#Zagreb2019

Eight Returning World Medalists Headline Loaded Zagreb Open Field

Thursday, February 7, 2019 - 18:25 By Eric Olanowski

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ZAGREB, Croatia (February 7) – The Dom Sportova Arena, located in Croatia’s largest city, Zagreb, is the host site for the Zagreb Open, which is arguably the deepest Ranking Series event that United World Wrestling has ever hosted.

This weekend’s event is stockpiled with talent, boasting an Olympic champion, an Olympic bronze medalist, eight 2018 world medal winners, and nearly 40 past age-level or senior-level world medalists. 

Eight Budapest World Medalists Registered 
Metehan BASAR (TUR), last year’s 87kg world champion, leads a group of eight Budapest world medalists into Zagreb. He’s the lone returning world gold medalist, but the field features two runner-ups and five bronze medalists. 

Furthermore, there will be at least one world medalist in seven of the ten weight classes. 

Budapest World Medalists 
55kg - Ekrem OZTURK (TUR) – bronze medalist 
63kg - Rahman BILICI (TUR) – bronze medalist 
72kg - Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) – bronze medalist
72kg - Gevorg SAHAKYAN (POL) – bronze medalist
82kg - Emrah KUS (TUR) – runner-up 
87kg - Metehan BASAR (TUR) – world champion 
97kg - Kiril MILOV (BUL) – runner-up 
130kg - KIM Minseok (KOR) – bronze medalist 


Korea's two-time Olympic medalist KIM Hyeonwoo is one of two Olympic medalists wrestling at the first Ranking Series event of the year, the Zagreb Open. (Photo: Gabor Martin) 

Duo of Olympic Medalists Who Will Compete This Weekend 
KIM Hyeonwoo (KOR) and Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB) are the two past Olympic medalists that are traveling to Croatia’s capital city to compete for the eight first-place Ranking Series points. 

Kim, the 2012 Olympic champion and Rio Olympic bronze medalists, will compete in one of the deepest weight classes, 77kg, and Uzbekistan’s Rio bronze medalist Elmurat Tasmuradov is shooting for gold at 67kg. 


Rio bronze medalist Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB) is one of two Olympic medalists who will wrestle at the Zagreb Open (Photo: Gabor Martin)  

Weight Class to Watch: 67kg 
Other weight classes have a higher number of world medalists, but in my opinion,  67kg is the most compelling weight class to watch. 

The reason being, it houses Elmurat Tasmuradov, RYU Hansu (KOR), and Radu MIHUT (ROU). These are three of most electrifying Greco-Roman wrestlers entered into this weekend's competition. 

Keeping recent results in mind, the favorite coming into the first Greco-Roman Ranking Series event is Elmurat Tasmuradov. The Uzbek tallied five wins in Budapest before falling to Stepan MARYANYAN (RUS), 6-3 in the 63kg finals and finished with a silver medal. 

It’s no secret that Tasmuradov’s weight has fluctuated over the past three seasons and he's still looking for a consistent home. Since his bronze medal finish at the Rio Olympics, he’s competed at four different weights. This weekend, he’ll be making yet another weight change, when he returns to 67kg for the first time since the 2018 Asian Games where he left with a disappointing seventh-place finish.

Korea's two-time world champion Ryu Hansu and one of the sports brightest rising stars Radu Mihut will join Tasmuradov at 67kg.  

Though Ryu won that 67kg Asian Games bracket where Tasmuradov finished in seventh-place, the multiple-time world champion is trying to rebound after a lackluster 26th-place finish at the 2018 world championships, when he was knocked out after dropping his first match to Ukraine’s Denys DEMYANKOV, 4-2. 

Romania's Radu Mihut rounds out the potential title-contenders at 67kg. The U23 and senior European champion is also looking to rebound after an uninspiring world championship performance. Muhut, one of the favorites coming into Budapest, finished in 13th place after losing to Hungary’s Krisztian VANCZA (HUN) in his first match. 

For Mihut to begin his quest to get back to the top, there's no other place he'd rather do it than Zagreb. 

Mihut joins Viktor LORINCZ (HUN) as the only two returning Zagreb Open champions entered in this year's first Greco-Roman Ranking Series event. Last season, Mihut used the Zagreb Open to kick-start his 2018 hot streak which ultimately helped him reach the top of the podium at two European championships, the Thor Masters, Kristjan Palusalu Memorial, and Ion Corneanu & Ladislau Simon Memorial.

Six Title Contenders at 77kg 
The deepest weight class in terms of world medalists is 77kg. It includes at least three world champions and six world medalists from the cadet through the senior level.

Without a doubt, the two 77kg favorites are Olympic champion Kim Hyeonwoo and 2017 world champion Viktor NEMES (SRB). Both wrestlers are coming off bronze-medal finishes at the 2018 world championships. 

Kim capped off his run to a third overall world medal with a 3-1 win in the bronze-medal bout against Uzbekistan’s Bilan NALGIEV, while Nemes completed his bronze-medal run with a 6-2 win over Sweden’s Michel BJURBERG KESSIDIS. 

If Kim and Nemes were to meet this weekend, it would be their second overall career meeting. They also met at the 2015 world championships, where Kim knocked off Nemes 3-2 in the second round. 

There are also be four age-level world medalists entered at 77kg. They are Kamal BEY (USA), Fatih CENGIZ (TUR), Ilie COJOCARI (ROU), and Per KURE (NOR). 

Two dark horses to pay close attention to out of the age-level world medal winners are Cengiz and Bey.

Cengiz won the U23 world title two years ago, and also finished with a bronze medal at the Paris World Championships.

Bey, the United States' 2017 world champion and worldwide fan favorite, is coming off a title-winning performance at the Dave Schultz Memorial International where he defeated fellow American Carter NIELSEN (USA) to win his first gold medal since last January's Cerro Pelado International. 

Gevorg SAHAKYAN (POL) will move up to 72kg from his world bronze medal weight of 67kg. (Photo: Max Rose-Fyne) 

World Bronze Medal Duo Entered at 72kg 
The two championship prospects at 72kg are the pair of returning world bronze medalist, Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) and Gevorg SAHAKYAN (POL).

Mnatsakanian rallied off four wins and capped off his 72kg bronze-medal run with a 9-0 routing of Algeria’s Tarek Aziz BENAISSA, while Sahakyan, who was down at 67kg, shutout Danijel JANECIC (CRO) 7-0 and claimed his first world medal. 

The former Armenian Sahakyan is competing at 72kg for only the second time in his career. He competed at 72kg at last year's European Championship and finished in fifth place. His two losses in Dagestan came to eventual world champion Adam KURAK (RUS) and 2018 world runner-up Balint KORPASI (HUN). 

Turkey's two-time junior world champion Kerem KAMAL is trying to win his first senior-level tournament. (Photo: Gabor Martin) 

Can Young Trio at 60kg Take That Next Step?
The 60kg weight class features a trio of young wrestlers who are looking to jump levels and grab their first senior titles. They are Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB), Ilkhom BAKHROMOV, and Kerem KAMAL (TUR). 

Of the three, Islomjon Bakhramov, the 2018 Asian Championship bronze medalist, is the most experienced and has the most success in the senior level. Though he reached the finals of the G. Kartozia & V. Balavadze Price and Islamic Solidarity Games, he fell short in each of his two previous finals appearances.

Uzbekistan’s 2018 world team representative Ilkhom Bakhramov is making his third senior appearance. In his two previous tournaments, he’s finished inside the top-10 but has yet to make a final. He finished in fourth place at the G. Kartozia & V. Balavadze Price and ninth place at the 2018 world championships. 

Turkey’s two-time junior world champion Kerem Kamal has seen loads of success at the age-group level, but that success has not transitioned to the senior-level. In his three senior tournaments, Kamal has only medaled once. That medal, a bronze, came at last year’s Dan Kolov - Nikola Petrov Tournament. 

Heavy Hitters Entered at 130kg
The gold-medal favorites at 130kg are the pair of world bronze medalists, Yasmani ACOSTA FERNANDEZ (CHI) and KIM Minseok (KOR). 

Minseok won a bronze at the Budapest world championships, and Acosta Fernandez claimed his bronze at the Paris world championships. 

If Minseok and Acosta Fernandez meet this weekend, it’ll be their second career meeting. The pairs first meeting came at the 2017 world championships where Acosta Fernandez demolished Kim 9-0 in the opening round en route to his history-making bronze-medal finish.

Turkish big man and three-time world champion Riza KAYAALP was on the early entry list but has since pulled out and confirmed that he'd make his season debut at the second Ranking Series event, the Hungarian Grand Prix. 

Turkey will instead be sending U23 world silver medalist Osman YILDIRIM (TUR).

Basar Heavily Favored at 87kg
Turkey's Metehan BASAR (TUR) was one of four non-Russian wrestlers to win a world title in Budapest.  Basar defeated 2015 world champion Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) 2-1 to claim back-to-back world titles. He comes into the Zagreb Open heavily favored to win the 87kg title.

His two biggest competitors will be a pair of Hungarian wrestlers, Viktor LORINCZ (HUN) and Erik SZILVASSY (HUN). 

Lorincz is a two-time world bronze medalist. Lorincz is a Rio Olympian and has represented Hungary at every world championship since 2011. 

His fellow countryman Erik Szilvassy, the 2017 U23 world champion, will use this weekend as an opportunity to try to overthrow the six-time world team representative and take country supremacy before the selection process begins for Hungary's Astana World Championship team.

Mohsen MADHANI is one of ten Iranian's making their senior international debut at the Zagreb Open. (Photo: Gabor Martin) 

Can the Iranian Youth Prevail? 
Iran will be sending a full team to the Zagreb Open, but it surely won’t be the same team they'll be sending to Astana, Kazakhstan for the 2019 World Championships. 

Every wrestler Iran registered for the first Ranking Series event of the year will be making their senior-level international debuts, and only Abolfazl SEYEDMAHDAVI, who finished in eighth place at the 2019 Takhti Cup in Tehran, Iran, has wrestled domestically on the senior-level. 

Iran’s Zagreb Open Lineup 
55kg - Poya DAD MARZ – 2017 junior world champion 
60kg - Milad REZANEZHAD HOSSEINVAND – 2017 cadet world championships - 17th place 
63kg-  Mohsen MADHANI – 2017 cadet world champion 
67kg - Mohammad Reza Hojatollah MOKHTARI – 2016 cadet world runner-up 
72kg - Yousef Hajiali HOSSEINVAND FATHI – 2016 cadet world champion, 2018 junior world bronze
77kg - Mohammad Aziz NAGHOUSI – 2018 cadet world bronze medalist
82kg - Hosein FOROUZANDEH GHOJEHBEIGLOU – 2018 junior world championships - 8th place 
87kg - Hasan FOROUZANDEH GHOJEHBEIGLOU
97kg - Abolfazl Naser SEYEDMAHDAVI – 2019 Takhti Cup -  8th place 
130kg - Aliakbar Hossein YOUSOFIAHMADCHALI – 2018 U23 world bronze

Schedule 
Saturday (February 9) 
8:00 - 1st-day Medical examination & Weigh-in, all weight categories (No weight tolerance!) Sport Hall
10:30 - Qualification and elimination rounds, all weight categories (on 3 wrestling mats)

Sunday (February 10)
8:00 - 2nd-day weigh-in, all weight categories (No weight tolerance!) Sport Hall
10:30 - Repechage bouts and bronze medal matches (all categories)
17:30 - Opening ceremony and Final matches (all categories)

#WrestleIstanbul

World Olympic Qualifier Women's Wrestling Bouts Set

Friday, May 10, 2024 - 07:16 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

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ISTANBUL, Turkiye (May 10) -- The World Olympic Qualifier enters day two with women's wrestling in six weight classes. 12 Paris Olympic spots are on offer in six weight classes by the end of the day. The repechage in Greco-Roman and bronze medal bouts will also happen today.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER

 

16:27: Anastasiya ZIMIANKOVA (AIN) closes the session with a 2-2 last-point victory over Francy RAEDELT (GER) at 76kg. Zimiankova is on the activity clock for a second time and just as it runs out to put her behind, she scores a stepout to take a 2-2 lead on criteria. We will see her later tonight in a clash with Catalina AXENTE (ROU).

16:17: Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL) defeats Enrica RINALDI (ITA) 4-0 at 76kg to earn a clash with Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) in tonight's qualification match.

16:12: Nesrin BAS (TUR) thrills the home crowd by pulling off a nail-biting 4-4 victory over Johanna LINDBORG (SWE) at 62kg. A first-period takedown gives Bas a 2-1 lead going into the break, but Lindborg goes ahead with a takedown to open the second. Bas is not deterred and goes on the attack, getting in a on single and fighting out of Lindborg's fierce whizzer to complete the takedown to go up 4-3 with 1:02 to go. Lindborg gets a stepout with :03 left, but it's not enough and Bas screams out in delight. She will face Astrid MONTERO (VEN) for the ticket to Paris.

15:56: Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) likes to go right to work off the whistle, and  Elma ZEIDLERE (LAT) will tell you better be ready. Anghel, who scored a 4-point takedown in the early seconds of the first period, comes storming out in the second with a driving takedown to the back and scores a fall over Zeidlere to advance to the qualification match at 68kg.

15:56: Asian Games bronze medalist Laylokhon SOBIROVA (UZB) snatches a victory from the jaws of defeat when she comes back from six points down to score a fall over Yaynelis SANZ (CUB) 57kg. Sanz looked to be well on her way to the qualification match when she opened with a 4-point takedown in the first period, then adds another takedown in the second. But when Sanz shoots for a double-leg, Sobirova hits a hard whizzer, pulls in the far arm and puts Sanz on her back. The outcome had seemed even more unlikely when Sobirova appeared to twist her right knee late in the first period and took a timeout for treatment.

15:47: Alina AKOBIIA (UKR) uses a combination of muscle and finesse to chalk up a 10-4 victory over home favorite Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR) at 57kg and move one win away from Paris. Akobiia gains four points during a second-period scramble that begins with her counter to a seemingly sure takedown

15:45: Entertaining 68kg quarterfinal between Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) and NISHA (IND). Hanzlickova almost got the pin in the first period but Nisha managed to keep her one shoulder up. She scored two counters to take a 6-3 lead but Hanzlickova managed to hit a head lock which scored one as Nisha had stepout first. Hanzlickova challenges asking for four points but to no avail and Nisha will wrestle for a spot for the Paris Olympics.

15:30: Khulan BATKHUYAG (MGL) chalks up an impressive 6-1 victory over three-time Olympian Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) to make the qualification match at 53kg. Batkhuyag fights off a whizzer for a takedown, then scores a stepout with a fleeing point tacked on to lead 4-1 at the break. In the second period, Batkhuyag shucks Prevolaraki by for another takedown, then keeps the Greek from ever launching an effective attack. She will face Yetgil for the Olympic spot.

15:21: Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) scores all of her points in a quick span of the first period and moves one win away from an Olympic berth at 53kg by beating Jowita WRZESIEN (POL) 7-0. With Wrzesien on the activity clock, Yetgil spins behind for a takedown and immediately locks an arm, then adds a pair of rolls. 

15:20: Mariya STADNIK (AZE) is so brutal! She manages to throw Viyaleta CHYRYK (AIN) for a five in her 11-0 win in just under three minutes to win 11-0 at 50kg

15:10: Davaanasan ENKH AMAR (MGL), a double Asian bronze medalist at 72kg, handles the extra weight and two-time Olympian and world medalist Samar HAMZA (EGY) with a 6-1 win at 76kg. After receiving an activity point, Enkh Amar stops a lateral drop attempt for 2 to go up 3-0. In the second period, Enkh Amar gains a takedown at the edge, with an additional point for an unsuccessful challenge added on.

15:03: Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA) advances to the qualification match at 53kg with a tough 9-7 victory over Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB). Dragutan trails 4-2 going into the second period but goes ahead with a low-single takedown, a driving takedown to the back, and an exposure.

14:47: In perhaps a sign of a changing of the guard, Pauline LECARPENTIER (FRA) scores a takedown in each period and knocks off the venerable Epp MAE (EST) 4-1 at 76kg.

14:44: A slimmed down Nesrin BAS (TUR) continues to thrill the home crowd, getting a pair of first-period takedowns in a 6-4 victory over Natalia KUBATY (POL) at 62kg. Bas won the European gold at 72kg, then moved down to the only weight class available to her because Turkiye had already qualified at 68kg and 76kg.

14:29: Four-time European medalist Kriszta INCZE (ROU) uses an inner thigh block for a 4-point takedown that puts her in position for a victory by fall at 62kg over Nachi MASUDA (AUS), a rare example of a native Japanese who switched nationality.

14:12: Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) follows a 4-point whizzer throw by hitting Yelena SHALYGINA (KAZ) with a headlock throw for a fall at 68kg. Shalygina, a 2008 Olympic bronze medalist and three-time world medalist, famously returned to the sport in 2022 from a 10-year absence.

14:27: Johanna LINDBORG (SWE) was leading 5-0 before she pins Lais NUNES (BRA) in the 68kg 1/8 finals. Sweden is looking for its second Paris spot in women's wrestling. The one it has is at 53kg.

14:12: Three-time European bronze medalist Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) advances at 68kg with a victory by fall at Tindra SJOEBERG (SWE). Hanzlickova is looking to get back to the Olympics after appearing at Rio 2016.

14:10:  Yaynelis SANZ (CUB) continues to establish herself as one to beat at 57kg, staying constantly on the attack and using a lightning-quick single leg to defeat Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Evelina NIKOLOVA (BUL) 15-4. Sanz builds up a 13-4 lead in the first period, then finishes it off with a takedown 20 seconds into the second.

14:03: Two-time Olympian Feng ZHOU (CHN) needs just 27 seconds to take down Ohyoung HA (KOR) and secure a fall at 68kg.

14:00: Sezim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) gets the takedown, then it's four quick rolls and she's a 10-0 winner in 27 seconds over Ester ABRAHAM (NAM) at 57kg.

13:59: Two-time European champion Alina AKOBIIA (UKR) stays on track for her first Olympic appearance at 57kg, building up a 7-0 lead before securing a fall over  Graciela SANCHEZ (ESP).

13:49: Miesinnei Mercy GENESIS (NGR) hangs on for an impressive 3-0 victory over 2022 world bronze medalist Anna LUKASIAK (POL) to advance at 50kg.

13:46: Superstar Mariya STADNIK (AZE), coming off a stunning loss at the European Olympic Qualifier as she shoots for an unprecedented fifth Olympic medal, starts with a one-sided 10-0 win over Meng Hsuan HSIEH (TPE) at 50kg.

13:43: Veteran two-time world bronze medalist Maria PREVOLARAKI (GRE) prevails for a nail-biting 6-5 victory at 53kg over Karla GODINEZ (CAN) that featured two challenges in the final 15 seconds. Both challenges came when Prevolaraki used a counter lift roll off a Godinez takedown attempt, and both resulted in each wrestler getting 2 points--which gave a relieved Prevolararki the win as she aims to appear in a third straight Olympics.

13:27: Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) scrapes by at 53kg with a 3-2 victory over Annika WENDLE (GER) that ended in a bit of chaos. Yetgil was leading 2-1 from a first-period takedown when Wendle launched a late takedown attempt that was interrupted by the mat chairman throwing the stuffed animal into the ring to get the mat referee's attention. The action was stopped before Wendle could be awarded points. The German side challenged, and when it was sorted out, Yetgil was assessed a 1-point penalty for grabbing fingers, and received a point for the lost challenge. The clock was reset to 10 seconds, but Wendle's last-ditch front headlock throw came just too late.

13:16: Tokyo Olympian Jowita WRZESIEN (POL) gets past Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ) with a fall at 53kg with 25 seconds left. Wrzesien takes a 5-0 lead into the second period, when she scores a takedown to the back before securing the fall.  She will face the winner of Annika WENDLE(GER)-Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) currently underway on the adjacent mat.

12:59: In a clash of wrestlers who recently won bronze medals at 55kg at their respective continental championships, Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA) pours it on in the second period and advances at 53kg with an 11-1 win over Aruuke KADYRBEK KYZY (KGZ). Down 1-0 going into the second period and with Kadyrbek Kyzy on the activity clock, Dragutan scores a counter takedown and gut wrench, then gets another takedown which she tops off with two rolls.

12:41: Yuliana YANEVA (BUL), moving up to the heaviest weight of 76kg after medaling at the last four European Championships at either 68kg or 72kg, wins a barn-burner 7-5 over Martina KUENZ (AUT). Yaneva falls behind on criteria 3-3 when she gives up a stepout with 56 seconds left, but comes back with a 4-point takedown with :33 to go, then holds on for the win.

12:27: The randomness of the draw put two of the most decorated wrestlers in the tournament against each other, as Epp MAE (EST) and Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) meet in the first round at 76kg. Both are 32, and both are looking to appear in a third straight Olympics. It is the four-time world medalist Mae who comes out on top, getting an activity point and stepout in the second period for a 2-1 win. Syzdykova came into Istanbul after winning her eighth career Asian medal.

12:22: 72kg U23 world champion Nesrin BAS (TUR), almost forced to go down to 62kg in a bid to be at the Olympics, begins his road to Paris with a 6-1 win over Ameline DOUARRE (FRA).

12:19: Former world 59kg champion Linda MORAIS (CAN), looking to bounce back from a stunning loss at the Pan American Qualifier, starts her quest at 68kg by putting away Danute DOMIKAITYTE (LTU) 10-0.    

12:13: In a battle of three-time European medalists, Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) gets a takedown in each period to defeat Dalma CANEVA (ITA)  5-1 at 68kg.

12:10: Tokyo Olympian Elis MANOLOVA (AZE) drops her first bout at 68kg 10-2 against Nicoll PARRADO (COL). Manolova never had similar results in the new weight class after she moved to it from 62kg

11:50: Anna LUKASIAK (POL), a 2022 world bronze medalist, advances at 50kg with a 10-0 rout of Marina KARAPANAGIOTIDOU (GRE).

11:49: Alina AKOBIIA (UKR), looking to add an Olympic medal to a world bronze and two European golds, starts her quest for Paris at 57kg with a victory by fall over In Sun JONG (PRK). With Akobiia leading 3-1 in the second period, Song gets treatment on a heavily taped right knee, then takes a shot that Akobiia counters with a cradle for 2 and apparent fall. A meeting of the judges after the action stopped would indeed confirm it was a fall.  

11:28: Son Hyang KIM (PRK), a world bronze medalist in 2017 who returned to the global stage to win a silver medal at last September's Asian Games, but suffered a close first-round loss at last month's Asian Olympic Qualifier, avoids any mistakes in a 6-0 victory over  Julie Martine SABATIE (FRA) at 50kg.

11:10: Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) thrills the home crowd with a 7-0 win over Maria BAEZ (ESP) at 53kg. Turkiye has qualified for three weight classes but is looking for three more from this tournament.

11:05: In a doozy on Mat C, Laura HERIN AVILA (CUB) scores a stepout with 22 seconds left to finish up a wild 18-8 win at 53kg over two-time world U20 bronze medalist Gultakin SHIRINOVA (AZE). 

11:03: Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA), a 2023 world bronze medalist at 55kg, begins her quest for an Olympic spot at 53kg by using a reverse pancaked to build up an 8-0 lead over Oleksandra KOGUT (AUT). Kogut fights back for a takedown and turn, but Dragutan holds on to walk off an 8-4 winner.

10:53: With the Greco repechage matches finished on Mat B, Zineb ECH CHABKI (MAR)  starts the women's competition with a nicely timed 4-point headlock throw against Irena BINKOVA (BUL) at 53kg. But Binkova comes back with a takedown to cut the gap. In the second period, Binkova again gets a takedown, then follows it up by bulling Ech Chabki over for a fall. 

10:00: We will start the day with Greco-Roman repechage bouts. The winners will go into the second round of repechage and then the bronze-medal bouts in the evening.