Weekly FIVE!

Weekly FIVE! January 14, 2019

By Eric Olanowski

Reviewing the Indian Pro League and Turkey's freestyle World and European Championships team. Also looking at Russia's upcoming Greco-Roman National Championships, the Ivan Yariguin and the passing of a Greco-Roman legend. 

1. Indian Pro Wrestling League Begins Monday  
The Mumbai Maharathis and NCR Punjab Royals kick off the opening night at one of the world’s most popular professional wrestling leagues, the Indian Pro League (PWL). The daily matches from India last three weeks and go from January 14-31. 

The PWL features six teams comprised of five men and four women. Each team will have five wrestlers from India and four international wrestlers.

Click here to watch the action from the PWL. 

ROSTERS

DELHI SULTANS
Women's Wrestling 
53kg - Pinki PINKI (IND) 
57kg - Katherina ZHYDACHIVSHA (ROM)
62kg - Sakshi MALIK (IND)
76kg - Shustova ANASTASIA (UKR)

Freestyle
57kg - Rahul AWARE (IND)
65kg - Andrey KVIATKOVSKI (UKR)
74kg - Khetik TSABOLOV (RUS) 
84kg - Praveen PRAVEEN (IND)
125kg - Sumit Malik (IND) 

HARYANA HAMMERS
Women's Wrestling 
53kg - Seema SEEMA (IND) 
57kg - Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) 
62kg - Tayana OMELCHENKO (AZE) 
76kg - Kiran KIRAN (IND) 

Freestyle
57kg - Ravi KUMAR (IND) 
65kg – Rajneesh RAJNEESH (IND) 
74kg - Parveen RANA (IND) 
86kg - Ali SHABANOV (BLR) 
125kg - Aleksander KHOTSIANIVSKI (UKR) 

MUMBAI MAHARATHI
Women's Wrestling 
53kg - Vinesh PHOGAT (IND)
57kg - Angelica BETZABETH (VEN)
62kg - Shilpi YADAV (IND)
76kg - Zsaneet NEMETH (HUN)

Freestyle
57kg - Ibragim ILYASOV (RUS)
65kg – Harphool HARPOOL (IND)
74kg - Sachin RATHI (IND)
86kg - Deepak PUNIA (IND)
125kg - Vladislav BAITSEEV (RUS) 

NCR PUNJAB ROYALS
Women's Wrestling 
53kg - Anju ANJU (IND)
57kg - Mimi HRISTOVA (BGR)
62kg - Anita ANITA (IND)
76kg -  Alina STADNIK(UKR)

Freestyle
57kg - Nitin RATHI (IND)
65kg - Bajrang PUNIA (IND)
74kg - Amit DHANKAR (IND)
86kg - Dato MARSAHISHVILI (GEO)
125kg - Korey JARVIS (CAN) 

UP DANGAL
Women's Wrestling 
53kg - Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR)
57kg – Sarita SARITA (IND)
62kg - Navjot Kaur (IND)
76kg - Epp MAE (EST)

Freestyle
57kg - NaveenNAVEEN (IND)
65kg - Pankaj RANA (IND)
74kg - Jitender JITENDER (IND)
86kg - Irakli Misituri (GEO)
125kg - Georgi SAKANDELIDZE (QAT)

MP YODHA
Women's Wrestling 
53kg - Ritu PHOGAT (IND) 
57kg - Pooja DHANDA (IND) 
62kg - Elise MANOLOVA (AZE) 
76kg- Andrea CAROLINA (COL) 

Freestyle
57kg - Sandeep TOMAR (IND) 
65kg - Haji ALIYEV (AZE) 
74kg - Vasil MIKHAILOV (URK) 
86kg - Deepak DEEPAK (IND) 
125kg - Akash ANTIL (IND)


Taha AKGUL (TUR), the two-time world and Olympic champion won the 125kg Turkish Freestyle National title this past weekend. He also confirmed that he'll compete at the first Ranking Series event of the year, the Ivan Yariguin. (Photo: Martin Gabor)

2. Turkey's Freestyle Team Set for World and European Championships
The Çorum Hittite University Sports Hall in Corum, Turkey welcomed over 450 of the best Turkish wrestlers for the 2019 Freestyle National Championships. Similar to last week’s Turkish Women’s Wrestling National Championships, the winners of the Freestyle National Championships cemented their spot on Turkey’s World and European Championship teams. 

Taha AKGUL, the two-time world and Olympic champion, was among the wrestlers who punched their ticket to the World and European Championships. Akgul, who missed out medaling at the World Championships for the first time since 2013, confirmed to United World Wrestling that he’ll be traveling to Krasnoyarsk, Russia to compete at the first Ranking Series event of the year, the Ivan Yariguin. He’ll compete at 125kg. 

The biggest surprise of the tournament came at 86kg where Osman GOCEN earned his World and European Championship trip by defeated reigning world silver medalist, Fatih ERDIN in the gold-medal bout. Gocen also finished ahead of Selim YASAR, the Rio Olympic silver medalist.  

Turkey is expected to bring their first team to the Ivan Yariguin, which begins on January 24. 

RESULTS

57kg
GOLD - Ahmet DUMAN  
SILVER - Ahmet PEKER 
BRONZE – Barıs KAYA 
BRONZE - Ali KARABOGA 

61kg 
GOLD - Recep TOPAL  
SILVER - Sedat OZDEMIR 
BRONZE -  Munir AKTAS  
BRONZE - Cabbar DUYUM 

65kg 
GOLD - Mehmet OGUT  
SILVER - Selahattin KILICSALLAYAN
BRONZE - Cengizhan ERDOGAN  
BRONZE - Ali PINE 

70kg 
GOLD - Mustafa KAYA 
SILVER - Serhat ARSLAN 
BRONZE - Mehmet KARACA  
BRONZE - Enes USLU  

74kg
GOLD - Yakup GOR
SILVER - Fazlı ERYILMAZ  
BRONZE - Muhammed AKDENİZ 
BRONZE - Nazım KARA  

79kg
GOLD - Muhammed KOTANOGLU  
SILVER -  Ender COSKUN 
BRONZE - Musa GURBUZ 
BRONZE - Abdulkadir OZMEN 

86kg
GOLD -  Osman GOCEN  
SILVER - Fatih ERDIN 
BRONZE - Selim YASAR  
BRONZE - Arif OZEN  

92kg 
GOLD - İbrahim BOLUKBASI  
SILVER -  Erhan YAYLACI  
BRONZE -  Samet OZARSLAN
BRONZE - Süleyman KARADENİZ 

97kg  
GOLD -  Fatih YAŞARLI  
SILVER -  Baki SAHIN 
BRONZE - Ali BONCEOGlU 
BRONZE -  Feyzullah AKTURK  

125kg  
GOLD -  Taha AKGUL  
SILVER -  Fatih CAKIROGLU 
BRONZE -  Huseyin CIVELEK
BRONZE - Abdullah OMAC


Roman VLASOV (RUS), the two-time Olympic champion will make his return to the mat after suffering a knee injury two weeks prior to the 2018 World Championships. (Photo: Tony Rotundo)

3. Russian Greco-Roman Nationals Set to Begin on January 18
The Russian Federation has moved the competition date for the 2019 Russian Greco-Roman National Championships. The Greco-Roman National Championships will now take place this weekend, from January 18-24 in Kaliningrad, Russia. 

Sergey EMELIN, Stepan MARYANIAN, Artem SURKOV, Alexander CHEKHIRKIN, Musa EVLOEV, and Sergey SEMENOV, the six current Greco-Roman world champions, are exempted from the Russian Greco-Roman National Championships. But this does not make the upcoming competition less interesting, largely due to the fact that Olympic champions, Roman VLASOV and Davit CHAKVETADZE, will strive to regain their former positions.

Here are seven storylines you need to follow at the Russian National Championships! 


Kyle SNYDER (USA), two-time world champion and Olympic champion is set to compete at the first Ranking Series event of the year, the Ivan Yariguin. (Photo: Max Rose-Fyne)

4. The Ivan Yariguin Just 10 Days Away  
United World Wrestling’s first Ranking Series event of the year, the Ivan Yariguin begins 10 days from today in Krasnoyarsk, Russia. 

Turkey's Taha AKGULl and America's Kyle SNYDER (USA) are two Olympic champions that have confirmed that they'll be competing in Krasnoyarsk.

Shortly after it was announced that London Olympic champion Jordan BURROUGHS will make his first career trip to the Ivan Yariguin, USA Wrestling confirmed that Burroughs would no longer be competing in Siberia. Burroughs was expected to take the place of America's reigning 79kg world champion Kyle DAKE (USA), who is expected to miss some time after the birth of his daughter, EllaJo Rose, on December 12. 

On the women's wrestling side of the first Ranking Series event of the year, Norway's reigning U23 world champion Grace BULLEN has confirmed that she'll be in attendance in Krasnoyarsk. To win her 2018 U23 world title, Bullen knocked off China's reigning senior-level world champion and reigning Yariguin champion, RONG Ningning. 

SCHEDULE (Local time) 

January 23 (Wednesday)
08.00 - Arrival of delegations
15.30 - Referees clinic
15.30 - Press conference with the Organizing Committee representatives, main referees body, team leaders and coaches
16.30 - Draw: Women: cat: 50,55,59,65 kg Men: cat: 57,61,70 kg

January 24 (Thursday)
08:30 - Medical examination and weigh-in cat: Women: 50,55,59,65 kg Men: 57,61,70 kg
11.00 - Elimination rounds cat: Women: 50,55,59,65 kg Men: 57,61,70 kg
16.00 - Draw cat: Women: 53,57,62,68 kg Men: 65,79,125kg
17.00 -1⁄2 finale cat: Women: 50,55,59,65 kg Men: 57,61,70 kg

January 25 (Friday)
08:15 - Weigh-in cat: Women: 50,55,59,65 kg Men: 57,61,70 kg
08:30 - Medical examination and weigh-in cat: Women: 53,57,62,68 kg Men: 65,79,125kg
11.00 - Elimination rounds and 1⁄2 finale cat: Women: 53,57,62,68 kg Men: 65,79,125kg  - Repechage cat: Women: 50,55,59,65 kg Men: 57,61,70 kg
16.30 - Draw cat: Women: 72,76 kg Men: 74,86,92,97 kg
16.00 - Opening ceremony
17.00 - Finals cat: Women: 50,55,59,65 kg Men: 57,61,70 kg

January 26 (Saturday)
08:15 - Weigh-in cat: Women: 53,57,62,68 kg Men: 65,79,125kg
08:30 - Medical examination and weigh-in cat: Women: 72,76 kg Men: 74,86,92,97 kg
11.00 - Elimination rounds and 1⁄2 finale cat: Women: 72,76 kg Men: 74,86,92,97 kg - Repechage cat: Women: 53,57,62,68 kg Men: 65,79,125kg
18.00 - Finals cat: Women: 53,57,62,68 kg Men: 65,79,125kg

January 27 (Sunday)
09:00 - Weigh-in cat: Women: 72,76 kg Men: 74,86,92,97 kg
11.00 - Repechage cat: Women: 72,76 kg Men: 74,86,92,97 kg
13.00 - Finals cat: Women: 72,76 kg Men: 74,86,92,97 kg

January 28 (Monday)
Until 12.00 - Departure of delegations 

5. Vadim Psarev, Hall of Fame Greco-Roman Coach, Dies at 86
Legendary Greco-roman wrestling coach Vadim PSAREV passed away Saturday, January 12 in Almaty, Kazakhstan. He was 86.

During his long career, Psarev coached five Olympic medalists, including three Olympic gold champions. The native Russian also coached 12 gold medalists at World Championships and World Cups. 

Psarev was recognized by United World Wrestling in 2014 with his selection to the organization's Hall of Fame. He was also awarded as an "Honored Coach of USSR" (1969) for his work with the USSR in the 40's, 50's and 60's. 

Psarev later became the head Greco-Roman coach for the Kazakhstan national team and was later given the title of "Honored Coach of Kazakhstan."

Click here to read more about Vadim Psarev. 

Weekly FIVE! In Social Media 

1 . #mondaymotivation#wrestling #wrestler #suplex #grecoroman@musaevloev1
2. @tahakgul, the two-time world and Olympic champion will wrestle at the first Ranking Series event of the year, the Ivan Yariguin. He’s entered at 125kg.
3. Sunday smiles ?!
4. “The 2019 season has started. It’s time to make history!” ?: @swedewrestling .#teamSweden #swedewrestling #sweden#worldchampionship #2019 #wrestling
5. Happy Friday, wrestling fans.

#WrestleZagreb

U.S. Wins Four Golds at Zagreb Open; World Champ Valencia Stunned

By Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (February 4) -- Four months ago, Zahid VALENCIA (USA) seemed untouchable.

He had stunned Arena Zagreb with a victory over Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI), eventually cruising to 86kg gold at the 2025 World Championships without conceding a single point.

On Wednesday, Valencia returned to Arena Zagreb, but the script flipped. Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO), a former world silver medalist at 79kg, blanked the world champion 11-0 at the season-opening Zagreb Open Ranking Series.

While Valencia recovered to claim bronze, it was international debutant Parker KECKEISEN (USA) who rose to the occasion, taking gold after defeating Gamkrelidze.

Zahid VALENCIA (USA)Zahid VALENCIA (USA), red, tries to fight a gut-wrench against Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Valencia wasn't the only giant to fall during a chaotic Wednesday. Olympic bronze medalist AMAN (IND) was pinned, and Asian champion Takara SUDA (JPN) left without a medal. Meanwhile, world champion Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) missed the top spot, and Georgios KOUGIOUMSTIDIS (GRE) saw his 86kg debut end in the opening round.

Despite the upsets, the United States dominated, winning four of the six available gold medals. Spencer LEE (USA), David CARR (USA), and Austin DESANTO (USA) joined Keckeisen atop the podium.

At 65kg, U23 world champion SUJEET (IND) continued his rise and captured the gold medal in a dominant fashion.

For Iran, the only gold medal came through Sina KHALILI (IRI) who outscored his opponents 42-3 in four bouts.

Parker KECKEISEN (USA)Parker KECKEISEN (USA) won gold medal at Zagreb Open, his debut international tournament. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Keckeisen's golden debut

While Zahid Valencia was the heavy favorite at 86kg, it was Keckeisen who stole the spotlight. Keckeisen flew under the radar to reach the final after a gritty 9-5 victory over Ali Savadkouhi (IRI).

In the final, Keckeisen entered as the underdog against Gamkrelidze. He maintained a 3-1 lead with under a minute remaining. The match defining moment came when Gamkrelidze scored a stepout and challenged the call, seeking two points instead of one. The lost challenge awarded Keckeisen an extra point, extending his lead to 4-2.

Despite a late stepout from Gamkrelidze with ten seconds left, Keckeisen held on to secure the gold.

With Gamkrelidze making it to the final, Valencia found his form in repechage and won bronze after pinning U17 world champion Abofazl SHAMSIPOUR (IRI).

Spencer LEE (USA)Spencer LEE (USA) scores a takedown before Roman BRAVO YOUNG forfeited the 57kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Lee repeats, Carr shines

Lee repeated as the Zagreb Open champion with a strong performance, just like last year. After dominant wins over Azamat TSUKAEV (SRB) and Fuga SASAKI (JPN), Lee met Roman BRAVO YOUNG (MEX) in the final.

The Olympic bronze medalist opened strong with a takedown and turn, but the match ended prematurely when Bravo-Young forfeited due to injury, handing Lee his second consecutive gold.

Bravo Young was clutching his tapped knee when he got up after the gut-wrench from Lee who helped the Mexican off the mat after enquiring about the injury.

At 74kg, Carr navigated a tactical final against 70kg world champion Aoyagi, who now wrestles at 74kg. Aoyagi led 1-1 on criteria after the two wrestlers exchanged activity points when he was placed on the 30-second activity clock for a second time.

His failure to score put Carr ahead 2-1 with 30 seconds remaining. A desperate late attack by Aoyagi allowed Carr to score a counter takedown, sealing a 4-1 victory.

In September, Carr missed out on a bronze medal bout at the World Championships after losing to Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW) in the final five seconds, while Lee was eliminated after losing to Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM).

Austin DESANTO (USA)Austin DESANTO (USA) won the gold medal at 61kg in Zagreb. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Desanto recovers

At 61kg, Desanto recovered after a heartbreaking 11-11 loss to Reza MOMENI (IRI) in the opening bout of the Nordic bracket to win gold. Needing a big win against Aman, Desanto delivered a pin, earning five crucial classification points.

His total of 15 points placed him safely ahead of Momeni, who was mathematically eliminated from gold regardless of his final result against Giorgi GHONIASHVILI (GEO).

Ultimately, DeSanto secured the gold, while Aman took silver, despite being tied with Momeni at 13 points. Aman held the tiebreaker thanks to his head-to-head victory over the Iranian.

SUJEET (IND)SUJEET (IND) tries to finish a takedown on Peyman NEMATI (IRI) in the 65kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Sujeet wins gold

U23 World Champion Sujeet continues to demonstrate his growth on the international stage, capturing his second career Ranking Series gold medal.

Sujeet, who took gold in Budapest last year, secured two technical superiority wins over Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA) and Joseph MCKENNA (USA) to reach the final. There, he shut out Peyman NEMATI (IRI) with a disciplined 3-0 victory.

In the final, he was put on the activity clock in the first period but responded quickly with a takedown to take a 2-0 lead. When Nemati was placed on the activity clock in the second period, Sujeet extended his lead to 3-0.

Following a series of scoreless scrambles, Sujeet successfully defended his lead until the whistle.

At 70kg, U23 World silver medalist Khalili put on a dominant display in his gold-medal match. Khalili overwhelmed Akaki KEMERTELIDZE (GEO), using a series of gut wrenches to secure a 10-0 technical superiority victory.

Photo

RESULTS

57kg
GOLD: Spencer LEE (USA) df. Roman BRAVO YOUNG (MEX), via inj. def. (4-0)

BRONZE: Milad VALIZADEH (IRI) df. Atish TODKAR (IND), 10-0
BRONZE: Fuga SASAKI (JPN) df. Azamat TUSKAEV (SRB), 4-1

61kg
GOLD: Austin DESANTO (USA)
SILVER: AMAN (IND)
BRONZE: Reza MOMENI (IRI)

65kg
GOLD: SUJEET (IND) df. Peyman NEMATI (IRI), 3-0

BRONZE: Nika ZAKASHVILI (GEO) df. Gamzatgadzhi KHALIDOV (HUN), 11-6
BRONZE: Joseph MC KENNA (USA) df. Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA), 4-1

70kg
GOLD: Sina KHALILI (IRI) df. Akaki KEMERTELIDZE (GEO), 10-0

BRONZE: ABHIMANYOU (IND) df. Ian PARKER (USA), 6-3
BRONZE: Caleb HENSON (USA) df. Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN), 5-4

74kg
GOLD: David CARR (USA) df. Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN), 4-1

BRONZE: Seyfulla ITAEV (FRA) df. James GREEN (USA), via fall
BRONZE: Aliakbar FAZLI (IRI) df. Giorgi ELBAKIDZE (GEO), 10-0

86kg
GOLD: Parker KECKEISEN (USA) df. Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO), 4-3

BRONZE: Zahid VALENCIA (USA) df. Abolfazl SHAMSIPOUR (IRI), via fall
BRONZE: Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI) df. Mukul DAHIYA (IND), 6-5