The first day of competition in the 4th Military World Games in Hyderabad, India saw three U.S. competitors finish without a medal in Greco-Roman wrestling.  

Phillip Johnston of the U.S. Army lost in a bronze medal match at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. to Ezerskis Mindaugas of Lithuania to finish fifth in his division.

Johnston won his opening match against Roman Meduna of Slovakia 1-1, 0-4 and 1-1.  Johnston fought strong from the bottom position to win the first period. Johnston fell behind 0-2 in the second period before Meduna countered and took the period 4-0.  In the third period, Johnston won the toss, and proved too strong from the bottom position to win the period and the match.
 
In the following round, Johnston lost to Georgios Koutsioumpas of Greece, 0-2 and 1-1.  In the first period, Koutsioumpas won the toss and lifted Johnston before throwing him for two points.  Koutsioumpas also won the toss in the second period, and prevailed to win the period and the match as neither wrestler could turn the other for points.  
 
Johnston qualified for the wrestleback rounds when Koutsioumpas defeated Ezerskis Mindaugas of Lithuania in the next round.  In his first repechage bout, Johnston took care of Hun Shin Dong of Korea with a high amplitude throw to end the match in the second period en route to a 2-1, 5-0 win setting up his bronze medal match.  
 
Wrestling against Ezerskis Mindaugas of Lithuania for the bronze, Johnston lost the coin toss in each period, and lost both periods 0-3 and 0-3.  In the first period, Johnston was turned for the winning margin.  In the second period, Mindaugas scored on a gut wrench to claim the bronze.
 
Former World Champion Ozal Memet of Turkey won the gold medal at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. with his victory over Koutsioumpas.  

Two other U.S. wrestlers were defeated and did not qualify for the medal rounds. Anthony Brooker of the U.S. Air Force at 55 kg/121 lbs. and Marcel Cooper of the U.S. Army at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.

Brooker lost his first round bout against Van Bien Dong of Viet Nam, 0-3, 2-2.  The first period was scoreless before Brooker won the toss and was unable to score within 30 seconds.  He was turned with a gut wrench and lost the first period 0-3. In the second period, Brooker again won the toss and gained a 2-0 advantage with a hard turn off of a front headlock.  With four seconds remaining, Brooker was caught and turned for two points, losing the period and the match.  
 
After the match, Brooker said, "It's hard with a one-day tournament.  I don't feel like I produced the way I like to.  It has given me more incentive to make it to the next CISM." 
 
This was second time in 25 years that Viet Nam has entered a wrestler in the CISM Championships.  Bien Dong was defeated by Rasid Bonyatov of Azerbaijan in the following round, finishing Brooker for the day.
 
Park Eun Chul of Korea won gold in 55 kg/121 lbs., while Vugar Ragimov of Ukraine placed second.  Both wrestlers are world medalists.
 
Cooper pinned G. Konstanunos of Greece at 1:12 of the third period.  Cooper lost the first period 1-3 after being driven to his back early.  Cooper was all business in the second period, garnering three points on a lift and throw, winning the period, 4-0. In the final period, Cooper won the coin toss and quickly threw Konstanunos to his back for the pin.  The fall proved to be a bright spot in a difficult day for the USA.'s military wrestlers.    
 
In his second round match, Cooper lost to Y. Bachko of Belarus, 5-4, 0-4 and 1-1.  Like the first match, Cooper fell behind 4-0 in the first period after being lifted and thrown.  Undaunted and determined, Cooper scored on a reversal before trapping the arm on two gut wrenches to win the period 5-4.
 
In the second stanza, Cooper was thrown to his back after the coin toss and lost a point when he was unable to execute a clean start.  The call brought questions from several areas in the arena.  Bachko won the period 4-0. In the third period Bachko won the toss and was unable to turn Cooper.  Bachko won the period 1-1 when Cooper was unable to score in the final 30 seconds.
 
Bachko lost in the next round S. Mykola of the Ukraine to end Cooper's run.
 
Sergei Kovalenko of Russia won the gold medal while K. Kim of North Korea took silver.  
 
The competition continues on Wednesday in Greco-Roman before switching to Freestyle on October 19 and 20.  

MILITARY WORLD GAMES
At Hyderabad, India, Oct. 16

Greco-Roman medalists

55 kg/121 lbs.
Gold - Park Eun Chul (Korea)
Silver - Vugar Ragimov (Ukraine)
Bronze - Maksim Kazarski (Belarus)
Bronze - Nazir Mankiev (Russia)

66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Gold - Sergei Kovalenko (Russia)
Silver - Kim Kum Chol (North Korea)
Bronze - Soo Min Kim (Korea)
Bronze - Elbrus Mammadov (Azerbaijan)

96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Gold - Mehmet Ozal (Turkey)
Silver - Georgios Koutsioumpas (Greece)
Bronze - Ezerskis Mindaugas (Lithuania)
Bronze - Aslambek Khshto (Russia)  

Click here for official website of the Military World Games