#GuatemalaCityWrestle

Junior Pan Ams Set for Guatemala

By Taylor Miller

En espanol

Los Campeonatos Panamericanos Junior están programados para el 5 al 7 de junio, en el gimnasio nacional Teodoro Palacios Flores en la ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala.

En los tres estilos olímpicos, el campo incluye ocho medallistas de los Campeonatos Mundial o los Juegos Olímpicos de la Juventud, con seis registrados en el estilo libre femenino. También hay varios campeones y medallistas panamericanos listos para competir en los campeonatos continentales.

Estilo libre masculino

Carson LEE (CAN) es el líder en logros individuales con una medalla de bronce del Campeonato mundial cadete de 2018. Buscará el título en 97 kg.

Solo hay uno campeón panamericano junior que regresara, Jonathan PRATA ALAS (ARG), quien gano el título en 57 kg el año pasado. Se le unieron dos campeones del Cadete Pan Am de 57 kg, entre ellos Lucas NAVARRETE VIDAL (ECU) y Roberto ALEJANDRO BLANCO (MEX).

Navarrete gano en 2016, y Alejandro clamo su título en 2017.

Además de Alejandro, hay dos otros campeones del Cadete Pan Am representando a México la próxima semana, incluyendo Luis LOPEZ VASQUEZ en 97 kg and Luis OROZCO CORTEZ en 125 kg. 

Peyton ROBB (USA), un campeón panamericano cadete en estilo libre masculino y grecorromana, está registrado por 70  kg.

Yendo a su segundo campeonato continental del ano es Cristian SOLENZAL LOPEZ (CUB), quien ganó una medalla de plata en los Campeonatos Panamericanos Senior de 2019. Competirá en 65 kg en el estilo libre masculino y en 67 kg en grecorromana.

La competición en estilo libre masculino empieza el 7 de junio.

Estilo libre femenina

La categoría de peso de 50 kg parece ser la más dura en todo el torneo, con tres medallistas mundiales.

En frente es la campeona mundial cadete y la campeona de los Juegos Olímpicos de la Juventud Emily SHILSON (USA). Ella también ganó una medalla de plata en los Campeonatos Mundiales de Cadete de 2017 y medallas de oro en los Campeonatos Panamericanos Cadete en 2017 y 2018.

Buscando a desafiarla es Julieta MARTINEZ GONZALEZ (MEX) and Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU). Las dos tienen medallas de bronce de los Campeonatos Mundiales Cadetes de 2017.

Martínez González es una campeona panamericano cadete de 2017, y Yépez Guzmán gano títulos en los niveles de U15 y Cadete.

También en el campo de 50 kg es campeona panamericano junior de 2017 Alexia SEAL (CAN).

Martínez González no es la única campeona panamericano representando a México. También hay Atzimba LANDAVERDE MORENO (MEX), quien quiere defender su título panamericano junior en 68 kg.

Todas de las ocho luchadoras de México han Ganado una medalla panamericano.

Además de Shilson, E.E.U.U. tiene otra medallista mundial en Tiare IKEI (USA), quien competirá en 53 kg. Ella gano una medalla de bronce el año pasado en los Mundiales Cadetes.

En los pesos superiores, hay dos medallistas de los Juegos Olímpicos de la Juventud, incluyendo campeona Milaimys MARIN POTRILLE (CUB) en 76 kg y medallista de plata Linda MACHUCA (ARG) en 72 kg.

Katherine RENTERIA CUERO (COL) regresa a defender su título panamericano junior en 59 kg.

La competición en estilo libre femenina empieza el 6 de junio.

Grecorromana

El único medallista mundial en grecorromana es Nestor DELGADO RAMIREZ (MEX), quien va competir en 55 kg. Delgado posee una medalla de plata de los Campeonatos Mundiales Cadetes de 2016. También termino en quinto lugar en 2015.

También ganó una medalla de oro en los Campeonatos Panamericanos Cadetes en 2016 y una medalla de plata en los Campeonatos Panamericanos Junior el año pasado.

Hay siete otros quien han ganado títulos panamericanos.

El único campeón Panamericano Junior que regresa es Andrés CORTES HERRERA (COL). Busca defender su título en los 60 kg.

Los seis campeones Cadete Panamericanos en el campo representan a México o Estados Unidos: Miguel UGALDE AGUILAR (MEX) en 60 kg, Hunter LEWIS (USA) en 63 kg, Diego MARTINEZ DE LEIJA (MEX) en 72 kg, Calvin GERMINARO (USA) en 72 kg, Arturo CAMACHO VALENCIANO (MEX) en 82 kg and Jesus LOPEZ NINO (MEX) en 87 kg.

Hay tres medallistas de Pan Am Senior registrados para la próxima semana, incluyendo campeón de 2019 Gabriel ROSILLO KINDELAN (CUB) en 97 kg, subcampeón en estilo libre masculino de 2019 Cristian SOLENZAL LOPEZ (CUB) en 65 kg y subcampeón de 2018 Gerardo OLIVA MONTES (PER) en 67 kg.

Solenzal Lopez competirá en estilo libre masculino y grecorromana.

El competición grecorromana empieza el 5 de junio.

 

 

 

 

 

In English

The Junior Pan American Championships are set for next week, June 5-7, Teodoro Palacios Flores National Gym in Guatemala City, Guatemala.

Across all three Olympic styles, the field includes eight World or Youth Olympic Games medalists, with six registered in women’s freestyle. There are also several past Pan American champions and medalists ready to compete at the continental championships.

Men’s Freestyle

Carson LEE (CAN) leads the field in individual accomplishments, with a 2018 Cadet World bronze medal to his name. He’ll seek the title at 79 kg.

There is only one returning Junior Pan American champion, Jonathan PRATA ALAS (ARG), who won the title at 57 kg last year. He is joined by two past Cadet Pan Am champions at 57 kg, including Lucas NAVARRETE VIDAL (ECU) and Roberto ALEJANDRO BLANCO (MEX).

Navarrete Vidal won in 2016, while Alejandro Blanco claimed his title in 2017.

In addition to Alejandro Blanco, there are two other Cadet Pan Am champs representing Mexico next week, Luis LOPEZ VASQUEZ at 97 kg and Luis OROZCO CORTEZ at 125 kg.  

Peyton ROBB (USA), a 2017 Cadet Pan American champion in freestyle and Greco-Roman, is registered at 70 kg. He is the only wrestler entered that has won titles in both styles.

Heading to his second continental championships of the year is Cristian SOLENZAL LOPEZ (CUB), who won silver at the 2019 Senior Pan American Championships. He will compete at 65 kg in freestyle and 67 kg in Greco-Roman.

The men’s freestyle competition will take place on June 7.

Women’s Freestyle

The 50 kg weight class seems to be the toughest in the entire tournament, featuring three World medalists.

Leading the pack is 2018 Cadet World and Youth Olympic Games champion Emily SHILSON (USA). She is also a 2017 Cadet World silver medalist and won Cadet Pan Am championships in 2017 and 2018.  

Looking to challenge her is Julieta MARTINEZ GONZALEZ (MEX) and Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU). Both won bronzes at the 2017 Cadet World Championships.

Martinez Gonzalez is a 2017 Cadet Pan Am champion, and Yepez Guzman won U15 and Cadet Pan Am titles in 2016.

Also lurking at 50 kg is 2017 Junior Pan Am champion Alexia SEAL (CAN).

Martinez Gonzalez is not the only Pan Am champion representing Mexico. Her teammate Atzimba LANDAVERDE MORENO (MEX) looks to defend her 2018 Junior Pan Am title at 68 kg.

Of note, all eight of Mexico’s entrants in women’s freestyle have won at least one medal at a Pan American Championships.

In addition to Shilson, the USA boasts another World medalist in Tiare IKEI (USA), who will compete at 53 kg.

In the upper weights, there are two Youth Olympic Games medalists, including 2018 champion Milaimys MARIN POTRILLE (CUB) at 76 kg and 2018 silver medalist Linda MACHUCA (ARG) at 72 kg.

At 59 kg, be on the lookout for returning Junior Pan Am champion Katherine RENTERIA CUERO (COL).

The women’s freestyle competition will take place June 6.  

Greco-Roman

The lone World medalist in Greco-Roman is Nestor DELGADO RAMIREZ (MEX), who is slated to wrestle at 55 kg. Delgado won World silver at the 2016 Cadet World Championships. He also registered a fifth-place finish at the 2015 Cadet World Championships.

In addition to his World silver, Delgado owns a gold from the 2016 Cadet Pan American Championships and silver from last year’s Junior Pan American Championships in Brazil.

Apart from Delgado, seven others have won Cadet or Junior Pan Am titles.

The only returning Junior Pan American champion is Andres CORTES HERRERA (COL). He looks to defend his title at 60 kg.

The six Cadet Pan American champions in the field represent either Mexico or USA: Miguel UGALDE AGUILAR (MEX) at 60 kg, Hunter LEWIS (USA) at 63 kg, Diego MARTINEZ DE LEIJA (MEX) at 72 kg, Calvin GERMINARO (USA) at 72 kg, Arturo CAMACHO VALENCIANO (MEX) at 82 kg and Jesus LOPEZ NINO (MEX) at 87 kg.

There are three Senior Pan Am medalists registered for next week, including 2019 champion Gabriel ROSILLO KINDELAN (CUB) at 97 kg, 2019 runner-up in freestyle Cristian SOLENZAL LOPEZ (CUB) at 65 kg and 2018 runner-up Gerardo OLIVA MONTES (PER) at 67 kg.

Solenzal Lopez will compete in both Greco-Roman and men’s freestyle.

The Greco-Roman competition will take place on June 5.

#WrestleTirana

U23 Worlds: Ganiev, Beishekeev end title droughts for Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan

By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (October 22) -- Alisher GANIEV (UZB) was a little harsh on himself when he failed to win gold at the U20 Asian Championships in July. He even called it a 'painful defeat'. Little did he know that three months later, he would be creating history for Uzbekistan.

The 19-year-old Ganiev became the first U23 world champion for Uzbekistan in any style. The country did not have a medalist at the U23 World Championships in Greco-Roman until Ganiev changed that with a gold medal.

"Last year, I finished third at the U20 World Championships," Ganiev said. "That loss gave me a lot of motivation. This is my first Worlds gold. I lost at the U20 Asian championships this year. That was a painful defeat. I guess those losses hugely influenced the way I prepared for this World championships."

Ganiev won all his bouts on Monday via technical superiority and on Tuesday, he defeated Dinislam BAMMATOV (AIN) 8-4 in the 60kg final to clinch the first-ever gold medal for his country.

"The final was the most difficult one," he said. "But the right plan and technique made my dream come true."

Ganiev was off to a flyer and finished the final in the first period when he tossed Bammatov for four points and the referees called a foul on Bammatov to give a 9-0 lead for Ganiev. However, on challenge, Bammatov received a lifeline as he had not committed a foul and the scored was reversed to 7-0.

But the gap was too big got Bammatov to make a comeback in the second period. He managed to score four points over Ganiev but he failed to change the outcome of the final. 

"It might have looked so easy but it was definitely tough," he said. "We have been preparing the tactics for every single opponent. That’s why it worked out."

Kyrgyzstan too crowned its first U23 world champion in Greco-Roman as Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) clinched the 67kg with a 6-1 victory over European bronze medalist Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) in the final. Beishekeev got the early advantage as he used an arm-throw to get four points and since, Chkhikvadze was only playing catch-up.

In the last few years, Kyrgyzstan has got its first senior world champion, a U23 world champion and more recently a U20 world champion. The last time it won a U17 world title was won by Kyrgyzstan wrestler, was in 2018. Incidentally, Beishekeev was the last U17 world champion.

Another wrestler chasing a first for his country fell short as Mohammad NAGHOUSI (IRI) defeated Beka MELELASHVILI (USA), 4-3, in the 82kg final. 

Melelashvili was the first Greco-Roman wrestler from the United States to secure a medal at the U23 World Championships and had the chance to become the first champion. However, Naghousi kept his cool and managed to eke out a 4-3 win.

At 97kg, Hayk KHLOYAN (ARM), who has never placed on a podium before, won the gold medal by beating Paris Olympian Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN), 11-6, in the final.

Prior to the World Championships, Khloyan had finished 14th and fifth. But none of that mattered on Tuesday as he built a 7-0 lead over Khaslakhanau. Khloyan got the first par terre advantage and to everyone's surprise, managed to turn Khaslakhanau three times to lead Iran. Khaslakhanau got his opportunity in the second period but he failed to get even a single turn.

Georgia was also crowned a champion at 72kg after Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) defeated Shant KHACHATRYAN (ARM), 3-1, in the gold medal bout.

Chkhikvadze was leading 1-1 on criteria but the referees awarded a third passivity to Khachatryan who went for a par terre position. As he tried to turn Chkhikvadze, Khachatryan was blocked during the turn and Chkhikvadze scored two points for exposure.

This was Chkhikvadze's first world title as he had finished with a silver at the U20 World Championships in 2021. He had defeated Khachatryan in the semifinals of that tournament. However, Khachatryan leveled the head-to-head score by beating Chkhikvadze in the opening round of the U23 World Championships.

RESULTS

60kg
GOLD: Alisher GANIEV (UZB) df. Dinislam BAMMATOV (AIN), 8-4

BRONZE: Pridon ABULADZE (GEO) df. SURAJ (IND), 9-1
BRONZE: Denis MIHAI (ROU) df. Nihad GULUZADE (AZE), 

67kg
GOLD: Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) df. Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO), 6-1

BRONZE: Daniial AGAEV (AIN) df. Yanis GUENDEZ NIFRI (FRA), 2-1
BRONZE: Arslanbek SALIMOV (POL) df. Farid KHALILOV (AZE), 8-4

72kg
GOLD: Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) df. Shant KHACHATRYAN (ARM), 3-1

BRONZE: Imran ALIEV (AIN) df. Adilkhan NURLANBEKOV (KGZ), 11-1
BRONZE: Danial SOHRABI (IRI) df. Georgios BARBANOS (SWE), 9-0

82kg
GOLD: Mohammad NAGHOUSI (IRI) df. Beka MELELASHVILI (USA), 4-3

BRONZE: Data CHKHAIDZE (GEO) df. Elmin ALIYEV (AZE)
BRONZE: Deni NAKAEV (GER) df. Emad ABOUELATTA (EGY), 5-1

97kg
GOLD: Hayk KHLOYAN (ARM) df. Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN), 11-6

BRONZE: Shayan HABIBZARE (IRI) df. Richard KARELSON (EST), 8-5
BRONZE: Magomed MURTAZALIEV (AIN) df. Anton VIEWEG (GER), 11-0

Semifinals

55kg
GOLD: Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) vs. Rashad MAMMADOV (AZE)

SF 1: Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) df. Vishvajit MORE (IND), 14-5
SF 2: Rashad MAMMADOV (AZE) df. Kohei YAMAGIWA (JPN), 12-2

63kg
GOLD: Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) vs. Komei SAWADA (JPN)

SF 1: Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) df. Arman VARDANYAN (ARM), 14-5
SF 2: Komei SAWADA (JPN) df. Bekir ATES (TUR), 7-0

77kg
GOLD: Samuel BELLSCHEIDT (GER) vs. Alexandrin GUTU (MDA)

SF 1: Samuel BELLSCHEIDT (GER) df. Temuri ORJONIKIDZE (GEO), 2-1
SF 2: Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) df. Doniyorkhon NAKIBOV (UZB), 6-1

87kg
GOLD: Aues GONIBOV (AIN) vs. Marcel STERKENBURG (NED)

SF 1: Aues GONIBOV (AIN) df. Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ), 2-1
SF 2: Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) df. Yasin YAZDI (IRI), 5-1

130kg
GOLD: Dmitrii BABORYKO (AIN) vs. Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI)

SF 1: Dmitrii BABORYKO (AIN) df. Albert VARDANYAN (ARM), via fall
SF 2: Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) df. Koppany LASZLO (HUN), 8-0