#WrestleAlexandria

Ibrahim Moustafa Ranking Series day one finals set

By Vinay Siwach

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt (February 23) -- The second Ranking Series event of the year, the Ibrahim Moustafa, gets underway in the historic city of Alexandria. More than 450 wrestlers are participating in the tournament and Greco-Roman will kick off proceedings.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER

The finals for the evening are set

55kg
Marlan MUKASHEV (KAZ) vs. Amangali BEKBOLATOV (KAZ)

60kg
Yernar FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ) vs. Kerem KAMAL (TUR) 

63kg
Leri ABULADZE (GEO) vs. Meysam DALKHANI (IRI) 

67kg
Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) vs. Merey BEKENOV (KAZ) 

87kg
Ali CENGIZ (TUR) vs. Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) 

97kg
Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) vs. Roberti KOBLIASHVILI (GEO) 

130kg
 Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY) vs. Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU) 

15:00: Merey BEKENOV (KAZ) has ended HUSIYUETU (CHN)'s winning streak. Husiyuetu was leading 7-1 but a four-pointer and a full roll from par terre gave Bekenov a 9-7 win. He will face Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) in the final. 

14:40: Leri ABULADZE (GEO) is so good from par terre. He gut wrenches Mukhamedali MAMURBEK (KAZ) for a 9-1 win and enters the 63kg final against Meysam DALKHANI (IRI).

14:15: Tamas LEVAI (HUN), a U23 world champion at 77kg, made his debut at 97kg in Zagreb and reached the final. But here in Alexandria, he runs into Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) who beats him 5-2 in the semifinals.

14:00: Meysam DALKHANI (IRI) into the semifinals at 63kg. Not the easiest of bouts but he wins 2-1 against Madiyar MALTEKBAYEV (KAZ). All technical points in that bout.

13:45: Nicely done by Kerem KAMAL (TUR). He used the head pinch to great effect to win 8-0 against Nurmukhammet ABDULLAEV (KGZ). He was looking for the pin but let the pressure off to allow Abdullaev to spin which gave Kamal two more points for the win.

13:30: Fresh off winning the gold in Zagreb, HUSIYUETU (CHN) has stunned Niklas OEHLEN (SWE) with three power bombs. He got Oehlen in a front lock and executed three throws. 

13:15: That Alex KESSIDIS (SWE) vs Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ) bout at 87kg was never-ending. Kessidis was trailing 4-0 but then got the par terre and scored exposure before a four. Tursynov challenged the call and won it. Kessidis, leading 7-4, was put in par terre from which Tursynov scored a throw. No points were awarded so Kazakhstan challenged it again. A point for pushout. But Kessidis wins 7-5.

13:00: The first set of semifinals

60kg
Kerem KAMAL (TUR) vs. Nurmukhammet ABDULLAEV (KGZ)
Yernar FIDAKHMETOV (KAZ) vs. Haithem MAHMOUD (EGY)

12:30: A hotly contested bout between Victor CIOBANU (MDA) and Meysam DALKHANI (IRI) at 63kg. Dalkhani got a takedown which Ciobanu thought was only a stepout. He challenged it and lost. Dalkhani then got a point for passivity to lead 4-0 at the break. The second period was an absolute war but no wrestler managed to score. Dalkhani wins 4-0.

12:20: Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) and Marlan MUKASHEV (KAZ) on Mat A. Tsurtsumia starts with a four but Mukashev with a reversal for takedown and gut to make it 4-4 but Tsurtsumia leads on criteria. He is called for finger-grabbling right before the break. He challenges the call only to lose. Mukashev leads 7-4. After the break, Tsurtsumia managed to get behind Mukashev who hit a four. The referees call a pin. Kazakhstan challenges the call and wins the challenge. It was a leg foul by Tsurtsumia. Mukashev with a takedown to win 13-4

12:15: Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) keeps both the passivity points in the bout to win 2-0 against Giorgi MELIA (GEO). Such a smart wrestler Saravi, controls the bout through.

11: 50: Metehan BASAR (TUR) has pulled out injured after a freak injury when he was trying to roll Artur OMAROV (CZE). He pushed his hand under Omarov but his finger got stuck and twisted. Omarov gets the win

11:30: Former world champion Meysam DALKHANI (IRI), who had defeated Abuladze in 2021 final and was injured last season, begins with a technical superiority win 8-0 over Syimyk MAKHMUDOV (KGZ). That gut wrench was strong.

11:20: Two-time world silver medalist and European champion Leri ABULADZE (GEO) with a typical Abuladze win. He trailed 2-0 but then makes a comeback in his slow style to win 6-2 against Dastan ZARLYKHANOV (KAZ).

11:05: Victor CIOBANU (MDA) with a solid gut wrench! The former world champion at 60kg has been at 63kg for a while now. He begins with a technical superiority win over Ismail ETTALIBI (MAR).

10:50: Former Asian champion Sunil KUMAR (IND) with a late takedown to beat Noureldin HASSAN (EGY) 7-5 at 87kg. At the same time on Mat A, Alex KESSIDIS (SWE) beats Maimaiti KAISAIER (CHN) 3-1.

10:20: Here's the first big match of the day! Kerem KAMAL (TUR) is up against Razvan ARNAUT (ROU) at 60kg. Kamal gets the first position. He jumps to front par terre, jumps sides frequently and manages to spin Arnaut on the head. But that was clean as Arnaut never was in danger. Kamal leads 1-0. At the start of the second period, Kamal wraps Arnaut's arm around his head and rolls for a two and then a four. A takedown gives him a 9-0 win.

10:00: Welcome to Alexandria! The biggest Ranking Series event in Africa gets underway with Greco-Roman. Seven weight classes in action today are 55kg, 60kg, 63kg, 67kg, 87kg, 97kg, and 130kg. Big day coming up.

#WrestleAmman

U17 Worlds: Dashdamirov repeats; Iran wins Greco team title

By Vinay Siwach

AMMAN, Jordan (August 21) -- Azerbaijan may have found its new wonderkid. Turan DASHDAMIROV (AZE) is gradually turning out to be the wrestler to beat in age-group competitions. A two-time U17 European champion, Dashdamirov is now a two-time U17 world champion as he won the gold medal at 51kg in Amman on Wednesday.

While his controversial win at the U17 World Championships last year was still in his mind, Dashdamirov used it as an inspiration and collected the gold medal for this team with no asterisk.

In the 51kg final against Kutman KALBAEV (KGZ), the 16-year-old fell behind 3-1 after Kalbaev got a turn from par terre in the first period. But Dashdamirov did not panic and got a takedown at the start of the second period to lead 3-3 on criteria. However, he continued his gut wrench and claimed an outright 5-3 lead.

"The toughest match for me was the final," Dashdamirov said. "I was behind 3-1 in the first period, but then I put myself together, made it to 3-3 and then won the match. That’s the most important [thing]."

He was one of the two champions for Azerbaijan on day three of the U17 World Championships but it was Iran that once again clinched the team title with 140 points as Greco-Roman came to an end at the tournament. Uzbekistan, which won its first team title in Greco-Roman at the U17 level at the Asian Championships, finished second with 113 points, eight points ahead of Azerbaijan which was third.

Turan DASHDAMIROV (AZE)Turan DASHDAMIROV (AZE), blue, tries to block a move from Kutman KALBAEV (KGZ) during their 51kg final at the U17 World Championships in Amman. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Dashdamirov's win was another feather in his cap as he extended his unbeaten run in his international career to 20; his last loss coming to Rustem ABATSIEV (AIN) back in 2021 in the final of the U15 European Championships. Abatsiev was his opponent in the U17 Worlds final last year.

"I came here as a two-time U17 European champion and a U17 World champion," he said. "I could feel that the opponents were getting ready to wrestle with me. However, I didn’t change any tactics. I stuck to the plan."

A native of Bina, a locality in which the Heydar Aliyev airport in located, in Khazar province in Azerbaijan, the 16-year-old's run in Amman included a 5-1 win over Sainath PARDHI (IND), a 57-second 9-0 win over Domenic MUNARETTO (USA) and a 4-1 win over Yerassyl MUSSAN (KAZ) in the semifinals. He now hopes to replicate winning golds at the next level.

"I have both European and World Championships," he said. "Now I am planning to achieve the same result at the U20 level. 

"In Azerbaijan, we have many good wrestlers. Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE), Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE), Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE). I try to take them as examples."

Aykhan JAVADOV (AZE)Aykhan JAVADOV (AZE) celebrates after winning gold medal in 60kg at the U17 World Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

The second for Azerbaijan was won by Aykhan JAVADOV (AZE) who survived a few nasty attacks from Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO) in the 60kg final. Javadov, the U17 European champion, won 4-1.

Lolua was penalized for blocking Javadov by using hands on the face which gave Javadov a 3-1 lead at the break. In the second period, Lolua tried getting a stepout but Javadov survived, sometimes by a whisker. It was at one such attempt when Lolua thought he got a stepout but Javadov remained inside and got a stepout of his own against Lolua to lead 4-0.

Aykhan JAVADOV (AZE)Aykhan JAVADOV (AZE) survives a stepout against Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO) during their 60kg final at the U17 World Championships in Amman. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Javadov was cautioned for not engaging in the final few seconds but conceding one point did not stop him from winning the gold medal. In the semifinals, he had beaten returning champion Jordyn RANEY (USA) 2-1.

Raney returned with a bronze medal as he defeated Vadym MATROS (UKR) 6-1, becoming the first wrestler from the United States to win two Greco-Roman medals at the U17 World Championships since the restart of the tournament in 2011.

Danial IZADI (IRI)Danial IZADI (IRI) scores against Ole STERNING (GER) using an arm throw during their 92kg final at the U17 World Championships in Amman. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Iran got its third champion of the tournament as Danial IZADI (IRI) defeated Ole STERNING (GER), 4-0, to win the gold medal at 92kg. After scoring the takedown using an arm throw, Izadi turned Sterning to lead 4-0 and sat on it for the remaining three minutes of the bout.

In his five bouts in Amman, Izadi scored 30 points while conceding only one point with some big throws being the highlight of his campaign.

"I’ve been working hard for years and I wished to become the world champion," Izadi said. "Today I was able to become the world champion. I’m very happy and grateful."

Izadi, a native Gushlu village in the historic province Ardabil in northwest Iran and on the Azerbaijan border, will be moving to the U20 level next year and hopes to continue his success.

"Next year, I’ll be in U20s and I hope I’ll be a champion in U20 like I did here," he said.

Aslanbek KOSTOEV (AIN)Aslanbek KOSTOEV (AIN) celebrates after beating Marat ATSHEMYAN (ARM) in the 45kg final at the U17 World Championships in Amman. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostandin Andonov)

At 45kg, Aslanbek KOSTOEV (AIN) avenged his U17 European finals loss to Marat ATSHEMYAN (ARM), pinning the Armenian in the final. Atshemyan had beaten Kostoev 10-0 in the European final last month.

Atshemyan was leading the final 3-2 with less than 30 seconds remaining but he tried to throw Kostoev on the edge but fell on his back with Kostoev in control, giving Kostoev a 4-3 lead. Desperate, the Armenian tried the same move and failed again. Kostoev held him on the mat to secure the fall.

Kiryl VALEUSKI (AIN) posted a dominant 7-1 win over Vladislav BYRLIA (AIN), in the 71kg final to win the gold medal. This win was more controlled than his 3-3 win at the U17 European Championships, a tournament in which Valeuski won gold as well.

Valeuski got a takedown when he tried to throw Byrlia using a headlock. No turns from par terre meant Valeuski led 3-1 when Byrlia tried a 'flying squirrel' but Valeuski smashed him on the mat to get four more points.

Mansi LATHER (IND)Mansi LATHER (IND) scores on Piper FOWLER (USA) during their 72kg quarterfinal at the U17 World Championships in Amman (Photo: 

India Perfect

India maintained a 100 percent record on the first day of women's wrestling in Amman. All four wrestlers in action reached the gold-medal bouts in their respective weight classes, the only country to achieve such a result. Aditi KUMARI (IND) began the winning run at 43kg followed by NEHA (IND) at 57kg, PULKIT (IND) at 65kg and Mansi LATHER (IND) at 73kg.

Kumari defeated Aleksandra BEREZOVSKAIA (AIN), 8-2, in the semifinals and will take on Maria GKIKA (GRE) who became the first Greek wrestler in 22 years to reach a World Championships final in women's wrestling. She defeated Gabriela PALACIOS (MEX), 6-1 in the semifinals.

Two-time Asian U17 champion and returning bronze medalist Neha saw off Anna STRATAN (KAZ), 8-4 in the semifinals. She will face So TSUTSUI (JPN) who defeated Palina BRAHINETS (AIN), 3-0, all non-action points, in the final.

PULKIT (IND) claimed a 3-0 win against Maram ALY (EGY) to set up a final against Daria FROLOVA (AIN) who took a 4-0 lead before Uldana TILEUKHAN (KAZ) rallied to make it 4-4 but did not realize that it was Frolova who held criteria. Frolova moved into the final with a 5-4 win.

At 73kg, Asian U17 champion Mansi LATHER (IND) defeated returning champ Piper FOWLER (USA) in the quarterfinals and Khrystyna DEMCHUK (UKR) via fall in the semifinals. She will wrestle Hanna PIRSKAYA (AIN) for the gold after Pirskaya pinned Makia KIMURA (JPN) in the other semifinal.

The only category without an Indian in the final was 49kg. Utaha YUI (JPN) and Na HU (CHN) will wrestle for gold as the former defeated Esra MAMMADLI (AZE), 9-0, while Hu rolled to an 11-0 win over Dounia ZITOUNI (ALG).

India did not send a wrestler in 49kg to the U17 Asian Championships in June. As per rules, a country can only send the same number of wrestlers to the World Championships as the continental championships.

fh

RESULTS

45kg
GOLD: Aslanbek KOSTOEV (AIN) df. Marat ATSHEMYAN (ARM), via fall (6-3)

BRONZE: Bekzhan BEISHEMBAEV (KGZ) df. Damir ABILDA (KAZ), via cautions (10-7)
BRONZE: Umidjon KAROMOV (UZB) df. Ahmad BADRADDINI (IRI), 9-1

51kg
GOLD: Turan DASHDAMIROV (AZE) df. Kutman KALBAEV (KGZ), 5-3

BRONZE: Sainath PARDHI (IND) df. Yerassyl MUSSAN (KAZ), 3-1
BRONZE: Abolfazl KARAMIEGAEI (IRI) df. Sargis HARUTYUNYAN (ARM), 7-1

60kg
GOLD: Aykhan JAVADOV (AZE) df. Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO), 4-1

BRONZE: Jordyn RANEY (USA) df. Vadym MATROS (UKR), 6-1
BRONZE: Farrukh YULDOSHEV (UZB) df. Ilias LAAOUINA (NED), 3-2

71kg
GOLD: Kiryl VALEUSKI (AIN) df. Vladislav BYRLIA (AIN), 7-1

BRONZE: Behruzbek VALIEV (UZB) df. Samvel TERTERYAN (ARM), 5-4
BRONZE: Giorgi ALADASHVILI (GEO) df. Joseph JETER (USA), 9-0 

92kg
GOLD: Danial IZADI (IRI) df. Ole STERNING (GER), 4-0

BRONZE: Vladimer MINADZE (GEO) df. Serkan BAKIR (TUR), 2-2
BRONZE: Fakhrikamol KOMILJONOV (UZB) df. Lyova SHUKHYAN (ARM), via fall (3-3)

Women's Wrestling Semifinals

43kg
GOLD: Maria GKIKA (GRE) vs. Aditi KUMARI (IND)

SF 1: Maria GKIKA (GRE) df. Gabriela PALACIOS (MEX), 6-1
SF 2: Aditi KUMARI (IND) df. Aleksandra BEREZOVSKAIA (AIN), 8-2

49kg
GOLD: Utaha YUI (JPN) vs. Na HU (CHN)

SF 1: Utaha YUI (JPN) df. Esra MAMMADLI (AZE), 9-0
SF 2: Na HU (CHN) df. Dounia ZITOUNI (ALG), 11-0

57kg
GOLD: So TSUTSUI (JPN) vs. NEHA (IND)

SF 1: So TSUTSUI (JPN) df. Palina BRAHINETS (AIN), 3-0
SF 2: NEHA (IND) df. Anna STRATAN (KAZ), 8-4

65kg
GOLD: PULKIT (IND) vs. Daria FROLOVA (AIN)

SF 1: PULKIT (IND) df. Maram ALY (EGY), 3-0
SF 2: Daria FROLOVA (AIN) df. Uldana TILEUKHAN (KAZ), 5-4

73kg
GOLD: Hanna PIRSKAYA (AIN) vs. Mansi LATHER (IND)

SF 1: Mansi LATHER (IND) df. Khrystyna DEMCHUK (UKR), via fall (12-2)
SF 2: Hanna PIRSKAYA (AIN) df. Makia KIMURA (JPN), via fall (5-0)