Akmataliev Adds World Gold to Impressive Resume

Saturday, November 6, 2021 - 21:53 By Vinay Siwach

BELGRADE, Serbia (November 6) – Last time Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) was in Belgrade, he shot to prominence with a gold medal performance at the Individual World Cup.

But there was no fairytale ending Saturday as Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) upgraded his senior World Championships silver to gold at the U23 Worlds in the Serbian capital, continuing to become one of the most exciting wrestlers around the world.

“The gold is better than silver [in Oslo],” Akmataliev said. “Even though I lost in Oslo I am thankful to God. I won the gold because we waited and prepared for this a lot. Not only us but the whole Kyrgyzstan [waited for this].”

His 10-2 win was perhaps the highlight of the five freestyle finals that were held on day six of the tournament. Azerbaijan, Greece, Russia and Iran won one gold medal each with five more to be decided Sunday.

But the high-profile 70kg final between the two superstars lived up to the billing as Tevanyan managed to keep the Kyrgyz star silent for the first period. He began a double-leg attack to expose Akmataliev and get two points. But the Kyrgyz wrestler was also awarded two for putting Tevanyan in danger.

Just before the end of the first period, Akmateliev scored a stepout to lead 3-2 at the break. It was also the first sign of Tevanyan slowing down.

A minute into the second period, Akmateliev scored another stepout. In the next minute and a half, he scored two more stepouts and Tevanyan was finding it exceedingly difficult to break his opponent's defense.

He made a final burst of energy with a duck-under but Akmateliev was quick to turn it into a takedown and gut which gave him the 10-2 win.

“We were prepared for the final and everything went according to our plan,” he said. “I am happy that the tactics that we choose worked.”

Born in the Naryn region of Kyrgyzstan, Akmataliev shocked the world when he pinned Ilyas BEKBULATOV (UZB) at the Asian Olympic Qualifiers in Almaty earlier this year.

Life has only looked upward since then as he made his Olympic debut. He, however, could not win a medal in Tokyo. But that experience helped him iron out the flaws.

“After I won against Bekbulatov, I got more supporters not only from Kyrgyzstan but other countries as well,” he said. “I prepared for the Olympics but destiny was not there for me in Tokyo. But thank god now I have good results. I learned a good lesson there We had prepared a lot and I was in good shape both mentally and physically. But after Belgrade win, I will prepare harder to get more medals.”

The 22-year-old, who finished fifth at the last U23 Worlds, won the silver in Oslo and now the gold in Belgrade at 70kg and will have to decide to wrestle at an Olympic weight for Paris.

“We have not decided yet [about the Olympic weight 65kg to 74kg]. It will be on the coaches to decide in which weight I can win,” he said.

But he joins a list of Kyrgyzstan stars who have won a World Championships including two-time world champion Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ).

Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE) celebrates after winning the 70kg gold medal. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

The nation could have won two gold medals in the night but Bekbolot MYRZANAZAR UULU (KGZ) suffered a heartbreaking 6-7 loss to Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE) in the 57kg final.

In a dramatic final that saw Myrzanazar Uulu score two points in the final few seconds to tie it 6-6, it was Rzazde's four-point move in the second period that separated the winner.

The bout's opening scramble had the Kyrgyz wrestler scoring a takedown but two separate stepouts gave Rzazade two points as the first period ended 2-2.

Rzazade then strung together a series of attacks and scored a four-pointer and led 6-4. The final takedown from Myrzanazar Uulu gave him two points but that was not enough for the win. Despite a challenge from the corner, the review showed no extra points for him.

“I was sure that I won, even though there was a challenge,” Rzazade said.

Hailing from the same town as Jabrail HASANOV (AZE), Rzazade had no shortage of inspiration growing up and he wants to achieve Olympic medals like Hasanov and three-time world champion Haji ALIYEV (AZE).

“I won't change the weight category,” Rzazade said. “I'll get ready for the Paris Olympics in the same weight. Aliyev is a wrestler I look up to as well as Hasanov as we are from the same place, he helps me a lot as a coach.”

Pilidis Georgios PILIDIS (GRE) looks up to the heavens after winning the 65kg gold in Belgrade. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 65kg, Georgios PILIDIS (GRE) finally won a gold medal at a World Championships as he had missed it twice before, falling in the 2015 and 2016 cadet Worlds final.

It seemed like he would be denied once again as he trailed Ibragim ABDURAKHMANOV (RUS) 2-3 with five seconds remaining in the gold medal bout but the referee called for a foul for a singlet grab which was not given initially but awarded to Pilidis after a challenge.

The 3-3 win for the Greek also gave his country the first-ever U23 world title.

“I had a plan for the final match,” Pilidis said. “I was going to let him lead for two or one points, and then make a comeback and score the points. I’ve done that many times and it works for me”

The youngster was at the Tokyo Olympics but he said that it was a forgettable experience for him and he doesn't take much pride in his performance.

“I don’t even want to think about the Olympics. I performed really badly. I made a lot of mistakes. Of course, I got some experience. After the Olympics, I wanted to wrestle somewhere else to prove myself.”

Magomed MAGOMAEV (RUS), blue, won the 79kg final 4-4. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Russia survived a close final at 79kg as U23 European champion Ramazan SARI (TUR) suffered a 4-4 loss against Magomed MAGOMAEV (RUS).

After scoring the initial takedown, Magomaev gave one up and wrestles went 2-2 at the break with Sari holding criteria.

Magomaev began the second period with a takedown as well but was warned for passivity and gave up one point with a minute remaining. He gave up a step out with 15 seconds remaining but held the criteria at 4-4 at the end of the six minutes and win the gold at his debut World Championships.

“I didn’t expect the match would be so tough,” Magomaev said. “It was a huge responsibility on me as I couldn’t let down my family.”

Magomaev made the Russian U23 team after winning the nationals and he said that it was emotionally tougher to wrestle here than the nationals back home in October.

“I never wrestled the opponents before. I had to figure out this wrestling style during the matches,” he said.

Born in Dagestan, Russia, he moved to Orel for training when he was 11-years-old. At the start, he did not like the sport but winning the local tournaments kept him going. He now trains in Bryansk.

After the win, he performed the traditional 'Leginzka' dance to celebrate, a promise he had made to his friends before the final.

“One of my friends said that I should dance if I win,” he said. “I said deal. So, I won and I had to keep my promise.”

Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) after winning the 97kg world title in Belgrade. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

The final gold medal of the night went to Iran as Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) controlled the 97kg final and defeated Radu LEFTER (MDA) 7-3.

He did give up a takedown but as Lefter began tiring out, Azarpira managed to pile on the points and win with ease.

“I was preparing for this gold medal before coming here,” Azarpira said. “The final was easy because we had it figured out.”

RESULTS

57kg
GOLD: Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE) df Bekbolot MYRZANAZAR UULU (KGZ), 7-6

BRONZE: Manvel KHNDZRTSYAN (ARM) df Saurabh IGAVE (IND), 10-0
BRONZE: Ahmad MOHAMMADNEZHADJAVAN (IRI) df Dzmitry SHAMELA (BLR), 3-2

65kg
GOLD: Georgios PILIDIS (GRE) df Ibragim ABDURAKHMANOV (RUS), 4-3

BRONZE: Ziraddin BAYRAMOV (AZE) df Stilyan ILIEV (BUL), 10-0
BRONZE: Cavit ACAR (TUR) df Hrachya MARGARYAN (ARM), 4-2

70kg
GOLD: Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) df Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM), 10-2

BRONZE: Aliakbar FAZLIKHALILI (IRI) df Murad EVLOEV (AZE), 5-4
BRONZE: Nicolai GRAHMEZ (MDA) df Cuneyt BUDAK (TUR), 5-2

79kg
GOLD: Magomed MAGOMAEV (RUS) df Ramazan SARI (TUR), 4-4

BRONZE: Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI) df Ashraf ASHIROV (AZE), 8-2
BRONZE: Arman AVAGYAN (ARM) df Goga MAMIAURI (GEO), 4-4

97kg
GOLD: Amirali AZARPIRA (IRI) df Radu LEFTER (MDA), 7-3

BRONZE: Danylo STASIUK (UKR) df Milan KORCSOG (HUN), 4-2
BRONZE: Jonathan AIELLO (USA) df Vasil PAULIUCHENKA (BLR), 13-2

#WrestleUlaanbaatar, #OffTheMat

Purevdorj reignites Olympic quest with Ulaanbaatar Open gold

Friday, June 20, 2025 - 09:31 By Vinay Siwach

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (June 18) -- The last time Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) wrestled in front of home crowd in Ulaanbaatar, she was one of the top wrestlers in the world at 62kg.

She was the 2017 world champion and a year before that, she had ended Kaori ICHO's (JPN) 13-year long unbeaten streak at the Ivan Yaryguin Grand Prix. Then in 2018, she won the Asian Championships in Bishkek and the Mongolian Open gold medal in Ulaanbaatar.

Few months later, she failed a dope test at the Asian Games, where she had won the gold medal in 62kg. Her rise turned into a fatal fall and Purevdorj was left to serve the four-year ban. During her long hiatus, Purevdorj focused on personal life.

“I was very sad but I decided to just live and raised my son. I kept myself busy with him,” Purevdorj says. “The most important thing is my mind. It's important to be strong.”

Purevdorj, who still remains Mongolia last world champion in wrestling, made her comeback in 2022 and was part of the Mongolian team to the World Cup. She won silver medal at the Asian Championships in 2023 and qualified for the Paris Olympics in 2024.

Seven years since the ban and now in the twilight of her wrestling career, Purevdorj is hoping to reignite the fire to wrestle. She took the first step by winning a gold medal at hte Ulaanbaatar Open. The 31-year-old won in 62kg in front of her family and local fans to once again stamp herself as the best wrestler in Mongolia and even Asia.

"I am wrestling for the second time [first time internationally] this year but it's hard," she says after her gold-medal bout against compatriot and rival Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL) who she defeated 11-2 to win the gold medal.

At the Buyant Ukhaa Sport Palace in Ulaanbaatar, Purevdorj is joined by her husband, son and even parents as they watch her wrestle live after a long time. It's not an ideal start for her as she gets hammered 10-0 by Alina KASABIEVA (UWW), a wrestler she has defeated multiple times in her career before.

That's not what Purevdorj or her family expected in the first bout itself. But she runs back to the warm-up hall and prepares for the second bout, this time against Asian champion MANISHA (IND). And Purevdorj looked in form against the Indian, winning via fall. [The 62kg bracket at the Ulaanbaatar Open was a round-robin bracket, hence giving Purevdorj the second chance].

The fall helps Purevdorj get five classification points and a place in the semifinal over Manisha. She will wrestle Ekaterina KOSHKINA (UWW) for a spot in the final. Her son, six years old, keeps cheering every time he sees his mother on the mat.

Koshkina takes Purevdorj to the limits scoring via counters. Still, Purevdorj led 9-7 at the break and both resumed their dynamic wrestling. Purevdorj managed to defend some of the attacks from Koshkina and ultimately won 15-11.

In a high-affair all-Mongolian final at 62kg, Purevdorj put on a defensive masterclass to beat Tserenchimed SUKHEE (MGL), 11-2, and capture the gold medal.

"I was able to win because I played calmly," she said after the final. "In the first match, I was not good mental state and was not ready. But next match I was better."

Purevdorj celebrated with a few photos with her family and coaches. She looked visibly tired after the four bouts and could use some rest days.

"As I said, it's hard. I am not sure about anything," said Purevdorj, who was wrestling a UWW tournament for the first time since the Paris Games.

Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) celebrating after becoming a world champion in 2017. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Martin Gabor)

When she began wrestling 17 years ago in Ulaanbaatar after her cousins introduced her to the sport, Purevdorj did not think she will reach this level. So being a world champion makes her feel happy and she is proud that she choose this sport.

“I'm seventh child in my family and only I am a wrestler. My cousins were wrestlers but they stopped soon but I never stopped. I really loved it."

But she regrets not having an Olympic medal. She has been on that stage twice but fell short. In Rio 2016, she lost in the repechage while in Paris, she lost to her long-time rival Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) in the bronze-medal bout.

Now, the only motivation to be at the 2028 Los Angeles is to get an Olympic medal which may complete her journey. A medal will make her the third Mongolian wrestler to win a medal in Women's Wresting.

“I'm not sure about wrestling till Los Angeles. But I'm just trying,” she said. “The last Olympics were so hard for me in my career. I'm trying again, and I've started this year. There are many wrestlers in 62kg who are better but I have to train more.”

Akmataliev Adds World Gold to Impressive Resume

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Purevdorj reignites Olympic quest with Ulaanbaatar Open gold