The draws for Greco-Roman wrestling at the 2024 World Olympic Games Qualifier in Istanbul, Turkey were unveiled earlier today. Below are opening-round pairings for Team USA. The tournament begins tomorrow morning live on FLOWrestling in the United States.
USA Draws
60 kg: Dalton Roberts (Army/WCAP)
Qualification round — opponent: Viktor Petryk (UKR)
Roberts and Petryk have met once prior, which came in the first round of the ’18 Grand Prix of Germany. Roberts shut out the Ukrainian (6-0) and eventually advanced to the finals of that tournament. Petryk, who earned a European Championships bronze the following season, has faced two other Americans — two-time National champ Mike Fuenffinger and ’21 Open titlist Randon Miranda (NYAC), defeating both via technical superiority with par terre top the primary methodology. When Roberts downed Petryk in ’18, it was due in large part to sustaining a hard pace and defending when it mattered most, which is often the prescription for US athletes.
The winner of Roberts/Petryk will face either Daniel Virgil Bobillo (ESP) or Alex Bica (SWE) in the round-of-16. Sitting at the top of the bracket and the man who will likely be waiting in the quarterfinal for one of the foursome is ’20 European gold Gevorg Gharibyan (ARM), who decisioned Roberts 8-4 in the ’21 World Championships.
67 kg: Ellis Coleman (Army/WCAP)
Qualification round — opponent: Aliaksandr Liavonchyk (AIN/BLR)
Coleman does not have a prior history of which to speak when it comes to ‘U23 World silver Liavonchyk, whose competitive aspirations were disrupted due to Belarus being temporarily blacklisted along with Russia on the heels of the Ukraine conflict. Liavonchyk is not unlike Coleman in that they are both hard chargers; the Belarusian is much more straight ahead and more often than not prefers a right leg lead; he also looks for pressure-release off-balances when standing but is not necessarily offensively-minded. From top par terre, he has both a lift from the right and, of course, can opt for a gut from that same side.
The winner of Coleman/Liavonchyk will have either Andreas Vetsch (SUI) or Gjete Prenga (ALB) in the round-of-16. Potential quarterfinal opponents for whoever emerges from this group of four include ’20 Olympic bronze Mohamed Elsayed (EGY), Dominik Etlinger (CRO), Abu Amaev (SRB), and Valentin Petic (MDA).
77 kg: Kamal Bey (Army/WCAP)
Qualification round — opponent: Sergey Kutuzov (AIN/RUS)
Bey is wearing the #3 seed in this tournament and thus receives the honor of dueling with ’21 Senior and U23 World silver Kutuzov who, like Liavonchyk, has had to contend with the geopolitical and social ramifications which coincide with Russia’s incursion into Ukraine. Formerly a 67/72 kg competitor, Kutuzov is being tabbed by Russia to try and qualify 77. He was long and lanky for the two lower weight categories and still fits that profile up at 77. Choppy and severely-active on the feet is Kutuzov, who snaps, drags, and claws at opponents using deep leg drives to mess with their footwork. Obviously, he is well-schooled in par terre and can without much problem wrap his arms around for gutwrenches. On bottom, he might be even better and slinks his body according to the timing and placement of his opposition’s locks.
The winner between Bey and Kutuzov will see either Timur Berdiev (AIN/BLR) or familiar Joilson De Brito Ramos of Brazil. Bey had defeated De Brito Ramos last season, and Berdiev — who has been around for quite a while — has dealt with the same competitive slowdown as the other Russians and Belarusians. Berdiev might have the edge over De Brito Ramos on paper, though the Brazilian is certainly a shrewd and gifted athlete. Possible quarterfinalists for whoever survives these two slots in the bracket are Oldrich Varga (CZE, and who Bey defeated last summer in Hungary), Bezargeldi Ezimov (TKM), Per Albin Oloffson (SWE), and Emmanuel Benitez Castro (MEX, who fell to Bey 5-1 at the ’23 Pan-Am Championships).
2024 World OG Qualifier Schedule
— All times +7 hourss ET
— Streaming live on UWW+ and FLOWrestling (USA)
WORLD OLYMPIC GAMES QUALIFIER
Istanbul, TUR
Thursday, May 9
10:00am — Qualification rounds
6:00pm — Semifinals (winners secure Olympic berths for their countries)
Friday, May 10
10:00am — Repechage
4:45pm — Bronze medal rounds
8:30pm — True-3rd matches (winners secure Olympic berths for their countries)
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