#WrestleIstanbul: Nichita Makes Golden Return; Mohammadian Shines

Saturday, February 26, 2022 - 20:26 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) 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."

Even 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.

Mohammad 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 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

#WrestleBucharest

Semenov denies Kayaalp European gold, history

Wednesday, February 14, 2024 - 06:31 By Vinay Siwach

BUCHAREST, Romania (February 13) -- Riza KAYAALP (TUR) seemed unstoppable. He got the par terre position, he got the stepout in the second period to reduce the chances of a passivity call against him, the stands were full of his supporters and his family was waiting patiently like everyone else.

Kayaalp was two minutes and 30 seconds away from becoming a 13-time European champion. He was on track. Then Sergei SEMENOV (AIN) wrapped Kayaalp with his arms like a seatbelt and threw the 130kg wrestler for a slam. He held Kayaalp in that position till the referee called it a pin.

In a match where Kayaalp was hoping to go past Aleksandar KARELIN's record of 12 European Championships gold medals, Kayaalp got pinned and fell short. Semenov would get the pin with just over two minutes remaining in the bout.

"I’ve been practicing that throw for a long time, it’s my signature move," Semenov said.

Sergei SEMENOV (AIN) pins Riza KAYAALP (TUR) in the 130kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Leading 1-0 at the break after his par terre advantage, Kayaalp got a stepout to make it 2-0. Semenov remained calm and began pushing Kayaalp toward the zone with a body lock. Kayaalp maintained his distance from Semenov. As Semenov tried to push Kayaalp more, the latter resisted it and Semenov was smart enough to use Kayaalp's forward momentum to complete the throw.

Kayaalp was on the mat. The Bucharest crowd let out a sigh together. Semenov was not letting Kayaalp move. The referee asked for a pin and the judges confirmed it.

A heartbroken and shocked Kayaalp took his time to stand up but he knew that it was over. He will have to wait to be Europe's most successful wrestler.

Semenov on the other hand rushed to his coach who slammed him in a celebration.

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"Everyone knows, that only a few can clinch, but I could do it and I felt that I could make that throw and I’ve done it," Semenov said. "I think we wrestled equally. He pushed me out at the beginning of the second period, but I was calm and I knew I could score points."

Despite his celebrations, Semenov showed to his opponent, walking to him after both were off the mat and sharing a hug.

"I didn’t pay attention to his records. He is a legendary wrestler," he said. "It’s even more enjoyable to win against such wrestlers, there is two times more motivation. It’s possible to say that it’s one of the biggest victories in my career."

Aleksandar KOMAROV (SRB) won his first-ever European Championships. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Turkiye suffered more heartbreak as world champion Ali CENGIZ (TUR) dropped his 87kg final 4-1 against Aleksandar KOMAROV (SRB) who won his first European gold medal.

As soon as the final began, Komarov used an arm drag to pull Cengiz who fled towards the zone. Komarov scored a stepout and was also awarded a point for Cengiz's fleeing. He was awarded the par terre advantage but Cengiz did well to avoid conceding any points. In the second period, Cengiz got the par terre advantage but he appealed to the referee that Komarov was blocking his attack.

The referee called it clean and Turkiye challenged. The jury upheld the decision of the referee, giving one more point to Komarov.

"I am very thrilled, I don't even know what to say, to be honest," Komarov said. "I was ready and I did some good wrestling. I'm very satisfied with everything that happened today."

The 87kg weight class was one of the deepest brackets in Bucharest and Komarov had to go through beating defending champion Istvan TAKACS (HUN), Tokyo Olympic champion Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) and Islam ABBASOV (AZE) in the semifinal. However, Komarov said that he did not think too much about the bracket.

"I didn't look at the draw before the competition day," he said. "When I finally saw the draw, to be honest, I was very surprised in that moment. But, I set my head that I have to suffer and that I have to do what I do and what we practiced at the training."

Bucharest hosted the European Championships in 2019 and Komarov was part of that competition. He finished with a bronze medal which was his first international loss. In January, he was in Zagreb for the Ranking Series and won bronze.

"I went Porec for training camp after Zagreb," he said. "There were 250 athletes and after a couple of days we went back home to rest and then we went to Zrenjanin for 10 days for training."

In two months, Komarov will be looking to win an Olympic quota for Serbia in Baku,

"It is my wish and goal to get quota for the Olympic Games," he said. "I'm focused on that right now, it is my goal, and with God's help everything ends up like I wish to be."

Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) throws Yunus BASAR (TUR) for four points in the 77kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Amoyan wins third gold

Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) won his third consecutive European gold medal and second at 77kg after beating Yunus BASAR (TUR) 7-0 in a very one-sided final.

Basar never got going in the final as Amoyan got the first par terre and scored an out-of-bounds point which he got only after a challenge. Leading 2-0 at the break, there was no change in strategy from Amoyan in the second period and he continued his offense wrestling. Amoyan scored a takedown and then lifted Basr for a four-point throw.

Basar challenged the move but the jury saw no foul in any sequence, giving Amoyan a 7-0 lead and the win.

"Winning third time was particularly challenging because all my opponents were preparing specifically for me. I am thrilled," Amoyan said. "The Turkish wrestler [Basar] is one of the strongest wrestlers in our weight class. I never underestimate him, always prepare to wrestle him 100 percent to show my wrestling, and on the mat, the one who is in the best shape wins at that moment."

Amoyan was a world champion at 72kg but has won two bronze medals since moving to the Olympic weight class of 77kg.

"I'm doing everything to become a world champion in the 77 kg category. I will prepare properly. It's time to forget this victory and move forward. Time will reveal everything," he said. "I will prepare for the Olympics just like I prepare for other tournaments. I need to be mentally prepared to win gold there, and it's not far away."

At 55kg, Artium DELEANU (MDA) became the second Moldova wrestler to became the European champion in Greco-Roman after he pinned Rashad MAMMADOV (AZE).

Mammadov had a 3-0 lead but Deleanu used a body lock to pin Mammadov down in the 55kg final.

Azerbaijan did win a gold medal as world silver medalist Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) defeated Oleksandr HRUSHYN (UKR), 2-1 in the 63kg final. The gold was Mammadov first-ever gold medal at a world or continental championships.

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Artium DELEANU (MDA) df. Rashad MAMMADOV (AZE), via fall (5-3)

BRONZE: Denis MIHAI (ROU) df. Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO), via fall (9-0)
BRONZE: Manvel KHACHATRYAN (ARM) df. Stefan GRIGOROV (BUL), 8-0

63kg
GOLD: Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) df. Oleksandr HRUSHYN (UKR), 2-1

BRONZE: Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL) df. Stefan CLEMENT (FRA), 1-1
BRONZE: Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (AIN) df. Aleksandrs JURKJANS (LTA), 9-0

77kg
GOLD: Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) df. Yunus BASAR (TUR), 7-0

BRONZE: Iuri LOMADZE (GEO) df. Antonio KAMENJASEVIC (CRO), 8-0
BRONZE: Adlet TIULIUBAEV (AIN) df. Alexandrin GUTU (MDA), 13-4

87kg
GOLD: Aleksandar KOMAROV (SRB) df. Ali CENGIZ (TUR), 4-1

BRONZE: Kiryl MASKEVICH (AIN) df. Alex KESSIDIS (SWE), 12-1
BRONZE: Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) df. Islam ABBASOV (AZE), 2-1

130kg
GOLD: Sergei SEMENOV (AIN) df. Riza KAYAALP (TUR), via fall (4-2)

BRONZE: Beka KANDELAKI (AZE) df. Oskar MARVIK (NOR), 2-2
BRONZE: Danila SOTNIKOV (ITA) df. Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO), via fall (9-0)

#WrestleIstanbul: Nichita Makes Golden Return; Mohammadian Shines

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Semenov denies Kayaalp European gold, history