#WrestleBuenosAires

USA wins GR title; Elor secures Pan-Am gold on debut

Friday, May 5, 2023 - 04:29 By Taylor GREGORIO

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BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (May 5) -- USA and Cuba swept the nine Greco-Roman weights contested over two days as Greco action came to a close on Thursday, while three past World medalists emerged victorious in women’s weights.

On Friday, the USA won titles at 77kg and 82kg, while Cuba claimed the crown at 87kg.

Past U20 world champion Kamal BEY (USA) edged out Yosvanys PENA FLORES (CUB) in a 2-1 battle. The pair traded passivity points with Pena Flores getting on the board first. Halfway through the second frame, Pena Flores and his corner challenged a call in par terre that failed, resulting in a point and ultimately the win for Bey.

Spencer WOODS (USA) won a four-man round-robin at 82kg. Two of his three wins were tech falls and his third came in the form of an injury default.

Daniel GREGORICH HECHAVARRIA (CUB)Daniel GREGORICH HECHAVARRIA (CUB), red, won his third Pan-Am title. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Representing Cuba, Daniel GREGORICH HECHAVARRIA (CUB) earned his third-career Pan Am gold, winning at 87kg. The final was a win by injury default for Gregorio Hechavarria over Luis AVENDANO ROJAS (VEN). The Cuban also won titles in 2018 and 2022.

Women’s freestyle began with 55kg, 59kg, 65kg and 72kg. All four weights were round-robin contests. Of the four women’s freestyle winners, three own World Championships medals.

Amit ELOR (USA)World champion Amit ELOR (USA) won gold on Pan-Am debut. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan) 

Reigning senior, U23 and U20 world champion Amit ELOR (USA) made her Pan Am debut with four dominant wins without giving up a single point. She opened with a pin before rattling off three technical-fall wins. The longest match for Elor lasted 2:26.

Two-time World bronze medalist Mallory VELTE (USA) won her second Pan-Am Championships with back-to-back technical falls at 65kg, outscoring her opponents 22-2 on the day. Velte’s first title came in 2020.

Diana WEICKER (CAN)Diana WEICKER (CAN) defeated Alisha HOWK (USA) to win the 55kg gold. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Diana WEICKER (CAN), a 2018 World bronze medalist, won the 55kg class with a 5-0 win to start the day and a 12-2 technical fall to wrap up her tournament. This marks Weicker’s first Pan Am gold. She has a bronze from 2019.

The US women secured a third title on the night from international newcomer Xochitl MOTA PETTIS (USA), who topped the podium at 59kg. Mota Pettis’ most notable win came over U23 World champion Alexandria TOWN (CAN), 10-0.

Greco-Roman

77kg
GOLD: Kamal BEY (USA) df. Yosvanys PENA FLORES (CUB), 2-1

BRONZE: Jair CUERO MUNOZ (COL) df. Emmanuel BENITEZ CASTRO (MEX), 6-3
BRONZE: Wuilexis RIVAS (VEN) df. Luis CENTENO (PUR), win by injury default

82kg
GOLD: Spencer WOODS (USA)
SILVER: Jose MOSQUERA MURILLO (COL)
BRONZE: John YEATS (CAN)

87kg
GOLD: Daniel HECHAVARRIA (CUB) df. Luis ROJAS (VEN), win by injury default

BRONZE: Alan VERA (USA) df. Ronisson BRANDAO (BRA), 4-1
BRONZE: Carlos MUNOZ (COL) df. Ariel ALFONSO (HON), 9-0

Women’s freestyle

55kg
GOLD: Diana WEICKER (CAN)
SILVER: Alisha HOWK (USA)
BRONZE: Adrianny CASTILLO (ARG)

59kg
GOLD: Xochitl MOTA PETTIS (USA)
SILVER: Alexandria TOWN (CAN)
BRONZE: Jessica DERRELL (BAR)

65kg
GOLD: Mallory VELTE (USA)
SILVER: Paula MONTOYA GARCIA (COL)
BRONZE: Aleah NICKEL (CAN)

72kg
GOLD: Amit ELOR (USA)
SILVER: Luisa MOSQUERA PARRA (COL)
BRONZE: Katie MULKAY (CAN)

#WrestleAmman

U20 World Championships Greco semis set

Friday, August 18, 2023 - 07:19 By Vinay Siwach

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AMMAN, Jordan (August 18) -- The attention turns to Greco-Roman with five weight classes -- 55kg, 63kg, 77kg, 87kg and 130kg -- in action in Amman. The evening session will also see the women's wrestling world champions crowned.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

Here are the semifinals for the Greco-Roman evening session

55kg
Nuristan SUIORKULOV (KGZ) vs. Iskhar KURBAYEV (KAZ)
Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) vs. Farid SADIKHLI (AZE)

63kg
Zhantoro MIRZALIEV (KGZ) vs. Dinislam SAGITZHAN (KAZ)
Komei SAWADA (JPN) vs. Ahmadreza MOHSEN NEZHAD (IRI)

77kg
Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI) vs. Tornike MIKELADZE (GEO)
Erlan MARS UULU (KGZ) vs. Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA)

87kg
Abolfazl CHOUBANI (IRI) vs. Vigen NAZARYAN (ARM)
Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) vs. Tourpal MAGAMADOV (FRA)

130kg
Wenhao JIANG (CHN) vs. Achilleas CHRYSIDIS (GRE)
Fekry EISSA (EGY) vs. Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) 

14:30: Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) blanks Talip CIFTCI (TUR) 8-0 in the 130kg quarterfinals. He won a silver medal last year. But so far, he has looked unstoppable in Amman

14:15: No stopping Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA) as he moves into the semifinals with another technical superiority win, this time over Mihael LUKAC (CRO). Par terre domination peaks

13:50: Returning bronze medalist at 130kg Aden ATTAO (USA) with a thrilling 8-7 win over former U20 European champion Koppany LASZLO (HUN). Attao was trailing 7-5 but scored a takedown against a tiring Laszlo which the Hungary team challenged but lost.

13:35: Yurik HOVEYAN (ARM) moves into the quarterfinals at 63kg with a resounding 12-2 win over Matej REBIC (CRO). At 130kg, returning silver medalist Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) gets an 8-0 shutout against Aramayis HARUTYUNYAN (ARM).

13:15: Absolute domination from Iran so far in Greco-Roman. All three wrestlers who have wrestled so far have started with a win. Two got byes to pre-quarters. Ahmadreza MOHSEN NEZHAD (IRI) and Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) coming up now

12:50: Clutch from Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) as he gets a takedown in the final 15 seconds over returning silver medalist Denis MIHAI (ROU) and then throws him for four to get a 6-5 win. Mihai is devasted here.

12:30: Vigen NAZARYAN (ARM) and Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) remain on a collision course as both win their respective pre-quarterfinals. Nazaryan won over Nurassyl AMANALY (KAZ) while Bolkvadze beat Tomislav BRKAN (CRO). In the quarterfinals, Nazaryan has David ANDREASIAN (AIN) and Bolkvadze faces Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ)

12:15: Abolfazl CHOUBANI (IRI) gets an 8-0 win over Ivaylo IVANOV (BUL) to move into the 87kg quarterfinals. He will now take on Wyatt VOELKER (USA) who defeated Mohit KHOKHAR (IND).

12:00: The crowd cannot stop cheering for Suhib ALHASANAT (JOR) as he pins Rati KHOZREVANIDZE (GEO)! Alhasant was put in par terre but as Khozrevanidze tried a back throw, he fell on his back and Alhasant pinned him. Georgia called for a leg foul but it was assessed clean on review. The results can have huge complications for Georgia in the team title race

11:53: One for the vault that! U20 European champion Yurik HOVEYAN (ARM) survives a comeback from Faraim MUSTAFAYEV (AZE) to win 7-7 at 63kg. From par terre in the first period, Hoveyan scored exposure and a four-pointer while Mustafayev managed only two turns and two stepouts, giving Hoveyan the bigger technique advantage and the win. Hoveyan had defeated Mustafayev 8-5 in the quarterfinals at U20 Euros 

11:45: Emre MUTLU (TUR), who missed out on a medal last year, wins 9-4 against Maxim SARMANOV (MDA) at 55kg. Mutlu is a former U23 European champion and a senior European bronze medalist

11:32: Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) goes big from par terre and finishes his opening bout against  Lukas BENZING (GER) at 55kg via technical superiority. On Mat B, Alisher GANIEV (UZB) wins 9-0 over Alibek AMIROV (AIN)

11:20: Former U17 world champion and returning silver medalist from 72kg Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA) has opened his campaign with a 4-0 win over Abdulmasih ABDULMASIH (AIN) at 77kg.

10:45: Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) goes big and high and finishes the bout 10-0 against Kareem ELDESOUKY (EGY) at 87kg. Unparalleled athleticism from the wrestler

10:35: Returning world champion Vigen NAZARYAN (ARM) gets a first-period technical superiority win over Daisei ISOE (JPN) at 87kg. He will have silver medalist Abofazl CHOUBANI (IRI) and Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) as his biggest rivals.

10:00: Welcome to day five of the U20 World Championships in Amman. Greco-Roman will be in action as we move toward the final three days of the tournament.