Weekly FIVE!

Weekly FIVE! December 3, 2019

Tuesday, December 3, 2019 - 14:10 By Eric Olanowski

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Previewing the Canadian Wrestling Trials and Alans Tournament. Also looking at the results from the Alrosa Cup and Indian National Championships. 

1. Russia Dominates Alrosa Cup, Takes Down World, 11-1 
Russia’s star-studded squad closed out the Alrosa Cup in Moscow by winning 11 of 12 matches against an all-star world team that featured wrestlers from seven different nations. 

Roman VLASOV (RUS) edged his London Olympic finals opponenet Arsen JULFALAKYAN (ARM), 3-2, in the headlining match of the dual, which came at 77kg (Greco-Roman). 

Vlasov, the two-time Olympic champion, scored his three points from an inactivity then tacked on two additional points with a right-side gut wrench and commanded the 3-0 lead. Julfalakyan made it a match with under a minute left, as he picked up a late second-period takedown and closed the Russian’s lead to one point. But, it wasn’t enough to avenge his Olympic finals loss, as Vlasov hung on to edge the Armenian, 3-2.

On the freestyle side of the dual, arguably the most impressive performance of the night came at 97kg when Alikhan ZHABRAILOV (RUS) scored a 5-2 upset victory over Olympic champion, Sharip SHARIPOV (AZE). 

In addition to Zhabrailov’s win, another significant victory for the Russian Federation came at 125kg, where Bilyal MAKHOV (RUS) continued his quest to improve his Olympic silver medal with a 2-0 shutout win over an undersized Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO), who was wrestling up from his Nur-Sultan weight of 97kg. 

Azerbaijan’s three-time world champion Haji ALIYEV (AZE) was the lone non-Russian wrestler to seize a win in the 12-match dual. Aliyev scored a last-second takedown to move past Nachyin KUULAR (RUS), 5-4, in the 65kg matchup. 

Russia df. World, 11-1
Freestyle (5-1)
57kg – Ramis GAMZATOV (RUS) df. Giorgi EDISHERASHVILI (AZE), 8-4
65kg – Haji ALIYEV (AZE) df. Nachyin KUULAR (RUS), 5-4 
74kg – Timur BIZHOEV (RUS) df. Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO), 2-1
86kg – Magomed RAMAZANON (RUS) df. Ahmad BAZRI (IRI), 3-2 
97kg – Alikhan ZHABRAILOV (RUS) df. Sharip SHARIPOV (AZE), 5-2 
125kg – Bilyal MAKHOV (RUS) df. Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO), 2-0 

Greco-Roman (6-0)
60kg – Sergey EMELIN (RUS) df. Victor CIOBANU (MDA), 7-0
67kg – Artem SURKOV (RUS) df. Atakan YUEKSEL (TUR), 6-1 
77kg – Roman VLASOV (RUS) df. Arsen JULFALAKYAN (ARM), 3-2 
87kg – Alexander KOMAROV (RUS) df. Metehan BASAR (TUR), 2-1 
97kg – Nikita MELNIKOV (RUS) df. Ibrahim TIGCI (TUR), 8-3
130kg – Vitali SCHUR (RUS) df. Nurmakhan TINALIEV (KAZ), 3-1 

2. Wiebe’s Quest for Second Olympic Gold Kicks off Friday at Canadian Wrestling Team Trials
Erica WIEBE (CAN) has been on the record saying she thought chasing her first Olympic gold was the hardest thing she’d ever do. But after winning gold in Rio, the Canadian’s tone changed, saying pursuing her second Olympic title is a more difficult task. 

The future hall of famer’s quest to become the first non-Japanese woman to win two Olympic gold medals officially begins this Friday at the two-day Canadian Wrestling Team Trials in Niagara, Ontario, Canada. 

The process for Wiebe to make it to the Tokyo Olympic Games is relatively simple, but it'll be no easy task to do so. First, she has to win the Canadian Wrestling Team Trials. Then, she has to qualify the weight at the Pan-American Olympic Qualifier (March 13-15). 

Wiebe's first step in repeating her run to an Olympic gold begins this week in Ontario, where she’s entered at 76kg. Her weight class will feature five other wrestlers, including Canada’s last two world team representatives at 72kg, who are moving up to the Olympic weight of 76kg. 

Wiebe’s strongest competition this week will be 2019 Pan-American champion Dejah SLATER and her biggest domestic rival, Justina DI STASIO, a 2018 world champion.

Wiebe and Di Stasio met earlier this year in the finals of the Canada Cup in Calgary, where Wiebe scored the 7-5 come-from-behind win. In that June meeting, Wiebe trailed 3-2 heading into the closing period, but the Olympic champion outscored the world champion, 5-2, and secured the gold medal with the 7-5 victory.

Outside of the massive storyline at 76kg, another weight to follow will be 57kg. Linda MORAIS, the reigning world champion at 59kg, will make her descent down to the Olympic weight with hopes is chasing Olympic gold in Tokyo. Morais will be met at 57kg by Hannah TAYLOR and Alexandra TOWN. Taylor is fresh off a bronze-medal finish at the U23 World Championships, while Town is a year removed from handing Canada their first-ever women's wrestling U23 world gold medal.

The Canadian Wrestling Team Trials begin Friday and can be followed live on www.wrestling.ca and CBC Sports! You can also follow Wrestling Canada Lutte on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for live updates.

Kyle SNYDER (USA) will lead Team USA to Vladikavkaz, Russia, for the Alans International Tournament. (Photo: Tony Rotundo)

3. Snyder Leads Experienced USA Squad Headed to Russia for Alans International Tournament
Kyle SNYDER (USA) is set to lead a highly experienced American team to Vladikavkaz, Russia, for the Alans International Tournament. The Menezh Sports Palace will host the three-day tournament from December 5-8. 

Thomas GILMAN, James GREEN and Nick GWIAZDOWSKI are the trio of world medalists that'll join Snyder, the two-time world and Olympic champion, in Vladikavkaz over the weekend. In total, the American team that's entered combines for nine world medals and an Olympic title. 

Gilman, a 2017 world silver medalist, will wrestle in Russia for the third time in the last three months. In October, Gilman went 5-0 and won the 57kg gold medal at the Yusup Abdulsalamov Tournament in Dagestan, Russia. He followed that up a week later with a bronze-medal finish at the Intercontinental Cup in Khasavyurt, Russia. 

Green, a two-time 70kg world medalist, will try to improve his bronze medal from last year’s Alans Tournament. But, he won’t be doing so at his normal weight of 70kg. Green will make his first appearance at the Olympic weight of 74kg, where he’ll look to challenge teammate Jordan BURROUGHS for the Tokyo Olympic spot. 

The fourth world medalist on USA’s team is two-time world bronze medalist Nick GWIAZDOWSKI, who’ll wrestle at 125kg. 

Zain RETHERFORD and Mike MACHIAVELLO round out the six-man roster for the United States.  Retherford, a two-time world team representative, will compete at 65kg, while Machiavello will wrestle at 92kg. 

USA Alans Teams 
57kg – Thomas GILMAN ('18 silver)
65kg – Zain RETHERFORD 
74kg – James GREEN ('17 silver, '15 bronze)
92kg – Mike MACHIAVELLO 
97kg – Kyle SNYDER ('15 and '17 gold, '18 silver, '19 bronze) ('16 Olympic gold)
125kg – Nick GWIAZDOWSKI ('17 and '18 bronze)

Prize Money
GOLD - $5000 $ + $1000 to the coach
SILVER - $2000 
BRONZE - $1000 (each bronze medalist)

Vinesh VINESH (IND) (Photo: Tony Rotundo) 

4. Vinesh and Malik Shine at Tata Motors Indian National Championships
Indian stars Vinesh VINESH and Sakshi MALIK shined bright over the weekend, winning gold medals in their respective weight classes at the 64th Annual Tata Motors Indian National Championships in Punjab’s northern city, Jalandhar. 

Vinesh, India’s most prominent women’s wrestling star, followed up her bronze-medal finish at the World Championships with a gold medal at the Indian National Championships. Vinesh, who qualified India for the Olympic Games at 53kg, downed Anju ANJU, 7-3, in the 55kg gold-medal match. 

Sakshi Malik was the second superstar to win a national title over the weekend. Malik, the Rio Olympic bronze medalist, got back to her winning ways after a disappointing 17th-place finish at the World Championships. Malik defeated Radhika RADHIKA, 4-2, in the finals at 62kg. 

In freestyle, India’s two 2019 world medalists, Bajrang PUNIA and Deepak PUNIA, elected to sit out of the competition. Bajrang, who medaled at his second straight World Championships, is preparing for the 2020 Toyko Olympics, while Deepak, the world silver medalist at 86kg, is nursing the same injury that kept him from wrestling Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) in the 86kg world finals. 

The winners of the Tata Motors Indian National Championships will now travel to Nepal to compete in the South Asian Games. Wrestling at the South Asian Games begins on December 6. 

Women’s Wrestling 
50kg – Sheetal TOMAR df. Nirmal NIRMAL, 7-3 
53kg – Pinki PINKI df. Ankush ANKUSH, 7-3 
55kg – Vinest VINESH df. Anju ANJU, 7-3 
57kg – Sarita MOR df. Neetu NEETU, via default
59kg – Anshu ANSHU df. Lalita SHERAWAT, 4-4
62kg – Sakshi MALIK df. Rashika RADHIKA, 4-2 
65kg – Nisha DAHIYA df. Navjot KAUR, 4-1 
68kg – Anita Sheoran df.  Divya KAKRAN, 5-1 
72kg – Kiran KIRAN  df. Naina NAINA, 4-1 
76kg – Gursharan PREET KAUR df. 4-2 POOJA, 4-2 

Freestyle 
57kg – Rahul RAHUL df. Abasaheb ABASAHEB, 7-6
61kg – RAVINDER Sonaba df. Tanaji TANAJI, 12-2
65kg – Amit KUMAR df. Rahul RAHUL, 12-2
70kg – Naveen NAVEEN df. Vishal VISHAL, 2-1 
74kg – Gourav BALIYAN df. Praveen RANA, 5-3
79kg – Sandeep MANN df. Jutender JITENDER, 7-4
86kg – Pawan KUMAR df. Deepak SAROHA, 4-1 
92kg – Monu MONU df Sunil SUNIL, 10-2
97kg – Satyawart KADIAN df. Kapil Chaudhary, 9-0
125kg – Sumit MALIK df. Abhijut ABHIJIT, 5-0 

Shinobu OTA (JPN) (Photo: Tony Rotundo)

5. Rio Silver Medalists Ota, Higuchi Take Drastic Measures in Quest to Make Tokyo 2020
A pair of Japanese silver medalists from the Rio 2016 Olympics, denied during their preferred routes to Tokyo 2020, will be trying desperate measures in last-ditch efforts to make Games in their host country---which presents a weighty problem for both.

Shinobu OTA, the Rio 2016 silver medalist at Greco-Roman 60kg, has moved up to two divisions to 67kg for the upcoming All Japan Championships, which will serve as the final qualifier for either filling an Olympic berth that Japan has already secured, or earning the chance to win a spot at the Asian Olympic qualifying tournament in March.

Conversely, Rei HIGUCHI, who failed to gain an Olympic ticket at freestyle 65kg, has gone the other way, dropping two weight classes down to 57kg, the division in which he won the silver in Rio, according to the list of entries recently released by the Japan federation for the tournament to be held Dec. 19-22 in Tokyo.

Click here for Ken Martantz' full breaks down of the All Japan Championships. 

Weekly FIVE! In Social Media
1. Big Move Monday -- Islamova V.
2. Mijain LÓPEZ is a three-time Olympic champion, is on a quest to become the first-ever male to win four Olympic titles.
3. The most dominant wrestling nation in the world, Russia ??.
4. Happy Friday, wrestling fans! ‬
5. World Champion Spotlight: Abuiazid MANTSIGOV (RUS) outscored his four #WrestleNurSultan opponents 29-0 and captured his first world title. The 26-year-old scored a 53 second 9-0 technical superiority victory over Aram VARDANYAN (UZB) in the finals.

#UnitedWorldWrestling

A decade since wrestling’s grapple back into Olympics

Friday, September 8, 2023 - 06:16 By United World Wrestling Press

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From left to right: Jim SCHERR (USA), Daniel IGALI (CAN), Lise LEGRAND (FRA), Carol HUYNH (CAN) and UWW President Nenad LALOVIC at the press conference during the 125th IOC Session in Buenos Aires in 2013. (Photo: IMAGO/AFLOSPORT)

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (September 8) -- Wrestling's World Championships enters the 102nd year next week and next year will mark another Olympic Games that will feature wrestling. But 10 years ago, wrestling was removed from the Olympic Programme.

In February 2013, the International Olympic Committee voted to remove wrestling from the 2020 Olympics. It took wrestlers from different nations coming together, led by Serbia's Nenad LALOVIC, to reverse an unthinkable result and to 'Save Olympic Wrestling'.

On September 8, 2013, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the full IOC membership welcomed the sport back to the programme with a first-round vote that left no doubt that wrestling belonged in the Olympic Games.

Wrestling's journey of finding itself back in the Olympics was marked by twists and turns, and, fittingly, resiliency.

 

The Decision

One of the original sports in the ancient Olympic Games, wrestling faced the critical assessment of the IOC which had expressed concerns about the growing size of the Summer Games and aimed to cap the number of athletes at approximately 10,500. The IOC also wanted to attract younger viewers to broaden the international television audience. There was also discontent over the lack of gender equality, having only introduced women's freestyle competitions in 2004.

When the decision of wrestling being dropped from the Olympic Gamesheadlined, United World Wrestling, then FILA, put in all efforts to revamp the sport. In a FILA Bureau meetingin Phuket, Thailand, Raphael Martinetti resigned as president and after a vote of the Bureau members. The Bureau nominated Lalovic as acting President.

"The world of wrestling is understandably disappointed by the IOC Executive Board’s recommendation to remove wrestling from the 2020 Olympic Games Programme," Lalovic said. "We see this as an opportunity which could be a positive turning point for our sport. One thing is for certain: it is our responsibility alone to address the issues that led to this situation. We are listening to the IOC’s concerns and learning from their guidance. We must strive to improve our sport’s Olympic offering in order to retain our position on the Olympic Programme and evolve with the times.

The Fight

What followed was an immediate and impassioned campaign that stretched from the United States and Russia to Iran and Japan. 

Armen NAZARYAN (ARM) and Sagid MURTAZALIEV returned their gold medals in protest, with Nazaryan also engaging in a hunger strike. London gold-medallist Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) used numerous public speaking appearances, countless interviews, and his Twitter account to promote the cause.

To address the concerns, UWW removed two men's weight classes and introduced two new classes for women starting from the 2016 Rio Olympics. This adjustment led to six weight classes each for Freestyle and Women's Wrestling while maintaining six in Greco-Roman.

Rule changes were also implemented to make the sport more engaging and dynamic. Instead of the previous format of three two-minute rounds, matches now consist of two three-minute rounds. This new structure aims to reward aggressive wrestling; takedowns, for example, are now worth two points instead of one. Additionally, matches are decided based on accumulated points, further encouraging active competition.

Campaigns were held in Russia, Iran, the United States and Japan. The first three countries came to New York City, united and determined to prove to the world that Wrestling belongs in the Olympics. The three competed in the “Rumble on the Rails” in the world-famous Grand Central Station.

While in New York, Lalovic attended a press conference at the United Nations. “We are dedicated to reforming our sport and making FILA a more proactive and responsible organization. We will do everything we can to address the IOC’s concerns and ensure that wrestling remains a part of the Olympic Games," he said.

Wrestlers from around the world also took a trip to – Olympia, Greece – the birthplace of the Olympic movement. Wrestlers from Albania, Brazil, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Iran, Russia and the United States, competed in the international tournament, which was run under the new rules passed by FILA.

IOC took notice and in its session in Buenos Aires, Argentina, it confirmed wrestling's spot in the Olympics.

"I want to offer my sincere gratitude to each member of the International Olympic Committee that voted to save Olympic wrestling today," Lalovic said. "With this vote, you have shown that the steps we have taken to improve our sport have made a difference. I assure each of you that our modernization will not stop now. We will continue to strive to be the best partner to the Olympic Movement that we can be."

In Ten Years

In the decade since wrestling's reinstatement to the Olympic Games, the sport has seen remarkable progress in its structure and reach. The governance of the sport underwent significant changes, with rule amendments aimed at making matches even more dynamic and engaging.

In 2016, there were ten weight classes for women in wrestling, up from four in 2004. This was a major step forward for the sport and has helped increase the visibility and popularity of Women's Wrestling. Who can forget Kaori ICHO’s (JPN) historic accomplishment of being the first ever wrestler, women or men, to obtain four Olympic gold medals!

Over the years, many countries have emerged as the best performers in Women's Wrestling including Japan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Moldova, India, Estonia, Kazakhstan, Turkiye and even Pan-Am countries.

The focus on gender equality has extended beyond merely adding women’s weight classes, as witnessed by UWW's projects and programs, such as special funding for female coaches and wrestlers and quotas for female referees and women working in key administrative positions.

Off the mat, there has been a concerted effort to globalize wrestling, and marketing and social media campaigns have effectively changed the sport's image and engaged younger fans. High-profile wrestlers have taken on ambassadorial roles, visiting schools, appearing on talk shows, and participating in public events to promote the sport. Online platforms are being utilized for live-streaming events and tutorials, making the sport more accessible.

Wrestling's growth is further marked by the acceptance of Beach Wrestling and more than 100 countries participating in the World Championships.

The athlete-focused approach aligned with the IOC's vision of the Olympic movement has allowed fans to be more connected to the sport. Wrestling has established itself as a leader in terms of engagement and continues to be ranked within the top ten in social media amongst all other International Federations.

The 10-year journey from near-elimination to triumphant return is a microcosm of the sport: a physical and metaphorical tussle where resilience is the key to victory. As a wrestler grapples, twists, and turns to win, the sport has shown its mettle by overcoming near defeat, reforming, and returning stronger.

Here’s to wrestling — a sport as ancient as it is contemporary, as diverse as it is specialized, and, most importantly, as resilient as the athletes who partake in it. Wrestling knows how to fight back and fight back it did.

Wrestling’s reinstatement to the Olympic Programme was a collective effort of the wrestling family all across the world. The dedication and tremendous work of key individuals that went into this result will never be forgotten by the wrestling community and will forever live on in wrestling folklore as some of the greatest stewards the sport has ever seen. Thank you.