Matteo Pellicone women's wrestling preview

Monday, June 20, 2022 - 12:07 By Olivia Lichti

ROME, Italy (June 20) -- After an unfortunate COVID-induced postponement from its original date in February, the Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series will finally be contested in Rome this week. Women wrestlers from five different continents will be in the Italian capital and several up-and-coming will have the opportunity to prove themselves against the top wrestlers in the world.

The 68kg weight class provides a prime example of such a matchup. After winning U20 and senior world titles at 65kg last year, Irina RINGACI (MDA) made the jump to the Olympic weight of 68kg with her eyes on Paris 2024.

Her debut in February saw her win the gold medals at the Dan Kolov and U23 European Championships and later the senior European title, but her first big test will come here against Tokyo Olympic silver medallist Blessing OBORODUDU (NGR).

Oborodudu will be equally hungry for victory in Rome as a solid finish here will slot her as the number two ranked athlete at 68kg, bumping her up past Tamyra MENSAH STOCK (USA).

Another young star to keep an eye on is Alina AKOBIIA (UKR). Akobiia has collected gold medals at the '21 U23 World Championships and European Championships this year and will look to cement herself as one of the top women in the world at 57kg with a win in Rome.

Inarguably the most credentialed weight class at this event will be 62kg, which includes the likes of U23 world champion Ana GODINEZ (CAN), two-time Olympian Lais NUNES (BRA), and Olympic medallists Sakshi MALIK (IND) and Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR).

Despite a 10-month hiatus following the Tokyo Games, Koliadenko will enter this tournament as the favorite. However, Malik and Godinez are both coming off of impressive gold-winning runs at the Bolat Turlykhanov Cup and Pan-Am Championships respectively. The young Canadian will certainly be hungry for wins over her more seasoned foes, but whether she has the skills to truly challenge either at this point remains to be seen.

Wrestling fans must also keep their eyes on the 53kg division. By way of her 2021 world silver medal, Iulia LEORDA (MDA) is the most heralded wrestler at this weight.

However, 2021 world bronze medallist Samantha STEWART (CAN) will indubitably be hungry for revenge after falling to the Moldovan in the quarterfinals in Oslo. Also present will be the European champion Emma MALMGREN (SWE), who is one of wrestling’s most talented rising stars. She’ll look to notch victories over the world medallists in her bracket and continue to establish herself as a real threat at the upcoming World Championships.

As always, 76kg will feature a multitude of talented women. Justina DI STASIO (CAN) headlines this weight class and will look to prove that she can contend in the toughest division and not just 72kg, where she won a world title in 2018. She’ll be challenged by fellow world medallists Epp MAE (EST) and Martina KUENZ (AUT). Matchups between these three heavyweight hammers are not to be missed.

Though the American contingent is small at this event, it is mighty. Emma BRUNTIL (USA) will look to earn her fourth international medal of 2022 at 65kg, adding to gold medals at the Dan Kolov and Ivan Yarygin and bronze at the Yasar Dogu Ranking Series. She’ll face tough tests in two of Ukraine’s top athletes -- Tetiana RIZHKO (UKR) and Kateryna ZELENYKH (UKR).

Joining Bruntil is Skylar GROTE (USA) at 72kg. Grote is coming off a dominant Pan-Am title run in Acapulco, Mexico, and will look to advance her current world ranking of 17. Her primary challenger will be two-time world bronze medallist Anna SCHELL (GER).

At 55kg, 2021 world silver medallist Nina HEMMER (GER) will look to slide past Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) and Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN), neither of whom will be present at this event, into the top ranking spot.

However, she’ll have to contend with fifth-ranked Andreea ANA (ROU) and 2019 world bronze medallist Vinesh PHOGAT (IND) to do so. Hemmer defeated the Romanian by a slim 3-2 margin at the 2021 World Championships, but was teched by Phogat in their last encounter.

The deepest non-Olympic weight class, by far, is 59kg. Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) will look to further her remarkable 2022 season, which already includes titles from the Yasar Dogu and the European Championships.

To continue her golden streak, she’ll have to outplace young star Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) who defeated her in an astounding upset at the 2021 U23 World Championships.

Vynnyk will have a huge opportunity to test herself against Nichita as well as other senior-level threats like world bronze medallist Sarita MOR (IND), who is just coming off of a title at the Bolat Turlykhanov Cup, and former U23 world champion Grace BULLEN (NOR).

Up and down the weight classes, the Matteo Pellicone will serve as a fantastic preview for the future of women’s wrestling and will display who can be primed as medal contenders at the World Championships in September. Enjoy watching accomplished veterans and the next generation alike as the world congregates in Italy for what might just be the most exciting wrestling event so far in 2022.

The Matteo Pellicone kicks off Wednesday and can be streamed live on uww.org.

#WrestleAmman

Russo, Italy's first world champ in women's wrestling

Thursday, August 17, 2023 - 23:57 By Vinay Siwach

AMMAN, Jordan (August 17) -- Aurora RUSSO (ITA) was left wondering how to pose for photographs with the champion belt. She put it around her waist, over her shoulder and held it over her head with both hands. For those 20 minutes, Russo was zoned out.

Despite being full of emotions and teary-eyed, Russo managed to open the interview with "I am a history maker."

Two years after she came agonizingly close to becoming Italy's first-ever world champion in women's wrestling, Russo achieved the historic feat by winning the gold medal at 59kg at the U20 World Championships in Amman, Jordan on Thursday. She did that by beating a former U20 world champion in Alesia HETMANAVA (AIN), 4-1, in the gold medal bout.

Apart from Russo's incredible feat, four other gold medals in women's wrestling were decided on Thursday. China, Individual Neutral Athletes, Japan and India won one each.

Japan, which dominates women's wrestling, is in danger of losing the team title for the first time at a U20 World Championships in which it has participated. So far, it has only one gold and two bronze medals. It is second in the race that is led by the United States with 75 points while Japan has 63 points.

For Italy, Russo is only the second wrestler in women's wrestling to reach a World Championships final after Dalma CANEVA (ITA) did in 2014 at the U20 level. When Russo did it the first time in Ufa, she lost a close final 8-6 to Nilufar RAIMOVA (KAZ). Since that silver medal, her results have been a mixed bag, winning the U20 Euros this year but suffering losses at the U23 and senior levels.

But the Turin native knew that she will not get a chance to win a U20 worlds again so she left no stone unturned on Thursday.

"I watched a few videos of Hetmanava to study her style," she said. "I learned everything."

Instead of engaging in attacks with Hetmanava, Russo played the counter. Hetmanava can pressure her opponents by taking fake shots and ultimately hitting counters. The final began on a slow note for Russo and she was put on the shot clock. After failing to score, Russo trailed 1-0 but no further damage was done till the break.

Hetmanava was put on the shot clock in the second period and in an attempted single-leg, she was blocked by Russo. The push from Russo imbalanced Hetmanava and the Italian quickly scored a takedown to lead 3-1 with 1:49 left on the clock.

Russo went into defense mode for the remaining time and did not allow Hetmanava to get any points. In the final 10 seconds, Hetmanava did get a high bodylock but Russo controlled her leg throughout even as Hetmanava tried to control the position to get a takedown.

AIN team challenged after no points were awarded but a takedown was not confirmed on review. This added another point to Russo's score as she celebrated, rather emotionally, with her coaches.

"I cannot believe this," Russo said.

Last year, Russo finished seventh at the U20 World Championships after losing to SITO (IND) in the repechage. She credited her international experience for the win in Amman.

"I think in Ufa I was very young but now I have experience and I have wrestled at more international competitions," she said.

In the semifinals against Alexis JANIAK (USA), Russo came back from 8-4 down to win 9-8 by scoring four points in the final 30 seconds. Janiak led 8-8 on criteria when the clock expired but Russo challenged Janiak's fleeing which was confirmed on review, giving Russo a 9-8 win.

"I was injured and got blood all over and I had kind of given up but it's wrestling so I kept going," she said. "I scored four points."

Aryna MARTYNAVA (AIN) leg laces Georgiana LANA (ROU) in the 55kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Another wrestler who finished with a silver medal at the 2021 U20 World Championships claimed the gold medal. Aryna MARTYNAVA (AIN) won the gold medal at 55kg, needing only 21 seconds to finish the final against Georgiana LANA (ROU), who looked in severe discomfort after the final.

Martynava was a silver medalist at 59kg in 2021 but in a drastic change, dropped down to 55kg in Amman. In her three bouts, she won via technical superiorities without giving up a point.

Lana, who stunned everyone by pinning returning champion Moe KIYOOKA (JPN), had heavily padded knees and was unable to move smoothly in the final. Once Martynava got a head-outside-single and transitioned into a takedown, Lara did not defend the lace, ending the bout 10-0 in 21 seconds.

After losing to Lana in the semifinals, Kiyooka returned to win the bronze medal 10-0 but expressed her regret for missing out on the gold for the second straight year.

"I am filled with regret," Kiyooka said. "At this rate, even at the senior level, which is my goal, I think my level is too low to talk about."

Kiyooka explained that it was difficult to digest the semifinal loss as Lana got her in a headlock before securing the fall.

"I went in with the feeling that I would definitely win," Kiyooka said. "I lost in an unexpected way, so when I lost, I didn't know what had happened, I couldn't believe it. It took me a while to accept the loss. I put that aside and approached the bronze-medal bout with the mindset of changing my mind and going home with the bronze medal."

Yanrong LI (CHN) scores exposure against Audrey JIMENEZ (USA) in their 57kg. (Photo: UWW / Amirreza Aliasgari)

It was a memorable day for China as well as it crowned a U20 world champion after five years. Yuanyuan HUANG (CHN) was the last Chinese to win a U20 world title when she won the gold at 76kg in Trvana in 2018.

Yanrong LI (CHN) ended the drought for a gold medal, winning the 50kg gold in dominant fashion. This was also China's first gold in lower weight classes since 2010 when Yanan SUN (CHN) won the gold at 51kg.

Li defeated returning silver medalist Audrey JIMENEZ (USA) via fall in the final after building an 8-0 lead. She got Jimenez in a cradle and kept turning the American to build an 8-0 lead before sticking Jimenez to the mat to confirm the fall.

The Chinese wrestler was equally dominant if not more on Wednesday as well. She began her world championships with a 16-6 rout of Sviatlana KATENKA (AIN) before pinning Svenja JUNGO (SUI) in the quarterfinals and Viktoriia SLOBODENIUK (UKR) in the semifinals.

Jimenez was looking for her first U20 world title after finishing with a silver medal. But like Umi ITO (JPN) in 2022, Li gave no chance to the 18-year-old from the U.S.

Ray HOSHINO (JPN) held off for a 4-3 win over Elizateva PETLIAKOVA (AIN). (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

For Japan, Ray HOSHINO (JPN) held on to an extremely tough 4-3 win over Elizaveta PETLIAKOVA (AIN) in the 68kg final to give Japan its first gold in women's wrestling.

Hoshino, who was in Amman to win the U20 Asian Championships, began with a single-leg attack four seconds into the bout and converted that for a takedown to lead 4-0. A minute later, Petliakova scored a takedown to lead 2-2 on criteria at the break.

Petliakova shot for Hashino's legs but the Japanese pulled off an incredible defense and score her takedown on the counter. Hashino led 4-2 and was all set to run out the clock. However, Petliakova scored a setpout with 12 seconds remaining to make it 4-3. But nothing else worked for Petriakova as Hoshino won the gold medal.

"I'm happy to have won, but the final was dangerous," Hoshino said. "I thought I should have pushed harder.

"I was under pressure and not satisfied with what I was doing, so I would like to take a closer look at the issues and practice more after returning to Japan.”

Priya MALIK (IND) upgraded her U20 worlds silver to gold in Amman. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Priya MALIK (IND), the silver medalist from 2022, became a three-time age-group world champion as she defeated Laura KUEHN (GER), 5-0, in the 76kg final.

The two-time U17 world champion was clearly a better version of her 2022 self with solid defense and diverse attacks. Unlike her final against Ayano MORO (JPN) last year, Malik had more attacking options and scored early as Kuehn failed to get to Malik's legs most of the time.

"I was much better prepared for this final than last year," Malik said. "I worked on my power and even defense so I can take this world champion belt home."

RESULTS

50kg
GOLD: Yanrong LI (CHN) df. Audrey JIMENEZ (USA), via fall (8-0)

BRONZE: Viktoriia SLOBODENIUK (UKR) df. Svenja JUNGO (SUI), via fall (5-2)
BRONZE: Miruko SAKANE (JPN) df. Reka HEGEDUS (SVK), 10-0

55kg
GOLD: Aryna MARTYNAVA (AIN) df. Georgiana LIRCA (ROU), 10-0

BRONZE: Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) df. Roza SZENTTAMASI (HUN), 10-0
BRONZE: Amani JONES (USA) df. Albina RILLIA (UKR), 5-5

59kg
GOLD: Aurora RUSSO (ITA) df. Alesia HETMANAVA (AIN), 4-1

BRONZE: Alexis JANIAK (USA) df. Elena KUROVA (AIN), 11-0
BRONZE: Kalmira BILIMBEK KYZY (KGZ) df. Sevim AKBAS (TUR), 11-0

68kg
GOLD: Ray HOSHINO (JPN) df. Elizaveta PETLIAKOVA (AIN), 4-3

BRONZE: Alina SHAUCHUK (AIN) df. Isabella MIR (USA), 8-1
BRONZE: ARJU (IND) df. Elif KURT (TUR), 8-1

76kg
GOLD: PRIYA (IND) df. Laura KUEHN (GER), 5-0

BRONZE: Kennedy BLADES (USA) df. Mariia SILINA (AIN), 6-2
BRONZE: Veronika NYIKOS (HUN) df. Daniela TKACHUK (POL), via fall (10-5)

Semifinals

53kg
GOLD: Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) vs. ANTIM (IND)

SF 1: ANTIM (IND) df. Polina LUKINA (AIN), 12-0
SF 2: Mariia YEFREMOVA (UKR) df. Katie GOMEZ (USA), via fall (2-0)

57kg
GOLD: Ichika ARAI (JPN) vs. Alina FILIPOVYCH (UKR)

SF 1: Alina FILIPOVYCH (UKR) df. Shugyla OMIRBEK (KAZ), via fall (10-4)
SF 2: Ichika ARAI (JPN) df. Gerda TEREK (HUN), 5-3

62kg
GOLD: SAVITA (IND) vs. Astrid MONTERO (VEN)

SF 1: Astrid MONTERO (VEN) df. Melanie JIMENEZ (MEX), 8-0
SF 2: SAVITA (IND) df. Iris THIEBAUX (FRA), via fall

65kg
GOLD: Eniko ELEKES (HUN) vs. ANTIM (IND)

SF 1: Eniko ELEKES (HUN) df. Khadija JLASSI (TUN), 7-0
SF 2: ANTIM (IND) df. Ekaterina KOSHKINA (AIN), 9-5

72kg
GOLD: Amit ELOR (USA) vs. Bukrenaz SERT (TUR)

SF 1: Amit ELOR (USA) df. Yuka FUJIKURA (JPN), 10-0
SF 2: Bukrenaz SERT (TUR) df. HARSHITA (IND), via fall

Matteo Pellicone women's wrestling preview

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Russo, Italy's first world champ in women's wrestling