Youth OIympic Games

Iran Wins Pair, Japan's Sasaki Registers Incredible Comeback

Friday, October 12, 2018 - 23:00 By Tim Foley

Share this article
 

BUENOS AIRES (October 12) – Iran notched their first two gold medals of the 2018 Youth Olympic Games Friday night at the Asian Pavilion at Youth Olympic Park in Buenos Aires, while Japan’s Wataru SASAKI lodged one of the most impressive Olympic comebacks in years.

Facing Giorgi TOKHADZE (GEO) in the 51kg finals Sasaki was put on the backfoot from the start, being tossed for five points early in the first period. Another takedown made the score 7-0 to end the first period, but in the second period it was all Sasaki.

Waturu SASAKI lands a four-point throw to overtake Giorgi TOKHADZE (GEO) in the finals of the 51kg weight category (Photo: Max Rose-Fyne)

The slenderer wrestler weaved behind Tokhadze for a quick takedown followed by a gut wrench to score four points. Next Sasaki locked up a front head lock and through the Georgian to four points to take the lead 8-0 – much to the delight of the Argentinian crowd. Sasaki would tack on another takedown and a lost challenge by the Georgian made the final score 11,-7 in favor of Sasaki.

For the often-dominant Iranian team it was business as usual. Amirreza DEHBOZORGI (45kg) was unstoppable against Jeremy PERALTA GONZALEZ (ECU), pressuring the South American wrestler into a series of missteps and racking up a pair of takedowns. After Dehbozorgi found his second takedown, he followed it up with a step out point to win gold, 8-0

Mohammad NOSRATI (IRI) celebrates his 92kg gold medal after defeating Osman AYAYDIN (TUR), 3-1 (Photo: Max Rose-Fyne)

Mohammad NOSRATI (92kg) imposed his size on Turkey’s Osman AYAYDIN, controlling the mat for four minutes to win the final title of the evening, 3-1. The big man was jubilant after the match, speaking to reporters and interacting with fans.

“This was a great event for me,” said Nosrati. “I have to thank my fans and the people of Iran for their support during the Games.”

Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) celebrates after defeating Elmirbek SADYROV (KGZ), 9-0 (Photo: Max Rose-Fyne)

Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) at 60kg and Alexandrin GUTU (MDA)at 71kg each won gold via technical superiority. Gutu out-muscled Stepan STARODUBTSEV (RUS), 8-0 while Chkhikvadze racked up four takedowns on route to a 9-0 victory.

Women’s Wrestling begins Saturday at 10am local/9am ET, with finals at 5pm local/4pm ET. 

Greco-Roman, 45kg
GOLD: Amirreza DEHBOZORGI (IRI) df. Jeremy Renzo PERALTA GONZALEZ (ECU), 8-0
BRONZE: Edmond Armen NAZARYAN (BUL) v. Arslanbek ZAKIRBAYEV (TKM), 8-0
FIFTH: Abdalla M. SHAABAN (EGY) df. Densel Jaffet DE JESUS VALERIO (HON), 12-1

Greco-Roman, 51kg
GOLD: Wataru SASAKI (JPN) df. Giorgi TOKHADZE (GEO), 11-7
BRONZE: Axel Andre SALAS ESQUIVEL (MEX) df. Eduardo LOVERA (ARG), 5-3
FIFTH: Mehdi JOUINI (TUN) df. Alexander ADINIWIN (MHL), via FALL

Greco-Roman, 60kg
GOLD: Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) df. Elmirbek SADYROV (KGZ), 9-0
BRONZE: Sahak HOVHANNISYAN (ARM) df. Miguel Angel UGALDE AGUILAR (MEX), 9-0
FIFTH: Ahmed Abdelhakim MERIKHI (ALG) df. Arapo Ngatuerua George KELLNER (NZL), 10-2

Greco-Roman, 71kg
GOLD: Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) df. Stepan STARODUBTSEV (RUS), 8-0
BRONZE: Shu YAMADA (JPN) df. Lamjed MAAFI (TUN), 4-0
FIFTH: Brandon CALLE PEREZ (COL) df. Lynch Xavier Tanglao SANTOS (GUM), 14-6

Greco-Roman, 92kg
GOLD: Mohammad Ghorbanali NOSRATI (IRI) df. Osman AYAYDIN (TUR), 3-1
BRONZE: Mukhammad EVLOEV (RUS) df. Shady Elkhalil Ibrahim A. WEHIB (EGY), 11-2
FIFTH: Igor Fernando ALVES DE QUEIROZ (BRA) df. Ariston Faamalosi BARTLEY (ASA), 10-0

#WrestleCoralville

U.S. Kicks Off Pan-American Championships with Six Greco Golds

Friday, May 8, 2026 - 09:53 By Vinay Siwach

Share this article

CROALVILLE, IOWA, United States (May 8) -- The United States opened the 2026 Pan-American with six golds medals out of eight on offer on day one of the tournament in Coralville, Iowa. The two other golds went to Cuba, who suffered two losses as well in the finals.

The most significant gold medal for the U.S. came at 130kg as Cohton SCHULTZ (USA) upset defending champion Oscar PINO (CUB) in the final, avenging his last year's loss, to win gold. Though it was an actionless final with both wrestlers exchanging passivity points, it was Schultz who got the first one which gave him the criteria win.

Both wrestlers had their chances to score from the top with Schultz trying to do a front headlock throw and Pino trying the classic gut-wrench. However, both failed in their moves and the American defend his criteria to claim his first-ever Pan-Am gold.

UWW Plus

Beka MELELASHVILI (USA) also had to battle it out against a former Pan-Am champion Daniel GREGORICH (CUB) for his 8-6 win and the 82kg gold medal. Melelashvili raced to a 7-0 lead from par terre but as he was trying the match-winning turn on Gregorich, the Cuban blocked him and held him in danger for two points. Melelashvili led 7-2 at the break.

As no passivity was awarded in the second period, Gregorich made a desperate headlock throw for four points but Melelashvili scored a reversal and led 8-6 with 42 seconds remaining. He defended his lead till the end to beat Gregorich for the second time in the day as he also won 1-1 on criteria in the Nelson bracket.

 

Former U17 world champion Joel ADAMS (USA) turned the 77kg final on its head from par terre in the second period to beat Oscar BARRIOS (HON), 10-1. When Adams got the par terre 1:52 remaining, he lifted Barrios and slammed him on the mat for a four-pointer. He continued the sequence and thew Barrios for another four-pointer to finish 9-1. Honduras challenged the second throw as it may have come after Adams moved outside the zone but on review the throw was changed to five points.

At 82kg, as only two wrestlers were entered, Kamal BEY (USA) and Diego MACIAS (MEX) wrestled in the final and former displayed his big-throwing ability to win the bout and gold 9-1.

The first scoring sequence was rather lame when Bey pushed Macias towards the zone and the Mexican just fell on his back, giving Bey four points. The two traded stepouts and Bey led 5-1 at the break. 15 seconds into the second period, Bey launched Macias for a big body throw, finishing the bout 9-1.

Landon DRURY (USA)Landon DRURY (USA) tries to score on Angel SEGURA (MEX) during their 63kg bout. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Landon DRURY (USA) and Max NOWRY (USA) won all their round-robin bouts to win gold medals at 63kg and 55kg, respectively.

Drury won four bouts with varied dominance but his first win, 9-3 over Jeremy PERALTA (ECU) in Round 1, proved crucial as Peralta did not lose any other bouts and finished with a silver medal.

Returning to international wrestling after four years, 36-year-old Nowry won his fourth Pan-Am title to go along with his golds in 2013, 2019 and 2020. He won all three bouts in the 55kg round-robin via technical superiority to claim gold.

Luis ORTA (CUB)Luis ORTA (CUB), red, wrestles Otto BLACK (USA) during the 67kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Orta Wins 5th Pan-Am Gold

Former Olympic and world champion Luis ORTA (CUB) continued his undefeated streak at the continental championships, winning his fifth gold medal on Thursday. In a thrilling final against Otto BLACK (USA) at 67kg, Orta barely held on for a 5-3 victory.

Orta opened the scoring with stepout before getting the passivity call. He scored a turn using high gut-wrench for two and then added another for a 6-0 lead. However, the U.S. challenged and the second turn was cancelled as Orta committed an offensive leg foul to run Black.

Black got the par terre in the second period and foxed Orta with a turn. He initiated the attack towards his right before switching direction to neutralize Orta's defense. Black's two-point turn but Orta's lead to 4-3 with 1:59 remaining.

Luis ORTA (CUB)Luis ORTA (CUB) won his fifth Pan-American gold medal on Thursday. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

But Orta was not done. He used a drag to score a takedown but the referee blew the whistle before he could complete it. Orta was awarded one point for a stepout which did not please him but he led 5-3.

The victory extended Orta's unbeaten streak at Pan-Ams to 16 wins and he has outscored his opponents 99-15 in those matches.

The second gold medal for Cuba was won by Kevin DE ARMAS (CUB) as he blanked Clisman CARRACEDO (ECU), 11-0, in the 60kg final.

On his Pan-Am debut, De Armas faced the youngster Carracedo but showed no mercy, scoring two front headlock turns for a 4-0 lead. He then got the par terre position and using a high gut-wrench, got two more points. He then lifted Carracedo and slammed him on the mat for four points that confirmed his technical superiority win.

Photo

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Max NOWRY (USA)
SILVER: Isaac MARIN MATA (MEX)
BRONZE: Moises PERALTA GONZALEZ (ECU)

60kg
GOLD: Kevin DE ARMAS (CUB) df. Clisman CARRACEDO (ECU), 11-0

BRONZE: Pedro DE SOUZA (BRA) df. Carlos HERRERA (VEN), 5-3
BRONZE: Yerony LIRIA (DOM) df. Abel SANCHEZ (PER), 10-1

63kg
GOLD: Landon DRURY (USA)
SILVER: Jeremy PERALTA (ECU)
BRONZE: Angel SEGURA (MEX)

67kg
GOLD: Luis ORTA (CUB) df. Otto BLACK (USA), 5-3

BRONZE: Nilton SOTO (PER) df. Irving SALAZAR (MEX), 5-5
BRONZE: Julian HORTA (COL) df. Jose VARELA (GUA), 9-0

77kg
GOLD: Joel ADAMS (USA) df. Oscar BARRIOS (HON), 10-1

BRONZE: Eduardo BERNAL (CHI) df. Justin BOYCE (BAR), 8-0
BRONZE: Joilson DE BRITO (BRA) df. David CHOC HUOC (GUA), 3-1

82kg
GOLD: Kamal BEY (USA) df. Diego MACIAS (MEX), 9-1

87kg
GOLD: Beka MELELASHVILI (USA) df. Daniel GREGORICH (CUB), 8-6

BRONZE: Luis AVENDANO (VEN) df. Johan BATISTA (DOM), via inj. def.

130kg
GOLD: Cohlton SCHULTZ (USA) df. Oscar PINO (CUB), 1-1

BRONZE: James FORD (PUR) df. Jose NUNEZ (DOM), via fall
BRONZE: Guilherme EVANGELISTA (BRA) df. Tyrece THOMPSON (JAM), via fall