Weekly FIVE!

Weekly FIVE! March 17, 2020

Tuesday, March 17, 2020 - 12:36 By Eric Olanowski

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Discussing Valencia Escoto and Destribats' historic performances at the Pan-Am Olympic Qualifiers. Also looking at Cuba's GR team qualifying every weight for #Tokyo2020 and Olympic champs Maroulis and Wiebe qualifying their nation's for the Tokyo Games.

1. Valencia Escoto First Mexican Woman to Qualify for Olympic Games
Alma Jane VALENCIA ESCOTO (MEX) became the first-ever Mexican women's wrestler to qualify for the Olympic Games after winning the 57kg gold medal at the Pan-American Olympic Qualifier. She won all four of her bouts in Ottawa – including a win by fall over world champion Linda MORAIS (CAN) and a victory via forfeit over Helen MAROULIS (USA).

Valencia Escoto opened her day up with a pair of decisive wins over Betzabeth SARCO COLMENAREZ (VEN) and Nes RODRIGUEZ TIRADO (PUR), which inserted her into the semifinals against Canada's reigning world champion, Linda Morais. 

In her semifinals meeting with the current 59kg world-title holder, Valencia Escoto stopped an early open double-leg attempt with a counter-offensive throw. She snuck in an underhook on the Canadian's right side during her shot attempt and tossed her to her back for the early 4-0 lead. 

Valencia Escoto's opponenet fought off her back and nearly scored a takedown of a slide by attempt. Still, somehow, the newly-minted Olympian had the world champion fighting off her back for the second time in the opening period. 

The tides turned quickly, and Valencia Escoto was the one fighting off her back. She got saved by the period-ending whistle and carried the 6-2 lead into the closing period.

In the final period, Valencia Escoto halted a left side high crotch attempt and flattened Morais for the fall – becoming the first-ever Mexican women to wrestle at the Olympic Games.

Agustin DESTRIBATS (ARG) finished in second place at 65kg at the Pan-American Olympic Qualifier and qualified Argentina for the Olympic Games. (Photo: Tony Rotundo)

2. Destribats Ends 24-year Argentinean Freestyle Olympic Drought
Agustin DESTRIBATS (ARG) ended a 24-year Argentinean freestyle Olympic drought and qualified his nation for the Tokyo Olympics after he pinned American Zain RETHERFORD (USA) in the 65kg semifinals. With his semifinal victory via fall, Destribats became the first Argentinean freestyle wrestler to qualify for the Olympic Games since Paulo IBIRE (ARG) did so at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.

In his meeting with the Retherford, Destribats conceded an open double leg and nearly gave up an ankle lace but was able to fend off the turn and catch the American on his back. He held Retherford on his back for 25 seconds before picking up the opening period fall to secure his spot at the Tokyo Olympics. 

Helen MAROULIS (USA) qualified the United States for the Olympic Games at 57kg with her silver-medal finish at the Pan-American Olympic Qualifier. (Photo: Tony Rotundo)

3. Olympic Champs Maroulis and Wiebe Qualify Nation's for Olympic Games 
Olympic champions Helen MAROULIS (USA) and Erica WIEBE (CAN) qualified their nations for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games after finishing in the top-two of their respective weights at the Pan-American Olympic Qualifier. The pair remained on course to defend their gold medals from the Rio Olympic Games. 

Maroulis, who was wrestling in her first international competition since the 2018 World Championships, won four matches before injury defaulting out of the finals after locking up the United States' spot at 57kg for the Olympics.

In her first match, Maroulis easily handled Canada's Linda Morias, 10-2, in the battle of Olympic champion and world champion. 

Maroulis defeated Giullia RODRIGUES (BRA) and Lissette ANTES (ECU) in the next two rounds and was one win away from earning a second berth to the Olympic Games for the United States. 

In the semifinals, Maroulis crushed Nes RODRIGUEZ (PUR), 10-0, and qualified the Stars and Stripes for the Olympic Games at 57kg. 

She'll now have to win the Olympic Trials to become the United States' Olympic representative at 57kg.

Canada's Erica Wiebe was the second Olympic champion who qualified for the Olympic Games over the weekend. Wiebe, who was wrestling in her hometown of Ottawa, won the 76kg bracket and locked up her shot at repeating as Olympic champion. 

She opened up her day with a narrow 2-1 win over Aline DA SILVA FERREIRA (BRA). She tacked on dominant wins over Milaimys de la Caridad MARIN POTRILLE (CUB) and Andrimar LAZARO (VEN), setting up a semifinals match with Genesis REASCO (ECU).

Wiebe shutout Reasco Valdez, 6-0, in their semifinals meeting and earned her berth to the Olympic Games. She injury defaulted out of the gold-medal match against Aline Da Silva Ferreira and finished with a silver medal.

Wiebe won the Canadian Wrestling Trails in December and will represent Canada at 76kg at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Yosvanys PENA FLORES (CUB) is one of six Cuban Greco-Roman wrestlers who will wrestle at the Tokyo Olympic Games. (Photo: Tony Rotundo) 

4. Cuba Sending All Six GR Wrestlers to Olympics 
Cuba’s Greco-Roman team came into the Pan-American Olympic Qualifier searching for four qualification spots after earning two Olympic berths from the Nur-Sultan World Championships from Ismael BORRERO MOLINA (CUB) Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB). Over the weekend, they had three wrestlers win gold medals and one individual finish in second place at the Pan-American Olympic Qualifier – which took their qualification total to all six weight categories. 

Their three champions were Luis Alberto ORTA SANCHEZ (CUB), Yosvanys PENA FLORES (CUB) and Gabriel Alejandro ROSILLO KINDELAN (CUB), while Daniel GREGORICH HECHAVARRIA (CUB) finished in second place.

In addition to their Greco-Roman success, Cuba's women's wrestling team also shined in Ottawa. 

Coming into the Pan-American Olympic Qualifier, Katherine VIDIAUX (CUB) was the lone Cuban woman who ever wrestled at the Olympic Games. She'll now be joined in the history books by Lianna MONTERO (CUB) and Yusneylis GUZMAN (CUB), who won gold medals at 50kg and 53kg, respectively, and qualified for the Olympic Games. 

Greco-Roman Qualifying Weights/Athletes
60kg - Luis Alberto ORTA SANCHEZ (CUB) – Pan-Am OG Qualifier gold 
67kg - Ismael BORRERO MOLINA (CUB) – World Championships gold 
77kg - Yosvanys PENA FLORES (CUB) – Pan-Am OG Qualifier gold
87kg - Daniel GREGORICH HECHAVARRIA (CUB) – Pan-Am OG Qualifier silver
97kg - Gabriel Alejandro ROSILLO KINDELAN (CUB) – Pan-Am OG Qualifier gold
130kg - Oscar PINO HINDS (CUB) World Championships silver

5. European, World 'Last Chance' Olympic Qualifiers Postponed
The European Qualifier for the 2020 Olympic Games, scheduled for March 19-22 in Budapest, along with the World "Last Chance" Qualifier in Sofia, Bulgaria, scheduled for April 30-May 3, have been postponed.

The events will be rescheduled, with the European Qualifier expected to take place in mid-May and the World "Last Chance" Qualifier held at the beginning of June.

"We are closely monitoring the governmental response to COVID-19 and will continue to provide updates to our wrestlers, coaches, and fans with more information as it becomes available," said United World Wrestling president Nenad Lalovic.

"The process for determining our Olympic participants will happen on the field of play, but we need to remain patient and vigilant as the worldwide community battles this pandemic. The health and well-being of the athletes is an absolute priority."

#WrestleBelgrade

2023 World Championships GR 55kg, 77kg, 82kg, 130kg semis set

Thursday, September 21, 2023 - 08:36 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

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BELGRADE, Serbia (September 21) -- The Greco-Roman begins at the World Championships! With the results in Freestyle and Women's Wrestling, it will be no surprise that Greco-Roman also sees some big upsets in the early rounds.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER | DAY 5 RESULTS

15:16: Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) hits a 4-point counter lift in the second period, giving the 2021 silver medalist a 5-1 victory over Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) and a place in the 77kg semifinals. He will face European champion Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM), a bronze medalist last year, who defied the home crowd and Viktor NEMES (SRB) by scoring a 2-point throw to secure a 3-1 victory.

15:15: Nao KOSUKA (JPN) is on a roll! He moves into the 77kg semifinals with a 10-0 thrashing of Iuri LOMADZE (GEO) on Mat A. Kosuka tweeted yesterday about his desire to win a spot for the Paris Olympics in Belgrade. If he wants to achieve that today, he will have to beat Olympic silver and world champ Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) who blanked Aram VARDANYAN (ARM) 6-0.

15:05: Adem UZUN (TUR) sees his world turn upside down in an instant. He seemingly went ahead with a stepout in the second period at 55kg against Poya DAD MARZ (IRI), but upon challenge was instead hit with a 2-point penalty for a push below the waist. Uzun was coming off a victory over Azizli in the final of this year's European Championships.

15:01: Another defending champion is into the semifinals as Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) scores a stepout, a gut wrench from par terre and a takedown in the first period to handily defeat Marlan MUKASHEV (KAZ) at 55kg. 

15:00: Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO), chasing his second world title, moves into the semifinals with a 10-0 win over Artiom DELEANU (MDA) at 55kg. But to move into the final, he will have to beat Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB). Tsurtsumia beat Ortikboev 5-2 in the quarterfinals last year. Ortikboaev defeated Denis MIHAI (ROU) 9-0 in the quarterfinals.

14:50: Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI) comes on top 4-1 against Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR) in the 82kg quarterfinals. He will face a surprise candidate Mihail BRADU (MDA) who down Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) 4-3

14:49: Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) moved a step closer to a second straight 82kg title when he defeated Kristoffer BERG (SWE) with what turned out to be a 7-point play. Leading 1-1 on criteria when he got a reversal from par terre in the first period, Akbudak hit a 4-point throw from the top of par terre in the second. Berg was hit with a 2-point leg-touch penalty, and a lost challenge added another point to end the match. Next up is a semifinal clash with 2021 world champion Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE), who rallied from a 5-0 deficit to defeat Aues GONIBOV (AIN) 10-5.

14:37: Lingzhe MENG (CHN) takes out Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO). Meng was down 1-1 on criteria but scored a stepout to be up 2-1. Kajaia challenged it for pushing but lost. Meng moved on with a 3-1 win. He has to wrestle Riza KAYAALP (TUR) in the semifinals

14:36: Amir MIRZAZADEH (IRI) is through to the semifinals at 130kg with a 1-1 criteria win over Romas FRIDRIKAS (LTU). Mirzazadeh received the latter of the passivity points, which alone put him on top by criteria. He nearly got Fridrikas over, but in the end, it didn't matter.

14:34: Oscar PINO (CUB) is back in the semifinals as he beats Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU) 9-0 in the semifinal. Alexuc was penalized for two singlet grabs before Pino finished the match with a takedown.

14:32: There's no stopping Riza KAYAALP (TUR), who makes short work of 38-year-old Heiki NABI (EST) to reach the semifinals at 130kg. Put on top in par terre, Kayaalp goes back and forth with a gut wrench, then repeats the process for a 9-0 technical fall in 1:48.

14:10: Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) looks in complete control. He gets a grand amplitude five-pointer over Mohamed KHALIL (EGY) and won 9-0 at 77kg

13:54: Demeu ZHADRAVEV (KAZ), a four-time Asian medalist looking for his first world medal, ousts last year's silver medalist Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) at 77kg, with a second-period gut wrench capping a 4-1 win.

13:48: In a repeat of their semifinal at the 2019 worlds, Aram VARDANYAN (UZ) edges Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) 2-2 at 77kg. The Bulgarian has only himself to blame. A 2-point penalty for blocking the legs in the second period gave Vardanyan the victory.

13:38: 2021 world champion Rafiq HUSEYNOV (AZE) has to battle hard but manages to win 4-3 against Erik SZILVASSY (HUN). The next match has Idris IBAEV (GER) and Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) exchanging takedowns but Bolkvadze wins 3-2. A few words were exchanged at the end between the two wrestlers.

13:25: Asian champion Poya DAD MARZ launches Sabolc LOSONC (SRB) with a 4-point arm throw, then tops it off with a pair of gut wrenches for an 8-0 win in 1:15 to advance to the 55kg quarterfinals.

13:32: Eldiniz AZIZLI (AZE), pursuing his second straight gold at 55kg and third overall, gets the roll from par terre in the first period and eases to a 3-1 victory over teenager Taiga ONISHI (JPN), a 2022 world U20 bronze medalist.

13:20: Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO) with another 1-1 victory and this time Elias KUOSMANEN (FIN) falls to the Olympic silver medalist at 130kg.

13:18: Defending 82kg champion Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) gets his title defense started with a 4-point lift to beat Asian bronze medalist Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB) 5-1 and book his place in the quarterfinals.

13:14: Asian champion Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI) gets the stepout to finish off an 8-0 victory over Branko KOVACEVIC (SRB) to secure a spot in the 82kg quarterfinals. Kovacevic's loss ended the tournament of Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Shohei YABIKU (JPN).

13:08: Amir MIRZAZEDEH (IRI) stays on track for a rematch in the final with Kayaalp, getting a reversal in the first period and a passivity point in the second to defeat Mykhailo VYSHNYVETSKYI (UKR) 2-1 and move into the 130kg quarterfinals. 

13:05: A Japanese wrestler denied Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI) a bronze medal in Tokyo and now Nao KUSAKA (JPN) beats Geraei at 77kg in the World Championships. Kusaka led 5-2 using two takedowns. Geraei got the par terre and turn to make it 5-5 but Kusaka held on for a criteria win as he had two two-point techniques to Geraei's one.

12:59: Superstar Riza KAYAALP (TUR), the defending champion at 130kg, begins his campaign for a sixth world title by putting away Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY) 7-2 to advance to the quarterfinals. Kayaalp reels off three gut wrenches from par terre for all of his points in the first period. Mohamed gets a passivity point and a stepout in the second period as Kayaalp seems to be conserving his energy.

12:48: Yunus BASAR (TUR) will long regret not being able to throw Georgios PREVOLARAKIS (GRE) when he had him in the air in their 77kg match. Prevolarakis gets 2 with a front headlock from par terre in a 5-3 victory over Basar, a bronze medalist last year and two-time European silver medalist. In the first period, Basar lifted up Prevolarakis, but spent too much time setting up his throw. It allowed the Greek to grab his waist, and Basar didn't have the leverage to complete a throw.

12:45: Returning bronze medalist Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) with a technical superiority win over Paulius GALKINAS (LTU). That match is followed by world champion Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) pinning Per Anders KURE (NOR) after the Norwegian managed to get a big throw.

12:25: Alexandrin GUTU (MDA), a young and exciting talent from Moldova, begins his campaign at 77kg with a 9-3 win over Per Albin OLOFSSON (SWE). Next, he will have 2021 World silver medalist Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) who defeated Kamal BEY (USA).

12:22: 2017 world champion Maksim MANUKYAN (ARM) returned to wrestling after three years but had his run cut short by Idris IBAEV (GER) who won 9-6 at 82kg. Manukyan, 36, could not match the pace of wrestling in that bout 

12:15: Zoltan LEVAI (HUN), the silver medalist last year at 77kg, gets off to an explosive start, slamming Gurpreet SINGH (UWW) to the mat for 4 and finishing him off with a fall.

12:09: There will be an Irina RINGACI (MDA)-Ami ISHII (JPN) showdown after all. Ringaci, the 2021 world champion at 65kg, advanced to a 68kg bronze-medal match against Ishii with a victory by fall over Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) in the repechage final. Ringaci had suffered a stunning first-round defeat yesterday to Bose TOSUN (TUR), who surprisingly manhandled 2022 silver medalist Ishii in the semifinals.

12:06: Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ)'s courageous bid for her first world medal since 2010 ends with a heart-breaking 3-2 loss to Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) in the women's 68kg repechage final.

11:52: Branko KOVACEVIC (SRB) thrills the home crowd when he hangs on for a 7-6 victory at 82kg over Tokyo Olympic  77kg bronze medalist Shohei YABIKU (JPN). Kovacevic gets three gut wrenches from par terre to take a 7-0 lead. Yabiku, who moved up to 82kg when he failed to make the Japan team at 77kg, had a problem handling the extra weight. He never came close to turning Kovacevic after scoring two takedowns and being put on top in par terre.

11:40: Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO) with a 1-1 win over Beka KANDELAKI (AZE) at 130kg. Kajaia got his par terre position in the second period to keep the criteria.

11:32: In a battle of oldies, 38-year-old Heiki NABI (EST), London Olympic silver medalist, beats 35-year-old Vitalii SHCHUR (AIN) 1-1 after the two trade passivities. Nabi qualified for the Tokyo Olympics, originally scheduled for 2020, but was banned for 2 years in June 2021, two months before the delayed Tokyo Olympics.

11:30: Oscar PINO (CUB), who has long toiled in the shadow of the great Mijain LOPEZ (CUB), gets a victory by forfeit over Daniel GASTL (AUT) as he looks to add a first world gold to his silver and two bronzes. 

11:26: Returning 130kg silver medalist Amir MIRZAZADEH (IRI) rips off a series of gut wrenches and that's it for  Eduard SOGHOMONYAN (BRA), a quick 9-0 victory by technical superiority. 

11:05: Three-time world bronze medalist Mohammadaii GERAEI (IRI) begins his bid for an elusive gold at 77kg by getting past a difficult opponent in Adlet TIULIUBAEV (AIN) 2-0. Geraei gets the passivity call in each period and, although he can't budge Tiuliubaev, those two points prove the difference when he defends while on the bottom in the final minute.

10:50: In the repechage at 72kg in women's wrestling, Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) moves into the bronze medal bout after beating Nesrin BAS (TUR). Morikawa was the world champion at 65kg last year but has made the jump to 72kg after failing to make the Japan team in the Olympic weight class of 68kg.

10:47: Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE), the 2021 silver medalist at Greco 77kg, gets a 4-point throw after a walk from the center to the edge, and advances with a 5-1 victory over Jonni SARKKINEN (FIN).

10:40: Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ) starts the action on Mat B with a victory by fall over Emilja JAKOVLJEVIC (SRB) in the repechage round at women's 68kg.  The 36-year-old Shalygina is a 2008 Olympic bronze medalist and three-time world medalist who was inactive between 2013 and 2021. An Asian bronze medalist this year, she will next face Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) for a place in a bronze-medal match later in the evening.

10:30: Nothing prepares anyone for Greco-Roman! Today is the day as the World Championships will see Greco-Roman in 55kg, 77kg, 82kg and 130kg with 77kg and 130kg being the Olympic weight classes