Weekly FIVE! September 25, 2018

Tuesday, September 25, 2018 - 12:35 By Eric Olanowski

Taking a look at the 2019 World Championship host city and the team results from the 2018 Junior World Championships. Also discussing two stars who were forced to pull out of the #Budapest2018 World Championships after suffering recent injuries.

1. Astana to Host 2019 Senior Wrestling World Championships
United World Wrestling has announced the city of Astana will host the 2019 Senior Wrestling World Championships September 14-22 at the Daulet Arena.

The Kazakhstan capital city has hosted several United World Wrestling events in recent years, including the 2014 Senior Asian Wrestling Championships, 2016 Asian Olympic Qualifier, and the 2018 Grappling World Championships.

Competition to host the championships was intense, as the 2019 world championships will serve as the first qualification event for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

The top six finishers in each Olympic weight category in Astana will secure an Olympic qualification for their nation, with the remaining qualification spots earned at continental competitions and a “Last Chance Qualifier” during the 2020 competition calendar.

Click HERE for full release.

Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (RUS) beat Zachery Samuel ELAM (USA), 11-0 to win the 97kg gold medal at the Junior World Championships. (Photo by Max Rose-Fyne)

2. Russia Wins Five Gold Medals and Junior World Team Title
Russia closed out the 2018 Junior World Championships winning the freestyle team title on the backs of five individual gold medals. Heading into the final day of wrestling, the Russian Federation led the second-place United States by 31 points and finished 67 points ahead of the returning champions.

Russia grabbed a trio of gold medals on the sixth day of competition and seized championships from Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RUS) and Soslan KHINCHAGOV (RUS) on the seventh and final day of wrestling at Trnava’s City Sports Hall.

Overall, Russia capped off the 2018 Junior World Championships with seven medalists. In addition to their five gold medals, they also won a silver and bronze medal. Though they had seven medalists a year ago, there five gold medals are an improvement from last year’s four gold medals.

Team Scores
GOLD – Russia (182 points)
SILVER – United States (115 points)
BRONZE – Iran (98 points)
Fourth – Azerbaijan (91 points)
Fifth – India (84 points)

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Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI) flexes after scoring the 12technicalcal superiority victory over Nikoloz TCHIKAIDZE (GEO) in the Greco-Roman 72kg finals. (Photo by Max Rose-Fyne)

3. Iran Wins Greco-Roman Team Title, Komarov Wins Fourth World Gold
Iran, with four gold medalists and 136 points wrapped up the Greco-Roman team title at the 2018 Trnava Junior World Championships, four points ahead of second-place Russia.

Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI), with his left shoulder heavily taped, claimed back-to-back junior titles, making it his third overall age-level world championship.

Meanwhile, Russia, led by Aleksandr KOMAROV who earned his fourth age-level world title finished in second place with 131 points.

Komarov shutout out Andrew BERREYESA (USA) 10-0 in the 77kg finals to reach the top of the junior world podium for the second straight year.

“These World Championships were the toughest yet. But it a great learning experience, and it feels good to win again,” said Komarov. “Now, my attention turns toward the senior-level and the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.”

Team Scores
GOLD - Iran - (136 points)
SILVER- Russia (131 points)
BRONZE - Armenia (83 points)
Fourth - Turkey (79 points)
Fifth - India (73 points)

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In the 50kg finals, Yui SUSAKI (JPN) beat Ellen RIESTERER (GER) to win her fifth world title in three different age groups. (Photo by Max Rose-Fyne)

4. Japanese Women Win Six Golds, World Team Title
For the eighth straight year, Japan left the Junior World Championships with the women’s wrestling team title. The most dominant women’s wrestling nation in the world finished 55 points ahead of second place Russia, and 88 points ahead of third place China.

Japan closed out the fifth day of competition with four additional gold medals, bringing their tournament total to six overall individual champions. This is the fifth straight year that Japan has finished the Junior World Championships with at least four gold medalists. It’s also the most golds they’ve won since winning six golds at the 2016 Junior World Championships.

They also won a silver and three bronze medals. In total, Japan medaled in all ten women’s wrestling weight classes.

One of the biggest notes from women's wrestling was Japan's 19-year-old superstar Yui SUSAKI (JPN) winning her fifth straight world title across three age divisions, confirming her as one of the best wrestlers in the world, regardless of age, gender or style.

Susaki’s next competition will be October’s senior-level World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

Also of note, Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) won her fourth age-level world championship. Larroque didn't give up an offensive point the entire tournament, outscoring her Junior World Championship opponents 33-0, including an overwhelming 6-0 finals win over Russia's Evgeniia ZAKHARCHENKO (RUS).

Team Scores
GOLD - Japan (215 points)
SILVER – Russia (160 points)
BRONZE – China (127 points)
Fourth – Ukraine (73 points)
Fifth – Mongolia (67 points)

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Roman VLASOV (RUS) defeated Viktor NEMES (SRB), 5-1 to win the 2018 European gold medal. Photo by Max Rose-Fyne.

5. Vlasov and Phogat to Miss #Budapest2018 World Championships
Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) and Roman VLASOV (RUS) recently suffered injuries and have been forced to pull out of the #Budapest2018 World Championships.

According to Indian journalist Vinay Siwach, Phogat, the 24-year old rising Indian star tore ligaments in her elbow while practice Friday, trying to finish a takedown against training partner Pooja DHANDA (IND). The Asian Games and Commonwealth Games gold medalist was expected to compete for a medal in women's wrestling at 50kg.

Another blow to the #Budapest2018 entry list came when two-time Olympic champion Roman Vlasov announced that he recently underwent surgery for a right knee injury. Vlasov, the four-time world and Olympic champion and reigning European champion was registered at GR 77kg.

Click HERE for full Scroll.in's full release on Phogat

Weekly FIVE! In Social Media

1. "Difficulties will not break me."

2. "The 2018 #beach #wrestling #world #championships will be held in #sarigerme #turkey #beachwrestling"

3. Respect.

4. Big Move Day 6 from the Junior World Championships - TRNAVA 2018

5. Photo from the Freestyle Finals. - #uww #wrestling

#WrestleAcapulco, #WrestleParis

Seven nations earn Paris 2024 Greco spots at Pan-Am Qualifiers; Julfalakyan falls short

Thursday, February 29, 2024 - 05:41 By Gaurav Bhatt

ACAPULCO, Mexico (February 28) -- World champion and 2012 London Olympic silver medalist Arsen JULFALAKYAN's (ARG) quest for his fourth Olympics has fallen short, at least for now.

Julkafalyan, who made the switch from Armenia to Argentina, lost his quarterfinal to Kamal BEY (USA) at the Pan-American Olympic Qualifiers in Acapulco, Mexico only to see Bey lose his semifinal, the Paris Olympics qualification bout, later.

The opening day of the tournaments saw competitors across six Greco-Roman Olympic weight classes take the mat in a bid to secure a spot for their nations for the upcoming Paris Olympics. The top two wrestlers, or the winners of the semifinals, in each of the 60kg, 67kg, 77kg, 87kg, 97kg and 130kg weight classes earn a ticket for Paris.

The spotlight initially fell on Julfalakyan. Despite his decorated past and a silver at the Henri Deglane Grand Prix last month, the 36-year-old faced a tough challenge, bowing out in a closely contested 4-2 quarterfinal against Bey. He took the lead but failed to keep up with Bey in the second period.

Bey, a favorite coming into the qualifiers, then lost the semifinal to reigning Pan-Am champion Jair CUERO (COL), 6-4, despite finishing the first period with a 4-0 lead. The Colombian kickstarted his comeback with a sweet counter to a shooting Bey before pulling off two two-point moves. The two had previously met in another tight contest last week in the Pan-Am Championships final, where Cuero held criteria.

In the other semifinal, three-time Pan-American champion Yosvanys PENA (CUB) beat Joilson RAMOS (BRA) 11-1. Pena represented Cuba in the 77kg category at the Tokyo Olympics as well.

The 87kg category witnessed an upset as well with Daniel Gregorich (CUB), a three-time Pan-Am champ, losing his semifinal to Spencer WOODS (USA). Gregorich took a 3-0 lead with a takedown and then a par terre. But as he tried a roll, he got stuck under Woods who held him in danger to earn two points.

Woods — who won the Pan-Am Championships gold last year at 82kg before moving up a division — took a 6-3 win after Gregorich was called for a leg foul when Woods was performing a lift in the second period.

Carlos MUNOZ (COL) decisively beat Luis AVENDANO (VEN) 11-1 in the other semifinal to earn a Paris quota. Munoz countered an arm spin from Avendano to score two points and then lifted him for two more. Avendano was called for a leg foul which gave Munoz a 6-0 lead. He then tried to double-arm throw but fell on his own back to get 4 points.

The United States would have expected a Paris ticket at 67kg from Alejandro SANCHO (USA) but the Pan-Am champion lost the semifinal to Nestor ALMANZA (CHI) 6-1. Sancho — who finished third at his first Pan-Am Championships in 2020 and then secured the 67kg quota for the U.S. at the Olympic qualifier the same week that year — couldn't repeat the success.

The 21-year-old Chilean Almanza, who lost to Sancho in the Pan-Am Championships semifinal last week, dramatically avenged that loss. As Sancho tried to throw him from par terre in the second period, Almanza landed on top and sat on Sancho as the referee called the pin.

The other semifinal saw a battle between former Pan-Am champion and Olympians. Andres MONTANO (ECU), the runner-up from last week, narrowly edged out Julian HORTA (COL) 2-1, to secure a berth in the Paris Games at 67kg.

In the 97kg category, Kevin MEJIA (HON) continued his impressive form, securing a 10-0 victory over Carlos ADAMES (DOM). The three-time Pan-Am champion, who struck gold last week, dispatched his opponent with 15 seconds left in the first period.

Alan VERA (USA), who finished runner-up at the Pan-Am Championships last week, also clinched his Olympic berth with a solid 7-1 win against Luillys PEREZ (VEN).

The heavyweight 130kg class played out as expected, with veteran Yasmani ACOSTA (CHI) and Cohlton SCHULTZ (USA) clinching the Olympic berths.

In a six-man bracket, the wrestlers were divided into groups of three. Acosta emerged as the top wrestler to set up a semifinal against Eduard SOGHOMONYAN (BRA) while Schultz topped the other group to get Moises PEREZ (VEN) in the semifinal.

Acosta got the first par terre and rolled Shoghomonyan twice to lead 5-0 which he held till the clock expired to earn the Paris quota. The 35-year-old Cuba-born naturalized Chilean previously finished fifth at the Tokyo Olympics.

Schultz, who had two pins in two bouts in the group, beat Perez 2-1 as he scored stepout at the start of the second period to lead 2-0. Perez got the passivity point with a minute 37 seconds left but failed to score any more points.

In the 60kg category, Raiber RODRIGUEZ (VEN) showcased his dominance with a convincing 9-1 victory over Dicther TORO (COL). The 2016 Olympian had won the Pan-Am gold last week. Kevin DE ARMAS (CUB) clinched the second birth with a 10-0 rout of Yerony LIRIA (DOM) in the semifinal. The Cuban also defeated top seed Ildar HAFIZOV (USA), who skipped the Pan-Ams to prepare for the qualifiers.

The qualifiers will continue with six Women's Wrestling weight classes, beginning at 1000 hours local time and Paris qualification semifinals scheduled for 1700 hours local time.

RESULST

60kg Paris Qualifying Semifinals

SF 1: Jose OROZCO (VEN) df. Hans TORO (COL), 9-1
SF 2: Kevin DE ARMAS (CUB) df. Liria YERONY (DOM), 10-0

67kg Paris Qualifying Semifinals

SF 1: Andres MONTANO (ECU) df. Julian HORTA (COL), 2-1
SF 2: Almanza NESTOR EVIAN (CHI) df. Alejandro SANCHO (USA), via fall (6-1)

77kg Paris Qualifying Semifinals

SF 1: Flores PENA (CUB) df. Joilson RAMOS (BRA), 11-1
SF 2: Jair CUERO (COL) df. Kamal BEY (USA), 6-4

87kg Paris Qualifying Semifinals

SF 1: Carlos MUNOZ (COL) df. Luis ROJAS (VEN), 11-1
SF 2: Spencer WOODS (USA) df. Daniel GREGORICH (CUB), 6-3

97kg Paris Qualifying Semifinals

SF 1: Alan VERA (USA) df. Jose PEREZ MORA (VEN), 7-1
SF 2: Kevin MEJIA (HON) df. Adames Palmer CARLOS ALBERTO (DOM), 10-0

130kg Paris Qualifying Semifinals

SF 1: Yasmani ACOSTA (CHI) df. Eduard SOGHOMONYAN (BRA), 5-0
SF 2: Cohlton SCHULTZ (USA) df. Moises PEREZ HELLBURG (VEN), 2-1

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Seven nations earn Paris 2024 Greco spots at Pan-Am Qualifiers; Julfalakyan falls short