Youth Olympic Games

Argentina Celebrate as Machuca Makes YOG Gold Medal Finals

By Tim Foley

BUENOS AIRES (October 13) – After a length early session that saw 56 matches per mat, Argentinian fans were treated to the news that after a 4-0 start Linda Marilina MACHUCA (ARG) would be in tonight’s gold medal finale.

The 73kg grappler made easy work of all four opponents, capping her perfect morning session with a decisive victory over Khadija JLASSI (TUN), 5-2.

Wrestlers from 9 nations will be represented in the finals, with Uzbekistan position two athletes for gold.
 

Women’s Wrestling, 43kg

Simran SIMRAN (IND) v. Emily King SHILSON (USA)
Shahana NAZAROVA (AZE) v. Enkhzul BATBAATAR (MGL)
Justine Fanny VIGOUROUX (FRA) v. Maria LEORDA (MDA)
Heloisa Elena MARTINEZ (BRA) v. Sara Gouda Farouk MAHMOUD (EGY)
Christianah Tolulope OGUNSANYA (NGR) v. Ella Mae DERRY (NZL)

Women’s Freestyle, 49kg

Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB) v. Emma Jonna Denise MALMGREN (SWE)
Tiare Lynn Masako Dizon IKEI (USA) v. Roza SZENTTAMASI (HUN)
Natallia VARAKINA (BLR) v. Zineb ECH CHABKI (MAR)

Maria Jose MOSQUERA ROJAS (VEN) v. Paulina Jean DUENAS (GUM)
Nilufar RAIMOVA (KAZ) v. Sopealai SIM (CAM)

Women’s Freestyle, 57kg

Anna Hella SZEL (HUN) v. Nonoka OZAKI (JPN)
Irina RINGACI (MDA) v. Anastasia BLAYVAS (GER)
Mayra Alejandra PARRA ALVAREZ (VEN) v. Andrea Monserrat LOPEZ MARTINEZ (MEX)
Hala Wael Imbabi AHMED (EGY) v. Mansi MANSI (IND)
Lydia TOIDA (CMR) v. Kaetlyn Rae Okada QUINTANILLA (GUM)

Women’s Freestyle, 65kg

Xinru ZHOU (CHN) v. Oksana CHUDYK (UKR)
Oyun Erdene TAMIR (MGL) v. Sunmisola Idowu BALOGUN (NGR)
Amina Roxana CAPEZAN (ROU) v. Viktoria VESSO (EST)

Yetzis Camila RAMIREZ MARQUEZ (CUB) v. Zaineb SGHAIER (TUN)
Sandra Elena ESCAMILLA MENCHACA (MEX) v. Natacha Véronique NABAINA (CMR)

Women’s Freestyle, 73kg

Linda Marilina MACHUCA (ARG) v. Milaimys de la Caridad MARIN POTRILLE (CUB)
Kseniya DZIBUK (BLR) v. Yuka KAGAMI (JPN)
Svetlana OKNAZAROVA (UZB) v. Julia Hanna Ellinor FRIDLUND (SWE)
Khadija JLASSI (TUN) v. Anika Elizabeth WHITE (CAN)
Vahide Nur GOK (TUR) v. Ioana Penina Nicole Uputaua LUDGATE (ASA)

#WrestleSamokov

Yakushenko, Zakriev one win away from second U20 World gold

By Vinay Siwach

SAMOKOV, Bulgaria (August 22) -- Defending champion Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) returned to the final at 97kg as he once again managed to beat silver medalist Darius KIEFER (GER).

Unlike finals last year, both met in the semifinals this year but the result was no different as Yakusheno was clearly the better wrestler on Friday. After getting the first par terre position, Yakushenko turned Kiefer for two points and then lifted the German for a correct throw for two points for a 5-1 lead.

Kiefer got par terre in the second period and tried to get the turn but managed only a point for stepout from Yakushenko, making the score 5-2. That was all the action in the match as Yakushenko let out a loud cry after victory and so did Kiefer after his loss.

Yakushenko now leads the head-to-head 3-1 with the one loss coming in the European U20 Championships final this year in Carole, Italy.

He will face a new challenge in Hadi SEYDI AVENDI (IRI) in the final after the Iranian managed to over come Ilia KOMAROV (UWW) in the second semifinal, which was also a match decided from par terre.

Seydi Avendi led 5-0 at the break and was put in par terre in the second period and Komarov needed two turns for a 5-5 criteria lead. However, he managed to turn Seydi Avendi only once for two points to cut the lead to 5-3.

Iran had a second finalist in 55kg as 2023 world U17 champion Payam AHMADI (IRI) scored a 3-0 victory over Arsen ZHUMA (KAZ) in the semifinals. He will face another 2023 world U17 champion in Turan DASHDAMIROV (AZE) who defeated Daisuke MORISHITA (JPN), 10-2.

Dashdamirov had a difficult opening bout against Ulaanbaatar Open Ranking Series gold medalist Anil MOR (IND) but managed to hold on to a 9-9 criteria win.

At 72kg, Asian U20 champion Ahmad KODIROV (UZB) and European U20 silver medalist Gaspar TERTERYAN (ARM) reached the final after impressive wins.

Kodirov face Oliver PADA (FIN) in the semifinal but managed to hold on to an 11-3 technical superiority win as Pada failed to finish his attempted bodylock throws.

Terteryan faced former world U17 champion at 71kg Arionas KOLITSOPOULOS (GRE) but shut him down with defense to win 5-1.

Zakriev chases second title

Returning world 63kg champion Erzu ZAKRIEV (UWW) moved up to 67kg for this year's World U20 Championships but followed a similar path to the finals. Zakriev had a troublesome semifinal last year and there was difference this year as he almost got pinned in the semifinals again.

Facing European U20 bronze medalist Fariam MUSTAFAYEV (AZE), Zakriev tried to do a suplex but landed on his back with Mustafayev on top. The Azerbaijan wrestler was awarded two points and he almost sat on Zakriev for the fall but the time ran out in the first period.

He then managed to return with takedown despite Mustafayev's pressure who scored two stepouts. But as Mustafayev tried a big throw, Zakriev landed on top and got four points and won 14-7.

For his second straight gold medal, Zakriev will face Zhantoro MIRZALIEV (KGZ), the Asian U20 champion, who had a controlled 5-1 win over Fayozbek ESHMIRZAEV (UZB).

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Payam AHMADI BALOOTAKI (IRI) vs. Turan DASHDAMIROV (AZE)

SF 1: Payam AHMADI BALOOTAKI (IRI) df. Arsen ZHUMA (KAZ), 3-0
SF 2: Turan DASHDAMIROV (AZE) df. Daisuke MORISHITA (JPN), 10-2

67kg
GOLD: Zhantoro MIRZALIEV (KGZ) vs. Erzu ZAKRIEV (UWW)

SF 1: Zhantoro MIRZALIEV (KGZ) df. Fayozbek ESHMIRZAEV (UZB), 5-1
SF 2: Erzu ZAKRIEV (UWW) df. Faraim MUSTAFAYEV (AZE), 14-7

72kg
GOLD: Ahmad KODIROV (UZB) vs. Gaspar TERTERYAN (ARM)

SF 1: Ahmad KODIROV (UZB) df. Oliver PADA (FIN), 11-3
SF 2: Gaspar TERTERYAN (ARM) df. Arionas KOLITSOPOULOS (GRE), 5-1

97kg
GOLD: Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) vs. Hadi SEYDI AVENDI (IRI)

SF 1: Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) df. Darius KIEFER (GER), 5-2
SF 2: Hadi SEYDI AVENDI (IRI) df. Ilia KOMAROV (UWW), 5-3