#WrestleIstanbul

#WrestleIstanbul: Nichita Makes Golden Return; Mohammadian Shines

By Vinay Siwach

ISTANBUL, Turkey (February 26) -- Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) is back to her old ways. She was once a trailblazer for Moldova, but a disappointing Olympics set her back.

At the Tokyo Games, Nichita began with a bang. She pinned Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) in the first bout but then lost the next bout. A back injury during her quarterfinal against Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL) meant she couldn't wrestle at the senior World Championships in Oslo.

"After the Olympics, I injured my back," Nichita said. "I couldn't train for four months, but now everything is fine."

Nichita marked her return to the mat with a gold medal at 59kg at the Yasar Dogu, Vehbi Emre & Hamit Kaplan Ranking Series event in Istanbul, Turkey. In her run to the top of the podium, she didn't concede a single point.

She began the day with a fall against Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE), then secured another fall against Elif YANIK (TUR) in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, she came out on top of Kateryna ZHYDACHEVSKA (ROU), 10-0.

The final was a similar story. She defeated Zhargalma TSYREMPILOVA TCYRENOVA (RWF), 10-0, in the first period. 

"I am so happy I could win the gold medal at this tournament. It was mentally tough, but it was satisfying to win," Nachita said. 

Nichita, the 23-year-old, hopes she can continue wrestling how she began the year in Istanbul. With the U23 and senior European Championships scheduled inside a month, Nichita is eyeing more top-of-the-podium finishes.

"This tournament means a lot to me since it's the first tournament of the year, and I hope to continue the same way for the rest of the year," she said.

Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL)Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL) pinned Milana DADASHEVA (RWF) in the 53kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL) also put aside the disappointment of a medalless finish at the World Championships in Oslo and took home gold in Istanbul.

Wrestling at 53kg, Bat Ochir moved past former U23 Worlds silver medalist Pooja GEHLOT (IND), 11-1, followed by another technical superiority win over Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB).

It was all but over for the Mongolian in the semifinals as Dominique PARRISH (USA) took an 8-0 lead inside the opening two minutes. But in typical Mongolian style, Bat Ochir threw the American for four and scored the fall, punching her ticket to the final.

"I think our team trains very hard," Bat Ochir said. "We are very confident to pin our opponents."

The final against Milana DADASHEVA (RWF) tested her again. After two initial takedowns and a 4-0 lead, Bat Ochir surrendered two points but managed to pick up two exposures. She led 8-2 after the first 90 seconds.

The second period saw an exchange of three exposure, but Bat Ochir was not having any of it. She only needed 20 seconds in the closing period to secure the fall over Dadasheva.

"I was confident of the pin here as well," she said. "I had a good connection with the coach and understood his instructions. I think my psychological training also helped me to be calm and get the pin."

At 50kg, Amilia VUC (ROU) snatched victory from the jaws of defeat by pinning Polina LUKINA (RWF) despite being thrown twice for four-pointers.

Lukina, a junior European champion, got going with some outrageous trips and was on the verge of victory, but Vuc got a hold of her neck and pinned her younger opponent.

RWF challenged the call asking for a foul-play from Vuc but they lost the challenge, giving the Romanian a clear victory.

The two-time Olympian was surprised to be down 8-0 but never lost sight of her golden hopes. 

"The start was not very good. But I am happy that I did not lose hope and got the touche," Vuc said. "When it was 8-0 for her, I did not understand that because she is not the strongest wrestler, but she knew my techniques. I did my best from there.

"I'm very happy to start the year with gold, and in a month's time, I will prepare for European Championships."

Jacarra WinchesterEven a suplex from Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL) was not enough to win against Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

The USA grabbed two gold medals on Saturday as former world champion Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) won at 55kg, and Oslo bronze medalist Forrest MOLINARI (USA) ascended to the top at 65kg.

Winchester's win was special, as she wrestled her opponents for the first time in her career. The semifinal against Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) stood out as she pinned the Asian champion after building a considerable lead.

"Vinesh was awesome," Winchester said. "I always wanted to wrestle her. My teammates have wrestled her but I have never and I wanted her to be on the same side [of the bracket], and that's what I got. I celebrated at the end [after the win]."

In the final, she led 3-0 when Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL) pulled off a grand suplex. The refs offered four points which gave Krawczyk the lead. But Winchester wanted to wrestle till the last second and that paid off as she turned the Polish wrestler for four points with just seven seconds remaining and won, 7-4.

"This is the first time at Ranking Series event for me," she said. "I was laughing when she got the four because I wanted that competition, and I loved it. Whenever I am down, I just wrestle for full six minutes. It's my last match of the day. So either I can go home sad or give it my all."

Molinari faced a familiar foe in the 65kg final in Mallory VELTE (USA). The two had been wrestling each other since high school, but in 13 attempts, Molinari could not beat Velte.

But in Istanbul, it was a completely different game as Molinari dominated a slow-paced final. Despite giving up a takedown, she scored three of her own to win, 7-4. This was her second Ranking Series gold, the first also coming in Istanbul three years ago.

She also had a big quarterfinal against Emma BRUNTIL (USA). The two had met in the Ivan Yargiun Grand Prix final last month, which the latter won. But Molinari pinned Bruntil to avenge that loss.

The final gold medal for women's freestyle went to Oslo world silver medalist Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), as she beat '19 world bronze medalist Anna SCHELL (GER), 8-2. It mainly was the counters from Bakbergenova that Schell could not stop and conceded the bout.

MohammadianMohammad MOHAMMADIAN (IRI) holds off a shot from Alikhan ZHABRAILOV (RWF) in the 97kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Mohammadian Returns

Two men's freestyle gold medals were awarded on Saturday.

Tokyo Olympian and two-time Ranking Series gold medalist Mohammad MOHAMMADIAN (IRI) returned to competition for the first time since losing at the Tokyo Olympics.

He won the gold medal at 97kg, beating Alikhan ZHABRAILOV (RWF), while Rio Olympic champion and home favorite Taha AKGUL (TUR) claimed the 125kg gold without much trouble.

The 97kg final began with Zhabrailov getting a verbal warning for inactivity. Mohammadian saw this as an opportunity and blasted a double-leg, scoring the match's first two points. He then got a single leg attack for two more points and led 4-0 at the break.

The second period was much slower for Mohammadian, as he was put on the activity clock. He gave up the point, and with 15 seconds remaining, Zhabrailov scored a takedown and cut the lead to 4-3. But his final shot was blocked by the Iranian wrestler, who won his third Ranking Series gold.

At 125kg, Akgul gut-wrenched Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) for a 10-0 win in front of vocal home fans.

The remaining eight freestyle weights will be in action Sunday, the final day of the first Ranking Series of the year.

Taha AKGULTaha AKGUL (TUR) won the 125kg gold in Istanbul. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

WW Results

50kg
GOLD: Emilia VUC (ROU) df Polina LUKINA (RWF), via fall

BRONZE: DOLGORJAV Otgonjargal (MGL) df Amy FEARNSIDE (USA), via fall
BRONZE: Miglena SELISHKA (BUL) df Jasmina IMMAEVA (UZB), via fall

53kg
GOLD: Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL) df Milana DADASHEVA (RWF), via fall

BRONZE: Dominique PARRISH (USA) df Pooja GEHLOT (IND), via fall
BRONZE: Iulia LEORDA (MDA) df Zhuldyz ESHIMOVA (KAZ), 5-0

55kg
GOLD: Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) df Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL), 7-4

BRONZE: Aleksandra SKIRENKO (RWF) df Altyn SHAGAYEVA (KAZ), via fall
BRONZE: Ekaterina ISAKOVA (RWF) df Vinesh PHOGAT (IND), via fall

59kg
GOLD: Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) df Zhargalma TSYREMPILOVA TCYRENOVA (RWF), 10-0

BRONZE: Jowita WRZESIEN (POL) df Zelfira SADRADDINOVA (RWF), 4-0
BRONZE: Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE) df Kateryna ZHYDACHEVSKA (ROU), 8-2

65kg
GOLD: Forrest MOLINARI (USA) df Mallory VELTE (USA), 7-4

BRONZE: Emma BRUNTIL (USA) df Elis MANOLOVA (AZE), 3-2
BRONZE: Khadija JLASSI (TUN) df Uliana TUKURENOVA (RWF), via fall

72kg
GOLD: Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) df Anna SCHELL (GER), 8-2

BRONZE: Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) df Buse CAVUSOGLU TOSUN (TUR), 5-3
BRONZE: Danute DOMIKAITYTE (LTU) df Kseniia BURAKOVA (RWF), via fall

FS Results

97kg
GOLD: Mohammad MOHAMMADIAN (IRI) df Alikhan ZHABRAILOV (RWF), 4-3

BRONZE: Mamed IBRAGIMOV (KAZ) df Mustafa SESSIZ (TUR), 3-2
BRONZE: Kollin MOORE (USA) df Burak SAHIN (TUR), 3-1

125kg
GOLD: Taha AKGUL (TUR) df Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL), 10-0

BRONZE: Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ) df Atsamaz TEBLOEV (RWF), via fall
BRONZE: Daniel LIGETI (HUN) df Magomedgadzhi NURASULOV (SRB), 2-2

#WrestleIstanbul

#WrestleIstanbul: Freestyle Brackets Breakdown

By Eric Olanowski & Vinay Siwach

ISTANBUL, Turkey (February 25) -- The freestyle draws were completed Friday in Istanbul, Turkey for the Yasar Dogu, Vehbi Emre & Hamit Kaplan Ranking Series event.

Once again, it's Turkey and Kazakhstan that have the most wrestlers entered. Both countries have 30 wrestlers for the 10 weight classes.

The USA has 15 wrestlers in Istanbul while Iran has 13. India follows with 12 wrestlers of their own. Mongolia has brought 11 wrestlers.

Three countries have 10 wrestlers in the competitions and those are Georgia, Kyrgyzstan and the Russian Wrestling Federation.

The 65kg category has 26 wrestlers, the most for any weight class in freestyle.

Turkey will have selection bouts before the competition to pick the third wrestler at all 10 freestyle weights.

57kg

57kg (17 entries)

Gold: 13000 points
Silver: 11400 points
Bronze: 10200 points

Former Ranking Series event champion Beka BUJIASHVILI (GEO) and World Championships bronze medalist Horst LEHR (GER) headline a 17-wrestler bracket at 57kg.

Bujiashvili opens up against Seyed AZIMISIYACHEGHAEI (IRI) and he can meet Lehr in the upper side of the bracket.

Lehr, who is also looking to improve his ranking, will have two-time cadet World bronze AMAN (IND) as his biggest test. If he wants to be ranked third after the competition, Lehr needs to win gold.

61kg

61kg (20 entries)

Gold: 13000 points
Silver: 11400 points
Bronze: 10200 points

Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Ravi KUMAR (IND) will a wrestler to follow at 61kg. An exciting class against Suleyman ATLI (TUR) is on the cards if the two can keep winning and reach the semifinals. Kumar begins his campaign against fellow Indian Mangal KADYAN (IND) while Atli starts against Assyl AITAKYN (KAZ).

Atli will also have to go past U23 European champion Teimuraz VANISHVILI (GEO) to reach the semifinals.

The lower side of the bracket is also packed as former U23 world champion Ulukbek ZHOLDOSHBEKOV (KGZ), Russian champion Ramiz GAMZATOV (RWF), and Tokyo Olympian Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) are drawn on the same side.

Zholdoshbekov and Gamzatov could clash in the quarterfinals while Abdullaev is favourite to reach the semifinals.

65kg

65kg (26 entries)

Gold: 13000 points
Silver: 11400 points
Bronze: 10200 points

World champion Zagir SHAKHIEV (RWF) and Russian champion Shamil MAMMEDOV (RWF) are drawn on either side of the bracket and could potentially meet in the final.

But Shakhiev has Joey MCKENNA (USA) and former U23 World silver medalist Adlan ASKAROV (KAZ) on his side of the bracket. Shakhiev and Mckenna can meet in the quarters and Askarov has a good chance to make the semifinals.

World number two Shakhiev can overthrow top-ranked Olympic champion Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) with at least a 10th place finish. Currently, the Russian has 45000 points, and with a 10th-place finish, Shakhiev will get 7480 points, bringing his overall total to 58000 points. That'd be enough to overtake Otoguro, who has 51000.

Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) also has a chance to be top-ranked but Shakhiev will have to lose early as well. The Mongolian is at 44500 points and can grab the top-ranking with a 10th-place finish. That will take his tally to 51980 points, while gold will take him to 57500 points.

But he is on the same side as Mammedov, former world bronze medalist Akhmednabi GVARZATILOV (AZE), former world champion Beka LOMTADZE (GEO) and World bronze and Tokyo Olympian Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN). Lomtadze and Muszukajev wrestler in the first round and winner is likely to get Gvarzatilov.

Ali RAHIMZADE (AZE) and young star Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) are also on the lower side of the bracket and clash in the first round.

70kg

70kg (21 entries)

Gold: 13000 points
Silver: 11400 points
Bronze: 10200 points

World silver medalist Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) and Russian champion Viktor RASSADIN (RWF) are expected to meet in the quarterfinal at 70kg. The winner will most likely get two-time world medalist James GREEN (USA) in the semifinals but Green will have to overcome fellow American teammate Jordan OLIVER (USA) for that.

Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO), bronze medalist in Oslo, can clash with Oslo silver medalist at 65kg Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI) in the semifinals. The two will have to keep their winning streak till then.

In rankings, Akmataliev is ranked second with 37000 points but can go ahead of top-ranked Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL), who has 45000 points. For that, he needs to finish at least 8th. 

Iakobishvili sits third with 31000 points. He can move up to the second rank with a tournament win, as that will take him to 44000 points.

74kg

74kg (18 entries)

Gold: 13000 points
Silver: 11400 points
Bronze: 10200 points

Asian champion Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ), junior world champion Mohmmadsadegh FIROUZPOURBANDPEI (IRI) and Turkey veteran Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) all have ended up on the lower side of the bracket at 74kg. Demirtas can claim his lost glory with a win in front of his home fans.

79kg

79kg (21 entries)

Gold: 13000 points
Silver: 11400 points
Bronze: 10200 points

Favorite to win the weight class Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) begins against Meiir KOSHKINBAYEV (KAZ). Two wins for him to start and he can wrestle Russian Nationals silver in 2020 Gadzhimurad ALIKHMAEV (RWF).

The five-time world champion can cement his place further at the top of the rankings with a medal-winning performance in Istanbul. Burroughs enters the Yasar Dogu with 45000 points. He can add 13000 points for gold, 11400 points for silver and 10200 points for bronze.

Junior Worlds bronze Gourav BALIYAN (IND) and Asian bronze medalist Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI) can put on a show before likely making a semifinal against Burroughs.

Former world champion Hetik CABOLOV (SRB) and Asian champion Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (KGZ) are on the lower side of the bracket. One of the two is likely to make the final.

86kg

86kg (20 entries)

Gold: 13000 points
Silver: 11400 points
Bronze: 10200 points

74kg Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB) is making the jump up to 86kg. He begins his campaign against Maksat SATYBALDY (KAZ).

Two-time junior world champion Mark HALL (USA) is also on the same side and the two can meet in the quarterfinals.

Former U23 Worlds silver medalist Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) and former world number Fatih ERDIN (TUR) can clash in the pre-quarterfinals.

Dauletbekov can be the biggest mover in rankings as well if he wins gold. The Kazak wrestler is currently in the seventh spot with 25000 points, and a medal in Istanbul can move him to the fourth spot.

92kg

92kg (13 entries)

Gold: 11000 points
Silver: 9400 points
Bronze: 8200 points

India’s Deepak PUNIA highlights the top side of the chart at 92kg. He’s moving up from his normal weight of 86kg where he finished in second place at the ’19 World Championships. He’ll likely get Iran’s Asian runner-up from a season ago Ahmad BAZRIGHALEG (IRI) if he wins his opening round match against Shamil ZUBAIROV (AZE).

On the lower side, Erhan YAYLACI (TUR), the U23 world bronze medalist from a season ago, will square off with Ahmed BILICI (TUR). The winner of that match will likely get Ivan Yariguin champion Guram CHERTKOEV (RUS) for a spot in the finals.

97kg

97kg (14 entries)

Gold: 11000 points
Silver: 9400 points
Bronze: 8200 points

Mohammad MOHAMMADIAN (IRI) enters Turkey looking for a third consecutive Ranking Series title. Over the last two seasons, he’s claimed golds at the Matteo Pellicone and the Poland Open. He’s most known for his incredible run at the Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series event where he pinned Olympic champion Kyle SNYDER (USA) en route to winning gold.

Mohammadian is on the bottom side of the 97kg bracket, where he’ll kick off his day against Uzbekistan youngster Muhammadrasul RAKHIMOV (UZB). If he remains unbeaten until the semifinals, he’ll likely get Mongolia’s No. 11 Batzul ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL), who can move into the top ten with a medal in Istanbul. 

On the top side of the bracket, Russia’s European championship wrestle-off between Alikhan ZHABRAILOV (RWF) and Shamil MUSAEV (RWF) could happen in the second round if they get past their opening round opponents. The winner of that match virtually earns a 97kg berth to Budapest.

125kg

125kg (21 entries)

Gold: 13000 points
Silver: 11400 points
Bronze: 10200 points

All eyes will be on Turkish legend Taha AKGUL (TUR). The Rio Olympic champion is on a quest to win his seventh Yasar Dogu title.

Akgul is on the top side of the bracket. His toughest competition will likely come in the quarterfinals against reigning Asian champion Oleg BOLTIN (KAZ).

On the bottom side, Tokyo Olympian Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ) opens up his day against reigning world bronze medalist Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL). Whoever wins that bout will likely square off against Olympian Gennadji CUDINOVIC (GER) or Alisher YERGALI (KAZ), who is moving up from his Tokyo Olympic weight of 97kg.