Weekly FIVE! February 4, 2019

Monday, February 4, 2019 - 15:54 By Eric Olanowski

Reviewing results from the Indian Pro League, the Hentri Deglane, and Swedish Nationals. Also looking at this season's first set of rankings and Saturday's Ranking Series event, the Zagreb Open.

1. Haryana Hammers Nail Down 6-3 Win Against Punjab Royals in Indian Pro League Finals
The fourth edition of the Indian Pro League came to a close and the Haryana Hammers nailed down the 6-3 victory against the Punjab Royals in the finals. The Haryana Hammers won their second PWL title and made their fourth consecutive finals appearance.

The Haryana Hammers were defeated by the Punjab Royals in last years finals, 6-3, but returned their favor by flipping the script, winning six of the nine bouts at the Greater Noida Arena.

The Haryana Hammers jumped out to a 5-0 lead and sealed up the Season 4 team title after the first five matches. The NCR Punjab Royals tallied off three straight wins, cutting the Hammers lead to 5-3 before Tayana OMELCHENKO closed out the finals, dismantling Anita ANITA, 13-0. Omelchenko's win gave the Hammers their sixth win of the dual and their second team title in the last four years.

Finals Results
FS 125kg - Aleksander KHOTSIANIVSKI (Haryana Hammers) df. Korey JARVIS (NCR Punjab Royals), 3-0
FS 86kg – Ali SHABANOV (Haryana Hammers) df. Dato MARSAGISHVILI (NCR Punjab Royals), 8-4
WW 76kg – Kiran KIRAN (Haryana Hammers) df. Cynthia VESCAN (NCR Punjab Royals), 3-2
FS 57kg - Ravi KUMAR (Haryana Hammers)  df. NITIN RATHI (NCR Punjab Royals), 14-0
WW 57kg – Anastasia NICHITA (Haryana Hammers)  df. Mimi HRISTOVA (NCR Punjab Royals), 8-4
FS 65kg – Bajrang PUNIA (NCR Punjab Royals) df. Rajneesh RAJNEESH (Haryana Hammers), 15-0
FS 74kg – Amit DHANKAR (NCR Punjab Royals) df. Parveen RANA (Haryana Hammers), 7-2
WW 53kg – Anju ANJU (NCR Punjab Royals) df. Seema SEEMA (Haryana Hammers), 20-9
WW 62kg – Tayana OMELCHENKO (Haryana Hammers) df. Anita ANITA (NCR Punjab Royals), 13-0

Indian Pro League Champions
Season 4 - Haryana Hammers
Season 3 - NCR Punjab Royals
Season 2 - Haryana Hammers
Season 1 - Revanta Mumbai Garuda

2. United World Wrestling Releases January Rankings
United World Wrestling released January's rankings after the conclusion of the first Ranking Series event for freestyle and women’s wrestling, the Ivan Yariguin.

Most Notable Changes in Freestyle:
57kg - Thomas GILMAN (USA) (32 points) jumped 2018 world bronze medalists, Suleyman ATLI (TUR) (25 points) and Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN) (25 points), after his bronze-medal performance in Krasnoyarsk.

65kg - Akhmed CHAKAEV (RUS) (41 points) took the No. 2 spot from 2018 world runner-up Bajrang BAJRANG (IND) (40 points) after winning the Yariguin gold medal.

86kg - Dauren KURUGLIEV (RUS) (36 points) commands the No. 3 spot after winning the 2019 Ivan Yariguin. Kurugliev jumped 2018 world bronze medalists Taimuraz FRIEV NASKIDAEVA (ESP) (25 points) and Hassan YAZDANICHARATI (IRI) (25 points).

97kg - Batzul ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL) (26 points) moves behind Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) (60 points) and Kyle SNYDER (USA) (40 points) and takes over the third spot in the rankings after a fifth-place finish in Siberia.

125kg - Anzor KHIZRIEV (RUS) and Taha AKGUL (TUR) took over the third and fourth ranking after finishing first and second respectively at the Ivan Yariguin.

Most Notable Changes in Women’s Wrestling:
57kg- Grace BULLEN (NOR) (30 points) leaped 2018 world bronze medalists, Emese BARKA (HUN) (25 points) and Pooja DHANDA (IND) (25 points), after her bronze medal finish at the Yariguin.

59kg - Svetlana LIPATOVA (RUS) (32 points) takes over the third-ranking with her runner-up finish at the first Ranking Series event.

65kg - Mariia KUZNETSOVA (RUS) (26 points) moves up six spots to No. 4 after winning the Yariguin title at 65kg.

68kg - SORONZONBOLD Battsetseg (MGL) (32 points) moves from seventh to No. 3 in the rankings after her gold-medal performance at the Yariguin.

76kg - Hiroe MINAGAWA SUZUKI (JPN) (41 points) overtook the No. 2 spot from 2017 world champion and 2018 world runner-up Yasemin ADAR (TUR) (40 points) with her title-winner performance in Krasnoyarsk.

Click here for January's rankings

3. Hentri Deglane Concludes in France
The 45th Annual Hentri Deglane wrapped up in Nice, France and more than 300 wrestlers from 30 different nations competed in freestyle, Greco-Roman, and women’s wrestling.

In freestyle, six different nations claimed a gold medal, but Georgian wrestlers led the way, winning four of the ten gold medals. Six different nations also claimed a Greco-Roman gold medal, but Armenia, led by 2012 Olympic runner-up Arsen JULFALAKYAN (ARM), won four gold medals. In women’s wrestling, there were only six gold medals up for grabs. Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan won a pair of golds, while Argentina and Romania won the remaining two titles.

RESULTS
Freestyle
57kg - Otar GOGAVA (GEO)
61kg - Beka LOMTADZE (GEO)
65kg - Bekkhan GOIGEREEV (RUS)
70kg - Zurab IAKOBISHIVLI (GEO)
74kg - Thomas GANTT (USA)
79kg - Davit KHUTSISHVILI (GEO)
86kg - Samuel BROOKS (USA)
92kg - Istvan VEREB (HUN)
97kg - Valerii ANDRIITSEV (UKR)
125kg - Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL)

Greco-Roman
55kg - Rudik MKRTCHYAN (ARM)
60kg - CHUNG Han Jae (KOR)
67kg – Karen ASLANYAN (ARM)
72kg - HRANT KALACHYAN (ARM)
77kg – Arsen JULFALAKYAN (ARM)
82kg - Hakim TRABELSI (TUN)
87kg - Alan OSTAEV (RUS)
97kg - Mélonin NOUMONVI (FRA)
130kg - Yasmani ACOSTA (CHI)

Women’s Wrestling Gold Medalists
50kg - Patricia BERMUDEZ (ARG)
53kg - Andrea Beatrice ANA (ROU)
57kg - Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE)
62kg - Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ)
65kg - Iryna NETREBA (AZE)
76kg - Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ)

Click here for full results

4. Swedish Nationals Wrap Up in Sundsvall
The Swedish Greco-Roman and Women’s Wrestling National Championships wrapped up in Sundsvall, Sweden last weekend, and the duo of Olympic bronze medalist Sofia MATTSON and Jenny FRANSSON claimed titles at 55kg and 72kg respectively.

For most nations, a national title means you've locked in your spot for the continental and world championships, but that's not the case for Sweden. According to Fransson, the results from this past weekend are essential, but the results from the Klippan Lady Open and the second women's wrestling Ranking Series event, the Dan Kolov - Nikola Petrov, will hold weight when it comes to the selection process for the 2019 European and World Championships.

In Greco-Roman, Sweden will use the Zagreb Open, the Hungarian Grand Prix and the Thor Masters as qualification tournaments for the 2019 European and World Championships.

RESULTS

Greco-Roman Champions
55kg - Abulfazeil HASHIMY
60kg - Niklas ÖHLEN
63kg - Ardit FAZLJIJA
67kg - Danielo DI FEOLA
72kg - Simon ERLANDSSON
77kg - Alex KESSIDIS
82kg - Bogdan KOURINOI
87kg - Zakarias BERG
97kg - Leon KESSIDIS
130kg - Albin SODERSTJERNA

Women’s Wrestling Champions
53kg - Fredrika PETTERSSON
55kg - Sofia MATTSON
57kg - Johanna LINDBORG
59kg - Emma JOHANSSON
62kg - Moa NYGREN
65kg - Elin FORSBERG
68kg - Henna JOHANSSON
72kg - Jenny FRANSSON
76kg - Denise MAKOTA STROM

Click HERE for full results.

5. Zagreb Open Begins Saturday
The first Greco-Roman Ranking Series event of the year, the Zagreb Open, kicks off this Saturday (February 9) in Zagreb, Croatia.

Right now, according to the unofficial pre-registration list, there are nearly 40 past age-level and senior-level world medalists that will be in action. Most notably, London Olympic champion KIM Hyeonwoo (KOR), two-time Olympic medalist and three-time world champion Riza KAYAALP (TUR), and Rio Olympic bronze medalist Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB) are all set to compete.

The qualification and elimination rounds for all ten weight classes will be wrestled on Saturday, and the championship rounds will be on Sunday.

Schedule
Saturday (February 9)
8:00 - 1st-day Medical examination & Weigh-in, all weight categories (No weight tolerance!) Sport Hall
10:30 - Qualification and elimination rounds, all weight categories (on 3 wrestling mats)

Sunday (February 10)
8:00 - 2nd-day weigh-in, all weight categories (No weight tolerance!) Sport Hall
10:30 - Repechage bouts and bronze medal matches (all categories)
17:30 - Opening ceremony and Final matches (all categories)

Weekly FIVE! In Social Media

1. Big Move Monday -- PYSHKOV D. (UKR) -- 2018 Dan Kolov #grecoromanwrestling #ukrainian #wrestler #suplex #throw #takedown #olympic #wrestling
2. #SundaySmiles ?
3. @wrestlerviktor, the 2017 world champion, will wrestle at the first Greco-Roman Ranking Series event of the year, the Zagreb Open (February 9-10). He's entered at 77kg.
4. Miss the #Yariguin2019 finals? Don't stress. Here's every takedown from the freestyle finals. You’re welcome in advance ?!
5. How about the timing by @rasul_gazimagomedov70 on this outside trip? #Yarigyin2019 #ThursdayTrips

#WrestleTirana

Paris Olympic medalists in Tirana: An overview

Saturday, February 22, 2025 - 14:24 By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (February 22) -- Tirana is quickly becoming a wrestling puller. After the thrilling World Championships in October, the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series will also prove to be a fan-favorite with the depth of field that in taking the mats in Tirana.

Given no further drop outs, 10 Paris Olympic medalists are expected to participate in Tirana including one champion -- Semen NOVIKOV (BUL).

Overall, five medalists are in Freestyle and three in Greco-Roman while two medalists are in Women's Wrestling. Here's a deep dive into the 10 Paris medalists heading to Tirana for the February 26 to March 3 event.

Greco-Roman

Semen NOVIKOV (BUL): Stuck behind Ukraine's legend Zhan BELEBIUK (UKR) at 87kg in Ukraine, Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) switched to Bulgaria. The change of countries brought change of fortunes for Novikov.

A world medal, Olympic qualification and a gold medal in Paris all gave Novikov a just reason to explain his switch. And the run in Paris included wins over David LOSONCIZ (HUN), Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) and Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI).

Tirana will test Novikov as some of the biggest names at 87kg are wrestling at the Muhamet Malo and the Olympic champion will be up for it.

Alireza MOHAMADIPIANI (IRI) won a silver medalist in his debut Olympics. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI): One of the top prospects in Greco-Roman for Iran is Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI). He may have lost the World Championships and Olympic finals but Mohmadipiani should be well settled at 87kg till Los Angeles 2028.

He will get a chance to wrestle Novikov in Tiran, depending on the draw. And a win for Mohmadipiani over Novikov will boost his confidence.

Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) won a bronze medal at 130kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI): Sometimes the bracket it out like that. Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) was stuck behind Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) and Riza KAYAALP (TUR) in Tokyo at 130kg. He defeated Kayaalp at the World Championships. But in Paris, he ran into Lopez again.

While he lost, Mirzazadeh captured the bronze medal that he missed in Tokyo. With Lopez retired and Kayaalp unclear about future, Mirzazadeh is undoubtedly the best 130kg wrestler. That is if Fardin HEYDAYATI (IRI) doesn't take his spot.

Tirana will be his first test and Heydayati the second when the two meet domestically.

Grace BULLEN (NOR) won the first wrestling medal at Olympics for Norway. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Women's Wrestling

Grace BULLEN (NOR): At 62kg, Grace BULLEN (NOR) has finally found her mojo. After struggling to qualify at 57kg, she not only qualified but won a bronze medal at 62kg in Paris. She could have well been in the final but Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) produced the move of the tournament to flip over and pin Bullen.

Bullen is also the European champion at this weight and will begin her season in Tirana with a lot of expectations. There will be a few challenges but Bullen will be favorite to win this weight class.

Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) is a two-time Olympic medalist. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR): Silver medalist at 62kg in Paris, Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) will at 65kg in Tirana. Koliadenko is an underrated wrestler in the world. She has bronze from Tokyo and silver from Paris, a European gold medal and world medals as well. Koliadenko will no doubt be the top wrestlers in Tirana.

In the new Olympic cycle, Koliadenko will take her own time to lean towards 62kg or 68kg as Ukraine's superstar Iryna BONDAR (UKR) is making quick strides. Tirana will give some idea which way Koliadenko leans.

Islam DUDAEV (ALB) won a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Freestyle

Islam DUDAEV (ALB): Albania's history-maker in Paris is wrestling at home. Dudaev won the first-ever medal for Albania in Olympic history in any sport in a thrilling bronze medal bout against Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN), pulling off a 13-12 win.

Dudaev had an incredible 2024 in which he also became the European champion at 65kg, qualified for the Paris Games in Istanbul, and etched his name in history.

However, he will have his task cut out in Tirana. Also entered in the field in Olympic silver medalist Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI).

Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) is a silver medalist at 65kg from Paris Olympics. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI): Among the many superstars that Iran produces, 65kg had to endure a wait long. Amouzad changed that in 2022 when he won the World Championships. He qualified for the Paris Games from the 2023 World Championships but his run was dismal as he did not win a medal.

But come Paris, Amouzad was in red-hot form. He blanked Dudaev and Muszukajev. The final did not go his way as he lost to Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) as his comeback was cut short. Amouzad-Dudaev rematch will be one bout to watch out for.

Chermen VALIEV (ALB) won bronze in a tough 74kg bracket in Paris. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Chermen VALIEV (ALB): Along with Dudaev, Valiev was the other Olympic medalist for Albania. He too will be wrestling at home at 74kg. Valiev had a remarkable run in Istanbul where he qualified for Paris after a win over Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR).

And Valiev almost had a similar in Paris but a challenge turned his victory to defeat against Razambek JAMALOV (UZB), who went on to win the gold medal and Valiev the bronze. Still, Valiev defeated Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (AIN) and Viktor RASSADIN (TJK) en route his bronze.

Valiev, in an interview with UWW last year, told that he is ready to avenge his loss to Jamalov however that opportunity will be later in the year.

Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) won a silver medal in Paris at 97kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO): In an excellent at the Paris Olympics, Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) made it to the 97kg final. He ran into Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) and a failed arm-spin attempt resulted in a pin and Matcharashvili ended up with a silver medal.

The season will begin with Matcharashvili wrestling at 125kg in Tirana but that doesn't mean he will be at 125kg. He wrestled a few times at 125kg last year as well but returned to 97kg. In Tirana, he will face quite a few challenges at the super heavy weight class.

Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) returned with a silver medal from the Paris Olympics. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI): One of the top matches of Paris Olympics was the 125kg in which Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI), who has past wins over Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO), lost to Petriashvili after getting caught in a gut-wrench. Down 8-0, Zare mounted a comeback but as time ran out, he fell short 10-9.

Zare will be full of motivation to begin his new year with a gold medal. He may not get a hand on Petriashvili soon but Zare must look at the bigger picture of 2028 LA Olympics.

Weekly FIVE! February 4, 2019

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Paris Olympic medalists in Tirana: An overview