#WrestleAsuncion

South American Games Preview

Tuesday, October 11, 2022 - 15:06 By United World Wrestling Press

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ASUNCION, Paraguay (October 11) --- Wrestling at the 2022 South American Games kicks off October 12-14 in Paraguay's capital city, Asuncion.

A total of 12 countries and 112 athletes will be participating in Asuncion. 

The South American Games are the most important event for the region and mark the beginning of the Olympic cycle for most participating countries.

Greco-Roman begins October 12 with six returning champions from the 2018 Cochabamba Games looking to defend their titles.

Dicther HANS TORO (COL) is the favorite to grab gold at 60kg after winning the 2022 Bolivarian Games and claiming back-to-back Pan-American titles.

After winning South American silver in 2018, Hans Toro is on a quest to grab his first Games gold. He'll have to get through Joao BENAVIDES (PER) and Raiber RODRIGUEZ (VEN), who were silver and bronze-medal finishers in Valledupar, respectively.

Andres MONTAÑO (ECU), a two-time South American Games champion, will move up to 67kg. (Photo: Tony Rotundo)

The most crowded category of the style is 67kg.

Bolivarian Games gold medalist Andres MONTAÑO (ECU) will move to 67kg after spending most of his career down at 63kg. 

Montano is a two-time South American Games champion, winning golds at 59kg at the '14 Santiago Games and 60kg at the '18 Cochabamba Games. 

Montano will have to face Colombia's reigning Pan-American champion Julian HORTA, Venezuela's Shalon VILLEGAS (VEN) and Nilton SOTO (PER).

At 77kg, there will be a likely clash of South American champions. 

Jair Alexis CUERO (COL) comes determined to retain his 77kg South American title obtained four years ago. 

Cuero will share the bracket with two formidable challengers in Wuilexis RIVAS (VEN) and Joilson DE BRITO (BRA).

Rivas is the reigning Bolivarian Games champion, while De Brito has medaled at four consecutive Pan-American Championships after winning 67kg gold at the 2018 South American Games.

In the 87kg Noric-style bracket, Bolivarian Games opponents Carlos MUÑOZ (COL) and Luis AVENDAÑO (VEN) will likely meet for gold.

Munoz is the champion of the 2018 South American Games, while Avendano won gold at the 2019 Pan American Games.
GR 97

Luillys PEREZ (VEN) heads into Asuncion determined to repeat as South American Games champion. He comes into Paraguay fresh off winning gold at Valledupar.

Outside of Perez, rising star Igor QUEIROZ (BRA) is another guy to pay attention to at 97kg. Last year, he won the Pan-American Junior Games Cali-Valle.

World bronze medalist Yasmani ACOSTA (CHI) is favored to win at 130kg. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

In the heaviest category, the favorite to win the title is the well-known Yasmani ACOSTA (CHI). 

Acosta, the Chilean representative of Cuban origin, handed Chile a gold medal in the previous South American Games. 

As always, women's wrestling is expected to be electric, with many rivalries and faces that know each other very well. The style will take place on Wednesday, October 13.

Four athletes will compete for the gold medal in the lightest category of the women's style. 

The current finalists of the '22 Bolivarian Games Jacqueline MOLLOCANA (ECU) and Mariana ROJAS (VEN) are looking to climb to the top of the podium. 

U23 world champion Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) headlines the wome's wrestling entries. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

The favorite to win the gold at 53kg is "La Tigra," Lucia YEPEZ (ECU). 

Yepez comes to these Games after reaching the top of the podium at the '21 U23 World Championships and finishing in fifth place at the 2022 Senior World Championships. 

On the way to the gold, Yepez will have to face Betzabeth ARGUELLO (VEN) and Thalia MALLQUI (PER), who will move back up to 53kg for the first time since the 2020 Individual World Cup.

The most crowded category in women's wrestling is 57kg. 

Brazil's two-time Pan-American champion Giullia PENALBER is looking to defend her Games title, but she'll have to take out Luisa VALVERDE (ECU) to do so. 

This is Valverde's second appearance at 57kg. The first was in Valledupar where she won the gold medal. 

This category also brings us young athletes with great possibilities to dispute medals, including Camila AMARILLA (ARG), Tatiana HURTADO (COL) and Antonia VALDES (CHI).

At 62kg, the favorites to meet for top spot are Lais NUNES (BRA) and Nathaly GRIMAN (VEN). 

Nunes participated in three Ranking Series events and won a pair of medals. She also won gold at the Romanian Open and bronze at the Pan-American Championships in Acapulco.

Reigning Pan-Amerian champion Soleymi CARABALLO (VEN) headlines the 68kg field. (Photo: Osvaldo Aguilar)

In the 68kg bracket, 2018 South American finals opponents Soleymi CARABALLO (VEN) and the reigning Pan-American champion Yanet SOVERO (PER) are expected to clash for the title. 

Their last meeting came at the Bolivarian Games, where Caraballo took the victory. 

Valledupar medalists Tatiana RENTERIA (COL) (gold), Genesis REASCO (ECU) (silver) and Maria ACOSTA (VEN) (bronze) are all entered at 76kg. 

Tatiana and Genesis will be the favorites to compete for the gold, while a dark hose to keep an eye on is Linda MACHUCA (ARG), a silver medalist at the 2022 Junior Pan-American Games.

The freestyle competition at the South American Games will take place on October 14 with six gold medals on offer. The competition will see 42 wrestlers in action. 

The 57kg weight class will see Oscar TIGREROS (COL) who has had a great year winning gold at the Bolivarian Games and bronze at the Pan American Championship. He will be the favorite to take the gold although he will have to face the defending champion of the previous South American Games, Pedro MEJIAS (VEN) in 2018. In addition, two promising stars will also be competing for the top medal -- the U20 Pan-Am champion David ALMENDRA (ARG) and Enrique HERRERA (PER).

Tokyo Olympian Agustin DESTRIBATS (ARG) highlights the freestyle entries. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

At 65kg, Agustin DESTRIBATS (ARG) arrives as the favorite to win the title, seeking revenge after finishing second four years ago. He will have a chance to avenge the 2018 champion Wilfredo RODRIGUEZ. Also wrestling will be the always dangerous Uber CUERO (COL) and Sixto AUCCAPINA (PER).

The defending champion at 74kg Anthony MONTERO (VEN) will be returning for the gold. He has added the gold from the Bolivarian Games to his resume as well. To win the gold, he will have to face the young Brazilian Cesar ALVAN (BRA), who surprised a few by winning the bronze in Acapulco. The experienced Mauricio SANCHEZ (ECU), after taking the silver in Valledupar in the 65kg, moves up a category to look for another medal as he won bronze in 2018.

Pedro CEBALLOS (VEN) will be chasing history as the veteran arrives determined to take the gold medal, looking to become a three-time champion at the South American Games. He finished as the runner-up at the 2019 Pan-American Games in Lima and champion in the last edition of the Bolivarian Games.

Colombia will be represented by Carlos ANGULO who replaces Carlos IZQUIERDO.

Other athletes with a great chance to get on the podium are Ivan LLANO (ARG) who has silver at the previous edition at 74kg. Bronze medalist from 2018 Eduardo GAJARDO (CHI) and Jorge ANDY (ECU) are also in the fray.

The 97kg weight class will see the Nelson bracket with five wrestlers eyeing the top medal. Despite his five-year absence at the international level, Cristian SARCO (VEN) made his comeback at the Bolivarian Games, showing great form to take gold in Valledupar. He arrives in Asuncion looking to repeat his gold-medal performance. He will have to watch out for Ricardo BAEZ (ARG) and Chilean URIBE (CHI).

At 125kg, following the Nelson bracket, Jose DIAZ (VEN) is looking to position himself in the 125kg after taking bronze in this year's Pan-American Championships. In the Bolivarian Games, He won the silver medal in the Greco-Roman style. 

Catriel MURIEL (ARG), who has been living for years in Makhachkala, Russia, arrived determined to stand in the way of Diaz's gold medal. Muriel also won the bronze medal at the last Pan-American Championship.
 
Entry list

GR 60kg
Erivan Constantino Rocha  (BRA)
Pedro Maximiliano Gutierrez Urrutia (CHI)
Dicther Hans Toro Castañeda (COL) 
Jeremy Renzo Peralta Gonzalez (ECU)
Nelson Daniel Ferreira (PAR)
Joao Marco Benavides Rochabrun (PER)
Raiber Rodriguez Orozco (VEN)

GR 67kg
Mauricio Alejandro Lovera (ARG)
Juan Carlos Villarroel Joffre (BOL)
Kenedy Anderson Moraes Pedrosa (BRA)
Cristóbal Alonso Torres Nuñez (CHI)
Julian Stiven Horta Acevedo (COL)
Andres Roberto Montaño Arroyo (ECU)
Lisandro Cabrera (PAR)
Nilton Gonzalo Marcos Soto Garcia (PER)
Shalon Villegas (VEN)

GR 77kg    
Joilson De Brito Ramos Junior (BRA)
Jair Alexis Cuero Muñoz (COL)
Raymin Mir Hosseini (PAR)
Carlos Moises Espinoza Castro (PER)
Wuileixis Rivas Espinoza (VEN)

GR 87kg    
Ronisson Brandao Santiago (BRA)
Carlos Andres Muñoz Jaramillo (COL)
Rene Rodriguez (PAR)
Luis Avendaño Rojas (VEN)
Pool Edinson Ambrocio Greifo (PER) 

GR 97kg
Igor Fernando Alves De Queiroz (BRA)
Haner Armando Ramirez (COL)
Luis Fernando Gonzalez Cabrera (PAR)
Luillys Perez Mora (VEN)

GR 130kg    
Marcos Paulo Barbosa Da Silva (BRA)
Yasmani Acosta Fernandez (CHI)
Rodolfo Waithe (PAN)
Pedro Tadeo Aguiar Campos (PAR)
Brayan Loyo Gonzalez (VEN)

WW 50kg    
Katherine Avalos (PAR) 
Nathaly Marilu Herrera Huacre (PER)
Mariana Rojas Diaz (VEN)
Jacqueline Del Rocio Mollocana Eleno (ECU)

WW 53kg    
Gracyenne Helena Leite Alves (BRA)
Javiera Belen Ortega Fernandez (CHI)
Sandy Yalixa Parra (COL)
Lucia Yamileth Yepez Guzman (ECU)
Veronica Grenno (PAR) 
Thalia Jihann Mallqui Peche (PER) 
Betzabeth Arguello Villegas (VEN)

WW 57kg    
Camila Agustina Amarilla (ARG)
Giullia Rodrigues Penalber De Oliveira (BRA)
Antonia Alejandra Valdes Arriagada (CHI)
Tatiana Hurtado Lerma (COL)
Luisa Elizabeth Valverde Melendres (ECU)
Samira Lezcano (PAR)
Yohelyn Valera Fernandez (VEN)
Veralucia Susano Justiniano (BOL)

WW 62kg
Andrea Yurani Gonzalez Gongora (COL)
Leonela Aleyda Ayovi Parraga (ECU)
Lourdes Mariana Velilla Cabrera (PAR)
Nathaly Griman Herrera (VEN)
Lais Nunes De Oliveira (BRA) 
Veralucia Susano Justiniano (BOL)

WW 68kg    
Thamires Martins Machado (BRA)
Chaneth Yorleny Simmonds Campos (PAN)
Pamela Boveda (PAR)
Yanet Ursula Sovero Niño (PER)
Mahealani Alexandra Ramirez Nobre (URU)
Soleymi Caraballo Hernandez (VEN)

WW 76kg    
Linda Marilina Machuca (ARG) 
Ruthy Hellen Pinhal Dos Santos (BRA)
Tatiana Renteria Renteria (COL)
Genesis Rosangela Reasco Valdez (ECU)
Maria Acosta Acosta (VEN)

FS 57kg
Hernan David Almendra (ARG)
Oscar Eduardo Tigreros Urbano (COL)
Richard Antonio García Andrade (PAN)
Enrique Armando Herrera Huacre (PER)
Pedro Mejias Rodriguez (VEN)

FS 65kg
Agustin Alejandro Destribats (ARG) 
Marvin Chavez Claros (BOL)
Uber Euclides Cuero Muñoz (COL)
Wilfredo Steven López López (PAN)
Sebastian Maldonado (PAR)
Sixto Miguel Auccapiña Pedragas (PER)
Stephan Brunings (SUR)
Julian Andres Perez Conde (URU)
Wilfredo Rodriguez Bocaney (VEN)

FS 74kg
Lautaro Agustin Seghesso (ARG)
Cesar Bordeaux Rego Alvan (BRA)
Leon Juan Carlos Peralta Lanas (CHI)
Juan David Sanchez Cardona (COL)
Mauricio Javier Sánchez Saltos (ECU)
Ángel Eduardo Cortés Bonilla (PAN)
Pablo Vera (PAR)
Micha Willems (SUR)
Anthony Montero Chirinos (VEN)

FS 86kg
Jorge Ivan Llano (ARG)
Giovanni De Oliveira Gaion Piazza (BRA)
Eduardo Ivan Gajardo Meneses (CHI)
Carlos Hernan Angulo Murillo (COL)
Jorge Klever Andy Tiwi (ECU)
Ansony Torales (PAR)
Brisd Jahzeel Walttuony Rojas (PER)
Pedro Ceballos Fuentes (VEN)

FS 97kg
Ricardo Adrian Baez (ARG)
Matias Ignacio Uribe Sepulveda (CHI)
Miller Mondragon Arboleda (COL)
Max Linchevsky (PAR)
Cristian Sarco Colmenarez (VEN)

FS 125kg
Catriel Pehuen Muriel (ARG)
Guilherme Pradella Lima (BRA)
Marco Montiel (PAR)
Jose Diaz Robertti (VEN)
Orlando Arispe Jotty (PAN)

#WrestleTirana

Elor wins eighth world title, sets sights on Paris Olympics

Friday, October 27, 2023 - 21:38 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (October 27) -- If you were logging in to watch Amit ELOR (USA) compete in the 72kg final of the U23 World Championships, most likely you missed the final. That's because she was lightning fast in winning the bout in mere 21 seconds.

And if you think that was quick, Elor finished her first bout in 16 seconds and the second in 18 seconds. Only her semifinal against Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) was for six minutes. Out of the 24 minutes for four bouts, Elor spent only six minutes and 55 seconds on the mat to win the U23 World Championships in Tirana, Albania on Friday.

ALSO READ: Despite nine wrestlers, Japan wins team title

At the age of 19, Amit Elor now holds an impressive record of eight world titles across different age groups, including two senior, two U23, three U20, and one U17 world gold.

While her remarkable stats speak about her dominance on the mat, Elor herself has kept no record of her international wins or scores.

"Maybe I should go over," she says. "We used to do it in high school. And ever since I got into international wrestling, I haven't thought about it as much. But it would be really cool to look back and see how many matches they've had and how many wins and losses. I remember the competitions, but not always every single match unless it was really meaningful."

Amit ELOR (USA)Amit ELOR (USA) used the lace to win her 72kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

For most, the final would mean a lot but for Elor, the semifinal at the U23 World Championships against Choluj was the stand-out match. Choluj managed to stop Elor from scoring a fall or win via technical superiority and lost only 5-0.

"Probably my semi-final had a strong opponent and our styles matched up against each other," she says. "It was kind of similar styles which made it difficult. A lot of hand-fighting. I had some injuries from senior Worlds that made it difficult to hand fight. But I stayed composed and in good position and I was able to win."

The final against Jyoti BERWAL (UWW) was unbelievably one-sided as by the time Berwal could try any move on Elor, the American had laced her for a 10-0 victory.

With that, Elor extended her international career record to 38-1, the one loss coming at the U17 World Championships in 2019. "I'll get it next year," a 16-year-old Elor would say back then. She won the gold at the next U17 Worlds without conceding a point.

"It's not easy," Elor says. "There's so much work involved that leads up to the competition. There's a lot of pressure and I want to do my best and I have high expectations for myself. When you go out there and you wrestle it seems so short and easy but that's just the result of all the work leading up to the competition."

In the lead-up to the U23 Worlds, Elor trained with six-time world champion Adeline GRAY (USA), trained at her home in California and also used her experience at the U20 and senior worlds which she called the 'perfect preparation.'

"Training with Adeline has been amazing for me," she says. "I am constantly learning so much from her. Not just about wrestling but about being an athlete and taking care of yourself. She is a very confident, strong person and so I've kind of learned how to think more for myself and what I need as an athlete.

"The two World Championships were perfect preparation for this."

It was the same script last year in which Elor won three world titles, becoming the first from the U.S. to win all the world titles. She just repeated the three-peat.

 

But the season is not over for her. Elor will soon be challenging herself to make the Olympic weight of 68kg (72kg is not an Olympic weight) in her bid to be at Paris 2024. 

"The most important thing for me is that I feel my best when I'm wrestling," she says. "Right now my plan is to drop my weight to 68kg and see how I feel there. That's going to be a big challenge, a different weight."

Elor says she has not reduced weight for a competition. Though she spent her early days in international wrestling at 68kg, that was at the U17 level.

"I was 68kg in 2021, so it's nothing new but it's still been two years," she says. "It's going to be challenging but I'm really excited and I'm ready to do everything I possibly can because it's the Olympic year."

Being at the Olympics will make Elor the second wrestler in the world to win all world titles and also compete at the Games. A gold in Paris will put her next to Yui SUSAKI (JPN), the only wrestler to have won all world titles and the Olympic gold. 

But just to be in Paris, Elor will have a marathon stretch. In the U.S., she will have to first wrestle at the team trials to be at the Pan-Am Olympic Qualifiers in March. If the country qualifies the weight for Paris, Elor will have to go through the Olympic Team Trials in April.

"Unfortunately, 68kg wasn't qualified yet for the Olympics," she says. "There's going to be a wrestle-off in February and whoever wins will go to Pan Ams and try to qualify the weight there. I would really need to work more on my speed and coordination and definitely add more to my arsenal. I'll wrestle in the wrestle-off at 68 and see how I do."