#DanKolov2019

United States and Ukraine Grab Lead Heading into Final Day

Saturday, March 2, 2019 - 19:26 By Eric Olanowski

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RUSE, Bulgaria (March 2) - The United States, on the back of their four-time world and Olympic champion Jordan BURROUGHS (USA), gained the 20 point advantage over the Russian Federation heading into the fourth and final day of competition at the Dan Kolov.  

Burroughs outlasted Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB) in the battle of reigning world bronze medalists and won the 74kg title. 

The American put the first points on the board, countering a shot attempt from Abdurakhmonov and gained control of the 2-0 lead. Burroughs surrendered a takedown but closed out the first period with a step out of his own, and led 3-2. In the second period, the Olympic champion scored an early step out and increased his lead to 4-2.  Burroughs gave up a fleeing the hold call with under 10 seconds left, but his one-point advantage was enough to give the United States their second Dan Kolov freestyle gold medal.   

The United States also had a second finalist in Jordan OLIVER. Oliver took on India’s returning world finalist Bajrang PUNIA in the 65kg gold-medal bout. The pair were even after the first period, but the Indian wrestler erupted for nine unanswered points in the final period to win the match, 12-3. 

Georgia’s Beka BUJIASHVILI (GEO) won the last freestyle gold medal of the day. In the 57kg finals, Bujiashvili upset returning world medalist and third-ranked Suleyman ATLI (TUR), 6-4.

In women's wrestling, Ukraine gained the 16 point lead over Turkey, thanks to reigning world bronze medalist Yuliia TKACH OSTAPCHUK's gold-medal performance in the 62kg finals. 

In the finals, the 2014 world champion prevailed over reigning world champion Taybe YUSEIN (BUL), 4-2, and captured her third Ranking Series title in the past two seasons. She also won the last year’s Poland and China Open’s, while also finishing in second place at the Klippan Lady Open. 

Tkach Ostapchuk, the four-time world medalist, led 3-0 after collecting an inactivity point in the first and high crotch in the second. But, she found herself fighting off a late flurry of attacks - one of which Yusein capitalized on and closed the gap to 3-2. A failed Bulgarian challenge with under 10 second left gave Tkach Ostapchuk a two-point cushion, and ultimately, the 4-2 victory. 

Turkey sits in second place heading into the final day of wrestling in Ruse. Yasemin ADAR, Turkey's 2017 world champion, scored a fall over China's Paliha PALIHA (CHN) in the 76kg gold-medal bout and handed Turkey their second gold medal of the Dan Kolov. 

Tamyra MENSAH-Stock (USA) was the second American Day Three champion, but her title-winning performance came in women’s wrestling. Mensah-Stock won her second consecutive Ranking Series title in dominant fashion, toppling Uzbekistan’s Bakhtigul BALTANIYAZOVA, 11-1, in the 68kg gold-medal bout. 

Mensah Stock led 7-1 after the first, then tacked on a quick takedown and exposure to reach the top of the podium at her second straight Ranking Series event. 

Wrestling resumes tomorrow in Ruse at 10:30 (local time). The Day Four finals will begin right after the completion of the repechages matches.

For news, highlights, interviews, and behind the scenes clips, make sure you’re following United World Wrestling on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. 

Schedule

March 3 (Sunday) 
8:00 - Weigh-in 2 - FS - 86, 97, 125; GR (+ 2 kg) - 60, 67, 77kg; WW - 50, 53, 57kg
10:30 - Repechages - FS - 86, 97, 125; GR (+ 2 kg) - 60, 67, 77 kg; WW - 50, 53, 57kg
10:30 - Final matches and awarding ceremony - FS - 86, 97, 125; GR - 60, 67, 77 kg; WW - 50, 53, 57kg

RESULTS

Freestyle 

Team Scores 
GOLD - United States (110 points)
SILVER - Russia (90 points)
BRONZE - Turkey (80 points)
Fourth - Georgia (64 points)
Fifth - Uzbekistan (50 points)

57kg 
GOLD - Beka BUJIASHVILI (GEO) df. Suleyman ATLI (TUR), 6-4
BRONZE - Georgi Valentinov VANGELOV (BUL) df. Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB), 6 - 5
BRONZE - Armen ARAKELIAN (UKR) df. Zoheir EL OUARRAQE (FRA), 12-8 

65kg
GOLD - Bajrang BAJRANG (IND) vs. Jordan OLIVER (USA), 12-3 
BRONZE - Bernard FUTRELL (USA) df. Selahattin KILICSALLAYAN (TUR), 16-6
BRONZE - Niurhun SKRABIN (BLR) df. Eduard GRIGOREV (RUS), 11-0 

74kg
GOLD -  Jordan Ernest BURROUGHS (USA) df. Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB), 4-3 
BRONZE - Yakup GOR (TUR)  df. Mostafa HOSSEINKHANI (IRI), via fall
BRONZE - Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ (ITA) df. Ali UMARPASHAEV (BUL), 13-2 

Women’s Wrestling 

Team Scores 
GOLD - Ukraine (76 points)
SILVER - Turkey (60 points)
BRONZE - China (56 points)
Fourth - India (45 points)
Fifth - Sweden  (43 points)

62kg 
GOLD - Yuliia TKACH OSTAPCHUK (UKR) df. Taybe YUSEIN (BUL), 4-2
BRONZE -  PEI  Xingru (CHN) vs. Elis MANOLOVA (AZE), 4-0 
BRONZE - Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) df. Malin MATTSSON (SWE), 4-1 

68kg 
GOLD -  Tamyra Mariama MENSAH (USA) df. Bakhtigul BALTANIYAZOVA (UZB), 11-1 
BRONZE - Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) df. Agnieszka WIESZCZEK KORDUS (POL), 5-1 
BRONZE - Alla CHERKASOVA (UKR) df. Danute DOMIKAITYTE (LTU), 8-1 

76kg
GOLD - Yasemin ADAR (TUR) df. Paliha PALIHA (CHN), via fall 
BRONZE - Aline ROTTER FOCKEN (GER) df. WANG Juan (CHN), 7-2 
BRONZE - Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) df. Iselin Maria Moen SOLHEIM (NOR), 8-2 

#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)