#WrestleSkopje

Gadzhiev Stops Russia from Putting 5 Out of 5 in Finals at #WrestleSkopje

Monday, May 17, 2021 - 15:41 By Vinay Siwach

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Russia had entered five wrestlers in the semifinals of the five weight classes that were in action on Monday in Skopje. But the hopes of sending all five of them in Tuesday's finals were dashed as Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) defeated Inalbek SHERIEV (RUS) in the semifinal at the 70kg weight class.

Such was their dominance on the first day of the U23 European Championships in Skopje, North Macedonia the four others which reached the final defeated their opponents either via technical superiority or via fall at the Jane Sandanski Arena.

A former cadet world champion in 2019, Gadzhiev pulled all tricks out of the bag as he hung on for 7-6 win despite being cautioned twice in the bout.

In contrast to Sheriev's showing, Russia's quartet of Akhmed IDRISOV, Abdulmazhid KUDIEV, Khalid IAKHIEV and Aslanbek SOTIEV reached the final at 57kg, 65kg, 79kg and 97kg respectively in dominant fashion.

The finals line-up for Tuesday was completed by Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE) at 57kg, Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR) at 65kg, Nicolai GRAHMEZ (MDA) at 70kg, Ramazan SARI (TUR) at 79kg and Radu LEFTER (MDA) at 97kg.

In a bout that saw two cadet world medalists collide, Sheriev opened the scoring with a step out and Gadzhiev leveled it 1-1 after getting a step out of his own. But the big move came when Gadzhiev completed a takedown and continued the action for two turns to lead 7-2.

Then the waiting game began. Sheriev pulled off a slip from Gadzhiev's locks and scored a takedown to make it 7-4 before a warning to the Azerbaijan wrestler gave another point to him.

As Gadzhiev waited for the clock to expire, he was again warned for a singlet pull which reduced his lead to merely a point but he did well to hang on to it for 7-6 win.

Giorgi ELBAKIDZE (GEO) was Gadzhiev's first victim as he lost the 1/8 final 4-2 before the latter humbled Tobias PORTMANN (SUI) 9-2 in the quarterfinal.

Russia's field day

But the top performances came in the 57kg weight category as Idrisov ran through the 57kg field. He did not show any mercy to former junior world silver medalist Ramaz TURMANIDZE (GEO) in a 13-2 victory. The semifinal against senior European Championships bronze medalist Kamil KERYMOV (UKR) was as similar story as he won 10-0 to set up a final against Rzazade, who was equally dominant.

After getting a victory by default in the qualification round, he scored a 12-2 win over Hafiz Can HASDEMIR (TUR) and scored three four-point throws against Simone PIRODDU (ITA) in semifinal to win 14-1 in the first period.

The 65kg final will see former junior world champ at 70kg Arushanian take on Kudiev. While Kudiev was sitting in the quarterfinal and had an easier passage to the final, Arushanian was tested by junior European champion Hrachya MARGARYAN (ARM).

Kudiev u23 euros

With less than 10 seconds left in the quarterfinal, Arushanian was trailing 4-4 on criteria but got a leg lace and a 6-4 win. Marwane YEZZA (FRA), who seemed to have hurt himself in the semifinal, surrendered against the Ukrainian.

At 79kg, Iakhiev had a to and fro bout against Valentyn BABII (UKR) but managed to get a cradle to pin the Ukrainian. The bout began with Iakhiev exposing Babii on his back to lead 2-0. But Babii got a front headlock for four before Iakhiev's reversal and roll. Babii still led 5-5. He had the Russian on his back but failed to get the pin, going into the break with 7-5 lead.

Iakhiev seemed much aggressive in the second period and began with a takedown before an exposure gave him a 9-7 lead. He managed to get a cradle over Babii and froze him in that position to get the fall with two minutes and six seconds remaining.

He will take on Ramazan SARI (TUR) in the final as he defeated Goga MAMIAURI (GEO) 3-0. No points were scored by action as Sari got a step out before Mamiauri was warned twice.

Joining his Russian teammates in the final is Sotiev. The 97kg wrestler showed extreme composure to win 14-4 against Luka KHUTCHUA (GEO) despite trailing 0-4 at the break. With Khutchua struggling with his cardio in the second period, Sotiev scored a takedown and an exposure in first action.

Seconds later, he managed a perfect leg-lace to finish the bout and set up a final against Lefter who defeated Aliaksei PARKHOMENKA (BLR) 14-7.

Grahmez was the other Moldovian to reach the final as he defeated Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM) 4-3 in the 70kg semifinal. All but one points were scored as a result of step outs.

Freestyle action will continue on Tuesday with 61kg, 74kg, 86kg, 92kg and 125kg wrestler in action in Skopje.

Results: Freestyle

57kg
GOLD: Akhmed IDRISOV (RUS) vs Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE)

SF 1: Akhmed IDRISOV (RUS) df Kamil KERYMOV (UKR), 10-0
SF 2: Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE) df Simone PIRODDU (ITA), 14-1

65kg
GOLD: Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (RUS) vs Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR)

SF 1: Abdulmazhid KUDIEV (RUS) df Uladzislau KOIKA (BLR), 13-0
SF 2: Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR) df Marwane YEZZA (FRA), via fall

70kg
GOLD: Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) vs Nicolai GRAHMEZ (MDA)

SF 1: Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) df Inalbek SHERIEV (RUS), 7-6
SF 2: Nicolai GRAHMEZ (MDA) df Arman ANDREASYAN (ARM), 4-3

79kg
GOLD: Ramazan SARI (TUR) vs Khalid IAKHIEV (RUS)

SF 1: Ramazan SARI (TUR) df Goga MAMIAURI (GEO), 3-0
SF 2: Khalid IAKHIEV (RUS) df Valentyn BABII (UKR), via fall (11-7)

97kg
GOLD: Radu LEFTER (MDA) vs Aslanbek SOTIEV (RUS)

SF 1: Radu LEFTER (MDA) df Aliaksei PARKHOMENKA (BLR), 14-7
SF 2: Aslanbek SOTIEV (RUS) df Luka KHUTCHUA (GEO), 14-4

#wrestlebishkek

Asian Championships Freestyle Finals Set

Friday, April 12, 2024 - 04:33 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

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BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 12) -- The Asian Championships enters day two with five more Freestyle weights. World champion Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) will lead the competition at 125kg as Iran looks to build on its three gold medals won on day one.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 1 REPORT

14:32: Amir ZARE (IRI) is safely into the 125kg final with a 5-0 victory over Shamil SHARIPOV (BRN). Zare combined three stepouts with two activity clock points and was never in danger himself as the reigning world champion earned a chance for gold in his senior Asian Championships debut.

14:27: Two-time Olympian Aiaal LAZAREV (KGZ) enters the 125kg final after beating Odgerel BATKHISHIG (MGL) 10-0 in the semifinal. This is Lazarev's 10th Asian Championships, first being in 2009, and third final. He won gold in 2015 and was silver medalist in 2021.

14:22: At 74kg, Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) notches perhaps the biggest win of his young career, scoring a takedown in each period to knock off Hossein ABOUZARI (IRI) 4-2 and earn a place in the final in his international senior debut. The 20-year-old Takahashi opens with a textbook double-leg takedown, but gives up a single-leg takedown to trail 2-2 on criteria. In the second period, the Japanese gets the winning takedown, and then fends off all desperate attacks by Abouzari.

14:20: Viktor RASSADIN (TJK) becomes the second wrestler from Tajikistan to enter the finals at the Asian Championships after he defeated Alp BEGENJOV (TKM) 14-4 in the 74kg semifinal. Incidentally, the first finalist -- Yusup ABDULSALAMOV (TJK) -- won at 74kg as well back in 2003.

14:10: Another heartbreak for Kyrgyzstan as Nurtilek KARYPBAEV (KGZ) goes down 5-3 against Sherzod POYONOV (UZB) in the 92kg semifinal. Karypbaev could not keep up with the pace of the bout and broke down.

14:08: Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) gets a chance to add to his 2022 gold after bulling to a 10-0 victory over Magomed SHARIPOV (BRN) in the 92kg semifinals. Sharipov just couldn't stop the charge of Firouzpour, who had six stepouts, two of which got a caution point tacked on. Firouzpour's lone takedown of the match, off a single leg, ended it at 4:14.

13:57: Javrail SHAPIEV (UZB) scored a takedown in the first period and held on that 2-0 lead against Atai IZABEKOV (KGZ). He was cautioned for open fingers on Izabekov's face but that didn't stop Shapiev from winning 2-1 and entering the 86kg final against defending champion Azamat DALUETBEKOV (KAZ). Both wrestled in the 86kg bronze-medal bout at the World Championships which the Kazakh won. But Shapiev won the Asian Games quarterfinal in October.

13:55: Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) will get a shot at a third straight Asian gold at 86kg after putting on an arm drag clinic in an 11-0 victory over Peilong LI (CHN). Dauletbekov used the arm drag to set up five takedowns, the final one coming 27 seconds into the second period to end the match.

13:47: Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) pulled off a miracle victory over Reza ATRI (IRI) in the 61kg semifinals, scoring a 4-point back trip in the final second for an 11-7 victory. Atri came back from a 5-point deficit to lead 7-6, mainly with a 4-point counter lift. A fleeing point tied the score, but Atri still led on criteria. Zhumashbek Uulu did little to build up his 5-0 lead in the first period, gaining an activity point, a penalty point for a hand to the face, a takedown while countering a throw, and then a point for an unsuccessful challenge after the Iranians thought the takedown should have been called a missed throw.

13:35: Assyl AITAKYN (KAZ) enters the 61kg final after beating Akash DAHIYA (IND) 11-0. A slow start to the semifinal but Aitakyn used a takedown and two turns in the second period to claim the victory.

The semifinals will begin at 13:30 local time

13:20: In the last quarterfinal of the morning session, Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) blanks YASH (IND) 11-0. After a 4-0 lead in the first period, Takahashi scored a stepout in the second period and countered Yash's attack. He scored two exposures to enter the 74kg semifinal. 

13:15: Local star Aiaal LAZAREV (KGZ) breaks BUHEEERDUN (CHN) in the second period and overcomes a three-point deficit and wins the 125kg quarterfinal 10-6.

13:10: Either Turkmenistan or Tajikistan will be assured of taking home a medal after Alp BEGENJOV (TJM) and Viktor RASSIDIN (TJK) advanced to a semifinal clash against each other at 74kg. Begenjov recorded a fall over Fierre AFAN (PHI), and Rassidin followed with a 9-0 victory over Kanat KERIMBEKOV (KGZ) in their respective quarterfinal matches.

13:02: Hossein ABOUZARI (IRI) stays on track to the final by crushing Yong Nam SO (PRK) 12-1 in the 74kg quarterfinals.

12:57: World champion Amir ZARE (IRI) begins his campaign with a 10-0 victory over Anirudh KUMAR (IND) in the 125kg quarterfinals. Zare took a 6-0 lead into the second period and wasted little time finishing up the technical fall.

12:55: The home crowd seems to spur on 2022 Asian U23 silver medalist Nurtilek KARYBAEV (KGZ) in the second period, when he scores three takedowns to forge a 6-1 victory over Issa AL OBAIDI (IRQ) and advances to the 92kg semifinals.

12:55: Magomed SHARIPOV (BRN) manages to keep himself from touching the mat on three points and avoids being taken down. He beats Adilet DAVLUMBAYEV (KAZ) 7-4 to advance to the semifinals at 92kg.

12:45: Javrail SHAPIEV (UZB), an Asian Games bronze medalist and fifth-place finisher at both the Olympics and World Championships, holds on for a 4-1 victory over Tatsuya SHIRAI (JPN) to advance to the 86kg semifinals. Shapiev scored a first-period takedown, and Shirai cut the gap with a stepout a minute into the second period. Shapiev clinches the win with a takedown in the final seconds off a counter from a desperate attack by the Japanese.

12:44: Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) books his place in the 92kg semifinals with an 11-0 rout of Suhe GANG (CHN).

12:34: In one of the featured matches of the midday session, defending champion and two-time world bronze medalist Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) scores an early single-leg takedown against Hadi VAFAEIPOUR (IRI) in their 86kg quarterfinal, but the Iranian responds with a stepout. That is where the scoring ends, although Vafaeipour ended the match in deep on a single that he just couldn't finish off. The Iranians naturally challenged, but it was denied to give Dauletbekov a 3-1 win and the Iranian side its first loss of the day.

12:25: Reza ATRI (IRI) moves a step closer to his third career Asian medal and possibly second gold with a workmanlike 5-0 victory over Dzhamashed SHARIFOV (TJK) in the 61kg quarterfinals. 

12:00: Kota TAKAHASHI (JPN) with a takedown in the final 10 seconds to claim a 9-9 criteria win over Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ) at 74kg.

11:58: Hossein ABOUZARI (IRI) scores his fourth takedown with 13 seconds left to complete a 10-0 win over Zafarbek OTAKHONOV (UZB) at 74kg to become Iran's fifth wrestler out of five in the quarterfinals. Otakhonov was the silver medalist a year ago at 70kg.

11:52: Returning bronze medalist BUHEEERDUN (CHN) moves on at 125kg with a 5-2 win over Koki YAMAMOTO (JPN). Apart from the one time he got stuck in a fall position, Buheeerdun controlled the bout.

11:48: Anirudh KUMAR (IND), a returning bronze medalist at 125kg, has no trouble in posting a safe 3-0 victory over Zaman ANWAR (PAK). He will next face world champion Amir ZARE (IRI).
 
11:38: Another Iranian is over the first hurdle as 2022 champion Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) cruises to an 11-0 victory over Satoshi MIURA (JPN) at 92kg.

11:36: Tatsuya SHIRAI (JPN), the world U23 silver medalist after winning the gold in 2022, scores four stepouts in muscling to a 5-0 victory over Sandeep MANN (IND) at 86kg.

11:30: Not to be for Mustafa AL OBAIDI (IRI) as Peilong LI (CHN) storms back after trailing 3-3 on criteria. Li pins Al Obaidi to win the 86kg bout.

11:28: Hadi VAFAEIPOUR (IRI), making his debut in a major tournament for Iran, easily gets past VUTHY HENG (CAM) in his opening match at 86kg, scoring a 10-0 win in 2:39. Among Vafaeipour's accolades is a victory last year on the Beach Wrestling circuit. 

11:20: In a thriller at 61kg, Akash DAHIYA (IND) twice scored exposure points in the second period while Dzhamshed SHARIFOV (UZB) was trying to turn him over, the final time to clinch a 10-8 victory.

11:12: Assyl AITAKYN (KAZ), a two-time world U23 bronze medalist, starts the action on Mat B with a 7-0 victory over Ali ABURAMAILA (PLE) at 61kg.

11:10: Kaisei TANABE (JPN), whose father Chikara was a bronze medalist in 55kg at the 2004 Athens Olympics, squanders a 4-0 lead and drops his bout against Reza ATRI (IRI) 4-4.

11:04: In the opening match on Mat A, Kum Chol Ri (PRK), an Asian cadet champion in 2014, marks his return to the international scene with a quick 10-0 win over Ibrahim GUZAN (YEM) at 61kg

11:00: Another Freestyle day at the Asian Championships in Bishkek. Wrestlers in 61kg, 74kg, 86kg, 92kg and 125kg to wrestle for the five gold medals on offer.