#WrestleCoralville

With World Cup history on mind, Ukraine arrives in US

Friday, December 2, 2022 - 14:26 By Vinay Siwach

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CORALVILLE, Iowa (December 2) -- In the last 10 months, Ukraine women's team has finished on the podium at the European Championships, U23 and U17 World Championships and qualified for the World Cup by finishing in the top five at the World Championships in Belgrade.

The wrestlers achieved this with little to no training before the Euros and with no training base for the rest of the year. A few trained in Budapest while another group was in Warsaw. If anyone was relatively lucky, they could train in western Ukraine.

So it was a commendable gesture from USA Wrestling to invite the Ukraine team to the Olympic training center in Colorado Springs two weeks before the December 10-11 World Cup despite being two of the strongest teams out there.

Throughout the year, United World Wrestling, along with Olympic Solidarity, the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine and the USOPC, provided technical assistance to the Ukraine Wrestling Federation for the participation of the Ukraine women’s team in major UWW events.

The World Cup was also part of the same plan the UWW Development Department and local organizing committees provided technical support for Ukraine.

“We remain committed and devoted to supporting all our national federations around the world," UWW President Nenad LALOVIC said. "Despite the current political problems, we remain one family through wrestling.”

Ukraine has been preparing for the World Cup with a full-strength team and will be heading to Iowa from Colorado for the competition.  

"The American team welcomed us very kindly," Oksana LIVACH (UKR) said. "We are in the Olympic Center in Colorado, there are very good conditions for training and we enjoy spending time here."

Amidst all the difficulties the team has faced, the wrestlers have held together, switching between wrestling and coaching during various tournaments. The World Cup will see them rise to the challenge once again when Ukraine takes on Japan and Mongolia in the group stages of the tournament.

After the World Championships, the wrestlers did participate in the U23 Worlds in Spain before arriving in the United States last week. The 26-member delegation was welcomed with open arms and are provided with the best facilities and training.

"There are many sparring sessions, the training is very interesting, you can learn something new, exchange experience," Oksana said.

The World Cup will not only be a way to show the strength of the Ukraine team, it will also mark the return of Ukraine's two biggest stars. Former world champion and three-time Olympian Yulia TKACH (UKR) is entered for the tournament, her first in almost three years.

Another wrestler who will be returning in over a year is Tokyo bronze medalist Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) at 62kg. She has skipped all tournaments in between.

Both Tkach and Koliadenko will be leaders of the team which also comprises Oksana LIVACH (UKR), Alina HRUSHYNA (UKR), Alla BELINSKA (UKR) and other youngsters.

At the World Cup, Ukraine will open its campaign against Mongolia on Saturday afternoon and will fancy its chances of winning the dual and setting up a virtual final against Japan. As the best country in women's wrestling is sending a depleted squad with no senior world medalist, Ukraine will look to pull off an upset win if it wants to reach the final from Group A.

With the team already acclimatized to the US and the return of its senior wrestlers, Ukraine winning will not be a surprise.

"Japan is the strongest team in the world in women's wrestling," Tkach said. "I think the young team will also be strong and it will be interesting for us to compete with them. Our team is also quite young and strong.

"We believe in our team. We will see a good fight on the mat and it will show who wins."

Apart from the chance to win the World Cup, the team is motivated and united by the tough times everyone faced this year. The emotions ran high at the European Championships when it crowned three champions in Budapest despite the uncertainty of the lives back home. A big relief came when it qualified for the World Cup finishing fifth in Belgrade with three medals.

"This year was really very difficult for our team. Our girls performed really well," Livach said. "I think this season will remain in history and in our memory. The World Cup is the final point for this year and we want to end it on a good note. All the teams are very strong and everyone can and has a chance to win, just like our team."

The World Cup win will make the year even more historic for the country as it has never finished on the podium before at the competition. But that can change in Coralville.

"Our team has many young wrestlers who have the opportunity to prove themselves," Livach said. "Expect a worthy fight."

#WrestleTirana

Muhamet Malo 2025 Ranking Series Day 2 Recap

Thursday, February 27, 2025 - 10:32 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (February 27) -- Muhamet Malo 2025 Ranking Series day two is underway with the four Freestyle and two Women's Wrestling weight classes. Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI), Kyle SNYDER (USA), Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) and Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) in action.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 1 RESULTS

15:40: Paris Olympic silver medalist Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) is into the 125kg final after a 3-0 win over Hakan BUYUKCINGIL (TUR). Zare was given two points for inactivity from Buyukcingil and he scored a stepout late in the match to make it 3-0. He will face Zelimkhan KHIZRIEV (UWW) in the final who defeated Paris Olympic 97kg silver medalist Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) 7-4 in the other semifinal. The finals begin 18:00.

Who is Arash Yoshida who beat Kyle Snyder?

15:25: Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) has done it! He beats Kyle SNYDER (USA) in the semifinals at 97kg. Yoshida, who seems small for 97kg, was in all sorts of trouble for five minutes and 30 seconds of the match. The match saw Snyder score a takedown on the edge and as Yoshida was trying to sneak out of the hold, Snyder scored a pushout, all while Yoshida was on activity time. Snyder led 4-0 before giving up a stepout. Both wrestler continued the pressure in the second period but Snyder's strength and positioning didn't let Yoshida get his on his attacks. However, Yoshida managed to get a cut-back and a turn to lead 5-5 on criteria with 30 seconds on the clock. Despite Snyder's efforts, Yoshida managed to remain in contact and not get scored on. A stunning win for the Yoshida.

Yoshida, whose father is Iranian married to a Japanese national, will face Erfan ALIZADEH MALAFEH (IRI) in the final after he defeated Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK), 3-2, in the other semifinal.

15:10: Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) just gut-wrenched Feyzulla AKTURK (TUR) in the 92kg semifinal to win it in a minute and 41 seconds. He will face Alan BAGAEV (UWW) in the final after he defeated Michael MACCHIAVELLO (USA). Bagaev came out with a arm throw for four and transitioned into a lace for two turns to lead 8-0. No points scored in the second period as Bagaev moved into the final

15:00: Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) is into the 79kg final with a very controlled win over Khidir SAIPUDINOV (BRN). He scored a takedown, two setpouts and got another point for caution while Saipudinov scored one takedown and got one point for fleeing from Gamkrelidze. His opponent will be Gadzhimurad ALIKHMAEV (UWW), who got a walkover after Evan WICK (USA) pulled out injured.

14:50: Haruna MARUYAMA (JPN) with a 10-0 technical superiority win over Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR). No much to show from Khomenets and she gets rolled over as Maruyama uses a trap-arm gut. She will face Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (UWW) in the final after she defeated Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA) with a takedown in the last 30 seconds.

14:40: Umi ITO (JPN) gets done with her semifinals at 50kg with a fall over Katie DUTCHAK (CAN). Arm-barred her for the win in a minute and seven seconds. In the second semifinal, Oksana LIVACH (UKR) gets a good win over Erin GOLSTON (USA). After leading 5-0 at the break, Livach scored one more takedown to win 7-0

Semifinals will begin at 14:30

14:15: Kyle SNYDER (USA) with another controlled win over Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (UWW). He kept his distance after leading 3-0 and won to advance to the 97kg semifinals. Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) also advances with a big 11-1 win over Dato PIRUZASHVILI (GEO)

14:00: When in full flow, Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) is a delight to watch. He gets four takedowns in his 8-0 win over Mirani MAISURADZE (GEO) at 92kg. Effortless from Ghasempour.

13:55: Feyzulla AKTURK (TUR) with a takedown with seven seconds left on the clock to beat Boris MAKOEV (SVK) at 92kg. Makoev with a meek surrender. Akturk was leading 4-1 but Makoev scored a takedown to cut it to 4-3. Akturk then added a stepout to make it 5-0 with 38 seconds left. With 17 seconds on the clock, Makoev with a takedown to lead 5-5 on criteria but seemed to have been caught off guard by Akturk's quick attack from center and the Turk gets the takedown and the win.

13:45: Umi ITO (JPN) gets to work as soon as she is on the mat but she doesn't get a clean win here against Nadezhda SOKOLOVA (UWW). Two takedowns, a double-leg fireman carry gave Ito an 8-0 lead but Sokolova surprised her with a headlock for four. Ito survived the fall to get a reversal and another takedown later she led 11-4 at the break.

She scores a four-pointer with a cut-back but gives up a reversal. The 15-5 score gives her the win but Sokolova challenges, asking for two points for the cut-back. The challenge is lost and Ito wins 16-5

13:30: Oksana LIVACH (UKR) with a clutch takedown and defense to beat MEIDUOLAJI (CHN), 6-5, at 50kg and advance to the semifinals. Meidoulaji led 5-4 and looked like she would defend her lead with ease but Livach managed to get a takedown in the second period to win.

13:20: At 55kg, Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (UWW) with a fall over Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW). Khoroshavtseva was leading only 1-0 at the break but changed levels in the second to lead 8-0 before getting the fall.

13:15: Haruna MURAYAMA (JPN) manages to get the job done against Karla GODINEZ (CAN) at 55kg. Not much action in the match but Murayama wins 2-0 to advance to the semifinals.

13:00: Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) with a first-period 10-0 technical superiority over Irena BINKOVA (BUL) at 55kg. Khomenets will most likely face Haruna MURAYAMA (JPN) next

12:50: Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI), first time on mat since winning silver medal at the Paris Olympics, looks in good form. While he did not go on a rampage, he was content with a 7-0 win over Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (UWW) at 125kg.

12:35: 2023 Asian champion Arash YOSHIDA (JPN), wrestling at his first Ranking Series, begins with a fall. He made it 10-0 before pinning Gurgen SIMONYAN (ARM). A mix of Iranian underhooks and Japanese speed there. Read more about Arash Yoshida here

12:20: Kyle SNYDER (USA) is a machine! He was down 2-0 at the break but finds a way to break through in the second period to beat Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) 3-2 at 97kg. Huge win for Snyder. Goleij was up 1-0 and then added a stepout to start the second period. Snyder kept his calm and got a takedown by elevating Goleij off the mat to lead 2-2 on criteria with two minutes and 10 seconds remaining. Snyder kept himself away from Goleij for the remaining time but Goleij forced an opening and got a single leg attack going. However, he landed Snyder in the zone and forced a pushout. The referees scored it grounded with no points. That was with nine seconds remaining. Iran challenged after restart but there was no change in decision and Snyder led 3-2. Goleij had four seconds to score a takedown for the win but that never happened.

12:10: Feyzulla AKTURK (TUR) with a great start at 92kg. Samuel SCHERRER (SUI) tried matching the ties but Akturk too good for him and wins 8-1 to advance at 92kg.

11:45: Umi ITO (JPN) at 50kg starts with a first period technical superiority win over Aida KERYMOVA (UKR). Ito was in Tirana for the U23 World Championships last year but was pinned to suffer her first-ever international loss.

11:30: Day two of the Muhamet Malo 2025 Ranking Series and we start at 11:30 as the number of bouts are lesser than Wednesday. Some big names competing today.