#Zagreb2018

Amirli Repeats as Cadet World Champion, Zare Knocks Off Returning Champ Kerkvliet

By Taylor Miller

ZAGREB, Croatia – On the second night of the Cadet World Championships, five champs were crowned in men’s freestyle. The session was highlighted by Alihasan AMIRLI (AZE) winning his second-straight World title.

Amirli repeated his gold-medal performance with a 6-1 decision in the 48 kg finals over Richard FIGUEROA (USA). Putting Figueroa to his back in a big second-period takedown, Amirli took over the lead, which he held onto for back-to-back World gold medals.

Azerbaijan picked up another World champion later in the session as Turan BAYRAMOV improved on his 2017 World silver-medal finish, winning the top spot at 65 kg over Inalbek SHERIEV (RUS).

In a surprising result, 2018 Cadet Asian champion Amir ZARE (IRI) took out 2017 Cadet World champion Daniel KERKVLIET (USA) in the 110 kg final. The combination of three step outs and two takedowns gave Zare a 7-4 edge and his first Cadet World title.

2017 Cadet Asian bronze medalist Jamshidbek MARUFOV (UZB) took the crown at 55 kg, holding off this year’s Cadet Asian champion Hayato FUJITA (JPN) in a 4-3 bout. Marufov was up 4-0 early halfway through the second period. Fujita made a late push, but it was not enough as Uzbekistan claimed a World gold.

At 80 kg, Dmitrii ELKANOV (RUS) trailed 2018 Cadet Asian champion Mohammedreza GHIYASI (IRI), 6-2, late in the match. With just four seconds left, Elkanov threw Ghiyasi with double overhooks to take the lead on criteria. Iran’s corner challenged but it failed, resulting in a 7-6 win for Elkanov and a World title.

Earlier in the session, the semifinals for 45 kg, 51 kg, 60 kg, 71 kg and 92 kg. Iran and Turkey both put two wrestlers into the finals.

The tournament continues tomorrow on unitedworldwrestling.com.

Finals results

48 kg
GOLD - Alihasan AMIRLI (AZE)
SILVER - Richard FIGUEROA (USA)
BRONZE - Giorgi GEGELASHVILI (GEO)
BRONZE - Valerii ANDROSOV (RUS)

1st – Alihasan AMIRLI (AZE) dec. Richard FIGUEROA (USA), 6-1
3rd - Valerii ANDROSOV (RUS) dec. Mykyta ABRAMOV (UKR), 10-8
3rd - Giorgi GEGLASHVILI (GEO) dec. Mahdi VEISI (Iran), 4-2

55 kg
GOLD - Jamshidbek MARUFOV (UZB)
SILVER - Hayato FUJITA (JPN)
BRONZE - Simone PIRODDU (ITA)
BRONZE - Abulfaz NASIROV (AZE)

1st - Jamshidbek MARUFOV (UZB) dec. Hayato FUJITA (JPN), 4-3
3rd - Abulfaz NASIROV (AZE) fall Daviti ABDALADZE (GEO), 1:11
3rd - Simone PIRODDU (ITA) dec. Norik HARUTYUNYAN (ARM), 5-3

65 kg
GOLD - Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE)
SILVER - Inalbek SHERIEV (RUS)
BRONZE - Bekzat ZHALGASSOV (KAZ)
BRONZE - Mohammad KARIMISEIFABAD (IRI)

1st - Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) dec. Inalbek SHERIEV (RUS), 4-1
3rd - Bekzat ZHALGASSOV (KAZ) dec. Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO), 8-2
3rd - Mohammad KARIMISEIFABAD (IRI) dec. Narek HARUTYUNYAN (ARM), 10-5

80 kg
GOLD - Dmitrii ELKANOV (RUS)
SILVER - Mohammedreza GHIYASI (IRI)
BRONZE - Milan KORCSOG (HUN)
BRONZE - Abe ASSAD (USA)

1st - Dmitrii ELKANOV (Russia) dec. Mohammedreza GHIYASI (IRI), 7-6
3rd -Milan KORCSOG (HUN) TF Carson Barry Lee (CAN), 11-0
3rd - Abe ASSAD (USA) dec. Sagadulla AGAEV (AZE), 7-6

110 kg
GOLD - Amir ZARE (IRI)
SILVER - Daniel KERKVLIET (USA)
BRONZE - Stoyan YORDANOV (BUL)
BRONZE - Sergei KOZYREV (RUS)

1st - Amir ZARE (IRI) dec. Daniel KERKVLIET (USA), 7-4
3rd - Stoyan YORDANOV (BUL) dec. Islam ABUEV (AZE), 3-3
3rd - Sergei KOZYREV (RUS) TF Kumar ANIRUDH (IND), 10-0

Wednesday finals pairings
48 kg: Rahman AMOUZADKHALILI (IRI) vs. Rafayel HARUTYUNYAN (ARM)
51 kg: Matthew RAMOS (USA) vs. Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN)
60 kg: Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) vs. Hamza ALACA (TUR)
71 kg: Bagrati GAGNIDZE (GEO) vs. Baliyan GOURAV (IND)
92 kg: Omer AGTAS (TUR) vs. Ali Reza ABDOLLAHI (IRI)

#WrestleKonya

Iran dominates Islamic Solidarity Games with 3 golds

By Ali Feizasa

KONYA, Turkey (August 11) -- Iran finished the freestyle competition of the 5th Islamic Solidarity Games with three gold medals on the second day in Konya, Turkey. Overall, the nation ended with five gold medals while Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan achieved two gold medals each.

Opening the medal session was 2021 Asian champion Jahongirmirza TUROBOV (UZB) who claimed the gold after a dramatic win over Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE) in the final.

Jahongirmirza TUROBOV (UZB)Jahongirmirza TUROBOV (UZB) came from behind to win the 61kg gold. (Photo: Turkish Wrestling Federation)

Bazarganov led the 61kg final bout 5-0 but in the last minute, Turobov came from behind to lead 6-5. Bazarganov did score another point in the final 10 seconds but Turobov won 6-6 on criteria as his technical moves were superior to Bazarganov.

At 70kg, 2021 world silver medalist and U23 world champion Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) took the only gold medal for Kyrgyzstan in freestyle competition by edging Hossein ABOUZARI (IRI), 6-0, in the 70kg final.

Ahmad BAZRI (IRI)Ahmad BAZRI (IRI) won the 92kg gold medal in Konya. (Photo: Turkish Wrestling Federation)

But three Iran wrestlers held the country finish on a high.

In the 79kg final, Asian champion Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI) downed the host country's star Muhammet AKDENIZ (TUR). At the start of the match, Savadkouhi was surprised by a four-pointer from Akdeniz but soon controlled the bout with a takedown and two gut wrenches. The Iranian then continued to earn a 12-6 victory.

Ahmad BAZRI (IRI), the 2022 Yasar Dogu champion, collected the gold medal at 92kg with an easy win over Erhan YAYLACI (TUR). The Iran wrestler won the gold with a 7-1 win.

The third Iran-Turkey final was at the super heavyweight with Seyed Mehdi HASHEMI (IRI) wrestling Salim ERCAN (TUR). Hashemi helped Iran end with five gold medals as he defeated Ercan 8-0 and become the best team in the Games.

Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ)Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) became the 62kg champion. (Photo: Turkish Wrestling Federation)

Three women's wrestling weight classes were also contested on Thursday.

Two-time world champion and Olympic silver medalist Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) warmed-up to defend her world title with a gold medal at 62kg. She defeated Yarie CAMARA (GUI) 11-0 in the final.

Turkey and Azerbaijan won a gold medal each with Leyla GURBANOVA (AZE) winning the 53kg gold and Bose TOSUN (TUR) winning the 72kg title.

Gurbanov defended her gold medal from 2017 and won her bouts with ease. In the final, she wrestled two-time Asian Championships bronze medalist Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) and won the bout 6-1.

Bose TOSUN (TUR)Bose TOSUN (TUR) won the home country's first gold medal. (Photo: Turkish Wrestling Federation)

World medalist Tosun ended the gold drought for Turkey by winning the 72kg title. After going through the bracket, she pinned Gozal ZUTOVA (AZE) in the final to claim the top place on the medal. She needed only 50 seconds to pin Zutova, using a double leg takedown and delighted the home fans.

Wrestling at the 5th Islamic Solidarity Games continues with Greco-roman and women’s weights on Friday.

Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ)Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) defeated Hossein ABOUZARI (IRI), 6-0 in the 70kg final. (Photo: Turkish Wrestling Federation)

Day 2 Results

Freestyle

61kg
GOLD: Jahongirmirza TUROBOV (UZB) df. Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE), 6-6

BRONZE: Recep TOPAL (TUR) df. Ali ABURUMAILA (PLE), 11-3
BRONZE: Majid DASTAN (IRI) df. Muhammad BILAL (PAK), 6-3

70kg
GOLD: Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) df. Hossein ABOUZARI (IRI), 6-0

BRONZE: Asgar MAMMADALIYEV (AZE) df. Dzhamshed SHARIFOV (TJK), 3-0
BRONZE: Bacar DUM (GBS) df. Zafarbek OTAKHONOV (UZB), 7-7

79kg
GOLD: Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI) df. Muhammet AKDENIZ (TUR), 12-6

BRONZE: Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB) df. Fetai EDDINE (ALG), 10-0
BRONZE: Gadzhimurad OMAROV (AZE) df. Meiir KOSHKINBAYEV (KAZ), 10-4

92kg
GOLD: Ahmad BAZRI (IRI) df. Erhan YAYLACI (TUR), 7-1

BRONZE: Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) df. Abdimanap BAIGENZHEYEV (KAZ), 10-0
BRONZE: Bobur ISLOMOV (UZB) df. Mirlan CHYNYBEKOV (KGZ), 5-4

125kg
GOLD: Seyed Mehdi HASHEMI (IRI) df. Salim ERCAN (TUR), 8-0

BRONZE: Khasanboy RAKHIMOV (UZB) df. Zyyamuhammet SAPAROV (TKM), 10-0

Women’s Wrestling

53kg
GOLD: Leyla GURBANOVA (AZE) df. Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB), 6-1

BRONZE: Ellada MAKHYADDINOVA (KAZ) df. Vatansulton SHAKARSHOEVA (TJK), 7-2
BRONZE: Rahime ARI (TUR) df. Candra MARIMAR (INA), via fall

62kg
GOLD: Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) df. Yarie CAMARA (GUI), 11-0

BRONZE: Tetiana OMELCHENKO (AZE) df. Tantri HERLINA (INA), 11-0
BRONZE: Irina KUZNETSOVA (KAZ) df. Goudiaby SAFIETOU (SEN), via fall

72kg
GOLD: Buse TOSUN (TUR) df. Gozal ZUTOVA (AZE), via fall

BRONZE: Nour JELJELI (TUN) df. Ngiri NYEH (CMR), 11-4
BRONZE: Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) df. Sambou ANTA (SEN), 10-0