#WrestleCoralville

Mongolia’s FS/WW World Cup squads set

By Gary Abbott

CORALVILLE, Iowa (November 17) --- The lineups for Mongolia, which will compete in both freestyle and women’s wrestling at the World Cup, have been released.

The Men’s and Women’s Wrestling World Cup will be held at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa, Dec. 10-11. It is the first time that men’s freestyle and women’s wrestling will be held together side-by-side at the World Cup.

The World Cup is the annual international dual meet championships, conducted by United World Wrestling. The top five teams in men’s freestyle and the top five teams in women’s wrestling from the 2022 Senior World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia in September have confirmed their participation. There is also an All-World Team in each discipline, featuring the top available athlete from the World Championships in each weight class that were not from a nation which qualified for the World Cup.

Both the women’s wrestling and the men’s freestyle World Cup rosters from Mongolia are loaded with both Senior and age-group world medalists.

Two major stars on the women’s team roster are 2014 world champion Tserenchimed SUKHEE at 62kg and 2020 Olympic bronze medalist Bolortuya BAT OCHIR at 53kg. In addition to her world title, Sukhee was a 2015 world silver medalist and a 2018 world bronze medalist. Bat-Ochir also has a 2019 world bronze medal to go with her Olympic medal.

There are six other women wrestlers on the Mongolia team who are Senior World medalists. Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (50kg) won a 2022 world silver medal and a 2021 world bronze medal. Shoovdor BAATARJAV (65kg) won three world bronze medals, in 2018, ‘19 and ‘21.  Khulan BATKHUYAG (53kg) was a 2022 world silver medalist. Sumiya ERDENCHIMEG (55kg) claimed a 2013 world silver medal. Davaachimeg ERKHEMBAYAR (57kg) was a 2021 world silver medalist. Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (68kg) earned a 2021 World bronze medal.

On the 20-athlete Mongolia women’s wrestling roster, 10 of the athletes boast a medal at an age-group World Championships.

Mongolia, which placed fourth at the 2022 World Championships in women’s wrestling, will be joined in the World Cup by World champion Japan, second place United States, third place China and fifth place Ukraine, in addition to the All-World Team.

The Mongolian freestyle World Cup team is led by two-time Senior world medalist Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR at 125kg. Munkhtur won a 2022 World silver medal and a 2021 World bronze medal, and was also fifth at the 2020 Olympic Games.

Three other Mongolian men were past World bronze medalists: 2022 World bronze medalist Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (57kg), 2022 world bronze medalist Narankhuu NARMANDAKH (61kg) and 2021 world bronze medalist Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (65kg).

Past age-group World medalists on the squad are Temuulen ENKTUYA (70kg), Sumiyabazar ZANDANUB (74kg), Bat Erdene BYAMBASUREN (86kg), Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (92kg) and Bymanbadorj BAT ERDENE (92kg).

Mongolia, which placed fourth at the 2022 World Championships in men’s freestyle, will be joined in the World Cup by first place United States, second place Iran, third place Japan and fifth place Georgia, in addition to the All-World Team.

The rosters of the World Cup teams for the other nations will be announced over the next week by USA Wrestling.

Ticket packages for the 2022 Men’s and Women’s Wrestling World Cup are currently on sale. The seating capacity for Xtream Arena for the World Cup will be approximately 5,300. Ticket packages include a Gold package for $275, Silver package for $200 and All-Session tickets for $90.

A special Presentation of Teams and Team USA Meet & Greet will also be held on Friday, December 9 at 6:45 pm. It is free and open to the public.

Men’s and Women’s Wrestling World Cup tickets -> https://worldcupiowacity.com/tickets/

Mongolia’s Women’s Wrestling World Cup team
50 kg – Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV
50 kg – Namuuntsetseg TSOGT OCHIR
53 kg – Bolortuya BAT OCHIR
53 kg – Khulan BATKHUYAG
55 kg – Otgonjargal GANBAATAR
55 kg – Sumiya ERDENCHIMEG
57 kg – Davaachimeg ERKHEMBAYAR
57 kg – Erdenesuvd BAT ERDENE
59 kg – Khongorzul BOLDSAIKHAN
59 kg – Bolortuya KHURELKHUU
62 kg – Tserenchimed SUKHEE
62 kg – Bolortungalag ZORIGT
65 kg – Purevsuren ULIZIISAIKHAN
65 kg – Shoovdor BAATARJAV
68 kg – Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN
68 kg – Urtnasan GAN OCHIR
72 kg – Davaanasan ENK AMAR
72 kg – Sarnai BAYARBAATAR
76 kg – Ariunjargal GANBAT
76 kg – Zagardulam NAIGALSUREN

Mongolia’s Freestyle World Cup team
57 kg – Zanabazar ZANDANBUD
57 kg – Nasanbuyan NARMANDAKH
61 kg – Narankhuu NARMANDAKH
61 kg – Munkh ERDENE ALTANSUVD
65 kg – Tsogbadrakh TSEVEENSUREN
65 kg – Tulga TUMUR OCHIR
70 kg – Temuulen ENKTUYA
70 kg – Khanburged GANKHUYAG
74 kg – Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR
74 kg – Sumiyabazar ZANDANBUD
79 kg – Dulguun ALTANZUL
79 kg – Batzul DAMJIN
86 kg – Bat Erdene BYAMBASUREN
86 kg – Tsogtgerel MUNKHBAATAR
92 kg – Gankhuyag GANBAATAR
92 kg – Bymanbadorj BAT ERDENE
97 kg – Orgilokh DAGVADORJ
97 kg – Batzul ULZIISAIKHAN
125 kg – Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR
125 kg – Batmagnai ENKHTUVSHIN

#WestleAcapulco

Pan-American Championships Preview

By Gaurav Bhatt

ACAPULCO, Mexico (February 20) --- The sun-soaked city of Acapulco, Mexico, gears up to host the Pan-American Wrestling Championships from February 21st to 24th, drawing the region's elite grapplers across Freestyle, Greco-Roman, and Women's Wrestling. 

The tournament precedes the Pan-American Olympic Qualifiers, which can have only those countries participating in the Pam-American Championships.

Let's delve deeper into each style and highlight some of the most anticipated clashes. 

Freestyle Wrestling

All eyes will be on world champions Kyle DAKE (74 kg) and Kyle SNYDER (97 kg), who will take the mat on Friday and Saturday. 

Dake can expect to run into four-time World medallist Geandry GARZON (CUB). Dake won the last contest between the two during his run for the repechage bronze at the Tokyo Olympics. The 74kg field also features two-time medallists Hernan GUZMAN (COL) and Cesar ALVAN (BRA).

In the 97kg category, Snyder can run into familiar foe Arturo TORRES (CUB). The 2016 Olympic champion Snyder is looking for his sixth gold at the Pan American Championships. Torres, meanwhile, will look to avenge his three defeats in the finals against Snyder — including in the gold-medal clash last year in Buenos Aires. 

The 74kg category will feature five-time medallist at the event Pedro MEJIAS (VEN), Pan-Am Games bronze medallist Osmany MARTINEZ (CUB), and Spencer LEE (USA) who makes his international debut as a three-time age group world champion.

Cuban Alejandro VALDES TOBIER will bring his experience to the mat in the 65kg category. The reigning Pan-Am Games champion and two-time world medallist — who lost last year’s final to John Michael DIAKOMIHALIS (USA) — will take on contenders such as three-time bronze medallist Agustín DESTRIBATS (ARG) and US senior world team member Nicholas LEE (USA). 

Elsewhere, Yurieski TORREBLANCA (CUB) will look to double up on his 86kg gold from last year.

CUBDefending champion Oscar PINO (CUB) is set to compete in Acapulco, with his sights set on winning a sixth Pan-Am title. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

Greco Roman

Oscar PINO (CUB) will be out to defend his Greco-Roman 130kg title in Acapulco. The 30-year-old is hunting for his sixth gold medal at the event to add to his four World medals. Cohlton Schultz (USA), who finished runner-up at the PanAm Games last November, would aim to halt the Cuban juggernaut.

Also on the quest for back-to-back golds are Americans Spencer WOODS and Kamal BEY, and Daniel HECHAVARRIA (CUB). 

Bey can expect to fight his 77kg nemesis, Yosvanys PENA FLORES  (CUB). In 2019, the Cuban defeated Bey in the Pan-Am Championships final before Bey edged Pena Flores for the 77kg crown in Buenos Aires last year. At the Pan-Am Games in November, Bey settled the score with a win over Pena Flores en route to the continental gold.

Woods, who took home the 82kg gold last year, has moved up a division to set up a potential clash with reigning 87kg gold medallist Hechavarria.

usaOlympic champion Helen MAROULIS (USA) headlines the women's wrestling entries. She'll wrestle at 57kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

Women’s wrestling

The women’s competition will be highlighted by world medallists from the U.S.: Helen MAROULIS (57 kg), Kayla MIRACLE (62 kg), Macey KILTY (65 kg), and Adeline GRAY (76 kg).

Six-time world champion Gray returns to the Pan American Championships looking to add to her collection of three gold medals at the event.

Maroulis, three-time world and 2016 Olympic champion, can run into some resistance from last year’s bronze medallist Angela Alvarez (CUB).

Kilty’s 65 kg opponents will include 2022 silver medallist Miki ROWBOTTOM(CAN), while Miracle can run into Maria SANTANA (CUB), who finished runner-up at the Pan Am Games. 

World medallist Diana WEICKER (CAN) will return to defend her 55kg title. 

Catch all the action from the Pan-American Championships live on UWW+.