Weekly FIVE!

Weekly FIVE! February 4, 2019

Monday, February 4, 2019 - 15:54 By Eric Olanowski

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Reviewing results from the Indian Pro League, the Hentri Deglane, and Swedish Nationals. Also looking at this season's first set of rankings and Saturday's Ranking Series event, the Zagreb Open. 

1. Haryana Hammers Nail Down 6-3  Win Against Punjab Royals in Indian Pro League Finals
The fourth edition of the Indian Pro League came to a close and the Haryana Hammers nailed down the 6-3 victory against the Punjab Royals in the finals. The Haryana Hammers won their second PWL title and made their fourth consecutive finals appearance.

The Haryana Hammers were defeated by the Punjab Royals in last years finals, 6-3, but returned their favor by flipping the script, winning six of the nine bouts at the Greater Noida Arena. 

The Haryana Hammers jumped out to a 5-0 lead and sealed up the Season 4 team title after the first five matches. The NCR Punjab Royals tallied off three straight wins, cutting the Hammers lead to 5-3 before Tayana OMELCHENKO closed out the finals, dismantling Anita ANITA, 13-0.  Omelchenko's win gave the Hammers their sixth win of the dual and their second team title in the last four years. 

Finals Results
FS 125kg - Aleksander KHOTSIANIVSKI (Haryana Hammers) df. Korey JARVIS (NCR Punjab Royals), 3-0 
FS 86kg – Ali SHABANOV (Haryana Hammers) df. Dato MARSAGISHVILI (NCR Punjab Royals), 8-4 
WW 76kg – Kiran KIRAN (Haryana Hammers) df. Cynthia VESCAN (NCR Punjab Royals), 3-2 
FS 57kg - Ravi KUMAR (Haryana Hammers)  df. NITIN RATHI (NCR Punjab Royals), 14-0 
WW 57kg – Anastasia NICHITA (Haryana Hammers)  df. Mimi HRISTOVA (NCR Punjab Royals), 8-4
FS 65kg – Bajrang PUNIA (NCR Punjab Royals) df. Rajneesh RAJNEESH (Haryana Hammers), 15-0 
FS 74kg – Amit DHANKAR (NCR Punjab Royals) df. Parveen RANA (Haryana Hammers), 7-2 
WW 53kg – Anju ANJU (NCR Punjab Royals) df. Seema SEEMA (Haryana Hammers), 20-9 
WW 62kg – Tayana OMELCHENKO (Haryana Hammers) df. Anita ANITA (NCR Punjab Royals), 13-0  

Indian Pro League Champions 
Season 4 - Haryana Hammers
Season 3 - NCR Punjab Royals
Season 2 - Haryana Hammers
Season 1 - Revanta Mumbai Garuda  

2. United World Wrestling Releases January Rankings 
United World Wrestling released January's rankings after the conclusion of the first Ranking Series event for freestyle and women’s wrestling, the Ivan Yariguin. 

Most Notable Changes in Freestyle: 
57kg - Thomas GILMAN (USA) (32 points) jumped 2018 world bronze medalists, Suleyman ATLI (TUR) (25 points) and Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN) (25 points), after his bronze-medal performance in Krasnoyarsk. 

65kg - Akhmed CHAKAEV (RUS) (41 points) took the No. 2 spot from 2018 world runner-up Bajrang BAJRANG (IND) (40 points) after winning the Yariguin gold medal. 

86kg - Dauren KURUGLIEV (RUS) (36 points) commands the No. 3 spot after winning the 2019 Ivan Yariguin. Kurugliev jumped 2018 world bronze medalists Taimuraz FRIEV NASKIDAEVA (ESP) (25 points) and Hassan YAZDANICHARATI (IRI) (25 points).

97kg - Batzul ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL) (26 points) moves behind Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) (60 points) and Kyle SNYDER (USA) (40 points) and takes over the third spot in the rankings after a fifth-place finish in Siberia. 

125kg - Anzor  KHIZRIEV (RUS) and Taha AKGUL (TUR) took over the third and fourth ranking after finishing first and second respectively at the Ivan Yariguin.

Most Notable Changes in Women’s Wrestling:
57kg- Grace BULLEN (NOR) (30 points) leaped 2018 world bronze medalists, Emese BARKA (HUN) (25 points)  and Pooja DHANDA (IND) (25 points), after her bronze medal finish at the Yariguin.

59kg - Svetlana LIPATOVA (RUS) (32 points) takes over the third-ranking with her runner-up finish at the first Ranking Series event. 

65kg - Mariia KUZNETSOVA (RUS) (26 points) moves up six spots to No. 4 after winning the Yariguin title at 65kg.

68kg - SORONZONBOLD Battsetseg (MGL) (32 points) moves from seventh to No. 3 in the rankings after her gold-medal performance at the Yariguin. 

76kg - Hiroe MINAGAWA SUZUKI (JPN) (41 points) overtook the No. 2 spot from 2017 world champion and 2018 world runner-up Yasemin ADAR (TUR) (40 points) with her title-winner performance in Krasnoyarsk. 

Click here for January's rankings

3. Hentri Deglane Concludes in France 
The 45th Annual Hentri Deglane wrapped up in Nice, France and more than 300 wrestlers from 30 different nations competed in freestyle, Greco-Roman, and women’s wrestling. 

In freestyle, six different nations claimed a gold medal, but Georgian wrestlers led the way, winning four of the ten gold medals. Six different nations also claimed a Greco-Roman gold medal, but Armenia, led by 2012 Olympic runner-up Arsen JULFALAKYAN (ARM), won four gold medals. In women’s wrestling, there were only six gold medals up for grabs. Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan won a pair of golds, while Argentina and Romania won the remaining two titles. 

RESULTS 
Freestyle 
57kg - Otar GOGAVA (GEO)
61kg - Beka LOMTADZE (GEO)
65kg - Bekkhan GOIGEREEV (RUS) 
70kg - Zurab IAKOBISHIVLI (GEO) 
74kg - Thomas GANTT (USA) 
79kg - Davit KHUTSISHVILI (GEO) 
86kg - Samuel BROOKS (USA) 
92kg - Istvan VEREB (HUN) 
97kg - Valerii ANDRIITSEV (UKR) 
125kg - Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL) 

Greco-Roman 
55kg - Rudik MKRTCHYAN (ARM) 
60kg - CHUNG Han Jae (KOR) 
67kg – Karen ASLANYAN (ARM) 
72kg - HRANT KALACHYAN (ARM) 
77kg – Arsen JULFALAKYAN (ARM) 
82kg - Hakim TRABELSI (TUN) 
87kg - Alan OSTAEV (RUS) 
97kg - Mélonin NOUMONVI (FRA) 
130kg -  Yasmani ACOSTA (CHI) 

Women’s Wrestling Gold Medalists 
50kg - Patricia BERMUDEZ (ARG) 
53kg - Andrea Beatrice ANA (ROU) 
57kg - Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE) 
62kg - Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ)
65kg - Iryna NETREBA (AZE) 
76kg - Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) 

Click here for full results

4. Swedish Nationals Wrap Up in Sundsvall  
The Swedish Greco-Roman and Women’s Wrestling National Championships wrapped up in Sundsvall, Sweden last weekend, and the duo of Olympic bronze medalist Sofia MATTSON and Jenny FRANSSON claimed titles at 55kg and 72kg respectively. 

For most nations, a national title means you've locked in your spot for the continental and world championships, but that's not the case for Sweden. According to Fransson, the results from this past weekend are essential, but the results from the Klippan Lady Open and the second women's wrestling Ranking Series event, the Dan Kolov - Nikola Petrov, will hold weight when it comes to the selection process for the 2019 European and World Championships. 

In Greco-Roman, Sweden will use the Zagreb Open, the Hungarian Grand Prix and the Thor Masters as qualification tournaments for the 2019 European and World Championships.  

RESULTS

Greco-Roman Champions
55kg - Abulfazeil HASHIMY 
60kg - Niklas ÖHLEN 
63kg - Ardit FAZLJIJA 
67kg - Danielo DI FEOLA 
72kg - Simon ERLANDSSON 
77kg - Alex KESSIDIS 
82kg - Bogdan KOURINOI 
87kg - Zakarias BERG 
97kg - Leon KESSIDIS 
130kg - Albin SODERSTJERNA 

Women’s Wrestling Champions
53kg - Fredrika PETTERSSON 
55kg - Sofia MATTSON 
57kg - Johanna LINDBORG 
59kg - Emma JOHANSSON 
62kg - Moa NYGREN
65kg - Elin FORSBERG 
68kg - Henna JOHANSSON 
72kg - Jenny FRANSSON 
76kg - Denise MAKOTA STROM 

Click HERE for full results.

5. Zagreb Open Begins Saturday 
The first Greco-Roman Ranking Series event of the year, the Zagreb Open, kicks off this Saturday (February 9) in Zagreb, Croatia. 

Right now, according to the unofficial pre-registration list, there are nearly 40 past age-level and senior-level world medalists that will be in action. Most notably, London Olympic champion KIM Hyeonwoo (KOR), two-time Olympic medalist and three-time world champion Riza KAYAALP (TUR), and Rio Olympic bronze medalist Elmurat TASMURADOV (UZB) are all set to compete. 

The qualification and elimination rounds for all ten weight classes will be wrestled on Saturday, and the championship rounds will be on Sunday. 

Schedule 
Saturday (February 9) 
8:00 - 1st-day Medical examination & Weigh-in, all weight categories (No weight tolerance!) Sport Hall
10:30 - Qualification and elimination rounds, all weight categories (on 3 wrestling mats)

Sunday (February 10)
8:00 - 2nd-day weigh-in, all weight categories (No weight tolerance!) Sport Hall
10:30 - Repechage bouts and bronze medal matches (all categories)
17:30 - Opening ceremony and Final matches (all categories)

Weekly FIVE! In Social Media 

1. Big Move Monday -- PYSHKOV D. (UKR) -- 2018 Dan Kolov #grecoromanwrestling #ukrainian #wrestler#suplex #throw #takedown #olympic #wrestling
2. #SundaySmiles ?
3. @wrestlerviktor, the 2017 world champion, will wrestle at the first Greco-Roman Ranking Series event of the year, the Zagreb Open (February 9-10). He's entered at 77kg.
4. Miss the #Yariguin2019 finals? Don't stress. Here's every takedown from the freestyle finals. You’re welcome in advance ?!
5. How about the timing by @rasul_gazimagomedov70 on this outside trip? #Yarigyin2019#ThursdayTrips

Weekly FIVE!

Weekly FIVE! July 16, 2018

Monday, July 16, 2018 - 15:21 By Eric Olanowski

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Discussing Olympic champ Wiebe defeating three-time world champ Gray and Mattsson's return. Also taking a look at Fix making his third Junior World team and much more! 

1. Olympic Champ Wiebe Defeats Three-time World Champ Gray 
Erica WIEBE (CAN), the 2016 Olympic champion defeated three-time world champion Adeline GRAY (USA), 6-5, seizing the 76kg Spanish Grand Prix title. 

Though these two were in the same bracket at the first Ranking Series event of the year, the Klippan Lady Open, they did not meet as Wiebe was “knocked off” by reigning world champion Yasemin ADAR (TUR) in the opening round. Gray went on to claim the gold medal, defeating Adar, 9-6. 

Assuming 2018 European champion Adar makes Turkey’s world squad, with its combined five world and Olympic titles from Adar, Gray, and Wiebe, 76kg may be the deepest weight class of the tournament. 

Spanish Grand Prix Results

Sofia MATTSSON (SWE), Olympic bronze medalist made her return last weekend and claimed the Spanish Grand Prix title. (Photo by Gabor Martin) 

2. Mattsson Makes Return, Wins Spanish Grand Prix 
Sofia MATTSSON (SWE), who gave birth in November made her international return after an 18-month layoff, winning the 55kg Spanish Grand Prix gold medal. 

“The toughest part (about the layoff) has been the struggle to adjust my life to new routines and realize that my life has changed forever….But, I can still be an elite wrestler, I just need to do it in a different way.” 

Since grabbing the bronze medal at the Rio Olympic Games, Mattsson's only competition was the 2017 Indian Pro League. The seven-time world and Olympic medalist made her return this weekend and capped off her gold medal run by beating Marina SEDNEVA (KAZ), grabbing her first gold medal since the 2016 European Championships. 

“Of course I was nervous stepping out on the mat. Normally when I compete, I expect a lot from myself. But this week, I went here without any expectations and was just happy to be back on the mat to get a couple of matches. With these thoughts in my head, I think it gave me a very relaxed and positive mindset which worked out in a very good way!” 

3. Reigning World Champion Fix makes Third Consecutive World Team 
Daton FIX (USA), the reigning junior world champion stormed through Brandon COURTNEY (USA) in two straight matches of the special wrestle-off to lock up his third consecutive Junior World team spot.

Fix, the two-time junior world medalist is coming off a Final X second-place finish after losing to 2017 world runner-up, Thomas GILMAN (USA). USA Wrestling said Fix was awarded a special wrestle-off  “Because Fix is a returning World Team member, placed top-three at the Senior U.S. Open and earned a spot in Final X, he was afforded the opportunity for a delayed wrestle-off for the world team spot.” 

4. India Set to Host Asian Junior Championships July 17-22 
The I.G. Sports Complex in New Delhi, India is set to host the 2018 Junior Asian Championships starting on July 17. 

This is the second junior continental championship (Junior African Championships) but is the first of three that will take place over the next month. 

The Junior European Championships begin July 30 and will be followed by the Junior Pan-American Championships which take place August 17-19.

FULL SCHEDULE

Turkey's Olympic champion, Taha AKGUL (TUR). (Photo by Max Rose-Fyne) 

5. Yasar Dogu, the Third Freestyle Ranking Series Event Begins Next Weekend 
Istanbul, Turkey is set to host the 46th Annual Yasar Dogu International on July 27-29. 

On June 8, United World Wrestling announced that the tournament has been named a Ranking Series event in men’s freestyle wrestling after the South African Open was canceled due to a lack of early sign-ups. 

Weekly FIVE! In Social Media 

1. ? ? ? ? ?

2. It takes SIX full minutes. #kaspeuro2018

3. Lots of great training and fun at the 2018 More Than Medals training camp here in Zagreb, Croatia ??.
#unitedworldwrestling #wrestling#trainingcamp #fitness #uww

4. Inside look at Team Iran ?? training! Notice anything about the colors of the five circles around the mats? نگاهی به کمپ تمرینی ایران. به رنگ پنج دایره تشکهای کشتی دقت کرده اید؟

5. We’re 98 days out from the #Budapest2018 World Championships. We highlight today with this memorable throw from reigning 98kg world champion, Artur ALEKSANYAN ??.