WORLD CLUBS CUP

Greco-Roman Wold Clubs Cup Semifinals Determined

By Ali Feizasa

The semifinalists of 2017 Greco-Roman World Clubs Cup were determined in Isfahan, Iran. In the first semifinal match, Sina Sanat Izeh (IRI) will meet the Georgian Club (GEO).  Buyuksehir (TUR) will take on Bimeh Razi Isfahan (IRI) in the second semifinal match-up.

In pool A, defending champions Sina Sanat Izeh (IRI) defeated Dinamo (ARM), 6-4.

2017 world champion, Maksim MANUKYAN (ARM) gave the Iranian team a technical superiority victory against his fellow countryman in the 82kg bout. Olympic silver medal winner, Zhan BELENYUK’s (UKR) fall over Gegam TORGOMYAN (ARM) secured the victory for Sina Sanat Izeh(IRI).  

In pool B, the Georgian Club (GEO) edged Shohadaye Modafe Haram Qom (IRI), 8-2, and Tajik Air (TJK), 9-1. They will meet Sina Sanat Izeh (IRI) in tomorrow’s semifinals.

In pool C, it was key victories from 2017 world champion, Metehan BASAR (TUR) and U-23 world champion, Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) that helped 2016 World Clubs Cup runner-up, Buyuksehir (TUR) defeat Samson (UKR), 6-4.

The most exciting match of the tournament came from pool D, as Bimeh Razi (IRI) defeated Moscow (RUS), 10-0.

Led by two-time Olympic and world three-time world champion, Roman VLASOV (RUS), the Iranian side imposed their will heavily on Moscow. Artem SURKOV (RUS) who is competing for the Iranian team gave the host team a 1-0 victory against Pavel SALEEV (RUS). The match between Bimeh Razi’s Vlasov and Ilias MAGAMADOV (RUS) Moscow didn’t happen, as Magamadov was 400g over weight.

Former world champion, Saeid ABDEVALI (IRI) moved up to 82kg and defeated Roman YUSIPOV (RUS),

At 87kg, six-time Olympic and world medal winner, Aleksei MISHIN (RUS) didn’t continue the match in the second period against Mehdi FALLAH (IRI)  due to injury. Fallah was leading after the first period, 3-0.

In the 97kg match, 2017 Asian champion, Seyed Mostafa SALEHIZADEH (IRI) bested 2017 world finalist, Musa EVLOEV (RUS), 5-1. It was three-time junior world champion Zviadi PATARIDZE (GEO) who gave Bimeh Razi their tenth straight win.

The semifinals of the 2017 Greco-Roman World Clubs Cup will be Friday morning.The finals match will be held in the evening.

First day results:

Pool A
Sina Sanat Izeh (IRI) df. Dinamo (ARM), 6-4

55kg- Rudik MKRTCHYAN (ARM) df. Reza KHEDRI (IRI), 2-1
60kg- Shirzad BEHESHTI TALA (IRI) df. Murad HARUTYUNYAN (ARM), 7-4
 63kg- Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM). Pinned Behnam MORADI  (IRI),
67kg- Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) Pinned Aleksan MIKAYELYAN (ARM)
72kg- Ali ARSALAN (IRI) df. Armen HAKOBYAN (ARM), 10-8
77kg- Ruben GHARIBYAN (ARM) df. Keyvan REZAEI (IRI), 10-6
82kg- Maksim MANUKYAN (ARM/ Sina Sanat Team) TF. Argishti ABGARYAN (ARM), 9-0
87kg- Zhan BELENYUK (UKR/ Sina Sanat Team) pinned Gegam TORGOMYAN (ARM)
97kg- Hassan ARYANEJAD (IRI) df. Vagharsak MINASYAN (ARM), 5-2
130kg- Edgar KHACHATRYAN (ARM) pinned Mehdi NOURI (IRI)

Other matches of Pool A:
Sina Sanat Izeh (IRI) df. Dinamo (ARM), 6-4
Sina Sanat Izeh (IRI) df. Paok (GRE), 10-0
Dinamo (ARM) df. Olympic Hopes (ROU), 8-2
Olympic Hopes (ROU) df. Paok (GRE), 7-3
Dinamo (ARM) df. Paok (GRE), 9-1

Pool B
Georgian Club (GEO) df. Shohadaye Modafe Haram Qom (IRI), 8-2

55kg- Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) TF. Mehdi GHORBANI (IRI), 8-0
60kg- Beka BALANCHIVADZE (GEO) TF. Alireza NEJATI (IRI), 9-0
63kg- Dato CHKHARTISHVILI (GEO) df. Mehdi MORAD SALEHI (IRI), 4-3
67kg- Tornike JANGAVADZE (GEO) Pinned Aliakbar PASALARI (IRI)
72kg- Ramazi ZOIDZE (GEO)  TF. Ali SOLEIMANI (IRI), 8-0
77kg- Hadi ALIZADEH (IRI) df. Bakuri GOGOLI (GEO), 3-1
82kg- Varlami KVARATSKHELIA (GEO)- df. Mohammadreza REZAEI (IRI), 4-0
87kg- Mehdi EBRAHIMI (IRI) df. Gurami KHETSURIANI (GEO), 2-0
97kg- Kukuri KIRTSKHSLIA (GEO) df. Omid EFTEKHARIASL (IRI), 2-1
130kg- Levani ARABULI (GEO) df. Parsa NAZARI (IRI), 3-1

Other matches of Pool B:
Shohadaye Modafe Haram Qom (IRI) df. Tajik Air (TJK), 7-3
Georgian Club (GEO) df. Tajik Air (TJK), 9-1

Pool C
Buyuksehir (TUR) df. Samson (UKR), 6-4
55kg- Muslum ALINLI (TUR) pinned Sergii STOROZHENKO (UKR)
60kg- Andriy MARTYNYUK (UKR) df. Hammet RUSTEM (TUR), 4-2
63kg- Fatih UCUNCU (TUR) df. Anton KUTSENKO (UKR), 6-0
67kg- Fevzi MAMUTOV (UKR) TF. Atakan YUKSEL (TUR), 12-4
72kg- Yunus OZEL (TUR) df. Artur POLITAIEV (UKR), 9-2
77kg- Serkan AKKOYUN (TUR) df. Pavlo MOLNAR (UKR), 7-1
82kg- Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) df. Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR), 3-1
87kg- Metehan BASAR (TUR), Iurii SHKRIUBA (UKR), 3-2
97kg- Mykola KRYSOV (UKR) df. Irfan METE (TUR), 8-5
130kg- Mykola KUCHMII (UKR) df. Fatih BASKOY (TUR), 4-0

Other matches of pool C:
Samson (UKR) df. Budapest SC (HUN), 8-2
Buyuksehir (TUR) df. Budapest SC (HUN), 10-0

Pool D
Bimeh Razi (IRI) df. Moscow (RUS), 10-0
55kg- Moslem NADERI KHADEM (IRI) df. Aleksei KINZHIGALIEV (RUS) 4-2
60kg- Mehrdad MARDANI (IRI) df. Sergey EMELIN (RUS), 3-2                 
63kg- Saman ABDEVALI (IRI) df. Sanal SEMENOV (RUS), 5-1
72kg- Mohammad Ali GERAEI (IRI) df. Denis MURTAZIN (RUS), 4-1
77kg- Roman VLASOV (RUS/ Bimeh Team) won by forfeit. Ilias MAGAMADOV (RUS) failed in weigh in.
82kg- Saeid ABDEVALI (IRI) df. Roman YUSIPOV (RUS), 4-0
87kg- Mehdi FALLAH (IRI) df. Aleksei MISHIN (RUS), 3-0 (MISHIN didn’t continue in second round)
97kg- Seyed Mostafa SALEHIZADEH (IRI) df. Musa EVLOEV (RUS), 5-1
130kg- Zviadi PATARIDZE (GEO/ Bimeh Team) df. Zurabi GEDEKHAURI (RUS), 3-1

Other matches of Pool D:
Moscow (RUS) df. Sport Club Physical Academy (KGZ), 9-1
Bimeh Razi (IRI) df. Sport Club Physical Academy (KGZ),10-0

 

#WrestleTirana

WATCH: Shiotani's signature move - Reverse Lift or Tawaragaeshi

By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (March 3) -- Yu SHIOTANI (JPN) has done it many times domestically in Japan. On Sunday, he showed it to international fans.

As soon as he get the par terre position, instead for the typical gut-wrench, Shiotani goes for the reverse lift.

The reverse lift, known as Tawaragaeshi in Japanese, majorly seen in Greco-Roman wrestling when the wrestler on top in par terre jumps to face the grounded wrestler and the locks his hands around the opponents waist to throw him over his own head, or sometimes sideways.

That Aleksandr KARELIN photo in which he is clenching his teeth as he lifts his opponent like a sack. Exactly, a reverse lift.

Shiotani, former Asian champion, has mastered that move. And a reverse lift masterclass was on display on the final day of the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series 2025 in Tirana.

Out of the 53 points he scored on Sunday, Shiotani got 33 points from his signature reverse lift. Match after match, he would try the move and succeed as if the opponents did not how to defend it.

"There's not much to think about during a game like this. I do the Tawaragaeshi as if my body were moving on its own," Shiotani said.

Yu SHIOTANI (JPN)Yu SHIOTANI (JPN) performs a reverse lift during the 60kg semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostandin Andonov)

The Japanese federation Instagram page is full of Shiotani's reverse lift videos. Despite his go-to move, Shiotani is shy to explain his obsession with the move which he performs even when he is in a position to pin or roll his opponent.

"I'm trying to switch things up and try to lift the wrestlers rather than trying to hold him down," Shiotani said. "I'm always practicing so I am able to do it in any situation."

Shiotani doesn't hide it that he is going for the reverse lift. He ideally starts from a chest wrap and quickly moves his grip to waist. If the opponent tries to raise his head to defend, Shiotani scores an exposure, opening more scoring options.

This was the first time Shiotani was wrestling at 60kg in a UWW event, up from 55kg but he said that he always remained in shape for wrestling.

"I always keep in shape," he said. "Ever since moved up the weight class, I've always believed that I could win by building my body, so I'm glad I was able to do that."