#WrestleTokyo

#WrestleTokyo Olympic Games Preview: 74kg

Thursday, July 29, 2021 - 18:30 By Eric Olanowski

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TOKYO, Japan (July 20) --- Despite donning a trio of multiple-time world champions, Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS) heads into the Tokyo Olympic Games as the front-runner to win 74kg Olympic gold after he stole the show at the '18 and '19 World Championships. He’s seeded No. 3 behind Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ (ITA) and Daniyar KAISANOV (KAZ), respectively.

He'd Join Buvaisar SAITIEV (RUS) as the only Russian wrestler to win 74kg Olympic gold.

Sidakov made his world-level debut for Russia's freestyle squad at the '18 World Championships and has reigned supreme over the field since then. The 26-year-old Beslan, North Ossetia-Alania native, entered the World Championships in Budapest relatively unknown but upset Olympic champion Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) and fellow two-time world champions Chamizo before ultimately winning gold. He repeated the feat a year later in Nur-Sultan. Sidakov stole the match from Burroughs for a second consecutive year after he scored a stepout with less than two seconds left. He followed that up with a second win over Chamizo and reached the top of the podium for a second consecutive year. He's yet to drop a match to a non-Russian opponent, all while claiming gold medals at the World Championships in '18 and '19, and '19 gold at the European Games and Ivan Yariguin Ranking Series event. 

Even though he's fallen to Sidakov in their previous two meetings, it's Chamizo, who just turns 29 on July 10, that's seeded first at the weight. The two-time world champion and Rio Olympic bronze medalist reached the top of the seeds at 74kg after winning gold at the '20 European Championships and silver medals at the '19 World Championships and '21 Poland Open Ranking Series event.

Kaisanov and Mostafa HOSSEINKHANI (IRI) are the other two seeded wrestlers at 74kg. 

Kaisanov, the 28-year-old Semey-born wrestler, is seeded second and sits on the same side of the bracket Sidakov. He originally placed fifth '19 World Championships to secure Kazakhstan's place at Tokyo Olympics but was upgraded to bronze in February 2020 after Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) tested positive for doping. 

Hosseinkhani is the fourth-seeded and will share the top side of the bracket with Frank Chamizo. Iran elected to roll with the 32-year-old over Younes EMAMI, who qualified the weight for Iran through his gold-medal performance at the Asian Olympic Qualifier. 

Meanwhile, Kyle 'Kid Dynamite' DAKE (USA) is the third two-time world champion on everyone's radar.

Dake strolls into Tokyo riding a 48 match win streak that dates back to mid-2018. During that run, the 30-years-old struck 79kg gold in back-to-back years while outsourcing his opponents 64-6.

After the '19 World Championships, Dake descended from the non-Olympic weight of 79kg to 74kg to make an Olympic run. The father-of-two punched his ticket to the Olympic Games on USA's freestyle squad with a pair of convincing wins over four-time world champion Burroughs at the United States Olympic Trials and earned his spot in Tokyo.

Other past world finalists include Jeandry GARZON CABALLERO (CUB), Franklin GOMEZ MATOS (PUR) and Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO).

Kenchadze was the most recent of the three to reach a finals match. The 25-year-old from Ambrolauri, Georgia, grabbed four wins at the '18 World Championships -- highlighted by victories over Rio Olympic bronze medalist Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) and world bronze medalist Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB) -- and reached the gold-medal match. However, he dropped a close 2-2 match against Sidakov and finished in second place.

When Gomez takes the mat in Tokyo, he'll be the first Puerto Rican to wrestle in three Olympic Games. The soon-to-be 35-year-old fell to his '11 world finalist opponent and eventual silver medalist Besik KUDUKHOV (RUS) in the first round of the London Olympic Games and finished in 15th-place. In Rio, he fell to eventual bronze medalist Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB) and finished in 9th place.

At 37-years-old, Garzon Caballero will be wrestling in his second Olympic Games. The four-time world medalist and '07 finalist will compete in his first Games since the '08 Beijing Olympic Games, where he finished in fifth place. 

Outside of the heavy hitters at 74kg, a pair outside dark horses that could shake up the bracket are Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB) and Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (BLR). 

Abdurakhmonov, known for his 11-1 thumping of Burroughs at the Rio Olympic Games, will look to improve on his fifth-place finish from Brazil. This year, the two-time world bronze medalist finished on the podium at the two events he's entered. He won a bronze meal at the International Ukrainian Tournament and a silver medal at the Asian Olympic Qualifier.

Kadimahamedau is another guy who can end the title hopes for a lot of guys. Since transferring to Belarus in '20, the 27-year-old Khushtada, Tsumadinsky, Dagestan-born wrestler, won gold at the European Championships and World Olympic Qualifier and finished in third place at the Individual World Cup. 

It’s also worth noting, on July 20, Azerbaijan replaced Khadzhimurad GADZHIYEV (AZE) with Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE).

Wrestling at the Tokyo Olympic Games kicks off August 1-7 at the Makuhari Messe with 74kg action beginning on August 5.

74kg
No. 1 Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ (ITA)
No. 2 Daniyar KAISANOV (KAZ)
No. 3 Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS)
No. 4 Mostafa Mohabbali HOSSEINKHANI (IRI)
Kyle Douglas DAKE (USA)
Keisuke OTOGURO (JPN)
Kamil RYBICKI (POL)
Amr Reda Ramadan HUSSEN (EGY)
Augusto MIDANA (GBS)
Jeandry GARZON CABALLERO (CUB)
Franklin GOMEZ MATOS (PUR)
Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO)
Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE)
Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB)
Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (BLR)
Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR)

#WrestleAcapulco

Pan-Am Olympic Qualifiers Preview: Elor gets ready for 68kg

Monday, February 26, 2024 - 12:52 By United World Wrestling Press

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ACAPULCO, Mexico (February 26) -- The first Paris Olympic qualifying event will kick off February 28 in Acapulco, Mexico. The Pan-American Olympic Qualifying tournament is the first of the four continental qualifiers.

The three-day event will see six Greco-Roman Olympic weight classes on February 28, followed by Women's Wrestling on February 29 and Freestyle on March 1.

The qualification rounds will begin at 1000 hours local time while the Paris 2024 Qualification bouts i.e. the semifinals, will begin at 1700 hours local time. The winners of each semifinal will earn a Paris Games ticket for the respective nation. Four wrestlers per weight class will be seeded in each weight class and there will be no gold and bronze medal bouts and repechage bouts.

The Pan-American Championships last week at the same venue gave some insight into how the United States can dominate all three styles. But some of the most intense competitions are expected to take place in Women's Wrestling in Acapulco.

All eyes will be on Amit ELOR (USA) as the 72kg world champion makes the descent to the Olympic weight class of 68kg. Elor is undeniably the favorite to win the weight class and qualify the U.S. Since she is not seeded, Elor will be drawn at random in the bracket.

Former world champion Linda MORAIS (CAN) will also hope to get the quota for Canada at 68kg.

Another world champion from the U.S. is Dominique PARRISH (USA) who is looking to get the spot at 53kg. She won the World Championships in 2022 but fell in the first round in 2023. She is yet to repeat her performance from 2022 and the Pan-Am qualifiers will be a big test for her.

Parrish will be seeded number one at 53kg and can face a stiff challenge from former Pan-Am champion Karla GODINEZ (CAN) who will not have a seed in the bracket.

At 50kg, Jacqueline MOLLOCANA (ECU) and Mariana ROJAS (VEN), the finalists from the Pan-Am champs will be happy to repeat the performance and claim the spot for their countries. But top seed Alisson CARDOZO (COL)  will look to bounce back after a medalless Pan-Ams. 

Top seed Giullia PENALBER (BRA) and Hannah TAYLOR (CAN) have a chance to win the quotas at 57kg if the two can repeat their performances from the Pan-Ams. Penalber was the finalist, while Taylor reached the semifinals before suffering an injury. She will have to quickly recover from the injury she suffered in the semifinal.

Former Pan-Am champ and third seed Luisa VALVERDE (ECU) can also spring a surprise in the qualifiers along with second seed Alma VALENCIA ESCOTO (MEX).

Another top battle can ensue at 62kg as Pan-Am champ Kayla MIRACLE (USA) and Ana GODINEZ (CAN) step up for their countries and qualify for the Paris Games. The two met in the final last week and are the favorites to repeat.

Lias NUNES (BRA) will, however, look to spoil the party for Godinez and earn a spot for Brazil. She is seeded third and can only meet Godinez in the semifinal. 

The 76kg class had three qualifications from the World Championships. This will leave Justina DI STASIO (CAN) and Pan-Am champ Genesis REASCO (ECU) hoping to get a win in the semifinals. The two are seeded number one and two, so they will not meet each other in the bracket.

Nicholas LEE (USA)Pan-Am champ Nicholas LEE (USA) will be the one of the favorites to qualify at 65kg. (Photo: UWW / William Bain)

Freestyle

The U.S. has already qualified for the 74kg, 86kg, 97kg and 125kg in Freestyle and will look to complete the line up in Acapulco with 57kg and 65kg. Zane RICHARDS (USA) at 57kg and Nicholas LEE (USA) at 65kg will be the favorite to win these weight classes.

At 57kg, Pedro MEJIAS RODRIGUEZ (VEN) will be seeded number one while Richards will be number two and can only meet in the final. If the two seeds hold, both will win a quota for their respective countries.

But Roman BRAVO YOUNG (MEX) and Darian CRUZ (PUR) will look to win a quota as well. Bravo has been wrestling in the NCAA in the U.S. for a few years while Cruz has racked up international wins.

For Pan-Am champ Lee, Agustin DESTRIBATS (ARG) would have been the biggest challenge, but since the two are seeded number one and two, both can meet only in the final. That makes two-time world medalist Alejandro VALDES (CUB) another favorite to win the semifinal and qualify. Austin GOMEZ (MEX) will also be keen on winning his semifinal.

In the weight classes with no U.S. wrestlers, veteran Jeandry GARZON (CUB) will look to qualify for his second Olympics at the age of 40 years. He has four World Championships medals but the last came in 2010.

It will be interesting to see who manages to win the semifinals but Cesar BORDEAUX (BRA) and Sonny SANTIAGO (PUR) will back themselves if they reach the last-four.

Cuba will also back former Pan-Am champion Yurieski TORREBLANCA (CUB) to qualify the 86kg spot. But it won't be an east bath for him. Ethan RAMOS (PUR), seed number one Pedro CEBALLOS (VEN) and Anthony VALENCIA (MEX) will also be in the fray to win the spot.

Canada can hope that Nishan Preet RANDHAWA (CAN) at 97kg and Amarveer DHESI (CAN) at 125kg will be the favorites in their respective weight classes. Randhawa will have to be careful as Maxwell LACEY (CRC), Arturo SILOT (CUB) and Cristian SARCO (VEN) are entered as well.

Dhesi won the Pan-Am Games last year and has the experience to go all the way but Ibrain TORRES (CUB), Jonovan SMITH (PUR) and Jose DIAZ (VEN) will be his biggest challengers.

Arsen JUFALAKYAN (ARG)Arsen JUFALAKYAN (ARG) wrestling at the 2015 World Championships. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Greco-Roman

The return of 2012 Olympic silver medalist Arsen JULFALAKYAN (ARG) will be the biggest story in Greco-Roman. The 36-year-old became a world champion in 2014 and competed for Armenia at the European Championships in 2020. However, he has now switched to Argentina. He competed at the Henri Deglane Grand Prix in January, winning a silver medal.

As an unseeded wrestler, Julfalakyan will be drawn at random in the bracket. Top seed Yosvanys PENA (CUB) will start as the favorite along with top seed Kamal BEY (USA). Interestingly, both lost in the semifinal of the Pan-Am Championships as Jair CUERO MUNOZ (COL), who will be seeded second, won the gold medal while Joilson RAMOS (BRA) was the silver medalist. Will Julfalakyan manage to navigate this bracket and return to the Olympics?

Cuba will be hoping that Pan-Am champion Daniel GREGORICH (CUB) gets the Paris Games spot at 87kg. He will be the top-seeded wrestler and the favored wrestler to win his semifinal. Luis AVENDANO (VEN), who won silver at the Pan-Ams, will be on the opposite side of the bracket.

Alfonso ARIEL ANDRES (HON) and Carlos MUNOZ (COL), who reached the semifinals at the Pan-Ams, will hope to win it at the qualifiers.

At 130kg, Yasmani ACOSTA (CHI) is undoubtedly the favorite while top seed Cohlton SCHULTZ (USA) will hope Acosta doesn't fall on his side of the bracket. Moises PEREZ (VEN) is the second seed for the Pan-Am qualifiers.

Hondoras has a big chance of winning a Paris Games quota as Pan-Am champ Kevin MEJIA (HON) looks to repeat his performance from the championships. He will be the top seed for the 97kg weight class. 

Pan-Am silver medalist Alan VERA (USA) will be the favorite from the other side of the bracket as he is seeded number two and was the finalist against Mejia last week.

At 60kg, Raiber RODRIGUEZ (VEN) won the Pan-Am Championships and has the chance to qualify for the Paris Games if he can repeat at the qualifiers as the top seed. The U.S. will bank on second seed Ildar HAFIZOV (USA) who skipped the Pan-Ams to prepare for the qualifiers.

Alejandro SANCHO (USA) is another Pan-Am champion who is seeded number one for the quaifiers and will be the favorite. The 67kg weight class has Julian HORTA (COL) as the second seed but he lost to Andres MONTANO (ECU) in the Pan-Am semifinals and will have to avenge that loss if the two meet.