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! April 23, 2019

Tuesday, April 23, 2019 - 14:54 By Eric Olanowski

Discussing the American's winning ten freestyle Pan-American golds, and the Asian and Oceania Championships. Also looking at Olympic champions Icho and Gatsalov making their returns after long layoffs.

1. USA Freestyle Sweeps Pan-American Championships
In what was the most dominant continental performance ever, the United States’ freestyle team swept the Pan-American Championships in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and won all ten gold medals.

En route to their history-making performance, the United States went a perfect 34-0 and outscored their opponents 301-28. The USA finished with 250 points, which was 121 points ahead of second place Canada, who closed out the freestyle portion of the tournament with 129 points.

Cuba (115 points), Puerto Rico (72 points), and Venezuela (68 points) rounded out the top five in freestyle.

Meanwhile, the Stars and Stripes also claimed team titles in Greco-Roman and women’s wrestling.

In Greco-Roman, the USA inserted eight wrestlers into gold-medal bouts and won four gold medals. Cuba (135 points), Brazil (98 points), Venezuela (84 points), and Mexico (64 points), finished second through fifth respectively.

In women’s wrestling, the Red, White, and Blue medaled in nine of ten weights, including reaching the top of the podium in five weight classes. The USA finished with 200 points. The other top-five team finishers respectively were Canada (167 points), Ecuador (89 points), Brazil (89 points), and Cuba (86 points).

Click here for full Pan-American Results

2. Asian Championships Kicked off Today in Xi’an, China
The Asian Championships kicked off today at Xi’an's Electronic Science and Technology University Gymnasium and will last through Sunday (March 28).

The first five freestyle weights were settled today, and it was a trio of Iranian wrestlers who grabbed titles on the opening day, with the 65kg and 70kg gold medals going to India’s Bajrang PUNIA (IND) and Kazakhstan’s Nurkozha KAIPANOV respectively.

The three Iranian champions who gave their country the lead heading into the final day of freestyle wrestling were Reza Ahmadali ATRINAGHARCHI (57kg), Bahman Mohammad TEYMOURI (79kg), and Reza Mohammad Ali YAZDANI (97kg).

Women’s wrestling, which returns two champions, one silver, and seven returning bronze medalists, begins on Thursday. Greco-Roman, which features one returning finalist and five bronze medalists, begins on Saturday and will close out the 2019 Asian Championships.

All the action can be followed live on www.unitedworldwrestling.org.

SCHEDULE
Wednesday (March 24)
9:30 - Medical examination and Weigh-in FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg
11:30 - Qualification rounds and repechage FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg
14:45 - Draw WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
18:00 - Finals FS – 61-74-86-92-125kg / Award ceremonies

Thursday (March 25)
9:30 - Medical examination and Weigh-in WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
11:30 - Qualification rounds and repechage WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg
14:45 - Draw WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg
18:00 - Finals WW – 50-55-59-68-76kg / Award ceremonies

Friday (March 26)
9:30 - Medical examination and Weigh-in WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg
11:30 - Qualification rounds and repechage WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg
14:45 - Draw GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg
18:00 - Finals WW – 53-57-62-65-72kg / Award ceremonies

Saturday (March 27)
9:30 - Medical examination and Weigh-in GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg
11:30 - Qualification rounds and repechage GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg
14:45 - Draw GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
18:00 - Finals GR – 55-63-77-87-130kg / Award ceremonies

Sunday (March 28)
9:30 - Medical examination and Weigh-in GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
11:30 - Qualification rounds and repechage GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg
18:00 - Finals matches GR – 60-67-72-82-97kg Award ceremonies

Olympic champion Khadshimourad GATSALOV (ARM) will transfer from Russia to Armenia with the hope of competing at the 2019 World Championships. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

3. Olympic Champion Gatsalov Seeking Transfer From Russia to Armenia
Khadshimourad GATSALOV, the five-time world and Athens Olympic champion, is expected to return to the mat for the first time since 2016. But, it won’t for the Russian Federation where he conquered the world and Olympic stage a combined six times, and will instead be for Armenia.

Within the last few weeks, Gatsalov began the transfer process and has aspirations of competing in an Armenian singlet at the 2019 World Championships in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, which take place in mid-September.

According to sources close to the Armenian Wrestling Federation, Gatasalov was originally notified that “the transfer would not be approved until after October or November." But Armenia is "trying to manage that the transfer be approved before September for the World Championships.”

If Gatsalov’s transfer does get approved before September, he’ll compete for Armenia at 97kg. This means that 97kg at the World Championships will house Olympic champions Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS), Kyle SNYDER (USA), and now, Khadshimourad Gatsalov.

Here's Gatasalov's Instagram page.

Japan's four-time Olympic champion Kaori ICHO returns to the mat on Friday after a 32-month layoff (Photo: Gabor Martin)

4. Four-Time Olympic Champion Icho to Wrestle Friday
The most decorated women’s wrestler ever, Kaori ICHO, is set to make her international return for the first time in 32 months. In her last international outing, Icho became the first woman to reach the top of the podium at the Olympic Games four consecutive times.

The 34-year-old will compete on Friday at 57kg at the 2019 Asian Championships.

For Icho to win her sixth Asian title, she’ll have to fight through one of the deepest weight classes of the tournament. The favorite to win the 57kg is China’s reigning world champion RONG Ningning (CHN), who is the No. 1 ranked wrestler in the world at this weight.

Those two will have formidable company in the form of Budapest 2018 world bronze medalist Pooja DHANDA (IND), the Dan Kolov-Nikola Petrov winner at 59kg; Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL), the world U23 bronze medalist and Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix winner; and JONG Myong-Suk (PRK), the Asian Games champion and a world bronze medalist at 55kg.

5. Oceania Championships Wrap up in Yona, Guam
The Oceania Championships wrapped up in Yona, Guam, and the Federated States of Micronesia won the freestyle and Greco-Roman team titles.

In freestyle, the Federated States of Micronesia had champions at 57kg and 92kg, while also welcoming medalists in four other weight classes. The Federated States of Micronesia (127 points) completed the continental championship run seven points ahead of second place Guam (120 points). American Samoa and Palau tied for third place with 80 points, while French Polynesia, who had 65 points, rounded out the top five in the team race.

In Greco-Roman, the Federated States of Micronesia (100 points) medaled in five of the nine contested weights, including winning the 63kg gold medal. Their other points came from second-place finishes at the 67kg, 77kg, and 82kg, while also winning the bronze medal at 97kg.

Palau (90 points) and American Samoa (80 points) rounded out the top three in the team race.

Click here for full Oceania Championship results.

Weekly FIVE! In Social Media

1. Senior Asian C'ships From the 25th to the 28th Of April.
2. Selection of early action from the #wrestlebuenosaires w/lots of action!
3. Bajrang (IND) comes out on top after being down on points to take gold at the 2019 Asian Championships in Xi'an ??
4. Slick wrestling from Kaipanov KAZ in the 1/4 finals.
5. Big Move from Day 4 of #wrestlebuenosaires! ?

Weekly FIVE! July 30, 2019

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Weekly FIVE! April 23, 2019

Weekly FIVE! In Social Media