#Fortaleza2018

Brazil to Play Host to 2018 Junior Pan American Championships, Aug. 17-19

Thursday, August 16, 2018 - 20:34 By Taylor Miller

FORTALEZA, Brazil – The 2018 Junior Pan American Championships are slated for this weekend, Aug. 17-19 in Fortaleza, Brazil. The talented field features four past age-group World medalists and several past Pan American medalists across Cadet, Junior and Senior levels.

The tournament begins with Greco-Roman action on Aug. 17, followed by women’s freestyle on Aug. 18 and men’s freestyle to wrap up the event on Aug. 19.

GRECO-ROMAN, Aug. 17

There are two World medalists in the Greco-Roman field, both registered to compete at 55 kg: 2017 Junior World runner-up Cevion SEVERADO (USA) and 2016 Cadet World silver medalist Nestor DELGADO (MEX).

Delgado owns a Pan American gold medal from his championship effort in 2016 at the Cadet Greco. This weekend will be Severado’s first trip to the continental championships.

Returning 2017 Junior Pan American champions include Joilson DE BRITO RAMOS JUNIOR (BRA) at 67 kg, Carlos Moises ESPINOZA CASTRO (PER) at 87 kg and Anthony CASSIOPPI (USA) at 130 kg.

Host country’s de Brito also won a medal at last year’s Senior Pan Ams, finishing with silver. Last summer, he represented Brazil at the Junior and Senior World Championships, and so far this year, he won gold at the South American Championships.

A three-time age-group Pan American medalist, Espinoza won his first Senior-level and fourth overall Pan Am medal, claiming bronze in front of a home crowd in Lima, Peru, in May. Espinoza also owns 2015 Cadet freestyle silver and 2016 Junior Greco bronze.

Making his second-consecutive trip to the Pan Am Championships, Cassioppi, who doubled up on gold at the event last year, will wrestle both styles again this weekend.

Other notable names entered include 2018 Senior Pan Am runner-up Gerardo Francisco OLIVA MONTES (PER) and 2017 Junior Pan Am silver medalists Thomas BRACKETT (USA), William Alberto MORENO CHUC (GUA) and Samuel Facundo UGALDE AGUILAR (MEX).

Moreno also won bronze at the 2017 Senior Central American and Caribbean Games.

WOMEN’S FREESTYLE, Aug. 18

The lone World medalist in the women’s division this weekend is Kayla MARANO (USA), who won Cadet World bronze in 2015. She will compete at 68 kg in Brazil.

USA will bring four other women’s freestylers who have represented the U.S. on the age-group World stage such as Vayle BAKER at 53 kg, Cameron GUERIN at 55 kg, Brenda REYNA at 59 kg and Ashlynn ORTEGA at 65 kg.

There are several 2017 Junior Pan American runners-up, looking to reach the top of the podium, counting Jayd DAVIS (CAN) at 53 kg, Hannah TAYLOR (CAN) at 57 kg, Dejah SLATER (CAN) at 68 kg and Fatima CRISANTO AYIL (MEX) at 62 kg.

Slater took fifth at the 2017 Junior World Championships in Tampere, Finland. Her Canadian teammates Davis and Taylor also competed at the event.

Other names to look out for include 2018 Senior Pan American bronze winner Michaela BECK (USA) at 57 kg and past Cadet Pan Am champions Guerin at 55 kg, Rita ROJAS CHAVEZ (MEX) at 53 kg and Fernanda ALDAZ LOPEZ (ECU).

Rojas has had a successful season, winning silver at the Senior Central American and Caribbean Championships and a bronze at the Senior Central American and Caribbean Games in July.

MEN’S FREESTYLE, Aug. 19

The men’s freestyle field is the biggest of the three styles with 56 entrants.

Highlighting the talented group is 2016 Cadet World silver medalist Vitali ARUJAU (USA), who will compete at 61 kg.

Cassioppi of USA is the only defending Junior Pan Am freestyle champion in the field as he won gold in both freestyle and Greco last year.

Looking to challenge Cassioppi is 2017 Junior Pan Am silver medalist Aly BARGHOUT (CAN), who will also compete this weekend at 125 kg. Barghout fell to Cassioppi in last year’s round robin action, 11-1.

Also in the mix at heavyweight is Jose DIAZ PONCIANO (GUA), who won bronze in both styles last year.

There a several wrestlers in the field who are multiple-time age-group Pan Am medal winners, including Brayden TODD (CAN) at 57 kg, Carson LEE (CAN) at 79 kg, Luis MORALES MAYANCHA (ECU) at 57 kg and Oscar CALVOPINA CANCIO (ECU) at 61 kg.

Lee won silver at this year’s Cadet Pan Ams in Guatemala and followed up that performance with a top-five finish at the Cadet World Championships last month in Zagreb, Croatia.

Other notable athletes are 2017 Senior South American Championships silver medalist Marcos CARROZZINO (BRA), 2018 Gran Prix of Spain bronze medalist Hunter LEE (CAN) and 2015 Cadet Pan Am champion Cristian SANTIAGO PEREZ (MEX).

Schedule
Friday, Aug. 17
10 a.m. – Preliminary rounds through semifinals (all Greco weights)
5: 30 p.m. – Opening Ceremonies
6 p.m. – Finals

Saturday, Aug. 18
10 a.m. – Preliminary rounds through semifinals (all women’s freestyle weights)
6 p.m. – Finals

Sunday, Aug. 19
10 a.m. – Preliminary rounds through semifinals (all men’s freestyle weights)
6 p.m. – Finals

Zhumanarova, Medet Kyzy give Kyrgyzstan double gold at ISG 2025

Thursday, November 20, 2025 - 17:27 By Vinay Siwach

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (November 20) -- Kyrgyzstan was the most successful nation on day three of the Islamic Solidarity Games 2025 with three gold medals out of five on offer.

Three weight classes in women's and two in Freestyle were in action in Riyadh at the Games and Kyrgyzstan captured three gold medals with Paris Olympic silver medalist Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) leading the way.

Zhumanazarova powered her way to the 68kg gold medal. Facing Svetlana OKNAZAROVA (UZB) in the final, Zhumanazarova hit a counter four-pointer to extend her lead to 7-0 before hitting a takedown and turn to finish the final 11-0.

"It was an easy tournament for me," Zhumanazarova said. "I have not wrestled well since Paris majorly due to the ankle injury I suffered."

Now that she is back to full fitness and winning, Zhumanazarova aims to compete more often year with Asian Championships, World Championships and Asian Games lined up.

"Next year, I will make sure to compete at all three major tournaments," she said.

Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) celebrates after beating Damola OJO (NGR) in the 76kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Joining Zhumanazarova on the top of the podium was world silver medalist and Asian champion Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) who came alive in the second period of the 76kg final against Damola OJO (NGR).

Ojo led 1-1 on criteria when she scored a stepout in the second period but Medet Kyzy scored a takedown and then moved to the legs to lock a lace and turn Ojo four times for an 11-1 technical superiority.

Medet Kyzy's gold medal was the second for Kyrgyzstan in women's wrestling, same as Nigeria. Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan finished the competition with one gold each.

Esther KOLAWALE (NGR) defeated Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE) with a last-second takedown in the 62kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

U23 world bronze medalist Esther KOLAWALE (NGR) needed a final-second takedown against Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE) to win the 62kg gold medal. She scored a takedown when Mammadova was on the activity clock to lead 3-0 and hoped to run out the clock with that lead.

However, Mammadova got on a single-leg attack in the second period which she converted into a takedown during the Nigerian's activity period. Kolawale tried to open the fingers of Mammadova which made the referees dock on point for caution, making it 4-3 for Mammadova with 16 seconds left.

Kolawale first scored a stepout with 12 seconds remaining to make it 4-4 but Mammadova had the criteria lead because of the caution against Kolawale. But she then hit a takedown with three seconds on the clock to claim a 6-4 and the win as well.

Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) scores on Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK) in the 65kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Amouzad dominates to gold

World champion Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) had not trouble in winning the 65kg gold medal after he defeated Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK), 12-2, in the final.

Kudiev gave an early scare when he scored a takedown on Amouzad to go 2-0 up but the Iranian gather himself and scored three stepouts before the break to lead 3-2. Kudiev then tried to hit a double-leg but Amouzad countered with a beautiful chest wrap throw for four points to make it 7-2.

Tajikistan challenged, asking for two points but at no point in the exchange did Kudiev manage to expose or control Amouzad who now led 8-2 for the lost challenge. Two stepouts and a takedown later, Amouzad captured the gold medal with a technical superiority win.

Earlier in the day, Amouzad faced world bronze medalist Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) in the quarterfinals and came out on top 4-0. The win included three stepout and one point for Jalolov's passivity.

Abdumalik KARACHOV (KGZ) counters Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE) to score four points. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Kyrgyzstan won gold medals not only in Women's Wrestling but also in Freestyle as Abdumalik KARACHOV (KGZ) won at 57kg, beating Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE), 9-3, in the final.

Karachov had a field day in Riyadh as he defeated world and Olympic bronze medalist Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) in the quarterfinals before a convincing win in the final.

Bazarganov was down 2-1 with 24 seconds left in the final when he hit a strong snap on Karachov who managed to stay on his feet and countered with a duckunder and get four points.

Bazarganov got one point for reversal but Azerbaijan challenged the call, asking for four points but lost it as Karachov never came in danger. The Kyrgyzstan wrestler then scored a match-ending takedown to win 9-3.

RESULTS

Women's Wrestling

62kg
GOLD: Esther KOLAWALE (NGR) df. Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE), 6-4

BRONZE: Selvi ILYASOGLU (TUR) df. Rebecca AMONGI (UGA),
BRONZE: Nigina SABIROVA (UZB) df. Aylah MAYALI (PLE), 11-0

68kg
GOLD: Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) df. Svetlana OKNAZAROVA (UZB), 11-0

BRONZE: Nigar MIRZAZADA (AZE) df. Halima AKTER (BAN), via forfeit
BRONZE: Irina KAZYULINA (KAZ) df. Ndiffo AIMELDA (CMR), via fall (6-0)

76kg
GOLD: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) df. Damola OJO (NGR), 11-1

BRONZE: Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) vs. Elmira YASIN (TUR), via fall (7-0)
BRONZE: Samar HAMZA (EGY) df. Wilita PELAGIE (CMR), 5-1

Freestyle

57kg
GOLD: Abdumalik KARACHOV (KGZ) df. Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE), 9-3

BRONZE: Ali MOMENI (IRI) df. Sayed ZAZAI (AFG), 11-0
BRONZE: Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) df. Ismael CAMARA (GUI), 10-0

65kg
GOLD: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) df. Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (TJK), 12-2

BRONZE: Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) df. Ali RAHIMZADE (AZE), 8-3
BRONZE: Bilol SHARIP UULU (KGZ) df. Alibeg ALIBEGOV (BRN), 10-0

Brazil to Play Host to 2018 Junior Pan American Championships, Aug. 17-19

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Zhumanarova, Medet Kyzy give Kyrgyzstan double gold at ISG 2025