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

#WrestleZagreb

World Championships 2025 Day 8 Live Blog: GR 63kg, 67kg, 87kg

Saturday, September 20, 2025 - 08:39 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (September 20) -- The World Championships are close to its end with the final full day of action on Saturday. Three packed weight classes -- 63kg, 67kg and 87kg -- go on the mat.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 7 RESULTS

12:42: Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) gives up the first passivity point to Payton JACOBSON (USA) at 87kg, but does not allow a turn in par terre. When his chance comes in the second period, Komarov takes advantage and gut wrenches Jacobson over. An unsuccessful challenge for who-knows-what gives Komarov another point, and he gains a late stepout to win 5-1.

12:40: European champion David LOSONCZI (HUN) uses his early 4-0 lead as a cushion to beat local favorite Ivan HUKLEK (CRO) 4-3 at 87kg. He scored a turn from par terre and stepout to get the 4-0 lead before defending that in the second period.

12:34: Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ) gets the roll in par terre against Vigen NAZARYAN (ARM) in the first period of their 87kg clash, then holds steady in the bottom in the second period. That puts last year's world U20 champion into the quarterfinals with a 3-1 win.

12:25: Paris Olympic and 2023 world silver medalist Alireza MOHMADI (IRI) trails 3-1 going into the second period against Daniel ALEKSANDROV (BUL). But he rectifies the situation quickly, getting behind and then launching a beautiful 4-point throw. Mohmadi gets a chance at par terre and repeats the 4-pointer. Another throw is not executed as well, but gives him a 1-point stepout and an 11-3 win and a spot in the 87kg quarterfinals.

12:15: Asian silver medalist Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) sticks Kyotaro SOGABE (JPN) to his back off the whistle for a 4-point takedown at 67kg. As he works for a fall, Beishekeev stands up and slams Sogabe down for a 4-point throw, ending the match 8-0 in 1:30. That avenged a loss by fall to Sogabe in the first round at the 2023 Asian Championships, where Sogabe took the silver.

12:14: Tsuchika SHIMOYAMADA (AUS), a former Asian champion who has made the rare move for a Japanese of changing his national affiliation to Australia, shows he's still got it. The 30-year-old takes Gjete PRENGA (ALB) down to his back for 4, then sends him flying for a 4-point throw to win their 67kg clash 8-0 in 39 seconds.

12:10: European champion and Olympic bronze medalist Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) is taken into the second period by Neiser MARIMON HIDALGO (VEN) at 67kg, albeit with a 3-0 lead, but ducks under for a takedown, then launches a slick 4- point throw for a 9-0 win in 3:52.

12:07: Luis ORTA (CUB), after a four-pointer, gets the par terre and two turns to win Maksym LIU (UKR) to win 9-0. Ukraine corner challenges asking for the last turn to be cancelled but it is valid and the challenge is lost, giving another point to Orta.

12:03: Daniial AGAEV (UWW), a 2024 world U23 bronze medalist, has a 2-point throw after a takedown annulled on challenge, but comes back in par terre with a trap-arm roll for a 5-0 lead over European bronze medalist Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) at 67kg. In the second period, Khetsuriani charges to a stepout. then gets a chance at par terre. but Agaev resists, and he walks off a 5-2 winner.

11:51: Paris Olympic 67kg champion Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI), who added a second straight Asian title earlier this year and is aiming for his first senior world title, has a challenging opening match in former world champion Sebastian NAD (SRB). Esmaeili scores first by successfully challenging for a singlet-grabbing foul, then muscles Nad down for a takedown. A passivity point gives him a 5-0 lead at the break. In the second period, Esmaeili spins behind for a takedown, then quickly gut wrenches for a 9-0 win.

11:35: Former world champion Leri ABULADZE (GEO) drops his opening bout to Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Sergey EMELIN (UWW), 1-1, on the basis of first-point criteria.

11:27: Milad ALIRZAEV (UWW) with a controlled 4-0 victory over Jianwen LUO (CHN) at 87kg. A position in par terre, a turn for two points and a stepout in his win.

11:21: Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ), world U20 champion in 2024, lifts Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) from par terre for a fine suplex for four points. Gobadze is cautioned for two points for a leg foul and the bout restarts in par terre. Yevloyev with a correct throw to finish the bout 9-1

11:17: Vigen NAZARYAN (ARM) held off an aggressive Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) in the final minute to win 1-1 at 87kg. Nazaryan got the first-point criteria

11:11: Paris Olympic silver medalist Alireza MOHMADI (IRI) needed a correct throw and a bodylock to takedown for a 5-1 victory over Hannes WAGNER (GER) at 87kg

11:07: Marcel STERKENBURG (NED), a world U23 silver medalist, starts his senior World Championships with a 4-1 victory over Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB). He scored a stepout to make it 1-1 before getting the par terre and leading 2-1. A turn from par terre extended his lead to 4-1, also the winning score.

11:05: Former European champion Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) gets a bloody lip early in his 87kg match with Soh SAKABE (JPN), but is otherwise untroubled in rolling to a 5-2 win. Two rolls from par terre gives him a 5-0 lead at the break. Sakabe gets a chance at par terre in the second period but hardly budges Komarov, although he gets a stepout in the final seconds.

11:00: Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) comes from 5-1 down to beat Hasan KILINC (TUR), 6-5, at 87kg. Kilic got a reverse lift throw for four points from par terre in the second period to lead 5-1 but Zhanyshov with setpouts and cautions against Kilinc to win.

10:55: Two-time world bronze medalist Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR) has little trouble disposing of Erion RAMLJAK (AUS) with an 8-0 victory at 87kg. Filchakov starts with a stepout, then reels off three exposures from par terre to end the proceedings in 1:46.

10:50: After Karlo KODRIC (CRO) ended the 11-year wait for a world medal for hosts Croatia, Ivan HUKLEK (CRO) is looking to add to that bronze medal. He wins with a 9-0 win over Patrik GORDAN (ROU) at 87kg

10:30: The 63kg, 67kg and 87kg wrestlers are set to take the mat on day eight of the World Championships in Zagreb.

Azerbaijan spoils USA party with 2 golds at U17 Worlds

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World Championships 2025 Day 8 Live Blog: GR 63kg, 67kg, 87kg