#WrestleBudapest: What to watch in women's wrestling

Saturday, July 8, 2023 - 14:59 By Vinay Siwach

BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 8) -- If you wanted to see a trailer of what the World Championships in Belgrade will look like, don't miss the fourth Ranking Series, Polyák Imre & Varga János Memorial, in Budapest next.

As nations try to pick their squads for the World Championships, which offer quotas for the Paris Olympics, the Budapest event has added significance along with the medals and the prize money even though the tournament allows two-kilogram weight tolerance.

Freestyle has seen 174 registrations so far while Greco-Roman has 196. Women's wrestling will see 182 wrestlers in action when the competition begins Thursday.

With so much action on three mats, here are a few matchups that you cannot miss in women's wrestling.

50kg
World silver medalist Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) will be headed to Budapest for her second international tournament of the year. She participated in the Zagreb Open in February, finishing eighth after losing to Mariya STADNIK (AZE).

Dolgorjav has been one of the top 50kg wrestlers since winning the bronze at the 2021 World Championships. She improved to silver at the second edition and remained undefeated in the World Cup.

But Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA), who is in the purple patch of her career, will be looking to avenge her loss to Dolgorjav. The Olympic bronze medalist was on her way to a second straight world final in 2022 but Dolgorjav defeated her in the semifinals.

The Belgrade bout saw a fierce battle between the two but Dolgorjav put on a superior defensive performance to notch up a 6-2 win. Having learned her lessons from that loss, Hildebrandt may go for a different strategy if the two meet in Budapest.

Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) is a two-time European champion. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

53kg
At 53kg, expect some top bouts from the opening round itself. Canada has three wrestlers at this weight class while Poland, China, Hungary, and Ukraine have two each. World champion Dominique PARRISH (USA), Tokyo Olympic medalists Qianyu PANG (CHN) and Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL), big-throwing Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) and European champion Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) will be the names to keep an eye on.

One match-up that fans need to keep an eye on is Malmgren facing Pang. The two-time European champion has been making a name for herself since missing a chance to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics, winning the U20 world, two European and a U23 European title.

Pang, on the other hand, has only had two tournaments since winning the silver in Tokyo. She was part of China's World Cup squad and won two of her three outs. She claimed the Asian gold at 55kg in April which marked her return to the top.

With a long break, Pang may be rusty and will have counter Malmgren's powerful attacks from underhook. The match-up pairs two powerful wrestlers with a high percentage of upper-body attacks.

55kg
The last time VINESH (IND) and Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) met, the latter pinned Vinesh after building a lead. That was the Istanbul Ranking Series in February 2022, with Vinesh coming back after a few battles with mental health after a disappointing Tokyo Olympics in which she failed to win a medal and faced public wrath including from the Wrestling Federation of India.

Winchester, who won the gold medal at the Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series gold in February, will once again be the favorite as Vinesh has been out of competition since the 2022 World Championships in which won a bronze medal.

However, fans can expect a fierce battle between the two, contrasting the meek affair from Istanbul.

Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) is moving down to 57kg in Budapest. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

57kg
The Olympic qualification period always makes wrestlers switch to the Olympic weight class and Anastasia NICHITA (MDA), world champion at 59kg, is moving back to 57kg for Budapest. Nichita has lost one bout, the final of the Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series, since 2022. Her dominance has majorly been at 59kg in which she won her third European gold in April.

In Budapest, she will have to face some tests and Alina HRUSHYNA (UKR) will be the toughest of them. Hrushyna won the European gold in Zagreb at 57kg and has been one of the best at this weight class since returning from injury in late 2021.

In the last two years, she has lost only to Helen MAROULIS (USA) and Sae NANJO (JPN) and won 11 medals, including eight gold, in as many tournaments.

Hrushyna is known for her leg attacks and mixes them with big throws from standing. Her defense may be a challenge for Nichita who has some incredible skills for big throws and takedowns.

Undoubtedly, the two will be cautious of each other and if they meet on the mat, expect a battle like no other.

62kg
After a disappointing start of the year, finishing 13th in Zagreb, Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) returned to the top at 62kg winning gold at Ranking Series in Alexandria and Asian Championships. She will be the favorite to win another gold when she steps on the mat in Budapest at 62kg.

Three months later, she will be in Budapest and can face European champion Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) once again. The two met in the semifinal in Alexandria and Tynybekova barely made it for a 2-0 win.

Koliadenko was stopped in her attacks by Tynybekova who got a point for activity and a lost challenge from her Ukrainian opponent. Tynybekova's defense in that bout frustrated Koliadenko who, most likely, will need to be more attacking from the word go.

Emma BRUNTIL (USA), red, will face Irina RINGACI (MDA) at 65kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

65kg
Three months before the World Championships, Irina RINGACI (MDA) has decided to continue wrestling at 65kg a weight class she lost at the European Championships.

At the start of 2022, Ringaci had moved from 65kg to 68kg, raising hopes that she will now be permanently in the Olympic weight class.

In Budapest, she will face Emma BRUNTIL (USA), a bout that will offer a lot for wrestling fans. Bruntil has a solid record in Ranking Series, winning medals at four events out of five. She has reached the final of three of them.

Bruntil has shown progressive improvement over the years, most recently winning the USA team spot for the World Championships in Belgrade.

Ringaci has one of the defense and counters from positions. Her strong gut wrench may also trouble Bruntil. Given the two-kilogram weight allowance, Ringaci may be the favorite but don't count Bruntil out of this.

Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) won the gold medal at the Zagreb Open in February. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

68kg
A lot can happen at 68kg but keep an eye on a three-way French battle in Budapest. Pauline LECARPENTIER (FRA), Kendra DACHER (FRA) and Koumba LARROQUE (FRA), all three eyeing a spot on the World Championships team, will be in Budapest at 68kg.

Larroque, Tokyo Olympian at 68kg, has been the regular at this weight class this year, winning gold at the Henri Deglane Grand Prix and Zagreb Open, silver at Ibrahim Moustafa and bronze at the European Championships.

For the 2022 World Championships, Lecarpentier defeated Larroque and booked her spot for Belgrade. She lost to Ami ISHII (JPN) and to Linda MORAIS (CAN) in repechage.

Larroque and Lecarpentier met in the Henri Deglane final in January which the former won. In Zagreb Open in February, Larroque won gold while Lecarpentier won a bronze medal.

Dacher, a U23 world silver medalist from 2021 at 72kg, is moving down to 68kg with the hopes of making it to Belgrade. She was seventh last year in Belgrade and earlier this year, in a stunning drop, moved to 65kg and finished fifth.

Larroque will also look to settle scores with Forrest MOLINARI (USA) who beat her 12-2 in a bloody 68kg final in Alexandria.

76kg
If there is one weight class in women's wrestling in which no one can all the shots, it has to be 76kg. Adeline GRAY (USA) has been the favorite for years but she took a break to give birth to twins, the category has been wide open.

World champion Yasemin ADAR (TUR) will be in Budapest with revenge on her mind.

At the World Cup in December, Adar faced Yelena MAKOYED (USA) in the UWW World Team vs the US match and suffered a fall.

Makoyed, who has three Ranking Series gold and is unbeaten internationally, has been a big revelation at 76kh. Just that competition back home in the US is increasingly difficult.

Adar will have to find a way to deal with the pressure Makoyed puts in her leg attacks and then the transitions. The Turkish wrestler was clearly caught off guard by Makoyed's style at the World Cup.

In a bout between two extremely powerful wrestlers, Adar may try a different tactic this time and wait for Makoyed's attacks and counter them.

Even if these two don't meet, world silver medalist Samar HAMZA (EGY), world bronze medalist Epp MAE (EST), and Dymond GUILFORD (USA) are also wrestling in Budapest.

#WrestleBudapest

Turkey Gets First Champ as Four Countries Win #WrestleBudapest WW Titles

Thursday, July 22, 2021 - 20:10 By Vinay Siwach

The Tuske Csarnok stadium in Budapest has seen a lot of historic feats over the years in wrestling. It witnessed yet another historic day as four countries crowed five world champions Thursday.

At the cadet World Championships, Turkey got their first-ever woman world champion while home country Hungary also won the gold medal, eight years since their last, at home. India had two world champions while Ukraine won their first title in six years.

Selvi ILYASOGLU (TUR) became her country's first ever cadet world champion since Turkey began participating in the tournament from 2011 – the year the Championships were reinstated in the calendar. In the 49kg final she defeated Tindra DALMYR (SWE) 4-0 to capture the gold medal.

Her two takedowns came in the first period and then she defended the lead despite continuous efforts from Dalmyr to get an opening. Ilyasoglu was at a loss of words after the win.

“I can't explain how I feel now,” Ilyasoglu said. “I am now the world champion, it was my goal, I believed in myself and won the title in the end."

Talking about the final bout, she said that she was excited before going on the mat but once she was there, she felt confident. The 17-year-old credited her coach for the win.

“My coach Elis Yldiz prepared me for the World Championships,” she said. “She paid for herself to come here to support me. I heard everything she was shouting.”

Now the Turk wrestler wants to repeat her golden performance in a month's time. “The next step is the junior World Championships in Ufa. My goal is to win another gold there.”

Eniko ELEKES (HUN) won the gold at 65kg in Budapest. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Eniko ELEKES (HUN) received the loudest cheer from her Hungarian teammates as she claimed the 65kg world title in her home city by beating Ekaterina OLEINIKOVA (RUS) 10-6 in the final.

It was a tough victory as she trailed 2-4 at the end of the first period but racked up eight points compared to Oleinikova's two to secure the victory. Despite her thrilling win, the celebrations were subdued from the local girl.

“I don't feel something different. I am the same,” Elekes said but added “it feels different when I wrestle in different countries. Here, Hungarians are screaming”

The 16-year-old who trains in Budapest won the cadet European title just a month ago in dominating fashion and is now moving up to the junior group. But she has to go step-by-step.

“The first step is to wrestle in junior in Hungary and be the champion,” she said. “I have never wrestled at junior before.”

PRIYA IND Priya MALIK (IND) won the 73kg world title in Budapest. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Out of the five golds, India captured two at 43kg and 73kg as Tannu MALIK (IND) and Priya MALIK (IND) dominated their finals. The two had incredible run at the competition and did not concde a single points their four respective matches.

At 43kg, Malik wrestled like a pro and her constant snapping made Valeryia MIKITSICH (BLR) struggle to hold positions. Every time the Belarusian tried to attack, Malik's strength would proved to be too much for her.

The Indian continued with a series of takedowns and finally exposed her opponent to the back to get the fall. In her previous three bouts, Malik had a wins via fall, technical superiority and fall, scoring 42 points over her opponents.

“I was a little nervous before the final,” Malik said. “But I had trained hard for this. Everyone is so happy.”

The Malik at 73kg was a little less dominant as she scored 30 points over her opponents but was equally superior. She also defeated a wrestler from Belarus to capture the gold medal at 73kg.

Kseniya PATAPOVICH (BLR) gave up a stepout point before two takedowns on either side of the break to surrender the final to the Indian.

Incidentally, the two hail from villages that have already seen produced world champions. Tannu Malik hails from Nidani in Jind, Haryana, the same village from which former cadet world champion and Tokyo Olympian Anshu MALIK (IND) comes from.

Priya Malik was born in Mokhra village which has produced the likes of India's first-ever woman Olympic medalist in wrestling Sakshi MALIK (IND).

Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) claimed the world title at 49kg. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Ukraine also had a world champion as Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) denied Svenja JUNGO (SUI) a historical gold at 49kg. She dominanted the final for a 11-0 win. She scored six points in the first period and five in the second. It was Ukraine's first gold medal at cadet Worlds after six years.

“It's great to be the world champion,” Yerfremova said. “I am so thankful to people who supported me. I am glad it all happened. I was sure I would win the bout.”

She revealed that it was a pleasant surprise for her and her family to win the gold medal.

“My dad and uncle [coaches] were shocked when I got the gold medal. I also didn't expect that to happen. I still can't believe in it,” she said.

USA gets three finalists

Amit ELOR (USA) will wrestle for the 69kg gold in Budapest. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Returning bronze medalist Amit ELOR (USA) led the way as USA entered three wrestlers in the final, one more than Russia. Romania, India, Azerbaijan Ukraine and Bulgaria managed one each Thursday.

Elor was so dominant in Budapest that she only wrestled for a minute and 41 seconds over two bouts, winning both of them via technical superiority.

Barbara SERE (ROU) and Viktoryia RADZKOVA (BLR) were the two victims of Elor's wrath as she looks to win her first world title after losing in the semifinal last time.

“I feel amazing. The last time I competed at cadet Worlds, I lost my semifinal match,” the 17-year-old said. “To go out there and win is amazing.”

In the final, she will face Yevheniia SIEDYKH (UKR) who finished 10th at the 2019 edition in Sofia. The Ukrainian was also on song Thursday as she reached the final without conceding a single point.

Elor said she will like to work on some defence in the final. “I am going to work on defence of two techniques that my opponent will do and rest,” she said.

At 40kg, Erica PASTORIZA (USA) reached the final defearing her two opponents 10-0 and 4-0. She will wrestle Alexandra VOICULESCU (ROU) in the final. The Romanian was lucky to escape the Elvina KARIMZADA (AZE) in the semifinal as she was trailing 5-2 but Karimzada tried for a big four. She ended up on her back to give Voiculescu four points.

“I was so nervous,” Pastoriza said who came to Budapest with her mother. “She was fast but I controlled her till the end of the match. For the final, I will get my head in it and not worry about it.”

Natalia KHRAMENKOVA (RUS) will like to add to her European title. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Katie GOMEZ (USA) was the third wrestler from USA to enter the final after a 9-1 win over Tuba DEMIR (TUR) in the semifinal. But she will wrestle cadet European champion Natalia KHRAMENKOVA (RUS) in the 53kg final.

With Beijing Olympic silver medalist Alena KARTASHOVA (RUS) and two-time World silver medalist Lorisa OORZHAK (RUS) in her corner, Khramenkova wrestled tough throughout the day to reach the final.

“I train in a very small town of Russia in Tetyushi, Tatarstan,” the 17-year-old said. “I was a bit anxious before stepping on the mat, but the moment I was there all the nerves were gone. I did what I was supposed to do. Everything my coach told me to do. I calmed down since I am now in the final match already.”

Viktoriia KHUSAINOVA (RUS) was the second Russian to reach the final as she booked the spot at 61kg. With wins recorded via technical superiority, fall and fall, Khusainova would like to finish the tournament with a gold medal.

But in her parth will be Sofi TENEVA (BUL). She scored two comebacks in the three matches to reach the final against Khusainova.

KOMAL IND KOMAL (IND) will defend her world title in Budapest. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

At 46kg, returning world champion from 43kg in 2019, KOMAL (IND) secured the spot in the final against Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE). Komal survived a scare in the quarterfinal against Ava WARD (USA) as she trailed 7-4. But Komal produced the fall and later humbled Sviatlana KATENKA (BLR) 11-0 in the semifinal.

Mammadova too got a pin in the semifinal against Sevval CAYIR (TUR) after the Turkey wrestler went for a double leg but could not finish. Mammadova used this to pin Cayir to her back and get the fall.

“I hope I’ll win the gold medal. My semifinal bout was great,” Mammadova said. “I did everything I could. In the final I’ll wrestle either against an Indian girl or Belarusian, but it doesn’t matter to me.”

Greco-Roman wrestling will begin in Budapest on Friday with five weight classes apart from the medal bouts of the women in the evening session.

RESULTS: WW Medal Bouts

43kg
GOLD: Tannu MALIK (IND) df Valeryia MIKITSICH (BLR), via fall

BRONZE: Angelina DILL (USA) df Aida ALZHANOVA (KAZ), via fall
BRONZE: Liliana KAPUVARI (HUN) df Eda ERSOY (TUR), via fall

49kg
GOLD: Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) df Svenja JUNGO (SUI), 11-0

BRONZE: Audrey JIMENEZ (USA) df Delia VOICULESCU (ROU), 10-0
BRONZE: Sevim AKBAS (TUR) df Wiktoria KAMELA (POL), 10-6

57kg
GOLD: Selvi ILYASOGLU (TUR) df Tindra DALMYR (SWE), 4-0

BRONZE: Uladzislava KUDZIN (BLR) df Tancholpon KYBALBEKOVA (KGZ), 10-5 BRONZE:Angelina PERVUKHINA (RUS) df Khaliun BYAMBASUREN (MGL), 9-6

65kg
GOLD: Eniko ELEKES (HUN) df Ekaterina OLEINIKOVA (RUS), 10-6

BRONZE: VARSHA (IND) df Duygu GEN (TUR), via fall
BRONZE: Khurshida KASIMOVA (UZB) df Daria KONSTANTYNOVA (UKR), 8-3

73kg
GOLD: Priya MALIK (IND) df Kseniya PATAPOVICH (BLR), 5-0

BRONZE: Lillian FREITAS (USA) df Bukrenaz SERT (TUR), 4-0
BRONZE: Mariia AKULINCHEVA (RUS) df Veronika NYIKOS (HUN), via fall

RESULTS: Semifinal bouts

40kg
GOLD: Alexandra VOICULESCU (ROU) vs Erica PASTORIZA (USA)

SF 1: Erica PASTORIZA (USA) df Anastasiia POLSKA (UKR), 4-0
SF 2: Alexandra VOICULESCU (ROU) df Elvina KARIMZADA (AZE), 6-5

46kg
GOLD: KOMAL (IND) vs Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE)

SF 1: Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE) df Sevval CAYIR (TUR), via fall
SF 2: KOMAL (IND) df Sviatlana KATENKA (BLR), 11-0

53kg
GOLD: Natalia KHRAMENKOVA (RUS) vs Katie GOMEZ (USA)

SF 1: Katie GOMEZ (USA) df Tuba DEMIR (TUR), 9-1
SF 2: Natalia KHRAMENKOVA (RUS) df Annatina LIPPUNER (SUI), 11-6

61kg
GOLD: Sofi TENEVA (BUL) vs Viktoriia KHUSAINOVA (RUS)

SF 1: Viktoriia KHUSAINOVA (RUS) df Nitika NITIKA (IND), via fall
SF 2: Sofi TENEVA (BUL) df Kseniya TSIARENIA (BLR), 6-4

69kg
GOLD: Amit ELOR (USA) vs Yevheniia SIEDYKH (UKR)

SF 1: Yevheniia SIEDYKH (UKR) df HARSHITA (IND), 9-0
SF 2: Amit ELOR (USA) df Viktoryia RADZKOVA (BLR), via fall

#WrestleBudapest: What to watch in women's wrestling

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Turkey Gets First Champ as Four Countries Win #WrestleBudapest WW Titles