#WrestleDortmund

Azerbaijan Brings #WrestleDortmund Gold Medal Haul to Three

By Eric Olanowski

DORTMUND, Germany (June 29) --- Azerbaijan’s Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE) and Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE), cornered by recent-retiree and Rio Olympic bronze medalist Jabrail HASANOV (AZE), claimed junior European gold on Wednesday night and brought their overall gold medal haul to three.

Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE), who won 70kg gold on Tuesday night, was Azerbaijan’s third junior freestyle gold medalist.

After two cadet European bronze medal finishes, Heybatov finally got over the hump and claimed his long-awaited gold medal. He trailed Levik MIKAYELYAN (ARM), 3-0, but flipped his offensive switch on and picked up a pair of takedowns and exposures in the final two minutes and won the 61kg title, 8-5.

Gadzhiev, a  ’19 cadet world champion, blew through Taner GARIP (TUR) and won his second European title of the year. He also won gold at the U23 European Championships earlier this year.

In the first period, Gadzhiev trailed 1-0, but grasped a high-level single leg and quickly transitioned into a right-side gut wrench for the 4-1 lead. In the closing period, the 19-year-old planted Garip on his face with a snap down and extended his lead to 6-1. He pushed that lead to eight points after he threw his Turkish opponent for four points. Leading 10-2, the Azeri used an underhook throw-by to pick up the match-ending takedown and the 74kg title.

Arslan BAGAEV (RUS) scores the match-winning stepout against Joshua MORODION (GER) in the 86kg finals. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Meanwhile, Russia (185 points) came into Wednesday with three champs and tacked on two additional golds, and walked away with the team title, 59 points ahead of second-place Turkey (126 points)

Azerbaijan (119 points), Ukraine (103 points) and Armenia (101 points) rounded out the top five in the freestyle team race.

Arslan BAGAEV (RUS) bagged 86kg gold with an impressive 10-0 throttling of Joshua MORODION (GER).  While leading 1-0 off a step out, the Russian hit an elbow pass to a trio of leg laces and headed into the second period with a commanding 9-0 lead. He wasted no time in the second period, shooting an open double leg which resulted in a stepout to win, 10-0.

Islam KILCHUKOV (RUS) picked up a four-point win over Johannes MAYER (GER) in the 92kg finals and handed Russia their fifth overall gold medal of the competition. He picked up an inactivity point and stopped a pair of German shots and scooped up four counteroffensive points to win, 5-1.

The final freestyle gold medal of the competition went to Lyova GEVORGYAN (ARM). He crushed Aydin AHMADOV (AZE) in the gold medal match and won his second career European title and first since winning the ’18 cadet European gold. He only needed a little over two minutes to score his 11 points and reach the top of the European podium.

Wrestling at the Junior European Championships resumes on Thursday at 11:30 (local time) and can be followed on www.uww.org.

RESULTS

61kg
GOLD - Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE) df. Levik MIKAYELYAN (ARM), 8-5
BRONZE - Daviti ABDALADZE (GEO) df. Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA), 3-3
BRONZE - Pavel ANDRUSCA (MDA) df. Hamza ZOPALI (TUR), 8-4

74kg
GOLD - Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) df. Taner GARIP (TUR), 12-2
BRONZE - Magomed ABDULKADYROV (RUS) df. Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO), 3-3
BRONZE - Stas David WOLF (GER) df. Vadym KURYLENKO (UKR), 7-3l

86kg
GOLD - Arslan BAGAEV (RUS) df Joshua Philipp David MORODION (GER), 10-0
BRONZE - Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) Denys SAHALIUK (UKR), 6-1
BRONZE - Emre CIFTCI (TUR) df. Joel HENCZ (HUN), 7-5

92kg
GOLD - Islam KILCHUKOV (RUS) df. Johannes MAYER (GER), 5-1
BRONZE - Sergey SARGSYAN (ARM)  df. Krisztian Gabor ANGYAL (HUN), 11-0
BRONZE - Daniil PIDLYPENETS (UKR) df. Andro MARGISHVILI (GEO), 3-2

125kg
GOLD - Lyova GEVORGYAN (ARM) df. Aydin AHMADOV (AZE), 11-0"
BRONZE - Arsamag ZASSEEV (RUS) df. Daniel PIRTACHI (MDA), 11-0
BRONZE - Vasyl SOVA (UKR) df. Csaba UBORNYAK (HUN), 6-5

Islamic Solidarity Games 2025 Day 2 Highlights

By Vinay Siwach

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (November 19) — The Islamic Solidarity Games 2025 will enter the second day with two Greco-Roman weight classes, 97kg and 130kg, and three women’s wrestling weight classes — 50kg, 53kg and 57kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER

13:15: Miesinnei GENEISI (NGR) with a fall over Chebila CHEIMA (ALG) in the 50kg semifinal and enter the final in which she will face Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB)

13:05: Mohamed ADELLATIF (EGY) scores a takedown in the second period to survive a passivity call and win his semifinal at 130kg against Fatih OZTURK (TUR) 3-0. He will face Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) for the gold medal

12:45: Tekouk ACHOUAK DJAMILA (ALG) with some strong counters after Elvira SULEYMAN (TUR) scored the first four points. Djamila made it 6-4 before Suleyman scored a go behind and led 6-6 and a turn to lead 8-6. The Turkiye wrestlers defends the late attacks from Djamila and wins 10-6 to enter the 57kg final.

12:30: Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) reaches the final at 130kg after an 8-0 pounding of Roman KIM (KGZ) in the semifinal. He scored four points using a suplex. Kim was called for a leg foul which gave two more points to Hedayati. A takedown and he finishes with technical superiority.

12:05: Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) has not trouble in his semifinal against Ibrahim FALLATAH (KSA), beating him 9-0 with four turns from par terre and advance to the final at 97kg.

11:45: World bronze medalist Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE) gets a solid 5-1 win over Beytullah KAYISDAG (TUR) to advance to the final at 97kg. The big question is can Ahmadiyev challenge Saravi?

11:30: Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) looks unstoppable at 130kg. He scores a takedown and three turns to beat Beka KANDELAKI (AZE) 8-0

11:25: Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) gets another dominant win at 57kg. She pins MIM (BAN) and moves into the semifinal with the top spot in the group.

11:10: World and Olympic champion Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) was in some trouble when put in par terre and Rouabah FADI (ALG) almost turned him but Saravi manages to defend that. Saravi then scores a takedown, gets par terre and scores two turns to lead 7-1 and also win with that score.

11:00: Miesinnei GENEISI (NGR) gets hold of a struggling Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE) in Round 2 at 50kg and finishes with a 12-2 win. Mammadova clearly struggling with a knee injury

10:55: Beka KANDELAKI (AZE) began well again Mohamed ABDELLATIF (EGY), taking a 3-0 lead. However, the Egyptian managed to make a comeback and beat Kandelaki 4-3 at 130kg.

10:40: Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) and Elvira SULEYMAN (TUR) went neck-to-neck before the former stepped up her game and secured a five-point lead 13-8. Suleyman scored a four-point and two counters to score her 8 points while Aliyeva kept coming back every time Suleyman scored. But soon, Aliyeva scored two counter lifts to win the match 15-10 at 57kg.

10:25: Two quick finishes in Round 1 at 57kg in women’s. Elvira SULEYMAN (TUR) laces MIM (BAN) for a 10-0 win while Sezim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ) beats Veronica AYO (UGA) 10-0 as well.

10:15: World U23 champion Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) squares up against the Mohamed ABDELLATIF (EGY) in Round 1 at Greco 130kg. He begins with a stepout before securing the first par terre advantage. He scores one more point to win 3-0.

10:05: Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) takes little time to secure the fall over Chahd JELJELI (TUN) in the first bout at 57kg. The former world U23 champion is the favorite to win gold here.

10:00: Day two of the Islamic Solidarity Games and we have Olympic and world champion Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI), Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI), Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) among other stars in action.