#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: Greco-Roman Bracket Breakdown

By Eric Olanowski & Vinay Siwach

ISTANBUL, Turkey (February 23) -- The Yasar Dogu, Vehbi Emre & Hamit Kaplan Ranking Series tournament gets underway with the eight weight classes Greco-Roman. The draws for all 10 GR weight classes were released Wednesday in Istanbul.

Turkey and Kazakhstan have the highest number of participants after the draw with 30 and 28 wrestlers respectively. They are followed by Azerbaijan (12), Uzbekistan (10) and India (9).

The bracket breakdown of the draw explains the possible match-ups and the ranking points on offer at the tournament.

Turkey will have selection bouts at seven weights -- 60kg, 63kg, 77kg, 82kg, 87kg, 97kg, and 130kg -- to select the third wrestler in each of those weights. These bouts will take place before the start of the tournament scheduled for 1030 hours local time.

55kg

55kg (7 entries)

Gold: 8000 points
Silver: 6400 points
Bronze: 5200 points

Turkey’s Adem UZUN and Dogus AYAZCI highlight the seven-wrestler Nordic-style bracket. Uzun was last year’s U23 world bronze medalist, while Ayazci is looking to win his Ranking Series.

A third guy to keep an eye on in the 55kg bracket is Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ). The last time he competed was the ’20 Henri Deglane, where he captured a gold medal.

60kg

60kg (10 entries)

Gold – 8000 points 
Silver - 6400 points
Bronze - 5200 points 

At 60kg, Ekrem OZTURK (TUR) and Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) could clash in a second-round matchup.  
 
The Azeri, who won the ’18 world title at 55kg, would have to get past F. TUKHTAEV (UZB) in his first-round matchup to setup the matchup of ’21 European top-three finishers.

63kg

63kg (12 points)

Gold: 8000 points
Silver:  6400 points
Bronze: 5200 points

Reigning 60kg world champion Victor CIOBANU (MDA) is moving up a weight and sits on the top side of the chart. If he wins his first bout, he’ll square off with Lithuania’s Justas PETRAVICIUS for a spot in the semifinals.

Ciobanu will likely have defending Asian champion Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ) or Turkey’s ’21 U23 world silver medalist Ahmet UYAR (TUR).

On the bottom side, Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE) will square off against two-time Ranking Series champion Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB). Mammadov is currently ranked sixth at 63kg with 25000 points. He can jump up to the third spot with a gold or silver medal in Istanbul.

67kg

67kg (12 points)

Gold: 8000 points 
Silver: 6400 points
Bronze: 5200 points

The top half of the 12-man bracket is highlighted by 2020 European champion Morten THORESEN (NOR) is likely to make a safe passage to the final. His biggest threat would be former Asian silver medalist Meiirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ).

Another Kazakhstan wrestler who can show up big time is 63kg Asian champion Sultan ASSETULY (KAZ). A second-round bout against Moldova veteran and continental bronze Donior ISLAMOV (MDA) could be his biggest test to make the final.

72kg

72kg (14 entries)

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

Third-ranked Kristupas SLEIVA (LTU) opens up his day on the top side against last year’s Vehbi Emre runner up Murat DAG (TUR).

Sleiva has 31000 points and is currently ranked third. A gold-medal finish will give him 11000 points [14 participants] and take him to 42000. He'd move ahead of current second-ranked Sergei KUTUZOV (RWF) who has 37000 points. Even if he finishes as low as eighth, the Lithuanian will be ahead of Kutuzov.

Other guys to pay attention to on the top side are Ulvi Ganizadeh (AZE) and Ensar KARABACAK (TUR).  

Ganizadeh is a young stud who finished last year’s U23 World Championships with a bronze medal while Karabacak is looking to improve on his bronze-medal finish from last year’s Vehbi Emre.

On the bottom side of the bracket, the most credentialed guy is Poland’s Mateusz BERNATEK. Last year, he fell to Tokyo Olympian Mate NEMES (SRB) in the European finals and finished with a silver medal.

77kg

77kg (13 entries)

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

The top side of the bracket will be highlighted by the opening round matchup between Victor NEMES (SRB) and Aram VARDANYAN (UZB). The Serbian was a world champion in ’17 and a world bronze medalist in ’18, while the Uzbekistan wrestler was on the losing end of the world finals in Nur-Sultan.

The bottom side of the chart is highlighted by fifth-ranked Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE). Last season, the Azeri fell in the world finals to two-time Olympic champion Roman VLASOV (RUS) and enters into the competition with 37000 Ranking Series points. He can break into top-three with a medal finish. A bronze would take him past third-placed Vlasov, who has 45000 points.

But to do so, he’ll have to get through India’s SAJAN. If he’s successful in that matchup, it would set up a colossal matchup of world runner-ups, where he’ll go toe-to-toe with Kazakhstan’s Demeu ZHADRAYEV.

The winner of Suleymanov and Zhadrayev will likely clash with last year’s world bronze medalist Gevorg SAHAKYAN (POL) in the finals.

82kg

82kg (10 entries)

Gold: 8000 points
Silver: 6400 points
Bronze: 5200 points

World champion Rafiq HUSEYNOV (AZE) headlines the 11-man bracket. He could meet Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) in the semifinals which will be a rematch of the '21 World Championships from Oslo. Emrah KUS (TUR), who had defeated Akbudak at the Turkey national championships, is also on the same side of the bracket.

Huseynov and Akbudak are ranked first and second with 45000 and 37000 points, respectively. Akbudak cannot jump above Huseynov even with a gold medal.

87kg

87kg (12 entries)

Gold: 8000 points
Silver: 6400 points
Bronze: 5200 points

Olympic bronze and world champion Zarubi DATUNASHVILI (SRB) looks like a clear favorite to reach the final in Istanbul. His biggest threat could be 82kg Asian champion Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB). The two are likely to meet in the semifinals.

Datunashvili will be consolidating his top position with gold as he increases his ranking points to 90200.

Arkadiusz KULYNYCZ (POL) can also improve his rank from seventh (31000 points) to top-three if he wins gold.

The lower side of the bracket can see a Sunil KUMAR (IND) vs Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ) bout with the former hoping to avenge his Asian Olympic Qualifiers loss from 2021.

97kg

97kg (19 entries)

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

The biggest bracket of Greco-Roman, 19 wrestles, has veteran wrestler Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) wrestling European silver medalist Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA) in the first round. The winner will likely be up against former European champion Felix BALDAUF (NOR) in the semifinal.

Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Tadeusz MICHALIK (POL) and fifth-place wrestler Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) can be the likely semi-finalists from the lower side of the bracket.

The Poland wrestler has a good chance to be in the top four if he can pull out a gold-medal win. He's currently ranked sixth with 34200 points but could jump to fourth with 13000 points. That will raise his tally to 47200 points.

130kg

130kg (14 entries)

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

Home star and 10-time European champion Riza KAYAALP is the favorite to win the category. He is likely to face Mantas KNYSTAUTAS (LTU) in the quarterfinals, a rematch from the Tokyo Games which Kayaalp won 5-1. Kayaalp, however, should have a smooth-sailing to the gold medal bout.

A gold in Istanbul can give the Tokyo bronze medalist can help him jump from the seventh spot in rankings to fourth. He has 34200 points, and the addition of an 11000-point gold medal will give him 45200 points. That'd place him 200 points ahead of the current fourth placer, Aliakbar YOUSOFI (IRI).