#WrestleAcapulco, #WrestleParis

Seven nations earn Paris 2024 Greco spots at Pan-Am Qualifiers; Julfalakyan falls short

Thursday, February 29, 2024 - 05:41 By Gaurav Bhatt

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ACAPULCO, Mexico (February 28) -- World champion and 2012 London Olympic silver medalist Arsen JULFALAKYAN's (ARG) quest for his fourth Olympics has fallen short, at least for now.

Julkafalyan, who made the switch from Armenia to Argentina, lost his quarterfinal to Kamal BEY (USA) at the Pan-American Olympic Qualifiers in Acapulco, Mexico only to see Bey lose his semifinal, the Paris Olympics qualification bout, later. 

The opening day of the tournaments saw competitors across six Greco-Roman Olympic weight classes take the mat in a bid to secure a spot for their nations for the upcoming Paris Olympics. The top two wrestlers, or the winners of the semifinals, in each of the 60kg, 67kg, 77kg, 87kg, 97kg and 130kg weight classes earn a ticket for Paris.

The spotlight initially fell on Julfalakyan. Despite his decorated past and a silver at the Henri Deglane Grand Prix last month, the 36-year-old faced a tough challenge, bowing out in a closely contested 4-2 quarterfinal against Bey. He took the lead but failed to keep up with Bey in the second period.

Bey, a favorite coming into the qualifiers, then lost the semifinal to reigning Pan-Am champion Jair CUERO (COL), 6-4, despite finishing the first period with a 4-0 lead. The Colombian kickstarted his comeback with a sweet counter to a shooting Bey before pulling off two two-point moves. The two had previously met in another tight contest last week in the Pan-Am Championships final, where Cuero held criteria.

In the other semifinal, three-time Pan-American champion Yosvanys PENA (CUB) beat Joilson RAMOS (BRA) 11-1. Pena represented Cuba in the 77kg category at the Tokyo Olympics as well.

The 87kg category witnessed an upset as well with Daniel Gregorich (CUB), a three-time Pan-Am champ, losing his semifinal to Spencer WOODS (USA). Gregorich took a 3-0 lead with a takedown and then a par terre. But as he tried a roll, he got stuck under Woods who held him in danger to earn two points.

Woods — who won the Pan-Am Championships gold last year at 82kg before moving up a division — took a 6-3 win after Gregorich was called for a leg foul when Woods was performing a lift in the second period.

Carlos MUNOZ (COL) decisively beat Luis AVENDANO (VEN) 11-1 in the other semifinal to earn a Paris quota. Munoz countered an arm spin from Avendano to score two points and then lifted him for two more. Avendano was called for a leg foul which gave Munoz a 6-0 lead. He then tried to double-arm throw but fell on his own back to get 4 points.

The United States would have expected a Paris ticket at 67kg from Alejandro SANCHO (USA) but the Pan-Am champion lost the semifinal to Nestor ALMANZA (CHI) 6-1. Sancho — who finished third at his first Pan-Am Championships in 2020 and then secured the 67kg quota for the U.S. at the Olympic qualifier the same week that year — couldn't repeat the success.

The 21-year-old Chilean Almanza, who lost to Sancho in the Pan-Am Championships semifinal last week, dramatically avenged that loss. As Sancho tried to throw him from par terre in the second period, Almanza landed on top and sat on Sancho as the referee called the pin.

The other semifinal saw a battle between former Pan-Am champion and Olympians. Andres MONTANO (ECU), the runner-up from last week, narrowly edged out Julian HORTA (COL) 2-1, to secure a berth in the Paris Games at 67kg.

In the 97kg category, Kevin MEJIA (HON) continued his impressive form, securing a 10-0 victory over Carlos ADAMES (DOM). The three-time Pan-Am champion, who struck gold last week, dispatched his opponent with 15 seconds left in the first period. 

Alan VERA (USA), who finished runner-up at the Pan-Am Championships last week, also clinched his Olympic berth with a solid 7-1 win against Luillys PEREZ (VEN).

The heavyweight 130kg class played out as expected, with veteran Yasmani ACOSTA (CHI) and Cohlton SCHULTZ (USA) clinching the Olympic berths. 

In a six-man bracket, the wrestlers were divided into groups of three. Acosta emerged as the top wrestler to set up a semifinal against Eduard SOGHOMONYAN (BRA) while Schultz topped the other group to get Moises PEREZ (VEN) in the semifinal.

Acosta got the first par terre and rolled Shoghomonyan twice to lead 5-0 which he held till the clock expired to earn the Paris quota. The 35-year-old Cuba-born naturalized Chilean previously finished fifth at the Tokyo Olympics.

Schultz, who had two pins in two bouts in the group, beat Perez 2-1 as he scored stepout at the start of the second period to lead 2-0. Perez got the passivity point with a minute 37 seconds left but failed to score any more points.

In the 60kg category, Raiber RODRIGUEZ (VEN) showcased his dominance with a convincing 9-1 victory over Dicther TORO (COL). The 2016 Olympian had won the Pan-Am gold last week. Kevin DE ARMAS (CUB) clinched the second birth with a 10-0 rout of Yerony LIRIA (DOM) in the semifinal. The Cuban also defeated top seed Ildar HAFIZOV (USA), who skipped the Pan-Ams to prepare for the qualifiers.

The qualifiers will continue with six Women's Wrestling weight classes, beginning at 1000 hours local time and Paris qualification semifinals scheduled for 1700 hours local time.

dfg

RESULST

60kg Paris Qualifying Semifinals

SF 1: Jose OROZCO (VEN) df. Hans TORO (COL), 9-1
SF 2: Kevin DE ARMAS (CUB) df. Liria YERONY (DOM), 10-0

67kg Paris Qualifying Semifinals

SF 1: Andres MONTANO (ECU) df. Julian HORTA (COL), 2-1 
SF 2: Almanza NESTOR EVIAN (CHI) df. Alejandro SANCHO (USA), via fall (6-1)

77kg Paris Qualifying Semifinals

SF 1: Flores PENA (CUB) df. Joilson RAMOS (BRA), 11-1
SF 2: Jair CUERO (COL) df. Kamal BEY (USA), 6-4

87kg Paris Qualifying Semifinals

SF 1: Carlos MUNOZ (COL) df. Luis ROJAS (VEN), 11-1
SF 2: Spencer WOODS (USA) df. Daniel GREGORICH (CUB), 6-3

97kg Paris Qualifying Semifinals

SF 1: Alan VERA (USA) df. Jose PEREZ MORA (VEN), 7-1
SF 2: Kevin MEJIA (HON) df. Adames Palmer CARLOS ALBERTO (DOM), 10-0

130kg Paris Qualifying Semifinals

SF 1: Yasmani ACOSTA (CHI) df. Eduard SOGHOMONYAN (BRA), 5-0
SF 2: Cohlton SCHULTZ (USA) df. Moises PEREZ HELLBURG (VEN), 2-1

#WrestleSamokov

U20 World Championships 2025 Day 5 Highlights

Thursday, August 21, 2025 - 06:49 By Vinay Siwach

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SAMOKOV, Bulgaria (August 20) -- The U20 World Championships will continue with Women's Wrestling in 50kg, 53kg and 72kg. Greco-Roman will begin with 60kg and 82kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 4 RESULTS

The semifinals will begin at 16:45 hours local time

14:00: SHRUTI (IND) with another tough defense in the final 20 seconds to claim a 4-0 win over Anna YATSKEVYCH (POL) and reach the semifinals at 50kg. She will face Audrey JIMINEZ (USA).

13:50: Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN) with a reverse throw for four from par terre for a 5-0 lead against Martin SHISHEKOV (BUL) in the 82kg quarterfinal. Yoshida finishes the bout with a 6-0 win.

13:45: Audrey JIMINEZ (USA) with a takedown masterclass as she beats Na HU (CHN) 10-0 to enter the semifinals at 50kg. She will take on Diana RYSOVA (UKR) for a place in the gold-medal bout. 

13:40: European U20 champion Aykhan JAVADOV (AZE) gives nothing away and has an easy 8-2 win over Omer ALTAS (TUR) as Javadov enters the 60kg semifinals. He will take on Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO).

13:36: Mikhail SHKARIN (UWW), 2024 world U17 champion, with his serious gut-wrench hands Azimjon SOATULLAEV (UZB) an easy defeat and enters the 82kg semifinals.

13:31: 2024 world U17 bronze medalist Yurik MKHITARYAN (ARM) with two four-pointers in his 11-2 victory over Maksut SULTANOV (UKR) at 60kg. He will face SURAJ (IND) in the semifinals.

13:30: Former world U17 champion and Asian U20 champion SURAJ (IND) with a 3-1 victory over returning bronze medalist Papik DZHAVADIAN (UWW) at 60kg. Suraj with a correct throw for two points from par terre to win the bout.

13:28: Returning silver medalist at 72kg Yuqi LIU (CHN) gets a 10-0 victory over Kristina BRATCHIKOVA (UWW) and reach the semifinals in which she will face Haticenur SARI (TUR)

13:27: Rinka OGAWA (JPN) with a fall over Songul KAVAK (TUR) in 22 seconds to reach the 50kg semifinals. Ogawa is looking to add a U20 world title to her 2023 world U17 gold.

13:24: Asian U20 champion Dias SEITKALIYEV (KAZ) gets the par terre advantage in the first period and turns PRINCE (IND) three times from par terre to win 8-0 and advance to the 82kg semifinals

13:20: Martik PETROSYAN (ARM) gets a huge headlock throw for four points in the second period to beat Seyed AZARSHAB (IRI) 7-3 and enter the semifinal at 82kg. Second loss for Iran in Greco-Roman 

13:13: KAJAL (IND) earns herself a place in the 72kg semifinals against defending champion Jasmine ROBINSON (USA) after a 7-0 victory over Kaiyrkul SHARSHEBAEVA (KGZ).

13:05: Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO) gets a stepout with 30 seconds left on the clock to beat Kubanych ARINOV (KGZ) 4-4 on criteria at 60kg. Lolua was down 4-3 with more than one minute left in the match but managed to score the match-winning stepout.

13:02: 2023 world U17 champion Natsumi MASUDA (JPN) has little trouble in seeing off  Kseniya KOSTSENICH (UWW), the European U20 champion at 50kg. Just a takedown masterclass to win 10-2

12:58: A 16-second 10-0 technical superiority win for Audrey JIMINEZ (USA) over Adriana DANISEVICIUTE (LTU) at 50kg. Jiminez is a multiple time age-group world medalist but is still searching for the gold medal.

12:56: A second fall in three bouts for defending champion Jasmine ROBINSON (USA) as she jumps over Veronika VILK (CRO) and keeps her back on the mat to secure the fall and enter the 72kg semifinals.

12:55: Rinka OGAWA (JPN) and Josephine WRENSCH (GER) had to wait three hours since the start of the action today. Ogawa had built a 9-0 lead before securing the fall over Wrensch and win at 50kg

12:50: Rematch of European U20 Championships final at 53kg as gold medalist Anastasiia POLSKA (UKR) clashes with Ilona VALCHUK (POL). Valchuk is the first to strike with a takedown on the edge for two points. But Polska scores a takedown and turn for 4-2 lead. Valchuk cautioned and bout restarts in par terre and Polska turns her two more times for a 9-2 lead. Just before the break, a takedown and another turn for 13-2 victory for Polska. 

12:35: Na HU (CHN) with a huge under-over arm throw to plant Sviatlana KATENKA (UWW) and gets the fall to enter 50kg quarterfinal.

12:22: At 60kg, European U20 champion and 2024 U17 world champion Aykhan JAVADOV (AZE) with a 10-0 technical superiority win over Kacper SOBCZYK (POL). He used the gut-wrench to turn him

12:20: Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN) with an 9-0 technical superiority win over Omer ILDES (TUR) at 82kg. He controls Ildes and plants him on the mat for four outside the zone. He scores a takedown and turn to win 8-0. Turkiye challenge only to lose one more point.

12:17: European U20 champion Mikhail SHKARIN (UWW) with a technical superiority win over Elmin ALIYEV (AZE) at 82kg. Shkarin looked in complete control.

12:15: Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO), a senior European bronze medalist at 55kg, gets three turns from par terre and he downs Danila CHARAPENKA (UWW) 8-0, at 60kg in Samokov.

12:12: Papik DZHAVADIAN (UWW), a returning bronze medalist at 60kg, hands Isaiah CORTEZ (USA) a 8-5 defeat. Cortez was a silver medalist at 55kg last year but cannot match Dzhavadian in this bout

12:05: Omer ALTAS (TUR) with a takedown in the final minute after being down 2-1 to beat Amin ABDEVALI (IRI) at 60kg. First loss for Iran in Greco-Roman.

11:55: Pedro DE SOUZA (BRA) fails to hold on to his 6-1 lead in the second period against SURAJ (IND) and drops his 60kg Greco-Roman 1/8 bout 8-6. Suraj did not get any par terre but scored a takedown and got four when De Souza tried to throw him.

11:50: At 50kg, European U20 champion Anastasiia POLSKA (UKR) pins Liliana KAPUVARI (HUN) and advances to the quarterfinals in which she will face Ilona VALCHUK (POL)

11:45: SAARIKA (IND), Asian U20 champion, works to an controlled 10-0 win against European U20 bronze medalist Sevval CAYIR (TUR) at 53kg and enter the quarterfinals.

11:40: A 15-4 victory for KAJAL (IND) after she survives a big four-point throw from Emili APOSTOLOVA (BUL) at 72kg. Kajal managed to compose herself and worked for a technical superiority win. Kajal is a former world U17 champion and won silver medal at 73kg at this year's World U17 Championships.

11:35: Veronika VILK (CRO), the country's first-ever world champion in Women's Wrestling at any level, starts with a fall over Meiramgul MAKSOT (KAZ) at 72kg.

11:25: Yuqi LIU (CHN), the returning silver medalist at 72kg, begins her campaign with a 10-0 technical superiority win over Zahra KARIMZADA (AZE). Leg lace for the win.

11:20: Jasmine ROBINSON (USA) with a 34-second fall over Ai SAKAI (JPN) at 72kg as she moves into the quarterfinals. Sakai with a double-leg but Robinson with a lat drop and fall. Robinson is looking even more dominant than last year.

11:00: Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN) starts his run for a U20 world title with a victory over Szabolcs SZINAY (HUN). Yoshida is a former U17 world champion and senior Asian champion but finished with a bronze at the World U20 Championships last year. Yoshida and Szinay scored stepouts but the Japanese scored a takedown and side suplex for four points. Hungary challenge for a foul but there is non. A stepout in the second period and Yoshida wins 9-1.

10:45: Amin ABDEVALI (IRI) with a takedown and six three turns to win 8-0 against Dragos DRAGA (ROU) at 82kg.

10:35: Papik DZHAVADIAN (UWW) gets both par terre advantages in his opening bout against Takuma NAKASHIMA (JPN) at 60kg and scores from both to win 5-0.

10:30: Returning silver medalist Isaiah CORTEZ (USA) with a big headlock and four against Kristin PETROV (BUL) to secure the fall at 60kg.

10:20: Defending champion at 72kg Jasmine ROBINSON (USA) wastes no time in finishing her opening bout against Elvira ERSSON (SWE) with a lace and a double-leg for four. She is the favorite to win gold again

10:15: In the first bout at Greco-Roman 60kg, Asian U20 champion and former world U17 champion SURAJ (IND) rallies in the second period to score six turns after a takedown to beat Salamat MURATULY (KAZ)