#WrestleTirana

Friday's U23 World Championships semifinals set

Friday, October 27, 2023 - 08:58 By Eric Olanowski

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TIRANA, Albania (October 27) --- Welcome back to Albania for Day Five of the 2023 U23 World Championships. Today, we’ll pass the baton to the Greco-Roman wrestlers at 60kg, 67kg, 72kg, 82kg and 97kg.

Top Stars in Action:
60kg: Nihad GULUZADE (AZE) – U23 world silver
60kg: Melkamu FETENE (ISR) – U23 world bronze
67kg: Gagik Mishai SNJOYAN (FRA) - U23 world silver
72kg: Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) – U23 world bronze
82kg - Karlo KODRIC (CRO) – U23 world silver
97kg - Alex Gergo SZOKE (HUN) – U23 world gold
97kg - Nitesh NITESH (UWW) – U23 world bronze

Semifinal matches (As they come in): 

60kg
Sumit SUMIT (UWW) vs. Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (AIN)
Mert ILBARS (TUR) vs. Romeo BERIDZE (GEO)

67kg
Hasan MAMMADLI (AZE) vs. Sultan ASSETULY (KAZ)
HARUTO YABE (JPN) vs. Mustafa Safa YILDIRIM (TUR)

72kg
Irfan MIRZOIEV (UKR) vs. Michael PORTMANN (SUI)
Shant KHACHATRYAN (ARM) vs. Dmitrii ADAMOV (AIN)

82kg
Aues GONIBOV (AIN) vs. Ruslan ABDIIEV (UKR)
Alperen BERBER (TUR) vs. Emad Ashraf Mohamed ABOUELATTA (EGY)

97kg
Hayk KHLOYAN (ARM) vs. Pavel HLINCHUK (AIN)
Mustafa OLGUN (TUR) vs. Yuri NAKAZATO (JPN)

13:43: I'm still waiting for the system to update to post tonight's semifinal matches. Once everything is updated, I'll put the matches above.

13:23: Yabe upsets U23 world bronze medalist Snjoyan and moves into tonight's 67kg semifinals against Mustafa Safa YILDIRIM (TUR).

13:17: Reigning U23 world bronze medalist Gagik Mishai SNJOYAN (FRA) is in a tight match on Mat C with Japan's HARUTO YABE (JPN). Yabe leads 4-4 on criteria with a minute to go.

13:09: Emad Ashraf Mohamed ABOUELATTA (EGY) just doubled up on four-pointers, punching his ticket to the 82kg semifinals with a 9-0 win over Tyler Adam EISCHENS (USA).

12:55: We're going to start the quarterfinals now on all mats so I'll post the semifinal matches as they come in. 

12:35: There's your upset of the day. Lucas LAZOGIANIS (GER) just took out reigning U23 world champion Alex Gergo SZOKE (HUN). Lazogianis was down 3-0 but ended up scoring four points to win 4-4 on criteria.

13:13: You hate to see it against a hometown athlete, but  Hasan MAMMADLI (AZE) just made Albania's Ardit ZENELI (ALB) back bend in a way that should be illegal. I'll post the video above.

13:06: It looks like they are going to give Muslim IMADAEV (AIN) the fall over returning U23 world bronze medalist Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO). Imadaev was behind 2-1 with :50 left when he went to a four-point head pinch. After a failed challenge that gave the Neutral Athlete the 6-2 advantage, Imadaev stopped a flying squirrel attempt by planting Chkhikvade on his back for the fall.

I'll work on getting up the video of the final slam because it was pretty impressive.

12:54: World medalists Nitesh, Chkhikvadze and Guluzade are all coming up now on Mat A. That's three world medalists coming up in the next four matches.

12:38: We're getting closer on the Szoke watch. He's five matches out on Mat B. 

12:23: Tetsuto KANUKA (JPN) just launched Anil ANIL (UWW) twice in 15 seconds to pick up the 11-2 win. The match was tied 2-2 before Kanuka went four, then five on Anil. I'll work on getting the clip up right now so you can see how beautiful the two throws were.

12:12: The noise you hear from the crowd is coming from Mat C, where Dmitrii ADAMOV (AIN) just took out hometown boy Klodjan SHEHU (ALB), 9-0, in the 72kg 1/8 round.

12:08: That match was crazy! It was a rollercoaster of emotions for Abuladze, but he stayed strapped in and picked up the 9-8 victory. At one point of the match, Abuladze went for a pushout and was so successful that he pushed Olsson off the mat and the stage, planting him on his rear end on the floor of the arena.

12:04: The current match on Mat A between Miru Jerry OLSSON (SWE) and Otar ABULADZE (GEO) has been action-packed thus far. Olsson went down 3-0 but gave up eight unanswered points and is currently leading 8-3 with a minute left.

11:45: It's been a slow morning thus far. We're still waiting for a chunk of these stars to have their first matches. We still have at least seven matches before Gagik Mishai SNJOYAN (FRA), Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO), Nitesh NITESH (UWW) and Nihad GULUZADE (AZE) come up on Mat A.

But once we get to Snjoyan, the stars will be rolling through match after match.

11:22: After bout 492 wraps up on Mat C, we'll welcome Karlo KODRIC (CRO) to Albania. Last year, Kodric fell to Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) in the finals, becoming the fourth Croatian Greco-Roman wrestler to reach the finals but settle for U23 world silver. 

11:15: The biggest storyline we're following today is the return of Alex SZOKE (HUN) after nearly eight months off the mat. Earlier this year, Szoke, the reigning U23 world champion, underwent surgery on his back after the Thor Masters in March.

#WrestleZagreb

Zagreb Open Day 4: Bisultanov vs Losonczi; U.S. dominates WW

Saturday, February 8, 2025 - 07:09 By United World Wrestling Press

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ZAGREB, Croatia (February 8) -- The Zagreb Open 2025 enters day four with Greco-Roman 77kg and 87kg weight classes, perhaps two of most populated weight classes in the world. Women's Wrestling will continue with 57kg, 72kg and 76kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | BLADES SUPLEX

13:35: David LOSONCZI (HUN) and Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) set up their Paris Olympic bronze medal bout rematch for the 87kg final in Zagreb.

Losonczi got going from the whistle against Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) with a turn from par terre and then a stepout to lead 4-0 at the break. A stepout in the second period made it 5-0 and eliminated the chance of passivity against him. He wins 5-0.

Bisultanov survived two par terre positions and defended level to beat Milad ALIRZAEV (AIN) 1-1 and enter the final.

13:25: In the two semifinals at 77kg, Sergei STEPANOV (AIN) blows away Sergei KUTUZOV (AIN) while Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA) falls to Zoltan LEVAI (HUN). Stepanov got the par terre in the first period and used a reverse lift for five points and a correct throw for two more to win 8-0. In the other semifinal, Levai led 4-0 at the break and added a stepout in the second to win 5-1

13:10: Skylar GROTE (USA) has been in a league of her own today. She puts up another technical superiority win, beating Veronika VILK (CRO) 11-0 at 72kg.

We have moved the Mat B bouts to Mat A for the semifinals

12:45: Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) is into the semifinals at 87kg. He breaks Croatian hearts by beating Ivan HUKLEK (CRO) 5-1 in the quarterfinals. He will take on David LOSONCZI (HUN)

12:42: Former U17 world champion and U20 world silver medalist Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA) is into the semifinals at 77kg. He defeats Illia VALEUSKI (AIN) 6-4 and will take on Zoltan LEVAI (HUN)

12:37: David LOSONCZI (HUN) and Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) in a Paris rematch at 87kg. Losonczi is called for a singlet pull but Komarov is called passive first. Losonczi, lead 1-1 on criteria, hits a throw from par terre for four and lead 5-1. Komarov with a go behind takedown to cut the lead to 5-3. But Losonczi with his pace gets a stepout and make it 6-3 at the break. No more action or par terre calls in the second period and Losonczi wins 6-3.

12:25: Sergei KUTUZOV (AIN) blasts two reverse lifts for four points each and wins his quarterfinal against Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) 9-0. Spectacular throws from Kutuzov

12:20: Paris Olympic bronze medalist Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) keeps U20 world champion Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ) in check and goes on to win 3-0. A passivity point in the first period and then a takedown in the second is all he needed

12:10: Anes GANIBOV (AIN) with a hard fought 9-4 win over Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) at 87kg. Sterkenburg struggled with his conditioning in the second period and Ganibov was happy to play it out till the clock expired.

12:05: Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) scores a reversal and a stepout to beat Ihar YARASHEVICH (AIN) 4-2 at 87kg. He is into the quarterfinals and will take on Ivan HUKLEK (CRO) who defeated Naser ALIZADEH (IRI) 8-4.

11:55: Sergei KUTUZOV (AIN) comes out with duck under and scores a takedown with six seconds on the clock to beat Antonio KAMENJASEVIC (CRO) 4-3. The local are in shock as Kamenjasevic was about to pull off a big upset

11:50: Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) passes another test. Up against Amir ABDI (IRI), Gutu comes out with a stepout and takedown in the second period to claim a 4-3 win over Abdi.

11:47: David LOSONCZI (HUN) keeps it simple against Vjekoslav LUBURIC (CRO) and goes to a 9-0 victory to book his quarterfinal spot at 87kg.

11:35: Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) comes out with a four pointer later in the bout and gets a 7-1 win over Robert FRITSCH (HUN) at 77kg.

11:25: Another pin for U23 world champion Yelena MAKOYED (USA)! Valeriia TRIFONOVA (AIN) got an arm throw for four points to make it 7-4 but Makoyed was unfazed. She got the double arm lock and pinned Trifonova

11:20: U20 world champion Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ) makes a great Ranking Series debut. He beats Tamas LEVAI (HUN) 6-1 at 87kg and will take on Paris Olympic bronze medalist Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) next.

11:13: Exacue MAKUBU (NOR) with a 6-3 win over Mate MANDIC (CRO). He was leading 4-0 but Mandic got the passivity in the second period and turned Makubu, who blocked the second turn to make it 6-3 and held on to that lead.

11:10: Quick work from David LOSONCZI (HUN) who scores a takedown before getting the par terre advantage. He rolls Milos PEROVIC (SRB) and gets the 9-0 win at 87kg.

11:05: Big match at 87kg as Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) takes on Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB). Huseynov defends his par terre position in the first period. As Komarov is called passive in second, Huseynov is about to lift him when Komarov intentionally moves backwards. The referee confirms fleeing and docks Komarov for a point. Serbia challenges the call but the caution is upheld giving Huseynov a 3-1 lead. Komarov scores two stepouts in last 15 seconds and is also called for a fleeing and Komarov wins 4-3. Azerbaijan challenge the fleeing call but fleeing is upheld as Komarov wins 5-3. 

10:50: Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) keeps it simple in his opening bout at 77kg. He wins 1-1 on criteria against Aleksa ILIC (SRB).

10:45: Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) taking Amin KAVIYANI (IRI) to the cleaners! In the first bout at 77kg, Gutu got the first period par terre advantage and then reverse lifted Kaviyani for a five-point throw. He added two steps in the second period to win 8-0

10:42: Amir Ali ABDI (IRI) with a classic arm throw to beat Akseli YLI HANNUKSELA (FIN) 10-0 at 77kg. He is bidding to be Iran's representative at Asian Championships.

10:36: Great start for the United States as Yelena MAKOYED (USA) at 76kg and Skylar GROTE (USA) at 72kg both win their bouts with ease. Makoyed pins Kamile GAUCAITE (LTU) and Grote gets a 10-0 win over Noemi OSVATH NAGY (HUN).

10:30: Welcome to day four in Zagreb. Women's Wrestling will have 57kg, 72kg and 76kg wrestlers while Greco-Roman will see wrestlers in 77kg and 87kg. Since there is only Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) and Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) in 57kg, it will be the final to be held in the evening session.