#WrestleSofia

#WrestleSofia Weight-to-Watch: 74kg

By Eric Olanowski

SOFIA, Bulgaria (April 30) --- One of the biggest questions coming into next week's (May 6-9) World Olympic Qualifier: Can Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) keep his hot streak alive and punch Slovakia’s ticket to the Olympic Games?

To do so, Salkazanov will have to reach the finals in one of the must-watch weight classes in Bulgaria, 74kg.

Last weekend, Salkazanov became the third Slovakian wrestler to win a European gold medal, and he did so by scoring improbable come-from-behind-wins against a two-time world champion, a world silver medalist and a U23 world champion.

Salkazanov ran through Switzerland’s Marc DIETSCHE in the opening round, then threw two-time world champion Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) to his back with less than 10 seconds left and won, 6-2. That set up a quarterfinals match against ’18 world silver medalist Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO). With a spot in the semifinals on the line, Salkazanov trailed Kentchadze, 5-0, but scored six unanswered points in the second period and upset the Georgian Tokyo Olympian, 6-5. He then erased a five-point deficit for a second consecutive match and moved into the finals with a surprising 6-5 win over tournament-favorite and Individual World Cup champion Razambek ZHAMALOV (RUS). In the finals, the Slovakian only needed five minutes to uproot Miroslav KIROV (BUL), 10-0 in the finals.

Salkazanov highlights the loaded 36-man bracket in Sofia that features a slew of world and Olympic medalists, including Olympic bronze medalist Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) and world champion Hetik CABOLOV (SRB).

Rio bronze medalist Demirtas will be tasked with trying to book Turkey their fifth Olympic berth. He’s no stranger to being in this position. Demirtas was here in ’12 and ’16. He fell short in ’12 but got the job done and won gold at the Ulaan-Baatar Last Change Qualifier before running to a podium finish in Brazil.

On Wednesday, the IOC Executive Board accepted the application for a change of nationality for Hetik CABOLOV (SRB) -- formally known as Khetik TSABALOV (RUS).

Cabolov defeated two-time world champion Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS) in the ’20 Russian National semifinals but fell to Razambek Zhamalov in the finals – ending his hopes of representing Russia at the Tokyo Olympic Games. Shortly after that loss, he transferred to Serbia and competed for them at the ’21 European Championships. Cabolov had a wild back and forth match with Kentchadze but fell, 10-6, and dropped to a 14th-place finish.

Continental champions Ogbonna JOHN (NGR) (Africa), Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (KGZ) (Asia) and Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (BLR) (Europe) are also entered at the weight.

Two other dark horses to keep an eye on are Ali UMARPASHAEV (BUL) and Mitchell FINESILVER (ISR).

In his last showing, Ali UMARPASHAEV (BUL) reached the semifinals European Olympic Qualifier and was four minutes away from punching Bulgaria’s ticket to the Olympic Games. He led Avtantil Kentchazde 6-0 but got caught in a cradle and surrendered the fall.

Finsilver is coming off a bronze-medal finish at the European Championships. He won three matches and became Israel’s first European medalist since ’91.

74kg
Francisco de Deus KADIMA (ANG)
Jorge Ivan LLANO (ARG)
Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM)
Elias Lauofo VAOIFI (ASA)
Simon MARCHL (AUT)
Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (BLR)
Ali Pasha Ruslanovich UMARPASHAEV (BUL)
Jasmit Singh PHULKA (CAN)
Leon Juan Carlos PERALTA LANAS (CHI)
Nestor Joaquin TAFUR BARRIOS (COL)|
Julio Rafael RODRIGUEZ ROMERO (DOM)
Jonatan ALVAREZ DIAZ (ESP)
Aimar ANDRUSE (EST)
Nicolae COJOCARU (GBR)|
Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE)
Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN)
Amit Kumar DHANKHAR (IND)
Mitchell Louis FINESILVER (ISR)
Mathayo Matonya MAHABILA (KEN)
Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (KGZ)
Byungmin GONG (KOR)
Evgheni NEDEALCO (MDA)
Byambadorj BAT ERDENE (MGL)
Ogbonna Emmanuel JOHN (NGR)
Abdullrahman Ibrahim A IBRAHIM (QAT)
Zurab KAPRAEV (ROU)
Mohamed SESAY (SLE)
Malik Michael AMINE (SMR)
Hetik CABOLOV (SRB)
Marc DIETSCHE (SUI)
Tajmuraz Mairbekovic SALKAZANOV (SVK)
Alymuhammet OVEZMYRADOV (TKM)
Ayoub BARRAJ (TUN)
Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR)
Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR)

#WrestleBudapest

#WrestleBudapest: Women's wrestling bracket reactions

By Vinay Siwach

BUDAPEST, Hungary (March 29) – The women's wrestling will begin Wednesday at the European Championships and the brackets for the 10 weight classes were released.

The European Championships is the first competition in which the four-seed system is being used and all weight categories were drawn after considering the seeds.

Ukraine will also be part of the women's competition and is allowed to replace the wrestler at any weight class if the name entered is not able to participate.

50kg (11 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Emilia VUC (ROU)
No. 2 Miglena SELISHKA (BUL)
No. 3 Anna LUKASIAK (POL)
No. 4 Evin DEMIRHAN YAVUZ (TUR)

The top two seeds Emilia VUC (ROU) and Miglena SELISHKA (BUL) are expected to reach the final at 50kg. But for that, Vuc will first have to wrestle the winner of Nataliia KLIVCHUTSKA (UKR) and Emanuela LIUZZI (ITA).

Fourth seed Evin DEMIRHAN YAVUZ (TUR) has Lisa ERSEL (GER) in the quarterfinal and the winner will reach the semifinal from the upper side of the bracket.

If Selishka wants to reach the semifinal, she has to get past one of Szimonetta SZEKER (HUN) or Turkan NASIROVA (AZE). In most likelihood, the semifinal will be against third seed Anna LUKASIAK (POL) who has to wrestler Julie SABATIE (FRA) or Emilia CIRICU BUDEANU (MDA).

In rankings, Vuc and Selishka are also fighting for the second spot and whoever finishes better, will be ranked second.

53kg (11 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Iulia LEORDA (MDA)
No. 2 Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL)
No. 3 Emma MALMGREN (SWE)
No. 4 Annika WENDLE (GER)

Top seed Iulia LEORDA (MDA) has a place in the quarterfinal of the 11-wrestler bracket. But if she wants to reach the semifinal, she will have to beat one of the three-time Olympian Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) or Tatiana DEBIEN (FRA).

For fourth-seed Annika WENDLE (GER), Zenyep YETGIL (TUR) can prove to be a big problem.

On the lower side of the bracket, Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR) is likely to the same fourth-seed junior world champion Emma MALGREM (SWE) in the quarters. The semifinal can then see one of them facing the winner of Irena BINKOVA (BUL) and Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL).

A big shift in rankings is expected as Leorda, who is third, can dethrone top-ranked Bolortuya BAT OCHIR (MGL) by winning the gold.

55kg (9 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR)
No. 2 Andreea ANA (ROU)

In the top two seeds of the weight class hold, Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) and U23 world and European champion Andreea ANA (ROU) are expected to wrestle for the gold medal.

The two are the most accomplished wrestler in the bracket and only a big surprise will stop her from reaching the gold medal bout.

57kg (9 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL)
No. 2 Anhelina LYSAK (POL)
No. 3 Sandra PARUSZEWSKI (GER)
No. 4 Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR)

Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL) is seeded number one for the weight class and will face the winner of Jenna HEMIAE (FIN) and Tamara DOLLAK (HUN).

But the quarterfinal between number two seed and U23 world champ Anhelina LYSAK (POL) and defending champion Alina HRUSHYNA AKOBIIA (UKR) will be the biggest bout of this weight class as the two have the potential to win the gold.

59kg (7 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE)
No. 2 Jowita WRZESIEN (POL)
No. 3 Anastasia NICHITA (MDA)

Since there were only seven participants in the 59kg weight class, the brackets were drawn in two groups. Third seed and former European champion Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) is the favorite to win the gold in the weight class and she is in Group B.

But it won't be easy for her as Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) is also in the same group. She had defeated Nichita at the U23 World Championships last year.

62kg (12 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Taybe YUSEIN (BUL)
No. 2 Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR)
No. 3 Luisa NIEMESCH (GER)

In the 12-wrestler bracket at 62kg, Olympic bronze medalist Taybe YUSEIN (BUL) is seeded number one with Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) taking the second seed.

Taybe YUSEIN (BUL), ranked third with 43200 points, has to reach the final in Budapest to overtake second-ranked Olympic champion Yukako KAWAI (JPN) [51000 points].

Ilona PROKOPEVNIUK (UKR) is ranked ninth with 25000 points. A gold will improve her rank to sixth. Anything less than a bronze finish will not help the Ukrainian improve her rankings.

Luisa NIEMESCH (GER), ranked 20th, will jump to the 13th spot if she can reach the medal bouts.

65kg (6 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Kriszta INCZE (ROU)
No. 2 Elis MANOLOVA (AZE)
No. 3 Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR)
No. 4 Asli TUGCU (TUR)

There are only six participants in the bracket divided into two groups of three wrestlers each. Kriszta INCZE (ROU) is the top seed and she has fourth seed Asli TUGCU (TUR) and Sofiya GEORGIEVA (BUL) in her group. Two from the group will qualify for the semifinal.

In the second group, Tokyo Olympian Elis MANOLOVA (AZE) and Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR) are placed together with Viktoria VESSO (EST). The two from this group will also advance to the semifinal.

The semifinalists will be placed in cross-style with the topper of Group A facing the second-placed wrestler in Group B and vice-versa.

68kg (8 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE)
No. 2 Natalia STRZALKA (POL)

The 68kg weight class has only two seeded wrestlers which means that they can only wrestle in the final.

But 65kg world champion Irina RINGACI (MDA) is wrestling one weight class up and she could not have asked for a tougher test against former world champion Alla BELINSKA (UKR). The winner of this bout will face the winner of top-seed Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) and U23 European silver medalist Amina CAPEZAN (ROU) in the semifinal.

In the lower side of the bracket, Pauline LECARPENTIER (FRA) and Noemi SZABADOS (HUN) clash in the first quarterfinal while Natalia STRZALKA (POL) and Asli DEMIR (TUR) clash in the other quarterfinal.

72kg (9 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Anna SCHELL (GER)
No. 2 Buse CAVUSOGLU TOSUN (TUR)
No. 3 Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU)

After their intense battle in Istanbul, Anna SCHELL (GER) and Buse CAVUSOGLU TOSUN (TUR) will resume their rivalry in Budapest. The two can only meet in the final as the two are top-two seeds.

But to reach there, Schell will likely go through U23 world champion Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) in her first bout.

For Tosun, Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) is the first stop and if she wins the tie, she will face one of Patrycja SPERKA (POL) or Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU).

Schell can be top-ranked if she can win the gold Thursday but fourth-ranked Tosun has no luck when it comes to rankings. She will remain at the fourth spot even if she wins the gold medal. She will have 43000 points and be tied with world champion Masako FURUICHI (JPN) and silver medalist Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ). Since Bosun won a bronze, she cannot go over the two finalists in Oslo.

76kg (12 participants)

Seeds:
No. 1 Epp MAE (EST)
No. 2 Yasemin ADAR (TUR)
No. 3 Francy RAEDELT (GER)
No. 4 Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU)

World silver medalist Epp MAE (EST) has never beaten Tokyo bronze medalist Yasemin ADAR (TUR) in their three meetings. Now, she may have another chance if the two top-seeded wrestlers can win and reach the final.

Her first bout will be against the winner of Enrica RINALDI (ITA) and Fanni NAGY NAD (SRB). If she manages to reach the semifinal, one of Catalina AXENTE (ROU), Georgina NELTHORPE (GBR) or Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU) will be her opponent.

On the lower side, Adar will have either Mariya ORYASHKOVA (BUL) or Romana VOVCHAK (UKR) in the quarterfinals.

But Martina KUENZ (AUT) will be looking to avenge her loss over Adar from the World Olympic Qualifiers in Sofia. The two are likely to meet in the semifinal.