Weekly FIVE!

Weekly FIVE! May 21, 2018

Monday, May 21, 2018 - 17:03 By Eric Olanowski

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Reviewing Beat the Streets and World Military Championship results. Also taking a look at the More than Medals camps and Youth Olympic Games qualifiers after two cadet continental championships.  

1. Olympic Champions Erase Big Deficits At Beat the Streets 
Olympic champions Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) and Kyle SNYDER (USA) dug themselves out of deep holes to notch up victories at the Beat the Streets “Rumble On The River” in New York, New York. 

Burroughs, the 2012 London Olympic champion defeated two-time world champion, Frank CHAMIZO (ITA), 6-5 in one of the most anticipated match-ups in recent memory. 

Burroughs trailed the Italian Rio Olympic bronze medalist Frank Chamizo 4-0 after surrendering two early takedowns to start the 74kg match-up. 

The four-time world champion scored two points on a left side single leg with 36 seconds left to bring the score to 4-2. 

After giving up a step out to begin the second period, the American closed the match with back-to-back takedowns, taking the match, 6-5 to remain the king of 74kg. 

At 97kg, Kyle Snyder trailed two-time world silver medalist, Reineris SALAS PEREZ (CUB), 8-1 after forfeiting a takedown, a gut to the right side and a massive four-point throw. 

The two-time world champion was able to close out the inaugural period with a pair of one point exchanges, slimming the differential to five points heading into the final period. 

From there, Snyder’s smothering pace proved to be too much for Perez, as the reigning world and Olympic champion closed the match on an 8-0 run, ultimately winning the bout, 9-8.

FULL RESULTS

Olympic champion, Soslan RAMONOV (RUS) captured his third World Military Championship. 

2. Russia Reels in Seven Golds at 2018 World Military Championships 
Led by 2016 Olympic champion, Soslan RAMONOV (RUS), Russia reeled in seven of the possible ten freestyle gold medals and captured a medal in every weight class at the 2018 World Military Championships in Moscow, Russia. Iran finished the tournament in second place with two gold medals, while the remaining top spot went to Mongolia.

In his first competition since January’s Indian Pro League, Russian superstar Soslan Ramonov nabbed back-to-back World Military titles and third overall with a 12-5 win over Germany’s Alexander SEMISOROW in the 70kg gold-medal bout. 

Meanwhile, Khetik TSABOLOV (RUS) who is coming off a ninth-place finish at the European Championships rebounded by apprehending his fourth World Military gold medal with a win over Bahman TEYMOURI (IRI) in the 74kg finals. 

Also of note, Vladislav BAITSAEV (RUS), who won the European Championships two weeks ago took home the 97kg gold medal with a win over Iran’s 2017 world team representative, Amir MOHAMMADI (IRI), while U23 world champion Nachyin KUULAR (RUS) won his first title since 2016 with a fall over SONG Sik (KOR) to claim the top spot at 65kg. 

Other notable champions were Iran’s Mehrab REZAZADEH and Yadollah MOHEBBI and Mongolia’s KHASH-ERDENE Bekhbayar. 

FULL RESULTS

Sahak HOVHANNISYAN (ARM) defeated Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) to qualify Armenia's 60kg GR spot at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games. (Photo by Gabor Martin) 

3. Youth Olympic Games Qualifiers After the Cadet Asian and European C'ships 
The 2018 Youth Olympic Games will take place October 12-14 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. For qualification purposes, the highest placing athlete from the cadet continental championships will qualify their nations spot for the 2018 Games in both freestyle and Greco-Roman. 

In women's wrestling, the top two athletes from the cadet continental championships will qualify their nations spot for the Buenos Aires Games. 

Qualifiers After the Cadet Asian and European Championships 
Freestyle 
48kg – RUS and UZB
55kg - JPN and UKR 
65kg – AZE and IRI 
80kg - IRI and RUS 
110kg – IRI and RUS 

Greco-Roman 
45kg – BUL and IRI 
51kg - GEO and JPN 
60kg – ARM and UZB
71kg – JPN and RUS 
92kg - IRI and RUS  

Women's Wrestling 
43kg – AZE, BLR, JPN, and MGL 
49kg – HUN, JPN, SWE, and UZB 
57kg – HUN, IND, JPN, and MDA
65kg – CHN, HUN, JPN, and UKR
73kg – BLR, JPN, TUR, and UZB 

4. #MoreThanMedals Camps Wrap Up in Uzbekistan and Guatemala 
Two of United World Wrestling’s “More Than Medals” camps wrapped up this weekend in Tashkent, Uzbekistan and in Guatemala City, Guatemala. The "More Than Medals" camps were created to provide cadets from different nations with an opportunity to have fun, practice and learn from opponents and coaches while improving techniques. 

After last weeks second cadet continental championship, the European Championships, more than 65 athletes and 20 coaches from 11 nations stayed in Tashkent, Uzbekistan to continue to hone their skills before the Youth Olympic Games. 

Over 60 athletes from 10 different countries made the trip to Guatemala City to participate in the "More Than Medals" camp in preparation for the third continental championship, the 2018 Pan-American Championships. 

Suples Training Systems also made the journey to Guatemala's "More than Medals" camp to deliver training equipment while also providing an introductory course on how to use that new equipment. 

5. 2018 Cadet Pan-American Championships Begins Friday 
With 20 Youth Olympic Game spots up for grab, the 2018 Pan-American Championships kick off Friday, May 25 in Guatemala City, Guatemala.

Greco-Roman action at the third cadet continental championships kicks off on Friday, women’s wrestling action follows on Saturday and freestyle wrestling closes out the championships on Sunday. 

SCHEDULE
Friday – May 26
10:00 AM - Qualification rounds and repechage GR
6:00 PM- Opening Ceremony
7:00 PM - Finals GR – all categories 

Saturday – May 26
10:00 AM - Qualification rounds and repechage WW
5:00 PM - Finals WW – all categories

Sunday – May 27
10:00 AM - Qualification rounds and repechage FS 
5:00 PM - Finals FS – all categories

Weekly FIVE! in Social Media 

1.@frankchamizo92VS @alliseeisgold ?
Give it a name! 
Придумайте название к фото! ?
? @beatthestreets

2. Icho and Snyder! 10x World champion and 4x Olympic champion Kaori ICHO (JPN) with one of her favorite wrestlers, 2016 Olympic champion and 2x world champion Kyle SNYDER (USA)

3. More than Medals-America’s is underway! The program serves Cadet level wrestlers from around the Americas and works to develop their skills on the Mat! #growwrestling

4. Looks like a puzzle...:)
Выглядит как головоломка:)
مثل یک پازل به نظر می رسد
#wrestling#coolpic#wrestlers#sport#ilovewrestling#unitedworldwrestling#puzzle#борьба#борцы#головоломка#яборец

5. A huge congratulations to 48KG ZOPUNIAN (RUS) / 55 KG OSTAPENKO (UKR) / 65KG BAYRAMOV (AZE) for their gold medal wins last night.

#WrestleZagreb

Zagreb Open: Six Paris medalists in action; Blades drops to 68kg

Saturday, February 1, 2025 - 17:26 By Vinay Siwach

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ZAGREB, Croatia (February 1) -- With a couple of factors determining her decision, Kennedy BLADES (USA) will be moving down to 68kg, six months after winning the Olympic silver medal at 76kg in Paris.

Blades will make her 68kg debut at next week's Zagreb Open which coincides with her college wrestling season in which she wrestles at 160 pounds (around 72kg).

"Since I am in the middle of the college wrestling season and I am close to the weight (160lbs), I wanted to see how I felt," Blades told UWW.

Zagreb Open has a two-kilogram weight allowance and Blades revealed that she weighs around 72kg-73kg which makes it ideal for her to wrestle at 68kg in Zagreb. Even in Paris, Blades was wrestling under 76kg.

"I was naturally 2-4 kilograms under 76kg," she said. "So I wanted to see how I feel at my natural weight. Depending on how I feel, I'll determine if I want  to stay at 68kg or go back to 76kg."

Over her international career, Blades has never wrestled below 69kg, winning gold at the U17 Pan-Am Championships in 2018. She moved to 73kg for the U17 World Championships a year later and 72kg for the U20 World Championships in 2021. For her senior debut, Blades moved up to 76kg for the Henri Deglane in 2023 and competed at all tournaments for two years at that weight.

At 68kg in Zagreb, Blades will have to face a few long-timers.

World silver medalist from 2023 Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) and world bronze medalist Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) will be her biggest challenge. Former Asian silver medalist RADHIKA (IND) is also in the mix.

The United States will bring a solid team in Women's Wrestling with Blades, former world champion Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA), Michaela BECK (USA), Sofia MACALUSO (USA), Skylar GROTE (USA) and Yelena MAKOYED (USA).

PRIYA (IND)PRIYA (IND) is a U20 world champion. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

India has a full squad going to Zagreb with a few young stars. Former U17 and U20 world champion PRIYA (IND) will be at 76kg, along with Asian medalist MANISHA (IND).

Azerbaijan will be pinning hopes on its first-ever U23 world champion in Women's Wrestling Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) to shine in the 57kg which also has Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (AIN), Ramona GALAMBOS (HUN) and TAPSYA (IND). It also has Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE), Hiunai HURBANOVA (AZE) and Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE) wrestling in Zagreb.

Paris Olympian Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) will be at 62kg a week after winning the Dan Kolov tournament in Varna. She will face challenges from Ameline DOUARRE (FRA), Nikolett SZABO (HUN), Bhagyashree FAND (IND) and Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA).

Freestyle

A battle of two Olympic medalists at 57kg is on the cards as Spencer LEE (USA) and AMAN (IND) are registered for the tournament. Lee won a silver medal at the Paris Games while Aman came home with a bronze medal.

While these two are the biggest achievers in the field, former European champion Azamat TUSKAEV (SRB) will pose a significant challenge as he continues to find his space since he changed his nationality to Serbia. Paris Olympian Roman BRAVO YOUNG (MEX) is also in the fray, giving a mouth-watering clash for the U.S. fans between him and Lee.

Iran is debuting Ahora KHATERI (IRI) at the senior level. He won the 2023 U17 World Championships at 45kg but moved to 60kg in one year and finished eighth at the U17 World Championships in 2024.

Iran's struggle at the lower weights has continued over a decade now and Khateri is touted as the most promising of the new lot. It is also trying its new batch at 61kg, sending Ahmad JAVAN (IRI), Ebrahim KHARI (IRI) and Reza Hossein MOMENI (IRI) to Zagreb.

But the star of the Iran line-up will be Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) who won the U20 and U23 World Championships gold medals at 125kg. He is likely to go unchallenged in Zagreb but the field includes Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO), Hayden ZILLMER (USA) and Mason PARRIS (USA) to name a few.

More closely contested battles will be on display at 92kg as Aaron BROOKS (USA) moves up from 86kg, a weight class he won the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics. He will have his hands full with Asian champion Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) and former U20 world champion Mohammadmobin AZIMI (IRI).

World silver medalist Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) will be among the favorites for the gold along with former world silver medalist and Paris Olympian Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) who is returning to 92kg and will be joined by compatriot Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE). Boris MAKOEV (SVK) is also listed at 92kg for the competition.

Former Olympic and world champion Kyle SNYDER (USA) will kick off his season in Zagreb and hope to reclaim the gold he lost in 2024 to Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI). The field at 97kg is a little thin but still has Abolfazl BABALOO (IRI), Radu LEFTER (MDA) and Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK) among others.

Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN)Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) is entered at 70kg for the Zagreb Open. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

2023 world champion Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) is entered at 70kg. He finished fifth at the same tournament in 2023 but will be the most experienced wrestler in the field this year. He will have a few known rivals in the field including James GREEN (USA), Alec PANTALEO (USA) and Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE).

Iran has gone with 2022 U17 world champion Ebrahim ELAHI (IRI) and Sina KHALILI (IRI), a 2023 U17 world champion who finished seventh at the World Championships in Tirana last year.

Greco-Roman

Azerbaijan is all out with their Greco-Roman team in the first Ranking Series of the year. Three recent world champions, Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE), Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) and Uvli GANIZADE (AZE) are part of a 22-member strong squad that also has Paris Olympic bronze medalist Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE), Tokyo bronze medalist Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE), Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) among other younger stars.

Jafarov will be back in action at 67kg and hopes to start his season on a high. The wrestlers trying to stop him include teenager Mohammadreza GHOLAMI (IRI) and U20 world champion Ahmadreza MOHSEN NEZHAD (IRI). The field also has former world champion Sebastian NAD (SRB) and Morten THORESEN (NOR).

At 60kg, defending champion Sadyk LALAEV (AIN) leads the field, followed by Mammadli, the newly crowned world champion at 63kg. However, as Azerbaijan's first choice at the Olympic weight class, he is moving down to 60 kg. Paris Olympian Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) is also entered, along with U23 world champion Alisher GANIEV (UZB), who is known for his big moves.

Ulvu GANIZADE (AZE) will face a tough challenge from the Iranian duo of Danial SOHRABI (IRI) and Tokyo Olympic champion Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI). World champion Ganizade is the defending champion at 72kg but Geraei will be keen on getting on top of the podium at an international event, a feat he hasn't achieved since winning gold at the Bolat Turlykhanov Cup in June 2022. Sohrabi too has blown hot and cold since winning gold at the U23 World Championships in 2022.

Alexandrin GUTU (MDA)Zagreb Open will be a big test for Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) at 77kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

The two of the highly competitive weight classes in Greco-Roman are 77kg and 87kg and the Zagreb Open will be no different.

At 77kg, Sergei KUTUZOV (AIN) will be back in action, facing a few of the mainstays of this weight class. Suleymanov will be looking to shake off his disappointment of missing a medal in Paris with a better showing in Zagreb.

But there are a few challenges. Paris Olympians Amin KAVIYANI (IRI) and Aram VARDANYAN (UZB) are competing in Zagreb and so is Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) who continues to build his profile. Gutu narrowly missed out on qualifying for the Paris Olympics but is one of the most dynamic wrestlers in the weight class. Surprisingly, former U17 world champion and Gutu's teammate Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA) is also at 77kg.

Hungary has also sent Robert FRITSCH (HUN) and Zoltan LEVAI (HUN) at 77kg while Jonni SARKKINEN (FIN) is a dark horse.

Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN)Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) is likely to have his Olympic bronze-medal bout rematch against David LOSONCZI (HUN). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

The 87kg weight class will see Paris bronze medalist Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) and a few other Paris Olympians as well. Bisultanov may have a rematch of his bronze-medal bout against David LOSONCZI (HUN) who is one of three Hungarian wrestlers entered. Tamas LEVAI (HUN) and Istvan TAKACS (HUN) will also try to claim their stake for the spot on the Hungarian national team in this weight class.

Aues GONIBOV (AIN) and Milad ALIRZAEV (AIN) are the two neutral athletes with decorated resumes. Former world champion Huseynov is also entered along with Ivan HUKLEK (CRO), Naser ALIZADEH (IRI), Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ), Marcel STERKENBURG (NED), Exauce MUKUBU (NOR), Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) and Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB).