Justin Grant places eighth in freestyle at Dan Kolov International in Bulgaria
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
RUSE, Bulgaria – Justin Grant (Easton, Pa./New York AC) placed eighth at 125 kg/275 lbs. in men’s freestyle, the lone U.S. athlete to compete in the Dan Kolov International this past weekend.
Grant opened the tournament with a 4-1 win over Kamil Kosiolek of Poland. In the second round, he was defeated by 2013 World silver medalist Alen Zasieiev of Ukraine, 4-2. Zasieiev went on to win the gold medal.
When Zasieiev advanced to the gold-medal finals, Grant was pulled back into repechage, where he was defeated by Daulet Shabanbay of Kazakhstan, 13-2. Shabanbay was fifth in the 2012 Olympic Games.
Grant competed for Bloomsburg in college, and has twice been a placewinner at the U.S. Senior Freestyle Open.
Among the winners was Bulgaria’s Borislav Novachkov, who was the champion at 65 kg/145.5 lbs. and was named the top Bulgarian freestyle wrestler in the tournament. Novachkov was a star for Cal Poly and grew up in California.
The tournament, which had a huge turnout of 473 entries, also included a Greco-Roman and women’s freestyle division, in which no U.S. athletes entered.
DAN KOLOV/NIKOLA PETROV INTERNATIONAL
At Ruse, Bulgaria, April 7-9
Men’s freestyle medalists
57 kg/125.5 lbs.
Gold – Erdenebat Bekhbayar (Mongolia)
Silver – Andrei Dukov (Romania)
Bronze – Givi Davidovi (Italy)
Bronze – Mahir Amiraslanov (Azerbaijan)
61 kg/134 lbs.
Gold – Dzhamal Otarsultanov (Russia)
Silver – Recep Munir Aktas (Turkey)
Bronze – Zelimkhan Abakarov (Russia)
Bronze – Timur Aitkulov (Kazakhstan)
65 kg/145.5 lbs.
Gold – Borislav Novachkov (Bulgaria)
Silver – Bajrang (India)
Bronze – Meirzhan Ashirov (Kazakhstan)
Bronze – Magomed Muslimov (Azerbaijan)
70 kg/154 lbs.
Gold – Magaomed Gazimagomedov (Russia)
Silver – Nikolay Kurtev (Bulgaria)
Bronze – Alexander Semisorow (Germany)
Bronze – Ruslan Dibirgadzhiyev (Azerbaijan)
74 kg/163 lbs.
Gold – Kakhaber Khubezhty (Russia)
Silver – Bolat Sakayev (Kazakhstan)
Bronze – Ahmet Erturk (Turkey)
Bronze – Zhiger Zakirov (Kazakhstan)
86 kg/189 lbs.
Gold – Zbigniew Baranowski (Poland)
Silver – Shamil Kudiiamagomedov (Russia)
Bronze – Irakli Mtsituri (Georgia)
Bronze – Adilet Davlumbayev (Kazakhstan)
97 kg/213 lbs.
Gold – Riza Yildirim (Turkey)
Silver – Fatih Yasarli (Turkey)
Bronze – Anzor Urishev (Russia)
Bronze – Nurov Magomadgadji (FYR Macedonia)
125 kg/275 lbs.
Gold – Alen Zasieiev (Ukraine)
Silver – Inkar Yermukambet (Kazakhstan)
Bronze – Daniel Ligeti (Hungary)
Bronze – Sakir Bozkurt (Turkey)
Best International Freestyle wrestler – Zshamal Otarsultanov (Russia), 61 kg
Best Bulgarian Wrestler – Borislav Novachkov, 65 kg
U.S. men’s freestyle performance
125 kg/275 lbs. – Justin Grant, Buffalo, N.Y. (New York AC), 8th
WIN Kamil Kosciolek (Poland), 4-1
LOSS Alen Zasieiev (Ukraine), 4-2
LOSS Daulet Shabanbay (Kazakhstan), 13-2
Women’s freestyle medalists
48 kg/105.5 lbs.
Gold – Miglena Selishka (Bulgaria)
Silver – Frederika Petersson (Sweden)
Bronze – Ritu Phogat (India)
Bronze – Kim Yeojin (Korea)
53 kg/116.5 lbs.
Gold – Vanesa Kaladzinskaya (Belarus)
Silver – Zhuldyz Eshimova (Kazakhstan)
Bronze – Roksana Zasina (Poland)
Bronze – Nina Hemmer (Germany)
55 kg/121 lbs.
Gold – Katsiaryna Hanchar (Belarus)
Silver – Biliana Dudova (Bulgaria)
Bronze – Nuray Karadag (Turkey)
Bronze – Shinhye Lee (Korea)
58 kg/128 lbs.
Gold – Gulshaharat Talassov (Kazakhstan)
Silver – Emese Barka (Hungary)
Bronze – Mariana Cherdivara (Moldova)
Bronze – Natalya Sinishin (Azerbaijan)
60 kg/132 lbs.
Gold – Mimi Hristova (Bulgaria)
Silver – Johanna Mattsson (Sweden)
Bronze – Gabriella Sleisz (Hungary)
Bronze – Ayaulym Kassymova (Kazakhstan)
63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Gold – Yulia Tkach (Ukraine)
Silver – Yusein Taybe (Bulgaria)
Bronze – Da Col Sara (Italy)
Bronze – Monika Michalik (Poland)
69 kg/152 lbs.
Gold – Aline Focken (Germany)
Silver – Alla Cherkasova (Ukraine)
Bronze – Elmira Syzdykova (Kazakhstan)
Bronze – Dibya Kakran (India)
75 kg/165 lbs.
Gold – Yasemin Adar (Turkey)
Silver – Maria Selmeier (Germany)
Bronze – Gulmaral Terkebayeva (Kazakhstan)
Bronze – Anna Schellin (Germany)
Best International Women’s Wrestler – Aline Focken (Germany), 69 kg
Best Bulgarian Wrestler – Mimi Hristova, 60 kg
Greco-Roman medalists
59 kg/130 lbs.
Gold – Ivo Angelov (Bulgaria)
Silver – Rustem Hammet (Turkey)
Bronze – Taleh Mammadov (Azerbaijan)
Bronze – Radoslav Vasilev (Bulgaria)
66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Gold – Kamran Mammadov (Azerbaijan)
Silver – Gunar Abdulsamet (Turkey)
Bronze – Deyvid Dimitrov (Bulgaria)
Bronze – Sanghun Oh (Korea)
71 kg/156 lbs.
Gold – Rasul Chunayev (Azerbaijan)
Silver – Ruslan Tsarev (Kyrgyzstan)
Bronze – Nurgazy Asangulov (Kyrgyzstan)
Bronze – Balint Korpasi (Hungary)
75 kg/165 lbs.
Gold – Tarek Abdelslam (Bulgaria)
Silver – Fukhan Bayrak (Turkey)
Bronze – Manfred Edsberg (Sweden)
Bronze – Yunus Emre Basar (Turkey)
80 kg/176 lbs.
Gold – Daniel Aleksandrov (Bulgaria)
Silver – Laszlo Szabo (Hungary)
Bronze – Bogdan Kourinnoi (Sweden)
Bronze – Iliyan Georgiev (Bulgaria)
85 kg/187.5 lbs.
Gold – Peter Bacsi (Hungary)
Silver – Azat Beishebekov (Kyrgzstan)
Bronze – Missaoui Mohamed Skender (Turkey)
Bronze – Nikolay Bayryakov (Bulgaria)
98 kg/215 lbs.
Gold – Balazs Kiss (Hungary)
Silver – Uzur Dzhuzupbekov (Kyrgyzstan)
Bronze – Suleyman Demirci (Turkey)
Bronze – Dimitriy Timchenko (Ukraine)
130 kg/286 lbs.
Gold – Alin Alexuc (Romania)
Silver – Mykola Kuchmii (Ukraine)
Bronze – Constantin Hutuleac (Romania)
Bronze – Min-Seok Kim (Korea)
Best International Greco-Roman wrestler – Rasul Chunayev (Azerbaijan), 71 kg
Best Bulgarian Greco-Roman wrestler – Ivo Angelov, 59 kg
Grant opened the tournament with a 4-1 win over Kamil Kosiolek of Poland. In the second round, he was defeated by 2013 World silver medalist Alen Zasieiev of Ukraine, 4-2. Zasieiev went on to win the gold medal.
When Zasieiev advanced to the gold-medal finals, Grant was pulled back into repechage, where he was defeated by Daulet Shabanbay of Kazakhstan, 13-2. Shabanbay was fifth in the 2012 Olympic Games.
Grant competed for Bloomsburg in college, and has twice been a placewinner at the U.S. Senior Freestyle Open.
Among the winners was Bulgaria’s Borislav Novachkov, who was the champion at 65 kg/145.5 lbs. and was named the top Bulgarian freestyle wrestler in the tournament. Novachkov was a star for Cal Poly and grew up in California.
The tournament, which had a huge turnout of 473 entries, also included a Greco-Roman and women’s freestyle division, in which no U.S. athletes entered.
DAN KOLOV/NIKOLA PETROV INTERNATIONAL
At Ruse, Bulgaria, April 7-9
Men’s freestyle medalists
57 kg/125.5 lbs.
Gold – Erdenebat Bekhbayar (Mongolia)
Silver – Andrei Dukov (Romania)
Bronze – Givi Davidovi (Italy)
Bronze – Mahir Amiraslanov (Azerbaijan)
61 kg/134 lbs.
Gold – Dzhamal Otarsultanov (Russia)
Silver – Recep Munir Aktas (Turkey)
Bronze – Zelimkhan Abakarov (Russia)
Bronze – Timur Aitkulov (Kazakhstan)
65 kg/145.5 lbs.
Gold – Borislav Novachkov (Bulgaria)
Silver – Bajrang (India)
Bronze – Meirzhan Ashirov (Kazakhstan)
Bronze – Magomed Muslimov (Azerbaijan)
70 kg/154 lbs.
Gold – Magaomed Gazimagomedov (Russia)
Silver – Nikolay Kurtev (Bulgaria)
Bronze – Alexander Semisorow (Germany)
Bronze – Ruslan Dibirgadzhiyev (Azerbaijan)
74 kg/163 lbs.
Gold – Kakhaber Khubezhty (Russia)
Silver – Bolat Sakayev (Kazakhstan)
Bronze – Ahmet Erturk (Turkey)
Bronze – Zhiger Zakirov (Kazakhstan)
86 kg/189 lbs.
Gold – Zbigniew Baranowski (Poland)
Silver – Shamil Kudiiamagomedov (Russia)
Bronze – Irakli Mtsituri (Georgia)
Bronze – Adilet Davlumbayev (Kazakhstan)
97 kg/213 lbs.
Gold – Riza Yildirim (Turkey)
Silver – Fatih Yasarli (Turkey)
Bronze – Anzor Urishev (Russia)
Bronze – Nurov Magomadgadji (FYR Macedonia)
125 kg/275 lbs.
Gold – Alen Zasieiev (Ukraine)
Silver – Inkar Yermukambet (Kazakhstan)
Bronze – Daniel Ligeti (Hungary)
Bronze – Sakir Bozkurt (Turkey)
Best International Freestyle wrestler – Zshamal Otarsultanov (Russia), 61 kg
Best Bulgarian Wrestler – Borislav Novachkov, 65 kg
U.S. men’s freestyle performance
125 kg/275 lbs. – Justin Grant, Buffalo, N.Y. (New York AC), 8th
WIN Kamil Kosciolek (Poland), 4-1
LOSS Alen Zasieiev (Ukraine), 4-2
LOSS Daulet Shabanbay (Kazakhstan), 13-2
Women’s freestyle medalists
48 kg/105.5 lbs.
Gold – Miglena Selishka (Bulgaria)
Silver – Frederika Petersson (Sweden)
Bronze – Ritu Phogat (India)
Bronze – Kim Yeojin (Korea)
53 kg/116.5 lbs.
Gold – Vanesa Kaladzinskaya (Belarus)
Silver – Zhuldyz Eshimova (Kazakhstan)
Bronze – Roksana Zasina (Poland)
Bronze – Nina Hemmer (Germany)
55 kg/121 lbs.
Gold – Katsiaryna Hanchar (Belarus)
Silver – Biliana Dudova (Bulgaria)
Bronze – Nuray Karadag (Turkey)
Bronze – Shinhye Lee (Korea)
58 kg/128 lbs.
Gold – Gulshaharat Talassov (Kazakhstan)
Silver – Emese Barka (Hungary)
Bronze – Mariana Cherdivara (Moldova)
Bronze – Natalya Sinishin (Azerbaijan)
60 kg/132 lbs.
Gold – Mimi Hristova (Bulgaria)
Silver – Johanna Mattsson (Sweden)
Bronze – Gabriella Sleisz (Hungary)
Bronze – Ayaulym Kassymova (Kazakhstan)
63 kg/138.75 lbs.
Gold – Yulia Tkach (Ukraine)
Silver – Yusein Taybe (Bulgaria)
Bronze – Da Col Sara (Italy)
Bronze – Monika Michalik (Poland)
69 kg/152 lbs.
Gold – Aline Focken (Germany)
Silver – Alla Cherkasova (Ukraine)
Bronze – Elmira Syzdykova (Kazakhstan)
Bronze – Dibya Kakran (India)
75 kg/165 lbs.
Gold – Yasemin Adar (Turkey)
Silver – Maria Selmeier (Germany)
Bronze – Gulmaral Terkebayeva (Kazakhstan)
Bronze – Anna Schellin (Germany)
Best International Women’s Wrestler – Aline Focken (Germany), 69 kg
Best Bulgarian Wrestler – Mimi Hristova, 60 kg
Greco-Roman medalists
59 kg/130 lbs.
Gold – Ivo Angelov (Bulgaria)
Silver – Rustem Hammet (Turkey)
Bronze – Taleh Mammadov (Azerbaijan)
Bronze – Radoslav Vasilev (Bulgaria)
66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Gold – Kamran Mammadov (Azerbaijan)
Silver – Gunar Abdulsamet (Turkey)
Bronze – Deyvid Dimitrov (Bulgaria)
Bronze – Sanghun Oh (Korea)
71 kg/156 lbs.
Gold – Rasul Chunayev (Azerbaijan)
Silver – Ruslan Tsarev (Kyrgyzstan)
Bronze – Nurgazy Asangulov (Kyrgyzstan)
Bronze – Balint Korpasi (Hungary)
75 kg/165 lbs.
Gold – Tarek Abdelslam (Bulgaria)
Silver – Fukhan Bayrak (Turkey)
Bronze – Manfred Edsberg (Sweden)
Bronze – Yunus Emre Basar (Turkey)
80 kg/176 lbs.
Gold – Daniel Aleksandrov (Bulgaria)
Silver – Laszlo Szabo (Hungary)
Bronze – Bogdan Kourinnoi (Sweden)
Bronze – Iliyan Georgiev (Bulgaria)
85 kg/187.5 lbs.
Gold – Peter Bacsi (Hungary)
Silver – Azat Beishebekov (Kyrgzstan)
Bronze – Missaoui Mohamed Skender (Turkey)
Bronze – Nikolay Bayryakov (Bulgaria)
98 kg/215 lbs.
Gold – Balazs Kiss (Hungary)
Silver – Uzur Dzhuzupbekov (Kyrgyzstan)
Bronze – Suleyman Demirci (Turkey)
Bronze – Dimitriy Timchenko (Ukraine)
130 kg/286 lbs.
Gold – Alin Alexuc (Romania)
Silver – Mykola Kuchmii (Ukraine)
Bronze – Constantin Hutuleac (Romania)
Bronze – Min-Seok Kim (Korea)
Best International Greco-Roman wrestler – Rasul Chunayev (Azerbaijan), 71 kg
Best Bulgarian Greco-Roman wrestler – Ivo Angelov, 59 kg
