#WrestleBudapest

Tosun triumphant, Godinez clinches gold at Budapest Ranking Series

By Vinay Siwach

BUDAPEST, Hungary (June 8) -- World champion Buse TOSUN (TUR) sent a stern warning to her competitors two months before the Paris Games by winning the 68kg gold medal at the Ranking Series in Budapest, Hungary.

In her three bouts, Tosun blanked Firuza ESENBAEVA (UZB) 10-0, pinned Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) in the rematch of the World Championships final and held on to her 2-0 lead to beat Soleymi CARABALLO (VEN) in the final.

Tosun won the World Championships in Belgrade last year to become only the second female wrestler to win the gold at the marquee event. She will now enter the Paris Olympics as the top-seeded wrestler at 68kg.

PodiumAna GODINEZ (CAN), center, with the other medalists at 62kg in Budapest. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 62kg, Ana GODINEZ (CAN) came on top of a packed bracket, winning the gold medal after world bronze medalist Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) pulled out of the final due to injury.

But before the walkover in the final, Godinez was solid on the mat beating Lais NUNES (BRA) 6-2 before humbling European champion Grace BULLEN (NOR) 11-7 in the semifinal. Bullen was leading the semifinal before Godinez continued her relentless attacks and broke Bullen down. Trailing on 7-7 criteria, Godinez scored two takedowns to win the bout.

"Even though I didn't wrestle my final, it feels good. I did want to wrestle Iryna [Koliadenko]. It's a little disappointing," Godinez said. "I am satisfied with the two matches I had. I did want to wrestle at least three, maybe four.  We came here to see what's good, what's bad, what's new."

Godinez expressed her satisfaction with her performance in Budapest but said that she could perform better on any other given day.

"I come with the same mindset every time. I want to win obviously, but it's every position," she said. "I did not feel my greatest today but it's nice to know that I can perform when I don't feel great. I have to be able to perform even when I don't feel great and that can happen any day, even at the Olympics."

World Championships bronze medalist Tatiana RENTERIA (COL) clinched the gold medal at 76kg with three wins in four matches. World U23 champion REETIKA (IND) also had three wins from four bouts but Renteria clinched the gold as she defeated Reetika in their direct clash in the group.

Reetika and Renteria clashed in the second round and it was the Indian who had a 2-1 lead going into the last minute of the match. Both wrestlers were struggling with their breath but the Colombian continued her attacks and eventually got a takedown over Reetika to win 3-2.

She suffered a loss to Justina DI STASIO (CAN) while beating Genesis REASCO (ECU) and Zainab SGHAIER (TUN) in the other group stage bouts. Reetika defeated Di Stasio, Reasco and Sghaier for her three wins.

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RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Jowita WRZESIEN (POL) df. Roza SZENTTAMASI (HUN), 5-2

BRONZE: Amanda MARTINEZ (USA) df. Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA), 11-2

62kg
GOLD: Ana GODINEZ (CAN) df. Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR), via inj. def.

BRONZE: Grace BULLEN (NOR) df. Lais NUNES (BRA), via fall
BRONZE: Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) df. Alina KASABIEVA (AIN), 8-2

65kg
GOLD: Iryna BONDAR (UKR) df. Nesrin BAS (TUR), 10-4

BRONZE: Miki ROWBOTTOM (CAN) df. Eniko ELEKES (HUN), via inj. def.

68kg
GOLD: Buse TOSUN (TUR) df. Soleymi CARABALLO (VEN), 2-0

BRONZE: Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) df. Firuza ESENBAEVA (UZB), 13-4
BRONZE: Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) df. Kseniia BURAKOVA (AIN), 7-2

76kg
GOLD: Tatiana RENTERIA (COL)
SILVER: REETIKA (IND)
BRONZE: Genesis REASCO (ECU)

#WrestleBudapest

Live Blog: #WrestleBudapest European Championships Day 4

By Vinay Siwach

BUDAPEST, Hungary (March 31) -- The fourth day of the European Championships in the Hungary capital and the five weight classes of women's wrestling will be in action.

After some top action in freestyle, the medals in women's wrestling will be decided Thursday and Friday. But before that, the wrestlers have to win their qualification and semifinals bouts.

Keep an eye on Kriszta INCZE (ROU), Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR), Elis MANOLOVA (AZE), Zeynep YETGIL (TUR), Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR), Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL), Alina HRUSHYNA AKOBIIA (UKR), Anhelina LYSAK (POL), Anna SCHELL (GER), Taybe YUSEIN (BUL), Iulia LEORDA (MDA), and Buse TOSUN (TUR).

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

13:10: The final bout of the morning session, Buse CAVUSOGLU TOSUN (TUR) beats Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) in a thrilling bout. Yaneva led 1-1 on criteria but Tosun with a takedown to lead 4-2. She is cautioned once but ultimately wins 4-3

12:45: Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR) with a victory via fall over Viktoria VESSO (EST) and she will wrestle in the semifinals.

12:35: In a battle of U23 World champions, Alina HRUSHYNA AKOBIIA (UKR) gets the fall over Anhelina LYSAK (POL) at 57kg. The first period was slow but Akobiia had a big four before getting the fall in the second period

12:22: U23 European champion Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) gets a 3-0 win over Annika WENDLE (GER). She will move into the semifinals at 53kg.

12:15: Natalia KUBATY (POL) with a fall over Olivia HENNINGSSON (SWE). Kubaty completely dominated that bout and she is into the semifinals

12:00: Tamara DOLLAK (HUN) delights the home fans with a 12-2 win over Jenna HEMIAE (FIN). She locked the hands of Hemiae and continued to expose her before finishing the bout early in the second period.

11:50: Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR) gets the second win of the day. She beats Marina RUEDA FLORES (ESP) 13-0 at 53kg.

11:42: On Mat C, Anna FABIAN (SRB) was down 3-3 on criteria but scores a reversal in the final 10 seconds to win 4-3 against Nikolett SABZO (HUN). On Mat A, Kriszta INCZE (ROU)with a four-point throw at the end to win 4-2 against Asli TUGCU (TUR).

11:40: Tatiana RIZKHO (UKR) starts the day with a top victory over Elis MANOLOVA (AZE). In their Round 1 bout, Rizkho wins 7-0. 

11:30: Welcome to day four of the European Championships. Some studs of women's wrestling are about to take the mat in their quest to win a European medal.