#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

#WrestleTirana

U23 Worlds: Japan clinches team title; Ringaci wins gold

By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (October 27) -- Japan only sent nine wrestlers, with none of the seven world champions from last year returning, to the U23 World Championships. Yet, it clinched the Women's Wrestling team title comfortably in Tirana on Friday.

With no entries received at 68kg in the domestic selection trials, Japan was forced to skip that weight in Tirana but the second-string team won five gold and one silver to finish at the top with 159 points. Ukraine finished second with 144 points while the United World Wrestling team was third with 132 points.

Out of the five gold medals on offer on Friday, Japan won three with Mako OONO (JPN) winning at 53kg, Sara NATAMI (JPN) winning at 57kg and Yuzuka INAGAKI (JPN) winning the 62kg gold medal.

Irina RINGACI (MDA) won the 65kg gold while senior world champion Amit ELOR (USA) repeated as the champion at 72kg, claiming her eighth world title.

Mako OONO (JPN)Mako OONO (JPN) celebrates after winning the 53kg final. (Photo: UWW / Ulug Bugra Han Degirmenci)

Oono got the ball rolling with a 10-0 win over senior world bronze medalist Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA) in the 53kg final. Using her quick speed, Oono was able to counter most of Dragutan's attacks and finished the final with 2:17 left on the clock.

While the final was a one-sided affair, Oono was in serious trouble in her quarterfinals against Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR) who scored in the first ten seconds of the bout and took a 2-0 lead. Malanchuk kept coming back with the low single on Oono's left leg but the Japanese defended well to not give up any more points. In the second period, Malanchuk shot a double-leg which Oono defended and scored a go-behind to lead 2-2 on criteria. That remained the winning margin for Oono.

This was Oono's fourth gold medal in international competitions as she has a U17 world title from 2018, an Asian U17 title from 2019 and an Asian U20 gold from 2022.

Sara NATAMI (JPN)Sara NATAMI (JPN) defeated Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) 18-8 in the 57kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Senior Asian champion at 59kg in 2022, Natami was wrestling at 57kg and had to work hard for the gold against European silver medalist Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE). Natami won the gold by beating Aliyeva 18-8.

Natami opened the scoring with a takedown and rolled Aliyeva to lead 6-0. As she scored another takedown, Aliyeva got her hold over Natami and sprung her on the side to score two points. That cut Natami's lead to 8-2. Aliyeva then locked Natami's hands and flung her for a four. Though she survived the pin, Natami gave up a stepout and saw her lead cut to 8-7 at the break.

All that action had taken a toll on Aliyeva as she broke down in the second period and gave up easy takedowns as Natami's lead swelled to 12-8. With a minute still left on the clock, Natami, with six more points, completed an 18-8 victory. The win also denied Aliyeva and Azerbaijan their first gold medal at the U23 World Championships.

Yuzuka INAGAKI (JPN)Yuzuka INAGAKI (JPN) won the world title at 62kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 62kg, Yuzuka INAGAKI (JPN) did not take that much time as she pinned Iryna BONDAR (UKR) in the final. Inagaki first blocked an attempted lift from Bondar to score two points and once the wrestlers were in neutral, she got Bondar by the arm and pinned her with 4:17 left on the clock.

Inagaki is now a two-time U23 world champion, four years after she won her first in 2019. She also has the U17 and U20 world titles to her name.

Irina RINGACI (MDA)Irina RINGACI (MDA) pins Amina TANDELOVA (AIN) in the 65kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

After two bronze medals at the U23 Worlds (2019 and 2022), Ringaci won the gold medal in some style, pinning Amina TANDELOVA (AIN) in a minute and 28 seconds.

Ringaci won a bronze medal at 68kg at the senior Worlds last month but returned to 65kg for the Tirana tournament.

"I feel better at 65kg because I weigh around 67kg," Ringaci said. "When I am wrestling at 65kg, I have to cut only around two kilograms but for 68kg, I am underweight."

In the semifinal, Ringaci had a fierce battle with world silver medalist Macey KILTY (USA), winning 5-4 with her defense helping her sail.

"The semifinal opponent is a strong wrestler," she said. "I knew it was going to be a tough match. I am always getting ready to wrestle for six minutes."

Defending champion at 72kg Elor came to Tirana chasing her eighth world title and returned with it. She defeated Jyoti BERWAL (UWW) 10-0 in just 21 seconds to become a two-time U23 world champion, her third world title this year.

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RESULTS

Women's Wrestling

53kg
GOLD: Mako OONO (JPN) df. Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA), 10-0

BRONZE: Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR) df. Ekaterina VERBINA (AIN), 10-8
BRONZE: Altyn SHAGAYEVA (KAZ) df. Beatrice FERENT (ROU), 12-1

57kg
GOLD: Sara NATAMI (JPN) df. Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE), 18-8

BRONZE: REENA (UWW) df. Mia FRIESEN (CAN), 8-2
BRONZE: Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR) df. Xochitl MOTA PETTIS (USA), 4-3

62kg
GOLD: Yuzuka INAGAKI (JPN) df. Iryna BONDAR (UKR), via fall

BRONZE: Alina KASABIEVA (AIN) df. Viktoria VESSO (EST), 11-0
BRONZE: Irina KUZNETSOVA (KAZ) df. Bhagyashree FAND (UWW), 10-6

65kg
GOLD: Irina RINGACI (MDA) df. Amina TANDELOVA (AIN), via fall

BRONZE: Yuliia LESKOVETS (UKR) df. Elma ZEIDLERE (LAT), 3-1
BRONZE: MONIKA (UWW) df. Macey KILTY (USA), 5-4

72kg
GOLD: Amit ELOR (USA) df. Jyoti BERWAL (UWW), 10-0

BRONZE: Iryna ZABLOTSKA (UKR) df. Bukrenaz SERT (TUR), 12-2
BRONZE: Viktoryia RADZKOVA (AIN) df. Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL), 3-3

Greco-Roman

60kg
GOLD: Romeo BERIDZE (GEO) vs. Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (AIN) 

SF 1: Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (AIN) df. SUMIT (UWW), 9-4
SF 2: Romeo BERIDZE (GEO) df. Mert ILBARS (TUR), 3-1

67kg
GOLD: Mustafa YILDIRIM (TUR) vs. Sultan ASSETULY (KAZ)

SF 1: Sultan ASSETULY (KAZ) df. Hasan MAMMADLI (AZE), 11-0
SF 2: Mustafa YILDIRIM (TUR) df. HARUTO YABE (JPN), 3-3

72kg
GOLD: Dmitrii ADAMOV (AIN) vs. Irfan MIRZOIEV (UKR)

SF 1: Irfan MIRZOIEV (UKR) df. Michael PORTMANN (SUI), 9-2
SF 2: Dmitrii ADAMOV (AIN) df. Shant KHACHATRYAN (ARM), 15-6

82kg
GOLD: Alperen BERBER (TUR) vs. Aues GONIBOV (AIN)

SF 1: Aues GONIBOV (AIN) df. Ruslan ABDIIEV (UKR), 11-0
SF 2: Alperen BERBER (TUR) df. Emad ABOUELATTA (EGY), 3-1

97kg
GOLD: Mustafa OLGUN (TUR) vs. Pavel HLINCHUK (AIN)

SF 1: Pavel HLINCHUK (AIN) df. Hayk KHLOYAN (ARM), 9-0
SF 2: Mustafa OLGUN (TUR) df. Yuri NAKAZATO (JPN), 7-4