World Grappling Championships, #Grappling

Three golds for U.S. in women's Grappling World Championships

By Vinay Siwach

WARSAW, Poland (August 23) -- The United States put on a dominant performance in the women's Grappling competition at the World Championships in Warsaw, entering six grapplers in six finals.

With three winning gold and three silver medals, the U.S. won the team title with 115 points while host nation Poland finished second as it won one gold and two silver medals for 75 points. Spain with its three bronze medals managed 51 points to finish third in the team race.

The session began with Faye CHERRIER (USA) upsetting European champion Pnina ARONOV (ISR), 4-2, in the 53kg gold medal bout. Aronov pulled Cherrier down but it was the American who controlled and scored the two points.

Aronov tried different submissions but Cherrier got out of the lock with ease. A point was awarded to Aronov as Cherrier stalled and a scramble led the two grapplers out of bounds. Resuming in neutral, Cherrier landed another takedown with control to lead 4-1 and was cautioned for one more point but that did not harm her chances to win 4-2.

Alexandria ENRIQUEZ (USA) continued the streak as she defeated returning bronze medalist Adrianna WOJARSKA (POL), 8-0, in the 58kg final. Opening the scoring with a stepout, Enriquez controlled a takedown behind the arms to add two more points. Never letting go of her grip, Enriquez scored exposure and controlled two blank Wokarska 8-0 in the final.

Meshy ROSENFELD (ISR) denied the U.S. three out of three gold medals as she defeated Sheliah LINDSEY (USA), 7-6, in a thrilling final at 64kg.

Rosenfeld began at the bottom and Lindsey scored two points early in the final. But the Israel grappler reversed and controlled for a brief second, enough to get two points. Lindsey instantly got control on top and led 4-2. Locking Lindsey's leg, Rosenfeld got on top and was awarded two points with 50 seconds left on the clock.

Lindsey scored two points by getting on top again to lead 6-4 with 35 seconds left in the match. Rosenfeld gave it a last shot, locking Lindsey's legs and rolling to get the top position. Lindsey lost balance and gave up two points which made Rosenfeld a 6-6 winner on criteria. The U.S. challenged the call but lost.

Former European medalist Magdalena LOSKA (POL) won by submission over Christina HANSEN (USA) to give the host country a gold medal at 71kg.

Tara WHITE (USA) won a bronze medal last year but upgraded to gold this year, beating Janina CZYCZYN (POL), 6-2, in the 90kg and ended the day on a high for the United States.

RESULTS

53kg
GOLD: Faye CHERRIER (USA) df. Pnina ARONOV (ISR), 4-2

BRONZE: Zhanna KASKINOVA (KAZ) df. Martyna IWAT (POL), 2-0
BRONZE: Carlota PRENDES (ESP) df. Maria RATCLIFF (PHI), 8-2

58kg
GOLD: Alexandria ENRIQUEZ (USA) df. Adrianna WOJARSKA (POL), 8-0

BRONZE: Janette GLOGER (GER) df. Botakoz YELDOSKYZY (KAZ), 7-2
BRONZE: Melissa BENEDINI (ITA) df. Tina BARANTAR (GRE), via submission (0-2)

64kg
GOLD: Meshy ROSENFELD (ISR) df. Sheliah LINDSEY (USA), 7-6

BRONZE: Janine MUTTON (CAN) df. Julija STOLIARENKO (LTU), via submission (2-0)
BRONZE: Anna CASTELLS (ESP) df. Snezhana MORAR (UKR), 0-0

71kg
GOLD: Magdalena LOSKA (POL) df. Christina HANSEN (USA), via submission (1-3)

BRONZE: Alycia QUENEE (FRA) df. Giulia RODIO (ITA), via submission (2-0)

90kg
GOLD: Tara WHITE (USA) df. Janina CZYCZYN (POL), 6-2

BRONZE: Claudia FORNES (ESP) df. Magdalena ZASZCZUDLOWICZ (POL), 11-1
BRONZE: Tammy GRIEGO (USA) df. Assel KABDYGALYMOVA (KAZ), via submission (6-0)

#JapanWrestling

Ozaki, Tanabe take special wrestling trip to Iran

By Vinay Siwach

TEHRAN, Iran (April 28) — While most Paris Olympic medalist from Japan are preparing for June’s Meiji Cup at their base universities in Japan, world champion Nonoka OZAKI (JPN) and Asian champion Kaisei TANABE (JPN) have managed to squeeze in a educational trip to Iran despite their busy training schedule.

Ozaki, who won bronze medal at the Paris Olympics at 68kg, returned to international competition recently won a silver medal at 62kg at the Asian Championships in March. She is expected to compete at the Meiji Cup which will be held in Tokyo from June 19 to 22.

“I am in Iran right now,” Ozaki told UWW. “It’s a place I always wanted to visit. I am really happy.”

Ozaki visited Tehran as part of her education trip and exchanged wrestling notes with few of the Iranian wrestlers who are part of the team.

“Iran has many world and Olympic champions and I wanted to study wrestling here,” she said. “I stayed for a week and this experience will help me learn me about wrestling.”

Nonoka OZAKI (JPN)Nonoka OZAKI (JPN), left, and Kaisei TANABE (JPN), third from left, in Iran. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Tanabe won the gold medal at the Asian Championships at 65kg and also attended the training camp with Iran wrestlers.

The Nippon Sports Science University wrestler is also expected to compete at the Meiji Cup and if he wins, he will book his ticket to the World Championships in September where he can meet Paris Olympic silver medalist Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) who was present at the training camp in Tehran.

Amouzad lost the 65kg final in Paris to Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) who is a teammate of Tanabe at NSSU.