#WrestlePlovdiv

#WrestlePlovdiv: Golden Pair Ringaci, Nichita Defend U23 European Titles

Thursday, March 10, 2022 - 19:45 By Vinay Siwach

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PLOVDIV, Bulgaria (March 10) -- World champion Irina RINGACI (MDA) and her teammate Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) continued their winning start to the year as they defended their U23 European Championships title in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

The pair showed the gulf of class between them and the rest of the field, winning the gold medals with ease and adding to their stellar collection of titles.

At 68kg, Ringaci, who won the Dan Kolov Invitational tournament last month, outscored her opponents 38-2 en route to the gold medal to become a three-time U23 European champion.

“I feel great in the new weight class 68kg,” Ringaci said. “It's a new experience and I get to wrestle some new wrestlers and I will continue to wrestle in this weight [for Olympics].”

After winning Moldova's first-ever gold in women's wrestling in Oslo last year, Ringaci remained out of competition for five months but looked as good as ever on her return.

In the final, the 21-year-old wrestled Asli DEMIR (TUR) and blanked her 6-0. The two had wrestled before at Individual World Cup in 2020. Ringaci won that battle 14-4.

This time, Ringaci did not let Demir score any points and defend all attacks from the 2-on-1 position. Her ability to wear out her opponents made it even more difficult for Demir to score.

Ringaci scored four points in the second period but was in no hurry to finish the bout, playing out the clock for a 6-0 win.

Anastasia NICHITAAnastasia NICHITA (MDA) won the 59kg final 12-0 against Magdalena GLODEK (POL). (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

Nichita's title defense at 59kg was similar to last year as she did not look in any trouble.

Against Magdalena GLODEK (POL), Nichita began with a takedown and added two more points with a go behind.

Glodek's attacks were easily countered and a cool-as-ice Nichita was leading 8-0 at the break. She finished the bout with a four-pointer.

“I don't think too much about the final,” Nichita said. “I just treat it as any other bout or like training. So that's why don't care about the final.”

Nichita began the season with a gold-winning performance at the Yasar Dogu Ranking Series event in Istanbul, Turkey last month and says is looking forward to competing at more ranking events.

“I want to make some ranking points at 59kg and I will be at 59kg this year,” she said. “This was a good test for me for the senior competition this month where I will wrestle at 59kg.”

But as the Paris Olympics come close, Nichita will opt for 57kg as her preferred weight class.

Moldova was the only country to have two gold medals Thursday but have a chance to win another Friday. Nichita hopes that girls in her country can continue the good work.

“We have some good girls and I want them to continue working hard and get some good results,” she said. “We work hard in training and you can see the result so I want to keep this going with the whole team.”

Andreea ANAAndreea ANA (ROU) won her first European title in Plovdiv. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

U23 world champion Andreea ANA (ROU) won her first continental title after she defeated Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE), 10-0 in the 55kg final. The Azerbaijan wrestler was called passive and a double-leg blast for four points helped Ana lead 5-0 at the break.

She began the second period with a go-behind before adding a stepout. The Romanian then slowed down the bout and was happy to play out the clock for the rest of the bout.

But countering a Mammadova attack, she got another two points to finish the bout 10-0.

Ana had not won a Championships before the Worlds in Belgrade but now has two back-to-back. The confidence from the Belgrade win will help her to be better at winning the finals.

“I think the world title win in Belgrade helped me a lot,” Ana said. “That made me stronger mentally and removed a big block.”

Emma LUTTENAUER (FRA)Emma LUTTENAUER (FRA) celebrates after winning the 50kg gold medal in Plovdiv. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 50kg, Emma LUTTENAUER (FRA) ended her country's four-year wait for a U23 Euro title by winning the gold against Szimonetta SZEKER (HUN).

In a 3-0 win, the France wrestler got a point for Szeker's passivity and score two via a takedown. The 23-year-old joins Koumba LARROQUE (FRA) as the only U23 European champions.

Hungary did finish with a gold medal as Bernadett NAGY (HUN) defeated Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU), 4-0 in the 76kg.

Daughter of two-time cadet world champion Attila NAGY (HUN), Bernadett scored via two takedowns, the only action in the final.

Her wrestling skills were honed at the Ujpesti Torna Egylet club in Budapest, which she joined as a 12-year-old following the wrestling tradition of her family.

While her win denied Gaucaite to become Lithuania's first-ever European champion, it was still historic as Gaucaite was the first-ever finalist from her country.

Along with her, Gabija DILYTE (LTU)'s bronze at 50kg was the nation's first medal at the U23 level.

The remaining five finals of women's wrestling will be held Friday.

Bernadett NAGY (HUN)The four medalists at 76kg including gold winner Bernadett NAGY (HUN). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

RESULTS

WW Medal Bouts

50kg
GOLD: Emma LUTTENAUER (FRA) df Szimonetta SZEKER (HUN), 3-0

BRONZE: Lisa ERSEL (GER) df Shahana NAZAROVA (AZE), 9-8
BRONZE: Gabija DILYTE (LTU) df Zehra DEMIRHAN (TUR), via fall

55kg
GOLD: Andreea ANA (ROU) df Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE), 10-0

BRONZE: Mihaela SAMOIL (MDA) df Mariia MARTYNCHUK (SVK), via inj. def.
BRONZE: Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) df Nova BERGMAN (SWE), 3-1

59kg
GOLD: Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) df Magdalena GLODEK (POL), 12-0

BRONZE: Morena DE VITA (ITA) df Anna SZEL (HUN), via inj. def.

68kg
GOLD: Irina RINGACI (MDA) df Asli DEMIR (TUR), 6-0

BRONZE: Noemi SZABADOS (HUN) df Sophia SCHAEFLE (GER), 3-1
BRONZE: Nigar MIRZAZADA (AZE) df Marta OJEDA NAVARRO (ESP), 603

76kg
GOLD: Bernadett NAGY (HUN) df Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU), 4-0

BRONZE: Mehtap GULTEKIN (TUR) df Vanesa KALOYANOVA (BUL), 1-1
BRONZE: Marion BYE (NOR) df Lolita OBOLEVICA (LAT), via fall

Day 4 Semifinals

53kg
GOLD: Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA) vs Anastasia BLAYVAS (GER)

SF 1: Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA) df Rahime ARI (TUR), 6-1
SF 2: Anastasia BLAYVAS (GER) df Gultakin SHIRINOVA (AZE), via fall

62kg
GOLD: Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) vs Anna FABIAN (SRB)

SF 1: Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) df Paulina DANISZ (POL), 6-1
SF 2: Anna FABIAN (SRB) df Luisa SCHEEL (GER), via fall

65kg
GOLD: Amina CAPEZAN (ROU) vs Ewelina CIUNEK (POL)

SF 1: Amina CAPEZAN (ROU) df Yagmur CAKMAK (TUR), 4-2
SF 2: Ewelina CIUNEK (POL) df Viktoria VESSO (EST), 13-8

72kg
GOLD: Maria NITU (ROU) vs Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL)

SF 1: Maria NITU (ROU) df Kendra DACHER (FRA), 10-0
SF 2: Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) df Tuende ELEKES (HUN), 5-0

#WrestleTirana

Olympic medalists in strong field set to light up Tirana

Monday, February 24, 2025 - 12:21 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (February 24) -- After he won the gold medal at the Paris Olympics, Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) was asked his wrestling journey. He replied that he "had many problems" but will go through it again without second thoughts.

Taking his first step in the new Olympic cycle for 2028 LA Olympic, Novikov won the prestigious Dan Kolov-Nikola Petrov tournament in January and is now wrestling his first Ranking Series event of the year -- the Muhamet Malo in Tirana.

Novikov is the only Paris Olympic champion who has returned to a UWW tournament since winning gold in August last year. He will be up against a top 87kg Greco-Roman field at the second Ranking Series of the year.

The tournament will be held in Tirana from February 26 to March 2 with important Ranking Series points up for grabs. The Zagreb Open, held two weeks ago, and Muhamet Malo will be crucial for wrestler hoping to get seeded at the continental championships that begin in March.

Novikov will be expecting rematches with David LOSONCZI (HUN) and Alireza MOHAMADIPIANI (IRI), both of whom he beat in Paris. Losonczi has Istvan TAKACS (HUN) and Tamas LEVAI (HUN) to watch out for as Hungary to second its pick for the European Championships.

Georgia is doing the same with Gurami KHETSURIANI (GEO), Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) and Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) entered at 87kg while other strong contenders include Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) and Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB).

Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI)Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) is hoping to be Iran's mainstay at 60kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake KIRKMAN)

Despite the dropouts in other weight classes across styles just days before the tournament, it still throws quite a strong field.

At 60kg, Iran is pushing for Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) as it's flagbearer after struggling to find a world-beater. His first senior test will see him go up against a few stars including world champion Victor CIOBANU (MDA), Olympian Enes BASAR (TUR) and Yu SHIOTANI (JPN) among others.

Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) was at 60kg earlier and was about to retire after Paris Olympics. However, he is wrestling at 63kg in Tirana and Turkiye's Kerem KAMAL (TUR) is also returning to action.

At 72kg, Levente LEVAI (HUN), who surprisingly won Zagreb Open gold, will look to continue his run but has hurdles in the name of former world champion Ali ARSALAN (SRB) and European champion Selcuk CAN (TUR).

Paris Olympic bronze medalist Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) is warming up for the Asian Championships and will be the favorite to win the gold medal at 130kg. He has Tokyo silver medalist Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO) and age-group world champion Hamza BAKIR (TUR) in the bracket as well.

Chermen VALIEV (ALB)Chermen VALIEV (ALB) is a Paris Olympic medalist at 74kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Freestyle

Albania's star Freestyle trio of Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB), Islam DUDAEV (ALB) and Chermen VALIEV (ALB) are wrestler in front of their home crowd. All three are returning to action since the Paris Games in which Dudaev and Valiev won bronze medals.

Abakarov will be tested by former European champion Nachyn MONGUSH (UWW) and Artem GOBAEV (UWW) at 61kg.

Dudaev will have tougher challenges at 65kg. He is likely to have a Paris rematch with silver medalist Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) who is expected to be Iran's representative at the Asian Championships.

U23 world champion Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (UWW) is also entered and is always the biggest threat for the gold medal. Amouzad and Dudaev will be cautious of the rising star.

For Valiev, Yones EMAMI (IRI) and Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) could be the trouble-makers at 74kg, a weight class he is expected to dominate. Valiev and Salkazanov match for styles but Valiev seems to always find a way to score points while Salkazanov is more of a tactical wrestler who can play the clock well.

Naychn KUULAR (KAZ)Nachyn KUULAR (KAZ), a former U23 world champion, wrestling in Bundesliga. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At 70kg, former U23 world champion Nachyn KUULAR (KAZ) is turning up for UWW competition after six years, this time for Kazakhstan. Kuular, who represented Russia previously, has kept himself in the news with a win over Olympic champion Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) in the Bundesliga, albeit at 71kg.

Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) won't have great memories of Tirana as he lost the World Championships semifinal to Abdulrashid SADULAEV in the last second and returned empty-handed. But he is back in Tirana with less expectations and pressure at 92kg as he begins an Olympic cycle in which he may finally get to be at the Olympics.

At 125kg, Olympic silver medalist Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) will be in action and the favorite to win gold medal as well.

Kyle SNYDER (USA) will be wrestling at back-to-back Ranking Series events. He won the gold medal in Zagreb and is expected to be in Tirana as well. A second gold medal this year will push him to the top of the ranking at 97kg.

Moe KIYOOKA (JPN)Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) is the world champion at 55kg but wrestling at 53kg in Tirana. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Women's Wrestling

Japan is sending its six Emperor's Cup winners to Tirana. The six include two world champions from last year as Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) and Ami ISHII (JPN) return to Tirana for another trip.

Others include former age-group world champion Umi ITO (JPN) who finished with a bronze at the U23 World Championships, will also be returning to Tirana. Former world champion Haruna MURAYAMA (JPN) [nee OKUNO], is registered at 55kg, U20 world champion Sakura ONISHI (JPN) is at 59kg, world bronze medalist Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) at 65kg and Nodoka YAMAMOTO (JPN) is at 76kg.

China too is sending a strong but a relatively new team. It will be led by former 59kg world champion Qi ZHANG (CHN) who is moving up to 62kg for this tournament. She will be wrestling for the Asian Championships spot as well against teammate LILI (CHN) who won world bronze medal in 2023.

Grace BULLEN (NOR)Grace BULLEN (NOR) is returning to action at 62kg after Paris. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

However, Paris Olympic bronze medalist Grace BULLEN (NOR) will be the favorite in this weight class which also Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA) and Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL). Bullen will be wrestling at her first competition since winning the first Olympic medal for Norway in Women's Wrestling in Paris.

62kg silver medalist at Paris Olympic Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) is wrestling at 65kg for the Ranking Series. She will be up against former world champions Irina RINGACI (MDA) and Morikawa in her bracket which will be divided into two groups as the weight class has only seven wrestlers. There is a chance that all three wrestler end up in the same group.

Another loaded weight class is the 55kg in which Zagreb Open champion Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) will be looking to add a second gold medal of the Ranking Series. In Zagreb, she wrestled only one match -- final -- but Albania has a bigger bracket which also includes Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (UWW), Okuno, Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA) and Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR).

At 72kg, three-time world silver medalist Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) will hope to win gold in Tirana as she lost the World Championships final here last year despite leading it at one point. 

Her compatriot and former Asian champion Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) is registered at 76kg but her path to gold medal may not be as easy. The weight class also has Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ), Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) and Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) who will look to confirm her spot at 76kg for Ukraine in the new Olympic cycle.