#WrestleBudapest

Tosun triumphant, Godinez clinches gold at Budapest Ranking Series

By Vinay Siwach

BUDAPEST, Hungary (June 8) -- World champion Buse TOSUN (TUR) sent a stern warning to her competitors two months before the Paris Games by winning the 68kg gold medal at the Ranking Series in Budapest, Hungary.

In her three bouts, Tosun blanked Firuza ESENBAEVA (UZB) 10-0, pinned Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) in the rematch of the World Championships final and held on to her 2-0 lead to beat Soleymi CARABALLO (VEN) in the final.

Tosun won the World Championships in Belgrade last year to become only the second female wrestler to win the gold at the marquee event. She will now enter the Paris Olympics as the top-seeded wrestler at 68kg.

PodiumAna GODINEZ (CAN), center, with the other medalists at 62kg in Budapest. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 62kg, Ana GODINEZ (CAN) came on top of a packed bracket, winning the gold medal after world bronze medalist Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) pulled out of the final due to injury.

But before the walkover in the final, Godinez was solid on the mat beating Lais NUNES (BRA) 6-2 before humbling European champion Grace BULLEN (NOR) 11-7 in the semifinal. Bullen was leading the semifinal before Godinez continued her relentless attacks and broke Bullen down. Trailing on 7-7 criteria, Godinez scored two takedowns to win the bout.

"Even though I didn't wrestle my final, it feels good. I did want to wrestle Iryna [Koliadenko]. It's a little disappointing," Godinez said. "I am satisfied with the two matches I had. I did want to wrestle at least three, maybe four.  We came here to see what's good, what's bad, what's new."

Godinez expressed her satisfaction with her performance in Budapest but said that she could perform better on any other given day.

"I come with the same mindset every time. I want to win obviously, but it's every position," she said. "I did not feel my greatest today but it's nice to know that I can perform when I don't feel great. I have to be able to perform even when I don't feel great and that can happen any day, even at the Olympics."

World Championships bronze medalist Tatiana RENTERIA (COL) clinched the gold medal at 76kg with three wins in four matches. World U23 champion REETIKA (IND) also had three wins from four bouts but Renteria clinched the gold as she defeated Reetika in their direct clash in the group.

Reetika and Renteria clashed in the second round and it was the Indian who had a 2-1 lead going into the last minute of the match. Both wrestlers were struggling with their breath but the Colombian continued her attacks and eventually got a takedown over Reetika to win 3-2.

She suffered a loss to Justina DI STASIO (CAN) while beating Genesis REASCO (ECU) and Zainab SGHAIER (TUN) in the other group stage bouts. Reetika defeated Di Stasio, Reasco and Sghaier for her three wins.

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RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Jowita WRZESIEN (POL) df. Roza SZENTTAMASI (HUN), 5-2

BRONZE: Amanda MARTINEZ (USA) df. Mariana DRAGUTAN (MDA), 11-2

62kg
GOLD: Ana GODINEZ (CAN) df. Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR), via inj. def.

BRONZE: Grace BULLEN (NOR) df. Lais NUNES (BRA), via fall
BRONZE: Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) df. Alina KASABIEVA (AIN), 8-2

65kg
GOLD: Iryna BONDAR (UKR) df. Nesrin BAS (TUR), 10-4

BRONZE: Miki ROWBOTTOM (CAN) df. Eniko ELEKES (HUN), via inj. def.

68kg
GOLD: Buse TOSUN (TUR) df. Soleymi CARABALLO (VEN), 2-0

BRONZE: Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) df. Firuza ESENBAEVA (UZB), 13-4
BRONZE: Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) df. Kseniia BURAKOVA (AIN), 7-2

76kg
GOLD: Tatiana RENTERIA (COL)
SILVER: REETIKA (IND)
BRONZE: Genesis REASCO (ECU)

#WrestleBudapest

Live Blog: #WrestleBudapest European Championships Day 3

By Vinay Siwach

BUDAPEST, Hungary (March 30) -- The European Championships in Budapest will see women's wrestling in five weight classes with several Tokyo Olympians and World Championships medalists competing.

The five weight classes are 50kg, 55kg, 59kg, 68kg and 76kg. Irina RINGACI (MDA), Yasemin ADAR (TUR), Epp MAE (EST), Anastasia NICHITA (MDA), Emilia VUC (ROU) and other women's wrestling stars will be on the mat.

MATCH ORDER | WATCH LIVE

13:05: That's the end of the session for the morning. Jowita WRZESIEN (POL) could not have planned a more thrilling bout. She scored a takedown with four seconds left to win 7-7 to reach the semifinal at 59kg

12:45: Tokyo Olympian Emilia VUC (ROU) moves into the semifinals with an 8-2 win over Emanuela LIUZZI (ITA) at 50kg. On Mat A, Oleksandra KHOMENETS (UKR) gets the first win of the day for Ukraine. She beats Nova BERGMAN (SWE) at 55kg

12:30: At 76kg, world silver medalist Epp MAE (EST) gets the victory via fall over Enrica RINALDI (ITA) and in the next bout, Tokyo bronze Yasemin ADAR (TUR) beats Mariya ORYASHKOVA (BUL) by technical superiority. 

12:25: Between a battle of world champion Irina RINGACI (MDA) and European champion Alla BELINSKA (UKR), Ringaci runs to an easy 10-0 win inside the first period. 

12:15: Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) with a quick pin at 68kg against Amina CAPEZAN (ROU) who was a silver medalist at the U23 European Championships.

12:05: 59kg Round 2 is here. Top seed Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE) gets hte win over Elena BRUGGER (GER) 8-4. On Mat B, Solomiaa VYNNYK (UKR) with some late points against Jowita WRZESIEN (POL) to win 5-4 but we have a challenge. Wrzesien gets the takedown and the score is reversed to 5-3 for Poland.

11:55: Bernadett NAGY (HUN) might have pulled off the upset of the tournament. She was trailing 2-0 with five seconds remaining against Martina KUENZ (AUT). But she scores the takedown for the win

11:45: U23 European champion Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) starts the day with a close 4-2 win over Jowita WRZESIEN (POL) 

11:40: What a start to the day. Morena DE VITA (ITA) pins Solomiia VYNNYK (UKR) in Round 1 of the 59kg weight class.

11:30: Big day in Budapest as women's wrestling begins with five weight classes. Ukraine will have a team competing here