Grappling

2019 European Grappling Championship

Saturday, April 6, 2019 - 16:45 By

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Bucharest, Romania (April 6th) –After an action-filled first day of No-Gi Grappling yesterday, the athletes put on the Gi and tied their belts for action in Grappling. Day 2 was just as good, athletes showcased their adaptability and utilized the Gi to the fullest to tangle up their opponents with sweeps from the guard and chokes from all positions and every angle.

Men’s Grappling

World silver medalist in 2018 and veteran of the 62KG division, Dmytro BARANOV (UKR) came better prepared than ever to this year's European edition. BARANOV (UKR) won 3 matches on his way to the final including a redemption match against France’s Anthony DE OLIVEIRA who defeated him in the final of No-GI yesterday. In the finals against Akhmed Zulpukarovitch MAGOMEDOV (RUS), his veteran's experience proved the difference, winning the match 5-5 ( criteria).

Khachbar KHACHILAEV (RUS) aggression and takedown oriented game were too much for his opponents over the course of both days. At +100KG this explosive athlete was all over his opponents winning gold in both styles. In the final of Grappling, Abdel Hakim DJABALI (FRA) was a game opponent but fell short 5-2.

Women’s Grappling

One gold medal was not enough for Svitlana SKRYPNYK (UKR). After winning big yesterday she followed up with an equally impressive performance in the Gi. Taking on 4 opponents on her way to the finals, SKRYPNYK (UKR) defeated all including the bronze medal winner in No-Gi Anzhelika PEKH (RUS). In the finals match  Polina KRUPSKAIA (RUS) proved to be her toughest test of the day. After an early back take to score 4 points, SKRYPNKY (UKR) was forced to make use of her skilled guard retention to hold off the surging Russian. The 4 points was just enough for the win and with it the title 53KG.

Grappling Team Results:
1.) Russia
2.) Ukraine
3.) Poland

Next up for Grappling and Grappling No-GI will be the Pan-American Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina on  April 15th and 16th. Make sure to catch it all on United World Wrestling.

 

#WrestleZagreb

Maroulis returns to Worlds final after three years

Tuesday, September 16, 2025 - 20:38 By Vinay Siwach

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ZAGREB, Croatia (September 16) -- Helen MAROULIS (USA) wrestled three bout on Tuesday at the World Championships and secured three pins. She spent only 6 minutes and 28 seconds in those three pins to reach the 57kg final at the World Championships on Tuesday in Zagreb.

Maroulis, a two-time world champion, will now wrestle for gold against Il Sim SON (PRK), one of the two wrestlers from the DPR Korea to make it to the final on Tuesday.

In all three of her pins, Maroulis used the iconic foot-sweep to get the fall. The first victim was Emine CAKMAK (TUR) who was pinned in a minute. Japan's world U23 champion Himeka TOKUHARA (JPN) held her fort for some time but Tokuhara missed a shot and Maroulis got the two-on-one before sweeping her for the fall in 2 minutes and 17 seconds.

In the semifinals, Maroulis wrestled European champion Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (UWW) and took a 1-0 lead for the latter's inactivity. But as soon as the second period began, Maroulis went straight to work and hit the sweep to get the fall and a place in the final.

She will face an unfamiliar challenge in the final as  Il Sim SON (PRK) who defeated Olympic bronze medalist Kexin HONG (CHN), 12-2, in the other semifinal. Son was one of the two finalist for the DPR Korea, a country which won its gold at 55kg on Tuesday.

The other wrestler from the DPR Korea to reach the final was Asian bronze medalist Myonggyong WON (PRK) who handed 2021 world champion Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) her first international loss.

Yoshimoto, Asian champion in 2025, had it under control for the most the match before conceding a takedown with just 23 seconds left on the clock. Won was relentless in her attacks to break Yoshimoto in the final 20 seconds.

For the gold, she will face 2024 world U20 champion Yu ZHANG (CHN) who secured a fall over Munkhnar BYAMBASUREN (MGL) after taking a 9-0 lead.

At 65kg, former world champion Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) defeated another world champion Irina RINGACI (MDA) in the semifinal, 10-0. Morikawa impressed with her attacks and scored five different takedowns to finish the match via technical superiority.

World U23 silver medalist Alina KASABIEVA (UWW) will look to stop Morikawa from winning her second world title after a dream run to the final at 65kg. She defeated two-time world bronze medalist Macey KILTY (USA) in the morning session and completed a 13-3 technical superiority Enkhjin TUVSHINJARGAL (MGL) in the semifinals.

Asian champion Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) booked a final against Genesis REASCO (ECU) after she handed a 10-5 defeat to European champion Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) in the semifinals.

In an all South American semifinal, Reasco scored a takedown in the last minute to stun Milaimy MARIN POTRILLE (CUB), 5-3. Potrille was leading 3-3 on criteria with a minute left but Reasco scored the two-point takedown and held on to her lead for the win, becoming the first Ecuadorian wrestler to reach a World Championships final.

RESULTS

50kg
GOLD: Myonggyong WON (PRK) vs. Yu ZHANG (CHN)

SF 1: Yu ZHANG (CHN) df. Munkhnar BYAMBASUREN (MGL), via fall (9-0)
SF 2: Myonggyong WON (PRK) df. Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN), 3-2

57kg
GOLD: Helen MAROULIS (USA) vs. Il Sim SON (PRK)

SF 1: Il Sim SON (PRK) df. Kexin HONG (CHN), 12-2
SF 2: Helen MAROULIS (USA) df. Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (UWW), via fall (5-0)

65kg
GOLD: Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) vs. Alina KASABIEVA (UWW)

SF 1: Alina KASABIEVA (UWW) df. Enkhjin TUVSHINJARGAL (MGL), 13-3
SF 2: Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) df. Irina RINGACI (MDA), 10-0

76kg
GOLD: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) vs. Genesis REASCO (ECU)

SF 1: Genesis REASCO VALDEZ (ECU) df. Milaimy MARIN POTRILLE (CUB), 5-3
SF 2: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) df. Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR), 10-5