#WrestleSofia

Seven Olympic Medalists Eye #Tokyo2020 Berth in Sofia

Friday, April 30, 2021 - 12:38 By Eric Olanowski

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SOFIA, Bulgaria (April 29) --- More than 400 wrestlers from 84 countries have entered next week's World Olympic Games Qualifier in a final hope to qualify their nation for the Tokyo Olympic Games. Each of the 18 categories will have two tickets up for grabs, with semifinal winners securing their spots. Wrestling will begin May 6th and end May 9th.

While new stars have emerged in the extended five-year cycle, seven Olympic medalists have yet to qualify and will be in Sofia to make sure they have the chance to find Olympic glory once again. A total of seven previous medalists will return headlined by two-time medalists Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR) and Jackeline RENTERIA CASTILLO (COL). 

Rio Olympic champion and London silver medalist Vladimir KHINCHIGISHVILI (GEO) withdrew from the tournament this week after testing positive for COVID-19. The Georgian star had planned to compete at 65kg.

"I can just say that in life no one knows what awaits us. I am grateful for everything.' said Khinchigishvili. "I hope that my countryman can still capture the license."

Kim won his Olympic medals at the London and Rio Games, while Renteria Castillo won her medals at the Beijing and London Games.  

Kim, who'll wrestle on Sunday, is on a quest to get back to the Olympic Games to potentially grab a third Greco-Roman medal. From late-’17 to the Nur-Sultan World Championships, the first-ballot Hall-of-Famer reached the podium at nine consecutive competitions – five of which were golds – but is still looking to find his stride in ‘21. Since falling to Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI) in his opening match at the ’19 World Championships, and due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kim has only competed once. That was at last month’s Asian Olympic Qualifiers, where he fell to Asian champion Singh GURPREET (IND), (who is also registered at 77kg) and finished in seventh place. 

The biggest threats stopping Kim from reaching the 77kg finals are world bronze medalists Fatih CENGIZ (TUR) and Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL), two-time U23 world champion Daniel CATARAGA (MDA) and newly-minted European champion Shmagi BOLKVADZE (GEO).  

Two-time Olympic bronze medalist Jackeline Renteria Castillo is trying to join Tonya VERBEEK (CAN) as the only Pan-American woman to win three Olympic medals. The Colombian is registered at 62kg. Other wrestlers entered alongside Renteria Castillo include world silver medalists Elif YESILIRMAK (TUR) and Liubov OVCHAROVA (RUS). 

Other Olympic Medalists in Action
Greco-Roman Rio gold medalist Davit CHAKVETADZE (RUS), and Rio bronze medalists Stig Andre BERGE (NOR) and Rasul CHUNAYEV (AZE) will all be action on Sunday. 

Chakvetadze will replace Russia’s European Olympic Qualifier and European championship representative Milad ALIRZAEV (RUS) at 87kg. Alirzaev took bronze at the European Championships but dropped to a fifth-place finish at the European Olympic Qualifier.  

The World Olympic Qualifier will be Chakvetadze’s first competition back since falling in the finals of December’s Individuals World Cup in Belgrade. Prior to his loss, he picked up convincing victories over defending European champion Semen NOVIKOV (UKR) and world bronze medalist Hossein NOURI (IRI), before running into the red-hot Kiril MASKEVICH (BLR) in the gold-medal match.  

The top threat that’s on Chakvetadze’s radar is Zurabi DATUNASHVILI (SRB), who just last weekend won European gold. Another threat to pay attention to is two-time world champion Metehan BASAR (TUR). 

Berge, the Rio Olympic bronze medalist, is entered at one of Greco-Roman’s most loaded weight classes, 60kg. 

In his two appearances down at the Olympic weight class, the 38-year-old Norwegian has struggled mightily, going 0-2 and dropping his first-round matches to Sailike WALIHAN (CHN) Erik TORBA (HUN). Berge’s loss to Walihan dropped him to a 24th-place finish at the World Championships, and his loss to Torba left him finishing in 14th at the European Olympic Qualifier. 

Some roadblocks that Berge will have to navigate through to reach the finals are world champion Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) and European champions Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL) and Victor CIOBANU (MDA). 

Chunayev, who will compete at 67kg, will be making his first appearance since falling to two-time world champion RYU Hansu (KOR) at the ’19 World Championships. Other wrestlers that Chunayev will have to get past included four-time world medalist Almat KEBISPAYEV (KAZ), world bronze-medal winner Gevorg SAHAKYAN (POL) and European champion Morten THORESEN (NOR).  

Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) and Albert SARITOV (ROU) are the pair of freestyle Olympic medalists registered for Sofia. 

Demirtas will wrestle in freestyle's cant-miss weight-to-watch, 74kg. 

To earn an Olympic berth, Demirtas will have to put an end to Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV’s (SVK) hot streak that he’s looking to carry over from last weekend’s European Championships. The Slovakian became his nation’s third-ever European champion. Salkazanov defeated two-time world champion Frank CHAMIZO, world runner-up Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) and U23 world champion Razambek ZHAMALOV (RUS) en route to winning the 74kg title. 

Other guys who can make some noise at 74kg are former Russian-turned Serbian world champion Hetik CABOLOV (SRB), African champion Ogbonna JOHN (NGR) and European champion Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (BLR) 

Albert SARITOV (ROU) is the final Olympic medalist that’ll be in action. It’ll be his third competition of the season. He’s wrestled at the International Ukrainian Tournament, European Olympic Qualifier and European Championships and finished with a bronze medal in Ukraine. 

The Rio Olympic bronze medalist finished with a bronze medal at the International Ukrainian Tournament. In addition to Erik THIELE (GER), the guy who beat Saritov for bronze at the European Olympic Qualifier, world bronze medalist Abraham CONYEDO (ITA), is another guy the Romanian will have his eyes on.  

Freestyle 
74kg - Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR): Rio bronze medalist 
97kg - Albert SARITOV (ROU): Rio Olympic bronze medalist 

Greco-Roman  
60kg - Stig Andre BERGE (NOR): Rio Olympic bronze medalist 
67kg - Rasul CHUNAYEV (AZE): Rio Olympic bronze medalist  
77kg - Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR): London gold and Rio bronze medalist  
87kg - Davit CHAKVETADZE (RUS) - Rio Olympic gold medalist 

Women’s Wrestling  
62kg - Jackeline RENTERIA CASTILLO (COL): Beijing and London Olympic bronze medalist  

#WrestleUlaanbaatar

Ulaanbaatar Open 2025 Live Blog: Day 2

Friday, May 30, 2025 - 02:48 By Vinay Siwach

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ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (May 30) -- The action after Ulaanbaatar Open 2025 continues with three Greco-Roman weight classes and five Women's Wrestling weight classes in the Mongolian capital. European champion Kerem KAMAL (TUR) is at 63kg while a strong women's field will also be on the mat.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 1 RESULTS

14:55: NEHA (IND) ends the 57kg semifinal with a double-leg attack for four points and beats Ana PEREIRA (BRA) 11-0 to enter the final at 57kg against Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL).

14:50: Mongolia has a finalist! Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL) manages to beat European silver medalist Elvira SULEYMAN KAMALOGLU (TUR) 4-0 in the 57kg semifinal.

14:40: Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW) enters the final at 53kg after an 11-4 win over Otgontuya CHINBOLD (MGL). Apart from the four-point throw from Chinbold, Malysheva never looked in trouble in the semifinal. She will face Antim in the final, who won their round-robin match.

14:27: ANTIM (IND) puts on a takedown masterclass in the 53kg semifinal and beats Ariunzaya ODONCHIMEG (MGL) 10-0 to enter the final.

14:24: Another pin in semifinals! Natalia PUDOVA (UWW) survives a pin attempt from Munkhnar BYAMBASUREN (MGL) and then flips the script with a over-under throw and secures the fall. She will wrestle Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) for the gold medal.

14:20: Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) and NEELAM (IND) put on a show in the 50kg semifinal. Neelam tried to trip Demirhan who counter trips for four points. India challenge but is lost. Neelam goes behind in the next action and throw Demirhan for four points. But Demirhan keeps Neelam in a headlock and secures the pin.

14:10: Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) books a rematch with Kerem KAMAL (TUR) in the 63kg final after a hard-fought victory over Mohammad KESHTKAR (IRI). Keshtkar was cautioned early and Chung led 1-0. He got the par terre to be 2-0 up but failed to score. Keshtkar got on board with the par terre point in the second period but did not score any points. He threw everything he had at Chung who defended all attacks for a 2-1 win.

14:00: In the first semifinal at 63kg, Kerem KAMAL (TUR) manages to hold off an attacking Aref MOHAMMADI (QAT) for a 6-3 win. Mohammadi scored a takedown early to lead 2-0 but Kamal got a reverse left for two points from par terre and then a takedown to lead 6-2. A stepout late made it 6-3 but that was all as Kamal enters the final.

13:40: In the final match of the session, Enes BASAR (TUR) bounces back after being 2-0 down with a series of gut wrenches and wins 10-2 at 60kg. The semifinals for a few weight classes will begin now. 

13:10: ANTIM (IND) was kept quiet for the first two minutes of the bout but Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW) gives up a takedown and Antim goes for the leg lace for a turn. Malysheva defends but Antim then goes the other way for lace and gets the 11-0 win at 53kg.

13:00: Asian medalist and former world U17 champion HARSHITA (IND) with her second win at 72kg. She beats Kristina BRATCHIKOVA (UWW) 11-0 in Round 3

12:55: Bediha GUN (TUR) would be upset with herself as he lets go off an advantageous situation and leads 6-6 on criteria to Anudari BATKHUYAG (MGL) at 59kg.

12:45: Kerem KAMAL (TUR) continues to power his way at 63kg as he downs Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) majorly with his defense. Chung got the par terre advantage but Kamal managed to sneak out of a bodylock. He failed to score from par terre as well but scored a takedown later to make it 3-1. Lost challenge from Korea gave him another point.  

12:35: NEHA (IND) seems unfazed in her first senior international tournament. She pins Munkhchimeg URJIN (MGL) in her second bout of the day.

12:30: Enes BASAR (TUR) needs only one minute and 18 seconds to beat SURAJ (IND) 8-0 at 60kg and take a big step towards the gold medal.

12:15: Hamza BAKIR (TUR) keeps his winning run at 130kg. He beats PREM (IND) via technical superiority and is now the favorite to win the gold medal.

11:55: Big win for world U20 bronze medalist NEHA (IND) over European silver medalist Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR) at 57kg. The 18-year-old physical overpowered Kamaloglu and scored takedown. Kamaloglu scored a four-pointer but still went down 7-4 in a Round 2.

11:45: Natalia PUDOVA (UWW) with a big comeback win over NEELAM (IND). Pudova claims a 6-5 win at 50kg. The two wrestlers may wrestle again in the final if they can win all their remaining matches.

11:35: Akyl SULAIMANOV (KGZ) gave a scare to Enes BASAR (TUR) when he made it 5-5 with two minutes to go but Basar never got deterred with the score. He remains calm and wins 15-5.

11:26: European champion Kerem KAMAL (TUR) with a 4-1 win over Doolotbek CHOIBEKOV (KGZ). Kamal scored a turn from par terre and also had a point for lost challenge and then defended from par terre to win 4-1 at 63kg.

11:15: The only Brazil wrestler to have made the long trip to Ulaanbaatar Open makes it worth it as Ana PEREIRA (BRA) begins with a 2-1 win over Enkhtuvshin BALJINNYAM (MGL) at 57kg.

11:00: A little heated bout on Mat C between Mohammad KESHTKAR (IRI) and Aref MOHAMMADI (QAT) at 63kg, which ends in a thrilling fashion. Mohammadi was given both passivity advantages and he led 2-0 till the final 10 seconds. However, Keshtkar tried desperate headlock which Mohammadi seemed to have blocked. As Mohammadi scored the takedown, Keshtkar countered with a continuous roll and got two points. It was scored two points for Mohammadi and two points for Keshtkar. However, Iran challenged the call and on review, it was scored only two points for Keshtkar, as his attempted headpinch was called a slip throw. Keshtkar wins 2-2 on criteria.

10:55: Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) with two massive throws to stun Doolotbek CHOIBEKOV (KGZ) in the Round 1 bout of 63kg. Chung has been a former Asian Championships medalist and always a threat for medal.

10:50: Former world U17 champion SURAJ (IND) got throw for a four-pointer from Ganbayar NAMSRAI (MGL) but that was his only loss in concentration as he wins 8-5 against Namsrai at 60kg.

10:45: Paris Olympian Enes BASAR (TUR) defended well from par terre and beats Kurmanbek ZHAPAROV (KGZ) 8-3 to start his 63kg campaign.

10:30: Mongolia had some wrestle-offs to decide its competitors for the main draw as it had 5 wrestlers entered in a few categories. But we are all set for the Greco-Roman and Women's Wrestling now.