#WrestleOttawa

Three Americans and Two Cubans Win Gold in Greco at #WrestleOttawa

By Taylor GREGORIO

OTTAWA, Canada – The United States won three of the night’s six gold medals on Friday night at the Pan American Championships in Ottawa, Canada.

The United States saw gold-medal performances from Max NOWRY (55kg), Raymond BUNKER (72 kg) and G’Angelo HANCOCK (97 kg).

Nowry (USA) faced Kieran AKHTAR (CAN) for the title. Nowry used three big moves to Akhtar, 10-0, in just 1:13. The victory marks Nowry’s second-consecutive Pan American Championships gold medal.

Claiming the title at 72 kg was Bunker who faced Joilson DE BRITO RAMOS JUNIOR (BRA) in the only match of the day contested at 72 kg.

Bunker trailed 2-0 at the break but went up late in the second period, drawing a passivity and a caution-and-two from de Brito to hang on for a 3-2 win.

In the finals at 97 kg, Hancock avenged a loss from earlier in the day against Gabriel ROSILLO KINDELAN (CUB).

The two wrestled in pool action in the morning session, where Rosillo won by pin. Being the top two athletes from their pools, Hancock and Rosillo advanced to opposite semifinals, and were eventually pitted against each other in the finals.

There, Hancock drew a passivity from Rosillo and capitalized in par terre, scoring two big throws for an eventual 10-0 win.

Cuba picked up two gold medals on Friday, winning at 67 kg and 130 kg.

2016 Olympic champion and two-time World champion Ismael BORRERO MOLINA (CUB) outscored his opponents 37-2 on the day.

In the finals, he cruised past Diego MARTINEZ de LEIJA (MEX), 11-2. Martinez scored first with a takedown on the edge, but Borrero stormed back, scoring 11 unanswered points for the technical fall victory and his sixth Pan Am Championships title.

In another Cuba vs. USA finals matchup, Angel PACHECO ROMERO (CUB) dominated 2018 World silver medalist Adam Coon in the gold bout.

Pacheco rattled off two takedowns and a gut wrench for an early 6-0 lead. The Cuban added two step outs for an 8-0 tech fall.

The final gold medal went to Ditcher TORO CASTANEDA (COL), who defeated Leslie FUENFFINGER (USA) in the 60 kg finals.

Toro went ahead quickly with a takedown and two gut wrenches. The USA challenged one of the guts, but it failed, giving Toro a 7-0 lead. To wrap up the bout, Toro hit a throw on the edge for two points and a 9-0 victory.

The win marks Toro’s first Pan Am gold at the Senior level. He also owns two Junior Pan Am titles.

Also of note at the same weight, Emerson FELIPE ORDONEZ (GUA) won a bronze medal. He was funded by the United World Wrestling Development Technical Assistance program, which allows athletes from developing countries the opportunities to compete at top-level events.

En Espanol                                                                           

OTTAWA, Canada – Los Estados Unidos gano tres de las seis medallas de oro en el primer día de competencia del Campeonato Panamericano en Ottawa, Canada. 


Los ganadores de la medalla de oro fueron, Max NOWRY (55 kg), Raymond BUNKER (72 kg) y G’Angelo HANCOCK (97 kg). 
 

En 55 kg, Nowry, ganó 10-0 contra Kieran AKHTAR (CAN), solo necesito 1:13 para realizar tres acciones de 4 puntos y asi ganar su segunda medalla de oro panamericana consecutiva.
 

El titulo en 72 kg fue para Bunker quien luchó contra Joilson DE BRITO RAMOS JUNIOR (BRA) en el único combate de la categoría. 
 

Bunker estaba perdiendo 2-0 después del primer periodo, pero anoto tres puntos en los dos minutos finales para finalizar el combate 3-2. 
 

En la final de 97 kg, Hancock se recupero de la derrota matutina ante Gabriel ROSILLO KINDELAN (CUB), Hancock lanzo a Rosillo dos veces, con lo que consolido la victoria 10-0. 
 

Cuba gano dos medallas de oro esta noche, reclamando los títulos en 67 kg y 130 kg. 
 

En 67 kg, el tres veces Campeonato mundial y olímpico Ismael BORRERO MOLINA (CUB) domino a la competición, superando a sus oponentes con 37 puntos a favor y solo 2 en contra.
 

En el final, Borrero derroto a Diego MARTINEZ de LEIJA (MEX); Martínez marco primero, pero Borrero anotó 11 puntos sin respuesta, para ganar su sexto título Panamericano con un marcador de 11-2.
 

En otro enfrentamiento final entre Cuba y Estados Unidos, Angel PACHECO ROMERO (CUB) dominó al medallista de plata mundial de 2018 Adam Coon y Anoto ocho puntos rápidamente para quedarse con la victoria por superioridad técnica. 
 

La ultima medalla de oro fue para Ditcher TORO CASTANEDA (COL), quien derrotó a Leslie FUENFFINGER (USA) en los 60 kg, con un marcador de 9-0. 
 

Esta victoria marca el primer oro Panamericano de Toro en la categoría Senior que se suma a sus dos títulos en Campeonatos Panamericanos Juveniles.
 

También en 60 kg, Emerson FELIPE ORDONEZ (GUA) ganó una medalla de bronce, quien participó gracias al programa de Asistencia Técnica del Departamento de Desarrollo de la United World Wrestling, que brinda a los atletas de países en desarrollo la oportunidad de competir en eventos de alto nivel.

FINALS RESULTS

55 kg
GOLD – Max NOWRY (USA)
SILVER – Kieran AKHTAR (CAN)
BRONZE – Sargis KHACHATRYAN (BRA)

60 kg
GOLD – Ditcher TORO CASTANEDA (COL) df. Leslie FUENFFINGER (USA), 9-0
BRONZE – Emerson FELIPE ORDONEZ (GUA) df. Marat GARIPOV (BRA), 4-3
BRONZE – Jancel PIMENTEL GONZALEZ (DOM) df. Miguel UGALDE AGUILAR (MEX), 8-0

67 kg
GOLD – Ismael BORREREO MOLINA (CUB) df. Diego MARTINEZ de LEIJA (MEX), 11-2
BRONZE – Alejandro SANCHO (USA) df. Julian HORTA ACEVEDO (COL), 10-0
BRONZE – Cristhian RIVAS CASTRO (ECU) df. Cristobal Alonso TORRES NUNEZ (CHI), 7-2

72 kg
GOLD – Raymond BUNKER (USA)
SILVER – Joilson DE BRITO RAMOS JUNIOR (BRA)

97 kg
GOLD - G’Angelo HANCOCK (USA) df. Gabriel ROSILLO KINDELAN (CUB), 10-0
BRONZE – Luillys Jose PEREZ MORA (VEN) df. Kevin MEJIA CASTILLO (HON), injury default

130 kg
GOLD – Angel PACHECO ROMERO (CUB) df. Adam COON (USA), 8-0
BRONZE – Moises PEREZ HELLBURG (VEN) df. Yasmani ACOSTA FERNANDEZ (CHI), injury default
BRONZE – Leo SANTANA HEREDIA (DOM) df. Luciano DEL RIO (ARG), 3-0

 

#WrestleTirana

U23 World Championships 2024: Best storylines in Tirana

By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (October 14) -- The U23 World Championships will kick off in Tirana next Monday with 661 wrestlers participating. Not only some returning champions are entered, but a few Paris 2024 Olympic wrestlers are also participating in the October 21-27 tournament.

Iran, which missed the tournament last year, will hopefully be there for the U23 World Championships.

Here are a few top storylines to follow from Tirana

Mitchell MESENBRINK (USA)Mitchell MESENBRINK (USA) is one of the favorites at 74kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Freestyle

- The 61kg defending champion Bashir MAGOMEDOV (AIN) will be the favorite for the gold medal. After winning the gold medal last year, Magomedov won the U23 European Championships this year. In the seven bouts in the two tournaments, Magomedov has won five bouts via technical superiorities. 

- Another returning champion is Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (AIN), defending his 65kg gold medal. Last year, Ibragimov gave up only one point in the tournament over five bouts. He is likely to dominate this year too. However, former U20 world champion Mohit KUMAR (IND) will look to avenge the semifinal loss to Ibragimov. Kumar failed to medal and finished fifth.

Another U20 world champion coming to Tirana is Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB). After winning the gold medal in Sofia in 2022, Jalolov is still trying to return to the top. He also suffered a back injury and recovery has been a tough road for him. He tried qualifying for the Paris Olympics but failed to do so. Bilol SHARIP UULU (KGZ) and Abdullah TOPRAK (TUR) will be in the medal run as well.

- Perhaps the most competitive category, the 74kg weight class will see Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE), Ali REZAEI (IRI), Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN), Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ) and Mitchell MESENBRINK (USA) among other stars. The last three U20 world champions are entered. Gadzhiev won the U20 gold in 2022, Mesenbrink in 2023 and Rezaei in 2024. Takahashi is the senior Asian champion and Toktomabetov is the U23 Asian champion.

- Unbeaten at the international level Ibragim KADIEV (AIN) will start as the favorite win the gold medal at 86kg. Kadiev has two U20 world titles, including the 2024 edition. Former U20 world champion Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) will be hoping for a successful run at the U23 level. Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO), who won bronze last year and participated in the Paris Olympics is competing as well.

- Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) will be in Albania for his third U23 World Championships. He won bronze in 2021 and gold in 2022. He will be the favorite for the gold with Mustafagadzhi MALACHDIBIROV (AIN) offering competition. Malachdibirov won the gold medal at the U20 World Championships this year.

- 92kg world champion Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) continues his successful run at 97kg and will be competing for the U23 world title. He won the U20 World Championships gold in September and this will be his second U23 World Championships, having finishing fifth in 2022.

Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR)Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR), a former world silver medalist, will be returning to international after more than a year. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Martin Gabor)

Women's Wrestling

- Defending champion at 50kg Umi ITO (JPN) will be in action after one year. Ito has been behind Yui SUSAKI (JPN) and Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) domestically but has been a force at the international level. She is yet to lose a bout and has won U17, U20 and U23 world titles.

- The return of Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) will be a big news in Tirana. She last competed at the European Championships in 2023 and finished second. However, she has been nursing an injury for the last one year. She competed at the Valamar Cup and won the gold medal. But she will be test in Tirana as Paris Olympian and European champion Emma MALMGREN (SWE) is also competing.

- Irina RINGACI (MDA) will look to defend the gold medal at 65kg. She will also look to put her disappointing campaign at the Paris Olympics where she finished 10th. This will be her fourth U23 World Championships, the first being in 2019. She has two bronze medals and one gold medal.

- Ami ISHII (JPN) will be hoping to win her second career world title. She won the U20 gold in 2022 but finished second at the senior level. She won the Paris Olympic quota for Japan but failed to win the playoff in Japan as Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) beat her. She will be competing at 68kg.

- Croatia's first-ever world champion in wrestling, Veronika VILK (CRO) will be competing at her first U23 World Championships. Volk created history in 2023 when she won the U17 World Championships gold medal, becoming first wrestling world champion in Croatian history.

Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI)Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) defeated Riza KAYAALP (TUR) in June. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Greco-Roman

- The only Paris Olympic medalist competing in Tirana is Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN). The bronze medalist at 87kg will be in Tirana hoping to win his first world title at any level. He will be in a strong field with U23 world champion at 82kg Aues GONIBOV (AIN) moving up to 87kg. Former U20 world champion Vigen NAZARYAN (ARM), Joju SAMADOV (AZE),  Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO), Yasin Ali YAZDI (IRI), Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) and Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) also competing.

- The 130kg weight class may throw some interesting competition. Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI), who defeated Riza KAYAALP (TUR) in Budapest in June, will be the favorite to win the gold medal. However, Mykhailo VYSHNYVETSKYI (UKR), who defeated Hedayati in the 2022 U20 World Championships final, is also competing. Last year, Pavel HLINCHUK (AIN) won the gold medal at 97kg but is moving up to 130kg, a weight class he won a Paris Olympic quota as well. Muhammet BAKIR (TUR) will also be a big medal threat.