#WrestleRome

Suraj ends India's 32-year drought for U17 GR world gold

By Vinay Siwach

ROME, Italy (July 26) -- As he warmed up for his gold medal bout, Suraj VASHISHT (IND) saw an emotional Ronit SHARMA (IND). He ran up to Sharma and consoled him after the latter lost 3-3 in the 48kg Greco-Roman final. It could have been India's first gold at the U17 World Championships in 32 years.

A few moments later, Suraj took it upon himself to create history by winning the 55kg title at the U17 World Championships in Rome. His gold was India's first since Pappu YADAV (IND) won one back in 1990.

Since then, India had five different wrestlers reach the final at a U17 World Championships but none could clear the final hurdle. It took Suraj beating European champion Faraim MUSTAFAYEV (AZE), 11-0, to add another historic moment in India's wrestling.

Overall, this was India's only third gold at the U17 Worlds and fourth at all World Championships combined. Apart from Yadav, who also won the 1992 U20 World Championships, Vinod KUMAR (IND) won the U17 Worlds gold in 1980.

In Rome, Suraj eyes lit up seeing his draw as he hoped for a potential semifinal against Khurshidbek NORMUKHAMMADOV (UZB). The Uzbek had beaten Suraj 8-0 a month ago at the U17 Asian Championships.

"That was my first tour," Suraj said. "I had little experience of grips and stances. There was a camp [More Than Medals in Bishkek] in which I learned all this. Minor changes to help me avoid getting countered."

One of the biggest drawbacks of Suraj's technique to go for a one-on-two early was getting countered and giving up a takedown. With a weak par terre, stopping his opponent from a win was close to impossible.

Normukhammadov scored eight points in Bishkek using a similar move. But in Rome, keeping a closed stance and not going for the side attacks, Suraj keep the Uzbekistan wrestler quiet to win the semifinals.

"These wrestlers get tired very easily while I keep going for attacks and keep pushing," he said. "That helps because then you know that your opponent doesn't have much power."

In the final, the 16-year-old decimated Mustafayev with two big four-point throws in the final. An aggressive Suraj tried finding an opening against Mustafayev which made the referee call the Azerbaijan wrestler passive in the first period. Suraj failed to get a turn from par terre and led 1-0.

In the second period, he first avoided being passive and then struck a takedown to extend his lead to 3-0. But he still ran the danger of being called passive with more than a minute left. But Suraj, knowing he had to get to a safe zone, used an underhook to throw and collect four points and lead 7-0.  Mustafayev tried a flying move but Suraj throw him on the mat with control to win the bout and gold 11-0.

SURAJ (IND)The four medalists at 55kg with silver medalist Faraim MUSTAFAYEV (AZE), left, gold medalist SURAJ (IND) and two bronze medalists Saba SURMANIDZE (GEO) and Khurshidbek NORMUKHAMMADOV (UZB). (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Mustafayev looked a force to reckon with Monday as he won two bouts via technical superiority and one via fall. But he looked a shadow of himself from Monday and failed to get going when it mattered most.

According to India coach Inderjeet SINGH, Suraj was unfazed by the achievements of his opponents and followed a set plan for each bout."He had a very open stance so we told him to close his hands," Singh said. "Then the par terre defense of Indian wrestlers is weak so we told him to not be passive. He did well to defend a few par terre situations."

For Suraj, who hails from Rithal village, Rohtak in Haryana, the win meant another opportunity to celebrate by thumping his thigh, a popular celebration in mud-dangals across India. He now hopes that he can repeat the success in bigger stages.

"I have dreams to become the best in my weight class," he said. "Obviously a senior world title is a dream as well."

After a brief celebration, Suraj will stay back in Rome for the More Than Medals camp.

"These More Than Medals camps help us a lot. We get limited training in India but here the quality of partners is better. Ronit and Suraj will stay for the Rome camp," Singh said.

Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI)Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) defeated Ronit SHARMA (IND) to win the 48kg gold in Rome. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Sharma could have been the history maker but Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) denied him history with a 3-3 win in the 48kg final. The two had met earlier at the U17 Asian Championships two times with Ahmadi Vafa winning the group stage bout and Sharma winning the final.

Ahmadi Vafa looked in all sorts of trouble in the final in Rome as Sharma secured a quick 3-0 lead with a turn from par terre as Ahmadi Vafa was called passive.

After the break, Sharma went for a front headlock looking for a four but lost his grip midway and Ahmadi Vafa ended up on top of him. Initially called a slip, Iran challenged and won, trimming Sharma's lead to 3-2.

In the final minute of the bout, Sharma is called passive and Ahmadi Vafa gets the 3-3 criteria lead. Despite him failing to turn Sharma from par terre, he defended against the attacks from the Indians to claim the world title for Iran.

Cemal BAKIR (TUR)Cemal BAKIR (TUR) avenged his European final loss to Laszlo DARABOS (HUN) to win the world gold at 110kg. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Turkey wins 2 golds

Cemal BAKIR (TUR) and Alperen BERBER (TUR) gave Turkey two gold medals, winning the 110kg and 80kg weight classes respectively.

It was sweet revenge for Bakir as he defeated Laszlo DARABOS (HUN), 1-1, in the 110kg final. Darabos had pinned Bakir in the U17 European Championships final last month to win the gold. But Tuesday, Bakir did not let Darabos get going and defended well from par terre position.

While he also could not turn Darabos, Bakir made sure he defends his 1-1 criteria lead till the end of the four minutes.

Alperen BERBER (TUR)Alperen BERBER (TUR) won the 80kg gold medal in Rome. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Berber faced European silver medalist Ismayil RZAYEV (AZE) in the 80kg final and scored a come-from-behind 3-2 win to claim the gold. He got himself into trouble by trying an arm spin which resulted in Rzayev putting Berber's back on the mat for a pin. While he survived that, Berber then scored a pushout.

Rzayev held 2-2 criteria despite Berber scoring a stepout before the end of the first period. But it was the passivity call in the second period that hurt Rzayev and gave Berber a deserved win.

Berber, who finished fifth at the European Championships, outscored his opponents 31-2 over five bouts.

Joel ADAMS (USA)Joel ADAMS (USA) outscored his opponents 31-0 en route to the 65kg gold medal. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

The final gold of the night went to Joel ADAMS (USA) who defeated Ahoura BOUVEIRI PIANI (IRI), 6-0, in the 65kg final.

Adams had a near-perfect performance over the two days in which he showed a five-point move, a four-pointer, arm drags, duck under, and celebrations like no other with his USA teammates joining from the stands.

Outscoring his opponents 31-0 in Rome, Adams showed why he can be the next Greco-Roman star for the USA which won its third U17 world title in 30 years and second in five years. Cohlton SCHULTZ (USA) won the 100kg title in 2017.

Bouveriri Piani was in some strong position throughout the final but Adams' defense along with his ability to transition that into takedowns wreaked havoc on the Iranian. Adams scored two takedowns in the first period to lead 4-0 and added another in the second period to make it 6-0.

But the highlight from the gold medalist will be the five-point suplex he hit on Takaku SUZUKI (JPN) in the opening round bout.

After the medal bouts on in five weight classes, Azerbaijan leads the team title race with 80 points and Iran sitting a close second with 75 points. Turkey's impressive show has helped them to be number three with 60 points while India occupies the fourth spot with 57 points.

Defending champions Georgia will have to work hard if it wants to finish on the podium this year. Currently, it is fifth with 55 points.

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RESULTS

48kg
GOLD: Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) df. Ronit SHARMA (IND), 3-3

BRONZE: Arsen ZHUMA (KAZ) df. Tigran GALSTYAN (ARM), 5-3
BRONZE: Said KHALILOV (AZE) df. Yu TAKEMOTO (JPN), 9-1

55kg
GOLD: SURAJ (IND) df. Faraim MUSTAFAYEV (AZE), 11-0

BRONZE: Saba SURMANIDZE (GEO) df. Halil CINAR (TUR), 9-0
BRONZE: Khurshidbek NORMUKHAMMADOV (UZB) df. Kohaku KANAZAWA (JPN), 5-4

65kg
GOLD: Joel ADAMS (USA) df. Ahoura BOUVEIRI PIANI (IRI), 6-0

BRONZE: Bekhruz BARNOEV (UZB) df. Ali ALIZADA (AZE), 9-3
BRONZE: Aleksandre RUSITASHVILI (GEO) df. Petro SHAFRANSKYI (UKR), 6-4

80kg
GOLD: Alperen BERBER (TUR) df. Ismayil RZAYEV (AZE), 3-2

BRONZE: Luka GELASHVILI (GEO) df. Andrey ATANASOV (BUL), 5-1
BRONZE: Seyed Reza AZARSHAB (IRI) df. Branko DUKIC (SRB), 8-0

110kg
GOLD: Cemal BAKIR (TUR) df. Laszlo DARABOS (HUN), 1-1

BRONZE: Mohammad JAHANGIRI (IRI) df. Dmytro STRYZHEKOZIN (UKR), 9-0
BRONZE: Mazaim MARDANOV (AZE) df. Davit MGELADZE (GEO), via fall

#WrestleRome

LIVE BLOG: Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series, Day Four

By United World Wrestling Press

Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) clinched the much-anticipated bout against Jordan BURROUGHS 3-2 to win the gold medal at 74kg at Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series event. Both had dominating runs to the summit clash. Bajrang PUNIA (IND) defended his title against Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) after a close 2-2 win. Zahid VALENCIA (USA) showed his dominance at 86kg as he teched Mark HALL (USA) in the final

For all the highlights, wraps, news, videos and much more -- Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube

2050 hrs: We have our champions for the day! Great end to a successful tournament in Rome. Thank you for joining us. Until the next tournament! 

2040 hrs: GOLD MEDAL! Selim YASAR (TUR) had sealed the gold medal in the morning session but now Erhan YAYLACI (TUR) gets the silver as he beats Elkhan ASSADOV (KAZ) 3-3

2035 hrs: Assadov is leading Yaylaci 3-0 at the break in this Round 5 bout. Yaylaci gets point and then a takedown to level it 3-3 in the second period.

2030 hrs: Final two bouts at Matteo Pellcone! PARVEEN (IND) will be the winner on Mat A as Pat DOWNEY (USA) is injured. On the other mat, Erhan YAYLACI (TUR) takes on Elkhan ASSADOV (KAZ) in Round 5 bout

2025 hrs: GOLD MEDAL! Zahid VALENCIA (USA) is just too much for Mark HALL (USA). He scores a takedown and a gut to win the 86kg gold medal 11-0

2023 hrs: Step out point for Valencia and then he gets a takedown to lead 3-0. He gets another takedown and then an inside head single to make it 7-0

2021 hrs: Huge match on Mat B. Zahid VALENCIA (USA) is wrestling two-time junior world champ at 74kg Mark HALL (USA) at 86kg final

2020 hrs: Bronze medal for Myles MARTIN (USA). He scores a first period technical superiority win over Clayton Steven PYE (CAN)

2015 hrs: Bronze medal bouts at 86kg. Yeskali DAULETKAZY (KAZ) will win the first one as Fatih ERDIN (TUR) is out injured. In the second bout, Myles Najee MARTIN (USA) is wrestling Clayton Steven PYE (CAN)

2010 hrs: GOLD MEDAL! Galymzhan USSERBAYEV (KAZ) hangs on for a 6-5 win over David Vincent MC FADDEN (USA) to win the gold medal at 79kg

 

#WrestleRome 79kg FS Medal Match Results:
?Galymzhan USSERBAYEV ??df. David MCFADDEN , 6-5??
?Muhammet KOTANOGLU?? df. Ramazan SARI ??, 6-0

— United World Wrestling (@wrestling) March 7, 2021

 

2003 hrs: Usserbayev gets on the scoring first as he gets a turn. Reversal for McFadden. Exposures for both. Score is 4-3 Usserbayev. He adds takedown and will go to the break leading 6-3

2000 hrs: Muhammet Nuri KOTANOGLU (TUR) wins the gold medal after a 6-0 win over teammate Ramazan Ishak SARI (TUR). Now onto the 79kg final bout. David Vincent MC FADDEN (USA) is up against Galymzhan USSERBAYEV (KAZ)

1952 hrs: Bronze medal bout at 79kg. An all-Turkey bout as Ramazan Ishak SARI (TUR) takes on Muhammet Nuri KOTANOGLU (TUR).

1947 hrs: GOLD MEDAL! Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) gets his second win over Jordan BURROUGHS (USA). Chamizo gave up a point for step out but held on to a 3-2 win. Burroughs still leads the head-to-head 4-2

 

#WrestleRome 74kg FS Medal Match Results:
?Frank CHAMIZO ??df. Jordan BURROUGHS ??, 3-2
?Daniyar KAISANOV ?? df. Narsingh YADAV ??, 5-0
?Nurkozha KAIPANOV ?? df. Franklin GOMEZ ??, 8-2

— United World Wrestling (@wrestling) March 7, 2021

 

1945 hrs: Burroughs is warned for passivity again. He gets an inside single but Chamizo pushes him out. 3-1 for Chamizo

1944 hrs: Burroughs starts with a step out to cut it down to 2-1. Both wrestlers still looking for that opening. No one is blinking.

1942 hrs: Chamizo gets a point after Burroughs fails to score in the activity period. He will go into the break with a 2-0 lead

1937 hrs: Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) vs Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) at 74kg final. Scramble early on. Chamizo gets to the legs, Burroughs defends and tries to get one for his own. Chamizo gets a stepout in the end

1935 hrs: Bronze medal for Daniyar KAISANOV as he beats Narsingh YADAV (IND) 5-0 while Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) wins 8-2 against Franklin GOMEZ (PUR)

1925 hrs: Two bronze medal bouts at 74kg. Asian champion Daniyar KAISANOV (KAZ) up against Narsingh YADAV (IND) while Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) wrestling Franklin GOMEZ (PUR)

#WrestleRome 70kg FS Medal Match Results:
?Alec PANTALEO ?? df. Daulet NIYAZBEKOV?? , 4-0
?Vishal KALIRAMANA ?? df. Syrbaz TALGAT ??, 5-1

— United World Wrestling (@wrestling) March 7, 2021

1922 hrs: GOLD MEDAL! Alec PANTALEO (USA) gets two wins in a day over Daulet NIYAZBEKOV (KAZ) to win the gold medal at 70kg. Huge win for USA wrestler. 

1920 hrs: Pantaleo leads 2-0 at the break through a takedown. But soon after the resumption he is put on the shot clock. He scores a big double in the activity to lead 4-0

1915 hrs: Gold medal bout at 70kg. Alec PANTALEO (USA) vs Daulet NIYAZBEKOV (KAZ). Pantaleo had a 6-2 win over Niyazbekov earlier in the day

1911 hrs: Bronze medal for Vishal KALIRAMANA (IND). Both wrestlers in a scramble. No points for either. Time runs out. Kazakhstan challenge. Review shows two for Kaliramana. One for the lost challenge. He wins 5-1 against Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ)

1908 hrs: Now Kaliramana is put on the clock. He fails to score as well 1-1 lead Talgat. The referee warns the Kazak for twisting fingers. Kaliramana gets a point. 2-1 lead for him

1902 hrs: Bronze medal bout at 70kg as Vishal KALIRAMANA (IND) takes on Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ). No points scored between the two for the first minute and a half and Talgat is put on the shot clock

 

#WrestleRome 65kg FS Medal Match Results:
?Bajrang BAJRANG ?? df. Tulga TUMUR OCHIR ??, 2-2
?Joseph MC KENNA ?? df. Selim KOZAN ??, 8-2
?Hamza ALACA ??df. Rohit ROHIT ??, 12-10

— United World Wrestling (@wrestling) March 7, 2021

 

1900 hrs: GOLD MEDAL! Bajrang PUNIA (IND) keeps the criteria lead to win 2-2 against Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL). He defends his Matteo Pellicone title and remains unbeaten in Ranking Series events. 5th gold for him

1855 hrs: Challenge won! Mongolia lead 1-0. Bajrang is warned for passivity. He cannot score and trails 0-2. He did call for a step out but referee does not agree. Bajrang gets a lucky go behind to lead 2-2 now with 14 seconds remaining.

1853 hrs: Punia and Ochir in a scramble with the Indian trying to get a lace going. But Ochir is strong in defence. He jumps out but referee is calling out of bounds. 1-1 lead Bajrang but Mongolia challenge

1850 hrs: Punia put on the shot clock and he has to score in the next 30 seconds to avoid giving the points to Ochir. He fails to do so. Ochir leads 1-0. Now Ochir is warned for passivity. But he will go into the break leading 1-0

1847 hrs: Final at 65kg. Bajrang PUNIA (IND) is wrestling Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL). It's a rematch from the 2019 World Championships where Punia carved out a close 8-6 win. 

1846 hrs: Bronze medals for Turkey and USA. ROHIT (IND) did get two step out but goes down 10-12 against Hamza ALACA (TUR). Joseph McKEENA wins 8-2 against Selim KOZAN (TUR) 

1844 hrs: Rohit with a push and Alaca lands out of bounds. India asking for two but referee awards one. Challenge from India. Alaca leads 11-8

1842 hrs: Turkey is asking for four and they challenge. It's won and Alaca now leads 8-4 with just under two minutes remaining. Rohit with another shot, he takes a takedown. Alaca also scores from exposure. Reversal for Rohit. 10-7 lead for Alaca

1840 hrs: Step out for Alaca. He makes it 4-4 but Rohit holds the lead on criteria. The Indian misfires a shot and Alaca gets a takedown. 6-4 to him

1835 hrs: Scrambles all around in the McKenna-Kozan bout. Kozan gets two but McKenna gets exposure to lead 7-2. Challenge from Turkey. On Mat A, Rohit leads Alaca 4-3 after a big throw

1832 hrs: To the bronze medal bout at 65kg. Hamza ALACA (TUR) against ROHIT (IND) on Mat A. Selim KOZAN (TUR) against Joseph McKEENA (USA)

1828 hrs: Suleyman ATLI (TUR) is the winner of the other Round 3 bout at 61kg and he will end with a silver medal as Anvar SUVINIITTY (FIN) is out injured

1827 hrs: GOLD MEDAL! Adlan ASKAROV (KAZ) wins this grueling Round 3 bout at 61kg 3-2 against Tyler GRAFF (USA). He will end with a gold medal while Graff will go home with a bronze medal 

1824 hrs: Askarov put on the shot clock. He is pushing for an opening but slips on one of his attacks. Graff is quick to go behind and take the lead 2-1. Askarov then shoots for the legs and get the takedown. He leads 3-2

1820 hrs: Askarov will go into the break leading 1-0. Some heated exchange between the two wrestlers on the mat so the judge had to intervene

1818 hrs: Round 3 bout at the 61kg category. World fifth place Tyler GRAFF (USA) is taking on U23 World runner-up Adlan ASKAROV (KAZ). Asakarov with a quick step out to open the scoring

 

#WrestleRome 57kg FS Medal Match Results:
?Nurislam SANAYEV ?? df. Nicholas SURIANO ??, 4-2
?Givi DAVIDOVI ?? df. Ali ABURUMAILA ?? , 10-0

— United World Wrestling (@wrestling) March 7, 2021

 

1817 hrs: GOLD MEDAL! Nurislam SANAYEV (KAZ) wins the Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series event after a 4-2 win over Nicholas SURIANO (USA) in the final

1815 hrs: Suriano got a step out but Sanayev with a single leg takedown before increasing his lead to 4-1. Suriano with another step out in the final seconds

1808 hrs: Givi DAVIDOVI (ITA) finishes with a bronze medal after a shutout 10-0 win against Ali M M ABURUMAILA (PLE). Dominating performance that. Now to the final at 57kg between Nurislam SANAYEV (KAZ) and Nicholas SURIANO (USA)

1800 hrs: Mat A and Mat B will see the medal matches. Wrestling first is Hamza ALACA (TUR) against ROHIT (IND) for the bronze medal at 65kg. On Mat B, Ali M M ABURUMAILA (PLE) is up against local favorite Givi DAVIDOVI (ITA) for the 57kg bronze medal

1745 hrs: 15 minutes away from what promises to an epic session of wrestling. Burroughs leads the head-to-head against Chamizo 4-1. Chamizo had forfeited their last meeting.

1730 hrs: Welcome back! The final session of the Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series 2021 is about to get underway in Rome. If you missed the morning session, below are the highlights.

1415 hrs: We have our medal bouts set. Some of the most anticipated finals are coming up.

57kg: Nurislam SANAYEV (KAZ) vs Nicholas SURIANO (USA)
65kg: Bajrang PUNIA (IND) vs Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL)
70kg: Daulet NIYAZBEKOV (KAZ) vs Alec PANTALEO (USA)
74kg: Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) vs Frank CHAMIZO (ITA)
79kg: David Vincent MC FADDEN (USA) vs Galymzhan USSERBAYEV (KAZ)
86kg: Zahid VALENCIA (USA) vs Mark HALLL (USA)

1410 hrs: We have a rematch at 70kg! Daulet NIYAZBEKOV (KAZ) beats Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ) 7-1 and he will wrestle Alec PANTALEO (USA). The US wrestler defeated Niyazabekov 6-2 in the morning session

1355 hrs: Alec PANTALEO storms into the final at 70kg after a tech 10-0 first period win over Vishal KALIRAMANA (IND)

1350 hrs: Mark HALL (USA) with a pin over LEE. He moves into the 86kg final against fellow teammate Zahid VALENCIA (USA)

1345 hrs: Jordan BURROUGS (USA) with a tactical 4-1 win against Narsingh YADAV (IND). We have a CHAMIZO vs BURROUGHS rematch at 74kg final 

1340 hrs: Sanayev wins 14-4 against Aburumaila. Zahid VALENCIA (USA) techs Fatih ERDIN (TUR) 12-2

1338 hrs: Nurislam SANAYEV (KAZ) is wrestling Ali M M ABURUMAILA (PLE) and is trailing 4-4. Burroughs up 2-0 against Yadav on Mat C. Valencia up 6-2 against Erdin in 86kg semifinal

1336 hrs: Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) with an easy 6-0 win over Franklin GOMEZ (PUR). He waits in the 74kg final and will wrestle the winner of Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) vs Narsingh YADAV (IND)

1335 hrs: The 65kg final is set in Rome! Bajrang PUNIA (IND) beats Joseph McKEENA (USA) 6-3 while Tulga Tumur Ochir wins 4-0 against ROHIT (IND). The final is a rematch from 2019 World Championship bronze medal bout at 65kg. Ochir will like to avenge his loss

1330 hrs: Bajrang Punia leads Joseph McKenna 4-2 at the break. Ochir leads Rohit 2-0 while Chamizo is up 4-0 against Gomez

1327 hrs: Early takedown for Punia as he leads 2-0. McKenna fires back with a takedown as well. It's 2-2 McKenna

Ochir with a point for step out against Rohit on Mat C

1325 hrs: Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) vs Franklin GOMEZ (PUR) on Mat A. Bajrang PUNIA (IND) vs Joseph McKENNA (USA) on Mat B. ROHIT (IND) vs Tulga Tumur OCHIR (MGL) on Mat C 

1320 hrs: Selim YASAR (TUR) with a takedown in the final 30 seconds to win the bout against Erhab YAYLACI (TUR) 3-3. We are moving into the semifinals now 

1315 hrs: David Vincent McFADDEN (USA) wins the bout 13-7 against compatriot Muhamed Mustafa McBRYDE (USA). One more match before semifinal begin. It's an all-Turkey affair as Erhan YAYLACI (TUR) takes on Selim YASAR (TUR)

1312 hrs: McFadden is too strong for McBryde who tried to go for single but McFadden gets an exposure twice to lead 9-2. Reversal give McBryde one point. Another takedown for McFadden as he extends his lead to 11-3

1308 hrs: McFadden with a step out to extend lead to 5-0. McBryde with a takedown to cut it down to 2-5 at the break

1305 hrs: We will start all the semifinal at the same time so waiting for the David Vincent McFADDEN (USA) and Muhamed Mustafa McBRYDE (USA) bout to be over. McFadden was warned for passivity but he goes behind and scores a takedown and gut for a 4-0 lead

1301 hrs: Another walkover as Pat DOWNEY (USA) does not show up for his bout against Elkhan ASSADOV (KAZ). This brings up to a rematch from last year against returning champion Bajrang PUNIA (IND) and Joseph McKENNA (USA) in the 65kg semifinal

1300 hrs: Mat B had two walkovers as Nurislam SANAYEV (KAZ) and Alec PANTALEO (USA) score win at 57kg and 70kg respectively.

1243 hrs: Galymzhan USSERBAYEV (KAZ) with a go behind in the final 8 seconds. Sloppy from a tiring Muhamed Mustafa McBRYDE (USA). Usserbayev win 7-5

1241 hrs: McBryde with a takedown and exposure to make it 5-5 against Usserbayev. The Kazak is looking to run out of breath against the USA wrestler

1240 hrs: Usserbayev put on the shot clock against but he gets a quick duck under and a takedown. He leads 2-1 with two minutes to go

1236 hrs: Galymzhan USSERBAYEV (KAZ) is trailing Muhamed Mustafa McBRYDE (USA) 0-1 at the break in their 79kg Round 2 bout

1230 hrs: Alec William PANTALEO (USA) with an upset win over two-time World medalist Daulet NIYAZBEKOV (KAZ). The US wrestler was too good for Kazak in the 6-2 win

1218 hrs: Daulet NIYAZBEKOV (KAZ) is now making his way to Mat B against Alec William PANTALEO (USA) for the 70kg Round 2 match

1215 hrs: That took some time but Atli wins the challenge. He leads 12-6. A big four from Atli. He will win 16-6

1207 hrs: Atli with a pick and he takes a takedown followed by exposure. 10-6 now for Atli. Challenge from Turkey. They are asking for two more points. We have challenges on all three mats for now

1205 hrs: 57kg Round 2 now. Suleyman ATLI (TUR) is on Mat C against Tyler GRAFF (USA). Graff is leading Atli 6-6 on criteria with two minutes to go

1200 hrs: Challenge lost. Mark HALL with a big four and gets the pin! He moves into the semifinal at 86kg

1155 hrs: Mark HALL (USA) and Myles MARTIN (USA) are up on Mat B for their 86kg quarter-final. A big scramble and it's two points each. 3-2 lead for Hall at the break. Challenge from Martin

1142 hrs: Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) makes amends to a poor start in his quarter-final and comes back to win 13-8 against Myles AMINE (SMR)

 

Frank CHAMIZO ?? trailed Malik AMINE ??, 6-2, but scored the 13-8 come-from-behind win to move into the #WrestleRome 74kg semifinals.

He'll wrestle the winner of Yakup GOR ?? and Franklin GOMEZ ??. https://t.co/zpwxopXS8d

— United World Wrestling (@wrestling) March 7, 2021

 

1140 hrs: ROHIT (IND) with a clutch performance at 65kg. He gets an exposure to win 9-8 against Behnam Eshagh ESHANPOOR (IRI) and make his way to the semi-final against Tulga Tumur OCHIR (MGL)

Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) starts off with a comfortable 5-0 win against Asian champion Daniyar KAISANOV (KAZ)

1136 hrs: Myles AMINE (SMR) is making heads turn in Rome. He had a takedown and a gut to lead 4-0 against Frank CHAMIZO (ITA). He has another exposure after Chamizo's reversal. Amine's corner is asking for two exposures. Challenge from Amine

1135 hrs: Burroughs leads 2-0 at the break. On Mat A, World bronze at 61kg, Behnam Eshagh ESHANPOOR (IRI) is trailing 2-7 against India national champion ROHIT (IND)

1132 hrs: Big match on Mat B. 4-time world and Olympic champion Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) is wrestling 2019 world bronze medalist and Asia champion Daniyar KAISANOV (KAZ). A single outside takedown for Burroughs to get things underway

1130 hrs: Tulga TUMUR-OCHIR (MGL) with a technical superiority win against Hamza ALACA (TUR). And making it to the semifinal against Bajrang Punia is Joseph McKEENA (USA) after a 7-3 win against David HABAT (SLO)

1125 hrs: Mark HALL (USA), a two-time junior world champion at 74kg, is wrestling on Mat A at 86kg. He is leading 5-0 against Hunter Jeffery LEE (CAN)

1120 hrs: Joseph McKEENA (USA) with a good takedown and lace to lead 7-0 against David HABAT (SLO). The winner will meet Punia is the semifinal at 65kg. On Mat B, Ochir has extended his lead to 4-0 at the break

1118 hrs: Another former cadet world champion from Turkey is on Mat B. Hamza ALACA (TUR) is wrestling Tulga TUMUR-OCHIR (MGL), who finished fifth at World Championships is an U23 Asia champion

1117 hrs: Bajrang PUNIA (IND) starts the day with a 7-0 comfortable win against Selim KOZAN (TUR). A single takedown to finish the bout

1115 hrs: Bajrang Punia with a single leg takedown to open a 3-0 lead against Kozan. A snap from the Indian but still cannot score. Kozan now trying to find an opening in Punia's defence. Constant pressure from Punia and Kozan gives up two more with a double leg 

1113 hrs: Punia continues his traditional pressure-wrestling against Kozan, who has been put on the shot clock. No score in the 30-second activity period. Bajrang leads 1-0 at the break

1110 hrs: On Mat B, Bajrang PUNIA (IND) is beginning his 65kg title defence against former cadet World champion and junior world silver Selim KOZAN (TUR)

1108 hrs: Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) starts with a win. He defends a shot from Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) and then finishes with a single takedown. 6-0 the final score

1102 hrs: Chamizo leads 2-0 at the break. He gets a single takedown to make it 4-0 in the second period. He is happy to restart

1100 hrs: Local favorite and World Cup silver, three-time Ranking Series event winner Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) is up on Mat C. He is wrestling 70kg World silver Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ). He starts with takedown in the first minute and is up 2-0

1058 hrs: World silver at 65kg Daulet NIYAZBEKOV (KAZ) is up on Mat C for his 70kg bout against Mustafa KAYA (TUR). The Turkey wrestler doesn't show up so Niyazbekov is the winner

1055 hrs: Galymzhan USSERBAYEV (KAZ) is up 1-0 against David Vincent McFADDEN (USA) at the break at 79kg Round 1 bout

1047 hrs: Nurislam SANAYEV (KAZ) with a close 3-2 win against Nicholas SURIANO (USA). All of Sanayev's points came after Suriano was cautioned. The US wrestler did complete a takedown with 5 seconds remaining but it was not enough

1045 hrs: World silver medalist at 57kg Nurislam SANAYEV (KAZ) is up 1-0 at the break against Nicholas SURIANO (USA)

 

Mat B is about to heat up.?

Bout 256: ??Franklin GOMEZ MATOS ??
Bout 257: ????Bajrang BAJRANG ??
Bout 259: ?????Jordan BURROUGHS ??
Bout 260: Olympic ?Selim YASAR??
Bout 261: ??Fatih ERDIN ??
Bout 263: ???Nurislam SANAYEV ??https://t.co/zpwxopXS8d

— United World Wrestling (@wrestling) March 7, 2021

 

1042 hrs: Upset to start day four! U23 World silver Adlan ASKAROV (KAZ) with four takedowns against Suleyman ATLI'S (TUR) one takedown and step out to win the Round 1 bout at 61kg 8-3. Yasar and Yaylaci also start with wins.

1030 hrs: Whistles! Freestyle action begins in Rome. On Mat A, Erhan YAYLACI (TUR) vs Patrick James DOWNEY (USA) at 92kg. On Mat B, World silver Suleyman ATLI (TUR) up against age-level World medalist Adlan ASKAROV (KAZ) at 61kg. On Mat C, Rio Olympics silver Selim YASAR (TUR) at 86 kg wrestles PRAVEEN (IND) at 92kg.

1015 hrs: Huge day of wrestling action comping up in Rome. We are 15 minutes away from start of men's freestyle wrestling in eight weight categories -- 57kg, 61kg, 65kg, 70kg, 74kg, 79kg, 86kg, 92kg