#WrestleBuenosAires

World medalists Borrero Molina and Coon advance to finals at #WrestleBuenosAires

By Taylor Miller

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – The finals for the first day of Greco-Roman action of the 2019 Pan American Championships have been set in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Featured in the finals is World and Olympic champion Ismael BORRERO MOLINA (CUB) and 2018 World silver medalist Adam COON (USA).

To get to the finals at 67 kg, Borrero Molina put together three wins, including a 7-4 win against two-time Junior Pan American champion Joilson DE BRITO RAMOS JUNIOR (BRA).

In the gold-medal final, he will face two-time Junior World bronze medalist and 2012 Olympian Ellis COLEMAN (USA).  

The other Senior-level World medalist, Coon, earned two pins at 130 kg to move on to the gold bout, where he will face Luciano DEL RIO (ARG).

Del Rio is the first finalist for his country since 2016 and looks to become the first Greco-Roman Pan Am champion for Argentina in the history of the event.

In the company of Coon and Coleman, several other USA wrestlers seek gold on Thursday night, including Max NOWRY at 55 kg, Ryan MANGO at 63 kg and G’Angelo HANCOCK at 97 kg.

The 55 kg and 63 kg weight classes will wrap up round-robin action tonight with Nowry and Mango as the frontrunners, respectively.

At 72 kg, RaVaughn PERKINS (USA) already won the gold medal, going 2-0 in a three-man bracket on Thursday morning. It is his second-straight Pan American title.

In addition to Borrero Molina, Cuba sent two others to the finals, Luis ORTA SANCHEZ and Gabriel ROSILLO KINDELAN.

Orta Sanchez will battle for gold at 60 kg against Samuel GURRIA VIGUERAS (MEX), while Rosillo Kindelan will face Hancock for the gold medal at 97 kg.

The finals are set for 5 p.m. local time (3 p.m. EST) live on unitedworldwrestling.org.

Finals pairings
55 kg – Round 3 matches
Joshua MEDINA (PUR) vs. Sargis KHACHATRYAN (BRA)
Marcelo TORRES (ARG) vs. Max NOWRY (USA)

60 kg
GOLD - Samuel GURRIA VIGUERAS (MEX) vs. Luis ORTA SANCHEZ (CUB)
BRONZE - Dalton ROBERTS (USA) vs. Anthony PALENCIA PUENTES (VEN)
BRONZE - Maikol JOSEFA (DOM) vs. Dicther TORO CASTANEDA (COL)

63 kg – Round 3 matches
Jose DAVILA CABELLO (PER) vs. Mauri VICENTE SILVERIO JUNIOR (BRA)
Ryan MANGO (USA) vs. Andres MONTANO ARROYO (ECU)

67 kg
GOLD -  Ismael BORRERO MOLINA (CUB) vs. Ellis COLEMAN (USA)
BRONZE -  Shalom VILLEGAS REQUENA (VEN) vs. Cristhian RIVAS CASTRO (ECU)
BRONZE - Manuel LOPEZ SALCERO (MEX) vs. Joilson DE BRITO RAMOS JUNIOR (BRA)

72 kg – Round 3 matches
Francisco BARRIO (ARG) vs. Kenedy MORAES PEDROSA (BRA)

97 kg
GOLD - Gabriel ROSILLO KINDELAN (CUB) vs. G’Angelo HANCOCK (USA)
BRONZE - Kevin MEJIA CASTILLO (HON) vs. Jose ARIAS PAREDES (DOM)
BRONZE - Oscar LOANGO SOLIS (COL) vs. Luillys PEREZ MORA (VEN)

130 kg
GOLD - Luciano DEL RIO (ARG) vs. Adam Jacob COON (USA)
BRONZE - Diego ALMENDRAS RODRIQUEZ (CHI) vs. Angel PACHECO ROMERO (CUB)
BRONZE - Charles THOMS (CAN) vs. Edgardo LOPEZ MORELL (PUR)

 

 

#WrestleAthens

Uzbekistan closer to Women's Wrestling history at U17 Worlds

By Vinay Siwach

ATHENS, Greece (July 30) --  Mukhayyo RAKHIMJONOVA (UZB) is on the verge of creating history for Uzbekistan in Athens.

Wrestling at the World U17 Championships on Wednesday, Rakhimjonova became the first wrestler from Uzbekistan to reach the final of U17 Worlds.

 On Thursday, she will try to become the first wrestler to win a gold medal at any World Championships for Uzbekistan in Women's Wrestling.

She reached the 65kg final after beating European silver medalist Feenja HERMANN (GER), 6-1. In her earlier bouts, she had defeated Zuzanna HORBIK (POL), 6-4, and Alexandra MOISEI (MDA), 12-1.

Standing between her and the historic gold medal is Asian U17 champion Ashvini VISHNOI (IND), who was one of India's four finalists on Wednesday.

Vishnoi, who outscored her opponents 41-0 in four bouts, defeated European U17 champion Lilia ERMOKHINA (UWW), 7-0, in the semifinal. After a slow start, Vishnoi got two takedowns in the second period, adding to her two stepouts and one passivity point in the match.

Former world U17 champion KAJAL (IND) will get a chance to avenge her loss from Asian Championships after she reached the final against Asian champion Wenjin QIU (CHN) at 73kg.

Qiu had humbled Kajal 10-0 in the final of the Asian U17 Championships a month ago in Vietnam. But if Kajal is in the form she showed on Wednesday, her chances to avenge that loss are high.

She defeated Pan-Am champion Ella Jo POALILLO (USA), 11-0, giving no chance to Poalillo. Kajal hit a couple of double-leg as counters to take down Poalillo.

Qiu pinned Deborah GARCIA (MEX) in the other semifinal when the Mexican tried to outside trip her. Qiu stood her ground and slammed Garcia before securing the fall.

Another Asian U17 Championships final will be replayed on Thursday, at 57kg, as champion MONI (IND) and silver medalist Madkhiya USMANOVA (KAZ) won their respective semifinals and book their spots in the gold-medal bout.

Usmanov used a four-pointer against Sayuki TANADA (JPN) and secured the fall in two minutes and 36 seconds. With the loss of Tanada, Japan was left with only one finalist on Wednesday when five weight classes were in action.

Moni, like she had done all day, kept her defense and scored takedown whenever she could find an opening. After a passivity point, Moni scored three takedown to beat Alina BAROEVA (UWW), 7-0, in the semifinal.

At 43kg, RACHNA (IND) and Xin HUANG (CHN) made it to the final after contrasting wins. Rachna defended her 1-1 criteria lead over Madison HEALEY (USA) to win and make the final, Huang put on a takedown masterclass to beat European champion Raniia RAKHMANOVA (UWW) 8-0.

Turner closer to second world title

She is already a world U17 champion but there has been no lack of motivation for Morgan TURNER (USA) as she chases another at U17 level.

Morgan spent only two minutes and 24 seconds on the mat to win her three bouts on Wednesday and reach the final at 49kg in Athens.

A gold medalist from 2023 and bronze medalist from 2024, Morgan will face Yu KATAOKA (JPN) for the gold on Thursday. Like in typical Japanese style, Kataoka used five different takedowns to win 10-0 in her semifinal against Polina BOCHKAREVA (UWW).

Morgan used a cradle to secure a fall over Polina BOCHKAREVA (UWW), a returning bronze medalist and European champion.

RESULTS

43kg
GOLD: RACHANA (IND) vs. Xin HUANG (CHN)

SF 1: RACHANA (IND) df. Madison HEALEY (USA), 1-1
SF 2: Xin HUANG (CHN) df. Raniia RAKHMANOV (UWW), 8-0

49kg
GOLD: Morgan TURNER (USA) vs. Yu KATAOKA (JPN)

SF 1: Morgan TURNER (USA) df. Anhelina BURKINA (UWW), via fall (8-0)
SF 2: Yu KATAOKA (JPN) df. Polina BOCHKAREVA (UWW), 10-0

57kg
GOLD: Madkhiya USMANOVA (KAZ) vs. MONI (IND)

SF 1: Madkhiya USMANOVA (KAZ) df. Sayuki TANADA (JPN), via fall (5-0)
SF 2: MONI (IND) df. Alina BAROEVA (UWW), 7-0

65kg
GOLD: Mukhayyo RAKHIMJONOVA (UZB) vs. Ashvini VISHNOI (IND)

SF 1: Mukhayyo RAKHIMJONOVA (UZB) df. Feenja HERMANN (GER), 6-1 
SF 2: Ashvini VISHNOI (IND) df. Lilia ERMOKHINA (UWW), 7-0

73kg
GOLD: KAJAL (IND) vs. Wenjin QIU (CHN)

SF 1: KAJAL (IND) df. Ella Jo POALILLO (USA), 11-0 
SF 2: Wenjin QIU (CHN) df. Deborah GARCIA (MEX), via fall