Weekly FIVE! November 26, 2018

Monday, November 26, 2018 - 19:12 By Eric Olanowski

Looking at this week's American Wrestling League and UWW's Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sports Award nomination. Also reviewing results from the Akhmat-Khadzhi Kadyrov Memorial Cup, B.Turlykhanov Cup, and the Dinmukhamed Kunaev Memorial.

1. American Wrestling League Begins This Weekend
Reigning world champions Kyle DAKE (USA) and David TAYLOR (USA) are set to coach their teams at this weekend’s inaugural “American Wrestling League I The Beginning.” The action will be live November 30 on www.trackwrestling.com at U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

The premier bout of the ten match card comes at 65kg where Jordan OLIVER (USA) will meet Zain RETHERFORD (USA). Team Dake’s Oliver is coming back from a year-long suspension, while Team Taylor’s 2017 world team member, Retherford, returns after sitting out the 2018 season.

This will not be the last time these two meet, as they are expected to both compete for the 2019 world team spot at 65kg.

Each of the starters from Team Dake and Team Taylor will pick up $2,500 to show, and $5,000 to win. Fans can follow all of the AWL action live on trackwrestling.com on November 30.

AWL I Matchups
Team Dake vs. Team Taylor
57kg - Frank PERRELLI vs. Nico MEGALUDIS
61kg - Tony RAMOS vs. Cory CLARK
65kg - Jordan OLIVER vs. Zain RETHERFORD
70kg - James GREEN vs. Brandon SORENSEN
74kg - Richie LEWIS vs. Tommy GANTT
79kg - Isaiah MARTINEZ vs. Alex DIERINGER
86kg - Nick HEFLIN vs. Sam BROOKS
92kg - Deron WINN vs. Mike MACCHIAVELLO
97kg - Jacob KASPER vs. Kyven GADSON
125kg - Dom BRADLEY vs. Adam COON

Club Akhmat's team-captain, Akhmed CHAKAEV (RUS). (Photo by Max Rose-Fyne)

2. Club Akhmat wins Akhmat-Khadzhi Kadyrov Memorial Cup
The second annual Akhmat-Khadzhi Kadyrov Memorial Cup was held last weekend in the Chechnya’s capital city, Grozny. Originally, six teams were invited, but due to Uzbekistan pulling out late, only five teams participated, forcing a five-team round robin competition.

Team Akhmat, led by two-time world bronze medalists (2016 and ’18) Akhmed CHAKAEV (RUS), went undefeated on their way to their second consecutive team title. They scored a trio of dominating 9-1 victories over Europe, Kyrgyzstan, and Mongolia. Winning the team title, Team Akhmat grabbed seven individual victories to defeat Azerbaijan, 7-3. For their first place efforts, Team Akhmat claimed a team prize of $75,000 USD.

Europe, whose team split $45,000 USD for their second-place finish went 3-1 on the day and had a pair of 9-1 wins over Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan. Their third victory came against third-place Azerbaijan (6-4), who claimed a cash prize of $22,000.

Mongolia won $15,000 for their fourth-place win over Kyrgyzstan, who went home with $7,500.

FINAL RESULTS
Club Akhmat df. Azerbaijan, 7-3
57 kg. Muslim SADULAYEV (AKHMAT) df. Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE), 9-1
61 kg. Mairbek SAIDOV (AZE) df. Ahmednabi GUARZATILOV (AKHMAT), 8-6
65 kg. Akhmed CHAKAEV (AKHMAT) df. Anvarbek DALGATOV (AZE), 10-0
70 kg. Razambek ZHAMALOV (AKHMAT) df. Murtuzali MUSLIMOV (AZE), via injury def.
74 kg. Israil KASUMOV (AKHMAT) - Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE), 4-4
79 kg. Husey SUYUNCHEV (AKHMAT) df. brahim YUSUPOV (AZE), 10-0
86 kg. Zelimkhan MINKAILOV (AKHMAT) df. Murad SULEYMANOV (AZE), 4-2
92 kg. Sharip SHARIPOV (AZE) df. Akhmed BATAYEV (AKHMAT), 3-1
97 kg. Nurmagomed HAJIYEV (AZE) df. Tamerlan RASUEV (AKHMAT), 4-3
125 kg. Anzor HIZRIEV (AKHMAT) df. Aslanbek ALBOROV (AZE), via forfeit

3. Kazakhstan and Russian Win Four Dinmukhamed Kunaev Memorial Golds

More than 150 participants competed in the 11th annual Dinmukhamed Kunaev Memorial freestyle tournament in Taraz, Kazakhstan, and four different nations had a wrestler reach the top of the podium. The host nation Kazakhstan, along with Russia won a quartet of gold medals, while Belarus and Mongolia won the remaining two gold medals. The gold medalists of the Dinmukhamed Kunaev Memorial won $4,000 (USD), while the second and third-place finishers won $2,000 (USD) and $500 (USD) respectively.

RESULTS
57 kg
GOLD - Zhargal DAMIDINOV (RUS)
SILVER - Dimchik RINCHINOV (BLR)
BRONZE - Muhammadsidiq JURAEV (UZB)
BRONZE - Aryaan TYUTRIN (RUS)

61 kg
GOLD - Rasul KALIEV (KAZ)
SILVER - Nyurgun ALEXANDROV (RUS)
BRONZE - Kairat AMIRTAEV (KAZ)
BRONZE - Semyon VLADIMIROV (RUS)

65 kg
GOLD - Ilyas ZHUMAI (KAZ)
SILVER -Meyrzhan ASHIROV (KAZ)
BRONZE - Daulet NIYAZBEKOV (KAZ)
BRONZE - Njurgun Scriabin (BLR)
70 kg
GOLD - Ivan EFREMOV (RUS)
SILVER - Nurgorzha KAIPANOV (KAZ)
BRONZE - Sultan BEISOV (KAZ)
BRONZE - Ramazan RAMAZANOV (RUS)

74 kg
GOLD -Arsalan BUDAZHAPOV (RUS)
SILVER - Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (RUS)
BRONZE - German USTINOV (RUS)
BRONZE - Nurlan BEKZHANOV (KAZ)

79 kg
GOLD -Tazhidin AKAYEV (RUS)
SILVER - Galymzhan USERBAYEV (KAZ)
BRONZE - Stanislav KHACHIROV (RUS)
BRONZE - Aibek NASYROV (KGZ)

86 kg
GOLD -Uitumen ORGODOL (MGL)
SILVER - Elkhan ASADOV (KAZ)
BRONZE - Said ABBAZOV (KAZ)
BRONZE - Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ)

92 kg
GOLD - Abdimanap BAYDENJEEV (KAZ)
SILVER - Nurgali NURGAIPULY (KAZ)
BRONZE - Adilet DAYLUMBAYEV (KAZ)

97 kg
GOLD - Alexander GUSHTYN (BLR)
SILVER - Mamed IIBRAGIMOV (KAZ)
BRONZE - Omar JURMASH (KAZ)

125 kg
GOLD - Bakhtiyar ZHANABEK (KAZ)
SILVER - Yermukhanbet INKAR (KAZ)
BRONZE - Yusup BATYMURZAYEV (KAZ)

Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR), 77kg B. Turlykhanov Cup champion. (Photo by Sachiko Hotaka)

4. Olympic Champ Kim Wins B. Turlykhanov Cup
This weekend, Almaty, Kazakhstan’s Baluan Sholak Palace of Sport hosted the 24th annual Greco-Roman B. Turlykhanov Cup. Of the six Olympic weight category gold medals up for grabs, Russia and Uzbekistan each won a pair of gold medals, while Kazakhstan and Korea won a solo gold medal.

Of the competitors, the most accomplished wrestler was London Olympic champion and Rio Olympic bronze medalist, KIM Hyeon Woo (KOR). In the 77kg finals, Kim, the 2018 world bronze medalist, defeated Dmitry PETAIKIN (RUS), stopping Russia from winning their third gold medal of the tournament.

Though Kim was the only Olympic champion competing in the B. Turlykhanov Cup, he was not the only Olympic champion in attendance. Other Olympic champions that were present at the Baluan Sholak Palace of Sport were three-time Olympic champion Alexander KARELIN (URS), three-time world and Olympic champion Kamandar MADZHIDOV (BLR), and the two-time world and Olympic champions Zhaksylyk USHEMPIROV (URS) and Levon JULFALAKYAN (URS).

RESULTS
60kg
GOLD - Firuz TOKTAEV (UZB)
SILVER - Leri ABULADZE (GEO)
BRONZE - Ahmadjon MAKHMUDOV (UZB)
BRONZE - Mingiyan SEMENOV (RUS)

67kg
GOLD - Adilkhan SATAEV (KAZ)
SILVER - Zaur KABALOEV (RUS)
BRONZE - Almat KEBISPAYEV (KAZ)
BRONZE - Daniyar KALENOV (Kazakhstan)

77kg
GOLD - KIM Hyeon Woo (KOR)
SILVER - Dmitry PETAIKIN (RUS)
BRONZE - Zhasulan MARATOV (KAZ)
BRONZE - Irakli KALANDIA (RUS)

87kg
GOLD - Gamzat YUSUPOV (RUS)
SILVER - Zurab DATUNASHVILI (GEO)
BRONZE - Alan OSTAEV (RUS)
BRONZE - Nikolay STADUB (BEL)

97kg
GOLD - Nikita MELNIKOV (RUS)
SILVER - Danil SOTNIKOV (RUS)
BRONZE - Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ)
BRONZE - Cantemir MAGOMEDOV (RUS)

130kg
GOLD - Muminjon ABDULLAEV (UZB)
SILVER - Vitaly SHCHUR (RUS)
BRONZE - Levan ARABULI (GEO)
BRONZE - LEE Seung (KOR)

More than Medals Zagreb (Photo by Theo Lowenstein )

5. United World Wrestling Nominated for Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sports Award
United World Wrestling was recently nominated for the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sports Award for their More Than Medals camps. More Than Medals is a United World Wrestling initiative to deliver wrestling techniques, life skills and experiences to athletes from developing nations and wrestling programs.

In addition to the technical-tactical training during the MTM camps, other activities that have been carried out to help give participants more knowledge for their sports career and their life in general are:
• Training Planning
• Olympic Values
• Anti-Doping
• ACP (Athletes Career Program)
• Nutrition
• Group Integration Games

WATCH: Lucha in Guatemala! More than Medals Olympic Wrestling Camp.
READ: Zagreb Hosts More Than Medals Camp Prior to Youth Olympic Games

Weekly FIVE! In Social Media

1.Big Move Monday!
2. Incredible training session today at @edge_hoboken with @frankchamizo92 and @aaronpicousa ! ? Coming Soon
3. Can you repeat that?? And did you recognize this super person?? Сможете повторить? А супер личность на видео узнали?? #wrestling #cool #awesome #repeat #kids #sport #борьба #дети #борцы
4. A few photos from the 2018 World Championships ?‍♂️ ?‍♀️ .#unitedworldwrestling #uww #wrestling
5. 1 or 2?? 1 или 2?? #wrestling #sport #coolpic #борьба #выбери

#WrestleTirana

Japan adds 3 golds to maintain perfect record in Tirana

Friday, February 28, 2025 - 23:31 By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (February 28) -- Ami ISHII (JPN) can't stop winning in Tirana.

Four months after she won the U23 and Senior World Championships in the Albanian capital, Ishii has begun her 2025 with a Ranking Series gold in Tirana on Friday.

While she won the World Championships at 72kg, Ishii returned to the Olympic weight class 68kg as she leaves memories of missing out on Paris Olympics behind.

"It [Tirana] is a luck city," Ishii said. "Also, 68kg is home for me."

Ishii is now 12-0 in Tirana, winning golds at the U23 World Championships, senior World Championships and Muhamet Malo Ranking Series -- scoring six technical superiority wins and three pins.

Her gold medal was one of three that Japan won, maintaining its perfect record in Women's Wrestling in Tirana, adding to the two it won on Thursday. Out of the six golds on offer so far, Japan has won five with one -- 62kg -- going to China. Japan did not enter a wrestler in 62kg.

Ishii won the gold medal at 68kg after U20 world champion Sakura ONISHI (JPN) made a golden senior debut at 59kg. Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) was successful at 65kg. On Thursday, Umi ITO (JPN) won at 50kg while Haruna MAYUMARA (JPN) won gold at 55kg.

Ami ISHII (JPN) won the 68kg gold medal in Tirana. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Ishii looked in sublime form at 68kg and seemed like she would go unscathed, however, Zelu LI (CHN) checked her in the final. Ishii managed to win 6-2 but could feel the pressure of the final.

"I think the opponent's level is quite high since it's in the finals," Ishii said. "The pressure is the most fun in the finals. There shouldn't be any pressure, but it was a close match so I'll practice a little more."

She opened the scoring with a double-leg takedown and kept aiming for Li's ankles, converting once such attempt to a takedown. Li tried to counter lift but Ishii was solid in her defense and led 4-0 at the break. Li did cut the lead to 4-2 in the second period but Ishii made it 6-2 with a similar takedown like the previous ones.

"My wrestling is different, and I keep updating my wrestling every day," she said. "My wrestling is completely different from the last time I came to Tirana. Wrestling Japanese, I continue to improve my skills."

After missing out on the Paris Olympics, losing in the domestic playoff to Nonoka OZAKI (JPN), Ishii remains motivated to be at the Olympic cycle.

"My goal for 2025 is to win the 68kg class at the World Championships," she said. "My biggest goal for 2025 is probably to win a gold medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics."

Sakura ONISHI (JPN) defeated Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (UWW) 10-0 in the 59kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Onishi was the first to secure gold medal of the night for Japan as she dominated the 59kg weight class. In the final against Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (UWW), Onishi scored the first takedown with a single-leg attack and gut wrenched for two more points. She added another takedown with head outside before finishing the bout 10-0 with 4:16 remaining on the clock.

This was the first senior tournament for the teenager but remained unfazed the stage and the opponents.

"It was my first tournament and I was a bit nervous," Onishi said. "But since I had earned the right to compete at the All-Japan Championship in Japan, I decided to represent Japan and not worry about my age."

Before travelling to Tirana, Onishi was in a two-week training camp in China alongwith Morikawa. Both went to Kunming, world champion Jia LONG's(CHN) hometown, to train in different styles.

Previously, Onishi would finish her bouts in typical Japanese style of pins or leg lace but she used the gut-wrench effectively in Tirana. Onishi said she picked the technique in China.

"The lace is something I always do," she said. "I don't really pay attention to it but that gut wrench is a technique I learned the other day when I went on a two-week camp to China, and I was happy."

In the four bouts on Friday, Onishi, a training partner of Olympic champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN) at the Nippon Sports Science University, outscored her opponents 45-3 and geared up for the Asian Championships.

"I think it was a really good tournament because I was able to see how much I've improved, even if just a little, in what I practice every day," she said.

Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) tries to turn Irina RINGACI (JPN) before Ringaci pulled out of the final citing knee injury. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) added another gold but she would have liked to avenge her round-robin loss to Irina RINGACI (MDA) in a better way. Ringaci pulled out injured midway through the final while leading 6-3. Morikawa had just scored a takedown when Ringaci left the match due to a injured knee. Ringaci had shown excellent movements till then, hitting double-leg attacks and gut wrenches to which Morikawa had no answers.

The two had met earlier in Round 1 bout of their group which Ringaci won 6-5 despite a solid comeback from Morikawa. This was their second meeting since the 2021 World Championships final which Ringaci won.

Ringaci scored a takedown and turn to lead 4-0 and then a scramble resulted in Ringaci landing on top to take the lead 6-0. Morikawa was on board when she scored an exposure and another leg elevation forced a takedown which made the score 6-4 for Ringaci with 17 seconds left. A double leg from Morikawa resulted in just a stepout with six seconds on the clock. Japan challenged that call asking for two points but Morikawa had no control over Ringaci during stepout. Ringaci defended the 7-5 lead to win the bout.

LILI (CHN) defeated Paris Olympic bronze medalist Grace BULLEN (NOR) in 62kg semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 62kg, world bronze medalist LILI (CHN) completed a commanding performance in Tirana with a gold medal at 62kg, beating former world champion Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) 8-4 in the final after she had defeated Paris Olympic bronze medalist Grace BULLEN (NOR) in the semifinals.

Bullen was on her way to the final when she ran into Lili in the semis and was involved in a tense match which she led. She opened the scoring with a takedown and turn before Lili scored a reversal and lace. The Chinese added another takedown and turn to make it 7-4. Bullen closed the gap to 7-5 with a stepout but she failed to break the defense and lost 8-3.

In the final, Lili raced to an 8-0 lead over Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) and it seemed like she will close out the bout soon. However, Dudova hit a double-leg attack to get four points back. But Lili still managed to keep the lead with herself and defeated to claim the gold medal at 62kg.

RESULTS

59kg
GOLD: Sakura ONISHI (JPN) df. Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (UWW), 10-0

BRONZE: Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) df. Bediha GUN (TUR), 12-2

62kg
GOLD: LILI (CHN) df. Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL), 8-4

BRONZE: Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA) df. Anne NUERNBERGER (GER), 11-0
BRONZE: Grace BULLEN (NOR) df. Amina TANDELOVA (UWW), via inj. def.

65kg
GOLD: Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) df. Irina RINGACI (MDA), via inj. (3-6)

BRONZE: Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) df. Aleah NICKEL (CAN), 10-0

68kg
GOLD: Ami ISHII (JPN) df. Zelu LI (CHN), 6-2

BRONZE: Elizaveta PETLIAKOVA (UWW) df. Noémi SZABADOS (HUN), via inj. def.
BRONZE: Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU) df. Gerda BARTH (GER), via fall (6-0)

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Japan adds 3 golds to maintain perfect record in Tirana