#BudaWrestle2018

Taylor Tops World and Olympic Champion Yazdani, Makes Saturday's Semifinals

By Eric Olanowski

BUDAPEST, Hungary (October 20) – David TAYLOR (USA) stepped on the mat Saturday with no prior World Championship experience but certainly earned his stars and stripes on the opening day of freestyle action at the Papp Laszlo Sports Arena in Budapest, Hungary. 

In his world championship debut, the rookie was thrown into deep waters, as he was pegged against reigning world and Olympic champion Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) in his 86kg opening round bout. This was the second time Taylor and Yazdani have met, with Taylor coming out on top of their 2017 World Cup match. That fall by the American in 2017 was one of only four senior-level losses ever for the Iranian superstar. 

In the opening period, Taylor, the 2018 Pan-American champion, capitalized on an exposure, but not before giving up a pair of step outs, along with two takedowns. For the second time in as many matches against Yazdani, Taylor trailed heading into the final period. This time, it was a four-point deficit, as Taylor trailed 6-2.

Though he was in a four-point hole, “The Magic Man” didn’t panic and relied on his pace and conditioning to get back in the match. In the final three minutes, Taylor erupted to outscore the veteran 9-0 and ultimately won, 11-6. After the bout, the American coaches told Taylor “You grinded that one out. He just got too tired.” 

Taylor followed his opening round win with back-to-back 8-0 victories over Belarus’ Hajy RAJABAU and Cuba’s Yurieski TORREBLANCA QUERALTA (CUB). 

The 2018 Yarygin and Yasar Dogu winner will wrestle 2017 European gold medalist and this year’s Russian National champion, Dauren KURUGLIEV for a spot in tomorrow night’s finals.

The other 86kg semifinal match will feature Medved and Yasar Dogu bronze medalist, Fatih ERDIN (TUR), and Spain’s five-time world team representative Taimuraz FRIEV.

Zaurbek SIDAKOV will meet reigning world champion Frank Chamizo (ITA) in the 74kg semifinals after knocking off Olympic champion Jordan Burroughs (USA), 5-5 in the quarterfinals. (Photo: Gabor Martin) 

Meanwhile, Iran’s Parviz HADI and Russia’s Zaurbek SIDAKOV both knocked off Olympic champions on the way to their respective semifinals. 

In 74kg quarterfinals, Sidakov grabbed a step out point as time expired to defeat London Olympic champion, Jordan BURROUGHS (USA), 6-5. The 22-year-olds victory not only stopped the colossal third match-up between Burroughs and Italy’s two-time world champion Frank CHAMZIO, but it halted the four-time world champion from reaching his sixth world or Olympic finals. 

Sidakov will wrestle two-time world champion and Rio bronze medalist, Frank Chamizo for a spot in the 74kg finals.

In the 125kg quarterfinals, Parviz Hadi stunned Rio Olympic champion and 2017 world runner-up, Taha AKGUL (TUR) with a late takedown, stealing the match, 3-2. The 30-year-old Iranian stopped Akgul from making his fifth straight world or Olympic gold-medal bout.

In the semifinals, Hadi will compete against the reigning world champion, Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) for a spot in tomorrow's 125kg world final.

In addition to 74kg, 86kg, and 125kg, 61kg is also featured in tonight’s semifinals.

The 61kg semifinals will host three world medalists, Yowlys BONNE RODRIGUEZ (CUB), Beka LOMTADZE (GEO), and Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (RUS).

Both Lomtadze (2016) and Rashidov (2017) have made it to a world final, while Bonne has finished with a bronze medal twice (2014 and 2017).

The top half matchup between Rashidov and Lomtadze is a rematch of the 2018 European finals, where the Russian wrestler came on top, 4-1. The bottom half matchup will pit America’s rookie Joseph COLON (USA) against Cuba's "Big Move Bonne" Rodriguez. 

Friday nights semifinals are set to begin at 16:45 (local time).

Semifinal Matchups 
61kg 
Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (RUS) vs. Beka LOMTADZE (GEO)
Yowlys BONNE RODRIGUEZ (CUB) vs. Joseph Daniel COLON (USA)

74kg 
Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) vs. Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) 
Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS) vs. Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ (ITA)

86kg 
Dauren KURUGLIEV (RUS) vs. David Morris TAYLOR III (USA) 
Fatih ERDIN (TUR) vs. Taimuraz FRIEV (ESP)

125kg 
Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) vs. Parviz HADI (IRI)
Zhiwei DENG (CHN) vs.  Sumit SUMIT (IND)

#WrestleAmman

U17 Worlds: India claims four WW golds after unbeaten run

By Vinay Siwach

AMMAN, Jordan (August 22) -- China's Na HU (CHN) stole a match in the dying seconds but it was India that stole the show at the U17 World Championships in Amman on Thursday. India had four wrestlers in the final in Women's Wrestling and all four won gold medals.

Last year, India had won only one gold, coming at 61kg. But with four golds and five more weight classes remaining, the country is set to register its best at the U17 World Championships.

Hu was the other champion of the day at 49kg, a weight class in which India had no participation as it sent only nine wrestlers in Women's Wrestling to the U17 Asian Championships in June.

NEHA (IND)NEHA (IND) scores a takedown against So TSUTSUI (JPN) during the 57kg final at the U17 World Championships in Amman. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Leading the Indian team was returning bronze medalist NEHA (IND) at 57kg. A day before heading to Amman, Neha met VINESH (IND) who had returned from the Paris Olympics. Vinesh had become the first wrestler to beat Yui SUSAKI (JPN) internationally and reach the final at 50kg. She was later disqualified for failing her weigh-in on the second day.

Hailing from the same village -- Balali in Haryana -- as Vinesh, Neha did not take long to announce herself, winning the gold medal by beating So TSUTSUI (JPN) in a show of brute power. In her earlier bouts on Wednesday, Neha won one via fall, one via technical superiority and the semifinal 8-4.

The 16-year-old will have to quickly refocus as she is scheduled to compete at her first U20 World Championships in Pontevedra, Spain from September 2.

Mansi LATHER (IND)Mansi LATHER (IND) works for the pin against Hanna PIRSKAYA (AIN) during the 73kg final at the U17 World Championships in Amman. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

At 73kg, Mansi LATHER (IND) capped off her dominant run with a gold medal by pinning Hanna PIRSKAYA (AIN) in the final. This was her third fall in four bouts while one was a 6-0 win over returning champion Piper FOWLER (USA).

Lather built a 3-0 lead over Pirskaya at the break and continued her attacks in the second period. She had Pirskaya's back on the mat after a takedown and secured the fall with 1:23 remaining in the four-minute bout. The gold is an addition to her gold at the U17 Asian Championships in 69kg in June.

PULKIT (IND)PULKIT (IND) and Daria FROLOVA (AIN) in a scramble during the 65kg final at the U17 World Championships in Amman. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

PULKIT (IND) did not dominate her final but did enough to beat Daria FROLOVA (AIN), 6-3, and win the gold medal at 65kg. She got the first points on board when Frolova tried to score a pushout but Pulkit defended and pushed Frolova out. Frolova fell with Pulkit scoring a takedown to take a 2-0 lead. It became 3-0 when Frolova was called passive.

A missed leg-attack from Frolova gave another takedown to Pulkit who extended her lead to 5-0. Frolova cut the lead to 5-3 when she scored a takedown and Pulkit was cautioned. The next attempt gave her hope but Pulkit defended the attack and came out unscathed. A lost challenge added one point to Pulkit's score.

Aditi KUMARI (IND)Aditi KUMARI (IND) celebrates after winning the 43kg gold medal at the U17 World Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Aditi KUMARI (IND) was the fourth gold medalist for India as she defeated Maria GKIKA (GRE) 7-0 in the 43kg final. Gkika was hoping to become Greece's first world champion in Women's Wrestling in 22 years.

Kumari got the first point when Gkika was called passive before she added a takedown just before the break to lead 3-0. She added two gut wrenches before the clock expired and raced to a 7-0 lead that she maintained till the end of the match.

Ha, the lone Chinese wrestler in the final, had to bring out a clutch double-leg to score two points and beat Utaha YUI (JPN) 4-3 in the 49kg final and become the first wrestler from China to win gold at U17 Worlds in Women's Wrestling after five years.

Yui led 3-0 at the break but Ha scored a takedown to cut it to 3-2 in the second period. As Yui tried holding on to that lead, Ha made continuous attempts to break the defense. She finally succeeded in the final 10 seconds, using a double-leg attack, completing the takedown with head-outside for two points.

Yuu KATSUME (JPN)Yuu KATSUME (JPN) defeated Morgan TURNER (USA) in the 46kg semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostandin Andonov)

India eyes team title

With four golds and two more finalists on Friday, India will be favorites to win the Women's Wrestling team title in Amman. This would be the first time it will accomplish the feat after falling short for the last five years.

India has 100 points from the gold medal while Japan, in second spot, has 56 points. Japan has three finalists on Friday and is still looking for its first gold medal. Japan hopes that one of Yuu KATSUME (JPN), Nana KOZUKA (JPN) and Sae NOGUCHI (JPN) end the drought.

Katsume entered the 46kg final by beating returning champion Morgan TURNER (USA) 13-2 in the semifinal. She will take on Shrutika PATIL (IND) for gold after Patil beat Medina KUANYSHBEK (KAZ) in the other semifinals.

Kozuka was also dominant, winning her 53kg semifinal via fall over Lisette BOETTKER (EST) and will take on Kaura COLES (CAN) after she became the first Canadian to reach the U17 Worlds final in Women's Wrestling. Coles beat Isabella GONZALES (USA), 8-3.

Noguchi will look to stop the United States from having a U17 world champion as she faces Taina FERNANDEZ (USA) in the 61kg final. Noguchi beat Hiunai HURBANOVA (AZE) 5-0 while Fernandez pinned Zhaidar MUKAT (KAZ) in the semifinals.

At 69kg, Oleksandra RYBAK (UKR) will face KAJAL (IND) after she stunned Ilayda CIN (TUR) with a fall. Cin was leading 4-0 when Rybak rolled over and pinned her. Kajal defeated Rahma BEDIWY (EGY), 4-3, in a close semifinal.

Ukraine's second finalist was Kamila KUCHMA (UKR) who won her semifinal at 40kg against Nazrin AHMADLI (AZE) 5-0. She will take on Aleksandra FEDOROVA (AIN) who defeated Raj BALA (IND) 4-3, thanks to a challenge to give her the win instead of Bala, who was winning 3-2 before the challenge.

https://photo.uww.org/Wrestling/2024/U17-World-Championships/Womens-Wrestling

RESULTS

43kg
GOLD: Aditi KUMARI (IND) df. Maria GKIKA (GRE), 7-0 

BRONZE: Aleksandra BEREZOVSKAIA (AIN) df. Mareim ABDELAAL (EGY), 7-0
BRONZE: Gabriela PALACIOS (MEX) df. Xin HUANG (CHN), 6-4

49kg
GOLD: Na HU (CHN) df. Utaha YUI (JPN), 4-3

BRONZE: Kseniya KOSTSENICH (AIN) df. Dounia ZITOUNI (ALG), via fall
BRONZE: Polina BOCHKAREVA (AIN) df. Esra MAMMADLI (AZE), 9-0

57kg
GOLD: NEHA (IND) df. So TSUTSUI (JPN), 10-0

BRONZE: Anna STRATAN (KAZ) df. Mairi MANI (GRE), 5-1
BRONZE: Palina BRAHINETS (AIN) df. Barbara BAGER (HUN), 7-3

65kg
GOLD: PULKIT (IND) df. Daria FROLOVA (AIN), 6-3

BRONZE: Uldana TILEUKHAN (KAZ) df. Anastasiya KOMANAVA (AIN), via fall (13-2)
BRONZE: Maram ALY (EGY) df. Ling CAI (CHN), via fall (11-0)

73kg
GOLD: Mansi LATHER (IND) df. Hanna PIRSKAYA (AIN), via fall

BRONZE: Lotta ENGLICH (GER) df. Khrystyna DEMCHUK (UKR), via fall (5-2)
BRONZE: Diana TITOVA (AIN) df. Makia KIMURA (JPN), 6-0

Women's Wrestling Semifinals

40kg
GOLD: Kamila KUCHMA (UKR) vs. Aleksandra FEDOROVA (AIN)

SF 1: Aleksandra FEDOROVA (AIN) df. Raj BALA (IND), 4-3
SF 2: Kamila KUCHMA (UKR) df. Nazrin AHMADLI (AZE), 5-0

46kg
GOLD: Shrutika PATIL (IND) vs. Yuu KATSUME (JPN)

SF 1: Yuu KATSUME (JPN) df. Morgan TURNER (USA), 13-2
SF 2: Shrutika PATIL (IND) df. Medina KUANYSHBEK (KAZ), 3-1

53kg
GOLD: Nana KOZUKA (JPN) vs. Kaura COLES (CAN)

SF 1: Kaura COLES (CAN) df. Isabella GONZALES (USA), 8-3
SF 2: Nana KOZUKA (JPN) df. Lisette BOETTKER (EST), via fall (10-0)

61kg
GOLD: Taina FERNANDEZ (USA) vs. Sae NOGUCHI (JPN)

SF 1: Sae NOGUCHI (JPN) df. Hiunai HURBANOVA (AZE), 5-0
SF 2: Taina FERNANDEZ (USA) df. Zhaidar MUKAT (KAZ), via fall (6-0)

69kg
GOLD: Oleksandra RYBAK (UKR) vs. KAJAL (IND) 

SF 1: KAJAL (IND) df. Rahma BEDIWY (EGY), 4-3
SF 2: Oleksandra RYBAK (UKR) df. Ilayda CIN (TUR), via fall (2-4)