Bisultanov stamps authority at 87kg with Zagreb Open gold
Saturday, February 8, 2025 - 20:19 By Vinay Siwach
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.
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.
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.
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. 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 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."
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
Share your thoughts.
Comments