final.

Basar never got going in the final as Amoyan got the first par terre and scored an out-of-bounds point which he got only after a challenge. Leading 2-0 at the break, there was no change in strategy from Amoyan in the second period and he continued his offense wrestling. Amoyan scored a takedown and then lifted Basr for a four-point throw.

Basar challenged the move but the jury saw no foul in any sequence, giving Amoyan a 7-0 lead and the win.

"Winning third time was particularly challenging because all my opponents were preparing specifically for me. I am thrilled," Amoyan said. "The Turkish wrestler [Basar] is one of the strongest wrestlers in our weight class. I never underestimate him, always prepare to wrestle him 100 percent to show my wrestling, and on the mat, the one who is in the best shape wins at that moment."

Amoyan was a world champion at 72kg but has won two bronze medals since moving to the Olympic weight class of 77kg.

"I'm doing everything to become a world champion in the 77 kg category. I will prepare properly. It's time to forget this victory and move forward. Time will reveal everything," he said. "I will prepare for the Olympics just like I prepare for other tournaments. I need to be mentally prepared to win gold there, and it's not far away."

At 55kg, Artium DELEANU (MDA) became the second Moldova wrestler to became the European champion in Greco-Roman after he pinned Rashad MAMMADOV (AZE).

Mammadov had a 3-0 lead but Deleanu used a body lock to pin Mammadov down in the 55kg final.

Azerbaijan did win a gold medal as world silver medalist Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) defeated Oleksandr HRUSHYN (UKR), 2-1 in the 63kg final. The gold was Mammadov first-ever gold medal at a world or continental championships.

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Artium DELEANU (MDA) df. Rashad MAMMADOV (AZE), via fall (5-3)

BRONZE: Denis MIHAI (ROU) df. Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO), via fall (9-0)
BRONZE: Manvel KHACHATRYAN (ARM) df. Stefan GRIGOROV (BUL), 8-0

63kg
GOLD: Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) df. Oleksandr HRUSHYN (UKR), 2-1

BRONZE: Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL) df. Stefan CLEMENT (FRA), 1-1
BRONZE: Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (AIN) df. Aleksandrs JURKJANS (LTA), 9-0

77kg
GOLD: Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) df. Yunus BASAR (TUR), 7-0

BRONZE: Iuri LOMADZE (GEO) df. Antonio KAMENJASEVIC (CRO), 8-0
BRONZE: Adlet TIULIUBAEV (AIN) df. Alexandrin GUTU (MDA), 13-4

87kg
GOLD: Aleksandar KOMAROV (SRB) df. Ali CENGIZ (TUR), 4-1

BRONZE: Kiryl MASKEVICH (AIN) df. Alex KESSIDIS (SWE), 12-1
BRONZE: Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) df. Islam ABBASOV (AZE), 2-1

130kg
GOLD: Sergei SEMENOV (AIN) df. Riza KAYAALP (TUR), via fall (4-2)

BRONZE: Beka KANDELAKI (AZE) df. Oskar MARVIK (NOR), 2-2
BRONZE: Danila SOTNIKOV (ITA) df. Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO), via fall (9-0)

Russo, Italy's first world champ in women's wrestling

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Semenov denies Kayaalp European gold, history