#WrestleDortmund

Georgia Wins GR Title with Two Gold on Final Day at #WrestleDortmund

By Vinay Siwach

DORTMUND, Germany (July 4) --- After having subdued day at the junior European Championships on Saturday, Russia came up with two gold medal winning performances on Sunday to regain some lost ground in Dortmund, Germany.

Winning the title at 82kg and 97kg, Russia managed to climb up to the second spot in the team title race with Georgia winning the title as it won three gold and two silver. Turkey, with one gold, silver and bronze each in Dortmund, finished third.

Amirkhan TSECHOEV (RUS) was the first gold medalist for Russia as he claimed the 82kg title by beating Mykyta ALIEKSIEIEV (UKR) in the final. This was the second title for Russia for the event after Pavel REKLIN (RUS) won gold at 55kg on Saturday.

Tsechoev took the momentum in the 82kg final and was awarded a point for Alieksieiev's passivity. From the par terre position, he got two points for a throw. He was awarded two more points for another throw but Ukraine challenged tha call. Ukraine won the challenge but Russia still led 4-0.

In rush of adrenaline, Alieksiesiev went for a body lock but Tsechoev used that momentum to convert it into a four point throw. In just one minute 49 seconds, the Russian captured the gold medal with a technical superiority win.

A historic moment was witnessed at 82kg as Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) became the first ever medalist for Netherlands at the junior European Championships. He defeated Mikhail KHACHATURAU (BLR) 9-3 in a tense bronze medal bout.

Aleksei MILESHIN (RUS)Aleksei MILESHIN (RUS) won the 97kg title at junior European Championships in Dortmund. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Aleksei MILESHIN (RUS) was the second Russian to win the gold medal on Sunday. He ended the hopes of local wrestler Anton VIEWEG (GER) by beating him 5-0 in the 97kg final.

Mileshin, a cadet World Championships silver medalist, got a point for Vieweg's passivity. He used a throw from par terre to increase the lead to 3-0. In the second period, he scored a takedown and hung on to the 5-0 lead to win the top medal.

Georgia also had two European champions on Sunday as Pridon ABULADZE (GEO) won the 60kg title while Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) won the 72kg title.

In the 60kg final, Abuladze scored a come-from-behind victory over Dinislam BAMMATOV (RUS). Bammatov was leading 4-0 but Abuladze scored five unanswered points to win 5-4. A disappointed Russian expressed his displeasure at the end and even his coach showed a protest.

Bammatov used a chest wrap to gut wrench to lead 4-0. But it all changed in the second period, he was called for passivity and Abuladze scored a step out. Russia challenged the call but lost and the difference was reduced to 4-3.

After a warning, the referee cautioned Bammatov for using aggressive force on Abuladze's arm and the judges confirmed it which gave the Georgian a 5-4 lead. The clock expired at the same score.

But Abuladze's biggest win came in the semifinal when he defeated former senior European champion Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL) 3-2. The Bulgarian, a cadet world champion, was the favourite to win the title.

At 72kg, Chkhikvadze defeated Attila TOESMAGI (HUN) 4-1 in the final. The Youth Olympic Games champion led 1-0 after the Hungarian's inactivity. He added two more points with a throw from par terre.

Toesmagi, a bronze medalist at cadet Worlds, could not take advantage after the Georgian was called for inactivity. Toesmagi challenged for a leg foul but lost. The score changed to 4-1 but remained in Georgian's favour.

Azerbaijan won a gold medal on Sunday with Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) defeating Serhat KIRIK (TUR) in just one minute and 39 seconds.

It only needed a passivity from Kirik as Jafarov pounced on the opportunity and combined a throw and gut to lead 4-0. It looked like Kirik would defend the next attack from the Azerbaijani but Jafarov's strength was unmatched.

He scored two more throws for four points and secured a 9-0 win in the 67kg final.

RESULTS GR

60kg
GOLD: Pridon ABULADZE (GEO) df Dinislam BAMMATOV (RUS), 5-4

BRONZE: Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) df Hleb MAKARANKA (BLR), 4-0
BRONZE: Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL) df Arslanbek SALIMOV (POL), 12-7

67kg
GOLD: Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) df Serhat KIRIK (TUR), 9-0

BRONZE: Shant KHACHATRYAN (ARM) df Vilius SAVICKAS (LTU), 10-1
BRONZE: Luka OCHIGAVA (GEO) df Adam POHILEC (HUN), 10-0

72kg
GOLD: Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) df Attila TOESMAGI (HUN), 4-1

BRONZE: Khasay HASANLI (AZE) df Luka MALOBABIC (CRO), via fall
BRONZE: Samuel BELLSCHEIDT (GER) df Omer DOGAN (TUR), 8-3

82kg
GOLD: Amirkhan TSECHOEV (RUS) df Mykyta ALIEKSIEIEV (UKR), 8-0

BRONZE: Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) df Mikhail KHACHATURAU (BLR), 9-3
BRONZE: Samet YALDIRAN (TUR) df Kevin GREMM (GER), 8-3

97kg
GOLD: Aleksei MILESHIN (RUS) df Anton VIEWEG (GER), 5-0

BRONZE: Marcus WORREN (NOR) df Lasha TVILDIANI (GEO), via fall
BRONZE: Pavel HLINCHUK (BLR) df Antti HAANPAEAE (FIN), via fall

#WrestleSamokov

U.S. puts 2 in U20 Worlds finals; Kurugliyev closer to title

By Vinay Siwach

SAMOKOV, Bulgaria (August 18) -- Kamil KURUGLIYEV (KAZ) earned himself a chance to win his first U20 world title after he made it to 92kg final Monday in Samokov, Bulgaria.

Kurugliyev, a former world U17 champion, has made the trip to World U20 Championships twice before this year but finished fifth in 2023 and won bronze in 2024, both at 97kg. He moved down to 92kg for this year's tournament and already upgraded his medal.

In a tough semifinal against returning bronze medalist Anar JAFARLI (AZE), Kurugliyev won a close bout 9-6, thanks to an early four-pointer move which gave him a huge advantage. Jafarli got a couple of takedowns but never seemed to trouble the Kazakhstan wrestler.

Kurugliyev will now face Sherzod POYONOV (UZB) in the final after the Uzbekistan wrestler pinned Gadzhimurad GADZHIBATYROV (UWW) in the other semifinal at 92kg.

Poyonov, the Asian U20 champion, blocked Gadzhibatyrov in one of the attacks and then kept him on the mat, pinning his shoulders for the win. Poyonov will look to become the first Uzbekistan wrestler to win gold since 2022.

The U.S. got two finalists on Monday at 65kg and 79kg. At 65kg, Luke STANICH (USA) defeated European U20 and U23 champion Amal DZHANDUBAEV (UWW) with some of the best wrestling in Samokov. Stanich kept his positions and defense and ultimately managed to score a takedown in the second period to beat Dzhandubaev 3-1 in the semifinals.

He will face Reiji UCHIDA (JPN) for the gold medal after the Japanese wrestler blanked Viktor BOROHAN (UKR), 10-0, using a series of stepouts and lace. Uchida is a product of the Yamanashi Gaikun University, the same university that produced world champion Masanosuke ONO (JPN) and Asian champion Takara SUDA (JPN).

Pan-American U20 champion William HENCKEL (USA) defeated Asian U20 champion AMIT (IND), 5-4, using a takedown and gut-wrench in the first period. He scored a stepout when put on activity period and then added a takedown and turn. Amit blocked the second turn attempt for two points but Henckel led 5-2 at the break.

Amit managed a stepout and point for passivity from Henckel but that was all for him as the U.S. wrestler moved into the final in which he will face returning bronze medalist and senior Asian champion Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI).

At one point in the semifinal, Yousefi was down against European U20 bronze medalist Said SAIDULOV (UWW). But he managed to score takedowns at regular intervals to defeat Saidulov 15-7.

At 57kg, Sumit MALIK (IND) dominated his semifinal against Ion BULGARU (MDA) and won 11-3 and booked place in the final against Magomed OZDAMIROV (UWW) who held on to a nervous 3-1 win over Nurdanat AITANOV (KAZ) in the other semifinal.

Malik got on board first when he scored a stepout during his activity clock. He added a stepout and takedown to make it 4-0 at the break. He kept his attacks and got another takedown and stepout in the second period to build a 7-0 lead.

Bulgaru finally hit back with a takedown on the edge to cut the lead to 7-2 but Malik kept relentless forward pressure, scoring a stepout and takedown to lead 10-2. Both wrestlers were cautioned for open hands on faces but that did not affect Malik, who won 11-3 win.

Ozdamirov, who showed some crafty wrestling throughout the day, denied Nurdanat AITANOV (KAZ), 3-1, thanks to a takedown in the second period.

RESULTS

57kg
GOLD: Magomed OZDAMIROV (UWW) vs. Sumit MALIK (IND)

SF 1: Magomed OZDAMIROV (UWW) df. Nurdanat AITANOV (KAZ), 3-1
SF 2: Sumit MALIK (IND) df. Ion BULGARU (MDA), 11-3

65kg
GOLD: Luke STANICH (USA) vs. Reiji UCHIDA (JPN)

SF 1: Luke STANICH (USA) df. Amal DZHANDUBAEV (UWW), 3-1
SF 2: Reiji UCHIDA (JPN) df. Viktor BOROHAN (UKR), 10-0

79kg
GOLD: Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI) vs. William HENCKEL (USA)

SF 1: Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI) df. Said SAIDULOV (UWW), 15-7
SF 2: William HENCKEL (USA) df. AMIT (IND), 5-4

92kg
GOLD: Sherzod POYONOV (UZB) vs. Kamil KURUGLIYEV (KAZ)

SF 1: Sherzod POYONOV (UZB) df. Gadzhimurad GADZHIBATYROV (UWW), via fall
SF 2: Kamil KURUGLIYEV (KAZ) df. Anar JAFARLI (AZE), 9-6