Valencia Escoto Hace Historia para México en #WrestleOttawa Clasificatorio Olímpico

Sunday, March 15, 2020 - 00:28 By Taylor GREGORIO

OTTAWA, Canada – Alma Jane VALENCIA ESCOTO (MEX) won her semifinal match at 57 kg, becoming the first woman in history from Mexico to qualify for the Olympic Games in wrestling.

In the preliminary rounds, Valencia collected wins against Betzabeth SARCO COLMENAREZ (VEN), 5-1, and Nes Marie RODRIGUEZ TIRADO (PUR) by pin.

To earn a spot in the Olympic Games, Valencia knocked off 2019 World champion Linda MORAIS (CAN) in the semifinal with another victory by fall. She went on to win the finals by injury default to take the gold medal.

In this weekend’s event, the top-two from each weight class will earn a bid for their countries to the 2020 Olympics.

The United States women’s freestyle team qualified its remaining four weight classes for the Tokyo Olympics, advancing all of its athletes to the Pan American Olympic Qualifier finals.

Thanks to medal-winning performances at 68 kg and 76 kg at the 2019 World Championships, the United States entered the weekend with two weights already qualified. On Saturday, it completed its team sending Sarah HILDEBRANDT (50 kg), Jacarra WINCHESTER (53 kg), Helen MAROULIS (57 kg) and Kayla MIRACLE (62 kg) to their respective finals.

Today was the first international competition for 2016 Olympic champion Maroulis since the 2018 World Championships. She took the 2019 season off due to injury.

In her first bout, Maroulis defeated returning World champion Linda MORAIS (CAN) with a 12-2 technical fall.

Maroulis wasn’t the only World medalist to qualify the weight for the USA.

Hildebrandt is a 2018 World silver medalist at 53 kg. This year, she moved down to 50 kg for the Olympics, which is the weight she qualified today.

In the semifinals, Hildebrandt defeated 2012 World champion and two-time World bronze medalist Jessica MACDONALD (CAN) with a dominant 11-0 performance.

Similarly, Winchester, the 2019 World champion at 55 kg, moved down a weight class to compete at 53 kg this year.

To qualify, Winchester defeated 2016 Pan American champion Samantha STEWART (CAN), 8-4, in the semifinals.

Brazil, Canada and Cuba also qualified multiple weight classes for the Tokyo Olympics.

Earning three spots for Cuba were Yusneylis GUZMAN LOPEZ (50 kg), Lianna de la Caridad MONTERO HERRERA (53 kg) and 2018 U23 World champion Yudari SANCHEZ RODRIGUEZ (68 kg).

Brazil picked up two spots with Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (62 kg) and 2014 World silver medalist Aline DA SILVA FERREIRA (76 kg) advancing to the finals.

Nunes and da Silva were funded by the United World Wrestling Development Technical Assistance program, which allows athletes from developing countries the opportunities to compete at top-level events. Their qualifications for the Olympic Games would not have been possible without the support of UWW.

Host country Canada also qualified two spots, thanks to 2018 World silver medalist Danielle LAPPAGE (68 kg) and 2016 Olympic champion Erica WIEBE (76 kg).

The Pan American Olympic Qualifier wraps up tomorrow with the men’s freestyle competition.

En Espanol

OTTAWA, Canada – Alma Jane VALENCIA ESCOTO (MEX) gano su semifinal en 57 kg para convertirse en la primera Mexicana en clasificar a unos Juegos Olimpicos en lucha.

En las primeras rondas, Valencia derroto a Betzabeth SARCO COLMENAREZ (VEN) y Nes Marie RODRIGUEZ TIRADO (PUR).

Para calificar la categoria, Valencia vencio a la campeona mundial de 2019 Linda MORAIS (CAN) por puestaespalda y en la final, la Mexicana gano por lesion y para así quedarse con la medalla de oro.

En este evento, los dos mejores atletas de cada categoría calificaron a sus países a la justa Olímpica.

La cuatro integrantes del equipo de Estados Unidos avanzaron a las finales en sus respectivas categorías, con lo que clasificaron a Tokio 2020.

Gracias a que en el Campeonato Mundial de 2019 resultaron ganadores de medalla en 68 y 76 kg en el 2019, los Estados Unidos llegaron a este evento con dos categorias ya clasificadas, por lo que hoy completaron el equipo con Sarah HILDEBRANDT (50 kg), Jacarra WINCHESTER (53 kg), Helen MAROULIS (57 kg) y Kayla MIRACLE (62 kg).

Hoy fue la primera competencia internacional en 2 años para la campeona olimpica en Río 2016 Helen Maroulis, ya que no participaba en un evento de esta naturaleza desde el Campeonato Mundial 2018.

En su primero combate, Maroulis derroto a la campeona mundial 2019 Morais de Canada por superioridad tecnica.

Maroulis no fue la unica medallista mundial quien califico su categoria para EE. UU. Hildebrandt medallista de plata en 2018, y Winchester ganadora de la medalla de oro en 2019 también consiguieron el boleto a Tokio.

Brasil, Canadá y Cuba también tuvieron m múltiples clasificados para los Juegos Olímpicos de Tokio.

Cuba se quedó con tres plazas gracias a Yusneylis GUZMAN LOPEZ (50 kg), Lianna de la Caridad MONTERO HERRERA (53 kg) y campeona mundial U23 de 2018, Yudari SANCHEZ RODRIGUEZ (68 kg).

Por otro lado, Brazil recolecto dos lugares cuando Lais NUÑES DE OLIVEIRA (62 kg) y la medallista mundial en 2014, Aline DA SILVA FERREIRA (76 kg) avanzaron a los combates finales.

Nuñes y da Silva fueron financiadas por el programa United World Wrestling Development Technical Assistance, que brinda a los atletas de países en desarrollo la oportunidad de competir en eventos de alto nivel. La clasificacion de ambas no sería posible sin el apoyo de UWW.

Canada califico dos categorías, gracias a la medallista de plata del mundial 2018 Danielle LAPPAGE (68 kg) y a la campeona olimpica debRío 2016 Erica WIEBE (76 kg).

El Clasificatorio Olímpico Panamericano termina mañana con los combates del estilo libre masculino.

Women’s freestyle finals results

50 kg
GOLD - Yusneylis GUZMAN LOPEZ (CUB) df. Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA), injury default
BRONZE - Thalia MALLQUI PECHE (PER) df. Carolina CASTILLO HIDALGO (COL), injury default
BRONZE - Jessica MACDONALD (CAN) df. Rita Fatima ROJAS CHAVEZ (MEX), 10-0

53 kg
GOLD - Lianna de la Caridad MONTERO HERRERA (CUB) df. Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA), injury default
BRONZE– Samantha STEWART (CAN) df. Luisa VALVERDE MELENDRES (ECU), 9-0

57 kg
GOLD - Alma VALENCIA ESCOTO (MEX) df. Helen MAROULIS (USA), injury default
BRONZE – Linda MORAIS (CAN) df. Gabriela Nicole RAMOS DIAZ (PUR), fall

62 kg
GOLD - Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) df. Kayla MIRACLE (USA), injury default
BRONZE – Michelle FAZZARI (CAN) df. Nathaly GRIMAN HERRERA (VEN), injury default

68 kg
GOLD - Danielle LAPPAGE (CAN) df. Yudari SANCHEZ RODRIGUEZ (CUB), injury default
BRONZE - Luz VAZQUEZ (ARG) df. Leonela AYOVI PARRAGA (ECU), 3-2
BRONZE - Tatiana RENTERIA RENTERIA (COL) df. Yanet SOVERO NINO (PER), 4-2

76 kg
GOLD - Erica WIEBE (CAN) df. Aline DA SILVA FERREIRA (BRA), injury default
BRONZE – Genesis REASCO VALDEZ (ECU) df. Andrea OLAYA GUTIERREZ (COL), injury default

Women’s freestyle semifinals results

50 kg
Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) df. Jessica MACDONALD (CAN), 11-0
Yusneylis GUZMAN LOPEZ (CUB) df. Carolina CASTILLO HIDALGO, 6-4

53 kg
Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) df. Samantha STEWART (CAN), 8-4
Lianna de la Caridad MONTERO HERRERA (CUB) df. Luisa VALVERDE MELENDRES (ECU), 5-4

57 kg
Helen MAROULIS (USA) df. Nes Marie RODRIGUEZ TIRADO (PUR), 11-0
Alma VALENCIA ESCOTO (MEX) df. Linda MORAIS (CAN), fall 3:45

62 kg
Kayla MIRACLE (USA) df. Michelle FAZZARI (CAN), 12-3
Lais NUNES DE OLIVEIRA (BRA) df. Nathaly GRIMAN HERRERA (VEN), 3-1

68 kg
Yudari SANCHEZ RODRIGUEZ (CUB) df. Yanet SOVERO NINO (PER), 5-0
Danielle LAPPAGE (CAN) df. Leonela AYOVI PARRAGA (ECU), 10-0

76 kg
Erica WIEBE (CAN) df. Genesis REASCO VALDEZ (ECU), 5-0
Aline DA SILVA FERREIRA (BRA) df. Andrea OLAYA GUTIERREZ (COL), 2-1

#WrestleBaku

Gadzhiev returns to top with gold at U23 Europeans

Sunday, May 26, 2024 - 18:58 By United World Wrestling Press

BAKU, Azerbaijan (May 26) -- Only a minute and 16 seconds were remaining on the clock when Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) and Kamil ABDULVAGABOV (AIN) retreated to their respective corners. Their bleeding faces required medical intervention.

As the doctors patched them up, both wrestlers could not wait to return to the mat to resume their thrilling 74kg U23 European Championship gold medal bout. Understandably so. Both the wrestlers felt the momentum was their way, and each one knew he had a good chance to win the gold.

The final day of the competition was providing the right kind of fireworks.

At that stage, when the medical timeout was taken, Gadzhiev was 6-3 ahead but Abdulvagabov was on the ascendency, fighting his way back into the bout which seemed a lost cause not too long ago. That break would eventually prove to be crucial.

The physical differences between the two were glaring. Lean and gifted with long limbs, Abdulvagabov was at least a head higher than Gadzhiev and he tried to use the height factor to his advantage. He planted his left leg so far back that it became out of reach for Gadzhiev and each time the Azerbaijani tried too hard, a counter-attacking opportunity would arise.

Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) scores a crucial four-pointer in the 74kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Javid Gurbanov)

Gadzhiev raided Abdulvagabov’s defense with multiple single-leg attacks, targeting his right leg, which was relatively closer. But each time Gadzhiev caught his opponent’s right ankle, Abdulvagabov used his physical might to ensure it couldn’t be converted into a takedown.

This trend repeated several times, with Gadzhiev going all-out employing single-leg takedowns and ankle trips. But Abdulvagabov looked hardly troubled. Until the Azerbaijani wrestler surprised him with a feet-to-back throw, slamming Abdulvagabov on his mat from a standing position in a dramatic move to be awarded four points.

When the bout was halted for the first medical timeout, Abdulvagabov was trailing 6-3. He reduced the deficit to one point by two stepouts, and with 16 seconds left, the match was paused for another medical timeout to treat both wrestlers who again started bleeding.

Abdulvagabov threw the proverbial kitchen sink at Gadzhiev but the match-winning two-point throw that he sought never came. Gadzhiev used the sprawls to good effect, doing just enough to win the bout 6-5.

The 22-year-old ran to his corner to celebrate the gold medal which came after a long drought. The 2022 U23 European Champion and U20 World and European Champion endured a difficult last year in which he earned a couple of podium finishes but a title eluded him.

He started this year strongly with a bronze medal at the Ranking Series in Zagreb and the gold medal here will come as a huge confidence booster. It was also Azerbaijan’s only gold medal in men’s freestyle at this competition.

Arslan BAGAEV (AIN) blanked defending champion Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) 10-0 in the 86kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Javid Gurbanov)

Bagaev stuns Magamadov

In the 86kg category, Arslan BAGAEV (AIN) built on his fifth-place finish at the senior European Championships with a remarkable gold medal.

Bagaev conceded just one point, scored 25, and spent a little less than 12 minutes on the mat for his first-ever title since winning the U20 European Championship gold in 2021.

The manner in which Bagaev won was stunning. He was up against defending champion Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA), whose trophy cabinet in age-group events is brimming with medals. But the moment the referee began the bout, Bagaev stopped caring about reputations.

Magamadov looked stronger in the opening exchanges and launched the first leg attack, which Bagaev escaped. Bagaev waited for Magamadov to come searching for his leg again. When he did, a little after one minute, the 20-year-old used his quick reflexes to evade Magamadov’s advances and then launched a blistering counterattack, affecting three roll-overs to earn three points.

In between the second and third roll-over, Magamadov held his face and signaled that he was hurt. The doctors, who were kept busy all evening, rushed to treat him but the break in momentum didn’t impact Bagaev, who finished the bout with a two-point takedown.

Alen KHUBULOV (BUL), right, won the 125kg title after beating Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Javid Gurbanov)

Maiden titles for Khubulov, Bliatze

Bagaev wasn’t the only wrestler who won his first-ever U23 European Championship title.

At 125kg, Alen KHUBULOV (BUL) made a stunning comeback to beat Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO) 6-5 in another dramatic bout to win the gold medal.

Khubulov had overturned a two-point deficit with a couple of well-timed leg attacks. But with around 40 seconds remaining, Manashvili again took the lead with a two-point takedown. Khubulov responded almost immediately, scoring two more points via exposure to restore his lead and then clung to it desperately to clinch the gold medal.

Minutes earlier, Gkivi BLIATZE (GRE) defeated Adlan VISKHANOV (FRA) 8-7 in a thrilling bout to reign supreme in the 92kg category. This was a momentous win for Bliatze, who has been competing on the circuit since 2018 but never came close to a podium finish. He ended the long wait in style by getting the better of the 2023 U23 European Championship bronze medallist in an action-filled bout.

In 61kg, Bashir MAGOMEDOV (AIN) defended his gold medal with a clinical performance against Mykyta ABRAMOV (UKR), winning 10-0.

RESULTS

61kg
GOLD: Bashir MAGOMEDOV (AIN) df. Mykyta ABRAMOV (UKR), 10-0

BRONZE: Nuraddin NOVRUZOV (AZE) df. Yahor RUDAUSKI (AIN), 13-12
BRONZE: Emre KURAL (TUR) df. Simone PIRODDU (ITA), 4-3

74kg
GOLD: Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) df. Kamil ABDULVAGABOV (AIN), 6-5

BRONZE: Luka CHKHITUNIDZE (GEO) df. Theocharis KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE), 7-2
BRONZE: Ibrahim YAPRAK (TUR) df. Krisztian BIRO (ROU), 6-4

86kg
GOLD: Arslan BAGAEV (AIN) df. Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA), 10-0

BRONZE: Emre CIFTCI (TUR) df. Ilya KHAMTSOU (AIN), 6-4
BRONZE: Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) df. Miko ELKALA (FIN), 11-0

92kg
GOLD: Gkivi BLIATZE (GRE) vs. Adlan VISKHANOV (FRA)

BRONZE: Mustafagadzhi MALACHDIBIROV (AIN) df. Muhammed GIMRI (TUR), 6-2
BRONZE: Ion DEMIAN (MDA) df. Denys SAHALIUK (UKR), 16-6

125kg
GOLD: Alen KHUBULOV (BUL) df. Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO), 6-5

BRONZE: Milan KORCSOG (HUN) df. Volodymyr KOCHANOV (UKR), 8-1
BRONZE: Abdulla KURBANOV (AIN) df. Adil MISIRCI (TUR), 12-8

Valencia Escoto Hace Historia para México en #WrestleOttawa Clasificatorio Olímpico

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Gadzhiev returns to top with gold at U23 Europeans