#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)

 

Batumi to host 2027 U23 Euros; 2026 Pan-Am calendar updated

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (January 29) -- United World Wrestling has announced updates for its events calendar for both 2026 and 2027.

For 2027, Batumi, Georgia will host the U23 European Championships from March 8 to 14. With this, Georgia, a top wrestling country, marks a return to the UWW's events calendar after six years having hosted the 2019 Veteran World Championships.

The 2026 U15 Pan-American Championships were awarded to Mexico City, Mexico and the tournament will be from July 23 to 25. The U15 Pan-American Beach Wrestling Championships will also be conducted in Mexico City. The same will be held on July 26.

UWW also decided to shift the 2026 U23 Pan-American Championships to Lima, Peru from Caracas, Venezuela. The competition will be held June 11-13 in the Peruvian capital with competition being held over three days, with medal bouts of respective styles to be completed on the same day.

The Senior Beach Wrestling Pan-American Championships will also be held in Lima, Peru on June 14.

Updated 2026 Pan-American Championships calendar:

- U17 Pam-American Championships, April 2-4 (Panama City, Panama)
- Senior Pan-American Championships, May 7-10 (Coralville, United States)
- U23 Pan-American Championships, June 11-13 (Lima, Peru)
- U20 Pan-American Championships, July 9-11 (Niteroi, Brazil)
- U15 Pan-American Championships, July 23-25 (Mexico City, Mexico)

Updated 2026 Pan-Am Beach Wrestling Championships Calendar:

- U17 Beach Wrestling Pan-American Championships, April 5, (Panama City, Panama)
- Senior Beach Wrestling Pan-American Championships, June 14 (Lima, Peru)
- U20 Beach Wrestling Pan-American Championships, July 12 (Niteroi, Brazil)
- U15 Beach Wrestling Pan-American Championships, July 26 (Mexico City, Mexico)

UWW remains at the disposal of all National Federations for any query. For all events, refer to uww.org/events.