Weekly FIVE! July 30, 2019

Monday, July 29, 2019 - 22:57 By Eric Olanowski

Reviewing the Cadet World Championships, the Oleg Karavaev and Russia sweeping the Stepan Sargsyan. Also looking at this week's Poland Open and German Grand Prix and Taymazov being stripped of his second Olympic gold medal.

1. Cadet Worlds Underway in Sofia, Bulgaria
The 2019 Cadet World Championships are in full swing in Sofia, Bulgaria. Freestyle kicked off the championships on Monday and will hold center stage until Wednesday when women’s wrestling grabs the reigns. Greco-Roman takes charge on Friday and will close out the first of this year’s World Championships.

On the first day of competition, Iran dominated -- putting four of their five wrestlers into the Day 2 finals.

Iran will be led by returning cadet world champion Rahman AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI). He’ll be making his second-straight trip to the finals after defeating 2018 Cadet Pan American champion Stevo POULIN (USA) in the 48 kg semifinals with a 12-0 tech fall. Amouzadkhalili will take on Asian bronze medalist Kamronbek KADAMOV (UZB) in the 48kg finals.

Meanwhile, Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) will also be looking to add a second cadet world title to his resume. Jalolov, a 2017 Cadet World champion and 2018 Youth Olympic Games champion, punched his ticket to the finals after an 8-0 win over 2019 Cadet European silver medalist and 2018 Cadet European bronze medalist Muhammet KARAVUS (TUR). He’ll wrestle two-time Asian bronze medalist Mahdi Mehrdad VEISI (IRI) in the gold-medal bout.

Wrestling continues on Tuesday at 10:30 (local time) with the qualification rounds and the Day 2 finals will begin at 18:00. Here are the finals matchups for the second day of wrestling at the Cadet World Championships:

Day Two Freestyle Finals:
48kg: Rahman Mousa AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI) vs. Kamronbek KADAMOV (UZB)
55kg: Mahdi Mehrdad VEISI (IRI) vs. Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB)
65kg: Batyrbek TSKHOVREBOV (RUS) vs. Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE)
80kg: Amirhossein Biglar FIROUZPOURBANDPEI (IRI) vs. Arslan BAGAEV (RUS)
110kg: Arsamag ZASSEEV (RUS) vs. Giorgi CHIKHRADZE (GEO)

Click HERE to read Taylor Miller's preview of the Day 2 freestyle finals.

2. Regular Season Closes out at the Oleg Karavaev
Belarus not only hosted the Oleg Karavaev but also closed out the final Ranking Series event of the season with the team title. They narrowly edged second-place Russia by two points in the team race. Their four gold medalists were: Pavel LIAKH, Viktar SASUNOUSKI, Radzik KULIYEU and Siarhei STARADUB. The quartet won their titles at 77kg, 82kg, 87kg and 97kg, respectively.

Viktar Sasunouski gave the host nation arguably their most impressive Oleg Karavaev gold medal and sealed up the third seed at September’s World Championships with a late clutch throw in the 82kg finals against the No.1-ranked Emrah KUS (TUR).

In the opening period of the gold-medal match, Sasunouski conceded an inactivity point and an exposure and fell behind 3-0 to last year’s Budapest world runner-up. Sasunouski scored first in the second period and trailed 3-1 when he threw a desperation headlock -- which was good enough to pick up two correct throw points. Sasunouski hung on to edge Kus, 3-3 on criteria.

Sasunouski came into the Oleg Karavaev as the fourth-ranked wrestler in the world at 82kg, but after his title-winning efforts in his home country, he’s passed Iran’s Saeid ABDVALI for the third seed heading into Nur-Sultan.

RESULTS

Final Team Standings
GOLD - Belarus (147 points)
SILVER - Russia (145 points)
BRONZE - Turkey (113 points)
FOURTH -Kazakhstan (88 points)
FIFTH - Uzbekistan (67 points)

Gold Medal Results
55kg - Emin Narimanovitch SEFERSHAEV (RUS) df. Manjeet MANJEET (IND), 9-0
60kg - Seunghak KIM (KOR) df. Ahmet UYAR (TUR) , 3-1
63kg -  Shinobu OTA (JPN) df. Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB), 11-1
67kg - Mohamed Ibrahim Elsayed Ibrahi ELSAYED (EGY) df. Hansu RYU (KOR), via fall
72kg - Magomed YARBILOV (RUS) df. Narek OGANIAN (RUS), 3-2
77kg -  Pavel LIAKH (BLR) df. Shohei YABIKU (JPN), 11-0
82kg -  Viktar SASUNOUSKI (BLR) df. Emrah KUS (TUR), 3-3
87kg - Radzik KULIYEU (BLR) df. Dogan GOKTAS (TUR), 2-2
97kg - Siarhei STARADUB (BLR) df. Suleyman DEMIRCI (TUR), 6-1
130kg - Osman YILDIRIM (TUR) df. Abdellatif Mohamed Ahmed MOHAMED (EGY), 9-0

Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RUS) defeated European champion Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM), 12-2 in the Stepan Sargsyan finals. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

3. Russia Reels in Ten Golds at Stepan Sargsyan
The 24th Annual Stepan Sargsyan closed out in Vanadzo, Armenia, and the Russian Federation swept the ten-weight tournament -- capturing gold medals in every weight class. Russian wrestlers occupied 17 of the 20 finals spots and went 10-for-10 in gold medal bouts.

Perhaps the most impressive Russian performance of the tournament came in the battle of European champions at 61kg, where Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RUS) reached the top of the podium with an impressive 12-2 routing of Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM).

Magomedov, the reigning U23 Euroeapn champion, scored three takedowns in the opening period and commanded the 6-0 lead over the reigning senior-level European champion. The Russian conceded a takedown to the Armenian and still led 6-2. The Russian tacked on two second period takedowns and controlled the 10-2 lead when he trapped Harutyunyan’s left arm and ended the match with a right-sided trapped arm gut wrench.

RESULTS
57kg - Azamat TUSKAEV (RUS) df. Mihran JABURYAN (ARM), 10-0
61kg - Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RUS) df. Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM), 12-2
65kg - Aznaur TAVAEV (RUS) df. Artur BADTIEV (RUS), 9-4
70kg - Anzor ZAKUEV (RUS) df. Meirzhan ASHIROV (KAZ), 5-4
74kg - Magomedkhabib KADIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) df. Khetik TSABOLOV (RUS), 11-10
79kg - Kamil ISAEV (RUS) df. Malik SHAVAEV (RUS), via fall
86kg - Zaur MAKIEV (RUS) df. Tamerlan TAPSIEV (RUS), 3-1
92kg - Radik NARTIKOEV (RUS) df. Guram CHERTKOEV (RUS), 6-2
97kg - Znur KOTSIEV (RUS) df. Azret SHOGENOV (RUS), 8-4
125kg - Vitalii GOLOEV (RUS) df. Soslan KHINCHAGOV (RUS), 6-6

Dauren KURUGLIEV and Artur NAIFONOV could meet in the Poland Open, with the winner gaining the 86kg Russian world team spot. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

4. Poland Open and German Grand Prix Kick off This Weekend
The Poland Open and German Grand Prix will take place this weekend, and will both have extremely important storylines to follow – especially heading into the 2019 World Championships.

The Poland Open, which will take place in Warsaw on August 2-4, will double up as the special wrestle-off site for the Russian Federation at 86kg between Dauren KURUGLIEV and Artur NAIFONOV.

Kurugliev, the European Games champion, was released from the Russian National Championships where Naifonov, the 2018 European champion, was the winner of the 86kg bracket. The other weights that were excused from the National Championships were 57kg, 65kg, 74kg, 97kg and 125kg. But, those weights will not be contested at the Poland Open.

The standard in years past at these special wrestle-offs has been that the highest placer at each weight will go on to represent Russia at their respective weight at the World Championships. That is expected to be the case again at 86kg. After the conclusion of the Poland Open and the final five wrestle-offs, the Russian coaching staff will announce their Nur-Sultan world team representatives in late-August.

Russia's Remaining Wrestle-Offs
57kg - Zaur UGUEV vs. Ramiz GAMZATOV or Aryian TYUTRIN
65kg - Akhmed CHAKAEV vs. Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV
74kg - Zaurbek SIDAKOV vs. Magomed KURBANALIEV
97kg - Abdulrashid SADULAEV vs. Vladislav BAITSAEV
125kg - ANZOR KHIZRIEV vs. Alan KHUGAEV

The second tournament worth following this weekend is the 36th Annual German Grand Prix which will take place in Dortmund, Germany (August 3-4).

In addition to Germany’s three-time world champion Frank STAEBLER making his first appearance down to 67kg since the Rio Olympics, four Olympic medalist and two other reigning world champions will be in action.

Olympic champions Roman VLASOV (RUS) and Davit CHAKVETADZE (RUS) will compete at 77kg and 87kg, respectively, while Rio bronze Stig Andre BERGE (NOR) and London runner-up Heiki NABI (EST) will take part in the tournament at 60kg and 130kg, respectively.

The two returning world champions taking the mat in Germany will be Artem SURKOV (RUS) and Musa EVLOEV (RUS). Surkov will compete at 67kg, where he’s the reigning world champion. Evloev will also compete at the weight where he’s the reigning world champion, 97kg.

Artur TAYMAZOV (UZB) was stripped of his London Olympic medal after a reanalysis of his anti-doping test at the 2012 Olympic Games. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

5. Taymazov Stripped of London Olympic Gold After Failed Anti-Doping Test Surfaces
Artur TAYMAZOV (UZB) has been stripped of his 2012 London Olympic gold medal by the IOC Disciplinary Commission (DC) after a reanalysis of his anti-doping test at the 2012 Olympic Games. The Uzbek tested positive for the prohibited substance dehydrochlormethyltestosterone (oral turinabol).

Taymazov has been removed from the 120kg gold-medal slot and the order of the medalists will be reshuffled as the following:

Gold: Komeil GHASEMI (IRI)
Silver: Bilyal MAKHOV (RUS)
Bronze: Tervel DLAGNEV (USA)
Bronze: Daulet SHABANBAY (KAZ)

Taymazov, who was also stripped of his 2008 Beijing Olympic gold medal for the use of prohibited substances, has 21 days to appeal the IOC DC decision before CAS. United World Wrestling will then determine the sanctions faced by the athlete.

Weekly FIVE! In Social Media
1. Big Move Monday -- Renteria T. (COL) -- Junior Panams 2019
2. Veisi from Iran defeats Howard (USA) and takes his place in tomorrow’s 55kg final.
3. Big Moves From Day 2 // Ranking Series //Oleg Karavaev // Minsk 2019
4. Erica Wiebe - On The Shoulders Of Giants - Olympic Champion Erica Weibe (@eweebz) may have been the only Canadian wrestler to win a gold medal in Rio, but as she tells 'Wrestling 360', her journey was only possible because of the pioneers who paved the way. Watch “On the Shoulders of Giants”.
5. Wow! Look at the medals for @tokyo2020! ?? Comment and tag the next @olympicchampion ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Weekly FIVE!

Weekly FIVE! July 16, 2019

Tuesday, July 16, 2019 - 14:30 By Eric Olanowski

Discussing the four No. 1 seeds that changed hands at the Yasar Dogu, Japan's wrestle-offs, and Wiebe's hot streak. Also looking at results from the Junior Asian Championships and next week's Oleg Karavaev.

1. Four No. 1 Seeds Change Hands After Yasar Dogu
Four No.1 seeds changed hands after the final Ranking Series event of the year, the Yasar Dogu, that wrapped up last weekend in Istanbul, Turkey.

Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) and Kyle SNYDER (USA) gained the top spots in freestyle at 74kg and 97kg, respectively, while the Turkish one-two punch of Buse TOSUN (TUR) and Yasemin ADAR (TUR) now control the top seed at 72kg and 76kg, respectively.

Frank Chamizo, a two-time world champion, came into the Yasar Dogu four points behind reigning world champion Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS) but passed the Russian with a runner-up finish in Istanbul. His potential semifinal opponent will be Budapest world runner-up Avtandil KENTCHADZE, who is ranked fourth at 74kg.

Kyle Snyder sat two points behind rival Abdulrashid SADUALEV (RUS), but grabbed a gold medal last weekend in Turkey and slid ahead of “The Russian Tank” for the top spot at 97kg.

Buse Tosun was nine points behind reigning world champion Justina DI STASIO (CAN), but collected 14 Ranking Series points, and will be the No. 1 ranked wrestler in the world at 72kg.

Yasemin Adar leaped last year’s world champion Adeline GRAY (USA) for the top spot at 76kg after finished in third place at the Yasar Dogu. Adar will take on Rio Olympic champion and fourth-seeded Erica WIEBE (CAN) in the semifinals if both wrestlers remain undefeated until that point in Nur-Sultan. Erica WIEBE (CAN) defeated world champion Yasemin ADAR (TUR) en route to her Yasar Dogu title. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

2. Wiebe Upends World or Olympic Champion at Third Consecutive Tournament
Canada’s Olympic champion Erica Wiebe defeated 2017 world champion Yasemin Adar and extended her streak to three consecutive tournaments where she’s defeated a world or Olympic champion. Wiebe, the Rio Olympic champion, “upset” now-top-ranked Yasemin Adar, 6-2 in the Yasar Dogu quarterfinals and kept her winning streak over a world or Olympic champion alive.

In the Sassari City Tournament, Wiebe stuck Olympic champion Natalia VOROBIEVA (RUS) in the opening period, then followed that up with a victory over reigning world champion Justina Di Stasio to win the Canada Cup title three weeks ago.

After her quarterfinals win against Adar at this Yasar Dogu, Wiebe defeated No. 2-ranked Aline ROTTER FOCKEN (GER) before closing out the gold-medal bout with a 2-1 victory over Aline DA SILVA FERREIRA (BRA).

The Canadian earned the fourth seed at the World Championships and could meet Yasemin Adar again in the semifinals if the seeds hold true in Nur-Sultan.

Haruna OKUNO (JPN) will wrestle in a special wrestle-off at 55kg. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

3. Okuno, Ota Enter Japan World Team Playoffs in Non-Olympic Weights
World champion Haruna OKUNO and Rio 2016 Olympic silver medalist Shinobu OTA, who missed out on places on Japan's team to this year's World Championships in Olympic weight classes, have entered the playoffs for spots in non-Olympic divisions, the Japan Wrestling Federation announced on its website.

Okuno, the world champion last year in Budapest at 53kg, will move up to 55kg---the same weight class she won a world gold at Paris 2017. Okuno was defeated in the Japan team qualifying at 53kg by Mayu Mukaida, the world champion at 55kg who dropped down to the Olympic weight.

Likewise, Asian champion Ota failed to displace 2017 world champion Kenichiro FUMITA at Greco-Roman 60kg, and will now try to make the team at 63kg in the non-Olympic weight playoffs, to be held July 21 at the National Training Center in Tokyo.

Click HERE to see Ken Marantz' full breakdown.

Amir Hossein Abbas ZARE (IRI) was one of six Iranian freestyle wrestlers who reached the top of the podium at the Junior Asian Championships in Chon Buri, Thailand. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

4. Junior Asian Championships Closeout in Chon Buri
The Junior Asian Championships closed out in Chon Buri, Thailand, and the three-team titles went to Iran in freestyle and Greco-Roman, and Japan in women’s wrestling.

In freestyle, for the second straight day, Iran won three gold medals, bringing the gold medal haul to six over the two-day freestyle competition. Iran finished with 201 points, 55 points ahead of runner-up Japan. India finished third in the team standings with 129 points.

Iran capped off a dominant performance in Greco-Roman by claiming four more gold medals, bringing their total gold-medal haul in Greco-Roman to seven over two days.

Iran finished the Greco-Roman competition with 218 points, which was enough to win the team title by 72 points over runner-up Kazakhstan. India finished third in the team standings, one point behind Kazakhstan.

Japan finished the women’s wrestling competition with 200 points and earned medals in all ten weight categories. The medal haul included four gold medals, two silver medals, and four bronze medals. China finished second in the team standings with 157 points, while India was third with 123 points.

Belarus' returning world bronze medalist Viktar SASUNOUSKI will be looking for his third Oleg Karavaev title. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

5. Oleg Karavaev Begins Next Friday
The regular season closes out next week with the final Greco-Roman Ranking Series event, the Oleg Karavaev. The two-day tournament, which will be held in Minsk, Belarus, begins on July 26 and can be followed live on www.unitedworldwrestling.org.

Though they are not official until 24 hours before the tournament begins, the entries for the Oleg Karavaev currently feature nearly 175 wrestlers from 19 different nations. Those entries are scheduled to be released later this week.

Weekly FIVE! July 30, 2019

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Weekly FIVE! July 16, 2019