#WrestleBudapest

Malmgren Captures Important Budapest Gold, First in Two Years

Sunday, July 19, 2026 - 00:14 By Vinay Siwach

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 18) -- Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) did not know how her first bout in Budapest will go.

She was nervous as she is still trying to reach the peak of her wrestling, having spent most of the last year recovering from a neck injury.

Wrestling NISHU (IND) in her opening bout, Malmgren gave up a takedown but kept her composure to win 6-2. Once the initial nerves settled down, Malmgren was flowing.

Madison PARKS (CAN) was up next but Malmgren did not waste any time, getting a quick fall to enter the semifinals in which she faced European champion Andreea ANA (ROU). After the initial scare as Ana led 3-0, Malmgren regrouped and pinned Ana.

A marquee clash against world bronze medalist ANTIM (IND) was set. The Indian also had an exceptional day as she defeated Bianka FATH (HUN), Yuxuan LI (CHN)  and Cristelle RODRIGUEZ (USA) via technical superiority. In the semifinals, she defended a fall position for around two minutes against Asian champion Jin ZHANG (CHN) and later won 7-5.

However, Antim gave a walkover to Malmgren due to injury. Standing on top of the podium and collecting the gold medal Malmgren, is on the right path to recovery.

Asian champion at 57kg Kexin HONG (CHN) captured her second gold medal of the year by winning in Budapest. After a slow start in the final, Hong managed an easy takedown and then rolled Neha SHARMA (IND) on her back. She held the Indian on the mat till the fall was confirmed, finishing the bout in 1:36.

This was Hong's fourth dominant victory of the day. She began with a 10-0 win over Roza SZENTTAMASI (HUN) in her opening bout before winning by similar score against Tokyo Olympic medalist Iryna
KURACHKINA (BLR). In the semifinals, she posted another 10-0 technical superiority win over Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE).

The 72kg weight class had only four wrestlers and European silver medalist Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) emerged as the gold medalist after she won all three of her bouts. After beating  Kaiyrkul SHARSHEBAEVA (KGZ) and Diksha MALIK (IND), she faced Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) in Round 3.

Bakbergenova was called passive in the first period and Choluj got a point, the only point of the period. When she was on the activity clock in the second period, Choluj brought Bakbergenova down for four points and then turned her for two more to lead 7-0.

Choluj gave up a takedown as Bakbergenova cut the lead to 7-2 with 45 seconds remaining. But hopes of a miraculous comeback were dashed when Choluj escaped an attempted attack from the Kazakhstan wrestler and she scored a takedown and two turns to win 13-2.

This was Choluj's second straight Ranking Series gold medal as she had won the 72kg gold at the Ulaanbaatar Open as well. 

In a comical ending at 76kg, Dymond GUILFORD (USA) celebrated a little too early when she won a challenge and thought she won 3-3 on criteria against KAJAL (IND). However, it was the Indian who held the criteria and won gold.

Guilford scored a stepout and Kajal was docked a point for fleeing, giving the American a 2-0 lead. She was then put on the activity clock in the second which gave Kajal her first point before she added an impressive takedown to lead 3-2 with 13 seconds remaining.

A powerful underhook from Guilford dragged Kajal out-of-bounds which was not scored a stepout as the time expired. However, on review, the stepout was in time and the score changed to 3-3. Guilford celebrated with a dance thinking she won on last-point criteria.

However, as Kajal had a two-point move compared to three one-point moves of Guilford, she held the bigger-technique criteria, giving her the gold medal.

Two more Greco-Roman weight classes were competed on Saturday, with Georgia and Russia winning gold medals at 72kg and 87kg respectively.

Nika BROLADZE (GEO) put on an electric performance in the 72kg final to beat U23 European champion Rabil ASKEROV (RUS), 10-0. He got the first point after a challenge as Askerov stepped out first but the referees had awarded the Russian a point.

Askerov tried to drag Broladze around but the Georgian managed to defended the drag and scored a takedown to lead 3-0 before launching Askerov for four points. He continued the action and rolled him for two more points for a 9-0 score.

Russia challenged the scoring but Broladze made clear moves and the scoring was upheld upon review. The lost challenge added another point to Broladze's score who won 10-0.

At 87kg, Islam ALIEV (RUS) and Milad ALIRZAEV (RUS) reached the final but the former won gold after Alirzaev pulled out of the final due to an injury, giving gold to Aliev.

RESULTS

Women's Wrestling

53kg
GOLD: Jonna MALMGREN (SWE) df. ANTIM (IND), via inj. def.

BRONZE: Jin ZHANG (CHN) df. Cristelle RODRIGUEZ (USA), 5-2
BRONZE: NISHU (IND) df. Andreea ANA (ROU), 2*-2

57kg
GOLD: Kexin HONG (CHN) df. Neha SHARMA (IND), via fall (4-0)

BRONZE: Amanda MARTINEZ (USA) df. Giullia PENALBER (BRA), 6-4
BRONZE: Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR) df. Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE), 9-2

72kg
GOLD: Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL)
SILVER: Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ)
BRONZE: Kaiyrkul SHARSHEBAEVA (KGZ)

76kg
GOLD: KAJAL (IND) df. Dymond GUILFORD (USA), 3*-3

BRONZE: Shuiyan CHENG (CHN) df. Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU), 10-0
BRONZE: Wenji LI (CHN) df. PRIYA (IND), 5-3

Greco-Roman

72kg
GOLD: Nika BROLADZE (GEO) df. Rabil ASKEROV (RUS), 10-0

BRONZE: Mishiko ALEKSANDRIA (GEO) df. ANIL (IND), 5-2
BRONZE: Krisztian VANCZA (HUN) df. Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO), 3-1

87kg
GOLD: Islam ALIEV (RUS) df. Milad ALIRZAEV (RUS), via inj. def.

BRONZE: Beka MELELASHVILI (USA) df. Matej MANDIC (CRO), 5-3
BRONZE: Tamas LEVAI (HUN) df. Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ), via inj. def.  

#WrestleBudapest

Kusaka, Losonczi shine on final day of Budapest Ranking Series

Sunday, June 9, 2024 - 08:31 By Vinay Siwach

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (June 9) -- The final day of the Ranking Series with seven Greco-Roman weight classes. Four Olympic weights will be in action -- 67kg, 77kg, 87kg and 97kg -- with ranking points to be earned.

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Incredible session of wrestling. The finals are set and Iran is likely to have a few wrestle-offs for the Paris Olympics

14:30: Ali CENGIZ (TUR) and David LOSONCIZ (HUN) wrestle in the 87kg semifinal. Cengiz and Losonciz shared the World Championships gold after Losonciz won an appeal for a judge's error. But in the rematch here, Losonciz pins Cengiz in the second period after racing to a 5-0 lead. He knows what it means! This is the first time the two have wrestled after that World Championships final

14:10: Nao KUSAKA (JPN) with a stepout in the second period to beat world silver medalist Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) 2-1 and enter the 77kg final against Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) who defeated Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) 1-1 

13:50: Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) has defeated world champion Luis ORTA (CUB)! OH WAIT WHAT?! What did we just witness here! Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) was clearly the better wrestler for five minutes and 58 seconds. He led 6-0 at the break but gave up a four pointer in the second as Orta closed the gap to 6-4. Iran challenged the call asking for two points for counter but lost to make the score 6-5. Esmaeili did well to keep the lead but for the last two seconds. As Orta dropped his guard, Esmaeili began celebrating but Orta launched a massive throw for four. It was originally not scored as the clock expired but Cuba challenged the call. On review, the move was completed with 0.1 seconds remaining on the clock. Esmaeili is inconsolable.

13:35: 63kg world champion Leri ABULADZE (GEO) hands Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) a 6-1 loss at 67kg. A big setback for Geraei and his Olympic dreams. He would now hope that Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) fails to win the gold medal here and the two get to have a playoff later in the evening.

13:25: David LOSONCZI (HUN) gives up a turn from par terre in the second period but that is not enough for Mohammadhossein MAHMOODI (IRI) to win their 87kg bout. Losonczi had a 5-0 lead from the first period and he looked in control of the bout.

13:22: Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) has given a walkover to Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) in their 77kg quarterfinal. Akbudak will now wrestle Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) for a spot in the final.

13:00: Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI) may feel he has been hard done here against Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) at 77kg. Geraei defended two par terre positions and led 1-1 on criteria with 23 seconds left on the clock. He made an arm throw but had no contact with Suleymanov who was awarded two points and two more for a turn. Geraei was not defending thinking the referees would call it a risk. Iran challenged for the same but it called points and Geraei dropped his bout 6-1.

12:55: Nao KUSAKA (JPN) beats Mohammad Reza MOKHTARI (IRI) at 77kg to enter the semifinals. He will now wait for the winner of Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) and Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI). 

12:40: World champion Luis ORTA (CUB) and Kyotaro SOGABE (JPN) now wrestling at 67kg. Orta launches a big four-pointer on the edge for the early lead. He then is then awarded a point for Sogabe's passivity. No turn in par terre but he scored a takedown to lead 7-0 at the break. Sogabe is unable to break Orta's defense in the second period. Orta closes out the match 7-1.

12:00: A tough opening round for world champion Ali CENGIZ (TUR) as he needs six minutes to beat Payton JACOBSON (USA) 6-1 at 87kg. He is on his way for a clash with David LOSONCIZ (HUN). Both were awarded the World Championships gold medal after Hungary won an appeal for a referee error in the final

11:40: Nao KUSAKA (JPN) continues to chip away at 77kg. He beats Iuri LOMADZE (GEO) 6-0 to advance to the 1/8 finals. In the same weight class, Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) has set up a 1/8 final with Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE).

11:30: A minute and 29 seconds is all Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) needs to win 8-0 against Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) in their round two bout at 55kg. Azizli looking absolutely dominant so far.

11:05: Mohmmadreza GERAEI (IRI) did not look his best in his opening match against Souleymen NASR (TUN) at 67kg as he failed to perform his throw from par terre. Nasr was called for negative wrestling twice which gave Geraei a 4-0 lead. But a lost challenge from Gereaei and par terre in the second period made it 4-2. Geraei holds on to that score to win. Iran's second wrestler at 67kg, Saeid ESMAEILI LEIVESI (IRI) rolls to a 10-0 win over Nestor ALMANZA (CHI) in no time.

10:55: World champion Luis ORTA (CUB) shows up and rolls over David MANYIK (HUN) for a technical superiority win at 67kg. He earns a quarterfinal date with Kyotaro SOGABE (JPN).

10:50: Nao KUSAKA (JPN) dominates his first bout over Abd Elkrim OUAKALI (4), winning 11-3 and marching on at 77kg. He will face Iuri LOMADZE (GEO) next. In the same weight class, a quick finish as Zoltán LEVAI (HUN) pins Levente LEVAI (HUN).

10:40: Poya DAD MARZ (IRI) has been trying to get the better of Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) at 55kg but he will have to wait another day for that as Azizli beats Dad Marz in the first bout at 55kg. On Mat A, Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) beats Marat GARIPOV (BRA).

10:30: Long day ahead in Budapest with some top matches scheduled. Nao KUSAKA (JPN), Geraei brothers, Ali CENGIZ (TUR), David LOSONCIZ (HUN), Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) are among the stars to be on the mat.