Nichita on Course for U23 Euro Gold; Russia Rolls to FS Team Title

Wednesday, May 19, 2021 - 20:53 By Vinay Siwach

Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) is the most accomplished wrestler entered in the women's wrestling draw at the ongoing U23 European Championships. After all, she has medals, including gold, at the world and continental level and is qualified for the Tokyo Olympics.

The 22-year-old did not disappoint on Wednesday as she rock-and-rolled her into the 59kg final at the Jane Sandanski Arena in Skopje, North Macedonia. Nichita scored two victories via fall and other via technical superiority.

Women's wrestling began with five weight classess – 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg and 76kg – and Russia entered four wrestlers in the final. Mariia TIUMEREKOVA (RUS), Aleksandra SKIRENKO (RUS), Vusala PARFIANOVICH (RUS) and Evgeniia ZAKHARCHENKO (RUS) reached the final at 50kg, 55kg, 68kg and 76kg respectively.

Ukraine sent two of their wrestlers while Belarus, Hungary, Moldova and Turkey also managed to enter one each.

Nichita, returning to competition after a bronze medal finish at the senior European Championships in Warsaw, Poland last month, began with a fall over Anna FABIAN (SRB) before a 10-0 win over Anne NUERNBERGER (GER) in the quarterfinal.

Up against former junior European silver medalist Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) in the semifinal Nichita once again came up with a fall and reach the final in which she will face Tamara DOLLAK (HUN) on Thursday.

Dollack had a close semifinal against Krystsina SAZYKINA (BLR), who she defeated 9-8, thanks to a exposure with less than 10 seconds remaining.

Anastasiya YANATOVA U23 European Championships

At 50kg, former cadet European champion Anastasiya YANATOVA (BLR) had a dream run as she defeated Individual World Cup silver medalist Liliia MALANCHUK (UKR) 10-10 en route the final.

Lisa ERSEL (GER) had build a 4-1 lead at the break in the semifinal but Yantova scored 12 unanswered points to win 13-4. She will take on Tiumerekova in the final.

The Russian showed why she is regarded highly in wrestling circles as she gave up only two points in three bouts before reaching the final. She began with a 7-0 win over Aynur ERGE (TUR) before claiming a pin over Taru VAINIONPAEAE (FIN) after leading 8-0 in the quarterfinal.

Maria LEORDA (MDA) did score two points on her but Tiumerekova was unstoppable as she ran to a 12-2 win.

Skirenko was the second Russian to enter the final as she defeated Aleksandrina KASHINOVA (BUL) 10-0 in the semifinal. Earlier, the bronze medalist at Russian Championships had defeated Dominika KULWICKA (POL) in the quarterfinal via fall.

Senior European bronze medalist Khrystyna DEMKO (UKR) will challenge Skirenko in the final as she made her way to the summit clash after beating Beatrice FERENT (ROU) via fall. Esra PUL (TUR) had suffered a 1-7 loss at the hands of Demko in the quarterfinals earlier in the day.

Oksana CHUDYK (UKR) joined her teammate as she also made it to the final on Wednesday. Wrestling at 68kg, the multiple time age-group world medalist defeated Natallia BELSKAYA (BLR) 7-0 in the semifinal.

She began the day with a fall over Adina IRIMIA (ROU) after leading 8-0. Nesrin BAS (TUR) was the next to fall to Chudyk as she won 7-1.

From the other side of the bracket, Parfianovich reached the final after two exciting bouts. She first humbled junior and cadet world medalist Ewelina CIUNEK (POL) 15-13 in the quarterfinal before defeating Kendra DACHER (FRA), 6-2 in the semifinal.

The French had stunned junior European champion Tindra SJOEBERG (SWE) with a 7-7 victory.

Evgeniia ZHAKHARCHENKO U23 European Championships

At the heavyweight class, returning silver medalist Zakharchenko had some trouble reaching the final against Aysegul OZBEGE (TUR).

In the opening bout she was trailing before pulling off a 4-3 win against Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU). Bernadett NAGY (HUN) also gave a scare but the Russian held off for a 8-3 win.

The semifinal was a better show as she control the bout to win 8-0 against Enrica RINALDI (ITA).

Ozbege, however, had a much tougher semifinal and was trailing until the final 10 seconds she exposed Diana VLASCEANU (ROU) to her back and win 6-5.

Russia claim 2 gold, team title

Anil KILICSALLAYAN (TUR) denied Russia a perfect outing in the finals of freestyle as he defeated Atsamaz TEBLOEV (RUS) via fall in the 125kg final to win the gold medal.

Three Russian wrestlers were competing for the gold medals on Wednesday but only two managed to win them. This, however, did not stop the country from winning the team title like they did two years back.

Russia finished with 196 points, thanks to four gold, three silver and three bronze medals. Turkey, who had three gold and three bronze medals finished second with 150 points. Azerbaijan was third with 140 points as they had only one gold, three silver and as many bronze medals.

Kilicsallayan changed gears in the second period of the bout after Tebloev had a 1-0 lead at the break. But a pushout and takedown gave the Turkey wrestler lead before he had Tebloev to his back to get the pin after leading 7-0.

Chermen VALIEV U23 European Championships

But the two other Russia wrestlers did not fail to do the job. Chermen VALIEV (RUS) was the first two win the gold at 74kg as he defeated Hrayr ALIKHANYAN (ARM) 4-0 in the final. Both the takedowns occured in the first period of the bout.

Valiev, who had a silver medal at the U23 World Championships at 70kg, is regarded as another top talent in the ever-growing list of 74kg wrestlers in Russia and around the world.

Amanula RASULOV (RUS) also gave his country a gold medal at 86kg after beating Orkhan ABASOV (AZE) 3-1 in the final. The wrestlers exchanged step outs but Rasulov's takedown proved to be the difference in the match.

Azerbaijan were denied their second gold medal of tournament in dramatic fashion when Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) lost to Erhan YAYLACI (TUR) 4-3 in the 92kg final.

Erhan YAYLACI

When the time expired, Nurmagomedov had won 3-3 on criteria but Yaylaci challenged for a pulled singlet in the final five seconds. The cameras did capture the Azerbaijan wrestler pulling Yaylaci's siglet which gave him the extra point and the win.

The sudden turn of events saw Azerbaijan camp in complete despair and in shock while Yaylaci celebrated his country's gold medal.

At 61kg, Teimuraz VANISHVILI (GEO) claimed the lone gold medal for Georgia as he defeated Razmik PAPIKYAN (ARM) 6-1 in the final. In the entire tournament, that one point for step out the only one which he conceded.

Wednesday will see wrestlers from the five remaining women's weight classes – 53kg, 57kg, 62kg, 65kg and 72kg – fighting for a spot in the finals.

Results:

WW Semifinals

50kg
GOLD: Anastasiya YANOTAVA (BLR) vs Mariia TIUMEREKOVA (RUS)

SF 1: Anastasiya YANOTAVA (BLR) df Lisa ERSEL (GER), 13-4
SF 2: Mariia TIUMEREKOVA (RUS) df Maria LEORDA (MDA), 12-2

55kg
GOLD: Khrystyna DEMKO (UKR) vs Aleksandra SKIRENKO (RUS)

SF 1: Aleksandra SKIRENKO (RUS) df Aleksandrina KASHINOVA (BUL), 10-0
SF 2: Khrystyna DEMKO (UKR) df Beatrice FERENT (ROU), via fall

59kg
GOLD: Tamara DOLLAK (HUN) vs Anastasia NICHITA (MDA)

SF 1: Tamara DOLLAK (HUN) df Krystsina SAZYKINA (BLR), 9-8
SF 2: Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) df Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR), via fall

68kg
GOLD: Vusala PARFIANOVICH (RUS) vs Oksana CHUDYK (UKR)

SF 1: Vusala PARFIANOVICH (RUS) df Kendra DACHER (FRA), 6-2
SF 2: Oksana CHUDYK (UKR) df Natallia BELSKAYA (BLR), 7-0

76kg
GOLD: Aysegul OZBEGE (TUR) vs Evgeniia ZAKHARCHENKO (RUS)

SF 1: Aysegul OZBEGE (TUR) df Diana VLASCEANU (ROU), 6-5
SF 2: Evgeniia ZAKHARCHENKO (RUS) df Enrica RINALDI (ITA), 8-0

Russia U23 Euro Championships

FS Medal Bouts

61kg
GOLD: Teimuraz VANISHVILI (GEO) df Razmik PAPIKYAN (ARM), 6-1

BRONZE: Emrah ORMANOGLU (TUR) df Artem KRYVENKO (UKR), 13-8
BRONZE: Ruhan RASIM (BUL) df Nico MEGERLE (GER), 9-5

74kg
GOLD: Chermen VALIEV (RUS) df Hrayr ALIKHANYAN (ARM), 4-0

BRONZE: Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) df Ashraf ASHIROV (AZE), 3-1
BRONZE: Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) df Isa DEMIR (TUR), 12-9

86kg
GOLD: Amanula RASULOV (RUS) df Orkhan ABASOV (AZE), 3-1

BRONZE: Denys SAHALIUK (UKR) df Lars SCHAEFLE (GER), 4-3
BRONZE: Emre CIFTCI (TUR) df Andrian GROSUL (MDA), 3-1

92kg
GOLD: Erhan YAYLACI (TUR) df Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE), 4-3

BRONZE: Azamat ZAKUEV (RUS) df Arkadzi PAHASIAN (BLR), 5-1
BRONZE: Gheorghe ERHAN (MDA) df Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO), 9-8

125kg
GOLD: Anil KILICSALLAYAN (TUR) df Atsamaz TEBLOEV (RUS), via fall (7-2)

BRONZE: Yaraslau SLAVIKOUSKI (BLR) df Yurii IDZINSKYI (UKR), 2-2
BRONZE: Vakhit GALAYEV (AZE) df Paris KAREPI (ALB), 5-1

#JapanWrestling

Fujinami to move up to 57kg in quest for consecutive Olympic golds

Wednesday, November 27, 2024 - 12:12 By Ken Marantz

TOKYO (November 26) -- Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) won't be defending her Olympic gold at women's 53kg at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. That's bad news for anyone aiming to strike gold at 57kg.

Fujinami has announced that she will move up to the next Olympic weight class starting next year, the Japan federation website and Japan media widely recently reported.

Fujinami, who turned 21 on November 11, cited the difficulty of cutting weight for the decision, as well as the historic aspect that no woman wrestler has ever won a second straight Olympic gold after moving to a higher weight class.

"I have decided to move up to the 57kg weight class," Fujinami said after Sunday's East Japan Collegiate Women's League, a team tournament that marked her first competition since winning the gold at the Paris Olympics in August. "Considering my height and my normal weight, I think I can give my best performance at 57."

Fujinami competed at 59kg in the five-team league tournament (one school was a no-show), which was run in a round-robin, duel-meet format with only three weight classes -- 53kg, 59kg and 76kg.

She won both of her matches by fall, extending her current winning streak to 139 matches dating back to her junior high school days in September 2017.

The 1.64-meter Fujinami was actually wrestling near her natural weight, which she says is "about 61kg." But even against two opponents from higher weight classes -- Ikuei University's Ichika ARAI (JPN) was the 2023 world U20 silver medalist at 57kg -- her skills and speed were still overwhelming.

"It has been really hard to cut down to 53kg," Fujinami said. "I felt I lost muscle during the process. I feel I can give my best performance by going down three kilos from my natural weight."

Asked when she expects to make her full-fledged "debut" at the new weight, she replied in a text message, "It will be sometime next year. I haven't decided exactly when yet."

With a full schedule of post-Olympic TV appearances and local events curtailing her training, she has already ruled out appearing at next month's Emperor's Cup All-Japan Championships.

It is likely she will compete at the Meiji Cup All-Japan Invitational Championships in the spring, as that tournament, along with the Emperor's Cup, will serve as qualifiers for the 2025 World Championships.

The move up to 57kg will likely put her on a collision course with the reigning Olympic champion, Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN). The two met last year at the East Japan Collegiate tournament, with Fujinami coming away with a 5-0 victory.

The challenge of possibly accomplishing a historic first appeals to Fujinami, who last year won her second career world title at 53kg in Belgrade.

"I heard that no [woman] has moved up a weight class and won another Olympic gold," Fujinami said. "It will difficult, but that's what makes it challenging. I hope I can become stronger at the next [Olympics] in Los Angeles."

Two Japanese women -- Saori YOSHIDA (JPN) and Kaori ICHO (JPN) -- have won an additional Olympic gold after going down a weight, but that was mainly because the number of weight classes was expanded from four to six, allowing them to compete more closely to their normal weight.

Among men, the legendary Aleksandr MEDVED (URS) won the freestyle 97kg gold in 1964, then triumphed again at 97+kg in 1968, while Levan TEDASHVILI (URS) won at freestyle 82kg in 1972 and 90kg in 1976. More recently, Abdulrashid SADULAEV claimed the freestyle 86kg gold in 2016, then won again at 97kg in 2021.

Fujinami said she doesn't expect to make any major alterations to her wrestling style at the heavier weight.

"I have no intention of making any big changes in my wrestling style," she said. "I will still try to keep the opponent from getting at my legs, and take the initiative to score points. Still, I can feel the extra weight of four kilos, so how I increase my weight could affect how I perform."

At this year's East Japan league tournament, Fujinami's Nippon Sport Science University was relegated to second by Ikuei University, which won 2-1 in their duel meet. Ikuei got victories from Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) and Ami ISHII (JPN), who both won gold medals at last month's Non-Olympic Weight Category World Championships.

Nichita on Course for U23 Euro Gold; Russia Rolls to FS Team Title

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Fujinami to move up to 57kg in quest for consecutive Olympic golds