#Zagreb2018

Gurbanov and Zavertailo to Meet in Semifinals at #Zagreb2018 in Rematch of 2017 World Finals

By Taylor Miller

ZAGREB, Croatia – We’ll see a rematch of last year’s Cadet World finals in the 45 kg World semifinals as 2017 champion Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) will meet up with silver medalist Hennadii ZAVERTAILO (UKR) tonight in Zagreb, Croatia.

The last time those two met, Gurbanov scored in the last four seconds to take a 5-4 win and the 2017 Cadet World title.

In the other semifinal at 45 kg, 2018 European champion Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL) will do battle with European bronze medalist Ilias IANDAROV (RUS).

On the top side of the 51 kg bracket, 2018 Cadet continental bronze medalists will go head-to-head as it will feature Asian bronze winner Lazizkhon UZBEKOV (UZB) and European bronze medalist Robert KARAPETYAN (ARM).

On the bottom side, Baktiiar AKBERDIEV (KGZ) will face the other Asian bronze medalist from this year, Laishram MEITEI (IND).

Asian silver medalist Shahin BADAGHI MOFRAD (IRI) moved onto the 60 kg semifinals, where he will face Pravesh PRAVESH (IND).

Opposite of them will be 2017 Balkan champion Serhat KIRIK (TUR) taking on 2018 European bronze medalist Gagik SNJOYAN (FRA).

Highlighting the semifinals at 71 kg is Asian champion Shu YAMADA (JPN). Tonight, Yamada will go against Petar GORNYASHKI (BUL), who took 17th at this year’s European Championships.

Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) and Abdullah ATES (TUR) will go at it at 71 kg. Gutu won a European silver medal earlier this year, while Ates collected a bronze at the same event.

At 92 kg, Asian champion Mohammed NOSRATI (IRI) advanced to tonight’s semifinals and will take on Lasha TVILDIANI (GEO).

The other bout will pit Aleksei MILESHIN (RUS) against 2018 European bronze medalist Richard KARELSON (EST).

Mileshin has already knocked off one European bronze medalist, Davyd SAMSONOV (UKR), who won bronze at continentals in 2017.

The semifinals are set for Saturday evening at 11:30 a.m. ET live on unitedworldwrestling.org.

Semifinals pairings

45 kg
Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL) vs. Ilias IANDAROV (RUS)
Hennadii ZAVERTAILO (UKR) vs. Gurban GURBANOV (AZE)

51 kg
Lazizkhon UZBEKOV (UZB) vs. Robert KARAPETYAN (ARM)
Baktiiar Akberdiev (KGZ) vs. Laishram MEITEI (IND)

60 kg
Pravesh PRAVESH (IND) vs. Shahin BADAGHI MOFRAD (IRI)
Serhat KIRIK (TUR) vs. Gagik SNJOYAN (FRA)

71 kg
Shu YAMADA (JPN) vs. Petar GORNYASHKI (BUL)
Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) vs. Abdullah ATES (TUR)

92 kg
Aleksei MILESHIN (RUS) vs. Richard KARELSON (EST)
Lasha TVILDIANI (GEO) vs. Mohammed NOSRATI (IRI)

 

#Zagreb2018

Amirli and Kerkvliet Return to Cadet World Finals

By Taylor Miller

ZAGREB, Croatia – Returning World champions Alihasan AMIRLI (AZE) and Daniel KERKVLIET (USA) sealed spots in the Cadet World finals for the second year in a row.

The weights contested in the first day of action were 48 kg, 55 kg, 65 kg, 80 kg and 110 kg.

Four countries put multiple wrestlers into tomorrow’s Cadet World men’s freestyle finals, including Azerbaijan, Iran, Russia and USA.

Making it to the finals at 48 kg was 2017 World champion at 42 kg Alihasan AMIRLI (AZE), who beat out two-time Cadet World medalist Giorgi GEGELASHVILI (GEO) with a convincing 8-2 decision to move onto his second-consecutive World Championship final.

Waiting for him there is Richard FIGUEROA II (USA), who made his international debut on Monday. To get to the gold-medal bout, Figueroa defeated Mykyta ABRAMOV (UKR) in the semis with a 10-4 victory.

At 55 kg, both semifinals were determined were won within the final seconds.

This year’s Cadet Asian champion Hayato FUJITA (JPN) edged out Daviti ABDALADZE (GEO) with a 4-4 win on criteria. Fujita picked up a late takedown to secure his chance to go for gold tomorrow night.

On the other side of the bracket, Jamshidbek MARUFOV (UZB) fought off several persistent attacks from Simone PIRODDU (ITA). Marufov trailed on criteria within the final minute but scored a takedown for an eventual 5-4 win to move onto the finals.

Inalbek SHERIEV (RUS) and Dmitrii ELKANOV (RUS) will compete for gold at back-to-back weights tomorrow.

Sheriev moved on to the 65 kg finals after defeating 2018 Cadet Asian silver medalist Bekzat ZHALGASSOV (KAZ). After going up 10-0, Sheriev sealed the win with a pin at the 3:46 mark.

The other finalist at 65 kg is Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE), a 2017 Cadet World silver medalist and 2018 Cadet European champion. Bayramov landed a spot in the finals with a dominant 8-2 win over 2018 Cadet Asian champion Mohammad KARIMISEIFABAD (IRI).

The 80 kg finals will pit Elkanov against 2018 Cadet Asian champion Mohammadreza GHIYASI (IRI), who took out Sagadulla AGAEV (AZE) with a 6-1 victory.

At 110 kg, Daniel KERKVLIET (USA), a 2017 Cadet World champion, punched a ticket to his second-consecutive World finals on Monday with a close-call win over 2018 Cadet European champion Sergey KOZYREV (RUS), 2-2. Kerekvliet’s second-period takedown gave the American the win on criteria.

Looking to challenge the reigning champ is Amir ZARE (IRI), the 2018 Cadet Asian champion. Zare made it to the finals with Islam ABUEV (AZE) with an 11-0 shutout in the semifinals.

The finals are set for Tuesday at 6 p.m. local time (12 p.m. ET). The repechage for today’s five weights as well as the preliminary rounds for 45 kg, 51 kg, 60 kg, 71 kg and 92 kg will begin at 10:30 a.m. (4:30 a.m. ET).

Finals pairings
48 kg: Richard FIGUEROA (USA) vs. Alihasan AMIRLI (AZE)
55 kg: Hayato FUJITA (JPN) vs. Jamshidbek MARUFOV (UZB)
65 kg: Inalbek SHERIEV (RUS) vs. Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE)
80 kg: Dmitrii ELKANOV (RUS) vs. Mohammadreza GHIYASI (IRI)
110 kg: Amir ZARE (IRI) vs. Daniel KERKVLIET (USA)