#WrestleUfa

Azerbaijan Stuns with 3 Wrestlers in Finals at #WrestleUfa

Monday, August 16, 2021 - 22:01 By Vinay Siwach

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UFA, Russia (August 16) – Two former world medalists were leading their nation's junior teams in Ufa but it was Jabrayil HASANOV's Azerbaijan that came out on top with three wrestlers reaching the final on the first day of the Junior World Championships Monday.

Abdulsalam GADISOV, the head coach of Russia, was disappointed with only two Russian wrestlers reaching the final out of the five possible in the freestyle weight classes. Iran and Turkey also had two wrestlers in the final while USA finished the lineup with one.

The Junior World Championships got underway with 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg, and 97kg weight classes with Azerbaijan dominating its semifinals.

Azerbaijan were led by a strong performance by U23 and Junior European champion Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) who denied Stanislav SVINOBOEV (RUS) a spot in the 70kg final with a 6-1 win.

Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE)Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) entered the 70kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

The former cadet world champion looked impressive throughout the day, winning his previous two bouts via technical superiority. He now has a chance to win his third title of the year.

“We came here to become champions. That’s the only goal I have,” Gadzhiev said. “All the opponents are really good, everything went well for me, we will keep working on our mistakes.”

He will be sure to not make any mistake when faces Erfan ELAHI (IRI), a silver medalist from the same cadet Worlds in 2019 as Gadzhiev won the gold in 65kg. He defeated Stanislav NOVAC (MDA) 8-3. He scored two stepouts to lead 2-0 but Novac scored a takedown.

Elahi then changed levels and scored a takedown and exposed Novac with an arm-trap to lead 6-2. Two more stepouts sealed the deal for him.

Another Azerbaijan-Iran bout will be held at 79kg as Mohammad NOKHODILARIMI (IRI) will take on Ashraf ASHIROV (AZE) in the final Tuesday.

Mohammad NOKHODILARIMI (IRI)Mohammad NOKHODILARIMI (IRI) defeated Gourav BALIYAN (IND) in the 79kg semifinals. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

While Nokhodilarimi had a strong 10-0 win over Gourav BALIYAN (IND) in the semifinal, Ashirov had some trouble before beating Makhambet NURZHAUBAYEV (KAZ) 11-3 in the last four.

Nokhodilarimi scored his 10-0 win in 3:31 seconds with a takedown and gut wrenches which gave him a 6-0 lead. His strength was far superior than Baliyan who gave up two more takedowns to lose.

In the other semifinal, Nurzhaubayev used a head lock to score two points and was ahead 4-3 but Ashirov came back strongly. He was awarded for caution and then he added a takedown and exposure to win 11-3.

But Ashirov said that wrestling the quarterfinal against Mukhammad ABDULLAEV (KGZ) was harder than the semifinal.

“The match with Kyrgyz wrestler was much harder than the semifinal,” he said. “I just felt a bit more responsibility

“My Iranian opponent is good, we will have to analyse his wrestling. With the help of God we will win the gold medal tomorrow.”

Russia also denied Azerbaijan a chance to qualify for another final as Ramazan BAGAVUDINOV (RUS) defeated Nuraddin NOVRUZOV (AZE) 7-0 in the semifinal at 57kg.The Russian has been guilty of underperforming at the international level but he stepped up his game Monday with a controlled win over Novruzov.

Ramazan BAGAVUDINOVRamazan BAGAVUDINOV (RUS) entered 57kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

He scored his first point via stepout before a double leg takedown gave him a 3-0 lead. A single-leg lift was converted into a takedown before he defended a double leg attack and countered for his own to win 7-0.

But he will face a dynamic wrestler in Muhammet KARAVUS (TUR) who has outscored his opponents 28-4 in the tournament so far. The former Euro cadet silver medalist wrestled Manvel KHNDZRTSYAN (ARM) in the semifinal and won 8-4.

Karavus began with a quick takedown and then showed some strong defence to counter the attacks from Khndzrtsyan and lead 6-0. In the second period, the Armenian shot a quick double leg and managed to get a takedown. He then went for a duck-under but Karavus was ready for it and exposed Khndzrtsyan to lead 8-2. A consolation takedown for the Armenian did not matter much.

“My opponent [Karavus] in the final match is a good wrestler,” Bagavudinov said. “He is very enduring and fast. I am pretty confident I don’t feel any pressure yet.”

Incidentally, Russia and Azerbaijan will face each other in the final at 65kg. Ziraddin BAYRAMOV (AZE) will wrestle Shamil MAMEDOV (RUS) Tuesday in what can be a mouthwatering clash.

Shamil MAMEDOVShamil MAMEDOV (RUS) defeated Seyedhassan EBADIMERMETI (IRI) in the semifinal. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Bayramov defeated Beau BARTLETT (USA) 6-2 to advance while Shamil MAMEDOV (RUS) had a tough day. He was trailing 0-5 against Seyedhassan EBADIMERMETI (IRI) before mounting a comeback and winning 14-8.

“I concentrated and won,” Mamedov said. “The semifinal was a bit tough. I was loosing 5-0, but then I pulled myself together and won it.”

On the other hand, after winning the European Championships, Bayramov wants to win his first World title as well.

“I am really excited becuase I was only European championships medalist and it’s the first time I’ll be in the world championship’s final. In final I’ll wrestle only for the gold medal,” Bayramov said.

The only final which does not have a name from Russia or Azerbaijan is the 97kg where Polat POLATCI (TUR) setup a final against Braxton AMOS (USA).

Polat POLATCI (TUR)Polat POLATCI (TUR) pulled off a big move at the buzzer against Ali ABDOLLAHI (IRI). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Polatci, son of Olympic champion Aydin POLATCI, scored a stunning exposure to beat the buzzer and claim a 9-8 win against Ali ABDOLLAHI (IRI). The Iran wrestler was leading throughout the bout and going into the last 10 seconds lead 8-7. But he dropped his guard in the final one second in which Polatci got an exposure from the chest lock. Abdollahi was calling for time expiration but when action finished there was still time left on the clock.

Polatci will face Amos who defeated DEEPAK (IND) 9-1 in a exciting way. Amos scored a takedown before a stepout and two more takedowns and win.

RESULTS: Freestyle

57kg
GOLD: Ramazan BAGAVUDINOV (RUS) vs Muhammet KARAVUS (TUR)

SF 1: Ramazan BAGAVUDINOV (RUS) df Nuraddin NOVRUZOV (AZE), 7-0
SF 2: Muhammet KARAVUS (TUR) df Manvel KHNDZRTSYAN (ARM), 8-4

65kg
GOLD: Ziraddin BAYRAMOV (AZE) vs Shamil MAMEDOV (RUS)

SF 1: Ziraddin BAYRAMOV (AZE) df Beau BARTLETT (USA), 6-2
SF 2: Shamil MAMEDOV (RUS) df Seyedhassan EBADIMERMETI (IRI), 14-8

70kg
GOLD: Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) vs Erfan ELAHI (IRI)

SF 1: Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) df Stanislav SVINOBOEV (RUS), 6-1
SF 2: Erfan ELAHI (IRI) df Stanislav NOVAC (MDA), 8-3

79kg
GOLD: Mohammad NOKHODILARIMI (IRI) vs Ashraf ASHIROV (AZE)

SF 1: Mohammad NOKHODILARIMI (IRI) df Gourav BALIYAN (IND), 10-0
SF 2: Ashraf ASHIROV (AZE) df Makhambet NURZHAUBAYEV (KAZ), 11-3

97kg
GOLD: Polat POLATCI (TUR) vs Braxton AMOS (USA)

SF 1: Polat POLATCI (TUR) df Ali ABDOLLAHI (IRI), 9-8
SF 2: Braxton AMOS (USA) df DEEPAK (IND), 9-1

Trailblazer Epp Mae retires as Estonia's top wrestler

Tuesday, January 28, 2025 - 13:16 By Vinay Siwach

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ESTONIA (January 28) -- European champion and two-time World Championships medalist Epp MAE (EST) announced her retirement earlier in January at an emotional press conference in Tallinn. She left her shoes on the mat, symbolizing retirement from wrestling.

The 32-year-old is Estonia's most successful wrestler in Women's Wrestling, winning gold at the European Championships in 2021 and silver medals in the 2017 and 2022 editions. She also has a bronze medal from 2019.

At the World Championships, Mae became the first Estonian wrestler to win a medal, enter the final, and even have two medals. She won silver in the 76kg in 2021, plus three bronze medals in 2015, 2019, and 2022.

"The day I announced my retirement was very emotional and hard because something so big in your life came to an end," Mae told UWW. "I knew that I was about to retire because I was expecting a baby. But it was difficult to stand in front of the people and say that this part of my life has ended, so announcing was harder than deciding it inside myself."

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Epp Mäe (@eppmae)

Mae is a two-time Olympian for Estonia. She made her Olympic debut at the 2016 Rio Games and finished 13th. She improved to eighth at the 2020 Tokyo Games. For the 2024 Paris Olympics, Mae tried qualifying in the 76kg weight class but failed to achieve that. Her last international competition was the World Olympic Qualifier in May in Istanbul.

"To be honest, I did not expect my career to be this long, as it is," she said. "I did not have any role models in female wrestling in Estonia when I was growing up. So I had no idea whether it was possible to earn money or live from wrestling and how far it was possible to go from my country. I dedicated my life and my career to wrestling as much as I could. An athlete should know it's time to step down. It aligned for me with a wish to start a family."

Epp MAE (EST)An emotional Epp MAE (EST) announcing her retirement in a wrestling club in Tallinn on January 9. (Photo: ERR / Siim Lõvi)

Mae took up wrestling after her father, a former wrestler, pushed her into the sport. However, there were no partners to train with and Mae did not have any national competitions. She even trained in judo and sumo just to get training.

When Estonia did start a national championship in women's wrestling, Mae dominated, winning it 12 times in her career. For other sports, she is a four-time Estonian sumo champion, a four-time Estonian beach wrestling champion, and has also been an Estonian judo champion on one occasion.

"I have always laughed that the population of Estonia is 1.3 million and I am one in a million to choose to do something like this and be successful," she said. "Coming from a small nation, it is not easy to break through to the top. Most likely you don't have training partners at home. you have to travel a lot away from your country and get to train at a level that you need to succeed."

Epp MAE (EST)Epp MAE (EST), red, wrestling at the 2014 World Championships in Tashkent. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Martin Gabor)

Internationally, Mae made her debut in 2007 at the U17 European Championships, winning a bronze medal in the 70kg weight class. She began her senior career at the Yasar Dogu in 2011 and won a silver medal at 72kg at the age of 18.

In 2012, Mae clinched the U20 European Championships and remains the only Estonian wrestler to win gold at the continental event at any age group. A decade later, she reached the final of the World Championships at 76kg, marking another historic landmark in Estonian wrestling.

"As I said there was no one in front of me to lead the way, I am happy that I went through everything to get to places and results that I managed to and kind of make a path for all the girls from Estonia who will ever wish or have this doubt whether it is possible to get that far," she said. "I am happy that they have a path already in front of them. I wish that they would want to go bigger and further than I did. I will be more than excited and happy if someone did do that."

Epp MAE (EST)Epp MAE (EST) wrestling in the 2021 World Championships final at 76kg in Oslo. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Tony Rotundo)

Reflecting on her career two-decade-long career, Mae did share her disappointment of not winning a medal at the Olympics but was happy to have achieved what she has for Estonia.

"My father recently told a journalist that what I did [in wrestling] was against the odds because we did not have all the possibilities and facilities a bigger team would have," she said. "So I think I did good in my career by achieving the results that I did. Little sad that I did not win a medal at the Olympics. But I can leave wrestling knowing that I gave everything. There is never going to be any doubt that what if I could have done this or that."

Now off the mat, Mae will concentrate on her family and follow the sport from afar.

"I will keep following wrestling and the wrestling friends I have made during the years. I will keep following them," she said. "For Estonia wrestling, I wish all the girls in different age groups we have right now will be motivated just to go as far as possible and always try to achieve the best for you. I will try to help Estonian wrestling as I can and I hope they will not stop developing Estonian female wrestling."