#GuatemalaCityWrestle

Rosillo de Cuba Busca su Segundo Oro Panamericano de 2019

By Taylor Miller

Hace dos meses, Gabriel ROSILLO KINDELAN (CUB) ganó el oro en el Campeonato Panamericano de Mayores en 97 kg en grecorromana. Derrotó un luchador experimentado de los Estados Unidos por el título. Y hoy tiene que hacer lo mismo.

Hoy Rosillo está compitiendo en el Campeonato Panamericano Juvenil en la Ciudad de Guatemala, su primera competición de nivel juvenil.

Él sigue ganando en grande, pero hay algo un poco diferente esta vez.

“Hoy me siento bien. No tengo tanta presión porque en Argentina en el Panamericano de Mayores, hubo mucha presión,” dijo Rosillo. “Yo solo tengo 20 años y hoy, no hay ninguna presión.”

Rosillo ha dominado la competencia. De sus cuatro combates hasta el momento, él solo ha luchado menos de 3 minutos en total.

Su victoria más rápida llegó en las semifinales, donde derrotó a Juan CANTILLO TORRES (PAN), 8-0, en 17 segundos.

Por el oro, Rosillo se enfrentará a Braxton AMOS (USA). Ya venció a Amos en la primera sesión de acción, 10-0, en solo 40 segundos, pero se volverán a encontrar esta noche.

Rosillo ya tiene una medalla de oro del Campeonato Panamericano de Mayores de 2019 y también una medalla de bronce del Campeonato Panamericano de Mayores de 2018.

Mira el torneo en vivo en unitedworldwrestling.org. Las finales comienzan a las 6 p.m. CST

#WrestleBudapest

Ranking Series: Tazhudinov Shows No Rust on His Way to Gold

By Vinay Siwach

BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 17) --  Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) gave an early preview to what to expect from him at the World Championships in September.

The Paris Olympic champion won the gold medal in the 97kg weight class at the Budapest Ranking Series, outscoring his opponents 44-2 in four bouts and never appearing in trouble on the mat.

"I feel very good," Tazhudinov said. "I'm very happy to be back on the mat. It’s been almost a year I haven’t been competing  and it’s such a pleasure for us when you come back and win a gold medal."

The final Ranking Series event of the season kicked off in Budapest on Thursday with several familiar names winning gold medals. Asian champion Takara SUDA (JPN), world silver medalist Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN), world U20 champion Luke LILLEDAHL (USA) and SUJEET (IND) were among the gold medalists on day one.

But none were as dominant as Tazhudinov.

The Bahrain star returned to competition for the first time since Paris Olympics competing last week in Madrid, where he won gold at the Grand Prix of Spain. In Budapest, he followed it up with another flawless run, claiming his second gold medal in as many weeks.

"Overall I’m satisfied with my performance. I would say I’m not yet in full form, so I’m pleased with how I did. I’ll reach 100% form by the World Championships," he said.

Wrestling in just his third career Ranking Series, Tazhudinov capped the day with an 11-0 technical superiority win over veteran Zbigniew BARANOWSKI (POL) in the final.

He opened the tournament with a 14-2 win over Adlan VISKHANOV (FRA), who clearly looked smaller for the weight class and had trouble matching Tazhudinov in every aspect of the game.

Tazhudinov hit a big double-leg attack for four points but Viskhanov got two points for exposure. But that was only opening Tazhudinov allowed for the rest of the bout. Viskhanov tried a few leg attacks but Tazhudinov scored a takedown and two turns to be up 10-2 before an arm-bar attempt turned into takedown for his win.

In the quarterfinals, Tazhudinov needed just one minute to defeat Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (UWW). In the semifinals, he dispatched Merab SULEIMANISHVILI (GEO) in 1:48, winning 10-0.

Despite the dominant performance in Budapest, Tazhudinov admitted the World Championships would present a tougher challenge. He’s expected to defend his 97kg world title in Zagreb.

"We’ll have two training camps leading up to the World Championships, and I think after those camps I’ll be fully ready," he said. "There will be very strong, tough opponents. So I’ll prepare thoroughly and focus on performing even better."