Abuladze falls short against Dalkhani, yet again

Thursday, February 23, 2023 - 19:24 By Eric Olanowski & Vinay Siwach

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt (February 23) -- Leri ABULADZE (GEO)'s quest to find a win against Meysam DALKHANI (IRI) will have to continue for now. In the space of 16 months, he has faced Dalkhani twice and lost both bouts. Both are ever so dramatic.

Back in 2021, Abuladze led 4-3 when Dalkhani forced a stepout and a failed challenge from Abuladze gave him a 5-4 win in the final of the 63kg at the World Championships in Oslo. The bout in Alexandria on Thursday, a 63kg final, albeit not of a World Championships, saw Dalkhani pull off a victory by the thinnest of margins once again.

No doubt Dalkhani had to dig deep to pick up the win but it was the Iranian’s conditioning late in the second period that helped him win.

Dalkhani made the early inroads with a 5-0 lead at the break, but after giving up an inactivity point and three consecutive guts, he watched his lead evaporate and turn into a two-point advantage for Abuladze who came out firing in the second period.

As the referee called both wrestlers to the center after that exchange, Abuladze looked a relieved man.

In Oslo, Abuladze had one minute to score for a win. Now, he had to defend for a minute. But like that final, he failed.

Dalkhani scored a stepout to cut the lead to just one point and needing a takedown at 7-6 with a minute to go, he put on the burners. The pair traded heavy exchanges in the 60-second sprint, but it was a re-drag with ten seconds left that pushed Abuladze to give up a takedown and Dalkhani to the 63kg gold.

Not only in the final, the 2021 world champion, making a comeback since that freak elbow injury at the Bolat Turlykhanov Cup in Almaty last year, looked composed throughout the day.

Using his strong gut wrench, he defeated Syimyk MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) 7-0 in the opening bout and kept fellow world champion from Oslo, Victor CIOBANU (MDA), quiet in a 4-0 win using an aggressive approach in the second period. The semifinal was a quieter affair as Madiyar MALTEKBAYEV (KAZ) thought he had it until Dalkhani won 2-1.

Another Oslo world champion, Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) joined Dalkhani at the top of the podium on Thursday as he captured the gold medal at 97kg after beating Roberti KOBLIASHVILI (GEO).

The gold medal winners at the four Ranking Series events this year will receive 1500 Swiss Francs while the silver medalists will get 750 Swiss Francs. The two bronze medalists in each weight class will receive 500 Swiss Francs each.

Saravi won the gold after Kobliashvili pulled out injured in the final. But the day was nothing short of testing for the world bronze medalist from Belgrade.

Earlier in the morning, Saravi began with a 2-0 win over Giorgi MELIA (GEO), followed that with a 5-2 victory over Tamas LEVAI (HUN) who won silver in Zagreb and Artur OMAROV (CZE) 5-2 in the semifinal.

Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ), right, wrestles Marlan MUKASHEV (KAZ) in the 55kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Apart from Iran, Kazakhstan and Georgia were the most successful nations on the first day of the Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series, the second of the year after the Zagreb Open, with four finalists each.

At 55kg, Amangali BEKBULATOV (KAZ) won the gold over compatriot Marlan MUKASHEV (KAZ), who had defeated two-time world silver medalist Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) in a wild 13-4 victory. But he failed to go past Bekbolatov who won 6-1 in the final.

In an early exchange to kick off the gold medal match, Bekbolatov used an aggressive left-side arm drag and picked up the first takedown of the match. In one continuous swopping motion, he linked together a back arching throw on the edge of the circle and controlled the bout with a six-point cushion.

Bekbolatov stayed technically sound in the final four minutes focusing on shutting down Mukashev’s offense by controlling the left side of the body. This game plan worked to perfection, as the only point he surrendered in the gold-medal bout was a failed challenge, which in fact was the only point he gave up in his three bouts.

After he closed out the scoreless second period, Bekbolatov won his first Ranking Series title as he finished with a silver medal in Istanbul last year. But he went a step further by winning the gold in his season-opening international tournament.

Merey BEKENOV (KAZ) lifts Sailike WALIHAN (CHN) for a throw. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Merey BEKENOV (KAZ) was the second wrestler from Kazakhstan to win the gold medal as he stole the gold from Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) in the 67kg final.

The two matched each other move-to-move with the Kazah giving up aninactivity point and a gut wrench in the first period but scored on the same sequence and grabbed the criteria win against his Georgian opponent.

Bekenov would be proud of his campaign in Alexandria as he scored a 7-1 win over Olympic bronze medalist Sailike WALIHAN (CHN) followed by a massive 9-7 win over HUSIYUETU (CHN) in the semifinal. Hasiyuetu was fresh off a gold-medal-winning performance in Zagreb including a win over Olympic champion Luis ORTA (CUB)

Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) launches Ali CENGIZ (TUR) for a four-point throw in the 87kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliksan)

While other Georgians failed to win the gold, Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) at 87kg saved the day for his country with a classic performance in the final to beat Ali CENGIZ (TUR) 10-1.

Gobadze was clear in his intentions, and those were to close out the bout early. He quickly jumped out to an 5-0 lead, scoring a four-point throw and an inactivity point. Despite giving up a point after his leg-foul challenge was wrong, Gobadze got a second shot on top and again tossed Cengiz for four to close out the match, 10-1.

Kerem KAMAL (TUR) won his 60kg final against Yernar FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ) 9-0. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Showman Kamal

There is very little someone can dislike about Kerem KAMAL (TUR) on the mat. He has the utmost respect for his opponent, wrestles squeaky clean, and wins with a lot of class. This was on display on Thursday as Kamal raced to a season-opening gold medal which sets the tone for the defending European champion.

Wrestling against Yernar FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ) in the 60kg final, Kamal earned an early shot in par terre and took full advantage of it. He quickly jumped out to a 7-0 lead against his Kazakh opponent, scoring the inactivity point, a pair of two-point correct throws, and a two-point leg foul.

After a 90-second break to adjust Kamal’s scoring sequence due to a challenge, he then jumped out to the left side of Fidakhmetov and ended the bout with a third correct throw of the match.

His power was on display all through the day be it the 9-0 opening win against Razvan ARNAUT (ROU) or the calm 5-2 win over Liguo CAO (CHN) in the quarterfinals. The young Nurmukhammet ABDULLAEV (KGZ) suffered an 8-0 beating at the hands of Kamal in the semifinals.

Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY) won the 130kg gold in front of his home crowd. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Hero at home

Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY) has already set a benchmark for the local Egypt wrestlers at the tournament by winning the gold medal at 130kg in the final bout of the evening. He defeated Tokyo Olympian Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU), 3-0, to take the gold medal.

While the field missed Riza KAYAALP (TUR) and Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) from the original entries, Mohamed made sure he makes the most of this opportunity that too in front of his home crowd.

Nothing seemed to work for Ciurariu who was blanked by a solid defensive performance by Mohamed who scored the two activity points and a pushout.

With a big women's squad entered for Egypt, the girls will like to keep the trend of winning the medal at home going for the rest of the tournament.

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD - Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ) df. Marlan MUKASHEV (KAZ), 6-1

BRONZE - Iskhar KURBAYEV (KAZ) df. Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO), 7-3
BRONZE - Denis MIHAI (ROU) df. Sardarbek KONUSHBAEV (KGZ), via fall

60kg
GOLD - Kerem KAMAL (TUR) df. Yernar FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ), 9-0

BRONZE - Haithem MAHMOUD (EGY) df. Haodong TAN (CHN), 7-3
BRONZE - Razvan ARNAUT (ROU) df. Nurmukhammet ABDULLAEV (KGZ), 3-1

63kg
GOLD - Meysam DALKHANI (IRI) df. Leri ABULADZE (GEO), 8-7

BRONZE - Dastan ZARLYKHANOV (KAZ) df. Mukhamedali MAMURBEK (KAZ), 14-4
BRONZE - Syimyk MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) df. Madiyar MALTEKBAYEV (KAZ), 9-0

67kg
GOLD - Merey BEKENOV (KAZ) df. Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO), 3-3

BRONZE - Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) df. ASHU (IND), 8-0
BRONZE - HUSIYUETU (CHN) df. Moustafa ALAMELDIN (EGY), 3-2

87kg
GOLD - Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) df. Ali CENGIZ (TUR), 10-1

BRONZE - Gurami KHETSURIANI (GEO) df. A. AZISBEKOV (KGZ), 6-5
BRONZE - Alex KESSIDIS (SWE) df. Sunil KUMAR (IND), 9-0

97kg
GOLD - Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) df. Roberti KOBLIASHVILI (GEO), via inj. def.

BRONZE - Artur OMAROV (CZE) df. Giorgi MELIA (GEO), 9-4
BRONZE - Markus RAGGINGER (AUT) df. Olzhas SYRLYBAY (KAZ), 5-1

130kg
GOLD - Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY) df. Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU), 3-0

BRONZE - Zviadi PATARIDZE (GEO) df. Salaheldin ABBAS (EGY), 8-0
BRONZE - Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ) df. Roman KIM (KGZ), 5-1

#WrestleTirana

World Championships: Kinjo wins fourth world gold as Japan wins three

Wednesday, October 30, 2024 - 23:55 By Ken Marantz

TIRANA, Albania (October 30) -- For two-time Olympic champion Risako KINJO (JPN), it wasn't just winning a fourth world title and first in five years that made her latest triumph so special. It was because of where she is at in her life at the moment.

"This is my fourth world title, but the first since I became a mother," Kinjo said after winning the women's 59kg gold at the Non-Olympic Weight Categories World Championships on Wednesday in Tirana. "So it makes me happier than at any other tournament."

Kinjo was one of three Japanese to take one of the four women's golds up for grabs, as Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) became the sixth wrestler in history to win world titles on all four age-group levels when she triumphed at 55kg, and Ami ISHII (JPN) claimed the 72kg title to add to the world U23 gold at 68kg she won a week ago in the same venue.

Jia LONG (CHN) captured the other title at stake with a victory by fall in the 65kg final to improve on her silver medal from 2022.

Kinjo, who got married and gave birth to her first child after winning the gold at the Tokyo Olympics under her maiden name of KAWAI, missed out on qualifying for the Paris Games, but decided against retiring and was content to seek further success in the non-Olympic weight.

It hasn't been an easy journey, as her time away from the mat left her quite rusty. Just to get to Tirana, she had to score a last-second victory in the domestic qualifier over teenager Sakura ONISHI (JPN).

Now 30 and having to juggle training with the responsibilities of motherhood, Kinjo tries to get the most out of her body in the most efficient way. There are no wasted motions, and that came out during her 4-2 victory in the final against Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL).

"I get help from my family and make the best use of my time," Kinjo said. "Every day, I put together a schedule that allows me to sufficiently train."

Kinjo fell behind when Sukhee scored a stepout off Kinjo's takedown attempt in the first period. An activity point for Kinjo put her ahead on criteria in the second period, and then she scored a stepout countering a rare attack by Sukhee.

Kinjo remained patient and forced Sukhee to take the initiative. And when she did, Kinjo was ready with a quick counter to spin behind for a takedown. Sukhee added a late stepout that was too little, too late. Her points were the only ones scored on Kinjo in three matches.

Asked to assess her performance, Kinjo replied, "I've done everything I could do and I'm at my strongest right now, so I'm satisfied."

Kinjo and Sukhee had met once before, with Kinjo winning 10-0 in their first-round match at the 2019 World Championships, where she won the last of three consecutive golds. She also has a world silver from 2015.

While Japan did not sweep the women's golds here nor at the Paris Olympics (where the country won four of six), Kinjo sees that as a good thing. "The fact that we don't monopolize all of the golds, I think that shows that the level of women's wrestling is getting better, and I think that's great."

Kiyooka came into Tirana with a slight chip on her shoulder. The 21-year-old had watched with mixed emotions as her older brother Kotaro KIYOOKA (JPN) and her Ikuei University teammates Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) and Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) took home gold medals from the Paris Olympics.

"I really supported my brother and was happy when he won, but half of me was thinking that I too am an athlete who is aiming for the Olympics, so it was tough to take," Kiyooka said. "I want to quickly catch up to my brother, and he gives me good motivation. I practice with the feeling that the next time will be my time."

In the final, Kiyooka never took her foot off the gas as she stormed to a 10-0 technical fall over world U20 champion Jin ZHANG (CHN).

Kiyooka took an 8-0 lead in the first period, scoring three takedowns and adding a 2-point roll after the first. In the second period, she spun behind for a fourth and decisive takedown to end the match at 4:22 and complete a run of outscoring four opponents 32-0.

With her first senior championship, Kiyooka joined the elite group that has achieved the "Grand Slam" of world titles, having won the cadet (U17) gold in 2019 and adding both the U20 and U23
crowns in 2022. She was preceded by Haruna OKUNO (JPN), Masako FURUICHI (JPN), Yui SUSAKI (JPN), Amit ELOR (USA) and Nonoka OZAKI (JPN).

"From U17, I went up one level at a time and now I was able to win as a senior," Kiyooka said. "I feel that all I have left [to accomplish] is the Olympics."

Ishii, also a teammate of Kiyooka's at Ikuei University, earned her first senior world title when she rallied to an 8-6 victory over three-time world medalist Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) in the 72kg final.

Ishii, who finished second at 68kg in 2022, scored an opening takedown in the first period, but got sloppy on an attempt in the second period and Bakbergenova scored 4 with a counter lift.

Ishii spun behind for a takedown, but then allowed the Kazakh to score again off her attack with a counter, this time for 2 to fall behind 6-4.

Ishii, who missed out on the Paris Olympics when she lost in the last second of a playoff at 68kg to Ozaki, was not about to give up the fight and scored a takedown and a go-ahead 2-point exposure with 50 seconds left to seal the victory.

In the 65kg final, Long took down European silver medalist Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU) with a double-leg lift to her back and secured a fall in 1:19.

It was the same outcome as in their only previous meeting, but could not have been more different. The two put on quite a show in the final of the 2022 Women's World Cup, when Zelenykh was competing for Ukraine. In that match, Zelenkyh led 8-2 at one point when Long launched an amazing comeback, tying the score at 12-all (but trailing on criteria) when she secured a fall with :02 left.

American pair add senior bronzes to U23 medals
In the bronze-medal matches, Macey KILTY (USA) and Kylie WELKER (USA) added senior medals to the ones they won at the last week's World U23.

Kilty, who won the world U23 silver at 65kg, picked up a bronze in that weight class when she stormed back from a five-point deficit to defeat Valeriia DONDUPOVA (AIN) 16-5.

Welker, the world U23 champion at 72kg, stayed at that weight and scored a takedown in each period to defeat 2023 world bronze medalist Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU) 5-2.

Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN), the world 65kg champion in 2022, picked up her fourth world medal by taking the other bronze in that weight class with an 8-2 victory over MANISHA (IND).

Morikawa took a 4-0 lead into the second period and, after Manisha cut the gap with two stepouts, came back with a stepout and takedown to clinch the victory as she rebounded from a loss in the semifinals to Long that avenged a defeat in the 2022 final.

The other bronze at 72kg went to Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE), who scored a victory by fall over Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL). Hanzlickova shot in on a takedown and, as Zorigt defended, the Czech locked her arms and twisted her over onto her back.

At 55kg, Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Iryna KURACHKINA (AIN) secured her third career bronze medal and first since 2019 by defeating Ramona GALAMBOS (HUN) 5-3. Kurachkina scored two takedowns in the first period and held on for the win.

The other 55kg bronze was won by 2023 European bronze medalist Tatiana DEBIEN (FRA), who picked up her first world medal at age 33 when she scored the second of two second-period takedowns with 25 seconds left for a 4-3 victory over Areana VILLAESCUSA (USA).

At 59kg, 2022 world U23 bronze medalist MANSI (IND) became the eighth Indian woman in history to win a senior world medal when she scored a takedown in each period in a 5-0 victory over Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN).

Elena BRUGGER (GER) won a battle between two-time European bronze medalists when she got two lace-lock rolls off a takedown in the second period to down Svetlana LIPATOVA (AIN) 6-3 for the other bronze at 59kg.

Women's Results

55kg (18 entries)
GOLD: Moe KIYOOKA (JPN) df. Jin ZHANG (CHN) by TF, 10-0, 4:22

BRONZE: Tatiana DEBIEN (FRA) df. Areana VILLAESCUSA (USA), 4-3
BRONZE: Iryna KURACHKINA (AIN) df. Ramona GALAMBOS (HUN), 5-3

59kg (22 entries)
GOLD: Risako KINJO (JPN) df. Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL), 4-2

BRONZE: MANSI (IND) df. Laurence BEAUREGARD (CAN), 5-0
BRONZE: Elena BRUGGER (GER) df. Svetlana LIPATOVA (AIN), 6-3

65kg (19 entries)
GOLD: Jia LONG (CHN) df. Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU) by Fall, 1:19 (2-1)

BRONZE: Macey KILTY (USA) df. Valeriia DONDUPOVA (AIN) by TF, 16-5, 3:53
BRONZE: Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) df. MANISHA (IND), 8-2

72kg (18 entries)
GOLD: Ami ISHII (JPN) df. Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ), 8-6

BRONZE: Adela HANZLICKOVA (CZE) df. Bolortungalag ZORIGT (MGL) by Fall, 1:56 (2-0)
BRONZE: Kylie WELKER (USA) df. Alexandra ANGHEL (ROU), 5-2

Abuladze falls short against Dalkhani, yet again

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World Championships: Kinjo wins fourth world gold as Japan wins three