Penn State product Zain Retherford will have a final chance to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games on Sunday. The former Nittany Lions’ time at the World Olympic Games qualifier has not gone exactly to plan. He did win his first two matches. But, after losing his third match to Mongolia’s Tulga Tumur-Ochir 7-2 in the round of 16, he needed the 2020 Olympic participant to make it to the finals. He did that, as Tumur-Ochir beat Sujeet Sujeet of India in the semifinals to qualify himself for a trip to Paris, France. By doing so, he also brought Retherford back into the fold via what is known as repechage. It’s essentially the consolation bracket. But you can only get there if the wrestler who beats you makes the finals. Tumur-Ochir has, of course. It means Rethford’s Olympic dreams have not been dashed yet.
The Penn State alum will wrestle for third Sunday. He will need to win three matches to do so and punch his ticket to Paris. His first match will be opposite Murad Alibegov of Brunei. If Retherford wins that bout, he will face Abdulmazhid Kudiev of Tajikistan, who Tumur-Ochir beat after topping Retherford. If Retherford wins both of those matches, he would face Sujeet, who is waiting in the third place match for his own redemption chance to make the Olympics.
The initial repechage matches will be held at 8 a.m. ET in Istanbul, Turkey. If Retherford makes it to the third place match, that will start at 11 a.m.
Recapping Penn State product Zain Retherford’s first day the World Olympic Games
Former Penn State star Zain Retherford went 2-1 on Day 1. Here’s the recap of his day from USA Wrestling:
“Round-of-16 – LOSS Tulga Tumur Ochir (Mongolia), 7-2
“A strong hand fight set the tone for the bulk of this match. Tumur Ochir opened the scoring in the first period with an unconventional arm spin takedown. He took a 2-0 lead to the break over Retherford. With just over two minutes left in the match, Retherford was put on the shot clock. He scored a single leg takedown as the shot clock expired to take the lead on criteria, 2-2. Tumur Ochir executed a standing single leg, exposing Retherford’s back in the process, to take a 6-2 lead with 30 seconds remaining in the contest. The U.S. corner challenged the call and lost, giving an additional point to Mongolia before time expired.
“Round-of-32 – WIN Ibrahim Guzan (Yemen), tech. fall, 11-0
“Retherford fired off a single leg takedown in the first 20 seconds of the match to take an early 2-0 lead. He added a step out point, which was deemed fleeing, which put Guzan down in par terre upon the restart. Retherford got to work on top with a power half and flanker, bagging two turns and nearly picking up a pin. He iced the match 11-0 in 3:37 with a double leg takedown right into a bottom leg turn to expose Guzan.
“Round-of-64 – WIN Stefan Coman (Romania), fall, 4:38
Retherford scored the first point of the match from the shot clock but gave up a takedown shortly thereafter. He came back with a crisp takedown just before the break to lead, 3-2. The second period was all Retherford. He mustered a pair of powerful double leg takedowns, the second being feet-to-back, to take command. Coman all but surrendered on the final takedown, being pinned by Retherford in 4:38.”
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