#WrestlePontevedra

Russia Edges Ukraine by 10 Points, Wins Women's Wrestling Team Title

By Eric Olanowski

PONTEVEDRA, Spain (June 7) – Mariia TIUMEREKOVA (RUS) and Mariia LACHUGINA (RUS) joined teammates Daria KHVOSTOVA (RUS) and Ekaterina VERBINA (RUS) as European champions and helped Russia (154 points) edge Ukraine (145 points) in the women’s team race by 10 points. 

In the 53kg finals, Mariia Tiumerekova, one of the most decorated age-level wrestlers competing at this year’s European Championships, outscored defending U23 and junior champion European Zeynep YETGIL (TUR), 4-1 in the second period to win the gold medal. 

Tiumerekova, the four-time age-level world medalist, trailed 1-0 after she gave up an inactivity point. Then, the Russian stopped a headlock attempt and picked up a point from a failed Turkish challenge to control the 3-1 lead late into the second period. She tacked on a step out point before the ending whistle and captured her second career European title and first since winning the 2017 cadet European title at 49kg. 

Mariia LACHUGINA (RUS) trailed 6-2 but pancaked Irina RINGACI (MDA) to her back for the fall and the 62kg title. (Photo: Gabor Martin) 

In the 62kg finals, Mariia Lachugina scored the bout’s first takedown, but Irina RINGACI (MDA) quickly exploded to her feet and scored a takedown of her own to gain the 2-2 lead on criteria. In the second period, Lachugina got bulldozed over and surrendered a four-point double leg. Planted on her back, the Russian was able to sneak out of bounds and get a fresh start. When the action resumed, Lachugina returned the favor and pancaked Ringaci to her back, and picked up the fall, giving Russia their second gold medal of the day. 

This was Lachugina’s second time wrestling in the continental finals, but an improvement on her runner-up finish from back in 2015. 


Alina AKOBIIA (UKR) captured the 57kg title after sticking Maryia HULIDA (BLR). (Photo: Gabor Martin)

Second place Ukraine, who finished with seven medalists, finally got their champion on Day 6 when Alina AKOBIIA (UKR) captured the 57kg title. 

In the finals, 2017 U23 world bronze medalist Alina Akobiia quickly dismantled Maryia HULIDA (BLR), picking up the fall after leading 8-0. Akobiia dominated the match with her front headlock, picking up a pair of takedowns against her Belarusian opponent. She also scored a four-point throw with a cross ankle pick which resulted in her picking up the fall with 45 seconds left in the first period. 

This was Akobiia’s fourth appearance in the European finals but got back to her winning ways after dropping two consecutive continental gold-medal matches. 

Anastasiya ZIMIANKOVA (BLR) ended Maria NITU’s (ROU) magical European run with a convincing 7-1 victory in the 72kg finals, locking up Belarus’ third place team finish. Belarus also had a champion in Krystsina SAZYKINA (BLR), and two other medalists and finished with 126 points. 

Freestyle takes over tomorrow morning. Wrestling begins at 11:00 (local time) with the Day 6 finals starting at 18:00. All the action can be followed live on www.unitedworldwrestling.org

RESULTS 

GOLD – Russia (154 points)
SILVER – Ukraine (144 points)
BRONZE – Belarus (126 points)
Fourth – Hungary (105 points) 
Fifth – Poland (94 points) 

53kg 
GOLD - Mariia TIUMEREKOVA (RUS) df. Zeynep YETGIL (TUR), 4-2
BRONZE - Emma Jonna Denise MALMGREN (SWE) df. Tetiana PROFATILOVA (UKR), via fall 
BRONZE - Andreea ANA (ROU) df. Emma Solange Irène LUTTENAUER (FRA), 6-0 

57kg 
GOLD - Alina AKOBIIA (UKR) df. Maryia HULIDA (BLR), via fall
BRONZE - Tamara DOLLAK (HUN) df. Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (RUS), via fall 
BRONZE - Maria Victoria BAEZ DILONE (ESP) df. Gaëlle Paquita Maravilla RUIZ (FRA), 7-2 

62kg 
GOLD - Mariia LACHUGINA (RUS) df. Irina RINGACI (MDA), via fall 
BRONZE - Kateryna ZELENYKH (UKR) df. Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE), 9-6
BRONZE - Ameline DOUARRE (FRA) df. Ramina MAMEDOVA (LAT), via fall 

65kg 
GOLD - Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) df. Anastasiia LAVRENCHUK (UKR), 5-3 
BRONZE - Amina Roxana CAPEZAN (ROU) df. Viktoria VESSO (EST), 8-8 
BRONZE - Noémi SZABADOS (HUN) df. Elena ESPOSITO (ITA), 3-2 

72kg 
GOLD - Anastasiya ZIMIANKOVA (BLR) df. Maria NITU (ROU), 7-1
BRONZE - Evgeniia ZAKHARCHENKO (RUS)  df. Ariadna IBORRA QUINONES (ESP), 10-0 
BRONZE - Kamila Czeslawa KULWICKA (POL) df. Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR), 11-0 

#WrestleTirana

U23 Worlds: Masoumi, Firouzpour add more age-group titles

By Vinay Siwach

Tirana, Albania (October 26) -- Two years after they won their first U23 world titles, Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) and Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) repeated as U23 world champions in 125kg and 92kg respectively in Tirana, Albania.

Now a six-time age-group world champion, Masoumi showed another dominant performance in the tournament, outscoring his opponents 41-0. A month ago, Masoumi won the U20 world title as well.

Carrying the injured left elbow, Masoumi faced U23 European champion Alen KHUBULOV (BUL) in the final on Saturday and won 11-0 with yet another masterclass in underhooks and aggressive wrestling. Khubulov struggled to find an opening as Masoumi kept an eye on his attempted underhooks.

The gold medal was the 20-year-old's sixth in the age-group World Championships and second at U23 level. However, he has Olympic silver medalist Amirhossein ZARE (IRI) as the biggest domestic competitor, and he will have to beat him next year to be Iran's representative on the senior team.

Iran's second gold as Firouzpour added his second U23 world title to take his total to five. Firouzpour gave up a takedown and turn against Jacob CARDENAS (USA) but looked in control of the 92kg final and won it 11-4.

Firouzpour, who had moved up to 97kg in a bid to be at the Paris Olympics, was back at 92kg at the start of this year and has won all the three tournaments he has participated in.

Defending his gold medal from last year was Bashir MAGOMEDOV (AIN) who defeated rising star from Azerbaijan Ruslan ABDULLAYEV (AZE) in the 61kg. The score was identical to his 4-0 win in the final last year.

"Final match is always different," Magomedov said. "Silver medal for me doesn’t mean anything. I was ready to die. I had a couple of attacks that were needed, scored the points and won the match. I’ve completed the plan that was given to me by my coach."

Abdullayev got on Magomedov's legs a couple of times but failed to finish his attacks. Magomedov, on the other hand, was in no hurry to finish the bout and took his own sweet time to win.

With two U23 gold medals in two years, Magomedov will be moving up to 65kg next season. However, gain weight still remains his biggest challenge.

"I am going to move up to the Olympic weight class of 65kg," he said. "However, my weight is just 66kg, that’s not enough. If I get to 67, 68kg, then I can think of moving to 65kg. I try to wrestle with everyone. Even if there is a chance to wrestle the Japanese guy, I would definitely do that. This kind of experience is very important."

A big result came at 86kg as Arslan BAGAEV (AIN) upgraded his bronze medal from last year to gold in a thrilling final against Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE). After a slow start to the final, Bagaev led 2-1 with two minutes remaining. However, Dzhioev scored a takedownand took a 3-2 lead and kept the pressure on. Dzhioev went for a double-leg attack in the zone but Bagaev countered him with lift and scored four points which were awarded only after Bagaev challenged.

That changed the flow of the bout as Dzhioev needed four points to win and did not get the opening to score any more points, suffering a 6-3 loss.

The win marked the first time Bagaev won a world title and he was relieved. 

"I competed three times at the age-group World Championship, but I couldn’t win in previous years," Bagaev said. "Finally, this year, I managed to win. I probably worked harder than anyone, and luck was on my side."

In the final, wrestling his friend and training partner Dzhioev made it emotional but Bagaev always believed that he will win the final.

"We almost train at the same gym," he said. "Everyone was waiting for this match. I knew I was going to win, I was wrestling till the very end. In the end, we both got a little bit emotional, but this is wrestling, everybody wants to win."

Takahashi's golden run

Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) pulled off one of the most incredible run at the U23 World Championships on one leg, literally. After getting injured against Mitchell MESENBRINK (USA), Takahashi had a heavy strapping on his knee.

In the final, Takahashi pulled out a takedown in the final minute of a tense final against Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ) and held on to a 3-1 lead to upgrade his bronze medal from last year to gold.

Takahashi led 1-0 at the break against Toktomambetov was called for passivity in the first period and he failed to score in the activity time. Toktomambetov took a 1-1 criteria lead after Takahashi was put on the activity clock in the second period.

Takahashi kept his attacks and the referee was about to warn Toktomambetov for a second passivity when Takahashi got his takedown on the edge and claimed the lead. He held on to the 3-1 lead, avoiding much contact with Toktomambetov.

How hurt Takahashi was could be judged by the fact that he failed to perform the victory lap with the flag. After he won, the Japan team cheered for Takahashi and was proud that he managed to win the gold medal on one knee.

"I'm very happy and relieved that I won," Takahashi said. "I'm a tackler. I was good at attacking wrestling, and my opponent was very defensive, but I thought I could break down that defense by wrestling like I normally do, so I just did what I always do."

Takahashi threw some light on his style and said that countering is the way of wrestling he has been following since he began the sport.

"What I love most is winning," he said. "I've been doing tackles and attacking wrestling since I was little, so it's fun and I like it when I can make a tackle on my opponent."

Takahashi is registered for the World Championships in Non-Olympic Weight Classes at 79kg but with an injured knee, it will be interesting to see if Takahashi goes on to compete. But if he does, he is ready to challenge the pros.

"In the 79kg weight class, my opponent will be a bit bigger and bigger," he said. "I'm looking forward to seeing how well my speed and attacking wrestling will work against that opponent."

RESULTS

61kg
GOLD: Bashir MAGOMEDOV (AIN) df. Ruslan ABDULLAYEV (AZE), 4-0

BRONZE: Abhishek DHAKA (IND) df. Mykyta ABRAMOV (UKR), 3-1
BRONZE: Ebrahim KHARI (IRI) df. Levik MIKAYELYAN (ARM), 4-3

74kg
GOLD: Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) df. Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ), 3-1

BRONZE: Mitchell MESENBRINK (USA) df. Magomedrasul ASLUEV (BRN), 6-0
BRONZE: Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) df. Ismail KHANIEV (AIN), 8-6

86kg
GOLD: Arslan BAGAEV (AIN) df. Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE), 6-3

BRONZE: Yudai TAKAHASHI (JPN) df. Joshua MORODION (GER), 9-2
BRONZE: Eugeniu MIHALCEAN (MDA) df. Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO), 6-5

92kg
GOLD: Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) df. Jacob CARDENAS (USA), 11-4

BRONZE: Ion DEMIAN (MDA) df. Fatih ALTUNBAS (TUR), via fall (8-6)
BRONZE: Mustafagadzhi MALACHDIBIROV (AIN) df. Musza ARSUNKAEV (HUN), 10-1

125kg
GOLD: Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) df. Alen KHUBULOV (BUL), 11-0

BRONZE: Volodymyr KOCHANOV (UKR) df. Aydin AHMADOV (AZE), 11-0
BRONZE: Abdulla KURBANOV (AIN) df. Lucas STODDARD (USA),

Semifinals

57kg
GOLD: Abdymalik KARACHOV (KGZ) vs. CHIRAG (IND)

SF 1: Abdymalik KARACHOV (KGZ) df. Ali MOMENI (IRI), 4-3
SF 2: CHIRAG (IND) df. Allan ORALBEK (KAZ), 8-0

65kg
GOLD: Kaiji OGINO (JPN) vs. Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (AIN)

SF 1: Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (AIN) df. Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB), 3-0
SF 2: Kaiji OGINO (JPN) df. Abbas EBRAHIM (IRI), 11-5

70kg
GOLD: Magomed KHANIEV (AZE) vs. Magomed ELTEMIROV (AIN)

SF 1: Magomed ELTEMIROV (AIN) df. Ali KHORRAMDEL (IRI), 5-3
SF 2: Magomed KHANIEV (AZE) df. SUJEET (IND), via fall (8-4)

79kg
GOLD: Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI) vs. Feng LU (CHN)

SF 1: Feng LU (CHN) df. Arsen BALAIAN (AIN), 4-2
SF 2: Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI) df. Masaki SATO (JPN), 12-1

97kg
GOLD: Mahdi HAJILOUEIAN (IRI) vs. Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ)

SF 1: Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) df. Shamil GADZHIALIEV (AIN), 7-2
SF 2: Mahdi HAJILOUEIAN (IRI) df. VICKY (IND), 11-8