Weekly FIVE!

Weekly FIVE! May 14, 2019

By Eric Olanowski

Discussing next week's Sassari City Matteo Pellicone Memorial, along with results from the International Ukrainian Tournament, and the Beach Wrestling World Series. Also looking at Gadzhimagomedov's surgery and the latest set of Greco-Roman rankings. 

1. Sassari City Matteo Pellicone Memorial Begins Next Thursday 
United World Wrestling’s third Ranking Series event of the year, the Sassari City Matteo Pellicone Memorial, is just over a week away. It’ll be the first-ever Ranking Series event which will feature freestyle, Greco-Roman, and women’s wrestling under one roof. 

The three-day tournament, which begins on May 23, will take place 655km west of Rome on the Italian island destination of Sardinia. The thought of wrestling with the breeze of the Tyrrhenian Sea on your back has intrigued some of the sports biggest stars to sign up for the event. Though registration is not official until 24 hours before the first whistle, here are some of the stars that fans can expect to see in Sardinia: 

GR 77kg - KIM Hyeonwoo (KOR) – Olympic champion
FS 70kg - Soslan RAMONOV (RUS) – Olympic champion 
WW 76kg - Erica WIEBE (CAN) – Olympic champion
WW 72kg - Anna FRANSSON (SWE) – Olympic bronze
FS 74kg - Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) –  Two-time world champion 
GR 67kg - 
RYU Hansu (KOR) – World champion 
WW 76kg - Aline ROTTER FOCKEN (GER) – World champion
WW 55kg - Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR) – World champion
WW 55kg - Sofia MATTSSON (SWE) – World champion
GR 77kg - Tamas LORINCZ (HUN) – World runner-up 
FS 74kg - Khetik TSABALOV (RUS) - World runner-up 
FS 65kg - Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (RUS) – Two-time world silver 
GR 87kg -Erik SZILVASSY (HUN) – U23 World champion 
WW 57kg - Grace Jacob BULLEN (NOR) – U23 World champion
FS 57kg - Suleyman ATLI (TUR) – Ranked No. 1 at 57kg 
FS 68kg - Fatih ERDIN (TUR) – Ranked No. 1 at 86kg

SCHEDULE

2. Brazilian Women, Georgian Men Sweep Beach Gold in Rio
Brazilian funk music thumped Saturday afternoon as four of the nation’s beach wrestling women captured gold at the second stop of the Beach Wrestling World Series (BWWS). The Brazilian side, who laughed and danced their way to the unlikely quadruple gold also each collected 1000 CHF for winning their respective weight classes at the event.

Kamila BARBOSA (50kg), Camila FAMA (60kg), Brenda AGUIAR DOS SANTOS (70kg), and Aline DA SILVA FERREIRA (BRA) each cruised their way to gold over the course of the two-day event, creating a buzz among the hometown crowd.

Also similar to the first stop, four Georgians made the finals of the event, only this time all four Georgians managed to take home top billing.

Click here for Tim Foley’s full Beach Wrestling wrap. 

3. Nine Europeans Ranked First in Latest Greco-Roman World Rankings
United World Wrestling has released their latest point-based Greco-Roman world rankings, and European nations own nine of the ten top spots heading into the final pair of Ranking Series events before the Nur-Sultan World Championships.

Even more impressive, the Russian Federation owns five of Europe’s nine top-spots. The five No. 1-ranked Russian wrestlers are Sergey EMELIN (60kg), Stepan MARYANYAN (63kg), Artem SURKOV (67kg), Musa EVLOEV (97kg), and Sergey SEMENOV (130kg). 

In addition to the Russian-five, Azerbaijan’s Eldaniz AZIZLI (55kg), Germany’s Frank STAEBLER (72kg) , Turkey’s Emrah KUS (82kg), and Ukraine’s Zhan BELENIUK (87kg) also hold the top spot at their respective weight classes. 

The lone non-European top-ranked wrestler is Korea’s  Olympic champion Hyeonwoo KIM who is ranked No. 1 at 77kg.

Click here for full breakdown of Greco-Roman rankings.

4. Gadzhimagomedov Undergoes Surgery After European C'ship Injury 
Russia’s reigning 79kg world bronze medalist Akhmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus and cruciate ligament in his right knee – but he's expected to make a full recovery before July’s Russian National Championships, where he's expected to move down to 74kg.

Gadzhimagomedov hurt his right knee in the closing seconds of the first period in his European Championship semifinals bout against Oleksii DOMANYTSKYI (UKR). Gadzhimagomedov stopped an arm spin attempt and went down in pain, grabbing his right knee. He was up 3-0 at that point and continued wrestling on one knee in the second period. The Russian scored a pair of heroic takedowns, and ultimately won the bout, 7-0. 

But, Gadzhimagomedov medically forfeited out of his finals match against reigning world runner-up Jabrayil HASANOV (AZE) and settled for a silver medal. 

Olena KREMZER (UKR) defeated Anzhelina LYSAK (UKR) to win the 59kg title. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

5. International Ukrainian Tournament Concludes in Kiev
The International Ukrainian Tournament wrapped up in Kiev, Ukraine, and according to sources in the Ukrainian Wrestling Federation, the host nation will use last weekend’s results as the determining factor for June’s European Games. The highest placing Ukrainian wrestler at each weight will represent their nation in Minsk, Belarus, at the 2019 European Games. 

Of the nine gold medals up for grabs (no entries at 72kg), Ukrainian wrestlers won seven of those nine titles. Arguably, the most notable upset of the tournament came at 57kg, where Irina KHARIV (UKR) shocked reigning European runner-up Tatyana KIT (UKR) to steal the European Games spot. 

Additionally, European champions Alla CHERKASOVA (68kg) and Iryna HUSYAK (55kg), and European runner-up Lilya HORISHNA (53kg), sat out of last weekend’s competition. It’s not clear if they’ve done enough to automatically grant themselves a spot in the lineup at the European Games, or there will be a special wrestle-off prior to June's competition.

Japan’s Miyuu NAKAMURA (50kg) and Vasilisa MARZALIUK (76kg) were the two non-Ukrainian wrestlers who reached the top of the podium in their respective weight classes. 

Nakamura, the 2016 junior world champion, upset returning world bronze medalist No.2-ranked Oksana LIVACH (UKR) in the 50kg finals. In her finals, No. 19 Vasilisa Marzaliuk defeated Ukraine’s European Championship representative Alla BELINSKAYA in the 76kg gold-medal bout. 

Results

50kg    
GOLD - Miyuu NAKAMURA (JPN)
SILVER - Oksana LIVACH (UKR)  
BRONZE Anna LUKASIAK (POL)
BRONZE - Maria VINNIK (UKR)

53kg
GOLD - Yuliia BLAHINYA (UKR)  
SILVER - Kristina BEREZA(UKR)
BRONZE - Paula KOZLOV (POL)
BRONZE - Maria PPREVOLARAKL (GRE)

55kg
GOLD - Alina AKOBIYAN (UKR)  
SILVER - Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR)           
BRONZE - Khristina DEMKO (UKR)

57kg
GOLD - Irina KHARIV (UKR)         
SILVER - Tatyana KIT (UKR)          
BRONZE - Irina KURCHKINA (BLR)

59kg    
GOLD - Olena KREMZER (UKR)    
SILVER - Anzhelina LYSAK (UKR)            
BRONZE - Sofia BODNAR (UKR)

62kg    
GOLD - Yulia TKACH (UKR)                                              

65kg    
GOLD - Irina KOLIADENKO (UKR)          
SILVER - Tatyana RYSHKO (UKR)
BRONZE - Anastasia LAVRENCHUK (UKR)

68kg    
GOLD - Kristina BEREZA (UKR)                                        

72kg                                                                        
No Competition 

76kg    
GOLD - Vasilisa MARZALIUK (BLR)        
SILVER - Alla BELINSKAYA (UKR)         
BRONZE - Irina PASICHNIK (UKR)

Weekly FIVE! In Social Media 

1. Big Move Monday -- DATUNASHVILI Z. (GEO) -- 2015 European Games
2. Talk about earning the No.1 ranking in the world? Here’s @koreawrestlingfederation ‘s Olympic champion and No.1-ranked (at 77kg) KIM Hyeonwoo’s (71 points) resume since the World Championships: 
World Championships:? Asian Championships:? Zagreb Open:? Hungarian GP:? 
3. The Hungarian head-scratcher. 
Who should Hungary ?? enter into the #WrestleNurSultan World Championships at 87kg?
No. 3 Erik SZILVASSY - U23 ??and European?or No. 5 Viktor LORINCZ - 2x ??, Hungarian GP and Zagreb Open ?. Lorincz is 2-0 against Szilvassy in 2019
4. Saturday smiles with No. 5 RYU Hansu ??. ?: @sachikohotaka
5. Hungary’s ?? reigning world champion Peter BACSI has retired since winning world gold on home soil - meaning the 82kg seeds (as of now) at the #WrestleNurSultanWorld Championships will be: 
No. 1 - Emrah KUS ??.
No. 2 - @saeid.abdovali68 ??.
No. 3 - Viktar SASUNOUSKI ??.
No. 4 - @bisultanov_077 ??.

#WrestleZagreb

Zagreb Open: Tynybekova beats Motoki; Tosun, Losonczi stunned

By United World Wrestling Press

ZAGREB, Croatia (January 12) -- The Zagreb Open enters day three with Greco-Roman in 77kg and 87kg. The Women's Wrestling will continue in four weight classes with Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) hoping to avenge her World Championships final loss to Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ).

Watch the Zagreb Open live on UWW+ for free using promo code ZAGREB100.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER

The finals for the evening session

Women's Wrestling

62kg: Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) vs Kayla MIRACLE (USA)
68kg: Forrest MOLINARI (USA) vs Feng ZHOU (CHN)

Greco-Roman

77kg: Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) vs Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE)
87kg: Milad ALIRZAEV (AIN) vs Alireza MOHAMADIPIANI (IRI)

16:45: Alireza MOHAMADIPIANI (IRI) enters the 87kg final with a 2-1 victory over Alan OTSAEV (AIN). Mohamadipiani scored a stepout from par terre and then defended his par terre position to win 2-1 and enter the final.

16:35: Feng ZHOU (CHN) takes out the world silver medalist Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) 9-5 in the semifinal at 68kg. Strong gut wrench in the action again as she built a 9-1 lead before a reversal and a gut closed the score to 9-4. A late passivity warning cost her a point but not the bout.

16:25: Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) enters the 77kg final against Zoltan LEVAI! He gets the better of Yunus BASAR (TUR) 3-3. Both wrestlers scored a turn from par terre but Suleymanov with the last-point criteria.

16:20: Absolute madness in that Milad ALIRZAEV (AIN)-Daniel HECHAVARRIA (CUB) semifinal at 87kg. Alirzaev scored a four-pointer from par terre and a takedown to lead 7-0. But Hechavarria made a comeback in the second period to tie it 7-7 before Alirzaev scored a reversal to lead 8-7 with 40 seconds remaining. He kept that lead.

16:05: Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) with a 3-1 victory over Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) in the 77kg semifinals. Levai scored a turn from par terre in the second period to enter the final.

15:55: A big throw from Milad ALIRZAEV (AIN) saves him in the 87kg quarterfinal against Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB). Alirzaev got the first par terre advantage and hit a four. In the second period, Komarov scored two turns from par terre and made it 5-5 with Alirzaev leading on criteria. The score and lead remained that way till the end.

15:50: Time for the big semifinal at 62kg. Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) and Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) on Mat B. Tynybekova put on the activity clock. She fails to score and Motoki gets a takedown to lead 3-0 at the break. Remember Tynybekova defeated Motoki in the 62kg final at the World Championships. Motoki keeps stepping back in the second period and is hit with the 30-second activity period. Tynybekova catches Motoki off guard and scores exposure along with the activity period point to win 3-3. That was stunning from Tynybekova.

15:45: Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) ends world bronze medalist Nao KUSAKA's (JPN) run. He gets a reversal from par terre and then traps the arm to score a turn. A big lift and huge four plus another turn gives him a 9-1 victory at 77kg. In 87kg, Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI) scores from par terre in the second period to beat Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) 3-3.

15:30: Yunus BASAR (TUR) gets the better of Ali ARSALAN (SRB) at 77kg. Basar was the better and more active wrestler. He won 8-1. A little later, Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) won his 77kg bout with a fall.

15:15: Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) continues her solid run and is now in the semifinal. She defeated Alina KASABIEVA (AIN) 7-3. She will face Sakura MOTOKI (JPN)

15:10: Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) with a takedown to open the scoring against Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) who managed to survive a pin as well. Motoki with a double-leg and takes a 2-2 criteria lead at the break. Motoki with another takedown and one point for the activity clock. She now leads 5-2. She wins and will wrestle Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) in the semifinal.

14:55: Alan OSTAEV (AIN) and Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) put on a show! Mukubu opened with a big four-pointer and one stepout but Ostaev had a takedown, four-pointer and a stepout to lead 7-5. Mukubu added a takedown but that was not enough as Ostaev hit a huge four and won 11-8

14:40: World bronze medalist Nao KUSAKA (JPN) beats 72kg world champion Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) 10-0 after a huge throw for four. Kusaka flexes to show his domination. On Mat C, Idris IBAEV (GER) has two big throws to win 10-0 against VIKAS (UWW).

14:30: Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) is solid in par terre and Kiryl MASKEVICH (AIN) can't break his defense. Komarov moves into the quarterfinals at 87kg with a 6-2 win.

14:20: Ali ARSALAN (SRB) with a 9-0 win at 77kg over Antonio KAMENJASEVIC (CRO). He moves into the quarterfinals. On Mat C, Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) beats Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) 2-0.

13:50: Clutch from Feng ZHOU (CHN)! Trailing 3-1 with 10 seconds on the clock, Zhou gets Wiktoria CHOLUJ (POL) in a headlock and rolls to get two points and wins 3-3 on criteria. Poland challenges, asking for two points for Choluj as well for exposure but that is not the case. A 4-3 win for Zhou.

13:40: Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) is wrestling  Yaru WU (CHN) and trailing 5-0 at the break. On the adjacent mat, Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) is wrestling LILI (CHN) and leading 4-0. Tynybekova with a go-behind to cut the lead to 5-2. She picks a cross-ankle and takedown to make it 5-4 with a minute left. Wu with a one-on-two but Tynybekova slips out and scored a takedown to take a 6-5 lead. Wu with another attempt but Tynybekova held on for a 6-5 win. Motoki got a leg lace on Lili to stretch her lead to 8-0. A throw from Lili got her two but a reversal and two for Motoki who now leads 11-2 and will win with the same score.

13:15: Another world champion falls in the first bout! David LOSONCZI (HUN) falls 9-0 to Alan OSTAEV (AIN) in the first period itself. Ostaev with an arm spin for four and then a correct throw for two to lead 6-0. Losonczi tries to do the double-arm lock throw but falls on his back, giving Ostaev two more. Hungary challenges the call but it stands and Ostaev wins 9-0

13:00: Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB), wrestling his first tournament for Serbia, with a quick 9-1 win over Spencer WOODS (USA) at 87kg. On Mat C, Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) took his own time to beat Ioannis NARLIDIS (CAN) 12-4.

12:30: Kiryl MASKEVICH (AIN) with a victory via fall over Yoan DIMITROV (BUL) at 87kg and then Istvan TAKACS (HUN) beats Islam ABBASOV (AZE) 3-2.

12:10: World champion Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA), Yunus BASAR (TUR), Ali ARSALAN (SRB) and VIKAS (UWW) all begin their tournament with convincing wins at 77kg.

11:50: Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) used a second period takedown to beat Ahmet YILMAZ (TUR) 3-1 at 77kg. Turkiye is trying to find their wrestlers for the Olympic qualifier and Yilmaz, with that loss, may well be out of that race.

11:30: World champion Buse TOSUN (TUR) gets rolled by Feng ZHOU (CHN) who has a solid gut wrench! Zhou with a 10-0 win at 68kg.

11:20: SONAM (UWW) has to forfeit her bout Iryna BONDAR (UKR) after she fell during the bout. Bondar declared winner by injury but seems like Sonam was had a bad weight cut.

11:10: Typical Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) match there. She led 2-0 against Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA) after two activity points and when Nwachukwu tried an attack in the final few seconds, Tynyebkova scored to win 4-0. 

11:00: A two-minute pin for Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) over Eniko ELEKES (HUN) at 62kg. Motoki and Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) are on the path to meeting in the semifinals.

10:50: Milad ALIRZAEV (AIN) warms up with a 9-0 win over Martynas NEMSEVICIUS (LTU) Both passivities were won by Alirzaev and he gave little opening to Nemsevicius.

10:30: First big match of the day and world bronze medalist Nao KUSAKA (JPN) comes back from 3-0 down to win 8-7 against Stoyan KUBATOV (BUL) at 77kg. On Mat B, Jonni SARKKINEN (FIN) gets going with an 8-3 win over Khasay HASANLI (AZE).

10:00: Welcome to day three of the Zagreb Open with women's wrestling in four weight classes and two Greco-Roman weight classes.