#WrestleBaku, #WrestleParis

Aliyev leads as Azerbaijan wins six Paris 2024 quota at European qualifier

Sunday, April 7, 2024 - 22:29 By Vinay Siwach

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BAKU, Azerbaijan (April 7) -- Haji ALIYEV (AZE) on the mat in front of a packed stadium in Baku for an Olympic spot. The fans cheered every time he scored. It only got louder as he inched towards victory. As the final whistle blew, Aliyev stretched his arms and fell on the mat even as the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku was defeaning.

Two-time Olympic medalist Aliyev, 32, qualified Azerbaijan for the Paris Olympics at 65kg with an entertaining 6-4 victory over European champion Islan DUDAEV (ALB). Aliyev was back.

Since winning the silver medal in the Tokyo Olympics, Aliyev has not dominated the 65kg weight class. He finished fifth at the 2022 World Championships and eighth at the 2023 edition.

Azerbaijan was losing confidence in its star as the Paris Olympics came closer with it still to earning a qualification. Aliyev was under pressure and his conditioning was being questioned. And a few youngsters were knocking on the door.

Yet, Aliyev entered the European OG Qualifier in Baku as the favorite. In front of the home crowd and as the captain of the Azerbaijan Freestyle team, Aliyev had to deliver.

After seeing off Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA) and Niurgun SKRIABIN (AIN), Aliyev faced Dudaev for Paris qualification. Dudaev won the European Championships in Bucharest in February after defeating Gadzhimurad RASHIDOV (AIN).

He threatened to beat Aliyev, leading 3-0 at the break. But Aliyev managed to get on a single leg and score a takedown to close the gap to 3-2. He again hit the same shot and got a takedown before using the lace to make it 6-3. Dudaev tried hard but Aliyev was too good with his defense and only gave up a stepout for one up.

Azerbaijan will most likely give Aliyev the spot in Paris 2024, his third in his career. Aliyev will be looking to win his third Olympic medal after a bronze medal in Rio 2016 and a silver in Tokyo 2020.

The second Paris 2024 quota at 65kg was won by Goderdzi DZEBISASHVILI (GEO) who defeated Maxim SACULTAN (MDA), 2-1, in the other semifinal. The two wrestlers exchanged passivity but Sacultan was put on the activity clock in the second period, giving Dzebisashvili the criteria win. 

Aliyev's win was one of the five that Azerbaijan had to become the first country to win all six Freestyle Olympic quotas. Apart from Aliyev, Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE), Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE), Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE), Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) earned quotas.

Rzazade seemed in a hurry to be off the mat as he opened the scoring against former European champion Vladimir EGOROV (MKD). He kicked off the bout with a stunning ankle pick for a takedown in the first five seconds of the bout and tried to soak in the Baku pressure by pacing around the mat as Egorov took time to return to the center.

In the second period, Rzazade scored a stepout when Egorov was on the activity clock, giving Rzazade a 4-0 lead. Egorov scored a takedown and was given one more point for Rzazade's fleeing at the end but the Azerbaijan wrestler won 4-3 to win the quota at 57kg.

Former world bronze medalist Aryan TSIUTRYN (AIN) defeated Tokyo Olympian Georgi VANGELOV (BUL), 7-3, in a one-sided semifinal to earn the second quota at 57kg.

At 86kg, Nurmagomedov showed his skills to beat Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR), 4-1, to earn a qualification. He also defeated Ramazan RAMAZANOV (BUL) in the quarterfinals.

Wrestling internationally for the first time since 2021, Olympic and world bronze medalist Artur NAIFONOV (AIN) confirmed his Paris 2024 spot after a gritty 4-0 win over Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO). In the quarterfinal, Naifonov held off European champion Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) 2-1.

Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) confirmed the qualification at 125kg after he defeated Alen KHUBULOV (BUL), 7-0. The other qualification went to Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (AIN) who defeated Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL), 9-2.

A last-minute replacement for Abdulrashid SADULAEV (IND), Alikhan ZHABRAILOV (AIN) still got the job done of qualifying after he defeated Illia ARCHAIA (UKR), 11-0 to earn the Paris 2024 quota.

The second spot at 97kg was won by Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (AIN) after his opponent Radoslaw BARAN (POL) pulled out due to an injury he suffered in the quarterfinal.

At 74kg, Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) did let the ghost of past affect him as he held on to a 8-8 win over Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) in a thrilling bout.

Chamizo trailed 8-6 but got awarded two caution points and almost scored a takedown which was reverted on challenge and Bayramov got a criteria win and an Olympic quota.

Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Magomedkhabib KADIMAGOMEDOV (AIN) held on to a 3-2 win over European champion Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) to win the quota. All five points were technical points.

 

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RESULTS

57kg Paris Qualification Bouts
SF 1: Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE) df. Vladimir EGOROV (MKD), 4-3
SF 2: Aryan TSIUTRYN (AIN) df. Georgi VANGELOV (BUL), 7-3

65kg Paris Qualification Bouts
SF 1: Goderdzi DZEBISASHVILI (GEO) df. Maxim SACULTAN (MDA), 2-1
SF 2: Haji ALIYEV (AZE) df. Islam DUDAEV (ALB), 6-4

74kg Paris Qualification Bouts
SF 1: Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) df. Frank CHAMIZO (ITA), 8-8
SF 2: Magomedkhabib KADIMAGOMEDOV (AIN) df. Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK), 3-2

86kg Paris Qualification Bouts
SF 1: Artur NAIFONOV (AIN) df. Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO), 4-0
SF 2: Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) df. Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR), 4-1 

97kg Paris Qualification Bouts
SF 1: Alikhan ZHABRAILOV (AIN) df. Illia ARCHAIA (UKR), 11-0
SF 2: Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (AIN) df. Radoslaw BARAN (POL), via inj. def.

125kg Paris Qualification Bouts
SF 1: Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (AIN) df. Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL), 9-2
SF 2: Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) df. Alen KHUBULOV (BUL), 7-0 

#WrestleAthens

U17 World Wrestling Championships: Day 3 Live Results

Wednesday, July 30, 2025 - 07:10 By Vinay Siwach

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ATHENS, Greece (July 30) --  Women's Wrestling will kick off at the World U17 Championships with 43kg, 49kg, 57kg, 65kg and 73kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 2 RESULTS

The semifinals will begin at 17:00 hours local time and the medal bouts in Greco-Roman will begin at 18:00 hours local time.

13:30: Fall for Pan-Am champion Ella Jo POALILLO (USA) over Jolina HEALEY (CAN) at 73kg and she also earns a place in the semifinals. She will take on KAJAL (IND) who also pinned Anna GODELASHVILI (GEO). 

13:25: Asia champ vs European champ at 73kg as Wenjin QIU (CHN) takes on Eylem ENGIN (TUR). Qiu gets the first exposure and two points. Engin tries to score a takedown but Qiu keeps the par terre as both go out. Turkiye challenge. Engin gets one point for stepout. Qiu with a slide-by a takedown and 4-1 lead at the break. Head outside for Engin but whizzer from Qiu as she gets two points. Two more points and a palce in the semifinals for Qiu as she wins 8-1

13:18: Morgan TURNER (USA) catches Komal VERMA (IND) in a laces and turns her to complete a 10-0 win and enter the 49kg semifinals.

13:15: Feenja HERMANN (GER), European silver medalist, pins Anastasiya KOMANAVA (UWW) at 65kg. Hermann with different techniques to score her points and ultimately gets the fall.

13:11: MONI (IND), the Asian U17 champion at 57kg, needs just 15 seconds to secure a fall over Oana DUMITRU (ROU) and advance to the semifinals. On Mat B, another Asian U17 champion from India, Ashvini VISHNOI (IND) pins Anujin ERKHEMBAATAR (MGL) after a series of takedown to advance to semifinals at 65kg.

13:05: RACHANA (IND) needed some extra effort to see of Mareim ABDELAAL (EGY) 13-2 in their 43kg bout. Rachana is former world U17 silver medalist.

13:03: Asian U17 silver medalist Madkhiya USMANOVA (KAZ) blocks a bodylock throw from Ivanna LUKIANENKO (UKR) and puts her down on the mat for four points and an 11-3 victory at 57kg.

12:58:Madison HEALEY (USA) broke down Sayuki HIBARINO (JPN) and then used the arm-bar to get the fall over Hibarino at 43kg. That is the first loss for Japan in Women's today.

12:55: Ella Jo POALILLO (USA), Pan-Am champion, gets the fall at 73kg over Uranzaya TSERENNYAM (MGL). Excellent offense from Paolillo to get points before securing the fall.

12:50: KAJAL (IND), a world champion from 69kg last year, now moves into the quarterfinals at 73kg with a fall over Claudia MANTOG (ROU) with a double-leg attack. She had a 12-0 before securing the fall.

12:45: A rematch from European U17 Championships final, Eylem ENGIN (TUR) beats Khrystyna DEMCHUK (UKR) again at 73kg. Engin with top position and doesn't allow Demchuk to get behind.

12:40: Former world U17 champion Morgan TURNER (USA) with a crafty fall over Saniya SOLTANGALI (KAZ). Turner had her literally perpendicular to the mat. She advances at 49kg.

12:22: European U17 silver medalist Feenja HERMANN (GER) lets out a scream as she blanks Sophia ANASTASE (ROU) 7-0 in their 65kg bout. Hermann looking for a medal at Worlds after finishing 7th last year.

12:20: Dimitra SKOUVAKI (GRE) wins a small regional rivalry battle against Melike KOPARAN (TUR) 4-2 and the local crowd is ecstatic after the win over their neighbouring country.

12:10: Alexandra MOISEI (MDA) gets the fall over Pan-Am champ Violette LASURE (USA) at 65kg. Great throw from Moisei and she held Lasure on the mat.

12:05: A takedown from Sayuki TANADA (JPN) with 0.20 left on the clock as she beats Emma BACON (USA) 5-3 in their 57kg bout. Tanada was leading 2-2 on criteria but Bacon scored a stepout with 15 seconds left. Tanada with a leg attack and just randomly threw Bacon to get exposure and the win.

11:50: European champion Raniia RAKHMANOVA (UWW) with a hard-working 12-2 technical superiority win over Nurana ASADLI (UWW) at 43kg.

11:42: In a battle between two wrestlers at 57kg who finished fifth at the European U17 Championships, Nini TSITSVIDZE (GEO) scores six points to beat Oona PEKKARINEN (FIN) 6-4

11:30: At 43kg, China, Japan and India wrestlers on the mat and all of them show their higher skills. Xin HUANG (CHN) beats Natalia TERZI (MDA), 10-0, in a minute and 54 seconds, Sayuki HIBARINO (JPN) wins 10-0 in two minutes and 30 seconds against Aiza TAALAIBEKOVA (KGZ) and RACHANA (IND) pins Mariza NASU (CAN).

11:25: World U17 champion at 69kg KAJAL (IND), who won silver at Asian U17 in Vietnam and added an Asian U20 title in Bishkek recently, pins Bianka BARANY ALMASI (HUN) in 25 seconds at 73kg.

11:20: Sayuki TANADA (JPN) with that lethal Japanese leg lace as she beats Albina SALYMBEKOVA (KGZ) 11-0 at 57kg

11:10: European U17 champion Anastasiya KOMANAVA (UWW) is tested by Sofiia ALFOROVA (UKR) in the 65kg bout but Komanava gets activity points along with her technical ones to win 4-0.

11:05: A mismatch at 65kg as two-time Asian U17 champion Ashvini VISHNOI (IND) laces Selsabil ROUABAH (ALG) to win her 65kg bout in just 46 seconds.

10:55: Marta MANKOWSKA (POL) held her own for a few minutes against Asian U17 champion MONI (IND) who ultimately breaks Mankowska with two takedowns and wins the opening bout at 57kg 5-1.

10:30: Welcome to day three of the World U17 Championships and soon after the repechage in Greco-Roman, the Women's Wrestling bout will begin in five weight classes.