freestyle rankings, February, Snyder, Burroughs, Sadualev, Akgul, 2016

Gazimagomedov, Snyder Atop Freestyle Rankings Despite Losses in January

By William May

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY (February 2) – World champions Magomedrasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) and Kyle SNYDER (USA) fell to previously unranked wrestlers at the Yarygin Grand Prix in January but held onto their positions atop this month’s United World Wrestling freestyle rankings.

Gazimagomedov, the 70kg champion in Las Vegas, lost his opening bout at 74kg in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, to Kakhaber KHUBEZHTY (RUS) and was eliminated from the competition when the former world team member lost in the semifinals.

Snyder, meanwhile, advanced to the semifinals at 97kg before being stymied by Anzor BOLTUKAEV (RUS), who had been largely inactive internationally since winning the bronze medal at the 2013 world championships.

Gazimagomedov held onto his No.1 ranking at 70kg as he was wrestling up a category at 74kg while Snyder rebounded for a bronze medal at 97kg and was not challenged by any other world medalists, such as Abdusalam GADISOV (RUS), Khetag GAZUMOV (AZE) or Pavlo OLEYNIK (UKR).

Boltukaev, for his part, defeated London 2012 Olympic Games gold medalist Jakob VARNER (USA) in the Yarygin finale, and made one of the bigger leaps in the January rankings – going from unranked to No.10 at heavyweight.

The biggest move belongs to Nyurgun SKRYABIN (RUS), who went from unranked to No.7 at 61kg by pinning 2015 Ali Aliev champion Akhmed CHAKAEV (RUS) and prevailing over former junior European champion Imam ADZHIEV (RUS) in the Yarygin final.

Also at 61kg, Aleksander BOGOMOEV (RUS) and Vladimir DUBOV (BUL) both successfully tested the waters at 57kg – with Bogomoev winning in Krasnoyarsk and Dubov taking the Dan Kolov crown in Sofia.

At the other non-Olympic weight category of 70kg, Israil KASUMOV (RUS) moved down to 65kg for the Yarygin title, while Hassan YAZDANI CHARATI (IRI) earned a silver medal at 74kg in Paris and Evgeniy NEDEALKO (MDA) bagged the welterweight gold medal in Sofia.

The top six wrestlers in each weight category at the world championships were awarded the top six positions in September, but these rankings are already changing in the face of more recent performances.

The bulk of the rankings from No.7 to No.20 were determined, in part, by a wrestler’s performance in Las Vegas along with results in competition throughout 2015.

Wrestlers in the rankings are listed by name, country code, most notable or most recent result over the last 12 months, and their position in the previous rankings.

57kg – 2013 junior world champion Younes SARMASTIDIZAJI (IRI) won the Takhti Cup for a second year in a row to go from unranked to No.10, while two-time junior world bronze medalist Gadshimurad RASHIDOV (RUS) put a scare into Yarygin Grand Prix winner Aleksander BOGOMOEV (RUS) for No.11.

1. Vladimir KHINCHEGASHVILI (GEO) – World No.1 (1)
2. Hassan RAHIMI (IRI) – World No.2 (2)
3. Viktor LEBEDEV (RUS) – World No.3 (3)
4. Ismail MUSUKAEV (RUS) – GGP Final No.1 (4)
5. ERDENEBAT Bekhbayar (MGL) – GGP Final No.2 (5)
6. JONG Hak-Jin (PRK) – World No.5 (6)
7. Artas SANAA (KAZ) – World No.5 (7)
8. Yowlys BONNE RODRIGUEZ (CUB) – Pan American Games No.1 (8)
9. Georgi VANGELOV (BUL) – Dan Kolov No.3 (12)
10. Younes SARMASTIDIZAJI (IRI) – Takhti Cup No.1 (not ranked)
11. Gadshimurad RASHIDOV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.3 (nr)
12. Rustam AMPAR (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.2 (nr)
13. Asadulla LACHINOV (BLR) – World No.7 (11)
14. Artyom GEBEKOV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.3 (nr)
15. Yuki TAKAHASHI (JPN) – Ziolkowski No.1 (9)
16. Zoheir EL OUARRAQE (FRA) – Ziolkowski No.3 (10)
17. Reza ATRABAGHARCHI (IRI) – Paris GP No.1 (nr_
18. Adama DIATTA (SEN) – All-African Games No.1 (16)
19. Sezer AKGUL (TUR) – European Games No.3 (17)
20. John PINEDA (CAN) – Dan Kolov No.3 (19)

61kg – Asian championships silver medalist Behnam EHSANPOOR (IRI) won the Takhti Cup and edged up to No.6, while Yarygin Grand Prix finalists Nyurgun SKRYABIN (RUS) and Imam ADZHIEV (RUS) join the rankings at No.7 and No.8, respectively.
 
1. Haji ALIEV (AZE) – World No.1 (1)
2. BATBOLD Nomin (MGL) – World No.2 (2)
3. Vladimir DUBOV (BUL) – World No.3 (4)
4. Aleksander BOGOMOEV (RUS) – European Games No.1 (7)
5. Vasyl SHUPTAR (UKR) – World No.3 (3)
6. Behnam EHSANPOOR (IRI) – Takhti Cup No.1 (10)
7. Nyurgun SKRYABIN (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.1 (nr)
8. Imam ADZHIEV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.2 (nr)
9. Masakazu KAMOI (JPN) – World No.5 (6)
10. Beka LOMTADZE (GEO) – European Games No.2 (8)
11. Akhmed CHAKAEV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.3 (nr)
12. Bajrang BAJRANG (IND) – World No.5 (7)
13. Dyamal OTARSULTANOV (RUS) – Yasar Dogu No.1 (13)
14. Iman SADEGHIKOUKANDEH (IRI) – Paris GP No.5 (15)
15. Daulet NIYAZBEKOV (KAZ) – GGP Final No.3 (12)
16. Murshid MUTALIMOV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.5 (16)
17. Volodya FRANGULYAN (ARM) – Medved Prizes No.1 (9)
18. Muenir Recep AKTAS (TUR) – Yasar Dogu No.2 (11)
19. Bekhan GOIGEREEV (RUS) – Medved Prizes No.2 (14)
20. Dimitar IVANOV (BUL) – Dan Kolov No.3 (nr)

65kg – Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL) and Franklin GOMEZ MATOS (PUR) each won Dan Kolov titles, at 70kg and 65kg, respectively, as Gadzhiev edges up to No.9 and Gomez joins the rankings at No.10.
 
1. Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) – World No.1 (1)
2. Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB) – World No.2 (2)
3. Sayed Ahmad MOHAMMADI (IRI) – World No.3 (3)
4. Togrul ASGAROV (AZE) – European Games No.1 (4)
5. Soslan RAMONOV (RUS) – World No.3 (5)
6. Magomed KURBANALIEV (RUS) – GGP Final (8)
7. GANZORIG Mandakhnaran (MGL) – Yarygin GP No.3 (6)
8. Ilyas BEKBULATOV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.5 (7)
9. Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL) – Dan Kolov No.1 (12)
10. Franklin GOMEZ MATOS (PUR) – Dan Kolov No.1 (nr)
11. Alibeggadzhi EMEEV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.3 (nr)
12. Borislav NOVACHKOV (BUL) – Dan Kolov No.2 (12)
13. Brent METCALF (USA) – Pan Am Games No.1 (10)
14. Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) – Paris GP No.5 (11)
15. George BUCUR (ROU) – Ziolkowski No.2 (9)
16. Masoud ESMAILPOUR (IRI) – Asia No.1 (14)
17. Logan STIEBER (USA) – GGP Final No.2 (15)
18. Mustafa KAYA (TUR) – European Games No.3 (17)
19. Joshgun AZIMOV (AZE) – Ali Aliev No.1 (18)
20. Meysam NASIRI (IRI) – Takhti Cup No.1 (nr)

70kg – Israil KASUMOV (RUS) won the Yarygin Grand Prix title over a tough field at 65kg to climb to No.5 in the rankings, while Evgheni NEDEALCO (MDA) won at 74kg in Sofia and junior world champion Hassan YAZDANI CHARATI (IRI) finished second at 74kg in Paris behind 2014 world bronze medalist Ali SHABANOV (BLR).

1. Magomedrasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) – World No.1 (1)
2. Hassan YAZDANI CHARATI (IRI) – World No.2 (2)
3. Yakup GOR (TUR) – World No.3 (3)
4. James GREEN (USA) – World No.3 (4)
5. Israil KASUMOV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.1 (7)
6. Bekzod ABDURAKHMANOV (UZB) – GGP Final No.1 (6)
7. Azamat NURIKOV (BLR) – Medved Prizes No.1 (5)
8. Evgheni NEDEALCO (MDA) – Dan Kolov No.1 (nr)
9. Miroslav KIROV (BUL) – Dan Kolov No.3 (8)
10. Zaurbek SIDAKOV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.1 (nr)
11. David TLASHADZE (GEO) – Kunaev Int’l No.1 (9)
12. Ruslan DIBIRGADZHIYEV (AZE) – European Games No.3 (10)
13. Khusey SUYUNCHEV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.2 (nr)
14. Rasul ARSANALIEV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.3 (nr)
15. Magomedkhabib KADIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) – Ali Aliev No.1 (11)
16. Khalil AMINOV (RUS) – Intercontinental Cup No.1 (12)
17. Evgeni ZHERBAEV (RUS) – Dmitri Korkin No.1 (13)
18. Georgi ZLATOV (BUL) – Dan Kolov No.3 (15)
19. Elaman DOGDURBEK UULU (KGZ) – Asia No.2 (16)
20. Ayad IBRAHIM (EGY) – African Games No.1 (nr)

74kg – 2012 junior world champ Zaur MAKIEV (RUS) emerged the victor over a field that featured world champions Denis TSARGUSH (RUS), Magomedrasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) and pre-tourney favorite Akhmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) to win the Yarygin crown and a No.14 in the rankings.

1. Jordan BURROUGHS (USA) – World No.1 (1)
2. Aniuar GEDUEV (RUS) – World No.3 (2)
3. PUREVJAV Unurbat (MGL) – World No.2 (3)
4. Narasingh YADAV (IND) – World No.3 (4)
5. Alireza GHASEMI (IRI) – Ziolkowski No.1 (5)
6. Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) – World No.5 (6)
7. Livan LOPEZ AZCUY (CUB) – Pan Am Games No.3 (7)
8. Jumber KVELASHVILI (GEO) – European Games No.3 (8)
9. Khetik TSABOLOV (RUS) – GGP Final No.3 (14)
10. Ali SHABANOV (BLR) – Paris GP No.1 (10)
11. Rashid KURBANOV (UZB) – Dan Kolov No.3 (11)
12. Soner DEMIRTAS (TUR) – European Games No.2 (10)
13. Yabrail HASANOV (AZE) – GGP Final No.1 (13)
14. Zaur MAKIEV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.1 (nr)
15. Muslim DADAEV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.2 (nr)
16. Moustafa HOSSEINKHANI (IRI) – Takhti Cup No.1 (nr)
17. Akhmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.3 (14)
18. Kakhaber KHUBEZHTY (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.3 (nr)
19. Krystian BRZOZOWSKI (POL) – Dan Kolov No.2 (16)
20. Peyman YARAHMADI (IRI) – Takhti Cup No.3 (nr)

86kg – Shamil KUDIYAMAGOMEDOV (RUS), widely recognized in Russia as the top middleweight not named Abdulrashid, rolled to the Yarygin Grand Prix title to vault from No.11 to fifth in the rankings. London 2012 bronze medalist Ehsan LASHGARI (IRI) won the Takhti Cup to bound from 17th to No.9.

1. Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) – World No.1 (1)
2. Selim YASAR (TUR) – World No.2 (2)
3. Sandro AMINASHVILI (GEO) – World No.3 (4)
4. Alireza KARIMIMACHIANI (IRI) – World No.3 (3)
5. Shamil KUDIYAMAGOMEDOV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.1 (11)
6. Dauren KURUGLIEV (RUS) – Yarygin No.3 (10)
7. Magomedhadshi KHATIEV (AZE) – World No.5 (5)
8. Mikhail GANEV (BUL) – World No.5 (6)
9. Ehsan LASHGARI (IRI) – Takhti Cup No.1 (17)
10. Ibragim ALDATOV (UKR) – World No.7 (7)
11. Pedro CEBALLOS FUENTES (VEN) – World No.10 (8)
12. Reineris SALAS PEREZ (CUB) – Pan Am Games No.1 (9)
13. ORGODOL Uitumen (MGL) – Dan Kolov No.3 (12)
14. Aleksander GOSTIEV (AZE) – GGP Final No.1 (13)
15. Piotr IANULOV (MDA) – European Games No.2 (14)
16. Radoslaw MARCINKIEWICZ (POL) – European Games No.3 (15)
17. Arsenali MUSALALIEV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.2 (nr)
18. Nurmagomed GADZHIEV (AZE) – GGP Final No.2 (16)
19. Zbigniew BARANOWSKI (POL) – Dan Kolov No.2 (nr)
20. Istvan VEREB (HUN) – Paris GP No.2 (nr)

97kg – Radoslaw BARAN (POL), returning to competition after an early exit from the world championships in September, kicked off 2016 with a win at the Dan Kolov tourney for No.8 in the rankings.

1. Kyle SNYDER (USA) – World No.1 (1)
2. Abdusalam GADISOV (RUS) – World No.2 (2)
3. Khetag GAZUMOV (AZE) – World No.3 (3)
4. Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO) – GGP Final No.1 (4)
5. Pavlo OLIYNIK (UKR) – World No.3 (5)
6. Sharif SHARIFOV (AZE) – GGP Final No.2 (6)
7. Abbas TAHAN (IRI) – World No.5 (7)
8. Radoslaw BARAN (POL) – Dan Kolov No.1 (9)
9. Valeri ANDRIITSEV (UKR) – European Games No.3 (8)
10. Anzor BOLTUKAEV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.1 (nr)
11. Jakob VARNER (USA) – Yarygin GP No.2 (nr)
12. Jose DIAZ ROBERTTI (VEN) – Paris GP No.1 (14)
13. DORJKHAND Khuderbulga (MGL) – Paris GP No.2 (15)
14. Reza YAZDANI (IRI) – Takhti Cup No.1 (nr)
15. Magomed MUSAEV (KGZ) – Asia No.2 (10)
16. Khadshimourad GATSALOV (RUS) – World Military Games No.1 (11)
17. Adlan IBRAGIMOV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.3 (nr)
18. James BERGMAN (USA) – Schultz Memorial No.1 (nr)
19. Akhmed BATAEV (RUS) – Intercontinental Cup No.1 (18)
20. Mohamedhossein MOHAMMADIAN (IRI) – Asia No.1 (17) 

125kg – Parviz HADI (IRI) won the Takhti Cup crown to edge up to No.6 in the rankings followed by 2014 world silver medalist Komeil GHASEMI (IRI), who took the title at the Paris Grand Prix. Vladislav BAITSAEV (RUS) took the Yarygin crown to go from unranked to No.13.

1. Taha AKGUL (TUR) – World No.1 (1)
2. Jamalladin MAGOMEDOV (AZE) – World No.2 (2)
3. Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) – World No.3 (3)
4. Beylal MAKHOV (RUS) – World No.3 (4)
5. Levan BERIANIDZE (ARM) – World No.5 (5)
6. Parviz HADI (IRI) – Takhti Cup No.1 (7)
7. Komeil GHASEMI (IRI) – Paris GP No.1 (11)
8. JARGALSAIKHAN Chuluunbat (MGL) – Paris GP No.3 (6)
9. DENG Zhiwei (CHN) – Dan Kolov No.1 (16)
10. Aleksey SHEMAROV (BLR) – European Games No.2 (8)
11. Aiaal LAZAREV (KGZ) – Asia No.1 (9)
12. Muradin KUSHKHOV (RUS) – Ramzan Kadyrov No.1 (11)
13. Vladislav BAITSAEV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.1 (nr)
14. Anzor KHIRZIEV (RUS) – Yarygin GP No.3 (nr)
15. Luis VIVENES (VEN) – Paris GP No.2 (nr)
16. Tervel DLAGNEV (USA) – Paris GP No.3 (nr)
17. David MODZMANASHVILI (GEO) – Medved Prizes No.1 (12)
18. Alen ZASEEV (UKR) – Medved Prizes No.2 (13)
19. Zachery REY (USA) – Pan Am Games No.1 (14)
20. Daulet SHABANBAY (KAZ) – Yasar Dogu No.3 (15)

61 کیلوگرم

1- حاجی علی اف (آذربایجان)- قهرمان جهان (1)

2- نومین باتبولد (مغولستان)- نفر دوم جهان (2)

3- ولادمیر دوبوف (بلغارستان)- نفر سوم جهان (4)

4- الکساندر بوگوموئف (روسیه)- قهرمان بازیهای اروپایی (7)

5- واسیل شوپتار (اوکراین)- نفر سوم جهان (3)

6- بهنام احسانپور (ایران)- قهرمان جام تختی (10)

7- نیورگون اسکریابین (روسیه)- قهرمان یاریگین (خارج از رنکینگ)

8- امام آجیف (روسیه)- نفر دوم یاریگین (خارج از رنکینگ)

9- ماساکازو کاموئی (ژاپن)- نفر پنجم جهان (6)

10- بکا لومتادزه (گرجستان)- نفر دوم بازیهای اروپایی (8)

11- احمد چاکایف (روسیه) – نفر سوم یاریگین (خارج از رنکینگ)

12- بارجانگ بارجانگ (هند)- نفر پنجم جهان (7)

13- جمال اوتارسلطانوف (روسیه)- قهرمان یاشاردوغو (13)

14- ایمان صادقی (ایران)- نفر دوم جایزه بزرگ باکو (15)

15- دولت نیازبکوف (قزاقستان)- نفر سوم جایزه بزرگ باکو (12)

16- مرشید موتالیموف (روسیه)- نفر پنجم یاریگین (16)

17- ولودیا فرانگولیان (ارمنستان)- قهرمان جام مدوید (9)

18- منیر رجب آکتاش (ترکیه)- نفر دوم یاشاردوغو (11)

19- بخان گویگریف (روسیه)- نفر دوم جام مدوید (14)

20- دیمیتار ایوانوف بلغارستان)- نفر سوم دان کلوف (خارج از رنکینگ)

 

65 کیلوگرم

1- فرانک چامیزو (ایتالیا)- قهرمان جهان (1)

2- اختیار نوروزاف (ازبکستان)- نفر دوم جهان (2)

3- سید احمد محمدی (ایران)- نفر سوم جهان (3)

4- طغرل عسگروف (آذربایجان)- قهرمان بازیهای اروپایی (5)

5- سوسلان رامونوف (روسیه)- نفر سوم جهان (4)

6- ماگومد قربان علی‌یف (روسیه)- قهرمان جایزه بزرگ باکو (8)

7- مانداخناران گانزوریگ (مغولستان)- نفر پنجم جهان (6)

8- الیاس بکبولاتوف (روسیه)- قهرمان جام یاریگین (7)

9- ماگومد مراد گاجیف (لهستان)- قهرمان یاشار دوغو (12)

10- فرانکلین گومز ماتوس (پورتوریکو)- قهرمان دان کلوف (خارج از رنکینگ)

11- آلیبگاجی امیف (روسیه)- نفر سوم یاریگین (خارج از رنکینگ)

12- بوریسلاو نواچکوف (بلغارستان)- نایب قهرمان دان کلوف (13)

13- برنت متکالف (آمریکا)- قهرمان پان آمریکن (10)

14- آوتاندیل کنتچادزه (گرجستان)- نفر نهم جهان (11)

15- گئورگ بوکور (رومانی)- نفر دوم زیلکوفسکی (9)

16 - مسعود اسماعیل پور (ایران)- قهرمان آسیا (14)

17- لوگان اشتیبر (آمریکا)- نفر دوم جایزه بزرگ باکو (15)

18- مصطفی کایا (ترکیه)- نفر سوم بازیهای اروپایی (17)

19- یوشگون عظیموف (آذربایجان)- قهرمان جام علی اف (18)

20- میثم نصیری (ایران)- قهرمان جام تختی (خارج از رنکینگ)

 

70 کیلوگرم

1- ماگومد رسول گازی ماگومداف (روسیه)- قهرمان جهان (1)

2- حسن یزدانی (ایران)- نفر دوم جهان (2)

3- یاکوب گور (ترکیه)- نفر سوم جهان (3)

4- جیمز گرین (آمریکا)- نفر سوم جهان (4)

5- اسرائیل کاسوموف (روسیه)- قهرمان جام کنایف (7)

6- بکزود عبدالرحمانوف (ازبکستان)- قهرمان جایزه بزرگ باکو (6)

7- عظمت نوریکوف (بلاروس)- قهرمان جام مدوید (5)

8- یوگنی ندیلکو (مولداوی)- قهرمان دان کلوف (خارج از رنکینگ)

9- میروسلاو کایروف (بلغارستان)- نفر سوم جام دان کلوف (6)

10- زائوربک سیداکوف (روسیه)- قهرمان یاریگین (خارج از رنکینگ)

11- دیوید تلاشادزه (گرجستان)- نفر هفتم جهان (9)

12- روسلان دیبیرگاجیف (آذربایجان)- نفر سوم بازیهای اروپایی (10)

13- خوسی سویونچف (روسیه)- نفر دوم یاریگین (خارج از رنکینگ)

14- رسول ارسان علی اف (نفر سوم یاریگین)- (خارج از رنکینگ)

15- ماگومد حبیب کادی ماگومداف (روسیه)- نفر اول جام علی اف (11)

16- خلیل امین اف (روسیه)- قهرمان جام بین قاره ای (12)

17- یوگنی ژربایف (روسیه)- قهرمان دمیتری کورکین (13)

18- گئورگی زلاتوف (بلغارستان) نفر سوم دان کلوف (15)

19- الامان دوگدوربک اولو (قرقیزستان)- نفر دوم آسیا (16)

20- آیاد ابراهیم (مصر)- قهرمان بازیهای آفریقا (خارج از رنکینگ)  

#WrestleNoviSad

Yakushenko levels up with first U23 World Championships gold

By Vinay Siwach

NOVI SAD, Serbia (October 22) -- Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) has lost only one bout in 2025 but that one loss remains tied to him when he steps on the mat.

At the U20 European Championships final, Yakushenko lost to Darius KIEFER (GER), 5-3, losing his gold medal to the German wrestler. But using that loss as a lesson and motivation, Yakushenko has now won two world titles in the space of two months.

The 19-year-old won gold at the U20 World Championships in August and on Wednesday at the U23 World Championships in Novi Sad, Yakushenko won his first U23 world title.

"If I hadn’t lost at the Europeans, I wouldn’t have won at Worlds," Yakushenko said. "Sometimes a loss can be for the better. It motivated me and helped me mentally."

Yakushenko, who avenged that loss to Kiefer at U20 Worlds, wrestled with great temperament at the U23 Worlds despite carrying an injury after his first bout. In four matches, he began with a win over Luka GABISONIA (GEO), held off Abubakar KHASLAKHANU (UWW) and defeated Richard KARELSON (EST) in the semifinals.

Facing senior Asia silver medalist Iussuf MATSIYEV (KAZ) in the final, Yakushenko used a stepout and turn from par terre to lead 4-0. Matsiyev was docked two points for a defensive foul as Yakushenko extended his lead to 6-0.

When Matsiyev got the par terre position in the second period, Yakushenko easily defended it and managed to win the final 6-1, thus claiming gold.

"I’m euphoric right now," he said. "I feel that it really wasn’t that easy. I guess I just worked hard and prepared well, went through good training. My shoulder hurts a little. But I think it’s actually from the rib."

Yakushenko was in Porec, Croatia at the preparatory camp for senior World Championships. Though he did not participate in the tournament, Yakushenko was part of the Ukraine team and watched the matches in Zagreb.

"We had a camp in Croatia, where many countries were present," he said. "I watched, got motivated, I was overwhelmed with emotions. My weight category is very strong, but I think everything is within my reach."

The two-time U20 world champion believes that needs to build more strength to be ready for the senior level but will not shy from a chance to earn his spot on the senior Ukrainian team next year.

"I still need to build more physical strength," he said. "But technically, I don’t think I have problems, and my endurance is good too. 

"There should be the Ukrainian Cup in November, I’m not sure yet. It’s the qualification event for the European Championships. Maybe I’ll compete there, give our senior team a bit of a shake-up. I don’t know yet, I’ll depend on what my coach says. Whatever he decides, I’ll do."

Iran closer to cleansweep

Iran won its third gold medal in Greco at the U23 World Championships and has now all-but-confirmed the team trophy. With the team title in Novi Sad, Iran will assert its domination in Greco as it won team titles in all World Championships -- U17 in Athens, U20 in Samokov and senior in Zagreb -- to go with the one in Novi Sad, Serbia.

It consolidated its position on the top when former U23 world champion at 63kg, Iman MOHAMMADI (IRI) won gold at 72kg on Wednesday. Mohammadi defeated Abror ATABAEV (UZB), 5-1, in the final.

Mohammadi was awarded the par terre in he first period and he hit a front headlock which was scored two and one more point was awarded for a stepout. But Iran challenged, claiming four points on the throw, which was confirmed on review but the stepout point was removed as it was a push.

After the challenge, Mohammadi led 5-0 and when Atabaev was given par terre in the second period, Mohammadi defended that position with ease and went on to win the gold medal.

Azerbaijan won its second gold medal in Greco-Roman after Elmir ALIYEV (AZE) held off Alibek AMIROV (UWW), 3-2, in the 55kg final. With the win, he also avenged his U23 European Championships semifinals loss to Amirov.

Egypt got its first world title at any level since 2023 and first at U23 in six years after Hassan ABDELREHIM (EGY) blanked Anri KHOZREVANIDZE (GEO), 3-0, in the 67kg. Incidentally, Egypt's other two U23 world titles, both won by Mohamed EL SAYED (EGY) in 2018 and 2019, have come at 67kg.

Alexandrin GUTU (MDA)Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) completes a five-pointer. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Gutu in third straight final

Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) is a win away from becoming the first three-time U23 world champion after he reached the 82kg final in Novi Sad.

Gutu, wrestling at the U23 Worlds for the fifth time, reached the his fourth straight final after beating Ibrahim TABAEV (BEL) in the semifinals. Gutu won gold medals in 2023 and 2024 and has a silver medal from 2022.

He began with a takedown before adding a stepout for a 3-0 lead. The par terre gave him one more point and he threw Tabaev out-of-bounds for one more point and lead 5-0. The second period saw him add one stepout as he won the semifinal 6-0.

For his third straight gold medal, Gutu will face Ruslan ABDIIEV (UKR) who defeated Data CHKHAIDZE (GEO), 1-1, in the other semifinal, thanks to the first-point criteria in a 1-1 finish.

Koto GOMI (JPN)Koto GOMI (JPN) celebrates after winning the 60kg semifinal against Maxwell BLACK (USA). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

At 60kg, Koto GOMI (JPN) will try to the six-year gold medal drought for Japan after he reached the 60kg final on Wednesday after a dominant performance. He faced Maxwell BLACK (USA) in the semifinals and like his previous bouts, he began by scoring as soon as the match began.

An arm-drag to takedown gave him a 2-0 lead before he got the par terre position and scored three rolls using high gut-wrench and win 9-0.

He will face Sajjad ABBASPOUR (IRI) for gold after he made a remarkable comeback in the final 20 seconds. Down 3-1 against Mehroj BAKHRAMOV (UZB), Abbaspour scored a stepout which was also called fleeing with 13 seconds left. However, Bakhramov still held the criteria at 3-3 as he had a two-point move.

But Abbaspour did not give up and scored another stepout with five seconds left, giving him a match-winning 4-3 lead. Uzbekistan challenged it but only to lose it and add one more point to Abbaspour's score.

The 5-3 defeat left the teenager Bakhramov in tears while the Iran corner celebrated the unexpected win in the semifinals.

U.S. perfect

Audrey JIMINEZ (USA) will get another chance of winning her first-ever world title after she reached the 50kg finals after posting a controlled 5-2 win against Aida KERYMOVA (UKR) in the semifinals. Jiminez, who had four age-group world silver medals, scored a takedown and one turn in the second period to overcome a 2-1 deficit and post the win.

She will face Jinyue LIANG (CHN) for that much-awaited gold after Liang saw off Natalia PUDOVA (UWW) in the other semifinal. Liang scored a takedown in the second period to lead 2-1 and then got in scramble which that scored two points each. She then hit a headlock for four to make the score 8-3, her winning score in the final.

Former U20 world champion Jasmine ROBINSON (USA) reached the final at 72kg with her third technical superiority win in three bouts. She defeated former U17 world champion Veronika VILK (CRO), 10-0, in the semifinals using her trademark double blasts.

Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) will look to stop Robinson from winning her first U23 world title after she reached the final at 72kg after beating Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN), 6-3.

Returning champion at 72kg, Kylie WELKER (USA), who moved up to 76kg, reached the final after a 16-6 technical superiority win over Edna JIMENEZ VILLALBA (MEX).

Welker began with a four-pointer before two turns made it 8-0. But Villalba also hit a four-pointer to cut the lead to 8-4. She then had Welker in danger to make it 8-6 bit a reversal and three lace turns tilted the semifinal 15-6 in favor to Welker, who scored a stepout in the second period for the win.

She will take on returning bronze medalist Valeriia TRIFONOVA (UWW) who posted a 4-1 win over Elmira YASIN (TUR) in the other semifinal.

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Elmir ALIYEV (AZE) df. Alibek AMIROV (UWW), 3-2

BRONZE: Khojiakbar KUCHKAROV (UZB) df. Armin SHAMSIPOUR (IRI), 8-0
BRONZE: Vishvajit MORE (IND) df. Yerassyl MAMYRBEKOV (KAZ), 5-4

67kg
GOLD: Hassan ABDELREHIM (EGY) df. Anri KHOZREVANIDZE (GEO), 3-0

BRONZE: Ahmadreza MOHSEN NEZHAD (IRI) df. Hleb MAKARANKA (UWW), 7-1
BRONZE: Otto BLACK (USA) df. Attila JOZSA (HUN), via inj. def.

72kg
GOLD: Iman MOHAMMADI (IRI) df. Abror ATABAEV (UZB), 5-1

BRONZE: Ruslan NURULLAYEV (AZE) df. Gaspar TERTERYAN (ARM), 3-1
BRONZE: Merey MAULITKANOV (KAZ) df. Danil GRIGOREV (UWW), 10-0

97kg
GOLD: Yehor YAKUSHENKO (UKR) df. Iussuf MATSIYEV (KAZ), 6-1

BRONZE: Richard KARELSON (EST) df. Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (UWW), 7-7
BRONZE: Maksim AVERIN (UWW) df. Arshak GEGHAMYAN (ARM), 1-1

Greco-Roman Semifinals

60kg
GOLD: Koto GOMI (JPN) vs. Sajjad ABBASPOUR (IRI)

SF 1: Koto GOMI (JPN) df. Maxwell BLACK (USA), 9-0
SF 2: Sajjad ABBASPOUR (IRI) df. Mehroj BAKHRAMOV (UZB), 5-3

82kg
GOLD: Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) vs. Ruslan ABDIIEV (UKR)

SF 1: Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) df. Ibrahim TABAEV (BEL), 6-0
SF 2: Ruslan ABDIIEV (UKR) df. Data CHKHAIDZE (GEO), 1-1

Women's Wrestling Semifinals

50kg
GOLD: Audrey JIMENEZ (USA) vs. Jinyue LIANG (CHN)

SF 1: Audrey JIMENEZ (USA) df. Aida KERYMOVA (UKR), 5-2
SF 2: Jinyue LIANG (CHN) df. Natalia PUDOVA (UWW), 8-3

72kg
GOLD: Jasmine ROBINSON (USA) vs. Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ)

SF 1: Jasmine ROBINSON (USA) df. Veronika VILK (CRO), 10-0 
SF 2: Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) df. Mahiro YOSHITAKE (JPN), 6-3

76kg
GOLD: Valeriia TRIFONOVA (UWW) vs. Kylie WELKER (USA)

SF 1: Valeriia TRIFONOVA (UWW) df. Elmira YASIN (TUR), 4-1
SF 2: Kylie WELKER (USA) df. Edna JIMENEZ VILLALBA (MEX), 16-6