#BudaWrestle2018

Evloev Leads Russian Trio to Finals, Lorincz Defeats Kim in London Finals Rematch

By Andrew Hipps

BUDAPEST, Hungary (October 27) -- Musa EVLOEV (RUS) knocked off Olympic champion Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) on Saturday in the semifinals at 97kg to lead a Russian trio to the Greco-Roman finals at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. 

Russia's other two semifinal winners on Saturday were Aleksandr CHEKHIRKIN (77kg) and Sergey SEMENOV (130kg).

Evloev, a returning world silver medalist, scored first off a passivity before lifting Aleksanyan and scoring two points off a correct throw. The Armenian had a chance to get back in the match after scoring a point off a passivity, but was unable to score from par terre and Evloev held on for the victory. He will meet Kiril MILOV (BUL) in the gold-medal match at 97kg.

Milov shut out Mihail KAJALA (SRB) 3-0 in the other semifinal match at 97kg. It looked to be a fast start for Kajala as he was awarded a takedown and two-point gut wrench turn. However, the takedown was challenged and overturned, keeping the match scoreless. Milov scored first off a passivity before adding a takedown to lead 3-0 at the break. A scoreless second period gave Milov a three-point victory.

Chekhirkin rolled to the gold-medal match at 77kg with an 11-0 first-period technical fall over Alex KESSIDIS (SWE). The Russian was dominant from the start, scoring with a step out then a passivity to go up 2-0. Chekhirkin scored a takedown with 30 seconds left in the first period, then added another one a short time later, which he followed up with an exposure to close out the technical fall. Awaiting him in the gold-medal match at 77kg is a crowd favorite, returning world medalist Tamas LORINCZ (HUN). 

Lorincz topped 2012 Olympic champion Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR) 3-1 in a rematch of the 2012 Olympic gold-medal match. Lorincz led 1-0 at the break after scoring off a passivity. Kim took the lead in the second period on criteria, scoring a point off a passivity. But Lorincz was able to score a late point and another off a failed challenge to win by two.

Semenov became the third Russian to reach the gold-medal match as he topped two-time world champion Heiki NABI (EST) 2-0 at 130kg, scoring both of his points off passivity calls. Nabi had a win earlier in the day over three-time world champion Riza KAYAALP (Turk). He will meet Adam COON (USA) in the gold-medal match.

Coon has been on a roll in his first World Championship appearance, picking up four falls to reach the finals. The American faced Minseok KIM (KOR) in the semifinals. After taking a 3-0 lead, Coon used a body lock to throw Kim to his back and secure his fourth fall. 

Semifinal Results

Greco-Roman

77kg
Tamas LORINCZ (HUN) df. Hyeonwoo KIM (KOR) by VPO1, 3-1
Aleksandr CHEKHIRKIN (RUS) df. Alex KESSIDIS (SWE) by VSU, 11-0

97kg
Kiril Milenov MILOV (BUL) df. Mihail KAJALA (SRB) by VPO, 3-0
Musa EVLOEV (RUS) df. Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) by VPO1, 3-1

130kg
Sergey SEMENOV (RUS) df. Heiki NABI (EST) by VPO, 2-0
Adam COON (USA) df. Minseok KIM (KOR) by VFA, 7-0
 

#WrestleAthens

U17 Worlds 2025: Iran, U.S. put two each in Freestyle finals

By Vinay Siwach

ATHENS, Greece (August 1) -- Iran and the United States emerged as the best performers on day one of Freestyle competition at the World U17 Championships in Athens, Greece after placing two wrestlers each in the gold medal bouts.

Five Freestyle weight classes were in action on Friday, as the tournament entered its final three days.

Iran and the U.S. will face off in the 48kg final after Ariah MILLS (USA) and Sina BOUSTANI (IRI) won their respective semifinals.

Mills defeated European U17 champion Ravan HASANZADE (AZE) 7-2 using his attacking style. After being put on the activity clock, Mills began his attacks and though he was not able to score in the 30-second, he hit a single leg for four points that gave him a 4-1 lead going into the break.

Hasanzade got on the leg attacks but Mills was quick to counter and scored an exposure for two points which was challenged by Azerbaijan. On review, it was given only two points for Mills and Azerbaijan lost the challenge and Mills reached the final 7-2.

Boustani had to stop some serious attacks from Masamune USHIMADO (JPN) in the second period. After taking a 6-0 lead, Boustani was put in danger by Ushimado as he scored a takedown. He then made it 6-3 with a stepout. With 13 seconds remaining, he hit another big throw but it was scored just two points as Boustani won 6-5.

The second finalist for the U.S. was Pan-Am U17 champion Arsenii KIKINIOU (USA) who came from behind to beat Morteza HAJ (IRI), 3-2, in the 65kg semifinals. Trailing 2-0, Kikiniou first scored a stepout and then managed to transition a leg attack into takedown with 13 seconds left. He held on to his lead to win.

For the gold, he will face 2024 silver medalist from 60kg, Huseyn ISMAYILOV (AZE) who barely went past Yeraly ASKERBEK (KAZ), 3-1, in the other semifinal. Ismayilov was down 1-1 on criteria but scored point just in time to win the match.

Mohammadparsa KARAMI (IRI) was the second finalist for Iran after he dominated Dinmukhammed KASSYMBEK (KAZ) and beat him 11-4 in the 80kg semifinals. For the gold, he will take on European U17 champion Artur KOSTIUK (UKR) after the Ukrainian earned himself a chance to win a world U17 goldm reaching the final with a 2-1 win over  Issa ZANGIEV (UWW).

At 55kg, returning bronze medalist from 51kg Jinnosuke OKONOGI (JPN) denied Greyton BURNETT (USA) after beating him 8-2 in the semifinal. Okonogi never let Burnett to settle down and scored three takedowns in his win.

Having already upgraded his medal, Okonogi will look to win the gold over Asian U17 silver medalist Abdumalik JALOLDINOV (UWW) who scored a late stepout to win his semifinal against Chingis SARYGLAR (UWW), who was a bronze medalist from 48kg last year.

At 110kg, it will be a battle of continental champions as European U17 champion Magomedrasul OMAROV (UWW) defeated Stefan STEFANOV (BUL), 2-0, after getting both passivity points.

He will take on Asian U17 champion LACKY (IND) who defeated European U17 champion Amirhossein NAGHDALIPOUR (IRI), via fall, with a comeback.

Naghdalipour led 5-0 when he got a par terre and as he tried the gut-wrench, Lacky blocked him and scored two points. A double-leg takedown made it 5-4.

Lacky was called passive in the second period and Naghdalipout got another point and led 6-4. That is when Lacky got hold of the Iranian and sent him for four points. Iran challenged and lost, making the score 9-6 for Lacky.

Naghdalipour scored a stepout to cut the lead to 9-7 but as he tried another takedown, Lacky slammed him for four and a turn before securing the fall just as the time expired.

RESULTS

48kg
GOLD: Ariah MILLS (USA) vs. Sina BOUSTANI (IRI)

SF 1: Ariah MILLS (USA) df. Ravan HASANZADE (AZE), 7-2
SF 2: Sina BOUSTANI (IRI) df. Masamune USHIMADO (JPN), 6-5

55kg
GOLD: Jinnosuke OKONOGI (JPN) vs. Abdumalik JALOLDINOV (UZB)

SF 1: Jinnosuke OKONOGI (JPN) df. Greyton BURNETT (USA), 8-2 
SF 2: Abdumalik JALOLDINOV (UZB) df. Chingis SARYGLAR (UWW), 2-1

65kg
GOLD: Arseni KIKINIOU (USA) vs. Huseyn ISMAYILOV (AZE)

SF 1: Arseni KIKINIOU (USA) df. Morteza HAJ (IRI), 3-2
SF 2: Huseyn ISMAYILOV (AZE) df. Yeraly ASKERBEK (KAZ), 3-1

80kg
GOLD: Artur KOSTIUK (UKR) vs. Mohammadparsa KARAMI (IRI)

SF 1: Artur KOSTIUK (UKR) df. Issa ZANGIEV (UWW), 2-1
SF 2: Mohammadparsa KARAMI (IRI) df. Dinmukhammed KASSYMBEK (KAZ), 11-4

110kg
GOLD: LACKY (IND) vs. Magomedrasul OMAROV (UWW)

SF 1: LACKY (IND) df. Amirhossein NAGHDALIPOUR (IRI), via fall (15-7)
SF 2: Magomedrasul OMAROV (UWW) df. Stefan STEFANOV (BUL), 2-0