#WrestleRome

Anthony, Moore Star for USA with Gold at Matteo Pellicone

Saturday, March 6, 2021 - 22:59 By Vinay Siwach

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OSTIA, Italy (March 7) --- Victory ANTHONY (USA) had been to five Ranking Series before arriving in Rome for the Matteo Pellicone event. For all her efforts, she had won two bronze medals scattered over 2019 and 2020.

Despite being one of the top wrestlers at 50kg, Anthony somehow had failed to finish at the top of the podium at major international events. But Saturday was different.

Wrestling at her second Matteo Pellicone event, the USA wrestler showcased why she is still a force to reckon by winning the gold medal after defeating European champion Miglena Georgieva SELISHKA (BUL) 15-10 in the final on Saturday.

This was USA's second gold medal in women's wrestling as Taymara Mensah-Stock won the gold at 68kg on Friday.

"It was the biggest win for me in recent history which is like five years," Anthony said. "This is the first tournament where I have wrestled to my potential, peak ability. I am really happy with that."

Anthony's performance in Rome was perhaps one of the best in the tournament. She wrestled hard for six minutes with precise attacks and clean finishes. Even while she was trailing, she did not lose her cool.

Like all champions, she stepped her game when it was most needed. Two-time World Championships and returning silver medalist Emilia Alina VUC (ROU) was the favorite to win the category buy Anthony even destroyed her with a 10-0 win in the semifinals.

Running high on that confidence, she won a thrilling final. She led Selishka 9-3 at the break after a series of takedowns. But the experienced Bulgarian scripted a turnaround in the second period. She first had a single leg takedown which brought down the difference to 7-9 before an exposure gave her the lead 9-9 on criteria. With the clock ticking and limited options available, Anthony used her trademark trip to get four points and win the gold medal 13-10.

"At the beginning I was like I was going to tech her in the first few minutes," she said. "It's like you can come out on top of this roller-coaster instead of, this has happened in the past, I end up losing that match. I felt that edge in this final and I just reset myself. It's like a clap and every time. It's like a neutral energy and I'm not worried."

Kollin Raymond MOORE (USA) wrestles Alireza Mohammad KARIMIMACHIANI (IRI)

The 29-year-old was not the only American to stun a favorite. U23 World silver medalist Kollin MOORE (USA) handed senior world silver medalist at 92kg Alireza Mohammad KARIMIMACHIANI (IRI) a 3-3 criteria win in the 97kg final.

Both wrestlers exchanged a point each for step out before the Iranian scored a takedown to lead 3-1. His continued pressure on Moore was about to pay off with a step out but the American survived the push and countered with a double leg to score a takedown. That give him the lead on criteria and the gold in Rome.

The only defending champion to have a smooth sailing was Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) as she claimed her second consecutive gold medal in Rome with a 4-0 win over former world bronze medalist Diana WEICKER (CAN). Phogat won her two bouts via fall and did not concede a single point en route the summit clash.

Vinesh PHOGAT (IND)

In the final, Phogat scored the first takedown with a snap after she was warned for passivity. She later completed a double-leg takedown to make it 4-0. She defended her lead despite Weicker getting a hold of her leg a couple of times in the bout.

"I am not satisfied with this performance at all. I won but I want to attack more," Phogat said. "I want my score to be more than 4-0. While my mind knows that but my body is not allowing me to do it."

Phogat's wins in the morning session saw her pin fellow Indian Nandini SALOKHE (IND) before winning the same way against Samantha STEWART (CAN) in the semifinal. The gold medal on Saturday was Phogat's third consecutive Ranking Series gold medal and fourth medal overall at the event.

At 55kg, Jacqueline Del Rocio MOLLOCANA ELENO (ECU) won the gold medal while Aisha UALISHAN (KAZ) came home with a silver. Abigail Elizabeth NETTE added the third gold medal for USA in Rome as she beat Diana KAYUMOVA (KAZ) in the Nordic system at 59kg.

Elsewhere, in men's 125kg Amarveer DHESI (CAN) continued his rise by winning his second-ever gold medal at the Ranking Series event. In Nordic style competition, Dhesi first defeated SUMIT (IND) 14-4 before handing Pan Am champion Anthony Robert NELSON (USA) a 5-0 blanking. In Round 4, he pinned Oleg BOLTIN (KAZ).

But Round 5 was anti-climatic as he suffered a 11-0 defeat at the hands of Asian champion Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ). He still finished with the top medal due to his earlier results. Nelson finished with the bronze medal.

RESULTS

Women's Wrestling

Final #WrestleRome WW team scores
GOLD: Kazakhstan (129 points)
SILVER: Canada (89 points)
BRONZE: Italy (88 points)
Fourth: USA (75 points)
Fifth: India (69 points)

50kg
GOLD: Victoria ANTHONY (USA) df. Miglena Georgieva SELISHKA (BUL) 15-10
BRONZE: Elina Amilia VUC (ROU) df Valentina Ivanovna ISLAMOVA BRIK (KAZ) via inj. def.

53kg
GOLD: Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) df. Diana WEICKER (CAN) 4-0
BRONZE: Samantha Leigh STEWART (CAN) df. Nandini Bajirao SALOKHE (IND) via fall

55kg
GOLD: Jacqueline Del Rocio MOLLOCANA ELENO (ECU) df. Aisha UALISHAN (KAZ)
BRONZE: Ambra CAMPAGNA  (ITA)

59kg
GOLD:  Abigail Elizabeth NETTE (USA) df. Diana KAYUMOVA (KAZ)
BRONZE: Rebbeca DE LEO (ITA)

65kg
GOLD: Gaukhar MUKATAY (KAZ) df Veronica BRASCHI (ITA) 8-0

Men's Freestyle

97kg
GOLD: Kollin Raymond MOORE (USA) df. Alireza Mohammad KARIMIMACHIANI (IRI) 3-3
BRONZE: Alisher YERGALI (KAZ) df. Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR) 6-1
BRONZE: Hayden Nicholas ZILLMER df. Ibrahim CIFTCI (TUR) 7-4

125kg
GOLD: Amarveer DHESI (CAN)
SILVER: Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ)
BRONZE: Anthony Robert NELSON (USA)

#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