#Grappling

Shakalova returns as double champion, Toth shines at Grappling Worlds

Monday, October 17, 2022 - 18:04 By Vinay Siwach

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PONTEVEDRA, Spain (October 17) -- The warm-up hall at Municipal Pavillion in Pontevedra is an emotional setting. At the end of the Grappling World Championships by United World Wrestling, grapplers from around the world are bidding goodbyes to their friends, rivals and coaches.

It's a room full of athletes that are skilled in various forms of combat sports coming together to grapple on the mat and be the world champion. A few are mixed martial arts fights, some are skilled at various forms of grappling and a few are equally good at both.

Among them is Kateryna SHAKALOVA (UKR) who is being congratulated by almost everyone around. She also gets some requests for selfies.

Shakalova won the gold medals in 71kg at both Grappling and Grappling Gi, a version in which athletes wrestle wearing a loose uniform used in almost all combat sports with a belt around the waist.

It was not the first time that Shakalova won two gold medals in the same tournament. She achieved the same feat in 2017 in Baku at the same tournament. Shakalova was extremely pleased that she was able to repeat after a gap of five years.

In the 71kg final, she got a 6-3 win over Giulia RODIO (ITA) with two setpouts before Radio pulled the guard to be penalized two more points. In the second period, Shakalova scored a takedown but also gave up two points for stalling while being on top. But with her experience, she secured the win.
 
For the first time, Shakalova was happy with off the mat facilities.

"I really liked the tournament," Shakalova said. "I want to say that I've been grappling for quite a long time, but it's the first time when I saw such a great organization of the World Championships. The food was great, usually, we have just bread, some unnecessary carbohydrates, but this time the meals were really good."

The 25-year-old has been in wrestling for 13 years now. But in the recent past, she has transformed herself into a mixed martial arts athlete with a 7-1 record. But even then, she has never stopped grappling since it helps her outperform her rivals.

"I had been grappling for about six years and then I took up MMA," she said. "Though my priority is MMA, grappling is just a hobby but I can say that grappling is an ideal kind of wrestling for MMA."

And with that in mind, she aims for the big league. "My main goal is to be signed for a good MMA promotion, this will help to promote grappling as there hasn't been a UWW grappler in that."

Although the two gold medals have brought smiles to Shakalova, she does not celebrate much as she remembers her hometown -- Kharkiv -- and the fact that she last saw her family six years ago.

Growing up in Donetsk, the Ukrainian never thought she will not have a home to go to, first in 2014 and then in 2022.

"My home in Kharkiv has been destroyed," she said. "I have been in Dusseldorf in Germany for more than a year now. My parents are stuck in Donetsk."

Shakalova fondly remembers the Pankaration tournament in Kharkiv last year which she won.

"I won it. In my home. I don't have a home now."

Alexa TOTH (HUN)Alexa TOTH (HUN) won two gold medals in Pontevedra. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

Ukraine finished second in both women's Grappling and Grappling Gi with Poland winning the Gi and Germany topping the Grappling style.

Among all the stars was a young one from Hungary. Alexa TOTH (HUN), 18, was the second double champion in Pontevedra as she thrashed opponents much senior to her.

"When I came, I did not expect to win it," Toth said. "As I am just 18 years old, winning the adult category is amazing."

Toth, a U17 world champion last year, has also won a silver and bronze at the European Championships as well.

"It's always great when I am on the mat. I like the idea when can be strong as a girl," she said.

Toth, who is still in school, has to find a balance between grappling and studies as she has to pass her exams later this year.

"It's really hard," Toth said. "The solution is to not sleep and do both. It happened to me as I came here instead of my exam. I have to write when I go back home. So it's going to be long nights."

RESULTS

Women's Grappling Gi

53kg
GOLD: Rui HIRABAYASHI (JPN) df. Kanae IKEDA (JPN), 3-0

BRONZE: Martyna IWAT (POL) df. Botakoz YELDOSKYZY (KAZ), 4-2
BRONZE: Naiomi MATTHEWS (ESP) df. Tetiana ASTAKHOVA (UKR), 7-2 

58kg
GOLD: Alexa TOTH (HUN) df. Breanna STIKKELMAN (USA), 11-2

BRONZE: Adrianna WOJARSKA (POL) df. Minerva MONTERO (ESP), via submission
BRONZE: Lina GROSSET (FRA) df. Samantha JEAN FRANCOIS (FRA), 5-3

64kg
GOLD: Joanna ZABULEWICZ (POL) df. Antonia KANEW (GER), 6-5

BRONZE: Fariza KULYNTAY (KAZ) df. Anna CASTELLS (ESP), 5-1
BRONZE: Viktoriia SYNIAVINA (UKR) df. Aigul SAMAT (KAZ), 5-0

71kg
GOLD: Kateryna SHAKALOVA (UKR) df. Giulia RODIO (ITA), 6-3

BRONZE: MERYXELL GONZALEZ (ESP) df. Aizhan ABDYKADYR (KAZ), via submission (2-2)
BRONZE: Emily GUENZLER (GER) df. Christina HANSEN (USA), via submission (0-6) 

90kg
GOLD: Tara WHITE (USA) df. Assel KABDYGALYMOVA (KAZ), 10-1

BRONZE: Magdalena ZASZCZUDLOWICZ (POL) df. Aikorkem IKHSANOVA (KAZ), via walkover
BRONZE: Darina GOLDIN (GER) df. Teara LEWIS (USA), via walkover

Women's Grappling

53kg
GOLD: Kanae IKEDA (JPN) df. Rui HIRABAYASHI (JPN), 3-1

BRONZE: Carlota PRENDES (ESP) df. Alicja STYPULKOWSKA (POL), 4-3
BRONZE: Naiomi MATTHEWS (ESP) df. Martyna IWAT (POL), 2-0

58kg
Alexa TOTH (HUN) df. Melissa BENEDINI (ITA), 13-0

BRONZE: Laila OHLHOFF (GER) df. Jazmin ARJONA (ESP), via submission (7-3)
BRONZE: Aizhan ISMAGULOVA (KAZ) df. Adrianna WOJARSKA (POL), 4-1

64kg
GOLD: Anna CASTELLS (ESP) df. Antonia KANEW (GER), via submission (2-2)

BRONZE: Florika LUCHYCH (UKR) df. Kristi RUSSELL (USA), via walkover
BRONZE: Sandra PNIAK (POL) df. Olena HERMAN (UKR), 5-3

71kg
GOLD: Kateryna SHAKALOVA (UKR) df. Alycia QUENEE (FRA), 11-5

BRONZE: Christina HANSEN (USA) df. Aizhan ABDYKADYR (KAZ), via submission (12-0)
BRONZE: Giulia RODIO (ITA) df. Giada CHIOSO (ITA), via submission

90kg
GOLD: Darina GOLDIN (GER) df. Olena SUSHKO (UKR), via submission (2-2)

BRONZE: Magdalena ZASZCZUDLOWICZ (POL) df. Aikorkem IKHSANOVA (KAZ), via submission (6-0)
BRONZE: Tara WHITE (USA) df. Teara LEWIS (USA), via walkover
 

#wrestlebishkek

LIVE BLOG: Bishkek Ranking Series event, Day One

Thursday, June 1, 2023 - 03:49 By Eric Olanowski

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BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (June 1) --- The third Ranking Series event of the season kicks off today in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek. Thursday's action will feature seven Greco-Roman weights--55kg,60kg, 63kg, 67kg, 87kg, 97kg and 130kg.

Everything you need to know:
📍Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan 🇰🇬
🗓️: June 1-4
🕙: Qualification = 10:30
🥇🥈🥉= 18:00
#️⃣: #WrestleBishkek
🖥️: http://uww.org 
📱: UWW App

Thursday's final matchups:
55kg:  Marlan MUKASHEV (KAZ) vs. Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB) 
60kg:  Nursultan BAZARBAYEV (KAZ) vs. Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB)
63kg:  Leri ABULADZE (GEO) vs. Shermukhammad SHARIBJANOV (UZB) 
67kg:  Husiyuetu HUSIYUETU (CHN) vs. Seyed SOHRABI (IRI) 
87kg:  Gurami KHETSURIANI (GEO) vs. Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) 
97kg:  Yiming LI (CHN) vs. Mohammadhadi Abdollah SARAVI (IRI) ​​​​​​​
125kg: Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB) vs. Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) 

3:00: That does it for our early session. We'll see you back here at 18:00 for the medal matches. Until then, I say, "So long, wrestling fans."

2:42: Saravi showed he's still Iran's top guy at 97kg, beating Balihamzehdeh, 7-1. In the lop-sided win, Saravi scored a takedown, exposure, passivity, and a pair of step outs.

2:25: For the second time this season, Husiyuetu HUSIYUETU (CHN) took down Olympic champion Luis Alberto ORTA SANCHEZ (CUB). In those two matches, he's outscored Orta, 22-4. In the Zagreb Open semifinals, Husiyuetu beat Orta, 13-3, and scored a 9-0 win in Bishkek.

2:10: Here. We. Go. This is the match I have been waiting for since the brackets came out. It's Balihamzahdeh and Saravi, next, over on Mat C.

2:00: I'm not sure just went on, but Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU) just injury defeated out of the 130kg semifinals, handing Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) his spot against Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB).

1:40: That was a close call for Pino Hines. The Cuban big man trailed Fatih BOZKURT (TUR), 3-1, with less than 90 seconds left, but increased his pace and scored two takedowns, punching his ticket to the finals, 5-3.

1:23: That's two wins for Balihamzehdeh today. More importantly, that's two wins again over his 2022 and '23 Asian finals opponents, Assakalov and Dzhupbekov, respectively.

Balihamzehdeh will now wrestle 2021 world champion Saravi. The last time these two wrestled, Saravi won, 3-0, in the 2021 Poland Open. Watch the match below.

1:13: The 2022 Asian finals rematch between Mehdi Mohammad BALIHAMZEHDEH (IRI) and Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) has been a one-sided affair thus far. The Iranian wrestler leads 6-0 after the first, scoring a two-point left foul and a four-point throw.

1:03: We're rolling right along this session. We're two matches away from the semifinals taking place on Mat B. 

12:49: Atabaev and Sohrabi gave up about all we could ask for. The lead changed hands on three occasions, but it was Sohbrabi's takedown with 1:20 left that was the deciding factor.

Sohbrabi built a an early 5-0 lead, but he quickly saw that dwindle away after a par terre point and a four-point throw from Atabaev.

The felling of the match change after Atabaev's throw. He took his left shoe off as the doctors worked on his ankle. When the match resumed, Sohrabi scored a quick arm drag, 10 seconds after the match resumed, winning the bout 7-5. 

Sohrabi will wrestle European runner-up Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) next in the 67kg quarterfinals. 

12:27: Turn your attention to Mat C. Rising stars Abror ATABAEV (UZB) and Seyed SOHRABI (IRI) are making their way to the mat. This is one where I leave my computer and head over to the mat to watch it up close and personal.

I'll see you all after the mat!

12:19: Sharshenbekov was holding his on his feet, but Orta capitalized on his opportunity on top, scoring four turns to win the match, 9-1.

12:10: Olympic champion Luis Alberto ORTA SANCHEZ (CUB) will wrestle Tynar SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) next on Mat A.

12:08: When he needed it the most, he delivered.

Mirzazadeh drove Yildirm to the out of bounds line with a left-sided undertook, scored the takedown and added a point for a failed Turkish challenge, determining the match, 4-1.

11:56: The second on the list of four matches to watch in the morning session is up now on Mat C. Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) ​​and ​​​​​Osman YILDIRIM (TUR) are in a close out, as the Tokyo Olympian is up 1-0 after the first period.

11:32: The crowd came alive for a moment, trying to get behind a Dzhuzupbekov rally, but yet again, he didn't have enough to get past Balihamzedeh.

Balihamzedeh was satisfied with his lead after the first and shut it down in the second, winning the match 7-2. He'll await the winner of Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) and Narinder CHEEMA (IND), who are wrestling over on Mat C.

Assakalov leads Cheema, 1-0, after the first period. If he holds on to win this match, it'll set up a rematch of last year's Asian finals with Balihamzedeh. 

For those wondering, Balihamzedeh won that match, 5-1.

11:26: The rematch from the 97kg Asian finals is going on over on Mat A between Mehdi Mohammad BALIHAMZEHDEH (IRI) and U. DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ).

Balihamzehdeh jumped out to an early 7-0 first-period lead after two takedowns, two gut wrenches and a shot clock point.

11:21: Those are the matches where you hate to see someone come out on the losing end. Cengiz and Alizadeh battled for six consecutive minutes, but it was the Turkish wrestler who scored late to take out the reigning Asian champion, 4-1.

Cengiz and Gurami KHETSURIANI (GEO) will wrestle next in the 87kg quarterfinals.

10:58: Reigning Asian champion Naser Ghasem ALIZADEH (IRI) has a nasty cut on his head and is currently getting his head wrapped. This is the third time they've stopped the match.

He's currently down on criteria, 1-1, to European silver medalist Ali CENGIZ (TUR).

10:36: Things are going to be slow for about a half hour before the stars being taking over the mats in Kyrgyzstan.

10:16: Before we get started, here are my top three matches for the morning session. The guys listed in bold are 2023 continental champs.
Bout 7 | Mat A: Mehdi Mohammad BALIHAMZEHDEH (IRI) vs. U. DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) 
Bout 13 | Mat A:  Luis Alberto ORTA SANCHEZ (CUB) vs. Tynar SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) 
Bout 70 | Mat C: Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) ​​vs. ​​​​​Osman YILDIRIM (TUR)
Bout 74 | Mat C: Abror ATABAEV (UZB) vs. Seyed Danial Seyed Shamsollah SOHRABI (IRI) 
 
9:54: We're about a half hour out from the first whistle. This is always one of the most hectic half hours of any competitions. The last minute preparations are being made to the arena while everyone is scrambling to make sure their respective jobs are done correctly so the tournament runs seamlessly. For now, I'll leave you as I answer the question for the 100th time :"Do you have the wifi password?"