#WrestleSassari

Chamizo Closes Out Sassari With Gold in Home Country

By Eric Olanowski

SASSARI, Italy (May 25) – Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) capped off his run to a Sassari title in front of his home nation with a 6-4 come-from-behind win over tenth-ranked Daniyar KAISANOV (KAZ) in what was a battle of reigning 74kg continental champions. 

Chamizo used the support from the ruckus Italian crowd to push him past Kaisanov in the finals. “I’m so happy for (the fans). They support me; I needed that. I love the fans.” 

The Italian, who won the European Championships last month in Bucharest, Romania, found himself in a four-point hole against the reigning Asian champion after he surrendered a takedown and a leg lace -- but closed the Kazakh wrester’s lead to two points with a takedown of his own before the ending whistle of the first period sounded. 

In the second period, Chamizo picked up his offensive attack rate and gained the lead on criteria with an early two. The two-time world champion tacked on his second takedown of the period and third overall to take the 6-4 advantage into the final 30 seconds. The Italian fought off several attacks and hung on to win his first career Sassari gold medal, improving on his eighth-place finish from 2014. 

Chamizo also grabbed a massive come-from-behind win over 2014 world champion Khetik TSABOLOV (RUS) in the semifinals. The Italian erased a three-point second-period deficit by scoring a pair of takedowns to upend Russia's 2017 world runner-up, 5-4.

After the match, Chamizo said, “I’m focused. I’m not joking. That’s it, guys. I don’t want to talk about wins or loses. I want talk about training and staying focused.” 

Chamizo entered the Sassari as the fourth-ranked wrestler in the world with 56 points and will jump Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) and Jordan Ernest BURROUGHS (USA) after collecting 16 points for his gold-medal performance on Saturday. “I think competing is important. The reason for me competing is I need the points for the rankings,” said Chamizo. The Italian superstar will be the No. 2-ranked wrestler at 74kg sits four points behind reigning world champion Zaurbek SIDKOV (RUS) who has 76 points. 

In his finals interview, Chamizo said he plans to wrestle at the final Ranking Series event of the year, the Yasar Dogu. Depending on if Sidakov shows up and Chamizo medals, the Italian could head into the World Championships as the No. 1 seeded wrestler in the world. 

Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ)  was one of two wrestlers from Kazakhstan who won a Sassari gold medal on Saturday night. (Photo: Gabor Martin) 

Kazakhstan Wins Team Titles with Seven Medalists 
Kazakhstan, who had seven medalists, won the team title 15 points ahead of second place Russia. Rassul KALIYEV and Nurkozha KAIPANOV were Kazakhstan’s two champions. They also won two silvers and three bronzes. 

Though he lost in the 61kg gold-medal bout, Rassul Kalyev was named champion after Iran’s Mohammadbagher YAKHKESHI got disqualified for failure to comply with United World Wrestling medal ceremony rules. In the 61kg Nordic-style bracket, Yakheshi closed out his day with a 4-1 record, including a 7-2 win over Rassul Kaliyev in the gold-medal bout – but the Iranian’s gold medal got revoked during the medal presentation ceremony for failure to cooperate with United World Wrestling’s medal ceremony procedures. 

Yakhkeshi took the podium not wearing the approved medal ceremony clothing. According to United World Wrestling’s rule book, wrestlers have to wear their countries tracksuit on the podium to receive their medal. Yakhkeshi, who was wearing short sleeves, was asked several times to comply with the rules but failed to do so, among many other things, which resulted in disqualification.

Therefore, Kalyev, Uladzislau ANDREYEU (BLR), and Rahul AWARE (IND) received bumps and finished in first through third, respectively. 

Kazakhstan's second champion came at the 70kg, where Nurkozha Kaipanov blanked George KOLIEV (BLR), 6-0 in the gold-medal match. Kaipanov scored two takedowns and a pair of stepouts to win his first career Ranking Series gold medal. 

Azamat TUSKAEV (RUS) only needed 77 seconds to pick up the fall over Canada's Darthe CAPELLAN’s (Photo: Gabor Martin)

Russia Wins Three Freestyle Golds; Finished Second in Team Race 
The Russian Federation finished in second place as a team with 147 points with three champions. Their three champions were Azamat TUSKAEV (RUS), Khalil AMINOV (RUS), and Pavel KRIVTSOV (RUS). 

The 57kg finals match was short lived and only lasted 77 seconds. Azamat Tuskaev scored a counter-offensive takedown off of Darthe CAPELLAN’s (CAN) double leg attempt, then quickly locked up a cradle and stuck the Canadian wrestler. 

Khalil Aminov gave Russia their second gold medal of the night with a 6-2 win over Galymzhan USSERBAYEV (KAZ). Aminov scored a pair of one-point stepouts and picked up a four-point double leg to win the 79kg gold-medal bout, 6-2. 

Russia’s third champion came at 125kg when Pavel Krivtsov scored a takedown with 1.7 seconds to defeat Daniel LIGETI (HUN). Krivtsov gained the 4-4 lead on criteria, then added a point for a failed Hungarian challenge and counter-offensive takedown as time expired to beat Ligeti, 7-4. 


Alireza KARIMIMACHIANI (IRI) was one of the three Iranian champions. (Photo: Gabor Martin) 

Karami Leads Iran To Third-Place Finish  
Had it not been for Mohammadbagher Yakheshi's 61kg gold medal getting revoked while he was on the podium, Iran would have had won four gold medals on Saturday. Either way, Ahmad BAZRIGHALEH (IRI), Alireza KARIMIMACHIANI (IRI), Hamed TALEBIZARRINKAMAR (IRI), won back-to-back-to-back titles at 86kg, 92kg, and 97kg respectively and helped Iran finish third as a team. 

In the 86kg finals, Ahmad Bazrighaleh pulled off the most improbable comebacks of the tournament, defeating Kazakhstan’s Azamat DAULETBEKOV in a 29-point shootout. Bazrighaleh was in danger of giving up a technical superiority win when his Kazakh opponent led 10-2 after the first period –- but the Iranian fought back and scored 17 unanswered points, outlasting Dauletbekov, 19-10.  

In the 92kg finals, returning world bronze medalist Alireza Karimimachiani muscled around Russia’s Batyrbek TCAKULOV (RUS) and captured the gold medal with a 7-2 victory. Karimimachiani scored his seven points off an exposure, three stepouts and a pair of brutality points. 

Hamed Talebizarrinkamar efficiently handled fellow Iranian Abbas Ali FOROUTANRAMI (IRI), 8-0 in the 97kg finals and won his first international gold medals since the 2011 Junior World Championships. 


Sonba GONGANE (IND) was down 6-1 and came back to beat No. 16 Magomedrasul IDRISOV (RUS), 9-8. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

Gongane Wins 65kg Title After Being Down 6-1
In one of the most exciting matches of the night, India’s Sonba GONGANE (IND) scored the 9-8 come-from-behind win over Russian Ivan Yariguin champion and 16th-ranked Magomedrasul IDRISOV in the 65kg gold-medal bout. 

Gongane trailed 6-1 at one point in the match, but continued to claw back, and ultimately gained the 7-6 outright lead with 120 seconds left. The Indian again found himself behind when the Russian picked up a takedown - but Gongane stayed on the attack and picked up a pair of one-point exchanges to win the match, 9-8.

Wrestling resumes tomorrow with the Sardinia Beach Wrestling Matteo Pellicone Memorial. 

RESULTS 

TEAM SCORES
GOLD – Kazakhstan (162 points)
SILVER – Russia (147 points)
BRONZE – Iran (111 points)
Fourth - India (90 points) 
Fifth – Canada (73 points)

57kg
GOLD - Azamat TUSKAEV (RUS) df. Darthe CAPELLAN (CAN), via fall 
BRONZE - Nader Ahmad HAJIAGHANIASAMAKOUSHI (IRI) df. Changjun PARK (KOR), 6 - 0
BRONZE - Givi DAVIDOVI (ITA) df. Patrick James HEBREARD (USA), 10-0 

61kg
GOLD - Rassul KALIYEV (KAZ) 
SILVER -  Uladzislau ANDREYEU (BLR)
BRONZE - Rahul AWARE (IND) 

65kg 
GOLD – Sonba Tanaji GONGANE (IND) df. Magomedrasul IDRISOV (RUS), 9-8 
BRONZE – Sayatbek OKASSOV (KAZ) df. Harphool HARPHOOL (IND), 14-3 
BRONZE - Junsik YUN (KOR) df. Quentin Jean-René STICKER (FRA), 5-0 

70kg
GOLD - Nurkozha KAIPANOV (KAZ) df. George KOLIEV (BLR), 6-0 
BRONZE - Yones Aliakbar EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI) df. Mihail Iliev GEORGIEV (BUL), 10-0 
BRONZE - Batyr BORJAKOV (TKM) df. Fares LAKEL (ALG), 9-4 

74kg
GOLD - Frank CHAMIZO MARQUEZ (ITA) df. Daniyar KAISANOV (KAZ), 6-4 
BRONZE - Miroslav Stefanov KIROV (BUL) df. Amit Kumar DHANKHAR (IND), 11-0
BRONZE - Khetik TSABOLOV (RUS) df. Andrei KARPACH (BLR), 12-6 

79kg 
GOLD - Khalil AMINOV (RUS) df. Galymzhan USSERBAYEV (KAZ), 6-2 
BRONZE - Fateh BENFERDJALLAH (ALG) df. Parveen RANA (IND), via fall 
BRONZE - Dmytrii TKACHENKO (UKR) df. Sahergeldi SAPARMYRADOV (TKM), via fall

86kg 
GOLD - Ahmad Yousef BAZRIGHALEH (IRI) vs. Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ), 19-10 
BRONZE -  Akhmed AIBUEV (FRA) df. Dovletmyrat ORAZGYLYJOV (TKM), 14 - 4
BRONZE - Deepak PUNIA (IND) df. Boris MAKOEV (SVK)

92kg (Single Bronze) 
GOLD - Alireza KARIMIMACHIANI (IRI) df. Batyrbek TCAKULOV (RUS), 8-4
BRONZE -  Arashk Mohammadkazem MOHEBI (IRI) vs. Nurgali NURGAIPULY (KAZ), 7-3  

97kg 
GOLD - Hamed Delavar TALEBIZARRINKAMAR (IRI) df. Abbas Ali FOROUTANRAMI (IRI), 8-0 
BRONZE - Abraham de Jesus CONYEDO RUANO (ITA) df. Bakdaulet ALMENTAY (KAZ), 2 - 0
BRONZE - Igor Alekseevitch OVSIANNIKOV (RUS) df. Batzul ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL)

125kg 
GOLD - Pavel KRIVTSOV (RUS) df. Daniel LIGETI (HUN), 7-4 
BRONZE - Oleg BOLTIN (KAZ) df. Grant Michael ROBINSON (USA), 12-0 
BRONZE - Frédérick CHOQUETTE (CAN) df. Aly BARGHOUT (CAN), 3-0 

#wrestlebishkek

Asian Championships Day 1: Freestyle Finals Set

By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 11) -- The Asian Championships kick off in Bishkek with five Freestyle weight classes. World champion Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) will look to defend his 97kg title while a rematch of the Asian Games final at 65kg between Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) and Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) is on the cards.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | ASIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS PREVIEW

Here are the final bouts for the evening session

57kg - Kento YUMIYA (JPN) vs. UDIT (IND)

65kg - Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) vs.  Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL)

70kg - Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI) vs. Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN)

74kg - Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) vs. Byambadorj ENKHBAYAR (MGL)

97kg - Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) vs. Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ)

14:41: Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) put on a display worthy of a reigning world champion when he forged an 8-2 victory in the 97kg semifinals over two-time former Asian champion Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI). In what could be arguably called the de facto gold-medal match, Tazhudinov scored a double-leg takedown in the first period, then repeated it in the second. Mohammadian used a low single to pick up a leg and gain a stepout, with a caution point tacked on. But Tazhudinov gained a 2-point exposure as he fought off a counter lift on a takedown attempt, then added a counter 2 of his own for the final points.

14:35: 92kg world champion Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ), who is wrestling at 97kg for the second time in his career, gets a low single over VICKY (IND) for the first takedown and leads 2-0. He exposes Vicky in the danger zone to make it 4-0. A double leg for four before he scores another four using the underhook throw and wins 13-0. Aitmukhan moves into the 97kg final.

14:29: Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) rolls to a 6-0 lead over ROHIT (IND) in the 65kg semifinal as he continues to use his underhook to great effect and get a takedown. A stepout is all the action in the second period as Tumur Ochir wins 7-0 to enter the final against Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI).

14:27: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) is looking good in his quest for a three-peat at 65kg, having little trouble putting away Abbos RAKHMONOV (UZB)  10-0 in their semifinal clash. The former world champion had a 4-point takedown in the first period and led 9-0 going into second, where he finished off his opponent with a stepout for a 10-0 win at 3:29.

14:19: Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) scores a takedown with a slick ankle pick and goes right into a roll to take a 4-0 lead against Magomet EVLOEV (TJK) in their 79kg semifinal. The Iranian pads the lead to 9-0 before the break, but it would not be until there were 45 seconds left that he would finish the match with a takedown off a counter for an 11-0 win.

14:15: Byambadorj ENKHBAYAR (MGL) puts Mongolia in the 79kg final with a 10-0 technical superiority win over Asomiddin KHASANOV (UZB). Enkhbayar led 6-0 after a takedown and two turns. He adds a takedown and turn in the second period to set up the final against Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI)

14:07: Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI) continued his quest for gold in his first appearance at the senior Asian Championships with a solid 8-3 victory over  Mustafo AKHMEDOV (TJK) in the 70kg semifinals. The two-time world medalist scored two takedowns in the first period, following the first one with a gut wrench. He added another takedown in the second period to all but clinch the victory.

14:00: Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) hits a low single on ABHIMANYOU (IND) and elevates for a throw but the Indian doesn't land in danger. Aoyagi goes behind for a takedown and scores turn to lead 4-0. A front headlock exposure to add two more points and a counter takedown to make it 8-0. Aoyagi with a turn to finish 10-0 and win the 70kg semifinal.

13:54: Kento YUMIYA (JPN) hangs on for a nail-biting 4-2 win over Meirambak KARTBAY (KAZ) in the 57kg semifinals. Yumiya, who won Japan's qualifier for the World U23 Championships, scores a low single-leg takedown for the lone points of the first period. He then gives up an activity point, then a stepout with 32 seconds to go, which knots the score but keeps him ahead on criteria. Kartbay gets in on a driving takedown, but Yumiya reaches back to counter and somehow flips out of the situation and lands at the legs of Kartbay, who he then drives out for a stepout. An unsuccessful challenge makes it 4-2.

13:45: In the 57kg semifinal on Mat C, UDIT (IND) with a takedown just before the break to lead 2-1 against Kum Hyok KIM (PRK). The lead extends to 3-1 as Kim is put on the activity clock in the second period. But Kim gets exposure to lead 3-3 on criteria. Udit scores a reversal and takes back the lead 4-3. Kim with some solid attacks in the final minute but Udit hangs on for a win and enters the final.

13:40: Asian Games champion Tulga TUMUR OCHIR (MGL) with two passivity points and one stepout in the match to win 3-0 against Hyon Song HAN (PRK) and enter the semifinal against ROHIT (IND) at 65kg.

13:35: Two-time former champion Mohammadhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI) wastes little time in ousting Batzul ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL) in the 97kg quarterfinals in a rematch of the 2022 final won by the Iranian. Mohammadian scores a takedown, then rips off four gut wrenches back-and-forth for a 10-0 win in 2:23. Next up is Tazhudinov for a place in the final.

13:30: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) led 5-0 at the break against Seonho YOO (KOR) in the 65kg quarterfinal. He keeps Yoo at a distance in the second period to win 7-0.

13:23: Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) begins his 97kg quarterfinal against Hibiki ITO (JPN) with a takedown, then locks up the lower legs and twists him over for 2. A double-leg takedown, then an ankle pick for 2 made it 8-0. Ito, whose mother won an Olympic gold medal in volleyball for Japan, managed to take the match into the second period. But his shot at a takedown was met with a counter lift that ended the match at 3:25

13:13: Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) moved closer to a possible showdown with fellow world champion Akhmed TAZHUDINOV (BRN) when he easily disposed of Makhsud VEYSALOV (UZB) 11-0 to advance to the 97kg semifinals. 

13:07: In a clash between current and past world bronze medalists, Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI) builds up a 6-0 lead, then fends off Alibek OSMONOV (KGZ) and the partisan crowd for a 9-4 victory to advance to the 70kg semifinals.

13:07: In a clash between current and past world bronze medalists, Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI) builds up a 6-0 lead, then fends off Alibek OSMONOV (KGZ) and the partisan crowd for a 9-4 victory to advance to the 70kg semifinals. 

13:01: Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN), a bronze medalist in 2023, finishes up an 11-0 victory over Begijon KULDASHEV (UZB) with a pair of front body lock throws to gain a place in the 70kg semifinals.

12:50: Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) hangs to defeat Khidir SAIPUDNINOV (BRN) 5-4 to advance to the 79kg semifinals. Nokhodi put it into cruise control with a 5-0 lead, only to give up a pair of late takedowns and have to spend the final seconds fighting off a gut wrench attempt.

12:47: Kum Hyok PAK (PRK), an Asian cadet champion back in 2015, looks very sharp in ousting 2022 world bronze medalist Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL) at 57kg, winning 5-0 to set up a semifinal with UDIT (IND)

12:45: Kento YUMIYA (JPN), making his senior UWW debut, enters the semifinal at 57kg with a 10-1 win over Changjun PARK (KOR). He will wrestle Meirambek KARTBAY (KAZ) for a place in the final.

12:40: Almaz SHAMBEKOV (KGZ), who was aiming to improve on his silver medal from a year ago at 57kg, will now have to settle for bronze at best. He led 4-0 more than halfway through the second period of his quarterfinal against UDIT (IND), only to give up a pair of takedowns to fall behind on criteria, then completely fall apart in being dealt a 6-4 loss. 

12:31: The quarterfinals have begun on Mat B, where Meirambek KARTBAY (KAZ) prevails 3-0 over Nodirbek JUMANAZAROV (UZB) at 57kg. The top-seeded Kartbay gets an activity point in the first period and a spin-behind takedown in the second to book a place in the semifinals.

12:30: Abbos RAKHMONOV (UZB) had to dig deep to get his 4-2 win over Muhammad ABDULLAH (PAK). The Pakistan wrestler was leading 2-2 on criteria but Rakhmanov pushed him out of the zone to take a 3-2 lead with 2 minutes remaining. Abdullah got a front headlock exposure in the last second but a review showed that the time was over before he could finish the move.

12:05: Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ), the world champion at 92kg who has moved up to 97kg and is attempting to capture a third straight Asian gold, gets a takedown in each period en route to a 6-0 victory over Andrei ARONOV (KGZ). 

11:51: Alibek OSMONOV (KGZ) got a bit creative in his victory over Shijian ZHOU (CHN) at 79kg. Getting in on a double, he had his head between the Chinese's legs. No matter, he managed to stand up, then hit a roll at the edge for 4. He went on to win 11-3. His reward is a quarterfinal meeting with world bronze medalist Amirmohammad YAZDANI (IRI). 

11:39: Ryunosuke KAMIYA (JPN), the 2022 world U20 silver medalist, ekes out a 3-0 victory at 79kg over Parvinder SINGH (IND) to book a spot in the quarterfinals

11:35: In a 79kg thriller on Mat A, Adilet MARATBAEV (KGZ) is trailing 4-3 when he pulls off a desperate front body lift to turn Magomet EVLOEV (TJK). But Evloev went with the flow and got behind at the buzzer for 1, putting him ahead 5-5 on criteria. A Kyrgyz challenge is lost, making Evloev a 6-5 winner. 

11:35: In a 79kg thriller on Mat A, Adilet MARATBAEV (KGZ) is trailing 4-3 when he pulls off a desperate front body lift to turn Magomet EVLOEV (TJK). But Evloev went with the flow and got behind at the buzzer for 1, putting him ahead 5-5 on criteria. A Kyrgyz challenge is lost, making Evloev a 6-5 winner.

11:28: The 79kg wrestlers are on the mat, and Khadir SAIPUNDINOV (BRN) overwhelms Gurbanmyrat OVEZBERDIYEV TKM) 11-0 to earn a quarterfinal clash with top-seed and world bronze medalist Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI). 

11:28: A rematch of the U20 Asian Championships from last year between UDIT (IND) and Ebrahim KHARI (IRI) with the Indian again breaking the Iranian wrestler in the second period. Khari raced to a 6-1 lead but Udit scored two takedowns and got a point for caution. Khari stormed back with another takedown to lead 8-6 but Udit with a double-leg attack and exposure to hang on for a 10-8 win at 57kg.

11: 21: Kum Hyok (PRK), the first wrestler from the DPR Korea to take the mat as the nation returns to the Asian Championships for the first time since 2019, scores two second-period takedowns in a come-from-behind 4-2 victory over Aiaal BELOLYUBSKII (TJK) at 57kg.

11:19: Zanabazar ZANDANBUD (MGL), a 2022 world bronze medalist, builds up a 6-0 lead in his qualification match at 57kg against Muhammad BILAL (PAK), then gives up a nice single-leg takedown. Zandanbud scores a takedown to go into the break up 8-2. That's how it ends and Zandanbud is into the quarterfinals.

11:10: World U20 bronze medalist Nodirbek JUMANAZAROV (UZB) starts the action on Mat A with a one-sided victory over Kabe MATJANOV (TKM). He will next face top seed Meiranbek KARTBAY (KAZ).

11:00: Welcome to a very sunny day in Bishkek for the Asian Championships. Wrestlers in 57kg, 65kg, 70kg, 79kg and 97kg will be on the mat for the day.