Azerbaijan spoils USA party with 2 golds at U17 Worlds

Saturday, July 30, 2022 - 19:55 By Vinay Siwach

ROME, Italy (July 30) -- A month ago at the U17 European Championships, Vasif BAGHIROV (AZE) and Ilyas ISAYEV (AZE) were the breakout stars for Azerbaijan. Riding on their gold medals in Bucharest, Azerbaijan finished on top in the team rankings.

The two wrestlers continued their top form and earned world titles with equal dominance and helped the nation bounce back from a disastrous U17 World Championships in Budapest where Azerbaijan managed to win only three bronze medals.

They not only won the gold but also denied the USA to go four out of four in the finals.

Out of the four wrestlers in the finals on day six of the U17 World Championships, only one managed to win the gold medal for USA.

Apart from Baghirov and Isayev, Daryn ASKERBEK (KAZ) was the third wrestler to deny the USA a gold medal.

Vasif BAGHIROV (AZE) defeated Christian CASTILLO (USA) 5-3 in the 48kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

The night began with Baghirov wrestling Christian CASTILLO (USA) in the 48kg final which went close until the final 15 seconds. Baghirov led 1-1 on criteria and Castillo was looking for ideas.

In the semifinals, the USA wrestler had jumped over his semifinal opponent Arshia HADDADI (IRI) to score a takedown in the final second.

In the gold medal bout, however, there was no such last moment comeback as Baghirov kept Castillo's attempted head pinch at bay. Castillo landed on his back which gave Bahigrov four points. He got two for his exposure but the time ran out which gave Baghirov a 5-3 win.

Ilyas ISAYEV (AZE) added a world title to his European one after beating Tyler KASAK (USA) in the 65kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

The script for the second Azerbaijan-USA final was a lot similar. Ilyas ISAYEV (AZE) and Tyler KASAK (USA) were tied 3-3. Isayev, surprised by a stepout denied, continued the pressure and hit a single leg to drag Kasak out of bounds. The USA challenged the call claiming that the time ran out. But the clock still had two seconds left. Isayev led 5-3 and defended that lead for the final two seconds.

Isayev's gold helped Azerbaijan to number four in the team title race and winning all bouts Sunday may help them to reach the podium. However, it won't be able to win the title which is locked up by the USA. If defending champions India wins all its bout Sunday, it will finish second in the race.

Currently, Kazakhstan occupies the third spot after Askerbek won the gold at 55kg.

The decisive four-pointer which gave Daryn ASKERBEK (KAZ) the win over Jaxen FORREST (USA) in the 55kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

In perhaps the bout of the tournament, Askerbek and Jaxen FORREST (USA) slugged it till the final second but it was the Kazakhstan wrestler who came out on top 11-10.

At the start, Forrest led 6-0 and got involved in a scramble which resulted in a 2-2 and reversal for Forrest, who now led 7-2. Askerbek went for a headlock for four at a crucial moment. A reversal gave Forrest an 8-6 lead.

Forrest, thinking of defending the two-point lead, gave up another headlock for four. The USA challenged the call with a question about Askerbek's action initiating outside the zone. But on review, it appeared that the action began inside. Forrest managed to score a takedown but still lost 11-10.

Koy HOPKE (USA) celebrates after defeating Levan LAGVILAVA (FRA) 11-6 in the 110kg final. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

After three disappointing finals, Koy HOPKE (USA) managed to bring a smile to the USA camp as he defeated Levan LAGVILAVA (FRA), 11-6, in the 110kg final. With the win, he also denied France its first-ever U17 world champion.

Hopke had to stage a comeback against Lagvilava who at one point led 4-1. The USA wrestler scored a takedown just in the nick of time to cut the lead 4-3 at the break.

Like his quarterfinal and semifinal, Lagvilava struggled with his conditioning. He managed to hang on to wins in those bouts but not against Hopke who took the lead in the second period. His relentless attacks ultimately proved too much for his opponent as Hopke won 11-6 to continue the USA's record of having a world champion since 2011.

Sachin MOR (IND) celebrates after winning the gold at 80kg. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

India only had one wrestler in the final and Sachin MOR (IND) made it count by winning the gold at 80kg in some fashion.

Wrestling Reza SOLEIMANIAN (IRI) in the final, he began with a four-point move and almost got the pin when Soleimanian poked his fingers in Mor's face. That negative wrestling made the score 6-2 in Mor's favor and the bout restarted in par terre.

In the second period, Mor gave up a takedown after a long defensive sequence. However, that was the only action Soleimanian managed in the final which Mor won 6-3.

Luke LILLEDAHL (USA), silver medalist form 2021, made it to his second straight U17 Worlds final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

USA lead team race

Like it did on day five, the USA sent four more wrestlers into the finals. Iran will now hope to win at least one gold at the U17 Worlds after entering two wrestlers for the Sunday finals. Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Italy and Hungary managed to send a wrestler each into the gold medal bout as well.

Returning silver medalist Luke LILLEDAHL (USA) will look to upgrade his medal to gold when he wrestles Mohammad Reza ASADI (IRI) in the 51kg final. The USA wrestler was up against Asian champion Nurdanat AITANOV (KAZ) in the semifinal and came out with a 4-1 win after some smart defense.

Asadi, who was silver to Aitanov in Bishkek, steamrolled his competition including a 12-2 win over Elman AGHAYEV (AZE), the U17 champion of Europe.

Ebrahim ELAHI (IRI) defeated Nikhil PILANAGOILA (IND) 5-4 in the 60kg semifinal. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

At 60kg, Bilol SHARIP UULU (KGZ) will look to add a world title to his Asian gold. But for that, he will have to beat Ebrahim ELAHI (IRI) who defeated Nikhil PILANAGOILA (IND) 5-4 in a thrilling semifinal.

Sharip Uulu battled it past Taiga OGINO (JPN) 7-2 in the semifinal.

Iran could have had a third finalist but Domenic MUNARETTO (USA) defeated Asian silver medalist Amirmohammad NAVAZI (IRI), 8-2, in the semifinal. He will now face Bashir VERDIYEV (AZE) for the gold after the Azerbaijan wrestler pinned Constantin RUSU (MDA).

Raul CASO (ITA) will look to become Italy's first U17 world champion in freestyle after 39 years after he entered the 71kg final against Joseph SEALEY (USA).

Caso looked a formidable force in Rome and backed by the home fans, he managed to pull off a close 2-1 win against Aghanazar NOVRUZOV (AZE). But Sealey won't be an easy opponent. He has outscored his opponents 43-1 in the four bouts including an 11-0 win over Razmik YEPREMYAN (ARM) in the semifinals.

Musza ARSUNKAEV (HUN) won the 92kg semifinal against Erfan ALIZADEH (IRI), 7-4. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

The final gold medal bout pair includes returning bronze medalist Kamil KURUGLIYEV (KAZ) and Musza ARSUNKAEV (HUN). Going a step further from his '21 run, Kamil KURUGLIYEV (KAZ) managed to beat Maxwell MCENELLY (USA), 12-2, in the semifinals and reach the final.

Musza ARSUNKAEV (HUN), looking to become Hungary's first freestyle champion at U17 Worlds after 1989, defeated Erfan ALIZADEH (IRI), 7-4, in the other semifinal.

RESULTS

48kg
GOLD: Vasif BAGHIROV (AZE) df. Christian CASTILLO (USA), 5-3

BRONZE: Lalit KUMAR (IND) df. Ramil RASSIM (KAZ), 10-0
BRONZE: Arshia HADDADI (IRI) df. Rassoul GALBOURAEV (FRA), 11-0

55kg
GOLD: Daryn ASKERBEK (KAZ) df. Jaxen FORREST (USA), 11-10

BRONZE: Husanboy USMONOV (UZB) df. Jannis REBHOLZ (GER), 10-0
BRONZE: Vaibhav PATIL (IND) df. Takuto OSEDO (JPN), 5-0

65kg
GOLD: Ilyas ISAYEV (AZE) df. Tyler KASAK (USA), 5-3

BRONZE: Goga OTINASHVILI (GEO) df. Aikyn BOLATULY (KAZ), 8-6
BRONZE: ANKIT (IND) df. Bohdan OLIINYK (UKR), 11-2

80kg
GOLD: Sachin MOR (IND) df. Reza SOLEIMANIAN (IRI), 6-3

BRONZE: Zackary RYDER (USA) df. Muhammadamin ABDULOEV (TJK), 8-0
BRONZE: Alexandru BORS (MDA) df. Yehor HOROKH (UKR), 4-1

110kg
GOLD: Koy HOPKE (USA) df. Levan LAGVILAVA (FRA), 11-6

BRONZE: Khikmatullo KURBONOV (UZB) df. Ramini GULITASHVILI (GEO), 3-2
BRONZE: Jaspooran SINGH (IND) df. Mohammadreza LOTFI (IRI), 4-0

Semifinals

45kg
GOLD: Domenic MUNARETTO (USA) vs. Bashir VERDIYEV (AZE)

SF 1: Domenic MUNARETTO (USA) df. Amirmohammad NAVAZI (IRI), 8-2
SF 2: Bashir VERDIYEV (AZE) df. Constantin RUSU (MDA), via fall

51kg
GOLD: Luke LILLEDAHL (USA) vs Mohammad Reza ASADI (IRI)

SF 1: Luke LILLEDAHL (USA) df. Nurdanat AITANOV (KAZ), 4-1
SF 2: Mohammad Reza ASADI (IRI) df. Elman AGHAYEV (AZE), 12-2

60kg
GOLD: Ebrahim ELAHI (IRI) vs. Bilol SHARIP UULU (KGZ)

SF 1: Ebrahim ELAHI (IRI) df. Nikhil PILANAGOILA (IND), 5-4
SF 2: Bilol SHARIP UULU (KGZ) df. Taiga OGINO (JPN), 7-2

71kg
GOLD: Joseph SEALEY (USA) vs Raul CASO (ITA)

SF 1: Joseph SEALEY (USA) df. Razmik YEPREMYAN (ARM), 11-0
SF 2: Raul CASO (ITA) df. Aghanazar NOVRUZOV (AZE), 2-1

92kg
GOLD: Kamil KURUGLIYEV (KAZ) vs Musza ARSUNKAEV (HUN)

SF 1: Kamil KURUGLIYEV (KAZ) df. Maxwell MCENELLY (USA), 12-2
Sf 2: Musza ARSUNKAEV (HUN) df. Erfan ALIZADEH (IRI), 7-4

#WrestleRome

Russian Women Win Team Title on Back of Four Individual Gold Medalists

Friday, February 14, 2020 - 21:09 By Eric Olanowski

ROME, Italy (February 13) --- Natalia VOROBEVA (RUS) stuck Maria SELMAIER (GER) in the short-lived 72kg finals and closed out the Russian Federation’s run to the team title with a fourth women’s wrestling gold medal.

Vorobeva, the reigning world champion at 72kg, joined fellow Russians Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (RUS), Khanum VELIEVA (RUS) and Ekaterina BUKINA (RUS) atop the continental podium after her win via fall on Friday night.

Russia (190 points) won the women’s wrestling team title 35 points ahead of the defending champions, Ukraine (155 points). Belarus rounded out the top-three in the women's race with 97 points.

Vorobeva, Russia's women's captain, said being cool and confident helped them win the team title. "The team was so successful because our girls are really cool. They started to believe in themselves. In general, our team is very cool, friendly, strong and ready to win."

Vorobeva sealed up Russia’s fourth gold of the tournament with a fall in 85 seconds of the opening period against Selmaier and won her third European title. After securing the fall, the two-time world champion said, "Yesterday, I couldn’t pin my rival, so today I was a bit unsure that I could keep her pinned. The position was a bit uncomfortable, but when I caught her head, I was sure it was gonna work."

She’ll now move up to the Olympic weight of 76kg for a run at a potential third Olympic medal. She won gold in London and silver in Rio.

Vorobeva’s move leaves the Russian coaching staff with a tough decision to make before the European Qualifier. Do they stick with Bukina who just won the 76kg title, or do they go with Vorobeva, who’ll be moving up from the non-Olympic weight of 72kg?

On Thursday, Bukina was asked about where her European title win at 76kg puts her in the race to represent Russia at the Olympic Games. She said, “It depends on who will be in better shape. Right now, she is wrestling in the other weight category, but we will decide later when it’s closer to the Olympics. It’s too early to talk about it.”

When Vorobeva was asked about the log jam between herself and Bukina at 76kg, she said, "I gave Bukina this place and it's good for her that she used her chance. But if there is a need for me to wrestle at 76kg, we'll both go on the mat, wrestle and see who is the best."

Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR) won her second European title with a win over Jessica BLASZKA (NED) (Photo: Gabor Martin)

World Champions Kazldzinskaya and Tkach Ostaphuk Win European Golds on Friday Night
World champions Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR) and Yuliia TKACH OSTAPCHUK (UKR) added European titles to their resumes with wins on Friday night in Rome.

Kaladzinskaya, a two-time world champion, denied Jessica BLASZKA (NED) the opportunity to become the Netherlands’ first-ever women’s wrestling European champion and now owns as many European titles as world golds. "I think that when something happens once, it might not happen again. If something happens twice, it means that it would happen for the third time as well," Kaladzinskaya said about evening her world and continental gold medal count.

Yuliia TKACH OSTAPCHUK (UKR) edged fellow world champion Inna TRAZHUKOVA (RUS) in the 62kg finals and won her fourth European gold medal. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

Tkach Ostaphuk won the low-scoring battle against fellow world champion Inna TRAZHUKOVA (RUS) and claimed her fourth European title. "It was the final match for the gold medal and any mistake could have been fatal. I had to wrestle well to achieve success," said Tkach Ostaphuk.

In the 62kg finals, she trailed 1-0, but after a pair of second-period inactivity points, Tkach Ostaphuk handed Ukraine their lone women’s wrestling title of the tournament.

"I knew it would be difficult. It’s not the first year we've been wrestling together. We know each other very well and it's difficult to wrestle when you have known your rival for a long time," said Tkach Ostaphuk. "I think the luckiest one has won tonight. Well, actually, the one who was stronger won tonight."

After stepping off the podium, Tkach Ostaphuk was asked what it feels like to hold her fourth European gold medal. She said, "I am so happy because it’s my 30’th birthday this year, and it feels like I have already been an athlete for a century. It’s a pleasure to win and to prove that I am the best in this weight category."

Tkach Ostaphuk will travel back to Ukraine to train before heading to Budapest, Hungary, to try to qualify for the Tokyo Olympic Games. In order to earn a berth to the Olympic Games, Tkach Ostaphuk said she needs to enjoy the moment. "I just need to step on the mat, wrestle and enjoy it. I hope I will be able to qualify for the Olympics, those will be my 4th Olympic Games, I would finally like to win a medal so that my sporting career will have a nice ending."

Grace BULLEN (NOR) is the first women's wrestler from Norway to win two European titles. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Bullen First Norwegian Woman to win Two European Titles
Grace BULLEN (NOR) became the first Norwegian woman to win two European titles after bulldozing Alina AKOBIIA (UKR) in the 57kg finals. “It’s awesome. I like that I can make history and make the path for younger generation wrestlers in Norway,” Bullen said about her history-making performance.

Bullen stopped five Ukrainian shots in the opening period and capitalized on the fifth defensive stop with a counter-offensive takedown. She transitioned into a gut wrench, and after trailing 1-0 for nearly the entire first period, she ended up leading by three points.

The second period was a somewhat dull one. Bullen stopped Akobiia’s high crotch attempt and tossed her to her back with a whip over. She held her Ukrainian opponent on her back for the final two minutes of the period and claimed the gold medal with the 6-1 victory.

Bullen knew it was risky to try to adjust her grip, so she stayed put and watched the clock expire. “I was thinking about controlling (the fall). My grip could easily fall out and we’d probably have to go (on our feet) again.” And she didn't want that, She’d rather play it safe. “Just knowing you can count down to a win is a good thing, and it’s safe that way. I’d rather be safe than sorry.”

Bullen plans to wrestle at the European qualifier in March then hopefully to the Tokyo Olympic Games later this year. And to do that, Bullen said it needs to be herself. “First of all, I have to get to the Olympics. To do that, I have to be myself. I want to impress people with my wrestling and make it interesting for people to watch. If I do that, I’ll win matches, and I’ll get there.”

Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL) stopped Elis MANOLOVA (AZE) from repeating as European champion. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

Hristova Stops Manolova from Repeating as European Champion
Defending European champions had a difficult night on Thursday, going 0-3 in gold-medal matches. On Friday, their luck was eerily similar, as Mimi HRISTOVA (BUL) stopped Elis MANOLOVA (AZE) from defending her European crown from 2019.

Hristova and Manolva combined to score three points in the first five and a half minutes of the bout, but a late scramble that ended in an awkward flurry lit the score up with six additional points. Hristova went from leading 2-1 to ending the match with Manolva on her back while controlling the 6-3 advantage.

The European Championships resume tomorrow at 11:30 (local time) and can be followed live on www.unitedworldwrestling.org.

RESULTS
53kg
GOLD - Vanesa KALADZINSKAYA (BLR) df. Jessica BLASZKA (NED), 3-1
BRONZE - Annika WENDLE (GER) df. Suzanna Georgiana SEICARIU (ROU), via fall
BRONZE - Stalvira ORSHUSH (RUS) df. Katarzyna KRAWCZYK (POL), 6-0

57kg
GOLD - Grace Jacob BULLEN (NOR) vs. Alina AKOBIIA (UKR), 6-1
BRONZE - Sara Johanna LINDBORG (SWE) df. Marina SIMONYAN (RUS), 7 - 4
BRONZE - Iryna KURACHKINA (BLR) df. Alyona KOLESNIK (AZE), 4-1

62kg
GOLD - Yuliia TKACH OSTAPCHUK (UKR) df. Inna TRAZHUKOVA (RUS), 2-1
BRONZE - Taybe Mustafa YUSEIN (BUL) df. Mariana CHERDIVARA ESANU (MDA), 12 - 0
BRONZE - Tetiana OMELCHENKO (AZE) df. Veranika IVANOVA (BLR), 4-0

65kg
GOLD - Mimi Nikolova HRISTOVA (BUL) df. Elis MANOLOVA (AZE), 6-3
BRONZE - Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) df. Kriszta Tunde INCZE (ROU), 8-0
BRONZE - Mariia KUZNETSOVA (RUS) df. Petra Maarit OLLI (FIN), 8-4

72kg
GOLD - Natalia VOROBEVA (RUS) df. Maria SELMAIER (GER), via fall
BRONZE - Catalina AXENTE (ROU) df. Enrica RINALDI (ITA), 5-1
BRONZE - Alina BEREZHNA STADNIK MAKHYNIA (UKR) df. Merve PUL (TUR), via fall

Azerbaijan spoils USA party with 2 golds at U17 Worlds

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Russian Women Win Team Title on Back of Four Individual Gold Medalists