Freestyle wrestling concluded today at the 4th Military World Games in Hyderabad, India with U.S. Armed Forces wrestlers being shut out in the medal count.  
 
In 60 kg/132 lbs., Josh Habeck of the Army lost his only match of the competition against Damir Zakhardinov of Uzbekistan 0-4 and 0-1.
 
Habeck was taken down three times in the first period.  Zakhardinov's attack was neutralized in the second period as neither wrestler could finish a move.  Late in the period, Habeck appeared to go out of bounds in par terre but was charged a point in a decision that gave Zakhardinov the win.
 
"I definitely need to wrestle better in the first period," said Habeck.  "I need to protect my legs more.  The second period was more the way I should have wrestled.  I need to attack more."
 
In 74 kg/163 lbs., Phillip Simpson of the U.S. Army made short work of Sperdas Roepa of Suriname in his first match of the day.  He pinned Roepa at 1:19 of the first period.
 
In second round of competition, Simpson faced off against Aliaksandr Matyl of Belarus, losing 0-6 and 1-5.  

In the first period, Simpson attempted a front headlock with a double overhook and was countered for two points.  After being turned, he went to another front headlock and was driven to his back to end the period. In the second period, Simpson was taken to his back again before Matyl sunk a deep gut wrench for a 5-0 lead.  Matyl finished the tournament with a silver medal.
 
In his final match of the day in the wrestlebacks, Simpson lost to Kim Kyong Chol of the Peoples Democratic Republic of Korea, 3-0, 1-3 and 1-4.  

After losing the toss in a scoreless first period, Simpson countered his opponent in remarkable style and dropped him for three points after Chol secured the single leg clinch. In the second period, Simpson was charged a point for a step-out before he was countered again for two more points.  He managed a reverse in the closing seconds.  The third period was similar with two turns off of two counters.
 
"I wanted to win and tried to force things too much.  I think I tried to do some things that put me in a bad position, and they just capitalized on it," said the West Point graduate. 
 
Willie Parks of the Army, competing at 84 kg/185 lbs., ran quickly over Bahetihan Huwatibieke of China, 7-0 and 1-0.  Parks took his opponent to his back twice in the first period, and gained the win in the second period with a step out by Huwatibieke.   
 
In his next match, Parks lost to Radoslaw Horbik of Poland, 2-0, 1-1, 0-2.  All scoring in the match consisted of takedowns, with Horbik gaining the advantage in the latter part of the match.  
 
In his final wrestleback match, Parks lost to Pravin Shewale of India, 1-1, 0-2 in front of a boisterous partisan crowd. Parks was taken down each period and appeared to have the first period won before he stepped out of bounds with nine seconds remaining. 
 
Tim Taylor of the U.S. Army opened the 120 kg/264.5 lbs. weight class with a win over Fernando Mkk of Sri Lanka, 6-0 and 7-0.  Taylor was all business against his opponent with two gut wrenches in the first period and three in the second.
 
Taylor then faced Chanderal of India.  The crowd rallied behind Chanderpal early when he took Taylor to his back in the first period to lead 3-0.  Taylor managed a takedown and a leg lace to pull within one, before Chanderpal took Taylor down to seal the first period win.
 
In the second period, Taylor fell behind 0-1 when he was driven out of bounds.  He quickly picked up one point on a takedown.  But with only four seconds left in the period, Chanderal drove Taylor out of bounds one final time to earn the win, giving India a shining moment in the tournament.  
 
Rob Hermann, Head Coach for the U.S. team, summed up the week.  

"The overall performance should have been better.  We didn't accomplish what we wanted to do.  We didn't do the little things.  Hopefully though, each wrestler will take something back with them that will make them better," he said.
 
Overall, Russia won five gold medals in the freestyle competition.  Two of the Russian athletes who won gold medals on Saturday are past World champion, Sazhid Sazhidov at 84 kg/185 lbs. and Kuramagomed Kuramagomedov at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.
  
MILITARY WORLD GAMES
At Hyderabad, India, Oct. 20

Freestyle medalists

60 kg/132 lbs.
Gold - Ramazan Saritov (Russia)
Silver - Namia Sovdumov (Azerbaijan)
Bronze - Damir Zakhardinov (Uzbeckistan)
Bronze - Yong Jong Min (Peoples Democratic Republic of Korea)

74 kg/163 lbs.
Gold - Ahmet Gulhan (Turkey)
Silver - Aliaksandr Matyl (Belarus)
Bronze - Denis Tsargush (Russia)
Bronze - Peter Weisenberger (Germany)

84 kg/185 lbs.
Gold - Sazhid Sazhidov (Russia)
Silver - Radoslaw Horbik (Poland)
Bronze - Du Soo Lee (Korea)
Bronze - Abdul Ammaev (Uzbekistan)

120 kg/264 lbs.
Gold - Kuramagamed Kuramagamedov (Russia)
Silver - Recap Kara (Turkey)
Bronze - Fardin Mnesoumi (Iran)
Bronze - Serhii Priadun (Ukraine)

Click here for official website of the Military World Games