#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 

Development

Croatia continues to Train and Develop their Coaches and Referees

Tuesday, June 3, 2025 - 11:05 By United World Wrestling Press

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POREC, Croatia (June 3) – The Croatian Wrestling Federation continues to add educational activities for their coaches and referees. The previous year, they hosted a Level 2 course on the Introduction to Practice Planning. This year they organized a Level 3 coaching course on Periodization and Coaching Philosophy.  They also organized a Level 1 – Introduction to Referee course for their younger national referees. This year’s courses were conducted on 21-24 May in the beautiful city of Porec and was done in conjunction with Olympic Solidarity and United World Wrestling. 

The coaching course was led by UWW Educator Mr. Nenad Žugaj (CRO).  During the course, the 26 participants developed a better understanding of how periodization works when designing training sessions.  They were able to integrate those concepts and design their own plans.  The participants also focused on developing a coaching philosophy that they can use with their teams.

“The participants were active, I think they relaxed more and more every day and thus became more creative in their answers. I am pleased with the energy that prevailed and the positivity of the participants through jokes but also more serious topics.” said Mr. Žugaj  Eric, one of the coach participants said, “’I really liked the course and I would like to see such educations held more often. I especially liked how we, the coaches and referees, had joint lectures and assignments and were able to give opinions and views from different perspectives. I am looking forward to the next Level 4 course.”

CROParticipants look on doing the education courses held in Croaita during the final week of May. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

The referee course was led by UWW Educator Ms. Edit Dozsa (ITA). The course had 13 participants who focused on the fundamentals of being a good referee.  They focused on the evaluation of holds, how to properly start and end matches, proper referee mechanics, and keeping the athletes safe during bouts.  The referee participants were able to practice their skills through simulated matches and practical assessments. 

Both the coaches and referees had some working sessions together. They were able to analyze the roles of the coaches and of the referees. This helps give them a better understanding of the jobs that they do. They also discussed the importance of athlete safeguarding in wrestling.

“The cooperation with the educators Edit and Nenad was very good and successful. I visited the lectures on a couple of occasions and found them to be educational and interesting. The feedback from our coaches and judges was positive.” said Tin Bregović.

The Croatian Wrestling Federation also hosted a competition at the end of the courses. This competition allowed the coaches and referees to practice some of the skills that they had just learned during the course.