#BudaWrestle2018

Sidakov Stuns Burroughs and Chamizo; Deng Notches One for China

Saturday, October 20, 2018 - 17:52 By Eric Olanowski

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BUDAPEST, Hungry (October 20) – On a day that saw three Olympic champions stumble it was youngsters from Russia and Georgia who proved to be the stabilizing antidote to chaos on the first day of wrestling at the 2018 Wrestling World Championships at the Papps Laszlo SportArena in Budapest.

Leading the way for Russia were wunderkinds Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (57kg) and Zaurbek SIDAKOV (74), both only 22 years old. While Rashidov was dominant throughout the day, Sidakov had arguably the toughest road to the finals, needing to defeat four-time world champion and Olympic champion Jordan BURROUGHS in the quarterfinals and then defeated two-time world champion Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) in the semifinals.

The Georgian effort was spearheaded by defending world champion Geno PATRIASHVILI (125kg) who battled through back-to-back tense matches with Anzor KHIZRIEV (RUS) and Parviz HADI (IRI) to earn his second straight trip to the world finals. His finals compatriot, Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO), 22, breezed through the semifinals, earning a chest lock and fall in the second period against 2018 European Champion Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR).

DENG Zhiwei made history at 125kg, becoming the first freestyle wrestler from China to make the world finals. 

“I’m always having dreams about wrestling, and I’ve dedicated my life to the sport for the past 16 years…Now I get to bring honor to my country,” said Deng. 

Russia would have placed a third in tomorrow night’s finals were it not for an unlikely series of comebacks by David TAYLOR (USA). The fast-paced, rubber-kneed American had a career day, starting with an 11-6 decision over 2016 Olympic Champion Hassan YAZDANICHARATI (IRI). Taylor trailed 6-2 at the end of the first period before rattling off nine unanswered points to earn the win. 

Taylor faced Dauren KURUGLIEV (RUS) the semifinals, where early in the match he took a swinging heel to the lower jaw, unbalancing him and briefly stopping the match. Rattled, but undeterred, Taylor fought on, but trailed 5-1 heading into the second period. But as he did against Yazdanicharati, Taylor found another level and immediately began attacking, eventually securing three takedowns and a pushout for the 7-5 victory. 

After the match, Taylor said, “I’d trade a kick in the face for a world championship any day.”  He then dedicated his victory to a training partner and teammate who was severely injured last month during a training session in the United States.

“Perry Strong. Strong like Rich Perry. He’s a fighter.” said Taylor. 

Yowlys BONNE RODRIGUEZ (CUB) throws Joseph COLON (USA) in the 61kg world semifinals. (Photo by Max Rose-Fyne) 

When fan-favorite and two-time world bronze medalist BONNE-RODRIGUEZ (CUB) made his international debut at the 2005 Pan-American Championships, Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (RUS) was only 9 years old. 

They’ll meet tomorrow night for the 61kg gold medal.

Sunday night’s finals will be the first time that the 34 year old Cuban has made a gold-medal bout, while Rashidov is looking to rebound from his silver medal performance from last year's World Championships.  

Tomorrow’s wrestling action starts at 10:30 am with championship action in 57kg, 65kg, 79, g and 92kg along with repechage from today’s weight categories. 

Finals will start at 7 pm local.

RESULTS 

61kg 
GOLD - Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (RUS) vs. Yowlys BONNE RODRIGUEZ (CUB)

SEMIFINAL - Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (RUS) df. Beka LOMTADZE (GEO), 10 - 0
SEMIFINAL - Yowlys BONNE RODRIGUEZ (CUB) df. Joseph Daniel COLON (USA), 9-4

74kg 
GOLD - Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS) vs. Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO)

SEMIFINAL - Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) df. Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR), 8 - 1
SEMIFINAL - Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS) df. Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ (ITA), 3-2 

86kg
GOLD - David Morris TAYLOR III (USA) vs. Fatih ERDIN (TUR)

SEMIFINAL - David Morris TAYLOR III (USA) df. Dauren KURUGLIEV (RUS), 7 - 5
SEMIFINAL - Fatih ERDIN (TUR) df. Taimuraz FRIEV NASKIDAEVA (ESP)

125kg 
GOLD - Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) vs. Zhiwei DENG (CHN)

SEMIFINAL - Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) df. Parviz Khodavirdi HADIBASMANJ (IRI), 13 - 6
SEMIFINAL - Zhiwei DENG (CHN) df. Sumit SUMIT (IND)

#WrestleBudapest

Maroulis golden in Budapest; India wins two Ranking Series golds

Friday, July 18, 2025 - 23:55 By Vinay Siwach

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 18) -- Three pins, zero points given and only 10 minutes spend on the mat for four bouts.

Helen MAROULIS (USA) did not show any signs of a one-year break from international wrestling and won the 57kg gold medal at the Budapest Ranking Series on Friday.

The three-time Olympic medal had not wrestled since winning the bronze-medal at the Paris Games but when she stepped on the mat in Budapest, it felt as if Maroulis was never off it.

Maroulis was the lone gold medalist from the United States among the five World Championships team members competing on Friday. India captured two of the five gold medals on offer in Women's Wrestling as ANTIM (IND) won her second straight Ranking Series gold at 53kg while Asian U20 champion HARSHITA (IND) rose above her level to beat three-time world silver medalist Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) at 72kg.

Hosts Hungary also managed to get a gold, its third-ever in Women's Wrestling at Ranking Series events, as Erika BOGNAR (HUN) defeated Elena BRUGGER (GER) in the 59kg final. Turkiye won the 50kg gold medal through Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR).

Maroulis, who was coached by Paris Olympic champion Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA), drew compatriot Amanda MARTINEZ (USA) in the first round. She had beaten Martinez at the Final X last month to make the World Championships team.

It took Maroulis some time to pick up pace but once she did, the bout was over in two minutes as she pinned Martinez using her signature arm-bar technique.

In the only match she failed to pin her opponent, Maroulis defeated Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Iryna KURACHKINA (UWW), 7-0, keeping her position as solid as possible. In the semifinals, Tamara DOLLAK (HUN) was pinned using the same arm-bar after an 11-0 lead to reach the final.

Neha SANGWAN (IND), world U20 bronze medalist and Mongolia Open winner, reached the other side of the bracket with good wins. She got the taste of elite wrestling when Maroulis foot-swept her on the mat and then secured the fall in just 31 seconds.

Maroulis did her punch in the air celebrations after the final and felt ready for the World Championships in September when she can win her fourth world title.

Twin golds for India

Antim and Harshita were the two gold medal winners for India, the only country to achieve two golds on Friday in Women's Wrestling.

Antim picked up from where she had left off in Ulaanbaatar and won three of her four bouts via technical superiority including a 10-0 opening round victory over Zeynep YETGIL (TUR). Antim had lost 10-0 to Yetgil in the first round of Paris Olympics and left the mat in tears.

But Budapest was entirely different as she did not even let Yetgil reach her legs, forget scoring points on her. In the semifinal, she blanked Felicity TAYLOR (USA), 10-0, and booked a place in final against Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW).

In Ulaanbaatar, Antim had beaten Malysheva twice, both via technical superiority. While the final did not go how she planned, Antim still beat Malysheva 7-4 to win the gold medal for India.

Malysheva was on the activity clock after avoided a few attacks from Antim who scored a takedown soon after the activity period to lead 3-0 in the final. But she got a misdirection takedown in the second period to cut the lead to 3-2.

Antim performance a slide to go-behind and score another takedown and stretch the lead to 5-2. An ankle pick made it 7-2 before a last-second takedown from Malysheva cut the lead to 7-4.

But Antim would the win, two months before the World Championships where she is already has a bronze medal.

Harshita was a little more dominant at 72kg as she won gold over Bakbergenova by blanking the Kazakhstan wrestlers 10-0 in the Round 5 bout as this weight class had five wrestlers.

She opened the day with a fall over Pauline LECARPENTIER (FRA) in the first round. Lecarpentier was not happy with the fall and pushed Harhista as the Indian was trying to stand up after the whistle. Lecarpentier was disqualified for her actions.

Harshita was unfazed by that incident and continued her progress, winning the next bout against Kseniia BURAKOVA (UWW), again via fall. She got a walkover by Kristina BRATCHIKOVA (UWW) in Round 4.

The Round 5 bout against Bakbergenova became a virtual final and Harshita was the underdog against the former Asian champion.

Bakbergenova was put on the activity clock and after getting the one point, Harshita scored a double-leg takedown to make it 3-0. In the second period, Harshita got Bakbergenova in trouble using a double-leg attack but the Kazakhstan wrestler throw her using chest-wrap. Harshita defended it well and kept control on Bakbergenova which ultimately got her four points.

In the same sequence, Harshita rolled Bakbergenova for two more points to lead 9-0. A stepout finished the bout 10-0.

Hosts Hungary celebrated the gold medal at 59kg after Bognar defeated Brugger 2-1 in the 59kg final, with all three points begin activity clock points. Brugger got a passivity against her t o give Bognar the lead. Brugger took a 1-1 criteria lead when Bognar was called passive and put on the activity clock.

There was third passivity it was Brugger who was put on an activity clock. She once again failed to score and Bognar took a 2-1 lead and the victory.

Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) needed a late counterattack against Elizaveta SMIRNOVA (UWW) to win 50kg gold medal.

RESULSTS

50kg
GOLD: Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) df. Elizaveta SMIRNOVA (UWW), 9-6

BRONZE: Natalia PUDOVA (UWW) df. Erin GOLSTON (USA), 10-0
BRONZE: NEELAM (IND) df. Kseniya STANKEVICH (UWW), 6-3

53kg
GOLD: ANTIM (IND) df. Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW), 7-4

BRONZE: Felicity TAYLOR (USA) df. Zeynep YETGIL (TUR), 11-0
BRONZE: Seoyoung PARK (KOR) df. Vestina DANISEVICIUTE (LTU), 5-0

57kg
GOLD:  Helen MAROULIS (USA) df. NEHA (IND), via fall

BRONZE: Nilufar RAIMOVA (KAZ) df. Roza SZENTTAMASI (HUN), 7-4
BRONZE: Iryna KURACHKINA (UWW) df. Tamara DOLLAK (HUN), 10-3

59kg
GOLD: Erika BOGNAR (HUN) df. Elena BRUGGER (GER), 2-1

BRONZE: Nadzeya BULANAYA (UWW) df. Arian CARPIO (PHI), via fall
BRONZE: Abigail NETTE (USA) df. Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (UWW), 7-1

72kg
GOLD: HARSHITA (IND)
SIILVER: Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ)
BRONZE: Kseniia BRATCHIKOVA (UWW)