Toronto, Greco-Roman, Pan American Games

Montano Wins First Wrestling Gold for Ecuador at Pan Am Games

Thursday, July 16, 2015 - 03:41 By William May

Share this article

TORONTO, Canada (July 14) – Andres MONTAÑO (ECU) won Ecuador’s first gold medal in Greco-Roman wrestling at the Pan American Games on Wednesday with an 11-0 technical triumph over Ali SOTO (MEX).

Montaño converted an early takedown into a lift and turn for a 6-0 lead and then slammed the door on Soto with a bodylock takedown to the secure the gold medal.

It was the first gold medal for Ecuador in the classic style and first wrestling gold medal since 1971 when Sergio GONZALEZ (ECU) won the 48kg crown in freestyle in Cali, Colombia.

Meanwhile, U.S. wrestlers won two out of three in the gold medal finals as Andrew BISEK (75kg) and Jon ANDERSON (85kg) both dialed up technical falls in the finals.

Bisek converted in par terre with a chest-high gut wrench and lift to back-arching throw for a quick win over Alvis ALMENDRA (PAN), who takes home Panama’s first wrestling medal from the Games since 1991 despite the loss. Bisek outscored his opponents 25-0.

Anderson won his first Pan Am gold with a dominant tournament, matching Bisek’s output, beating opponents by a combined 25-0 score. Anderson pushed through Querys PEREZ (VEN) 9-0, finishing the bout with two takedowns.

Venezuela stands second in the medals table with one gold and one silver medal. Anderson won last year’s Pan Am Championships in Mexico City at 80kg.

Wuileixis RIVAS (VEN), the 2014 Pan Am champion at 71kg, gave Venezuela a wrestling gold medal for a second straight Games with a 13-1 technical fall win over Bryce SADDORIS (USA).

At 59kg, Cristobal TORRES (CHI) scored with a late go-behind takedown to sew up a 3-0 win over Dylan WILLIAMS (CAN) for one bronze medal.

Spenser MANGO (USA), the Pan American runner-up in April, flipped Jansel RAMIREZ (DOM) with a reverse waistlock and short lift in the first period and held on for a 6-3 win and the other bronze medal.

At 66kg, Miguel MARTINEZ (CUB), the gold medalist at the Pan Am Championships, scored with a go-behind takedown and bodylock before Jair Alexis CUERO (COL) defaulted. Mario MOLINA (PER) shook off an early four-point throw and forced a disqualification on Jefrin MEJIA (HON) in the second period for the second bronze.

Despite a disastrous opening session for Cuba, Martinez and Alan VERA (85kg) were able to secure a pair of bronze medals for the traditional Pan Am powerhouse.

Pan American runner-up Juan ESCOBAR (MEX) was the only wrestler to secure a fall in the medal matches Wednesday, when he stepped over an arm throw attempt by Luis AVENDANO (VEN) and pressed for the fall.

Greco-Roman Medal Match Results
59kg
GOLD: Andres MONTANO (ECU) df. Ali SOTO (MEX) by TF, 11-0
BRONZE: Cristobal TORRES (CHI) df. Dylan WILLIAMS (CAN), 3-0
BRONZE: Spenser MANGO (USA) df. Jansel RAMIREZ (DOM), 6-3

66kg
GOLD: Wuileixis RIVAS (VEN) df. Bryce SADDORIS (USA) by TF, 13-1
BRONZE: Miguel MARTINEZ (CUB) df. Jair Alexis CUERO (COL) by Default (6-0)
BRONZE: Mario MOLINA (PER) df. Jefrin MEJIA (HON) by Disqualification (9-4)

75kg
GOLD: Andrew BISEK (USA) df. Alvis ALMENDRA (PAN) by TF, 8-0
BRONZE: Carlos MUNOZ (COL) df. Maximiliano PRUDENZANO (ARG), 4-3
BRONZE: Juan ESCOBAR (MEX) df. Luis AVENDANO (VEN) by Fall

85kg
GOLD: Jon ANDERSON (USA) df. Querys PEREZ (VEN) by TF, 9-0
BRONZE: Cristian MOSQUERA (COL) df. Alfonso LEYVA (MEX) by TF, 8-0
BRONZE: Alan VERA (CUB) df. Oscar MARTINEZ (HON) by TF, 9-0

#WrestleUlaanbaatar

Ulaanbaatar Open 2025 Live Blog: Day 2

Friday, May 30, 2025 - 02:48 By Vinay Siwach

Share this article

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (May 30) -- The action after Ulaanbaatar Open 2025 continues with three Greco-Roman weight classes and five Women's Wrestling weight classes in the Mongolian capital. European champion Kerem KAMAL (TUR) is at 63kg while a strong women's field will also be on the mat.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 1 RESULTS

14:55: NEHA (IND) ends the 57kg semifinal with a double-leg attack for four points and beats Ana PEREIRA (BRA) 11-0 to enter the final at 57kg against Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL).

14:50: Mongolia has a finalist! Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL) manages to beat European silver medalist Elvira SULEYMAN KAMALOGLU (TUR) 4-0 in the 57kg semifinal.

14:40: Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW) enters the final at 53kg after an 11-4 win over Otgontuya CHINBOLD (MGL). Apart from the four-point throw from Chinbold, Malysheva never looked in trouble in the semifinal. She will face Antim in the final, who won their round-robin match.

14:27: ANTIM (IND) puts on a takedown masterclass in the 53kg semifinal and beats Ariunzaya ODONCHIMEG (MGL) 10-0 to enter the final.

14:24: Another pin in semifinals! Natalia PUDOVA (UWW) survives a pin attempt from Munkhnar BYAMBASUREN (MGL) and then flips the script with a over-under throw and secures the fall. She will wrestle Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) for the gold medal.

14:20: Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) and NEELAM (IND) put on a show in the 50kg semifinal. Neelam tried to trip Demirhan who counter trips for four points. India challenge but is lost. Neelam goes behind in the next action and throw Demirhan for four points. But Demirhan keeps Neelam in a headlock and secures the pin.

14:10: Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) books a rematch with Kerem KAMAL (TUR) in the 63kg final after a hard-fought victory over Mohammad KESHTKAR (IRI). Keshtkar was cautioned early and Chung led 1-0. He got the par terre to be 2-0 up but failed to score. Keshtkar got on board with the par terre point in the second period but did not score any points. He threw everything he had at Chung who defended all attacks for a 2-1 win.

14:00: In the first semifinal at 63kg, Kerem KAMAL (TUR) manages to hold off an attacking Aref MOHAMMADI (QAT) for a 6-3 win. Mohammadi scored a takedown early to lead 2-0 but Kamal got a reverse left for two points from par terre and then a takedown to lead 6-2. A stepout late made it 6-3 but that was all as Kamal enters the final.

13:40: In the final match of the session, Enes BASAR (TUR) bounces back after being 2-0 down with a series of gut wrenches and wins 10-2 at 60kg. The semifinals for a few weight classes will begin now. 

13:10: ANTIM (IND) was kept quiet for the first two minutes of the bout but Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW) gives up a takedown and Antim goes for the leg lace for a turn. Malysheva defends but Antim then goes the other way for lace and gets the 11-0 win at 53kg.

13:00: Asian medalist and former world U17 champion HARSHITA (IND) with her second win at 72kg. She beats Kristina BRATCHIKOVA (UWW) 11-0 in Round 3

12:55: Bediha GUN (TUR) would be upset with herself as he lets go off an advantageous situation and leads 6-6 on criteria to Anudari BATKHUYAG (MGL) at 59kg.

12:45: Kerem KAMAL (TUR) continues to power his way at 63kg as he downs Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) majorly with his defense. Chung got the par terre advantage but Kamal managed to sneak out of a bodylock. He failed to score from par terre as well but scored a takedown later to make it 3-1. Lost challenge from Korea gave him another point.  

12:35: NEHA (IND) seems unfazed in her first senior international tournament. She pins Munkhchimeg URJIN (MGL) in her second bout of the day.

12:30: Enes BASAR (TUR) needs only one minute and 18 seconds to beat SURAJ (IND) 8-0 at 60kg and take a big step towards the gold medal.

12:15: Hamza BAKIR (TUR) keeps his winning run at 130kg. He beats PREM (IND) via technical superiority and is now the favorite to win the gold medal.

11:55: Big win for world U20 bronze medalist NEHA (IND) over European silver medalist Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR) at 57kg. The 18-year-old physical overpowered Kamaloglu and scored takedown. Kamaloglu scored a four-pointer but still went down 7-4 in a Round 2.

11:45: Natalia PUDOVA (UWW) with a big comeback win over NEELAM (IND). Pudova claims a 6-5 win at 50kg. The two wrestlers may wrestle again in the final if they can win all their remaining matches.

11:35: Akyl SULAIMANOV (KGZ) gave a scare to Enes BASAR (TUR) when he made it 5-5 with two minutes to go but Basar never got deterred with the score. He remains calm and wins 15-5.

11:26: European champion Kerem KAMAL (TUR) with a 4-1 win over Doolotbek CHOIBEKOV (KGZ). Kamal scored a turn from par terre and also had a point for lost challenge and then defended from par terre to win 4-1 at 63kg.

11:15: The only Brazil wrestler to have made the long trip to Ulaanbaatar Open makes it worth it as Ana PEREIRA (BRA) begins with a 2-1 win over Enkhtuvshin BALJINNYAM (MGL) at 57kg.

11:00: A little heated bout on Mat C between Mohammad KESHTKAR (IRI) and Aref MOHAMMADI (QAT) at 63kg, which ends in a thrilling fashion. Mohammadi was given both passivity advantages and he led 2-0 till the final 10 seconds. However, Keshtkar tried desperate headlock which Mohammadi seemed to have blocked. As Mohammadi scored the takedown, Keshtkar countered with a continuous roll and got two points. It was scored two points for Mohammadi and two points for Keshtkar. However, Iran challenged the call and on review, it was scored only two points for Keshtkar, as his attempted headpinch was called a slip throw. Keshtkar wins 2-2 on criteria.

10:55: Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) with two massive throws to stun Doolotbek CHOIBEKOV (KGZ) in the Round 1 bout of 63kg. Chung has been a former Asian Championships medalist and always a threat for medal.

10:50: Former world U17 champion SURAJ (IND) got throw for a four-pointer from Ganbayar NAMSRAI (MGL) but that was his only loss in concentration as he wins 8-5 against Namsrai at 60kg.

10:45: Paris Olympian Enes BASAR (TUR) defended well from par terre and beats Kurmanbek ZHAPAROV (KGZ) 8-3 to start his 63kg campaign.

10:30: Mongolia had some wrestle-offs to decide its competitors for the main draw as it had 5 wrestlers entered in a few categories. But we are all set for the Greco-Roman and Women's Wrestling now.