Last second come-from-behind wins and country firsts came to define the final day of competition at the Paris Golden Grand Prix.
Three of Sunday night’s finals came down to scoring actions in the last 15 seconds of the competition. Spain’s Friev TAIMURAZ, Mongolia’s Nyam-Ochir ENKHSAIKHAN and France’s Mélonin NOUMONVI all won titles by scoring offensive maneuvers while trailing very late in their finals.
In addition to the last second heroics, Sunday was all a historic day for Brazilian wrestling as female freestyler Aline FERRIERA (Brazil) won gold at 75 kg. Ferriera’s efforts secured Brazil’s first-0ever gold medal in Golden Grand Prix. Brazil, a country with a long history of grappling has been hoping to build on recent investments in front of the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janiero.
The most impressive team performance from the two-day competition might have came from the Mongolians who won men’s freestyle titles at 57, 61 and 65 kg. The three titles and four finalists was the country’s best-ever performance at a Golden Grand Prix.
The second day of competition also saw the Americans end their title drought with Nick MARABLE taking the title at 75 kg.
On the Greco-Roman side Poland who put two in the finals, while France crowned their second Greco-Roman champion with Daigoro NOUMONVI taking the title at 98 kg.
Women’s freestyle action was dominated by the aggressive work of Ukraine’s Tatiana OMELCHENKO who steamrolled her way to a Grand Prix title. Meanwhile Anastasija GRIGORJEVA of Latvia earned a technical fall over her teammate, while Ferriera locked up Brazil’s historic win
The Golden Grand Prix Finale will be held July 24-27 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Men’s Freestyle
61 kg
Nyam-Ochir ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) kept Mongolia’s winning streak alive on Sunday besting Krzysztof BIENKOWSKI (POL) TK in the finals of 61 kg. The swift moving Enkhsaikhan found an inside trip for four points with only 12 seconds remaining on the clock to earn the Mongolian side’s third freestyle title.
Gold: ENKHSAIKHAN Nyam-Ochir (MGL) df. BIENKOWSKI Krzysztof (POL) by PP, 4-2
Bronze: DUBOV Vladimir (BUL) df. NICOLLE Romi (FRA) by ST, 10-0
Bronze: AGUSTIN Sanchez (ESP) df. MOTSONELIDZE Akaki (GEO) by VB, 0-0
Semifinal: ENKHSAIKHAN Nyam-Ochir (MGL) df. DUBOV Vladimir (BUL) by PP, 4-4
Semifinal: BIENKOWSKI Krzysztof (POL) df. MOTSONELIDZE Akaki (GEO) by VB, 2-2
74 kg
Unurbat PUREVJAV (MGL) gave it all he had, but a late takedown by Nick MARABLE (USA) sealed a 6-2 win for the American grappler. The Americans only Grand Prix title of the tournament, Marable’s defense and counter attacks were effective and earned him his first Grand Prix title.
Gold: MARABLE Nick (USA) df. PUREVJAV Unurbat (MGL) by PP, 6-2
Bronze: KHUTSISHVILI Isoeb (GEO) df. SOKALSKI Andrezej (POL) by VT, 2-1
Bronze: BRZOZWSKI Krystian (POL) df. SORBELLO Andrea (ITA) by SP, 11-1
Semifinal: MARABLE Nick (USA) df. KHUTSISHVILI Isoeb (GEO) by PO, 8-0
Semifinal: PUREVJAV Unurbat (MGL) df. BRZOZWSKI Krystian (POL) by PP, 8-7
86 kg
Friev TAIMURAZ (ESP) put on a show against Phil Keddy (USA) in the semifinal, but had a tougher time in the finals as he faced another American in Keith GAVIN (USA) a member of that country’s 2013 world team. Taimuraz, who was 5th at the 2013 World Championships, used a takedown with 15 seconds remaining to push past Gavin 4-3. The American challenged the decision and gave up a desperation shot late
Gold: TAIMURAZ Friev (ESP) df. GAVIN Keith (USA) by PP, 5-3
Bronze: JEZIERZANSKI Sebastian (POL) df. AIBUEV Akhmed (FRA) by PP, 9-6
Bronze: KEDDY Phil (USA) df. ZVIRBULIS Armanas (LAT) by PP, 6-2
Semifinal: GAVIN Keith (USA) df. AIBUEV Akhmed (FRA) by PP, 4-2
Semifinal: TAIMURAZ Friev (ESP) df. KEDDY Phil (USA) by ST, 10-0
Women’s Freestyle
60 kg
Tatiana OMELCHENKO (UKR) needed just 3:47 in her finals appearance against Gabriella SLEISZ (HUN) to earn the 10-0 technical fall.
Gold: OMELCHENKO Tatiana (UKR) df. GALAMBOS Ramona (HUN) by ST, 11-0
Bronze: SLEISZ Gabriella (HUN) df. PIVA Mait� (FRA) by PO, 2-0
Semifinal: GALAMBOS Ramona (HUN) df. PIVA Mait� (FRA) by PO, 4-0
Semifinal: OMELCHENKO Tatiana (UKR) df. HENDERSON Kennon (USA) by ST, 10-0
63 kg
After working past Brazilian’s in the semifinals Latvian teammates Laura SKUJINA (LAT) and Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (LAT) met in the finals at 63 kg. From the opening whistle Grigorjeva was the aggressor and quickly racked up a ten point differential between herself and Skujina, earning the 11-1 technical fall.
Gold: GRIGORJEVA Anastasija (LAT)df. SKUJINA Laura (LAT) by SP, 8-1
Bronze: JOHASSON Henna (SWE) df. GOMES Dailane (BRA) by VT, 12-5
Bronze: LYEKHANOVA Albina (UKR) df. OLIVEIRA Lais (BRA) by VT, 4-0
Semifinal: GRIGORJEVA Anastasija (LAT) df. GOMES Dailane (BRA) by VT, 14-5
Semifinal: SKUJINA Laura (LAT) df. OLIVEIRA Lais (BRA) by PP, 3-1
75 kg
Aline FERRIERA (Brazil) went 2-0 in round-robin competition, earning Brazil’s first Golden Grand Prix title.
Nordique: FERREIRA Aline (BRA) df. ALIYEVA Sabira (AZE) by VT, 8-0
Nordique: FERREIRA Aline (BRA) df. NEMETH Zsanett (HUN) by VT, 4-1
Nordique: NEMETH Zsanett (HUN) df. ALIYEVA Sabira (AZE) by VT, 6-0
Greco-Roman
59 kg
In the 59 kg finals it was Edward BARSEGJAN (POL) who had his way with Yacin OZAY (FRA) putting on what was likely the most action filled match of the tourney. After going ahead by two points early, Barsegjan ceded a four-point move in the beginning of the second period. Undeterred, the points actually seemed to motivate the Polish wrestler as he rattled off a four point lift of his own followed by consecutive takedowns to win 12-4.
Gold: BARSEGJAN Edward (POL) df. OZAY Yacin (FRA) by SP, 12-4
Bronze: GOGITADZE Lasha (GEO) df. ESERTIC Dawid (POL) by VT, 6-0
Bronze: ZHAKANSHA Bagylan (KAZ) df. OKAUCHI Yuta (JPN) by ST, 8-0
Semifinal: OZAY Yacin (FRA) df. ESERTIC Dawid (POL) by PP, 4-3
Semifinal: BARSEGJAN Edward (POL) df. ZHAKANSHA Bagylan (KAZ) by PP, 11-6
75 kg
In a battle defined almost primarily by center-control and pushouts, Manuchar TSKHADAIA (GEO) defeated Mateusz WOLNY (POL) 3-0 in the finals at 75 kg. The young Georgian fought for inside position, and on several occasions was close to finishing attacks. However it was the pushouts and blocking that would ultimately earn him the 3-0 victory and the Grand Prix title.
Gold: DATUNASHVILI Zurabi (GEO) df. WOLNY Mateusz (POL) by PO, 3-0
Bronze: PRZEPIORKA Piotr (POL) df. MARCHL Florian (AUT) by ST, 8-0
Bronze: TSKHADAIA Manuchar (GEO) df. ZHAXYLYKOV Daulet (KAZ) by PO, 5-0
Semifinal: WOLNY Mateusz (POL) df. PRZEPIORKA Piotr (POL) by PO, 2-0
Semifinal: DATUNASHVILI Zurabi (GEO) df. TSKHADAIA Manuchar (GEO) by PO, 1-0
98 kg
It was up to 2013 Junior World champion Daniel GASTL(AUT). If the young Austrian could make it past Vasil IMERLISHVILI (GEO) then he’d take the title, and for the first two minute things looked great. Gastl opened with a four point arm spin, but quickly gave back a puchout, and then a tekdown. By the end of the first period it was tied 4-4. Imerlishvili would own the second, earning three takedowns to win 11-4.
The title ended up in the hands of France’s own Mélonin NOUMONVI (FRA) who used late pressure in his final match against Daigoro TOMONCINI (ITA) to win 1-1 on criteria. At 4-0 on the day the French wrestler took home the Grand Prix title.
Nordique: NOUMONVI Melonin (FRA) df. TOMONCINI Daigoro (ITA) by PP, 1-1
Nordique: IMERLISHVILI Vasil (GEO) df. GASTL Daniel (AUT) by PP, 11-4
Nordique: NOUMONVI Melonin (FRA) df. IMERLISHVILI Vasil (GEO) by PO, 4-0
Nordique: TOMONCINI Daigoro (ITA) df. GEGESHIDZE Vladimer (GEO) by VB, 0-0
Nordique: NOUMONVI Melonin (FRA) df. GASTL Daniel (AUT) by PO, 2-0
Nordique: IMERLISHVILI Vasil (GEO) df. GEGESHIDZE Vladimer (GEO) by VB, 0-0
Nordique: TOMONCINI Daigoro (ITA) df. GASTL Daniel (AUT) by PP, 6-1
Nordique: NOUMONVI Melonin (FRA) df. GEGESHIDZE Vladimer (GEO) by VB, 0-0
Nordique: TOMONCINI Daigoro (ITA) df. IMERLISHVILI Vasil (GEO) by PP, 4-2
Nordique: GASTL Daniel (AUT) df. GEGESHIDZE Vladimer (GEO) by PP, 6-1
