#WrestleTirana

Assetuly wins Kazakhstan's first U23 world title

Saturday, October 28, 2023 - 23:07 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (October 28) -- This year keeps getting better for Kazakhstan wrestling. A month after the country got its first Freestyle senior world champion in Belgrade, Sultan ASSETULY (KAZ) on Saturday became the first wrestler from his country to win the U23 World Championships.

The former Asian champion won the gold medal at 63kg by beating Mustafa YILDIRIM (TUR) 2-1 in the 67kg gold medal bout in Tirana, Albania. 

Yildirim got the first par terre advantage which Assetuly managed to defend well. When Assetuly got the activity point in the second period, he lifted Yildirim and tried a throw. Though he did not get a correct throw, Assetuly got Yildirim to stepout of the zone and get one point.

Assetuly's 2-1 lead after that exchange remained the final score of the bout as he clinched the historic title.

"I am very happy to be the first champion from Kazakhstan," Assetuly said. "I am not going to stop here, I will work hard and win the senior world title. I got this medal in a very tough way."

Sultan ASSETULY (KAZ)Sultan ASSETULY (KAZ) celebrates after winning the 67kg gold medal. (Photo: UWW / Ulug Bugra Han Degirmenci)

Out of his five wins for the gold medal, Assetuly's two wins were 1-1. His opening bout against Oleg KHALILOV (UKR) almost ended his run as he survived a close stepout but the match took a toll on him.

"Every single match, every single minute and second were really tough," he said. "The first match was the hardest. I won 1-1, but at the end of the match, I almost stepped out. After that match, I couldn't even walk for 30 minutes."

That win was followed by a 9-0 thrashing of Steve MOMILIA (ITA) to set up a quarterfinal against former U17 world champion Muslim IMADAEV (AIN). Assetuly once again struggled but managed to beat Imadaev 1-1. He humbled Hasan MAMMADLI (AZE) 11-0 in the semifinal.

Despite his golden run, Assetuly did rue the fact that a champion belt is not awarded at the U23 level.

"I want the champion belt, they don't give us belts here though."

Assetuly, a Taraz native, has idolized 1980 Olympic champion Zhaksylyk USHKEMPIROV. He will now look to make it to the Olympics himself as one of the contenders for the 67kg spot on the Kazakhstan team along with Meirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) who recently won the 67kg silver at the Asian Games.

"I still have a chance to qualify for the Olympics," he said. "I will compete at national championships. If I win there, I will get the chance to go to the qualifying event [in Bishkek next April]. If I get the Olympic spot there, I can go. Although, even if I get the Olympic quota, I will have to keep working hard, because the coaches still have the right to change the athlete."

Aues GONIBOV (AIN)Aues GONIBOV (AIN) defeated Alperen BERBER (TUR) 4-0. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

There was more frustration in store for Turkiye as U20 world champion Alperen BERBER (TUR) fell to senior world bronze medalist Aues GONIBOV (AIN) in the 82kg final.

The strength difference between the two wrestlers was visible as Berber could never actually cement himself against Gonibov who got two passivity points and a takedown to score a 4-0 win.

Berber, just 18 years of age, already has U17 and U20 world titles to his name to go along the multiple European medals.

Pavel HLINCHUK (AIN)Pavel HLINCHUK (AIN) defends from par terre against Mustafa OLGUN (TUR). (Photo: UWW / Ulug Bugra Han Degirmenci)

If that was not enough, Pavel HLINCHUK (AIN) denied Mustafa OLGUN (TUR) the gold medal at 97kg in a thrilling final. Hlinkchuk won the gold-medal bout 4-3.

The 2021 U20 world champion was making a return to international competition after two years and showed no signs of rust, dominating his opponents till the final.

After getting the par terre point, Olgun scored a stepout to lead 2-0 but Hlinchuk scored a turn from par terre to claim a 3-2 lead. The Turkish wrestler scored a stepout with eight seconds left but that only made it a 3-3 criteria lead for Hlinchuk. Turkiye challenged, asking for a takedown but was only given a stepout on review. The lost challenge added another point to Hlinchuk's score.

Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (AIN)Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (AIN) scores a four-pointer against Romeo BERIDZE (GEO) in the 60kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Another U20 world champion from 2021 made it to the top of the podium as Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (AIN) put behind the disappointment of the senior World Championships to beat Romeo BERIDZE (GEO), 10-0, and win the 60kg gold medal in Tirana.

The 2021 U230 world champion got the par terre advantage and as he was lifting Beridze, he dropped the Georgian on his back with control to score four points. Georgia challenged the call but saw the original ruling stand. One point was added to Allakhiarov's score for the lost challenge before he finished the bout in two minutes and 37 seconds with a powerful duck-under for another four points.

Dmitrii ADAMOV (AIN)Dmitrii ADAMOV (AIN) won the 72kg final over Irfan MIRZOIEV (UKR). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 72kg, Dmitrii ADAMOV (AIN) won the gold medal as he defeated Irfan MIRZOIEV (UKR), 9-3, in the final. Mirzoiev was in exceptional form on Friday but could not repeat it against Adamov in the final.

Mirzoiev did start off on a strong note, scoring a counter stepout with caution against Adamov for fleeing. Down 2-0, Adamov was going to get a passivity call but he scored a takedown as the referee signaled for passivity.

That completely changed the final as Adamov got three turns from that takedown to lead 8-2. He scored a stepout in the second period to make it 9-2 and despite a late stepout from Mirzoiev in the final seconds, Adamov won the gold comfortably.

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RESULTS

60kg
GOLD: Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (AIN) df. Romeo BERIDZE (GEO), 10-0

BRONZE: SUMIT (UWW) df. Yonaiker MARTINEZ (VEN), 4-3
BRONZE: Mert ILBARS (TUR) df. Aibek SABYRBEKOV (KAZ), 9-1

67kg
GOLD: Sultan ASSETULY (KAZ) df. Mustafa YILDIRIM (TUR), 2-1

BRONZE: Muslim IMADAEV (AIN) df. Hasan MAMMADLI (AZE), 12-10
BRONZE: HARUTO YABE (JPN) df. Artur JEREMEJEV (EST), 8-0

72kg
GOLD: Dmitrii ADAMOV (AIN) df. Irfan MIRZOIEV (UKR), 9-3

BRONZE: Ruslan NURULLAYEV (AZE) df. Michael PORTMANN (SUI), 3-1
BRONZE: Shant KHACHATRYAN (ARM) df. Adilkhan NURLANBEKOV (KGZ), via fall (9-0)

82kg
GOLD: Aues GONIBOV (AIN) df. Alperen BERBER (TUR), 4-0 

BRONZE: Karlo KODRIC (CRO) df. Ruslan ABDIIEV (UKR), 3-0
BRONZE: Emad ABOUELATTA (EGY) df. Karen KHACHATRYAN (ARM), 3-2

97kg
GOLD: Pavel HLINCHUK (AIN) df. Mustafa OLGUN (TUR), 4-3

BRONZE: Lucas LAZOGIANIS (GER) df. Hayk KHLOYAN (ARM), 5-3
BRONZE: Yuri NAKAZATO (JPN) df. Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE), 3-1

Semifinals

55kg
GOLD: Iskhar KURBAYEV (KAZ) vs. Giorgi TOKHADZE (GEO)

SF 1: Giorgi TOKHADZE (GEO) df. Farid SADIKHLI (AZE), 10-0
SF 2: Iskhar KURBAYEV (KAZ) df. Adem UZUN (TUR), 9-1

63kg
GOLD: Rakhman TAVMURZAEV (AIN) vs. Hleb MAKARANKA (AIN)

SF 1: Hleb MAKARANKA (AIN) df. Chiezo MARUYAMA (JPN), 3-3
SF 2:Rakhman TAVMURZAEV (AIN) df. Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA), 7-5

77kg
GOLD: Khasay HASANLI (AZE) vs. Alexandrin GUTU (MDA)

SF 1: Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) df. Yryskeldi MAKSATBEK UULU (KGZ), 12-2
SF 2: Khasay HASANLI (AZE) df. Khvicha ANANIDZE (GEO), 9-0

87kg
GOLD: Matej MANDIC (CRO) vs. Magomed MURTAZALIEV (AIN)

SF 1: Magomed MURTAZALIEV (AIN) df. Exauce MUKUBU (NOR), 7-2
SF 2: Matej MANDIC (CRO) df. Waltteri LATVALA (FIN), 11-0

130kg
GOLD: Muhammet BAKIR (TUR) vs. Mykhailo VYSHNYVETSKYI (UKR)

SF 1: Mykhailo VYSHNYVETSKYI (UKR) df. Sarkhan MAMMADOV (AZE), 1-1
SF 2: Muhammet BAKIR (TUR) df. Razmik KURDYAN (ARM), 4-2

#WrestleBudapest

Big-throwing Machado claims debut Ranking Series gold

Monday, July 21, 2025 - 11:08 By Vinay Siwach

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 20) -- Thamires MACHADO (BRA) made brief headlines at the Pan-American Olympic Games Qualifiers in Mexico. She threw Amit ELOR (USA) for a lateral drop for four points. Machado had Elor in trouble which could have seen Elor, the champion in Paris Games, lose early. However, Machado fizzled out and lost her bout 6-4.

A year later on Saturday, the Brazilian won her first major gold medal at the Budapest Ranking Series after a stunning show of strength and big throws at the Ranking Series over the weekend.

"In every practice back home, I try to do the four-point moves. I want to throw," Machado said after receiving the gold medal.

In other weight classes, Grace BULLEN (NOR) had another epic match with Irina RINGACI (MDA) and won gold at 65kg and Kennedy BLADES (USA) won another Ranking Series gold to remain undefeated at 68kg going into the World Championships.

European champion Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW) and Amina TANDELOVA (UWW) won at 55kg and 62kg respectively.

Machado, competing in her first-ever Ranking Series event, won the 76kg gold medal with wins over Asian champion Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) and world U20 champion PRIYA (IND) in semifinal and final, respectively.

In the gold-medal bout, Machadofaced former world U17 and U20 champion Priya and used a similar lateral drop like she did against Elor to score a four-pointer over Priya in the first minute.

Priya was pushing for a stepout and Machado used that momentum to drop her for four-points. It was catch-up from there on for Priya who failed to score any points in the first period. She got a stepout in the second get on board. Struggling to get to Machado's legs, Priya forced another stepout to make it 4-2.

Machado was put on the activity clock in the last minute but she was happy to conceded that point than to go for all-out attack during those 30 seconds. Priya also waited for the activity clock to expire before pushing for a point, perhaps a mistake to take her foot of the pedal in the final minute.

During that time, Machado managed to catch her breath and defended all attacks, including one in the last five seconds to win 4-3 and the gold medal.

"I am happy to win this gold medal in Ranking Series," she said. "This is so special for me"

In the semifinals, Machado got the better of Medet Kyzy, who opened the scoring with a double-leg takedown for two points. She led 3-0 at the break as Machado failed to score after being put on the 30-second activity clock.

Machado got her first points when she defended a leg attack from Medet Kyzy and scored a go-behind takedown. She then launched a powerful gut-wrench and turned her three times to lead 8-3. Two stepouts in quick succession for Medet Kyzy cut Machado's lead to 8-5 but the Kyrgyzstan wrestler had only a minute left to score more points and secure the win.

As they scrambled for the final minute, Machado and Medet Kyzy locked each other at the edge but it was the latter who fell outside of the zone first which gave another point to Machado with 33 seconds left. Machado held her positions better than Medet Kyzy and managed to score another stepout to lead 10-5 and win the bout.

Born in one of the favellas in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Machado was part of one of the social project by the local council which taught wrestling to young kids. She joined the program and managed to learn wrestling.

In 2019, she won gold medal at the Pan-Am U20 Championships, her second ever competition. For five years, she was away from wrestling, but in 2024, she returned and won the Henri Deglane Grand Prix and was second at the 2025 Pan-Am Championships.

Bullen survives Ringaci

If both remain at the same weight class in the future, the Bullen-Ringaci rivalry can be the most fearsome in Women's Wrestling. The latest example was their 65kg final in Budapest where Bullen, down 16-8, pinned Ringaci was claim her second win over the former world champion in four months.

Ringaci, who needed one more turn from par terre or just survive the pin from Bullen, was frustrated with yet another loss and pushed aside Bullen after the bout.

The match began with a wonderful counter from Ringaci, who hit a cut-back after a Bullen snap to pass-by and got four points. Watch above. While Bullen survived the fall attempt, she fell behind 6-0.

A little later, it was Ringaci's chance survive a pin attempt from Bullen who lifted Ringaci well over her waist-level and slammed her for four. The first period ended with Bullen leading 6-6 on criteria.

Bullen tried the exact move of snap to pass-by in the second period and this time she succeeded, scoring two points and taking a clear 8-6 lead. Ringaci scored a takedown 30 seconds into the second period and scored six more points using three gut-wrenches. As she was going for the final turn to win the bout, Bullen blocked and got the headlock to pin Ringaci.

An aghast Ringaci was left in tears as Bullen herself was shocked to have won the bout, having snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

At 68kg, Kennedy BLADES (USA) had a fine tournament, winning her second Ranking Series event and third tournament of 2025. In the final, she defeated Noemi SZABADOS (HUN), 13-2, a wrestler she had defeated 10-0 at the Zagreb Open in February.

The only bout she was not able to win via technical superiority was her semifinal against Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) as the Bulgarian was able to stop Blades to a 6-2 win. Blades had little injury scare in the final few seconds of the match but managed to continue.

Verbina captured the 55kg gold medal after a controlled 6-1 win over Karla GODINEZ (CAN) in the final while Tandelova blanked Alina KASABIEVA (UWW) 3-0 in the 62kg final.

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW) df. Karla GODINEZ (CAN), 6-1

BRONZE: Cristelle RODRIGUEZ (USA) df. Amory ANDRICH (GER), 10-0

62kg
GOLD: Amina TANDELOVA (UWW) df. Alina KASABIEVA (UWW), 3-0

BRONZE: Ana GODINEZ (CAN) df. Nikolett SZABO (HUN), 10-0
BRONZE: MANISHA (IND) df. Krystsina SAZYKINA (UWW), via fall (9-0)

65kg
GOLD: Grace BULLEN (NOR) df. Irina RINGACI (MDA), via fall (10-16)

BRONZE: Eniko ELEKES (HUN) df. Ekaterina KOSHKINA (UWW), via inj. def.
BRONZE: Macey KILTY (USA) df. Kadriye KOCAK AKSOY (TUR), 10-4

68kg
GOLD: Kennedy BLADES (USA) df. Noemi SZABADOS (HUN), 13-2

BRONZE: Brooklyn HAYS (USA) df. Hyeonyeong PARK (KOR), 5-4
BRONZE: Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) df. Alina SHEVCHENKO (UWW), 11-1

76kg
GOLD: Thamires MACHADO (BRA) df. PRIYA (IND), 4-3

BRONZE: Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) df. Valeriia TRIFONOVA (UWW), 11-0
BRONZE: Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) df. Seoyeon JEONG (KOR), 12-1