#Zagreb2018

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

Tuesday, July 3, 2018 - 20:49 By Taylor Miller

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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)

#development

Bringing Asia Together: OCA-UWW Wrestling Camp Concludes in China

Thursday, July 16, 2026 - 16:14 By United World Wrestling Press

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GUANGZHOU, China (July 15) -- The 2026 Olympic Council of Asia and United World Wrestling Asian Wrestling Youth Camp and Course for Coaches concluded at the Guangzhou Polytechnic of Sports on Wednesday, bringing together 62 athletes and 30 coaches from 30 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) across Asia.

Held from July 8-15, the camp also included 40 student wrestlers from the Guangzhou Polytechnic of Sports, providing additional training opportunities and a valuable platform for athletes and coaches to exchange knowledge and experience.

At the closing ceremony, participants received certificates of participation and commemorative gifts from representatives of the OCA, UWW and the Guangzhou Polytechnic of Sports.

Wrestling UWW

OCA Director of Family Relations & Development Programs Wissam TRKMANI thanked all those involved in organising the camp.

“This has been a wonderful camp and I would like to thank everyone who has made it possible," Trkmani said. "Wrestling is one of the oldest Olympic sports. It builds mental resilience, physical strength and personal discipline, providing a strong foundation for athletic development. The UWW educators have truly inspired the young athletes, and everyone worked hard to make this camp a success.”

Trkmani encouraged the athletes, aged 14 to 17, to continue pursuing their sporting ambitions and thanked the coaches for their commitment to developing young wrestlers across the continent.

Speaking on behalf of UWW, Bureau member, Olympic silver medallist and Chair of the UWW Athletes Commission Arsen JULFALAKYAN described the camp as amazing and encouraged coaches to share the knowledge and experience gained in Guangzhou with their wrestling communities at home.

Wrestling UWW

UWW Development Director Deqa NIAMKEY highlighted the importance of the camp for the future development of wrestling in Asia.

“This is the biggest youth camp we have hosted in Asia, thanks to the support of the OCA and all the National Olympic Committees and National Federations," Niamkey said. "Youth development is one of the main pillars of UWW development, and coaches are fundamental to that mission. This event not only provided an opportunity to improve technical standards but also allowed athletes to make friends and coaches to exchange experience and expertise, helping to build a stronger wrestling community across Asia.”

The camp combined athlete training sessions with a dedicated education programme for coaches, reinforcing the commitment of the OCA and UWW to developing wrestling through athlete pathways, coach education and international cooperation.