Greco News

Monday Roundup: USA in SWE; Korea Open Results

By 5PM Staff

Posted on December 2, 2024

sailike walihan, 2024 korea open results

Sailike Walihan -- Photo: Tony Rotundo

On Saturday, 2024 U20 World runner-up Otto Black (Hawkeye WC) and Austin DeSanto (TMWC/Hawkeye WC) both competed in the Haparanda Cup (Haparanda, SWE) and came away with medals, and in the same weight category of 63 kilograms. Black finished with silver while DeSanto — who was defeated in the opening round of his pool — rebounded to earn bronze. Haparanda represented the first Senior Greco-Roman international competition for the duo.

not all roads lead to gold, parent edition, jim gruenwald

The pair of American wrestlers will stay put in Haparanda throughout the next few days before making their way to Ilmajoki, Finland for next weekend’s Haavisto Cup. Similar to Haparanda’s tournament, the Arvo Haavisto Cup will be run using the A/B pool “Nordic system” format, meaning that wrestlers in each weight class are ensured at least two matches. At press time, both athletes are registered for weight categories different from where they competed in Sweden.

DeSanto is currently listed for 67 kg and Black appears on the sheet for 72 kg. This is primarily due to the fact that 63 kilograms is not being contested in Finland. To that end, several of the wrestlers aside from the US entrants who appeared in the 63 kg bracket this past weekend (such as champ William Ekeroth, Arseni Paschenko, and Algot Gamelius, among others) are, along with DeSanto, registered at 67.

Streaming information for the Haavisto Cup is not yet available. The event has been broadcast live online previously (on YouTube) but not on an annual basis. Should a streaming location be disseminated, it will be shared in this space.

Korea Open

The Korea Open took place on Friday, November 22 in Sangjou. Competition involved only the six current Olympic weight categories — and only six nations were represented (not counting the host country). They were: China, Chinese Taipei, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Japan. A total of 79 athletes entered the Greco-Roman portion of the event. Home team Korea enjoyed participation from 26 of their Greco-Roman competitors while Kazakhstan had 17 and China showcased 10. The Hungarian delegation — the lone European contingent — brought seven wrestlers to the tournament.

As for the final team standings, China finished 1st with 109 points (four individual champs), Korea took 2nd (85 points — two silvers, three bronze), and Kazakhstan wound up in 3rd with 78 points (two silvers, two bronze).

Most of the field at the Korea Open was comprised of athletes who trend younger as well as Seniors who do not receive “main event” type of starts for their respective nations. For example, the 60 kilogram bracket was won by China’s Hainaer Wumenjiang, who had no prior credentials. Wumenjiang defeated Aibek Aitbekov (KGZ) for gold. American fans might remember Aitbekov from his loss in the U20 World semifinal to California’s Isaiah Cortez (Daniel Cormier WC). In addition, Hungary’s only placewinner was Koppany Laszlo at 130 kg. Laszlo was defeated by two-time U20 World bronze Aden Attao (Beaver Dam RTC) in ’23 — and this past October, the Hungarian placed 3rd at the U23 World Championships in Albania.

There indeed was one notable Senior who stood atop the podium in Korea — ’18 World/’20 Olympic bronze Sailike Walihan (CHN). Walihan, 32, has spent the majority of his Senior career hovering between 60 and 63 kg; but following the Tokyo Games (and on the heels of a 16-month hiatus), he has focused on the 67 kg category. Walihan prevailed in four decision victories at the Korea Open and downed Kim Gyeongtae (KOR) in the final.