ATHENS, Greece (Sept. 6) – After three strong days of competition at the Cadet World Championships, the Greco-Roman champions have all been anointed, with Russia reclaiming the team title it lost in 2016 with one individual champion and six total medals.

Following yesterday’s four-medal outing, Russia snatched two additional medals during Wednesday evening’s Greco-Roman finale at Ano Liosia Olympic Hall. Mukhammad EVLOEV (RUS) picked up a silver after being edged by Cadet European runner-up Muhammed Furkan DURSUN (TUR) in the 100kg finals. Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (RUS) tacked on a bronze at 46kg to round out the effort.

The battle for second place was a three-horse race between Iran, Ukraine and Georgia, who all finished with five medal recipients. In the end, only two points separated these three nations, and each had critical matchups in tonight’s dramatic medal round.

Iran nudged itself into a second-place finish behind the gold-medal effort from Mehran Seyed Jafar SAADATIFARD (IRI) at 76kg. Saadatifard, a silver medal winner at the Cadet Asian Championships, escaped with a tight 2-0 win over Cadet European bronze medalist Istvan TAKACS (HUN) in the finals. Iran also grabbed a bronze from Mohammad Ghorbanali NOSRATI (IRI) at 85kg. 

Third place Ukraine managed three medals on the evening, including championship performances from Vladyslav KUZKO (UKR) at 46kg and Vladyslav KRAVCHENKO (UKR) at 69kg. Kuzko claimed his gold medal with a 3-0 decision over Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE). Kravchenko won by a slim1-1 margin over Cadet Asian bronze medalist Ashu ASHU (IND) in a match that was decided by passivity points.

Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) played spoiler to Ukraine’s hopes of a finals sweep as he came from behind to defeat Hennadii ZAVERTAILO (UKR) in a thrilling 42kg final. Zavertailo led 4-1 in the second period following textbook execution of an arm throw. Gurbanov retaliated with two such throws of his own, including the match winner with four seconds remaining, to get the win, 5-4.

Georgia wound up in fourth place after adding bronze medals from Temur KHOZREVANIDZE (GEO) at 46kg, Davit SOLOGASHVILI (GEO) at 69kg and Giorgi TSOPURASHVILI (GEO) at 76kg.

Prior to the Greco-Roman finals, day one of women’s wrestling came to an end with the championship bouts at 38kg, 43kg, 49kg, 56kg and 65kg being finalized. 

The winning trend continued for perennial power Japan after four of its five women navigated to a gold-medal match.

Returning Cadet World champion Suzuna YOSHIMURA (JPN) set the tone for a young Japanese squad by cruising to the 49kg finals with an 8-2 win over past Cadet and Junior World medalist Zeynep YETGIL (TUR). She will defend her title against reigning Cadet European champion and returning Cadet World finalist Mariia TIUMEREKOVA (RUS) in tomorrow’s main event.

Umi ITO (JPN), Sena NAGAMOTO (JPN) and Honoka NAKAI (JPN) each guaranteed themselves their first World medal by qualifying for the finals in their respective weight categories. Ito will take on 2016 Cadet Pan American champion Emily SHILSON (USA) at 43kg, Nagamoto is pitted against Cadet Asian bronze medalist Sonam SONAM (IND) at 56kg and Nakai stands opposite returning Cadet World bronze medalist Alara BOYD (USA) at 65kg.

It will be an all-Euro final at 38kg with Cadet European bronze medalist Mariia TOMYSHCH (UKR) battling Cadet European champion Shahana NAZAROVA (AZE) for the championship.

Action will resume from Athens at 10:30 local time on Thursday with women’s wrestling repechage and qualification rounds. The second session featuring semifinals and medal matches will commence at 17:30.

A live stream of the Cadet World Championships, in addition to schedule, brackets and results, are being provided on the United World Wrestling event page.

Greco-Roman Finals (42-46-69-76-85kg)

42kg (15 entries)

Gold – Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) df. Hennadii ZAVERTAILO (UKR) by VPO1, 5-4

Bronze – Daniel Dimitrov PRAMATAROV (ITA) df. Aleksei VLASOV (RUS) by VSU, 9-0

Bronze – Yerassyl MAMYRBEKOV (KAZ) df. Arshad ARSHAD (IND) by VPO1, 2-1

46kg (16 entries)

Gold – Vladyslav KUZKO (UKR) df. Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) by VPO, 3-0

Bronze – Temur KHOZREVANIDZE (GEO) df. Nurzat KABDYRAKHIMOV (KAZ) by VPO1, 8-3

Bronze – Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (RUS) df. Mukremin AKTAS (TUR) by VPO1, 4-1

69kg (25 entries)

Gold – Vladyslav KRAVCHENKO (UKR) df. Ashu ASHU (IND) by VPO1, 1-1

Bronze – Duran TOSUN (TUR) df. Joni Pekka KOMPPA (FIN) by VPO1, 10-7

Bronze – Davit SOLOGASHVILI (GEO) df. Galymbek NURGALI (KAZ) by VSU1, 11-1

76kg (25 entries)

Gold – Mehran Seyed Jafar SAADATIFARD (IRI) df. Istvan TAKACS (HUN) by VPO, 2-0

Bronze – Giorgi TSOPURASHVILI (GEO) df. Nao KUSAKA (JPN) by VPO1, 4-4

Bronze – Akylbek TALANTBEKOV (KGZ) df. Otto Eemeli KETONEN (FIN) by VPO1, 6-1

85kg (28 entries)

Gold – Muhammed Furkan DURSUN (TUR) df. Mukhammad EVLOEV (RUS) by VPO1, 5-3

Bronze – Alex Gergo SZOKE (HUN) df. Luka ZAKARIADZE (GEO) by VPO1, 7-4

Bronze – Mohammad Ghorbanali NOSRATI (IRI) df. Juho Matias PAHIKAINEN (FIN) by VPO1, 2-1

Women’s Wrestling Results (38-43-49-56-65kg)

38kg (12 entries)

Gold – Mariia TOMYSHCH (UKR) vs. Shahana NAZAROVA (AZE)

Semifinal – Mariia TOMYSHCH (UKR) df. Mamata Maruti KELOJI (IND) by VPO1, 9-8

Semifinal – Shahana NAZAROVA (AZE) df. Luchana BEKBAULOVA (RUS) by VSU, 10-0

43kg (16 entries)

Gold – Umi ITO (JPN) vs. Emily King SHILSON (USA)

Semifinal – Umi ITO (JPN) df. Roxana Alexandra TIF (ROU) by VSU, 10-0

Semifinal – Emily King SHILSON (USA) df. Karina CHORNOMOR (UKR) by VSU, 10-0

49kg (19 entries)

Gold – Suzuna YOSHIMURA (JPN) vs. Mariia TIUMEREKOVA (RUS)

Semifinal – Suzuna YOSHIMURA (JPN) df. Zeynep YETGIL (TUR) by VPO1, 8-2

Semifinal – Mariia TIUMEREKOVA (RUS) df. Tetiana PROFATILOVA (UKR) by VSU1, 12-2

56kg (23 entries)

Gold – Sonam SONAM (IND) vs. Sena NAGAMOTO (JPN)

Semifinal – Sonam SONAM (IND) df. Ida Emma Diana JOENSSON (SWE) by VPO1, 11-8

Semifinal – Sena NAGAMOTO (JPN) df. Angelika Agnieszka MYTKOWSKA (POL) by VSU, 10-0

65kg (23 entries)

Gold – Alara Lea BOYD (USA) vs. Honoka NAKAI (JPN)

Semifinal – Alara Lea BOYD (USA) df. Siyka Todorova IVANOVA (BUL) by VFA, 5-0

Semifinal – Honoka NAKAI (JPN) df. Aina TEMIRTASSOVA (KAZ) by VPO1, 2-1