Matteo Pellicone day three finals set

Friday, June 24, 2022 - 07:09 By Vinay Siwach

ROME, Italy (June 24) -- The third day of the Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series will feature six women's wrestling weight classes and two from freestyle. Ukraine dominated day two, winning three out of the four women's wrestling gold medals. Azerbaijan clinched the Greco-Roman title with ease.

MATCH ORDER | WATCH LIVE

An absolutely thrilling session of wrestling comes to an end in Rome. Here are the final match-ups for the evening session. Action begins 1800 hours local time:

Women's wrestling

50kg: Madison PARKS (CAN) vs. Agata WALERZAK (POL)
53kg: Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA) vs. Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR)
55kg: Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) vs. Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL)
59kg: Grace BULLEN (NOR) vs. Jowita WRZESIEN (POL)
65kg: Nordic style -- Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR) won gold
72kg: Nordic style -- Skylar GROTE (USA) won gold

Freestyle

97kg: Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) vs. Batyrbek TCAKULOV (SVK)
125kg: Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) vs. Robert BARAN (POL)

13:30: Quick 2-0 lead for Grote and she then gets on a single leg and adds two more to lead 4-0 at the break against Schell. Another shot from Grote and she gets two more. Schell adds a takedown with 41 seconds left. Grote defends and takes the gold at 72kg

13:20: Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR) absolutely thrashes Veronica BRASCHI (ITA) in the Round 5 bout at 65kg and seals the gold medal. What a performance from the European champion. On Mat A now, the Round 5 bout, with the gold medal on the line, between Anna SCHELL (GER) and Skylar GROTE (USA)

13:10: Is that another upset? Mariia VYNNYK (UKR) scored a takedown in the final 20 seconds against European champion Andreea ANA (ROU). Even as Ana got on a two-on-one, Vynnyk hangs on for the win and enter the 55kg final

13:00: Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) in trouble against Jowita WRZESIEN (POL). She warned for fleeing in danger and is trailing 3-0 at the break in the 59kg semifinal. A double leg to begin the second period and she gets on the scoreboard with a takedown. Adekuoroye gets on another double leg but the series of exposures scored to Wrzesien. Challenge from Adekuoroye. She wins it but the exposures are for Wrzesien while Adekuoroye gets a point for negative from Wrzesien. She has 10 seconds to overturn a 9-3 score. She cannot and she will be wrestling for a bronze later.

12:45: Grace BULLEN (NOR) is on a roll. She is in the final at 59kg after a 10-0 win over Abigail NETTE (USA). This is the first time in two years that Bullen has managed to reach a final at an international competition.

12:43: Anna SCHELL (GER) and Skylar GROTE (USA) both dominate their Round 4 bouts and have set up a clash for the gold in Round 5. They will wrestle in the evening session for the 72kg gold.

12:35: Batyrbek TCAKULOV (SVK) has a strong leg lace and he uses it to perfection. He reaches his second straight Ranking Series final after beating fellow European bronze medalist Zbigniew BARANOWSKI (POL) 11-0 in the 97kg semifinal

12:25: A rivalry that goes four years back. Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR) vs. Kriszta INCZE (ROU) are on Mat B for their virtual gold-medal bout. Both are the only unbeaten wrestlers at 65kg. Rizhko once again gets exposure to lead 2-0 but Incze with a reversal. Incze circles around and get behind Rizhko in standing but the Ukrainian tosses her for four. It's 6-1 for Rizhko as Incze rues a missed opportunity. No points were scored in the second period. European champion Rizhko once again beats Incze

12:20: Talk about comebacks! Emma BRUNTIL (USA) was down 6-0 but worked her way to a 7-6 lead before giving up 2 for a trip. But she scores a takedown to lead 9-8 with a minute left. Kateryna ZELENYKH (UKR) tried hard and desperately for a point but failed. Bruntil won 11-8

12:10: Pan-Am champion Skylar GROTE (USA) has picked up two wins at 72kg. After getting past compatriot Marilyn GARCIA (USA) 11-0 in Round 2, she beats Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) 6-3 in Round 3 to strengthen her position for the gold.

11:45: A minute and 10 seconds is all Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) needs to upset European champion Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE). Strong performance so far from him after beating BAITCAEV (HUN) in the opening round. He will face Erik THIELE (GER) in the semifinal after the German defeated Nishan RANDHAWA (CAN) 10-0.

11:40: Odunayo ADEKUOROYE (NGR) and Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) squaring off in the 59kg quarterfinals. A stepout for Adekuoroye to begin proceedings before she adds a takedown to lead 3-0 at the break. Vynnyk with a four and looks to pin Adekuoroye. Exposure sequence and it's 2 each with Vynnyk lead 6-5. Adekuoroye manages to go behind in the same sequence. She leads 7-6. She wins 10-6

11:30: Big match up at 65kg. Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR) up against Kateryna ZELENYKH (UKR). She gets two takedowns before working a leg turk. Zelenykh survives the fall. She then tries to reach Rizhko's far leg but ends up in a cradle and gives up two more. 8-0 for Rizhko. Zelenykh drives Rizhko out to make it 8-1. Rizhko with some crafty defence and puts Zelenykh on her back to secure the fall

11:15: European bronze medalist Batyrbek TCAKULOV (SVK) began with two takedowns against Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO). But he survived a cradle before securing an 8-4 win

11:05: Winning start for Romania. First, European champion Andreea ANA (ROU) pins Alice BEVILACQUA (ITA) at 55kg and then Kriszta INCZE (ROU) controls the bout against Kateryna ZELENYKH (UKR) for a 4-1 win at 65kg

10:55: Vladislav BAITCAEV (HUN) was up 7-2 but fails to keep the intensity and suffers a 14-9 loss to Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO) at 97kg. Not the start the European Championships silver medalist would have hoped for.

10: 50: Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) with a composed 11-0 win over Gennadij CUDINOVIC (GER). He did not waste too much energy and let the bout stroll into the second period.

10:45: We are moving very quickly. At 97kg, Batyrbek TCAKULOV (SVK) got an injury default win over Radoslaw BARAN (POL) while European champion Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) uses a gut wrench to secure a technical superiority win over Radu LEFTER (MDA).

Grace BULLEN (NOR) throws Nikolett SZABO (HUN) in their opening round bout at 59kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

10:41: What a start for Grace BULLEN (NOR)! She leg laces Nikolett SZABO (HUN) before securing a fall with a huge five at the end.

10:40: Emma BRUNTIL (USA) held off Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR) for a few moments but the European champion secures a first-period fall over the American. Big result for Rizhko as she looks to add a gold

10:35: World bronze medalist Anna SCHELL (GER) with a series of go behinds and she secures an 11-0 win in Round 1 at 72kg.

10:30: Ukraine won four gold medals Thursday and Kateryna ZELENYKH (UKR) begins the new day like her teammates. He wins 11-0 over Veronica BRASCHI (ITA) at 65kg.

#WrestleRome

Unbeaten Yefremova repeats as U17 world champ; Japan steals WW title

Friday, July 29, 2022 - 18:16 By Vinay Siwach

ROME, Italy (July 29) -- Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) came into the U17 World Championships in Rome as an unbeaten wrestler internationally. The young star has already notched up two U15 and U17 European titles, and one U17 world title. On Friday, she became a two-time U17 world champion and remained undefeated over six tournaments internationally.

When she made her way to the 53kg final against Sakura ONISHI (JPN), it seemed that her record was in danger. But the returning world champion proved too clutch for Onishi and won the 53kg gold 3-1.

Incidentally, Onishi has only lost thrice in her entire career, the latest being to Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) at the Inter-High School Championships. She has now suffered her fourth loss as Yefremova used a near-perfect defensive strategy to beat Onishi.

Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) extended her unbeaten record to 24 bouts over six tournaments. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

It was the passivity points that made Onishi lose her cool against Yefremova who let Onishi take the 1-0 lead after being called passive in the first period.

But in the second period, Onishi was called passive and Yefremova took the 1-1 criteria lead. Now, Onishi tried hard to get the all-important stepout and almost did it but Yefremova lifted her leg from one-on-two and scored exposure on Onishi with 10 seconds left.

The unbeaten run which now extends to 24 bouts, including the U17 Worlds in Rome, over three years saw Yefremova give up only 11 points while scoring 229 points.

While the 53kg weight class internationally is one of most stacked led by world champion Fujinami, it will be interesting to see how Yefremova fairs when she makes her international debut.

Her gold also propelled Ukraine to the third spot in the team ranking with 112 points, overtaking the USA, the defending champions, which finished fourth with 107 points.

Japan had missed the U17 World Championships in 2021 due to the COVID-19 outbreak and it only won two titles in Rome but it still managed to win the team title with 180 points, 31 more than India which finished second for a second consecutive year.

MUSKAN (IND) defeated Mona EZAKA (JPN) to win the 40kg gold medal. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

India wins 3 golds

Out of the remaining four golds, India won three taking its overall count to five as MUSKAN (IND), SAVITA (IND) and HARSHITA (IND) won the 40kg, 61kg and 69kg gold medals on Friday.

In a rematch of the U17 Asian finals from Bishkek, Muskan wrestled Mona EZAKA (JPN) in the gold medal bout. While Ezaka was able to stretch the bout more than she did in Bishkek, the result, unfortunately, was the same.

Muskan took a 4-0 lead with two counters and then added a go behind to make it 6-0. Ezaka tried grabbing Muskan's legs but the Indian had a solid defense and ultimately found the fall with 1:11 remaining on the clock.

SAVITA (IND) celebrates after winning the 61kg gold medal in Rome. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Savita was as quick as Muskan, beating Valerie HAMILTON (USA), 12-0, in the final. A cradle to start the bout, Savita went for the pin like in her semifinal against Suzu SASAKI (JPN).

Hamilton, however, survived the fall but could never find a way to score points on Savita who ultimately scored the win and claimed the 61kg gold.

Harshita added a third gold by beating Chisato YOSHIDA (JPN) in the 69kg final. Going by her semifinal, it always seemed to be a tough ask for Yoshida to repeat a late takedown in the final against the Indian.

The Indian got hold of Yoshida's leg early in the bout and led 2-0. But she went defensive from there and was put on the activity clock in the second period. Trailing 2-1, Yoshida tried a headlock in the final two seconds but the referee called it clean and even the time ran out. The decision stood despite Japan's challenge. The lost challenge added one more point to Harshita's score.

This was the second year Harshita was at the U17 Worlds. She had finished fifth in Budapest last year.

This was India's best-ever show at the U17 World Championships overtaking the previous year's result. In Budapest, India won three gold medals to finish second.

Koko MATSUDA (JPN) became the U17 world champion at 53kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Japan won gold on the final day as Koko MATSUDA (JPN) swept the field at 46kg. She outscored her opponents 27-0 including a 13-0 win over Gabriella GOMEZ (USA).

Wrestling in typical Japanese style, Matsuda was too quick for Gomez and got her leg attacks to score the takedowns. She led 8-0 at the break.

In the second period, Gomez tried a body lock but Matsuda was quick to turn it into an arm throw and get the win. The USA challenged the call but it was four instead of the original two and Matsuda won 13-0.

Jaxen FORREST (USA) produced a final-second takedown to beat Vaibhav PATIL (IND) in the 55kg semifinal. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

USA dominate freestyle

The USA dominated the first day of freestyle, sending four wrestlers to the finals. Five weight classes were in action on Saturday and the USA has finalists in 48kg, 55kg, 65kg and 110kg. India and the USA were the only countries to enter four wrestlers in the semifinals with two head-to-head bouts.

At 55kg, Jaxen FORREST (USA) wrestled U17 Asian champion Vaibhav PATIL (IND) and both wrestlers were not ready to give it up. They exchanged three takedowns each before a low single from Patil almost gave him the winning takedown. But Forrest's knees did not touch the mat. He in turn scored a takedown and won 9-7. Forrest will wrestle Asian silver medalist Daryn ASKERBEK (KAZ) who defeated Jannis REBHOLZ (GER) 5-3.

The other USA-India semifinal was at 65kg in which Tyler KASAK (USA) pinned ANKIT (IND) after leading 8-3. Ankit had several chances to score but Kasak's defense was outstanding throughout the bout. He used a duck under to secure the fall.

For the gold medal, he will now wrestle U17 European champion Ilyas ISAYEV (AZE) who had a tough semifinal against Goga OTINASHVILI (GEO) but eventually won 9-4.

Christian CASTILLO (USA), red, had to jump over Arshia HADDADI (IRI) to score a final-second takedown in the 48kg quarterfinal. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Two other USA wrestlers in the final were Christian CASTILLO (USA) and Koy HOPKE (USA) at 48kg and 110kg respectively.

Castillo was up against European silver medalist Rassoul GALBOURAEV (FRA) but his leg lace was enough to win 12-1. He will now have to upset Azerbaijan's young star and European champion Vasif BAGHIROV (AZE).

The Azerbaijan wrestler was made to work hard by Lalit KUMAR (IND) in the semifinal but he never looked out of control, winning the bout 7-4.

Hopke dominated his semifinal against Khikmatullo KURBONOV (UZB), winning 12-2. He will wrestle Levan LAGVILAVA (FRA) for the gold.

Levan LAGVILAVA (FRA) became the first wrestler from France to reach U17 Worlds final. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Lagvilava was the surprise of the day as he defeated U17 Asian champion Mohammadreza LOTFI (IRI), 11-9 in the semifinal. The France wrestler struggled with his conditioning but every time it seemed he would give up the takedown, he managed to either score a stepout or takedown.

India did manage to reach one final as Sachin MOR (IND) scrapped past Yehor HOROKH (UKR), 4-0. He will have to beat Reza SOLEIMANIAN (IRI) if he wants to win gold.

RESULTS

Women's wrestling

40kg
GOLD: MUSKAN (IND) df. Mona EZAKA (JPN), via fall (10-0)

BRONZE: Yevheniia DRUZENKO (UKR) df. Yagmur KARABACAK (TUR), 8-2
BRONZE: Diana VOICULESCU (ROU) df. Gulasal ABDUNAZAROVA (UZB), via forfeit

46kg
GOLD: Koko MATSUDA (JPN) df. Gabriella GOMEZ (USA), 13-0

BRONZE: Alexandra VOICULESCU (ROU) df. SHRUTI (IND), via inj. def.
BRONZE: Yelyzaveta KULAKIVSKA (UKR) df. Kornelia LASZLO (HUN), 4-2

53kg
GOLD: Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) df. Sakura ONISHI (JPN), 3-1

BRONZE: Sevim AKBAS (TUR) df. Khaliun BYAMBASUREN (MGL), 9-6
BRONZE: Lilya COHEN (FRA) df. Ya CHEN (TPE), via fall

61kg
GOLD: SAVITA (IND) df. Valerie HAMILTON (USA), 12-0

BRONZE: Suzu SASAKI (JPN) df. Ana CRETU (MDA), 10-0
BRONZE: Sevinch SULTONOVA (UZB) df. Yen LI (TPE), 2-1

69kg
GOLD: HARSHITA (IND) df. Chisato YOSHIDA (JPN), 3-1

BRONZE: Gulnura TASHTANBEKOVA (KGZ) df. Nadiia SOKOLOVSKA (UKR), via fall
BRONZE: Veronika VILK (CRO) df. Nikoleta BARMPA (GRE), 6-3

FS semifinals

48kg
GOLD: Christian CASTILLO (USA) vs. Vasif BAGHIROV (AZE)

SF 1: Christian CASTILLO (USA) df. Rassoul GALBOURAEV (FRA), 12-1
SF 2: Vasif BAGHIROV (AZE) df. Lalit KUMAR (IND), 7-4

55kg
GOLD: Jaxen FORREST (USA) vs Daryn ASKERBEK (KAZ)

SF 1: Jaxen FORREST (USA) df. Vaibhav PATIL (IND), 9-7
SF 2: Daryn ASKERBEK (KAZ) df. Jannis REBHOLZ (GER), 6-3

65kg
GOLD: Tyler KASAK (USA) vs. Ilyas ISAYEV (AZE)

SF 1: Tyler KASAK (USA) df. ANKIT (IND), via fall (10-3)
SF 2: Ilyas ISAYEV (AZE) df. Goga OTINASHVILI (GEO), 9-4

80kg
GOLD: Reza SOLEIMANIAN (IRI) vs Sachin MOR (IND)

SF 1: Reza SOLEIMANIAN (IRI) df. Muhammadamin ABDULOEV (TJK), 10-0
SF 2: Sachin MOR (IND) df. Yehor HOROKH (UKR), 4-0

110kg
GOLD: Koy HOPKE (USA) vs Levan LAGVILAVA (FRA)

SF 1: Koy HOPKE (USA) df. Khikmatullo KURBONOV (UZB), 12-2
SF 2: Levan LAGVILAVA (FRA) df. Mohammadreza LOTFI (IRI), 11-9

Matteo Pellicone day three finals set

Comments

Unbeaten Yefremova repeats as U17 world champ; Japan steals WW title