Chamizo Closes Out Sassari With Gold in Home Country

Saturday, May 25, 2019 - 19:18 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

#WrestleZagreb

World Championships 2025 Greco-Roman Preview

Tuesday, September 9, 2025 - 14:16 By Vinay Siwach

ZAGREB, Croatia (September 9) -- The last time the Azerbaijan Greco-Roman team did not finish on the podium in the team rankings was back in 2019. Since then, it has remained in the top three for four consecutive editions of the World Championships, including two first-place finishes in 2023 and 2024.

The country will once again be one of the toughest to beat at the World Championships, bringing some of the strongest wrestlers to Zagreb to defend its team title.

Five world medalists, including three champions, and four former European medalists, including two champions, make up Azerbaijan's lineup, led by Olympic and world medalist Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE). World champions Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) at 55kg, Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) at 60kg, and Ulvu GANIZADE (AZE) at 72kg will be key to the team's success.

Supporting them are former European champion Murad MAMMADOV (AZE) at 63kg, world silver medalist Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) at 77kg, European champion Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) at 82kg, European medalist Islam ABBASOV (AZE) at 87kg, former European U23 champion Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE) at 97kg, and former European medalist Beka KANDELAKI (AZE) at 130kg.

The biggest rival for Azerbaijan will be Iran which is also bringing a strong team to Zagreb. With Olympic champions Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) at 97kg, Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) at 67kg, and Olympic silver medalist Alireza MOHAMADI (IRI) at 87kg, Iran also has world champion and Olympic bronze medalist Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) who is looking to defend his 130kg gold.

Other names include world U20 champions Payam AHMADI (IRI) at 55kg, Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) at 60kg, world U23 champion Danial SOHRABI (IRI) at 72kg, and Zagreb Open champion Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) at 82kg.

Azerbaijan's Golden Trio

Azerbaijan's three world champions from 2024 -- Azizli, Mammadli, and Ganizade -- will face a stronger field than last year.

Azizli, a four-time world champion at 55kg, is the favorite. However, his loss to Emin SEFERSHAEV (UWW) in the European Championships final puts an asterisk on that tag.

Iran will send world U20 champion Payam AHMADI (IRI) over Poya DAD MARZ (IRI) after the former won a selection bout. It will be interesting to see how the young wrestler adjusts to the senior level. Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO) and Taiga ONISHI (JPN) are also potential podium finishers at 55kg.

At 60kg, Mammadli aims for back-to-back world titles. After winning at 63kg last year, he has returned to his preferred 60kg, where he claimed European gold earlier this year. Mammadli is known for his dominant par terre wrestling, making it tough for opponents to turn him from that position.

Despite his advantage, Mammadli will face challenges in Zagreb. A European final rematch against Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) is likely, as Tibilov has troubled him in the past but never defeated him. Both could meet in the semifinals.

Paris Olympic bronze medalist Se Ung RI (PRK) will also be in contention for a medal, a feat DPR Korea has not achieved in Greco-Roman since 2015.

Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) is aiming for success at the senior level after winning gold at the 2024 U20 World Championships. He has the potential to challenge the top wrestlers. Former world champion Victor CIOBANU (MDA) will also be looking to regain his momentum, while Asian silver medalist Kaito INABA (JPN) will make his World Championships debut.

Ganizade, the third world champion from Azerbaijan, faces a tough road at 72kg, with two other world champions and an Olympic silver medalist in the mix. Experienced wrestlers like Selcuk CAN (TUR) and Danial SOHRABI (IRI) also add to the competition.

Ganizade narrowly defeated former world champion Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) 3-2 in last year’s final, and they are likely to meet again. Ghanem, who won gold at the European Championships, has been a consistent contender.

Ali ARSALAN (SRB), another world champion in this weight class, has been inconsistent. He earned a bronze last year after losing to Ghanem in the semifinals.

Parviz NASIBOV (UKR), a two-time Olympic silver medalist, still seeks his first world medal and will look to change that in Zagreb.

An incredible storyline is unfolding at 67kg as Taishi NARIKUNI (JPN) attempts to win gold. Narikuni, who won gold at 70kg in Freestyle in 2023, now hopes to add a Greco-Roman world title to his list of achievements.

Three-Way Battle at 67kg

Esmaeili, the biggest gold-medal favorite, won gold at the Asian Championships. He has never wrestled at a senior Worlds but is a former world U20 champion. He won gold at the Asian Championships with a 3-0 win over Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ). He will now look to win his first world medal.

Like Esmaeili, Jafarov has also never won gold at the World Championships. He missed his chance in 2023 after losing to Tokyo Olympic champion Luis ORTA (CUB) in the final. Jafarov went on to win bronze at the Paris Olympics and will be a favorite in Zagreb.

Orta has defeated both Esmaeili and Jafarov but lost to the Iranian in Paris. He will be looking to add a second world gold to his name despite winning bronze in Paris.

Saravi: From Challenger to Leader

For years, Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) has been a challenger to Artur ALEKANYAN (ARM) in the 97kg weight class. But after defeating Aleksanyan at the Paris Olympics and seeing the Armenian lose at the European Championships, Saravi has emerged as the new leader in the 97kg class. Now, Aleksanyan, a four-time world champion, will try to reclaim his place at the top of the podium.

Both Saravi and Aleksanyan lost to Gabriel ROSILLO (CUB) at the 2023 World Championships -- Saravi in the semifinals and Aleksanyan in the final. While Rosillo's surprise victory in 2023 shocked many, it's unlikely he'll repeat that, meaning Saravi vs Aleksanyan might be the final showdown in Zagreb.

The 97kg field also features Paris Olympic bronze medalist Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ), Kiryl MASKEVICH (UWW) [who moved up from 87kg this season], European silver medalist Lucas LAZOGIANIS (GER), and former world U23 champions Artur SARGSIAN (UWW) and Alex SZOKE (HUN).

Kusaka's Return

Nao KUSAKA (JPN), Olympic champion, returns for the first time since winning gold at the Paris Games, aiming to claim his first world title after falling short in 2023 to Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ). Kusaka is the favorite for gold but will face tough competition from Olympic silver medalist Demeu ZHADRAYEV (KAZ), who is seeded fifth. Both Kusaka and Zhadrayev could meet in the quarterfinals.

World champion and Paris bronze medalist Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) will try to avenge his loss to Kusaka, while Asian champion Aram VARDANYAN (UZB), who has been having a career resurgence, aims to add a world medal.

Other potential challengers include Robert FRITSCH (HUN), Yryskeldi MAKSATBEK UULU (KGZ), Alexandrin GUTU (MDA), Sergei KUTUZOV (UWW), and Alireza ABDEVALI (IRI), all of whom are capable of causing upsets.

Mohmadi’s Chance at 87kg

Though missing Olympic champion Semen NOVIKOV (BUL), the 87kg weight class remains highly competitive. Paris silver medalist Alireza MOHMADI (IRI), a favorite, is known for his excellent conditioning and ability to score from par terre.

Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN), the Paris bronze medalist, will also be in the mix for gold, capable of defeating anyone on his best day with his high-paced style and big throws.

Other threats include European champion David LOSONCZI (HUN), Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ), Asan ZHANYSHOV (KAZ), and Mukhammadkodir RASULOV (UZB).

At 130kg, Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) will aim to defend his 2023 world title after stunning Riza KAYAALP (TUR) in the final. Mirzazadeh is the favorite but faces competition from former world silver medalist Oscar PINO (CUB), European champion Sergei SEMENOV (UWW), age-group world champion Hamza BAKIR (TUR), and Pavel HLINCHUK (UWW).

63kg: Abuladze vs Kamal

The battle for 63kg gold could come down to Leri ABULADZE (GEO) and Kerem KAMAL (TUR). Kamal, the most improved wrestler of the year, has won Ranking Series golds and European gold after moving up from 60kg to 63kg.

Abuladze, the 2023 world gold medalist, will return to 63kg, aiming to defend his title after struggling at 67kg. His defense is at par with the best, but scoring from par terre will be key to his success.

Challengers include Asian and world U20 champion Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB), Mohammad KESHTKAR (IRI), Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA), Murad MAMMADOV (AZE), and Sergey EMELIN (UWW), a bronze medalist from Tokyo.

Gurban GURBANOV (AZE), the European champion, has gold medals from all age-group World Championships and will now aim for senior-level success. GURBANOV’s confidence will be high after winning the European Championships in dominating fashion at 82kg.

However, facing off against the Asian wrestlers, Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI), Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN), and Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB), will pose significant challenges.

Turkiye's 2024 European champion Alperen BERBER (TUR) will debut at the World Championships and is considered a strong medal contender.

Chamizo Closes Out Sassari With Gold in Home Country

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World Championships 2025 Greco-Roman Preview