#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

 

#WrestleZagreb

Valiev outsmarts Sidakov again to reach Worlds final

By Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (September 14) -- For five minutes and 50 seconds in both the 74kg semifinals, there was little indication that the results will change. But 10 seconds were enough for Chermen VALIEV (ALB) and Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) to change the outcome.

Valiev was down 4-2 against Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW) but managed to elevate the latter's leg from an attack before tripping him on the edge for a two-point takedown, taking a 4-4 criteria lead with three seconds remaining.

Sidakov tried a desperate attack but gave up another takedown even in that short time as Valiev reached his first-ever World Championships final on debut in Zagreb, Croatia.

Takahashi was down 4-1 against Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) but the Japanese scored a takedown and turned Salkazanov through a gut-wrench to lead 5-4. He still had 6 seconds to defend and he managed to do it with ease. Slovakia challenged for fleeing from Takahashi but that was lost which added an additional point to make it 6-4.

Valiev and Takahashi, both with clutch wins, will now clash in the 74kg final for the world title on Monday.

Three other weight classes were also in action on Sunday and the United States was the only country to put two wrestlers in the finals -- Levi HAINES (USA) at 79kg and Trent HIDLAY (USA) at 92kg.

Haines, who stunned world champion Akhmed USMANOV (UWW) in the quarterfinals, scored a controlled 4-1 victory over Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL) in the semifinals. Olonbayar got the first point via passivity of Haines but the U.S. wrestler scored a counter exposure for two points and take a 2-1 lead.

He scored a ankle pick for another two-point takedown and defended his 4-1 lead for the win and reach the final, a surprise in a tough 79kg bracket.

On Monday, he will try to stop Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) from becoming Greece's first-ever wrestling world champion in history. The European champion from Greece showed some of the most high-paced wrestling in the semifinal against world silver medalist Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) to win 8-3.

Nokhodi, was often stood squared-up, had no answered to Kougioumtsidis' constant attacks as the Greece wrestlers led 6-3 at the break. He scored a single-leg takedown in the second period and won 8-3.

Hidlay, who has switched levels in his career this year, reached the final at 92kg after destroying world silver medalist Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE), 15-4, in the semifinals.

Nurmagomedov was in the match when the score was 5-4 with 2:23 left but Hidlay switch gears since, scoring a go-behind, a feet-to-back four-pointer and a takedown to finish with a technical superiority win.

He will face Amanula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (UWW) for the gold medal after Gadzhimagomedov managed to hold off Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) for an 11-6. Firouzpour, who had multiple age-group world titles, kept shooting for Gadzhimagomedov's legs but the UWW wrestler kept countering those attack with lift exposures.

Gadzhimagomedov then sealed the win with stepout, handing him a 9-6 lead and a takedown finishing the match 11-6.

Harutyunyan pinned after Lee heroics

Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) undoubtedly had the most impressive win of the morning session when he defeated Olympic silver medalist Spencer LEE (USA) 14-3 in the quarterfinals.

The win put Harutyunyan as the favorite to advance to the final at 57kg. However, Asian champion Chongsong HAN (PRK) had different ideas. He hit a lateral drop on Harutyunyan in the semifinals and secured a fall to enter the final. Han is the first Freestyle wrestler from the DPR Korea to enter the final in 11 years.

Han will now try to become a world champion when he takes on Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ) in the 57kg final after the Kyrgyz wrestler took it to Paris Olympic bronze medalist Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB), winning 8-0.

Abdullaev seemed to have burnt out from the earlier matches and had little fight left in him as Almaz Uulu scored points at his will in the semifinals including four stepouts.

RESULTS

57kg
GOLD: Chongsong HAN (PRK) vs. Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ)

SF 1: Chongsong HAN (PRK) df. Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM), via fall
SF 2: Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ) df. Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB), 8-0

74kg
GOLD: Chermen VALIEV (ALB) vs. Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN)

SF 1: Chermen VALIEV (ALB) df. Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW), 6-4
SF 2: Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) df. Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK), 6-4

79kg
GOLD: Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) vs. Levi HAINES (USA)

SF 1: Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) df. Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI), 8-3
SF 2: Levi HAINES (USA) df. Suldkhuu OLONBAYAR (MGL), 4-1

92kg
GOLD: Trent HIDLAY (USA) vs. Amanula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (UWW)

SF 1: Trent HIDLAY (USA) df. Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE), 15-4
SF 2:  Amanula GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (UWW) df. Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI), 9-6