#WrestleIstanbul

#WrestleIstanbul: World Champ Dudova Ready to Make 62kg Her Own

Tuesday, February 22, 2022 - 03:30 By Vinay Siwach

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ISTANBUL, Turkey (February 22) -- The chants of 'bravo, bravo' filled the Dan Kolov stadium as Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) emerged as the new star at 62kg for Bulgaria.

The world champion at 59kg defeated Bulgaria's mainstay at 62kg, Taybe YUSEIN (BUL), in the final of the prestigious Dan Kolov-Nikola Petrov tournament,7-2, and laid claim at the Olympic weight. Now, it will be a two-way battle for the spot on the national team for the Paris Olympics. 

For a wrestler who has been juggling her weight for the majority of her career, Dudova hopes that she can finally settle in the new weight class which is easier and healthier for her.

"When I was cadet, I was around 60kg but not the best wrestler in Bulgaria," Dudova said. "There were other good girls, so coaches used to tell me to reduce my weight so I can participate internationally. Otherwise, I will be only training and losing.

"I have been training for 10 years and I was undecided on 57kg or 62kg," Dudova said. "But 62kg is close to my natural weight so I decided to go for this. Also, with two-morning weigh-ins, it's difficult to cut weight to 57kg."

The weight category is filled with strong wrestlers from around the world. Two-time world champion Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ), Olympic champion Yukako KAWAI (JPN), young star Iryna Koliadenko (UKR), world silver medalist Kayla MIRACLE (USA) and upcoming Nonoka OZAKI (JPN).

But first, the 24-year-old needs to get past the Tokyo bronze medalist and compatriot Yusein.

In January, she wrestled at her first tournament, the Bulgarian Championships, at 62kg. As expected, she faced Yusein in the final. Dudova lost 2-1, but took the lessons from the loss seriously.

"I lost to her [Yusein] but now it's reversed," she said. "This year is just a warm-up for me in this weight. I need some time to adjust accordingly. Training and hard work are the only things that can help you get success. This year may be difficult for me but I'll do it."

As far as body weight is concerned, Dudova began her international career in 2013 wrestling at 60kg. Back then, she hoped to be the 63kg wrestler for her country. But Yusein was an established star at the weight. She even qualified Bulgaria for the 2016 Olympics with a bronze medal at the 2015 Worlds.

Dudova had no choice to reduce weight to 55kg. She even went down to 53kg in the hope to qualify for the Rio Olympics. Unfortunately, it only troubled her with health issues.

Soon after Rio, she moved up to 57kg and won a silver medal at Budapest Worlds. But winning the gold at the '21 World Championships in Oslo, her first world title, gave Dudova the confidence to make the switch to 62kg.

"That was one of the best times for me," she said. "I was so happy. It gave me confidence which is important to take this big step and move on."

The European champion, however, is not new to challenges in her life.

She lost her mother at 14 years of age. Brought up by her grandmother, it was just by chance that Dudova ended up in wrestling. Athletics was her first love.

"I was 12 when I first trained in wrestling," she recalls. "I loved athletics and practiced in 400m. Everyone said that I am perfect for sports."

During her off-season after athletics competitions, it was her uncle that asked Dudova to pay a visit to the wrestling hall. Her uncle, father and others were regular to the gym for their fitness training.

"I went just for fun," Dudova, who is a trained Bulgarian folklore singer, said. "The coach asked me to do some pull-ups and I did little. But he liked my strength and asked me to train."

Since it was off-season, she even participated in a tournament.

"After one month I participated in a tournament I got bronze. I was angry to lose and wanted to win. So I kept training. I lost in the Bulgarian Championships for kids. I trained harder. The ambition to win grew."

That ambition made her go to the wrestling hall again. Training with boys was the only option and she continued that until making the cadet team for Bulgaria.

For the first four years, Dudova did not finish with any medals until she kick-started her career with a Junior European bronze.

Now, she has senior European titles in three different weights and with another European Championships just a month away, Dudova says it will be special to win it at four different weights.

"I am studying all opponents at 62kg," she says.

As a warm-up before the European Championships in Budapest, Dudova will be in Istanbul for the Yasar Dogu Ranking Series event. There too, she is expected to meet Yusein for the third time in two months.

If things fall in place, Dudova won't mind the chants of 'bravo, bravo' again.

#WrestleMonterrey

Pan-American Championships 2025 Preview

Wednesday, May 7, 2025 - 08:11 By Vinay Siwach

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MONTERREY, Mexico (May 6) -- The Pan-American Championships 2025 in Monterrey can be a different story from the past as the United States is sending a much depleted squad for the tournament.

Will other countries rise up this year?  The Pan-American Championships will be live on UWW+ on uww.org and the UWW+ [FloWrestling for the U.S. and Canada] from May 8 to 11. Follow United World Wrestling on Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube and TikTok.

DOWNLOAD/READ THE FULL PREVIEW HERE

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Greco-Roman

The biggest stars in Greco-Roman will be the three entries of Cuba. The nation has both of its Paris Olympic bronze medalists making a return to competition. World champions Luis ORTA (CUB) and Gabriel ROSILLO (CUB) will be in action at 67kg and 97kg respectively and will be the favorite to win the gold medal. It also has Oscar PINO (CUB) at 130kg, who won the Pan-Am gold a couple of years ago.

The U.S. is banking on a mix of youth and experience. Young star Jayden RANEY (USA), who won U17 world title in 2024, is at 55kg, Maxwell BLACK (USA) is making his Pan-Ams debut at 60kg while veteran Ellis COLEMAN (USA) is returning to this tournament after six years.

Former champion Alejandro SANCHO (USA) has moved up a weight class to 72kg, big-throwing Kamal BEY (USA) is at 77kg and history-maker at the U23 World Championships with a silver medal Beka MELELASHVILI (USA) will be the favorite at 82kg. Paris Olympian Payton JACOBSON (USA) will be at 87kg and former U17 world champion Cohlton SCHULTZ (USA) is at 130kg.

For Orta, the path to gold appears simple but he has returning silver medalist Andres MONTANO (ECU) and bronze medalist Nestor ALMANZA TRUYOL (CHI). However, it is unlikely that Orta will be challenged in the bracket. Rosillo will be the favorite at 97kg despite the presence of Paris Olympian and defending champion Kevin MEJIA (HON).

Pino, who won the gold at 130kg in 2023, has Eduard SOGHOMONYAN (BRA) and Schultz in the bracket but has experience and quality on his side.

He has been Cuba’s mainstay at 130kg for long but never competed at the Olympics due to the presence of Mijain LOPEZ (CUB). With Lopez retired after winning a record fifth Olympic gold in Paris, the doors to compete at Olympic have opened up for Pino.

The other weight classes will be evenly contested with the absence of Cuba. At 87kg, Sosruko KODZOKOV (BRA) will look to win his second Pan-Am title as he won the 82kg gold medal last year. He has Paris Olympian Payton JACOBSON (USA) and returning silver medalist Luis AVENDANO ROJAS (VEN) as the other big names in the bracket.

The U.S. will bank on Melelashvili to win the 82kg as he has only two other competitors in the weight class. Melelashvili became the first-ever U.S. Greco-Roman wrestler to win a silver medal at the U23 World Championships last year. Former silver medalist David CHOC HUOC (GUA) and returning bronze medalist Diego MACIAS TORRES (MEX) are entered at 82kg.

At 77kg, former Pan-Am champion Bey will be looking for his second title. Former world champion and veteran Arsen JULFALAKYAN (ARG), wrestling perhaps for the last time, will be his biggest challenger. The two were involved in a thrilling contest in the 2024 Pan-Am Olympic Qualifier last year but Bey hit a clutch throw to beat Julfalakyan 4-2.

Sancho, who won the gold medal at 67kg last year, is at 72kg and will be the best bet to win the gold medal. Former bronze medalist Cristian MEJIA TEPEN (GUA and recently crowned 2025 U23 Pan-Am champion Jorge GOMEZ GARCIA (MEX) will be his biggest tests.

Another one of Mexico's 2025 U23 Pan-Am champion Diego TERRIQUEZ IBARRA (MEX) will be hoping to win the gold at 60kg. But Patrick RODRIGUEZ QUINTO (ECU), who lost to Ibarra in the final last month will look to avenge that loss and upgrade to gold. Yonaiker MARTINEZ CRAVO (VEN), who has multiple age-group Pan-Am medals, will look to make a mark at the senior level.

Angel SEGURA TELLEZ (MEX) won the gold medal at U23 Pan-Ams at 63kg but the senior competition can prove tougher. He has Coleman, a 2012 Olympian for the U.S. and who recently won a bronze medal at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series.

Jeremy PERALTA GONZALEZ (ECU), a silver medalist from 2023, will look to win his first-ever gold medal.

At 55kg, Raney has just Isaac MARIN MATA (MEX) as the only other competitor entered while Colombia's absence from the tournament has offered a chance to a few others to be on the podium in Monterrey.

Women's Wrestling

Three silver and one bronze medalist from the 2024 Paris Olympics are entered in the field for Women's Wrestling. Kennedy BLADES (USA), Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) and Yusneylis GUZMAN (CUB) won silver medals in Paris while Milaimy MARIN POTRILLE (CUB) won bronze.

But the big question will be if the U.S. can dominate Women's Wrestling like it has in recent years.

Undoubtedly, the 76kg weight will be the toughest in Monterrey. Defending champion Genesis REASCO (ECU) has a big task ahead of her with Olympic bronze medalist Marin and world bronze medalist Kylie WELKER (USA) entered in the competition.

Reasco defeated Adeline GRAY (USA), 10-0, last year on her way to the gold. But Marin enjoys a better head-to-head record against Reasco which can put the latter under pressure.

Welker won the gold medal at the World U23 Championships last year and followed it up with a bronze medal at 72kg at the senior level but Pan-Ams will be a huge test for her at a heavier weight category. Reasco had defeated Welker 9-7 at Pan-Am Games in 2023.

Blades, who won silver in Paris at 76kg, continues her new season at 68kg. She will be making her Pam-Am debut and will be the favorite to win the gold medal at 68kg.

At 65kg, world bronze medalist Macey KILTY (USA) will be the favorite to win the gold medal. Former silver medalist Miki ROWBOTTOM (CAN) is also entered.

Former world U20 and U23 silver medalist and returning bronze medalist Audrey JIMENEZ (USA) will hope to improve on her past result at 50kg. For that, she will have to go through Olympic silver medalist Guzman, defending champion Jacqueline MOLLOCANA (ECU), Kamila BARBOSA (BRA) and Madison PARKS (CAN) among others.

53kg has defending champion Yepez who will be the favorite as she returns to competition for the first time since winning the silver medal in Paris. World U20 silver medalist Serena DI BENEDETTO (CAN) and former Pan-Am U20 silver medalist Jaslynn GALLEGOS (USA) are among the challengers.

Canada will be hoping for at least two gold medals, and the Godinez sisters will be the biggest reason. Karla GODINEZ (CAN) at 55kg and Ana at 62kg seem to have a relatively easy path to gold and will be favored to add to their past Pan-Am titles.

Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN), another former Pan-Am champion, can add to the count for Canada.

At 57kg, veteran Luisa VALVERDE (ECU) will look to win a gold medal but she will have to see off Mia FRIESEN (CAN) and Amanda MARTINEZ (USA) among other wrestlers.

Freestyle

The United States won all 10 gold medals last year. Will that be the case this time around? Possible.

The country is counting on a young line-up led by Zahid VALENCIA (USA) to retain their supremacy in the continental championships.

Valencia, who recently defeated Kyle DAKE (USA), will be at 86kg and the favorite to repeat. Veteran Ethan RAMOS (PUR), returning medalist Jorge LLANO (ARG and Steven RODRIGUEZ (VEN) are also there but Valencia clearly has an edge over the field.

At 125kg, former world U23 champion Wyatt HENDRICKSON (USA) will challenge the field. Hendrickson recently made global headlines after beating Gable STEVESON (USA) to win the NCAA title. Hendrickson will look to complete a U.S. hat-trick of gold at this weight class.

Other U.S. young stars include Jaxen FORREST (USA) at 61kg, Ladarian LOCKETT (USA) at 74kg, Trent HIDLAY (USA) at 92kg, and Justin RADEMACHER (USA) at 97kg. Joseph MCKENNA (USA) is one of the relatively experienced wrestlers at 65kg.

Forrest, who is known for his attacking style, will have his task cut out in his first-ever senior tournament. The 2022 world U17 silver medalist can face tough competition from Joseph SILVA (PUR), a three-time consecutive silver medalist at 61kg, losing all finals to American wrestlers.

Lockett won the world U17 gold in 2023 but ended up with a silver medal at the world U20 in 2024. He will be making his senior-level debut at the Pan-Am Championships. It will be a surprise if he misses out on the gold medal in Monterrey despite his young age.

The 92kg weight class has five wrestlers entered and Hidlay will have to beat everyone to win the gold medal. Given his experience, Hidlay shouldn't have a problem navigating the field which has Andrew JOHNSON (CAN), Miguel LAVIELLE RAMIREZ (MEX), Eduardo VEGA GARCIA (PAN), and Edwin MORALES (PUR).

Paris Olympian Roman BRAVO YOUNG (MEX) has emerged as the favorite to win the gold medal at 57kg. Bronze medal at the Zagreb Open Ranking Series event, Bravo Young had an exceptional performance at the 2024 Pan-Am Olympic Qualifying tournament in which he defeated Zane RICHARDS (USA). He will hold the key to denying the U.S. a clean sweep as he has Liam CORNIN (USA) in his weight class.

Eduardo PALAS SEQUEIROS (PER) will be returning to wrestling at 13 years. He last wrestled at the Pan-Am U20 Championships in 2012 in Greco-Roman.

Mexico's other Paris Olympian in Freestyle -- Austin GOMEZ (MEX) -- is at 70kg and has a good chance to win the gold medal as well over the U.S.

Argentina can finally end its drought of a gold medal at the Pan-Am Championships if Agustin DESTRIBATS (ARG) can bring out a performance like last year in which he finished with a silver medal.

This year, he will be among the favorites, along with Peiman BIABANI (CAN) who continues to try and make a mark since switching from Iran to Canada. McKenna is another wrestler who can stop Destribats.

The 97kg weight class can also throw a different winner as returning silver Arturo SILOT (CUB) hopes to upgrade his medal. Former silver medalist Nishan RANDHAWA (CAN) will be among the favorites for gold as well.

The U.S. has Rademacher, a bronze medalist at the 2024 World U20 Championships. He can surely surprise all to win the gold medal and continue the U.S. dominance at this weight class, all thanks to Kyle SNYDER (USA).

Returning bronze medalist Cristian SARCO COLMENAREZ (VEN) and multiple-time medalist Jose DIAZ ROBERTTI (VEN) are also entered at the weight.

At 79kg, Evan WICK (USA) will have his task cut out in the round-robin bracket as his weight class has only five wrestlers. Apart from Wick, Jasmit PHULKA (CAN), Victor HERNANDEZ LUNA (MEX), Jose AMBROCIO GREIFO (PER) and Shane JONES (PUR) are registered.