Weekly FIVE!

Weekly FIVE! November 19, 2018

By Eric Olanowski

Reviewing results from the U23 World Championships and the U15 Asian Schoolgirl Championships. Also looking at December's World Clubs Cup. ​​​​​​​

1. Bullen Gets Revenge to Win U23 World Championship
Grace BULLEN (NOR) stunned 2018 Senior World champion Ningning RONG (CHN) in the final seconds of the 59kg gold match of the 2018 U23 World Championships in Bucharest, Romania.

“I’m so thrilled. The last two days have been really amazing with how I’ve technically done in the matches and not only using my physical strength all the time,” Bullen said. “[Beating Rong] means more than winning gold. If I had faced her earlier in the bracket and won that way, I think it would feel as amazing as it does right now.”

Two weeks ago, Bullen and Rong met up in the 57 kg semifinals of the Senior World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, with Rong taking a 12-2 win. This time, Bullen came out on top.

Down 2-1 with 12 seconds left, Rong had Bullen’s leg in the air and the Norweigan whipped her opponent to her back for four points to steal the match, 5-2, and bring the crowd to its feet in the exciting finish.

In addition to her World crown, Bullen now owns a 2014 Cadet World gold, 2014 Youth Olympic Games gold and a 2017 Junior World bronze.

Also of note, Yudari SANCHEZ RODRIGUEZ (CUB) became the first Cuban women’s wrestling world champion in any age group. 

Sanchez, a 2017 Junior World silver medalist, and 2017 U23 World bronze medalist, won the crown at 68 kg, taking out Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN). Morikawa is a 2018 Junior World bronze medalist and 2016 Cadet World silver winner.

The Cuban shut down Morikawa’s offense and produced a 6-2 decision for the gold medal.

Women’s Wrestling U23 World Champions
50kg - Momoka KADOYA (JPN)
53kg - Miho IGARASHI (JPN)
55kg - Saki IGARASHI (JPN)
57kg - Alexandria TOWN (CAN)
59kg - Grace BULLEN (NOR)
62kg - Yukako KAWAI (JPN)
65kg - Ayana GEMPEI (JPN)
67kg - Yudari SANCHEZ RODRIGUEZ (CUB)
72kg - Buse TOSUN (TUR)
76kg - Paliha PALIHA (CHN)

Team scores       
1. Japan – 188
2. Russia – 113
3. China – 106
4. Ukraine – 81
5. USA – 76

2. Elsayed Wins Egypt’s First World Gold Since 2006
For the first time in 12 years, at any age group and in any style, Egypt produced a world champion with Mohamed Ibrahim ELSAYED winning the U23 World title at 67kg in Greco-Roman in Bucharest, Romania. The last Egyptian World champion was Mohamed Ibrahim Abdelfattah, who won a 2006 senior-level world gold in Greco-Roman at 84kg.

For Elsayed, it was a dominant run to the gold. At the break, Elsayed held a 2-0 lead over 2012 Cadet World champion Karim JAFAROV (AZE). From there, the Egyptian kept piling on the points, eventually shutting out his opponent for an 8-0 technical fall.

Also making history was Daniel CATARAGA (MDA) who became the first two-time U23 World champion in history, winning the 77kg Greco-Roman U23 world title.

After winning the 2017 U23 World title at 71kg, Cataraga bumped up to 77kg to claim his second, putting together a solid tournament to do so. In the gold-medal match, Cataraga faced 2018 U23 European champion Rajbek Alvievich BISULTANOV (DEN).


The newly minted U23 world champion Zviadi PATARIDZE (GEO) holds up six fingers to symbolize his three junior world titles and two cadet world championships. (Photo by Max Rose-Fyne)

Meanwhile, Zviadi PATARIDZE (GEO) added a U23 world gold to his five age-level world gold medal collection.

In the heavyweight finale, Pataridze, last year's U23 world runner-up, battled back from a five-point deficit against Osman YILDIRIM (TUR) to win gold at 130kg.

Yildirim led 5-0 at the break before Pataridze slowly chipped away at the lead, drawing a passivity, two caution-and-twos and a step out point to win his sixth age-group World championship.

Greco-Roman Wrestling U23 World Champions
55kg - Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO)
60kg - Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN)
62kg - Katsuaki ENDO (JPN)
67kg - Mohamed Ibrahim ELSAYED (EGY)
72kg - Cengiz ARSLAN (TUR)
77kg - Daniel CATARAGA (MDA)
82kg - Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO)
87kg - Semen NOVIKOV (UKR)
97kg - Aleksandr GOLOVIN (RUS)
130kg - Zviadi PATARIDZE (GEO)

Team results (top five)
1. Georgia – 126
2. Russia – 101
3. Turkey – 87
4. Japan – 80
5. Azerbaijan – 71

3. Olympic Silver Medalist Higuchi Wins to U23 World Title 
Among Japan’s pair of U23 freestyle world champions was 2016 Rio silver medalist, Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) at 65kg.

Higuchi relied on a takedown with 14 seconds left to defeat Morteza GHIASI CHEKA (IRI) to advance to the 65kg finals against 2018 Yasar Dogu runner-up Ali RAHIMZADE (AZE).

In the finals, 2016 Olympic silver medalist Higuchi edged in a 5-4 battle. Rahimzade rallied from a 4-1 deficit to tie the score as the clock ran out, but Higuchi held criteria. Azerbaijan’s corner challenged, looking for a fleeing call, but lost the challenge, resulting in another point for Higuchi.

Japan’s second champion was 57kg gold medalist Toshihiro HASEGAWA (JPN). In the finals, Hasegawa, a 2013 cadet world bronze medalist, went up 4-0 halfway through the first period against Kumar RAVI (IND) before locking up a cradle and getting the pin at the 2:08 mark.

Freestyle U23 World Champions 
57kg - Toshihiro HASEGAWA (JPN)
61kg - Magomedrasul IDRISOV (RUS)
65kg - Rei HIGUCHI (JPN)
70kg - Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK)

74kg - Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO)
79kg - Nika KENTCHADZE (GEO)
86kg - Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI)
92kg - Shamil ZUBAIROV (AZE)
97kg - Givi MATCHARASHVILI (GEO)
125kg - Said GAMIDOV (RUS)

Team results
1. Russia – 181
2. Georgia – 108
3. Iran – 105
4. Japan – 93
5. USA – 92

4. Rising Star Fujinami Leads Japan Gold Rush at Asian U-15 Girls
Having already surpassed her world medalist brother in one aspect, Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) continues to establish herself as a likely future star in Japan's women wrestling.

Fujinami, a junior high schooler who this summer became a world cadet champion, stormed to victory in the 54kg division to lead a gold rush by the host country at the Asian U-15 Girls Championships on Friday in Fujimi, north of Tokyo.

Fujinami was one of six Japanese who made it to the top of the medal podium in the 10 weight classes, with Miu OBATA (39kg),  Yu SAKAMOTO (46kg), Moe KIYOOKA (50kg), Kanami YAMANOUCHI (58kg) and Ayano MORO (62kg) also emerging victorious. Japan also won two silver medals.

India claimed three golds, including a victory at 42kg by world cadet bronze medalist SWEETY (IND), along with three silvers and a bronze, while Uzbekistan took the remaining title in the heaviest weight of 66kg as well as four bronzes. It was a bittersweet day for Mongolia, which had to settle for four silver medals to go with one bronze.

Women's Wrestling U15 Asian Champions 
36kg - Komal KOMAL (IND)
39kg - Miu OBATA (JPN)
42kg - Sweety SWEETY (IND)
46kg - Yu SAKAMOTO (JPN) 
50kg - Moe KIYOOKA (JPN)
54kg - Akari FUJINAMI (JPN)
58kg - Kanami YAMANOUCHI (JPN)
62kg - Ayano MORO (JPN)
66kg - Rushana ABDIRASULOVA (UZB)

Team Standings
1. Japan - 202
2. India - 181 
3. Kazakhstan -125 
4. Mongolia - 114
5. Uzbekistan - 105

5. Tehran to Host 2018 World Wrestling Clubs Cup in Three Weeks 
Tehran, Iran is set to host the fifth annual World Wrestling Clubs Cup on December 13-14. 

Last year, 16 World and Olympic medalists took part in the two-day competition, but it was Iran's Easy Pipe Kashan who edged defending champions from the United States, Titan Mercury, 6-4, while Setaregan Sari (IRI) downed Khimori (MGL) in the third-place dual.

2017 Finals Results 
57kg - Reza ATARI (Easy Pipe) df. Thomas GILMAN (TMWC), 6-4 
61kg- Vladimir KHINCHEGASHVILI (Easy Pipe) df. Alan WATERS (TMWC), 7-0
65kg- Farzad AMOUZAD KHALILI df. (Easy Pipe) Bernard FUTRELL (TMWC), 6-3
70kg- Mohammad NADERI (Easy Pipe) df. Franklin GOMEZ (TMWC), 2-2
74kg- Nazariy KULCHYTSKYY (TMWC) df. Hossein ELYASI (Easy Pipe), 5-4 
79kg- Kyle DAKE (TMWC) TF. Reza AFZALI (Easy Pipe), 12-0
86kg- David TAYLOR (TMWC) df. Alireza KARIMI (Easy Pipe), 3-1 
92kg- Hossein SHAHBAZI (Easy Pipe) df. Nickolas HEFLIN (Titan), 4-2
97kg- Kyle SNYDER (TMWC) TF. Vladislav BAITSAEV (Easy Pipe), 11-0
125kg - Geno PETRIASHVILI (Easy Pipe) df. Nick GWIAZDOWSKI (Titan), 6-5

Weekly FIVE! In Social Media 
 

1. Big throws and Takedowns at U23 World Championships 2018. #uww #unitedworldwrestling
2. Iran ??. Ghasempour wins gold ?????
طلای قاسم پور برای ایران. پرچم بالاست ?? ??
#unitedworldwrestling #uww #wrestling
3. Big Move From Day 6 and the fastest fight ?‍♂️? // #Bucharest2018 #freestylewrestling #olympic #wrestling#bigmove #throw #takedown
4. Big Move From Day 4 // #Bucharest2018 #grecoromanwrestling #olympic #wrestling#bigmove #throw #takedown
5. An amazing throw by Pilidis from Greece who comes back from behind to get the win! ???#unitedworldwrestling #uww #wrestling

#WrestleBudapest

Which wrestlers can move in rankings before Paris Olympics?

By Vinay Siwach

BUDAPEST, Hungary (June 3) -- The final Ranking Series before the 2024 Paris Olympics will begin this week in Budapest. With Paris 2024 qualified countries entering their wrestlers, the tournament will see a change in ranking and eventually in the seeds for the Games in August.

Freestyle, Women's Wrestling and Greco-Roman have six Olympic weight classes with ranking points awarded to wrestlers competing in these weights in Budapest. Since it's a Level C event, gold medalists will get 8000 points, silver medalists will get 6400 points and bronze medalists will be awarded 5200 points. If it's a Nordic system with only one bronze medalist, the fourth-placed wrestler will receive 4640 points. For details of how the Ranking Series points system works, click here.

Ranking points will also awarded based on the number of participants in a weight class. If a weight category has between two and five participants, the points will be reduced in half and only the first three wrestlers will be awarded. If a weight class has six to 12 participants, no additional point will be given.

Furthermore, if a weight class has 13 to 16 participants, 3000 additional points will be given to all wrestlers except those who were not ranked previously. If a weight class has more than 16 wrestlers, 5000 additional points will be given to all wrestlers barring the ones who did not have ranking points previously.

Here's a breakdown of which wrestlers can improve their ranking in Budapest.

Freestyle

57kg (9 entries)

World Championships silver medalist and currently ranked third in rankings Rei HIGUCHI (JPN) will have a chance to move to the second spot by winning the gold medal in Budapest. He currently has 37000 points and will be tied with number one ranked and world champion Stevan MICIC (SRB) at 45000 points. However, Micic's gold will keep him at the top spot.

Another big mover can be AMAN (IND) who is currently eighth with 20000 points. A bronze medal will push him to sixth spot pushing Zavur UGUEV (AIN) down. Gulomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB), currently ninth with 18200 points, can also jump to sixth by winning gold. Any lower position will only take him to the seventh spot.

65kg (7 entries)

Only world champion Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN), and Haji ALIYEV (AZE) have a chance to move up the ladder. Muszukajev, ranked fourth with 45000 points, can jump all the way to the top with a gold medal. A silver, bronze or fourth-place finish in Budapest will make him second-ranked. Any other result for Muszukajev will take him to the third spot.

Aliyev will only move from 10th place to ninth, irrespective of where he finishes in the tournament.

74kg (11 entries)

With certainty that he will win gold, Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) will remain at his current third rank even if he does win. His 36500 points will become 44500 if he wins gold, still 500 less than second-ranked Zaurbek SIDAKOV (AIN).

A top-eight finish from Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN), currently ranked 13th with 20200 points, will disrupt the other ranked wrestlers and eventually the seeds at the Olympics.

86kg (12 entries)

Top-ranked Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) can be relieved that he will go into the Olympics as the number one-ranked wrestler. With 52500 points, no other wrestler can replace him even by winning gold medal in Budapest.

Third-ranked Myles AMINE (SMR) is the closest with 44000 points but a gold medal in Budapest will only take him to 52000 points. But he will move to second spot with a 10th place or better finish. Hassan YAZDANI (IRI) will remain fourth even if he wins the gold medal in Budapest.

No other wrestler entered at 86kg will affect the seedings.

97kg (10 entries)

Third-ranked Magomedkhan MAGOMEDOV (AZE) is all set to become the top-ranked wrestler at 97kg heading into the Olympics. He will achieve that rank by finishing on the podium irrespective of the color of his medal.

Ibrahim CIFTCI (TUR), currently ranked fifth with 44700, can move to third spot with a gold medal in Budapest. However, he is set to be fourth irrespective of his result in Budapest.

Alisher YERGALI (KAZ) will also move up in the rankings. Currently ranked 11th, Yergali can move to eighth with a bronze medal or better finish. Mostafa ELDERS (EGY) can also break into the top 10 with a medal but is unlikely to change the seeds for the Olympics.

125kg (12 entries)

With world champion Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) locking up the top spot with 68000 points, the battle will be between Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) and Mason PARRIS (USA) for the second spot. Petriashvili is currently second with 57000 points while Parris is third with 54200 points.

To be second, Parris will have to win gold and hope that Petriasvili finishes outside the podium. If Parris wins gold and Petriasvili wins bronze, both wrestlers will be tied at 52200 points but Petriashvili will remain second due to his silver medal at the World Championships to Parris' bronze.

Nao KUSAKA (JPN)Nao KUSAKA (JPN) has a chance to become the top ranked wrestler at 77kg in Budapest. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Greco-Roman

60kg (11 entries)

Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) currently sits fourth with 37000 points but is expected to be third with a medal of any color in Budapest. He, however, cannot overtake the top two -- Zholoman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) and Ligua CAO (CHN).

Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) may not be going to Paris 2024 but he will certainly change the current rankings. With 29025 points, he is seventh but any medal will put him at fifth. Ninth-ranked Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) will also improve his ranking but cannot move above seventh even if he wins the gold medal.

67kg (12 entries)

Not much will change at 67kg as Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) has locked up the top spot. He is entered for the Budapest tournament at 72kg. That means world champion and second-ranked Luis ORTA (CUB) will have a chance to close the gap but cannot overtake Jafarov whose lead is 17200 points.

Fourth-placed Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) will jump to third spot with a fifth-place finish or better as he is currently fourth with 31000 points.

Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) and Mamadassa SYLLA (FRA) will move up as well if they finish on the podium which eventually with affect the Olympic seeds.

77kg (18 entries)

World champion silver medalist and top-ranked Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) and Asian champion Nao KUSAKA (JPN), currently ranked third, will be battling for the top rank at 77kg. Suleymanov has 58100 points while Kusaka has 54200 points. For Kusaka to overtake Suleymanov, he will have to win the gold medal and hope that the Azerbaijan wrestler does not finish on the podium or finish three places better than Suleymanov.

Iuri LOMADZE (GEO) is set to improve his rank from sixth to fifth unless Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) wins a medal and Lomadze loses in the first round. Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ) will also move up from seventh if he can finish better than Lomadze.

Yosvanys PENA FLORES (CUB) can also be a top-five ranked wrestler if he can finish on the podium. It will depend on where Zhadrayev, Levai and Robert FRITSCH (HUN) finish in the tournament.

87kg (18 entries)

The shared world champions Ali CENGIZ (TUR) and David LOSONCZI (HUN) are set to consolidate the top two spots in the rankings. Cengiz has 58000 points and Losonczi has 45000 points with no chance of the latter overtaking the former.

Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ) and Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) are currently ranked sixth and seventh with 33000 points and 31000 points. Both will certainly take the fourth and fifth spots at the end of the tournament but can be third as well. Tursynov will have to win a medal to be third while Novikov will have to win the gold medal and hope that Tursynov doesn't reach the final.

Bachir SID AZARA (ALG), currently 13th with 15800 points will finish in top ten by the end of this tournament and depending on his finish, can reach as high as the eighth spot.

97kg (11 entries)

Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) is ranked fourth with 41000 points and can only improve to third with a bronze medal or better finish. But he will have to also hope that Artur OMAROV (CZE), ranked fifth with 39520 points, doesn't finish better than him. 

130kg (14 entries)

Second-ranked Riza KAYAALP (TUR) is set to overtake Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) and move to the top spot. Kayaalp has 50000 points and needs to finish 10th or better to get more than Mirzazadeh's 55000 points. A medal for Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY) will move him from fifth place to third.

Sixth-placed Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO) will keep his spot unless eighth-ranked Heiki NABI (EST), 10th-ranked Beka KANDELAKI (AZE) or Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU) win gold medal.

Luisa NIEMESCH (GER)Grace BULLEN (NOR) and Luisa NIEMESCH (GER) will look to improve their rankings at 62kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Women's Wrestling

50kg (16 entries)

Otgonjargal DOLGORJAV (MGL) is ranked second with 55200 points but Ziqi FENG (CHN), third ranked with 53400 points, will hope to overtake her. Feng will have to finish better than Dolgorjav especially if both win medals. Feng has to finish on the podium if she hopes to overtake Dolgorjav.

Fourth-ranked Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) has 45000 points but is unlikely to move up just like Alisson CARDOZO (COL) who is fifth with 27000 points.

53kg (11 entries)

Lucia YEPEZ GUZMAN (ECU) will have her eyes on the top spot as she tries to jump from the second spot. Yepez, who has 46100 points, will have to finish fifth or better to overtake Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (AIN).

Jonna MALMGREN (SWE), who has 46013 points at the fourth spot, can be third if she wins a bronze medal or a better finish. She can also be second by winning gold and Yepez finishes ninth or lower.

ANTIM (IND), ranked seventh with 31000 points, can jump to fifth if she wins the gold or silver medal.

57kg (10 entries)

Third-ranked with 47200 points, Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) will be eyeing the top spot. All she has to do is reach the final of the Budapest tournament. This will help her overtake Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN), the top-ranked wrestler with 53000 points. 

Anhelina LYSAK (POL), ranked fourth with 42700 points, is unlikely to improve but Helen MAROULIS (USA), with 41000 points, is all set to overtake Lysak.

62kg (13 entries)

In the most closely contested weight class, Grace BULLEN (NOR) will have a chance to change her rank. She is ranked third with 44000 points but a gold medal can help her get 11000 points and move past Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) who is ranked second with 54000 points.

Fourth-ranked Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR), fifth-ranked Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) and sixth-ranked Luisa NIEMESCH (GER) will have a chance to move around in rankings. Dudova, at 36575 points, leads Niemesch by only 575 points while Koliadenko has 39520 points.

Kayla MIRACLE (USA) is seventh with 28000 points but will have to be careful as Ana GODINEZ (CAN) with 24400 points, Lais NUNES (BRA) with 23500 points and Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR) with 23400 points can overtake her.

68kg (11 entries)

Buse TOSUN (TUR), who is ranked number one with 68200 points, will consolidate her position as will Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) who is second with 52500 points.

There will not be a change of position for third-ranked Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) but she can gain more points. Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR) can move from sixth spot to fourth by reaching the final and to fifth by winning a bronze medal.

76kg (7 entries)

Three Pan-American wrestlers will be looking to improve their rankings. Tatiana RENTERIA (COL) can gain the most as the fourth-ranked wrestler has 39000 points and can be third by winning gold or silver. Milaimy MARIN POTRILLE (CUB) can also improve on her sixth spot. She can move to fifth by reaching the medal matches.

Justina DI STASIO (CAN), ranked 11th with 22075 points, can move as high as seventh by reaching the final.