Weekly FIVE!

Weekly FIVE! January 21, 2020

Monday, January 20, 2020 - 10:42 By Eric Olanowski

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Reviewing Mohammadian's magical Matteo Pellicone run, Lorincz winning his sixth Ranking Series title and Zhou's eight-point comeback on Mensah-Stock. Also looking at the Russian Greco-Roman National Championships and results from Sweden's Klippan Lady Open.

1. Mohammadian Has Magical Run at Matteo Pellicone; Dake Wins in Debut at 74kg 
Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI) had a magical run to the 97kg title at the Matteo Pellicone. Mohammadian’s five victories included a fall over an Olympic champion, and wins over a U23 world champion, a world bronze medalist, a world fifth-place finisher and a European runner-up.

Mohammadian kickstarted his day by crushing Alisher YERGALI (KAZ), a fifth-place finish in Nur-Sultan. The Iranian downed the man who qualified Kazakhstan for the 2020 Olympic Games, 11-0. He followed up that hot start with a second technical superiority victory. This time, he thumped reigning U23 world champion Bo NICKAL (USA), 10-0.

In the quarterfinals, Mohammadian picked up arguably the biggest win of his career when he flattened Olympian champion, Kyle Snyder while commanding an 8-0 lead. An 11-0 showing against 2018 world bronze-medal finisher Abraham de Jesus CONYEDO RUANO (ITA) inserted the Iranian into the finals, where he met Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR) for the 97kg title. He capped off his dominant run to a Matteo Pellicone gold medal, where he outscored his five opponents 41-0, with a 9-0 blanking of Hushtyn and brought home his first career Rankings Series title.

Kyle DAKE (USA) dismantled a world and Olympic bronze medalist in 35 seconds in the gold-medal match of his debut at 74kg. Dake, who was one of three American freestyle champions, defeated Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) in his debut down at the Olympic weight of 74kg and joined Thomas GILMAN (USA) and Zahid VALENCIA (USA) on their way to the top of the freestyle podium at the Matteo Pellicone.

In the finals, Dake led 7-0, 16 seconds into the first period, and after his Turkish opponent was hit with a fleeing-the-hold call, the American went back on top in par terre. A pair of gut wrenches less than 20 seconds left gave Dake the 11-0 technical superiority victory and a second Ranking Series title.

Matteo Pellicone Freestyle Recaps:
RECAP: Mohammadian Mauls Snyder En Route to Matteo Pellicone Title
RECAP: Dake Dismantles Demirtas in Debut at 74kg; USA Wins Trio of Day Four Golds

Interviews:
Post-Match Interviews with the Freestyle Champions 

RESULTS 
57kg - Thomas Patrick GILMAN (USA) df. Joseph Daniel COLON (USA), 4-3
61kg - (Nordic Style) - Kumar RAVI (IND) df. Nurislam SANAYEV (KAZ), 6-0
65kg - Bajrang BAJRANG (IND) df. Jordan Michael OLIVER (USA), 4-3
74kg - Kyle Douglas DAKE (USA) df. Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR), 11-0 
86kg - Zahid VALENCIA (USA) df. Alexander David DIERINGER (USA), 7-5 
97kg - Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI) df. Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR), 9-0 
125kg - Amir Hossein Abbas ZARE (IRI) df. Bilial MAKHOV (RUS), 5-3 

Viktor LORINCZ (HUN) edged Kumar SUNIL (IND), 2-1, at 87kg and became the first wrestler to win six Ranking Series titles. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

2. Lorincz Becomes First Wrestler to win Six Ranking Series Golds 
Coming into the Matteo Pellicone, Viktor LORINCZ (HUN) already owned a Ranking Series title for every finger on one hand. The 2019 Greco-Roman Wrestler of the Year now has to move to a second hand to count his Ranking Series gold medals after he captured his sixth career Ranking Series title on Wednesday night in the Roman seaside town of Ostia.

The Hungarian tallied 19 wins in his previous five Ranking Series appearances. With his quartet of wins on Wednesday, Lorincz improved his Ranking Series record to a perfect 23-0 with a 2-1 win over last year’s Asian silver medalist Kumar SUNIL (IND) in the 87kg finals.

“I am very happy to win this tournament. I want to continue this very good series for me. I want to win the last two qualifications (European Championships and Poland Open) because it helps my seed for the Olympic Games,” said Lorincz.

In the finals, Lorincz, last year's world runner-up, picked up an inactivity point and a stepout in the first period. He had his lead cut to a single point when he was dinged for an inactivity point himself. But the Hungarian Hammer relied on his world-renowned defensive skills and hung on to win an unprecedented sixth Ranking Series title, 2-1.

“I came here to win. I had some hard matches, and I’m not where I want to be. I want to (build) my strength and power for the other tournaments.”

Matteo Pellicone Greco-Roman Recap:
RECAP: Lorincz Locks up Sixth Career Ranking Series Gold Medal

Interviews:
Post-Match Interviews with the Greco-Roman Champions 

RESULTS 
55kg - (Nordic Style) - Dogus AYAZCI (TUR) df. Max Emiliano NOWRY (USA), 9-0 
60kg - Sailike WALIHAN (CHN) df. Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB), 4-3 
63kg - (Nordic Style) -  Andres MONTANO ARROYO (VEN) df. Stig-Andre BERGE (NOR), 11-0 
67kg -  Makhmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB) df. Abouhalima ABOUHALIMA (EGY), 3-1
72kg -  Mohamed Ibrahim Elsayed Ibrahi ELSAYED (EGY) df. Selcuk CAN (TUR), via fall 
77kg - Zotlan LEVAI (HUN) df. Yunus Emre BASAR (TUR), via fall 
82kg - Singh GURPREET (IND) df. Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR), 8-5 
87kg - Viktor LORINCZ (HUN) df. Kumar SUNIL (IND), 2-1 
97kg - Nikoloz KAKHELASHVILI (ITA) df. Felix BALDAUF (NOR), 5-4 
130kg - Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY) df. Moises PEREZ HELLBURG (VEN), via fall 

3. Zhou Shocks Mensah with Eight-Point Comback
It's no secret that ZHOU Feng (CHN) was the underdog coming into her Matteo Pellicone finals against reigning world champion Tamyra MENSAH (USA), and though she fell behind by eight points, she remained composed enough to erase an 8-0 second-period deficit to win the 68kg gold medal. Zhou’s shocking win stopped Mensah, the 2019 Women's Wrestler of the Year, from winning her fourth consecutive Ranking Series title.

“For the first period, I didn’t feel prepared or ready, but I didn’t give up,” said Zhou. At that point of the match, Zhou surrendered three takedowns and a trapped arm gut and trailed 8-0. “I was thinking the match is not finished and I didn’t give up.” 

Zhou, a two-time world medalist, kickstarted her unexpected comeback with two points from a defensive stop, which ended in a takedown. She tacked on six additional points from three gut wrenches and closed out the match on top, 8-8. 

After her remarkable come-from-behind win, Zhou said, “I’m happy and excited. From this competition, most of (these wrestlers) will participate in the Olympic Games, so to get the gold medal makes me very happy.”

Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) dropped down from 53kg to 50kg and won the Matteo Pellicone title with a 4-2 come-from-behind win over reigning world silver medalist Emilia VUC (ROU). (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

If there were any questions surrounding Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) moving down to 50kg coming into Rome – they’ve been answered on Friday night. Hildebrandt scored a takedown with two seconds left and stole the gold medal from Emilia VUC (ROU) in the 50kg finals battle that featured a pair of past world silver medalists. With a smile on her face from ear-to-ear, Hildebrandt said, “I like the sound of that, 50kg champ!” 

The American, who was down 2-1 with under 10 seconds left, said she told herself, “You’re not going to win because I'm not going to lose.” And that’s exactly what happened. 

The 2018 world silver medalist used an underhook throw by with under ten seconds left to get to the body of her Romanian opponent. Then, she snaked her left arm out, and barley scored the takedown as time expired to win her second Ranking Series title, 4-2.

Matteo Pellicone Women's Wrestling Recaps:
Zhou Erases Eight-Point Deficit, Downs World Champ Mensah
 

Interviews:
Post-Match Interviews with the Women's Wrestling Champions 

RESULTS 
50kg - Sarah HILDEBRANDT (USA) df. Emilia Alina VUC (ROU), 4-2 
53kg -  Vinesh VINESH (IND) df. Luisa Elizabeth VALVERDE MELENDRES (ECU), 4-0 
55kg - (Nordic Style) - Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR) df. Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR), 10-0 
57kg - Odunayo Folasade ADEKUOROYE (NGR) df. Anshu ANSHU (IND), 10-0 
59kg - (Nordic Style) -  Anhelina LYSAK (UKR) df. Yuliya PISARENKA (BLR), via fall 
62kg - Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) df. Liubov OVCHAROVA (RUS), via injury default 
65kg - (Nordic Style) - Inna TRAZHUKOVA (RUS) df. Oksana KUKHTA HERHEL (UKR), 5-0 
68kg - Feng ZHOU (CHN) df. Tamyra Mariama MENSAH (USA), 8-8 
72kg - (Nordic Style) - Maria SELMAIER (GER) df. Anastasiya ZIMIANKOVA (BLR), 8-6 
76kg -  Erica Elizabeth WIEBE (CAN) df. Qian ZHOU (CHN), 10-0 

Davit CHAKVETADZE defeated Alexander KOMAROV, 4-2, in the 87kg Greco-Roman Russian National fInals. (Photo: Tony Rotundo)

4. Russian Greco-Roman National Championships Wrap up in Novosibirsk
The southwestern Siberian city Novosibirsk, known for breeding two of the most feared Greco-Roman wrestlers in Olympic history, Aleksandr KARELIN (RUS) and Roman VLASOV (RUS), hosted the 2020 Russian Greco-Roman National Championships over the weekend.

Rio Olympic champion Davit CHAKVETADZE reemerged as the favorite to represent Russia at the continental representative at 87kg, while Sergey SEMENOV showed that he’s back to his winning ways after a disappointing 2019 campaign.

Chakvetadze, who defeated Alexander KOMAROV, 4-2, in the finals, was triumphant in his quest to win a second 87kg national title in the last three years and may have cemented himself as Russia’s European Championship representative. And though Chakvetadze was the reigning 87kg national champion, he finished behind Komarov at the 2019 Grand Prix of Germany, which kept him off of Russia’s 2019 Nur-Sultan team. And after Komarov’s 11th-place finish in Kazakhstan, whoever Russia elects to roll with moving forward, whether it’ll be Chakvetadze or Komarov, will have to qualify their nation for the 2020 Olympic Games at 87kg.

At 130kg, 2018 world champion Sergey Semenov sealed up at 3-0 win over Zurabi GEDEHAURI and got back to his winning ways after he failed to lock up an Olympic qualification spot with a disappointing 17th-place in Nur-Sultan.

According to www.wrestrus.ru ’s correspondent Tigran AVANIAN, Russia’s lineup for the 2020 European Championships is scheduled to be released on February 6.

It should be noted that the following wrestlers were released from the 2020 Russian National Championships:  
60kg – Sergey EMELIN (2018 world champion, 2019 world silver)
60kg – Stepan MARYANYAN (2018 world champion, 2019 world silver)
67kg – Artem SURKOV (2018 world champion, 2019 world silver)
77kg – Roman VLASOV (Two-time Olympic champion)
97kg – Musa EVLOEV (2019 and ‘18 world champion)

RESULTS 
55kg - Vitaly KABALOEV df. Emin SEFERSAEV, 3-2 
60kg – Zambolat LOKIYAEV df. Artur PETROSYAN, 7-0 
63kg – Ibrahim LABAZANOV df. Marat MARIPOV, 5-5
67kg - Alain MIRZOYAN df. Nazir ABDULAEV - 5: 6
72kg - Adam KURAK df. Magomed YARILBOV, 3-0 
77kg - Alexander CHEKHIRKIN df. Islam OPIEV, 7-0 
82kg - Shamil OZHAEV df. Ruslan VARDANYAN, 6-2 
87kg - Davit CHAKVETADZE df. Alexander KOMAROV, 4-2 
97kg - Alexander GOLOVIN df. Nikita MELNIKOV, 3-1 
130kg - Sergey SEMENOV df. Zurabi GEDEHAURI, 3-0

5. Japan Wins Five Klippan Lady Open Golds; Bullen Wrestles in Italy and Sweden Days Apart
Japan won five of nine gold medals at the Klippan Lady Open, while Grace BULLEN (NOR) grabbed gold in Sweden days after competing in Italy at the Matteo Pellicone.

Umi ITO (JPN), Rino KATAOKA (JPN), Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) and Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) won their respective traditional brackets as Ami ISHII (JPN) won the 65kg Nordic style bracket. 

Ita and Kataoka, who won the 50kg and 53kg titles, respectively, each ended their matches early with 10-0 shutout wins. Ito blanked Felicia GALLO (FRA) and Kataoka shutout Ellen RIESTERER (GER). 

Sakurai scored the biggest win for Japan when she snuck past seven-time world and Olympic medalist, Sofia MATTSSON (SWE), 4-2, for the gold at 55kg. 

Japan’s final gold medalist was Yuka Kagami, who edged Dymond GUILFORD (USA), 2-1, in the 76kg gold medal bout. 

Meanwhile, Norway’s Grace Bullen won gold at 59kg at the Klippan Lady Open days after going wrestling in Italy at the Matteo Pellicone. In Italy, Bullen went 2-2 but fell to eventual 57kg silver and bronze medalists, respectively, Anshu ANSHU (IND) and Linda MORAIS (CAN). In Sweden, the 2018 U23 world champion throttled Abigail NETTE (USA), 10-0, in the finals at 59kg. 

RESULTS
50kg - Umi ITO (JPN) df. Felicia GALLO (FRA), 10-0 
53kg - Rino KATAOKA (JPN) df. Ellen RIESTERER (GER), 10-0 
55kg - Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) df. Sofia MATTSSON (SWE), 4-2 
57kg - (Nordic Style) - Lauren LOUIVE (USA) df.  Cameron GUERIN (USA), 8-0 
59kg - Grace BULLEN (NOR) df. Abigail NETTE (USA), 10-0 
62kg - Jennifer PAGE (USA) df. Emma JOHANSSON (SWE), via fall 
65 kg - (Nordic Style) - Ami ISHII (JPN) df. Rin TERAMOTO (JPN), 8-3 
72 kg - (Nordic Style) - Danuté DOMIKAITYE (LTU) df. Mizuki NAGASHIMA (JPN), 13-3
76kg - Yuka KAGAMI (JPN) df. Dymond GUILFORD (USA), 2-1

Weekly FIVE In Social Media

1. Big Move Monday -- Temirtassova A. (KAZ) -- Senior Worlds 2019 #WrestleNursultan
2. We want to thank all 400k wrestling fans for the continued support. ? ? #unitedworldwrestling
3. Behind the scenes at #wrestlerome
4. @frankchamizo92 talks about why he's sitting out of Matteo Pellicone and potential matchups with Dake, Burroughs and Sidakov ??? // Full interview on our Instagram bio
5. Big Move Of Day 3 at #WrestleRome Ranking Series Matteo Pellicone!

#WrestleParis

Wrestling at Paris 2024: Lopez beats Mirzazadeh, Ozaki falls

Monday, August 5, 2024 - 12:41 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

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PARIS (August 5) -- Welcome to wrestling at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Day one here at the Champs de Mars Arena with Greco-Roman in 130kg and 60kg and Women's Wrestling in 68kg.

LIVE MATCH ORDER | PARIS 2024 NEWS

What a session of wrestling! Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) marches towards a fifth Olympic gold medal after reaching the semifinals at 130kg. He downed world champion Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) 3-1. At 60kg, Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) vs Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) in the semifinal. 

In women's wrestling, Amit ELOR (USA) has Sol Gum PAK (PRK) while Blessing OBURODUDU (NGR) wrestles Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ)

17:20: Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) looks like a man on a mission as he puts away Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) on his first chance of par terre, going back and forth for four exposures and a 9-0 win in 1:43 at Greco 60kg. That sets up a mouth-watering encounter with Sharshenbekov for a place in the finals.

17:17: Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) pulls off one of the biggest victories of her career, scoring a takedown with seven seconds left to stun Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) 8-6 at women's 68kg after squandering a six-point lead. Zhumanazarova counters a single leg for a takedown and adds a roll, then picks up a second takedown to go up 6-0 at the break. Ozaki comes back in the second period with a takedown and gut wrench, then goes ahead on criteria with a takedown with 1:10 left. But Zhumanazarova still has some fight left in her, and gets behind on a single for the win.

17:15: Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) rides a 4-point throw from par terre to a 9-0 victory over Razvan ARNAUT (ROU) to secure his place in the Greco 60kg semifinals.

17:07: Liguo CAO (CHN) gets a 4-point throw from par terre and that makes the difference in a 5-3 victory over a gutsy Raiber RODRIGUEZ (VEN) to advance to the Greco 60kg semifinals.

17:06: Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) relied on her wits and experience to defy the home crowd and get past Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) 6-2 and advance to the women's 68kg semifinals. Oborududu trailed 2-1 in the second period when she scored a takedown with 1:10 left. With Larroque pressing for the winning score, it was Oborududu who came up with a takedown to clinch the win.

17:03: A semifinal for Yasmani ACOSTA (CHI) as he hangs on for a 2-1 win over Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY) at 130kg. He will wrestle Lingzhe MENG (CHN) for a spot in the final

16:53: Teenager Sol Gum PAK (PRK) and a right shoulder injury prove too much for NISHA (IND), who can't hang on and is eliminated with a 10-8 loss at women's 68kg. Nisha was the dominant force, building up an 8-2 lead when she injured her shoulder during a Pak takedown. She could offer little resistance as Pak continued to score points until getting the winning takedown with 8 seconds left to earn a semifinal clash with Elor.

16:52: Lingzhe MENG (CHN) survived a second passivity call against himself to beat Mantas KNYSTAUTAS (LTU) 1-1 and enter the semifinal at 130kg in Greco-Roman

16:47: Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN), who ended the Tokyo Olympics in tears after losing to a Cuban in the Greco 60kg, showed no mercy for Kevin DE ARMAS (CUB) as he cruised to an 11-1 victory. Fumita gets three rolls from par terre in the first period, then finishes off the proceedings with a 4-point headlock throw in the second.

16:39: Three-time Asian medalist Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) makes short work of Abdelkarim FERGAT (ALG), reeling off a series of gut wrenches for a 9-0 victory in 1:48 at Greco 60kg.

16:40: Sabah SHARIATI (AZE) gets both the par terre to lead 2-0 against Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ). The Kazakh is then docked two points for his aggressive open hand. Shariati wins 4-0 to enter the semifinals against Lopez

16:37: Amit ELOR (USA) proves too much for Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) and she's comfortably into the women's 68kg semifinals with an 8-0 victory. Elor gets two takedowns and a stepout in the first period, then adds an activity point and takedown in the second.  

16:35: Razvan ARNAUT (ROU) uses a nice arm drag for a first-period takedown, then adds a second 2-point in the second in a 4-2 win over Enes BASAR (TUR) at Greco 60kg. Basar used the over-the-top jump to score a late takedown, but the clock ran out before he completed a turn.

16:30: Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) and Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) in the 130kg quarterfinal. Lopez defeated the Iranian in the Tokyo Olympics. In Paris, he gets the first par terre advantage and, hold your breath, gets a turn from par terre to lead 3-0 at the break! What a moment in the match. Three minutes to wrestle. Mirzazadeh used a much more aggressive approach in the second period. Lopez is called for passivity and is now in par terre. Mirzazadeh needs a turn to take the criteria lead. Mirzazadeh wants to resume in standing. That strategy from Iran will need three points for a win. Lopez is still standing tall over Mirzazadeh. Mijain LOPEZ beats Mirzazadeh 3-1 and moves into the semifinal

16:27: Like her compatriot minutes before Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Meerim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) needs a comeback to get by Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) 8-3 at women's 68kg. Zhumanazarova trails 3-0 going into the second period when she hits a 4-point takedown, then tangles up Enkhsaikhan's legs and scores a pair of rolls. She will next face Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) for a place in the semifinals later tonight.

16:21: Two-time reigning world champion and top seed Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ), aiming to become his country's first-ever gold medalist, survives a tough first test from neighbor Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ), scoring two takedowns in the second period for a 6-3 win at Greco 68kg.

16:20: World bronze medalist Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY) pins age-group world champion Muhammet BAKIR (TUR) at 130kg. He moves into the quarterfinals. But it's time for the big one. Lopez vs Mirzazadeh

16:16: World 65kg champion Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) needs just 32 seconds to get past Soleymi CARABALLO (VEN) 10-0 to start her quest for the women's 68kg gold after missing out on Japan's place at her usual weight at 62kg.

16:14: Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) spotted former world champion Linda MORAIS (CAN) an early takedown, but came back with three of her own in the second period for an 8-2 victory at women's 68kg. 

16:10: Yasmani ACOSTA (CHI) hangs on to a 1-1 win over Kiril MILOV (BUL) at 130kg. Acosta got the passivity advantage in the second period which was enough for him to win 1-1. Milov, a regular at 97kg, moved to 130kg after Bulgaria was awarded a quota.

16:07: World bronze medalist Liguo CAO (CHN) hits a 4-point throw from par terre in the second period to secure a 6-2 victory over Moamen MOHAMED (EGY) at Greco 60kg. Cao was trailing 2-1 when he received the passivity point with 1:47 left to put him ahead on criteria, but sealed the deal with his big throw at the edge.

16:01: World bronze medalist Koumba LARROQUE (FRA), urged on by a loud partisan crowd in the Champs de Mars Arena, scores two takedowns in the first period and one in the second in a 6-0 victory over Tayla FORD (NZL).

15:59: Mantas KNYSTAUTAS (LTU) gets the par terre and never allows to Oussama ASSAD (MAR) to defend. He scores four turns and wins 9-0 to enter the quarterfinals at 130kg in Greco-Roman.

15:55: Raiber RODRIGUEZ (VEN) gives South America a rare victory by holding on to defeat two-time world medalist Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) 6-5 at Greco 60kg. Rodriguez, helped by a leg penalty, leads 6-1 before Mammadov scores a takedown with :45 left and adds a gut wrench to cut the gap to 1. Rodriguez then squirms out of a late takedown attempt to clinch the win and a place in the quarterfinals.

15:55: Lingzhe MENG (CHN) has a good warmup win over Jello KRAHMER (GER) at 130kg. He moves into the quarterfinals with a 4-1 win.

15:48: Sol Gum PAK (PRK) showed again how her country's wrestlers can never be underestimated when she outdueled former world champion Irina RINGACI (MDA) in a 10-6 thriller at women's 68kg. The two traded takedowns throughout the bout and Ringaci led 6-4 when Pak went ahead on criteria with a takedown with :58 left. She then put the matter to rest with a late 4-point takedown.

15:42: Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ) with a takedown in the second period to beat Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU) 3-1 at 130kg. Both exchanged passivity points but Syzdykov kept the pressure up and got the takedown with just over a minute left in the bout.

15:39: World bronze medalist Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) gets started at Greco 60kg with a comfortable 9-0 victory over Refugee Team member Jamal VALIZADEH (EOR). Bakhramov was just unstoppable with his gut wrenches from par terre in ending the match at 3:52.

15:37: Asian bronze medalist NISHA (IND) bounces back after giving up an early 4-point takedown to Tatiana SOVA RIZHKO (UKR) at women's 68kg, scoring two takedowns in the second period for a 6-4 victory. Sova Rizhko used a nice reverse headlock-back trip combination for her 4 points. 

15:32: Victor Ciobanu (MDA), the 2021 world champion who finished fifth at the Tokyo Olympics, falls at the first stage at Greco 60kg to Se Ung RI (PRK). From par terre, Ciobanu gets a reverse lock and pulls Ri back and over his head for 2, but Ri responds with a front headlock roll for 4 that was originally given 2 but upgraded on a challenge. Ri then catches Ciobanu when he tries the desperation over-the-head jump, throws him to his back and records the fall with 1:02 left.

15:30: Two veterans at 130kg. 2012 London Olympic silver medalist Heiki NABI (EST) and Rio bronze medalist Sabah SHARIATI (AZE) on Mat C. Nabi gets the first par terre advantage and leads 1-0. Shariati gets the par terre in the second and leads 1-1 on criteria. Shariati maintains the lead and wins 1-1 on criteria

15:22: Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) pulls a surprise at women's 68kg, knocking off Zagreb Open champion Feng ZHOU (CHN) 10-3. Choluj uses a beautiful fireman's carry to take a 4-1 lead into the second period. The match hits a key point when Choluj gets in deep for a takedown and Zhou tries a counter lift. That gives both 2 points, but Choluj rolls through it and lands on top for 2 more to go ahead 8-3. 

15:22: Four-time Olympic champion Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) sets up a quarterfinal against world champion Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) at 130kg. He looks formidable in his 7-0 win over Seungchan LEE (KOR).

15:13: Beginning the action at Greco 60kg on Mat A, Enes BASAR (TUR) puts together an amazing rally to defeat Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) 8-7 in a battle of the world 63kg bronze medalists. Tibilov storms to a 7-0 lead in the first period, but Basar turns the tide in the second, scoring a takedown and gut wrench, then getting another gut wrench from par terre. An unsuccessful challenge of a late takedown attempt gives Basar his final point.

15:12: The women's 68kg competition gets started on Mat B with a clash of reigning world champions. Amit ELOR (USA), the gold medalist at 72kg, had little problem putting away the top-seed and world 68kg champion Buse TOSUN (TUR), scoring four takedowns in a 10-2 victory.

15:09: World champion Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) gets his first win as he beats Adam COON (USA) with no trouble. He scores a turn from par terre to lead 3-0 at the break. Coon gets the par terre in the second period but no turn for him. Mirzazadeh wins 3-1 and enters the quarterfinals.

15:00: Wresting at the 2024 Paris Games could not have had a better story to follow on day one. Mijain LOPEZ (CUB) is going for his fifth Olympic gold medal at the Olympics. No athlete has done that before.