#WrestleTokyo

#WrestleTokyo Olympic Games Preview: 97kg

Friday, July 30, 2021 - 12:29 By Eric Olanowski

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TOKYO, Japan (July 21) – Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS), Kyle SNYDER (USA) and Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE) head into the Tokyo Olympic Games looking to add a second Olympic title to their storied resumes. Sadulaev and Snyder won Olympic titles in Rio while Sharifov claimed his gold at the London Olympic Games.

Sadualev is unbeatably the world's top wrestler across all styles. The 25-year-old, who hails from the village of Tsurib, Dagestan, is up a weight class from his Rio title-winning weight of 86kg. 

Sadulaev, known worldwide as "The Tank," defeated fellow Olympic champions Snyder and Sharifov in back-to-back world finals and brought his overall world gold medal tally to four. 

But, those wins came after a heartbreaking loss to his American rival in the '17 world finals, dubbed as #SnyderLaev.

In '18, Sadualev avenged that Paris loss in spectacular fashion. In the opening minute of the long-awaited second meeting, he pinned Snyder, the then-reigning two-time world champion and Olympic gold medalist. The following year, he shutout Sharifov, 4-0, in the 97kg gold-medal match and captured his fourth world title. In total, he's claimed world gold in '14, '15, '18 and '19.

Sadualev is the top-seeded wrestler at 97ig and is trailed by Snyder, Alisher YERGALI (KAZ) and Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD).

Yergali is seeded third at the weight. The 22-year-old from the Kulan, Merke Region of Kazakhstan, comes into Tokyo riding a four-tournament medal streak. He finished in second place at this year's Asian Championships. He ended his campaigns with bronze medals at the '21 Poland Open Ranking Series event and '20 Asian Championships and Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series event. 

Nurov is seeded fourth and will sit on the same side of the bracket as the man who ended his quest to reach the world finals, Sadulaev. Although he dropped his semifinals match in Nur-Sultan to "The Tank," Nurov won four matches and defeated Yergali in the bronze-medal match at the '19 World Championships. 

In addition to the three Olympic champions entered, Rio Olympic bronze medalists Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB) and Albert SARITOV (ROU) are other names to highlight on the 97kg entry list. 

Meanwhile, there's a long list of former world medalists that also have Tokyo medal aspirations. Abraham de Jesus CONYEDO RUANO (ITA), Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI), Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO) and Reineris SALAS PEREZ (CUB) are four medal hopefuls who can disrupt the pecking order.

Mohammadian, a '14 world bronze medalist, showed in early '20 that he's worthy of sharing the mat with the heavy hitters at the weight. At the '20 Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series event, he outscored his five opponents 41-0 en route to winning gold. His day was highlighted with a seismic win by pin over Snyder, but he also scored wins over a U23 world champion, a world bronze medalist and a world fifth-place finisher.

Since that Roman win last year, Mohammadian, the son of two-time Olympic silver medalist Askari MOHAMMADIAN (IRI), has continued his hot streak. He's won gold in the other two competitions he's entered. He won the Asian Olympic Qualifier and the Poland Open and earned the Iranian Olympic nod over Ali SHABANI (IRI) and Alireza KARIMI (IRI).

Odikadze is a guy who is always in the medal hunt. After consecutive World and Olympic fifth-place finishes '14, '15, '16 and '17, he finally broke down that wall and claimed a world bronze at the '18 World Championships. Since his fifth-place Tokyo Olympic qualification finish at the '19 World Championships, the 32-year-old Georgian won back-to-back bronze medals at the European Championships.

Conyedo Ruano, a '18 world bronze medalist, won the World Olympic Qualifier and punched his ticket to Tokyo. But, the former-Cuban-turned-Italian has struggled to put together back-to-back top-five finishes. In his last six appearances, he's struggled to put together consecutive podium finishes.

Cuba's explosive Salas Perez has a sneaky shot to pull an unexpected upset. He's a three-time world medalist. He made back-to-back world finals appearances in '13 and '14, but fell in both of those bouts. The 34-year-old will be wrestling in his second Olympic Games. He finished in fifth place at the '16 Rio Olympic Games.

Although Suleyman KARADENIZ (TUR) is relatively inexperienced at 97kg, he's a guy to keep on your radar. He finished in eighth place at 92kg at the '19 World Championships but has wowed in his move up to 97kg. He made his initial ascent up to the Olympic weight at the '20 Individual World Cup. He won a bronze in Belgrade, then won gold at the International Ukrainian Tournament and silvers at the European Championships and European Olympic Qualifier. 

Wrestling at the Tokyo Olympic Games kicks off August 1-7 at the Makuhari Messe with 97kg action beginning on August 6.

97kg
No. 1 Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS)
No. 2 Kyle Frederick SNYDER (USA)
No. 3 Alisher YERGALI (KAZ)
No. 4 Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD)
Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE)
Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO)
Mohamed SAADAOUI (TUN)
Mohammed FARDJ (ALG)
Reineris SALAS PEREZ (CUB)
Jordan STEEN (CAN)
Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR)
Suleyman KARADENIZ (TUR)
Mohammadhossein Askari MOHAMMADIAN (IRI)
Magomed Idrisovitch IBRAGIMOV (UZB)
Abraham de Jesus CONYEDO RUANO (ITA)
Albert SARITOV (ROU)

#WrestleZagreb

Bisultanov stamps authority at 87kg with Zagreb Open gold

Saturday, February 8, 2025 - 20:19 By Vinay Siwach

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ZAGREB, Croatia (February 9) -- David LOSONCZI (HUN) must have thought that Saturday was a perfect chance to avenge his Paris 2024 loss to Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) at the Zagreb Open.

Bisultanov, however, wasn't keen on that.

READ MORE: Zagreb Open Day 4 Results

The Paris bronze medalist put on an even better show than the one six months ago and beat Losonczi in a more dominant fashion, winning the gold medal at the 87kg weight class in Zagreb, claiming his first-ever Ranking Series gold.

"I'm not even in good shape," Bisultanov said. "It's crazy because after the [U23] World Championships, my coach and me were talking about how I can just enjoy my wrestling. Before it was like, I had to make the results. Now, I have all the results. At every tournament, I just have to enjoy, be calm, wrestle, and then go back."

While Paris was a dull affair with Bisultanov pulling off a 2-1 one, Zagreb saw him hit all the right notes despite falling behind early against the 2023 world champion.

Losonczi got the first par terre advantage and Bisultanov, who has struggled with his ground defense in the past, gave up a gut wrench but did not let Losonczi run away with it. 

The former European champion roared back after being 3-0 down, first with a stepout, then a counter body throw for two. Losonczi was docked two points for fleeing and asked to restart in par terre. However, Bisultanov did not score from there.

With a 5-3 lead at the break, Bisultanov kept the pressure on Losonczi who seemed to be tiring out as the final went on. After some failed attempts, Losonczi did score a stepout in the final few seconds but Bisultanov was well in control of the final and won 5-4.

"I'm so happy because this is my first ranking series gold and I beat very good guys," he said.

Bisultanov's run in Zagreb included a few impressive victories at 87kg. He began with a 5-0 win over U20 world champion Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ), blanked Islam ABBASOV (AZE) 4-0 and planned out a 1-1 victory over Milad ALIRZAEV (AIN).

Earlier in his career, Bisultanov conceded points from par terre but he brought out his best defense in Zagreb, giving up two points only in the final.

"I am more happy because I wanted to try some things out here that I will be better at for the World Championships like improving my par terre," he said. "I am definitely more confident with my wrestling after Paris Olympics. Normally, maybe I would panic after a gut wrench. [In the final], I was behind 3-0 against a very tough guy. But I started immediately and then got five points very quickly."

Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN)The only gut wrench Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) gave up was in the final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

A few of those changes include score stepouts when he gets a chance. Undoubtedly, Bisultanov uses his short stature against taller wrestler to get under their shoulders and push them out.

"It's good for my style because I want to move forward all the time, so my shoulder is below their shoulder," he said. "I'm smaller than them, then it's easier to get down on the hook. It's the small things that make a big difference."

The former European champion will skip this year's European Championships in April and participate in two more Ranking Series events, in Tirana and Budapest, before the World Championships in September.

"I will skip Europeans," he said. "The main goal is World Championships. For Europeans, you have to prepare to be 100 percent and I have already won it before. I need to get some [ranking] points for the World Championships and not think too much about it."

Sergei STEPANOV (AIN)Sergei STEPANOV (AIN), left, defeated Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) 4-3 in the 77kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 77kg, Sergei STEPANOV (AIN) ran through a top field and won the gold medal by beating former world silver medalist Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) 4-3 in the final.

Stepanov was last in action at the 2021 U23 World Championships in which he won a bronze medal. For the last four years, Stepanov has been away from international wrestling.

Returning to the mat for the first time since 2021, Stepanov scored wins over Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) 4-0 in the quarterfinal and then destroyed Sergei KUTUZOV (AIN) in the semifinal, winning 8-0. He performed a spectacular back lift throw from par terre for five points against Kutuzov that got the applaud from the crowd.

Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA)Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) defeated Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) 7-4 in the 57kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Women's Wrestling

Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) survived a late headlock throw from U23 world champion Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) in the 57kg final to win the gold medal 7-4. Winchester and Aliyeva were the only two wrestlers competing in the weight class and the final lived up to the expectations.

Winchester led 7-2 and Aliyeva kept trying to succeed in a 2-on-1. She managed to score a takedown with 20 seconds on the clock to cut the lead to 7-4 and then headlocked Winchester for a big throw and was awarded four points for it as she claimed a 8-7 win.

But the United States challenged and on review, the move was cancelled as it was not finished as the clock expired.

"It was kind of a dual meet match but a good match," Winchester said. "I have a lot stuff to take from the match. I figured that I was going to win from how the match was going, but just the mindset of finishing it. I know I got the experience. No matter if it is one match, five matches or 10, you still got be present in the moment and not look ahead."

Skylar GROTE (USA)Skylar GROTE (USA) wrestles Veronika VILK (CRO) in 72kg round-robin bout. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

The U.S. won two more gold medals at 72kg and 76kg as Skylar GROTE (USA) and Yelena MAKOYED (USA) dominated their weight classes for the top medal.

Grote, competing in a Nelson bracket, had four wins out of four bouts with three technical superiorities. In the Round 5 bout against Paula LECARPENTIER (FRA) Grote settled for a 2-0 win.

The bronze medal in this weight class was claimed by Veronika VILK (CRO) to a loud cheer from the home fans. Vilk pinned Noemi OSVATH NAGY (HUN) to claim the medal. In 2022, Vilk became Croatia's first-ever wrestling world champion at any level or style.

"I feel amazing and so proud of myself," Vilk said. "I don't know how to explain this. In my home, in my country, amazing."

The 18-year-old hails from Slatina, a city in north-east Croatia but trains in Koprivnica, a city in north Zagreb, where she also attends high school.

"For my weight category, it's difficult to get partners," she said. "I train with boys which is very hard. When I have camps, I train with other girls."

Makoyed, a U23 world champion, claimed gold medal at 76kg after winning all three bouts that she competed in a four-wrestler bracket. Makoyed pinned two of her opponents and won the third via superiority.

RESULTS

Women's Wrestling

57kg
GOLD: Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) df. Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE), 7-4

72kg
GOLD: Skylar GROTE (USA)
SILVER: Paula LECARPENTIER (FRA)
BRONZE: Veronika VILK (CRO)

76kg
GOLD: Yelena MAKOYED (USA)
SILVER: Valeria TRIFONOVA (AIN) 
BRONZE: Kamile GAUCATE (LTU)

Greco-Roman

77kg
GOLD: Sergei STEPANOV (AIN) df. Zotlan LEVAI (HUN), 4-3

BRONZE: Sergei KUTUZOV (AIN) df. Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE), 3-1
BRONZE: Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA) df. Aram VARDANYAN (UZB), 3-1

87kg
GOLD: Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) df. David LOSONCZI (HUN), 5-4

BRONZE: Islam ABBASOV (AZE) df. Milad ALIRZAEV (AIN), 5-5
BRONZE: Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) df. Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB), 5-0