Rio Medalist Saritov Keeps Olympic Hopes Alive While Demirtas' Bid Ends

Thursday, May 6, 2021 - 15:37 By Ken Marantz

SOFIA, Bulgaria (May 6) -- Rio Olympic bronze medalist Albert SARITOV (ROU) moved one win away from qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics, while Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) saw his dream of another Olympic medal end when he failed to survive in the cut-throat 74kg division.

Saritov had one close call but managed to advance to the semifinals at 97kg as the freestyle competition opened the final world Olympic qualifying tournament with a marathon morning session on Thursday in Sofia, Bulgaria.

The winners of the semifinals in the night session at the spectator-less Arena Armeec Sport Hall earn tickets to Tokyo for their countries, and in most cases, themselves.

Russia and the United States both kept their bids alive to field a complete lineups at the Tokyo Games. Sergei KOZYREV (RUS) secured a place in the final four at 125kg, the only freestyle weight class the European powerhouse had not yet filled, while Jordan OLIVER (USA) did likewise at 65kg.

Kazakhstan, however, will have to be content with entrants in five of the six weight classes in Tokyo after Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) suffered a heartbreaking 2-2 loss to Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE) at 86kg in a clash between former world U23 silver medalists.

Slovenia moved closer to having its first-ever Olympic wrestler when 2017 European bronze medalist David HABAT (SLO) stormed into the 65kg semifinals with a 10-0 technical fall over Ilman MUKHTAROV (FRA). He will face Georgios PILIDIS (GRE) for the Tokyo ticket.

"I am happy about my wrestling," Habat said. "Usually I would give a good interview but I am really focused on the next match right now. The past matches were good because I got here [semifinal]. So that's why I can say that I am happy about how I wrestled. It's good to reflect back and say that I am doing the right thing."

Asked about his dominant victory in the quarterfinals, he replied, "I can improve here and there. I am taking a lot of shots and I want to convert all of them. I am good in those positions but against world class-level guys, it's hard to takedown."

The Russian-born Saritov posted a workmanlike 4-0 victory over Samuel SCHERRER (SUI) to advance to the 97kg semifinals, where he will face Valerii ANDRIITSEV (UKR), who placed fifth at the Rio Olympics. Andriitsev barreled into the last four with a 10-0 technical fall over Timofei XENIDIS (GRE) that took less than a minute.

Saritov survived a scare in the second round, when he was losing 6-5 to Radoslaw BARAN (POL) before catching him with a back trip for 4 points wtih 28 seconds left for a 9-6 win.

In the other smeifinal at 97kg, ex-Russian Ahmed BATAEV (BUL), who placed third at last year's Individual World Cup, will face Abraham CONYEDO RUANO (ITA).

Olympic host Japan could add two more to its lineup as 2017 world champion Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN) at 57kg and Sohsuke TAKATANI (JPN) at 86kg both advanced to the semifinals.

Yuki TAKAHASHI World Olympic Qualifier

Takahashi, who was dispatched to Sofia after Rio 2016 silver medalist Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) failed to make weight at last month's Asian Olympic qualifier in Almaty, was hardly challenged as he chalked up a pair of technical falls, including an 11-0 rout of Vladimir EGOROV (MKD) in the quarterfinals.

"I went at my pace from beginning to end [in my two matches]," Takahashi said. "If I win in the
semifinal, it will clinch an Olympic place, so I will go all out."

Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN) will face Reineri ANDREU (CUB) with the Olympic ticket on the line, a rematch of the bronze-medal match at the 2018 World Championships won by Takahashi.

If Takahashi wins, he will have to face Higuchi in a playoff later this monty for the Tokyo berth.

In the other 57kg semifinal, three-time European champion Giorgi EDISHERASHVILI (AZE) will face 2018 Asian Games champion Bekhbayar ERDENEBAT (MGL) Takatani also won by technical fall in the round-of-8, overwhelming Istvan VEREB (HUN) 12-0, but that came after a nailbiting win in the previous round. Against Taimuraz FRIEV (ESP), he gave up a 4-point takedown at the edge that was awarded on challenge to fall behind on criteria, but scored a stepout with :05 left to win 5-4.

Blocking his path to a third career Olympic appearance is Zbigniew BARANOWSKI (POL), who defeated Hovhannes MKHITARYAN (ARM) by 12-2 technical fall in the quarterfinals.

Abakarov will take on Boris MAKOEV (SVK), who scored a takedown in the final :10 to eke out a 4-2 win over Yurieski TORREBLANCA (CUB).

"I needed to reassess my wrestling for this tournament as this is a big one," Abakarov said. "All the bouts were so tough apart from the second one."

At 74kg, Rio 2016 bronze medalist Demirtas met his match in Magomedkhabib KADIMAGOMEDOV (BLR), the 2020 European champion at 79kg who advanced to the semifinals with an 8-4 victory.

"My wrestling is better than ever and now I just want to win the gold medal here," Kadimagomedov said. "Soner is a very nice guy and a good wrestler, his record talks for itself."

Just to set up that match, Demirtas first had to get past Hetik CABOLOV (SRB) in the second round, coming back from a 3-0 deficit against the native Russian by scoring three takedowns and a roll in the second period to win 8-3.

Kadimagomedov will hardly have it any easier in the semifinals, where he will face red-hot Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK), another Russian transplant who is coming off an impressive run to the gold at the European Championships.

Salkazanov, a 2019 world bronze medalist at 79kg, survived a scare in the quarterfinals against Ali UMARPASHAEV (BUL). He was still trailing on criteria when he knotted the score at 4-4 late in the second period, then scored a takedown with :25 left for a 6-4 win.

"In the beginning of the quarterfinal, I was not good as I conceded four points but as I continued wrestling, I was able to defeat him," Salkazanov said. "I have wrestled him before and he is very tough. I lost to him in the European qualifiers but this time I defeated him.

"There is no secret to my wins or my good wrestling. I just focus on winning and I fight continuously to defeat my opponent."

For Umarpashaev, it was deja vu all over. At the European Olympic qualifier, he lost after leading 6-0 in the semifinals against 2018 world silver medalist Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO).

American-born Mitchell FINESILVER (ISR), a European bronze medalist who wrestled at Duke University in the U.S., put together three solid matches to earn a clash with Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR) in the other semifinal at 74kg.

In the 65kg quarterfinals, Oliver snatched victory from the jaws of defeat when he scored a takedown with :35 left, then held on to edge Gor OGANNESYAN (UKR) 3-3.

Jordan Oliver World Olympic Qualifier

"The Ukrainian is a tough competitor, very good with his hands and hard to penetrate [his defense]," said Oliver, the silver medalist at the 2020 Matteo Pellicone tournament. "If I am being honest with myself I need more attacks, more attempts, put myself in more scoring positions.

"The push was there the whole match, I took it when I needed it. There were a couple of more times I could have put myself in scoring positions."

Oliver said it was particularly difficult to come back on such an opponent.

"These are situations that we go through when we train," he said. "I knew it was coming, I had to make contact. The shot was there to take and I took it. His was very feisty defensively to hold the guy like that in the last 24 seconds. I knew he was bringing everything he had."

Oliver still has a tough hill to get over in semifinal opponent Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL), another former Russian and a two-time former world medalist. Gadzhiev had to get past a formidable foe himself to set up the clash, beating three-time European silver medalist Beka LOMTADZE (GEO) 2-1, with all of the points coming on the activity clock.

"The quarterfinal was definitely a tough fight, but the semifinal is tougher," Gadzhiev said. "So I am going to focus on that."

At 125kg, the young Kozyrev, coming off a silver medal finish at the European Championships, set up a clash in the semifinals with Daniel LIGETI (HUN). Kozyrev topped Robert BARAN (POL) 7-1 in the quarterfinals, while Ligeti made short work of Dilmukhammed NURMUKHAMEDOV (UZB), notching a 10-0 technical fall.

The other semifinal pits Jose DIAZ ROBERTTI (VEN) and Sumit MALIK (IND). Diaz Robertti hanged on for a 3-3 win over Vakhit GALAYEV (AZE), while Malik ousted fellow Asian Rustam ISKANDARI (TJK) 10-5.

With this the last chance for Olympic qualifying, it is understandable that tensions are high, and it caused one wrestler to snap.

In a qualification round bout at 97kg, Minwon SEO (KOR) took exception to being slammed into the matside advertising boards by Altangerel CHINBAT (MGL) as they went out of bounds. Seo kicked out at his opponent, for which he was disqualified.

Freestyle Results

57kg
Semifinals
Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN) vs Reineri ANDREU (CUB)
Giorgi EDISHERASHVILI (AZE) vs Bekhbayar ERDENEBAT (MGL)

Quarterfinals
Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN) df. Vladimir EGOROV (MKD) by TF, 11-0
Bekhbayar ERDENEBAT (MGL) df. Givi DAVIDOVI (ITA), 3-2
Reineri ANDREU (CUB) df. Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ), 7-5
Giorgi EDISHERASHVILI (AZE) df. Muhamad IKROMOV (TJK), 11-4

65kg
Semifinals
Georgios PILIDIS (GRE) vs David HABAT (SLO)
Jordan OLIVER (USA) vs Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL)

Quarterfinals
Georgios PILIDIS (GRE) df. Juan GONZALEZ (ESP) TF, 10-0
Jordan OLIVER (USA) df. Gor OGANNESYAN (UKR), 3-3
Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL) df. Beka LOMTADZE (GEO), 2-1
David HABAT (SLO) df. Ilman MUKHTAROV (FRA) by TF, 10-0

74kg
Semifinals
Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR) vs Mitchell FINESILVER (ISR)
Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) vs Magomedkhabib KADIMAGOMEDOV (BLR)

Quarterfinals
Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) df. Ali UMARPASHAEV (BUL), 6-4
Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR) df. Aimar ANDRUSE (EST) by TF, 11-0
Magomedkhabib KADIMAGOMEDOV (BLR) df. Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR), 8-4
Mitchell FINESILVER (ISR) df. Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE), 9-2

86kg
Semifinals
Zbigniew BARANOWSKI (POL) vs Sohsuke TAKATANI (JPN)
Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE) vs Boris MAKOEV (SVK)

Quarterfinals
Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE) df. Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ), 2-2
Boris MAKOEV (SVK) df. Yurieski TORREBLANCA (CUB), 4-2
Sohsuke TAKATANI (JPN) df. Istvan VEREB (HUN) by TF, 12-0
Zbigniew BARANOWSKI (POL) df. Hovhannes MKHITARYAN (ARM) by TF, 12-2

97kg
Semifinals
Abraham CONYEDO RUANO (ITA) vs Ahmed BATAEV (BUL)
Valerii ANDRIITSEV (UKR) vs Albert SARITOV (ROU)

Quarterfinals
Ahmed BATAEV (BUL) df. Satywart KADIAN (IND), 5-5
Albert SARITOV (ROU) df. Samuel SCHERRER (SUI), 4-0
Abraham CONYEDO RUANO (ITA) df. Ulrich MANOUAN (CIV) by TF, 10-0
Valerii ANDRIITSEV (UKR) df. Timofei XENIDIS (GRE) by TF, 10-0

125kg
Semifinals
Sergei KOZYREV (RUS) vs Daniel LIGETI (HUN)
Jose DIAZ ROBERTTI (VEN) vs Sumit MALIK (IND)

Quarterfinals
Jose DIAZ ROBERTTI (VEN) df. Vakhit GALAYEV (AZE) 3-3
Sumit MALIK (IND) df. Rustam ISKANDARI (TJK), 10-5
Daniel LIGETI (HUN) df. Dilmukhammed NURMUKHAMEDOV (UZB) by TF, 10-0
Sergei KOZYREV (RUS) df. Robert BARAN (POL), 7-1

#WrestleSofia

Russia Goes 3 for 3 to Complete Olympic Lineup; Mongolian Miracle Adds Another Full Team

Friday, May 7, 2021 - 20:31 By Ken Marantz

SOFIA, Bulgaria (May 7) -- Veronika CHUMIKOVA (RUS) was on her way to becoming the lone Russian to fail to qualify her weight class for the upcoming Olympics. Instead, she will be on her way to Tokyo as part of a full contingent thanks to a dramatic late victory.

Chumikova dug out of a six-point hole against Grace BULLEN (NOR) with a nifty lateral drop that led to a fall in the final minute of their thrilling 57kg semifinal at the final world Olympic qualifying tournament on Friday night in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Chumikova's win, combined with one-sided victories by Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (RUS) at 53kg and Liubov OVCHAROVA (RUS) at 62kg, means that Russia has joined Olympic host Japan, China and the United States -- and moments earlier, Mongolia -- in fielding a full team in all six women's weight classes at the Tokyo Games.

"It's one of the happiest days for the Russian team as the whole team is going to the Olympics," Ovcharova said of the feat, which came a day after the men filled their final opening in freestyle.

Mongolia joined the elite group thanks to a second miraculous victory of the tournament by Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL), who filled her country's lone remaining open spot at 62kg.

"I am very happy and it's a great job for my Mongolia to qualify six out of six," Khurelkhuu said. "I will train hard and win in Tokyo."

Ecuador earned its lone Olympic place in any style from Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) at 50kg, as the South American nation was among 10 different countries that grabbed the berths that went to the two semifinal winners in each weight class at the last-chance tournament.

On a night of high drama, the clash between Chumikova, the newly crowned European champion at 59kg, and 2020 European gold medalist Bullen was of Olympic quality and intensity.

After Bullen came out firing and gained a quick stepout, Chumikova used an effective fireman's carry for a pair of takedowns and a 4-1 lead going into the second period.

But Bullen, who moved to Norway as a South Sudanese refugee at age four, showed her resilience and determination by coming back with a driving takedown, a pair of two-point gut wrenches and a four-point back trip to go ahead 12-6.

With time running out, Chumikova nailed a perfectly timed lateral drop to slam Bullen onto her back. Bullen bridged desperately, but Chumikova, who still trailed 12-10, pressed down and secured the fall at 5:28.

"The last period my coach just said that to trust myself and believe it doesn't matter if I am losing 6-12," a tearful Chumikova said. "I managed to perform the technique I had never done before.

"For me this is a huge moment to qualify for the Olympics. I missed the Russian Championships but I hope all the mistakes I did here will help me. I had a lot of emotions in the semifinals and I knew this is the reward if I win. This is unbelievable and that's why I am crying."

Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL) World Olympic Qualifier — Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL) won the Olympic quota for Mongolia at 62kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

A similar scenario played out a short time later at 62kg, when Asian silver medalist Khurelkhuu fell behind 9-1 against European bronze medalist Veranika IVANOVA (BLR), who had a pair of four-point moves in the first period.

In the second period, Khurelkhuu scored a takedown and 2-point exposure to cut the gap before applying a chicken wing to turn Ivanova over and win by fall at 4:44.

"I was losing during the bout, but before it I had only promised myself to win," Khurelkhuu said. "So I was just looking for a win despite the score being 1-9. That's why I got it by pin."

It was deja vu all over again for Khurelkhuu, who used the same technique in the quarterfinals to vanquish Nathaly GRIMAN (VEN) after trailing 6-1.

"That's my favorite move," Khurelkuu said. "It's 'tur-tur' in Mongolian. If you want to pin, it's the key to it."

In the other 62kg semifinal, Russia's Ovcharova cruised to an 8-0 victory over Luisa NIEMESCH (GER). Ovcharova, a 2020 European and 2019 world bronze medalist at 59kg, opened with a four-point back suplex, to which she added a 2-point roll, then topped with a second-period takedown.

"It was not easy at all for me because at the European [qualifier] I was able to win only one bout," Ovcharova said. "But my coaches believed in me. The Olympics is the dream of every athlete and I achieved mine today.

"The life of an athlete is not too long and we have only one chance to win and we can't miss it."

Andreea ANA (ROU) added to the drama -- unfortunately in a spectator-less Arena Armeec Sport Hall -- when she pulled off a last-second 4-2 victory over Samantha STEWART (CAN) at 53kg.

After the two traded first-period takedowns, Ana, a European bronze medalist at 55kg, trailed on last-point criteria when she caught Stewart with a driving double-leg takedown with just five seconds remaining to steal the victory.

"This was my dream and I am so happy to achieve it," said Ana, a two-time world U23 bronze medalist. "I hope I will fight good at the Olympics."

Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (RUS) World Olympic Qualifier — Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (RUS) after winning the 50kg semifinal in Sofia. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

European champion Khoroshavteva got the Russian juggernaut going in the second semifinal at 53kg, when she overwhelmed Betzabeth ARGUELLO (VEN) by 11-0 technical fall.

Khoroshavtseva, a 2019 world bronze medalist at 55kg, scored the majority of her points on counters to Arguello's attacks, which could not pierce the Russian's defenses.

At 76kg, revenge was on the menu and it tasted sweet for 2018 world silver medalist Yasemin ADAR (TUR) when she cruised to a 10-1 victory over 2019 European silver medalist Martina KUENZ (AUT).

Last month, Kuenz knocked Adar out of the European Olympic qualifying tournament in Budapest with a late fall in the quarterfinals. This time, Adar had the upper hand, and put the match away in the second period with a takedown and three rolls off a lace lock.

"I am very proud of myself and the whole team," Adar said. "In Budapest, we had a problem that my coach was COVID positive and could not come and I missed him in the corner. I thought there was something missing. I was not 100 percent there. In this bout he was here and I am so proud."

In the other 76kg semifinal, Alla BELINSKA (UKR) gave Ukraine its fifth Olympic women's ticket when she outclassed Maria ACOSTA (VEN) 8-0 in the final match of the session.

Belinska, this year's European champion at 72kg, scored a driving takedown and two stepouts in the first period, then added a pair of takedowns in the second to deny Venezuela its last chance for a women's Olympic berth.

India will now have four women in Tokyo thanks to a solid effort from Asian bronze medalist Seema BISLA (IND), who edged Anna LUKASIAK (POL) 2-1 at 50kg.

Bisla scored a shrug-by takedown just moments after giving up an activity point, and that accounted for all of the scoring as she held on for the victory.

"This bout was very tough for me because this was my last chance. My coaches and everyone back home were waiting for me to qualify and they were confident as well," said Bisla, who came up short in the Asian qualifying tournament in Almaty.

"In Almaty, I was ready but I don't know [what happened], the travel and then I had reduced my weight to 50kg after a long time. Despite that I was trying to motivate myself that I will qualify but my body did not work there. But before coming here, I was confident that I will qualify."

Her coach, Kuldeep MALIK, said he was impressed with her performance.

"She had one of her best days, I have seen this type of defense from Seema after a long time and to counter and win two points was good," Malik said. "Her attack was good but defense was better."

Ecuador can certainly be proud of the effort turned in by Yepez, who held on for a nail-biting 6-6 win on big-point criteria over Patricia BERMUDEZ (ARG) in an all-South American clash in the other 50kg semifinal.

Yepez went ahead in the first period with a single-leg takedown and nifty 4-point reverse spin throw. Bermudez, a two-time Olympian, used an effective arm throw to tie the score with three 2-point moves, but it wasn't enough to trump the 4-pointer.

The other Olympic spot at 57kg was earned by Mathilde RIVIERE (FRA), who gave France just its second ticket to Tokyo by scoring a takedown in each period and handily defeating Giullia OLIVEIRA (BRA) 5-1.

Earning the berths at 68kg were 2020 European champion Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL) and Elis MANOLOVA (AZE), the 2020 European silver medalist at 65kg.

Hristova started off with four points off a cradle in a manhandling of Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE), finishing off a 12-2 technical fall with :04 left in the match, while Manolova scored a takedown and roll early on before defeating Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) 5-3.

The tournament continues Saturday with the Greco-Roman competition.

Day 2 results

Women's Wrestling

50kg
SEMIFINAL - Seema BISLA (IND) df. Anna LUKASIAK (POL), 2-1
SEMIFINAL - Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) df. Patricia BERMUDEZ (ARG), 6-6

53kg
SEMIFINAL - Andreea ANA (ROU) df. Samantha STEWART (CAN), 4-2
SEMIFINAL - Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (RUS) df. Betzabeth ARGUELLO (VEN) by TF, 11-0, 3:39

57kg
SEMIFINAL - Mathilde RIVIERE (FRA) df. Giullia OLIVEIRA (BRA), 5-1
SEMIFINAL - Veronika CHUMIKOVA (RUS) df. Grace BULLEN (NOR) by Fall, 5:28 (10-12)

62kg
SEMIFINAL - Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL) df. Veranika IVANOVA (BLR) by Fall, 4:44 (5-9)
SEMIFINAL - Liubov OVCHAROVA (RUS) df. Luisa NIEMESCH (GER), 8-0

68kg
SEMIFINAL - Elis MANOLOVA (AZE) df. Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), 5-3
SEMIFINAL - Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL) df. Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) by TF, 12-2, 5:56

76kg
SEMIFINAL - Yasemin ADAR (TUR) df. Martina KUENZ (AUT), 10-1
SEMIFINAL - Alla BELINSKA (UKR) df. Maria ACOSTA (VEN), 8-0

Rio Medalist Saritov Keeps Olympic Hopes Alive While Demirtas' Bid Ends

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Russia Goes 3 for 3 to Complete Olympic Lineup; Mongolian Miracle Adds Another Full Team