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.

#WrestleHangzhou

Asian Games Wrestling: Yazdani vs Punia, Tazhudinov vs Goleij in finals

By Vinay Siwach

LIN'AN, Hangzhou, China (October 7) -- The Asian Games in Hangzhou will see the final day of wrestling at the Lin'an Sports Culture and Exhibition Center. Hassan YAZDANI (IRI), Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) and Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) are wrestling today as wrestlers in Freestyle 74kg, 86kg, 97kg and 125kg

LIVE MATCH ORDER | BRACKETS | DAY 3 RESULTS

That's it for the session before repechage begins. Here are the finals for the evening session

74kg
Kirin KINOSHITA (JPN) vs. Yones EMAMI (IRI)

86kg
Deepak PUNIA vs Hassan YAZDANI (IRI)

97kg
Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) vs Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN)

125kg
Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) vs. Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI)

12:55: Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) returns to the 86kg final at the Asian Games with yet another 10-0 victory in the semifinal. He will take on Javrail SHAPIEV (UZB) who manages to score a late exposure against Deepak PUNIA to win 3-2. Wait we have challenge... Punia is asking for two points as well. The jury awards two points to Punia and he wins 4-3 against Shapiev.

12:48: Asian Championships silver medalist Kirin KINOSHITA (JPN) takes out defending champion Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB) 6-0 to enter the final at 74kg. A top win for the Japanese. He will face Yones EMAMI (IRI) who defeats Magomet EVLOEV (TJK) 9-3.

12:45: Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) and Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) final set at 97kg. The two wrestled at the Asian Championships with Tazhudinov scoring a 13-8 win over Goleij.

12:33: Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) with a fall over Khusanboy RAKHIMOV (UZB) in the 125kg semifinals. Munkhtur will wait for the winner of Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) and Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ) to know his final opponent. 

12:25: Azamat DALUETBEKOV (KAZ) is absolutely livid with his coach who challenged a stepout call with 30 seconds on board. Javrail SHAPIEV (UZB) led 2-1 when he forced the stepout to make it 3-1. Kazakhstan corner decided to challenge the call and as Daluetbekov had put his hand out first, it was called a stepout and Kazakhstan lost the challenge, giving Shapiev an extra point. Daluetbekov scored the takedown but that made it only 4-3.

Just two weeks back, Daluetbekov had scored a final-second takedown against Shapiev to win the World Championships bronze medal.

12:15: Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB) has still got it. The defending champion puts himself in the 74kg semifinal after beating Darkhan YESSENGALI (KAZ) 3-1. On Mat C, Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ) scores the winning takedown to beat Bali SOU (CAM) 5-1 at 125kg.

12:12: A stepout, takedown, stepout, takedown, turn, turn. That's the scoring pattern Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) used to beat in the first period and reach the 86kg semifinal.

12:05: Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) scored a takedown in each of the two periods to beat Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL) 4-2 at 97kg. He moves into the semifinals.

12:03: Deepak PUNIA gives up three stepouts against Shota SHIRAI (JPN) but his two takedowns, one stepout and two caution points against Shirai are enough to help him move into the semifinals with a 7-3 win.

11:48: Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) takes a minute and 56 seconds to beat Mukhammad ABDULLAEV (KGZ) at 86kg. Yazdani is the defending champion at the Asian Games.

11:40: World champion Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) on Mat A wrestling BUHEEERDUN (CHN) in the 125kg quarterfinals. Alisher YERGALI (KAZ) wrestling Takashi ISHIGURO (JPN) at 97kg on Mat B. Zare works to a 10-0 win while Yergali holds off Ishiguro for a 4-2 victory.

11:35: Azamat DALUETBEKOV (KAZ), the 86kg world bronze medalist, is made to work hard by Gwanuk KIM (KOR) in the opening bout but he gets the job done 6-0.

11:30: Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) with a go-behind to open the scoring against Kanybek  Abdulkhairov. He adds exposure and an activity period point to lead 5-0. An arm-bar to get the fall just at the break!

11:22: Defending champion Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB) with two activity points in either period to win 2-0 against Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN) at 74kg. 

11:15: Yones EMAMI (IRI) will feel the heat of this bout against Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ) perhaps later in the day. Emami scores a 7-2 win but Toktomambetov brought the pace with him and Emami looks a little tired here.

10:55: World champion Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) with a composed 10-0 win over Zaman ANWAR (PAK) at 125kg. He will have a 10-minute break before the next round of matches. 

10:50: Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ) and Feng LU (CHN) roll to technical superiority wins on Mat C. The Kazakhstan wrestler beats Farkhod ANAKULOV (TJK) at 125kg while Lu thrills the crowd by beating Inayat ULLAH (PAK) at 74kg.

10:35: Omar SAREM (SYR) got a big four against Taiki YAMAMOTO (JPN) to lead 4-4 on criteria but the Japanese wrestler scored a takedown to make it 6-4. A reversal for Sarem but that doesn't change the final result.

10:25: Alisher YERGALI (KAZ) with a 10-0 win over VICKY to advance. Next up on Mat C is Aiaal LAZAREV (KGZ) and SUMIT at 125kg. Sumit qualified for the Tokyo Olympics in Sofia but was later found to have failed a dope test. His place was awarded to Lazarev.

10:20: Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) built a 2-0 lead over Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB) but the Uzbek with a counter four! Goleij with a stepout to lead cut the lead 4-3 at the break. Ibragimov with a takedown in the second period to lead 6-3 now. Both wrestlers are on the edge and it's a stepout for Ibragimov who now leads 7-4. Well, that was it for Ibragimov as Goleij scored a takedown and three turns to make it 13-7 and advance.

10:14: Deepak PUNIA lost to Magomed SHARIPOV (BRN) in the Asian Championships in 92kg but he avenged that loss with a 3-2 win at 86kg. Bost wrestlers had a takedown each but Punia with an activity point in the second period to win the bout.

10:00: World champion Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) is on Mat A against Awusayiman HABILA (CHN), a rematch of the Asian Championships final in which Tazhudinov won. The Bahrain wrestler with a big attempted lift but gets only two points. A takedown for Tazhudinov but Habila scores a reversal just before the break. The second period begins with Habila go behind and he cuts Tazhudinov's lead to 5-3. Tazhudinov answers with a takedown to lead 7-3 and is happy to keep it as the clock expires.