Shakalova returns as double champion, Toth shines at Grappling Worlds

Monday, October 17, 2022 - 18:04 By Vinay Siwach

PONTEVEDRA, Spain (October 17) -- The warm-up hall at Municipal Pavillion in Pontevedra is an emotional setting. At the end of the Grappling World Championships by United World Wrestling, grapplers from around the world are bidding goodbyes to their friends, rivals and coaches.

It's a room full of athletes that are skilled in various forms of combat sports coming together to grapple on the mat and be the world champion. A few are mixed martial arts fights, some are skilled at various forms of grappling and a few are equally good at both.

Among them is Kateryna SHAKALOVA (UKR) who is being congratulated by almost everyone around. She also gets some requests for selfies.

Shakalova won the gold medals in 71kg at both Grappling and Grappling Gi, a version in which athletes wrestle wearing a loose uniform used in almost all combat sports with a belt around the waist.

It was not the first time that Shakalova won two gold medals in the same tournament. She achieved the same feat in 2017 in Baku at the same tournament. Shakalova was extremely pleased that she was able to repeat after a gap of five years.

In the 71kg final, she got a 6-3 win over Giulia RODIO (ITA) with two setpouts before Radio pulled the guard to be penalized two more points. In the second period, Shakalova scored a takedown but also gave up two points for stalling while being on top. But with her experience, she secured the win.

For the first time, Shakalova was happy with off the mat facilities.

"I really liked the tournament," Shakalova said. "I want to say that I've been grappling for quite a long time, but it's the first time when I saw such a great organization of the World Championships. The food was great, usually, we have just bread, some unnecessary carbohydrates, but this time the meals were really good."

The 25-year-old has been in wrestling for 13 years now. But in the recent past, she has transformed herself into a mixed martial arts athlete with a 7-1 record. But even then, she has never stopped grappling since it helps her outperform her rivals.

"I had been grappling for about six years and then I took up MMA," she said. "Though my priority is MMA, grappling is just a hobby but I can say that grappling is an ideal kind of wrestling for MMA."

And with that in mind, she aims for the big league. "My main goal is to be signed for a good MMA promotion, this will help to promote grappling as there hasn't been a UWW grappler in that."

Although the two gold medals have brought smiles to Shakalova, she does not celebrate much as she remembers her hometown -- Kharkiv -- and the fact that she last saw her family six years ago.

Growing up in Donetsk, the Ukrainian never thought she will not have a home to go to, first in 2014 and then in 2022.

"My home in Kharkiv has been destroyed," she said. "I have been in Dusseldorf in Germany for more than a year now. My parents are stuck in Donetsk."

Shakalova fondly remembers the Pankaration tournament in Kharkiv last year which she won.

"I won it. In my home. I don't have a home now."

Alexa TOTH (HUN) won two gold medals in Pontevedra. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

Ukraine finished second in both women's Grappling and Grappling Gi with Poland winning the Gi and Germany topping the Grappling style.

Among all the stars was a young one from Hungary. Alexa TOTH (HUN), 18, was the second double champion in Pontevedra as she thrashed opponents much senior to her.

"When I came, I did not expect to win it," Toth said. "As I am just 18 years old, winning the adult category is amazing."

Toth, a U17 world champion last year, has also won a silver and bronze at the European Championships as well.

"It's always great when I am on the mat. I like the idea when can be strong as a girl," she said.

Toth, who is still in school, has to find a balance between grappling and studies as she has to pass her exams later this year.

"It's really hard," Toth said. "The solution is to not sleep and do both. It happened to me as I came here instead of my exam. I have to write when I go back home. So it's going to be long nights."

RESULTS

Women's Grappling Gi

53kg
GOLD: Rui HIRABAYASHI (JPN) df. Kanae IKEDA (JPN), 3-0

BRONZE: Martyna IWAT (POL) df. Botakoz YELDOSKYZY (KAZ), 4-2
BRONZE: Naiomi MATTHEWS (ESP) df. Tetiana ASTAKHOVA (UKR), 7-2

58kg
GOLD: Alexa TOTH (HUN) df. Breanna STIKKELMAN (USA), 11-2

BRONZE: Adrianna WOJARSKA (POL) df. Minerva MONTERO (ESP), via submission
BRONZE: Lina GROSSET (FRA) df. Samantha JEAN FRANCOIS (FRA), 5-3

64kg
GOLD: Joanna ZABULEWICZ (POL) df. Antonia KANEW (GER), 6-5

BRONZE: Fariza KULYNTAY (KAZ) df. Anna CASTELLS (ESP), 5-1
BRONZE: Viktoriia SYNIAVINA (UKR) df. Aigul SAMAT (KAZ), 5-0

71kg
GOLD: Kateryna SHAKALOVA (UKR) df. Giulia RODIO (ITA), 6-3

BRONZE: MERYXELL GONZALEZ (ESP) df. Aizhan ABDYKADYR (KAZ), via submission (2-2)
BRONZE: Emily GUENZLER (GER) df. Christina HANSEN (USA), via submission (0-6)

90kg
GOLD: Tara WHITE (USA) df. Assel KABDYGALYMOVA (KAZ), 10-1

BRONZE: Magdalena ZASZCZUDLOWICZ (POL) df. Aikorkem IKHSANOVA (KAZ), via walkover
BRONZE: Darina GOLDIN (GER) df. Teara LEWIS (USA), via walkover

Women's Grappling

53kg
GOLD: Kanae IKEDA (JPN) df. Rui HIRABAYASHI (JPN), 3-1

BRONZE: Carlota PRENDES (ESP) df. Alicja STYPULKOWSKA (POL), 4-3
BRONZE: Naiomi MATTHEWS (ESP) df. Martyna IWAT (POL), 2-0

58kg
Alexa TOTH (HUN) df. Melissa BENEDINI (ITA), 13-0

BRONZE: Laila OHLHOFF (GER) df. Jazmin ARJONA (ESP), via submission (7-3)
BRONZE: Aizhan ISMAGULOVA (KAZ) df. Adrianna WOJARSKA (POL), 4-1

64kg
GOLD: Anna CASTELLS (ESP) df. Antonia KANEW (GER), via submission (2-2)

BRONZE: Florika LUCHYCH (UKR) df. Kristi RUSSELL (USA), via walkover
BRONZE: Sandra PNIAK (POL) df. Olena HERMAN (UKR), 5-3

71kg
GOLD: Kateryna SHAKALOVA (UKR) df. Alycia QUENEE (FRA), 11-5

BRONZE: Christina HANSEN (USA) df. Aizhan ABDYKADYR (KAZ), via submission (12-0)
BRONZE: Giulia RODIO (ITA) df. Giada CHIOSO (ITA), via submission

90kg
GOLD: Darina GOLDIN (GER) df. Olena SUSHKO (UKR), via submission (2-2)

BRONZE: Magdalena ZASZCZUDLOWICZ (POL) df. Aikorkem IKHSANOVA (KAZ), via submission (6-0)
BRONZE: Tara WHITE (USA) df. Teara LEWIS (USA), via walkover

#WrestleTirana

U23 Worlds: On return, Otoole leads U.S. dominance in Tirana

Monday, October 23, 2023 - 20:00 By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (October 23) -- Last year, the United States had only three Freestyle finalists at the U23 World Championships and failed to win a single gold medal.

The U.S. team this year can certainly hope to better that performance as it managed to enter three of its wrestlers in the finals on day one of the U23 World Championships in Tirana, Albania.

Led by 2021 U20 world champion Keegan OTOOLE (USA), the U.S. was the best-performing nation with three finalists with Turkiye coming second with two finalists. Two Individual Neutral Athletes also made it to the finals.

Japan, Kazakhstan and Moldova earned a finalist each as the competition commenced with five Freestyle weight classes in the Albanian capital.

Otoole last competed internationally in 2021, winning the gold medal at 74kg in Ufa. But on Monday it seemed he had never been away from international wrestling, winning his four bouts with utter domination.

In the semifinal against Sonny SANTIAGO (PUR), Otoole came out with his cradle and pinned Santiago to reach the final.

Imam GANISHOV (AIN) defeated NAVEEN (UWW) 10-0 in the 74kg semifinal. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

To win a second world age-group title, Otoole will have to beat Imam GANISHOV (AIN) who was equally good on the mat as the American.

After beating Vasile DIACON (MDA) 8-0 in his first bout, Ganishov secured three technical superiority wins including a 10-0 win over NAVEEN (UWW) to enter the final.

Aaron BROOKS (USA) reached the 86kg final after beating Arslan BAGAEV (AIN) 5-4. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Two-time world age-group medalist Aaron BROOKS (USA) was the second high-profile athlete from the U.S. to reach the final as he made his way to the 86kg final after a close 5-4 win over Arslan BAGAEV (AIN) in the semifinal.

Brooks scored a takedown in Bagaev's activity period to go 3-0 up but Bagaev countered one of Brooks' attempts to cut the lead to 3-2. Brooks was called passive in the second period but he swung into action and scored a takedown just before the activity period finished to lead 5-2.

Bagaev, who finished 12th at the World Championships in Belgrade, scored a pushout with 39 seconds remaining and then got a point for negative wrestling from Brooks who still won 5-4.

Defending champion at 86kg Tatsuya SHIRAI (JPN) reched the final in Tirana. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Defending champion Tatsuya SHIRAI (JPN) will look to stop Brooks in the final as he put on another defensive show throughout the day to enter his second straight U23 world final.

Shirai blanked Benjamin GREIL (AUT) 4-0 in the semifinal, taking his total points scored in four bouts to 22 while he conceded only one. He will look to become Japan's first-ever double U23 world champion in Freestyle.

Wyatt HENDRICKSON (USA) was the third American wrestler in the final after he chalked his way with some gritty wins. He opened his day with a big victory over Abdulla KURBANOV (AIN). Hendrickson pinned Kurbanov after leading 17-9. Nicolae STRATULAT (MDA) was handed a 14-1 defeat before Azamat KHOSONOV (GRE), a former U23 world silver medalist, was stopped 4-2 in the semifinal.

Adil MISIRCI (TUR) will look to end Hendrickson's run in Tirana after he made the final from the other side of the bracket. He after scoring two big wins in the morning Misirci kept calm and beat Anirudh KUMAR (UWW) 3-0 in the semifinal.

Muhammed GIMRI (TUR) made it to the 92kg final in Tirana. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Turkiye confirmed another medal as Muhammed GIMRI (TUR) entered the 92kg final and will take on Ion DEMIAN (MDA) for the gold medal.

Gimri had to work hard in his 8-5 semifinal win against Pruthviraj PATIL (UWW). He led 1-1 on criteria at the break but scored a takedown in the second period when Patil was on the activity clock. Once Patil failed to score in the 30-second limit, Gimri led 4-1. He hit a strong double-leg to make it 6-1 before Patil scored a takedown and gave up exposure as Gimri led 8-3. Patil got two more points but it mattered little as Gimri completed an 8-5 win.

Ion DEMIAN (MDA) booked his spot in the 92kg semifinal against Muhammed GIMRI (TUR). (Photo: UWW / Ulug Burga Han Degirmenci)

Demian overcame U23 European champion Andro MARGISHVILI (GEO) that too in a spectacular manner, winning the semifinal 11-1 and becoming only the second Moldovan wrestler to reach the final at U23 Worlds after Radu LEFTER (MDA) in 2021.

The Moldovan used three stepout to lead 3-1 at the break before adding two more in the second period. Margishvili was struggling with his conditioning as both wrestlers kept going for their attacks. Margishvili gave up a tame go-behind with a minute left to fall behind 7-1. Margishvili tried a bodylock move but Demian defended well and flung the Georgian, earning four points and an 11-1 win.

Assylzhan YESSENGELDI (KAZ), right, stunned returning silver medalist Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) in the 61kg semifinal. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 61kg, Assylzhan YESSENGELDI (KAZ) had a dream run to the final as he avenged his U23 Asian Championships loss to returning silver medalist Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) in the semifinal.

Yessengeldi was up 9-1 in the semifinal when Zhumashbek Uluu mounted a comeback in the second period but fell short despite two cautions to Yessengeldi. Zhumashbek Uluu scored two takedowns in the second period and was awarded two stepouts along with two caution points but Yessengeldi did enough to remain in the bout.

He will take on Bashir MAGOMEDOV (AIN) for the gold medal after Magomedov blanked Ivan HRAMYKA (AIN) 10-0 in the other semifinal. That was Magomedov's third victory via technical superiority in as many matches.

RESULTS

61kg
GOLD: Bashir MAGOMEDOV (AIN) vs. Assylzhan YESSENGELDI (KAZ)

SF 1: Bashir MAGOMEDOV (AIN) df. Ivan HRAMYKA (AIN), 10-0
SF 2: Assylzhan YESSENGELDI (KAZ) df. Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ), 9-7

74kg
GOLD: Keegan OTOOLE (USA) vs. Imam GANISHOV (AIN)

SF 1: Keegan OTOOLE (USA) df. Sonny SANTIAGO (PUR), via fall (8-0)
SF 2: Imam GANISHOV (AIN) df. NAVEEN (UWW), 10-0

86kg
GOLD: Aaron BROOKS (USA) vs. Tatsuya SHIRAI (JPN)

SF 1: Aaron BROOKS (USA) df. Arslan BAGAEV (AIN), 5-4
SF 2: Tatsuya SHIRAI (JPN) df. Benjamin GREIL (AUT), 4-0

92kg
GOLD: Muhammed GIMRI (TUR) vs. Ion DEMIAN (MDA)

SF 1: Muhammed GIMRI (TUR) df. Pruthviraj PATIL (UWW), 8-5
SF 2: Ion DEMIAN (MDA) df. Andro MARGISHVILI (GEO), 11-1

125kg
GOLD: Wyatt HENDRICKSON (USA) vs. Adil MISIRCI (TUR)

SF 1: Wyatt HENDRICKSON (USA) df. Azamat KHOSONOV (GRE), 4-2
SF 2: Adil MISIRCI (TUR) df. Anirudh KUMAR (UWW), 3-0

Shakalova returns as double champion, Toth shines at Grappling Worlds

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U23 Worlds: On return, Otoole leads U.S. dominance in Tirana