Junior Asian Championships

Iran Bags 3 Greco Golds on Opening Day of Junior Asian C'ships

Tuesday, July 9, 2019 - 15:06 By United World Wrestling Press

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CHON BURI, Thailand (July 9) - Iran claimed three of the five gold medals in Greco-Roman on the opening day of the Junior Asian Championships in Chon Buri, Thailand.

Winning gold medals for Iran were Mohammad NAGHOUSI (77kg), Hasan FOROUZANDEH GHOJEHBEIGLOU (87kg) and Aliakbar YOUSOFIAHMADCHALI (IRI). The other two gold medals were won by India and Kazakhstan. 

Iran's first champion, Naghousi, came back to defeat Akylbek TALANTBEKOV (KGZ) 6-3 at 77kg in a battle of cadet world bronze medalists. Talantbekov controlled the first period, scoring a passivity point and then a gut wrench to grab a 3-0 lead at the break. With just over a minute remaining, Naghousi scored a takedown to cut the deficit to 3-2 before executing a four-point throw to go up by three and eventually give him the victory. Naghousi won a gold medal at the Cadet Asian Championships last year.

Forouzandeh Ghojehbeiglou topped Meirbek KORDABAY (KAZ) 5-1 to earn the gold medal at 87kg. Kordabay scored the first point of the match off a passivity, but the Iranian dominated the rest of the way. He scored a takedown midway through the first period to go up 2-1. Forouzandeh Ghojehbeiglou added to his lead in the second period, scoring a point off a passivity before adding two more points off a gut wrench.  

Yousofiahmadchali, a U23 world bronze medalist, dominated Aawesh AAWESH (IND) in the gold-medal match at 130kg. The Iranian heavyweight scored points off a passivity and a step out to go up 2-0 before throwing Aawesh to his back late in the first period to secure a fall. 

Junior world bronze medalist Vijay VIJAY (IND) improved on his Junior Asian Championships finish from a year ago, winning the gold medal at 55kg after earning a silver last year . He shut out past cadet world bronze medalist Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB) 4-0 in the gold-medal match at 55kg. Vijay scored a passivity point in the first period, and then added three step-out points in the final two minutes of the match.

At 63kg, Assaukhat MUKHAMADIYEV (KAZ) held on to edge Saeid ARJMANDDASHTAKI (IRI) 2-2 on criteria in the gold-medal match at 63kg. Arjmanddashtaki scored first with a step out, but Mukhamadiyev responded with a step out of his own and took the criteria lead into the break. The Iranian retook the lead in the second period, scoring off a passivity, but just like in the first period, Mukhamadiyev would respond. He scored off a passivity with just over a minute remaining to take the lead and held on for the criteria win. 

The five remaining Greco-Roman weight categories, 60kg, 67kg, 72kg, 82kg and 97kg, will be contested Wednesday at the Junior Asian Championships, with action set to begin at 10 a.m. local time. 

RESULTS

Greco-Roman

55kg
GOLD - Vijay VIJAY (IND) df. Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB), 4-0
BRONZE - Donghyeok WON (KOR) df. Koichi TSUTSUMI (JPN), 2-1
BRONZE - Zhanibek ISSAKHANOV (KAZ) df. Sahatsawat PHUANGKAEO (THA), 9-0

63kg
GOLD - Assaukhat MUKHAMADIYEV (KAZ) df. Saeid ARJMANDDASHTAKI (IRI), 2-2
BRONZE - Ryota KOSHIBA (JPN) df. Javokhirbek SAMATOV (UZB), 8-3
BRONZE - Sangjun PARK (KOR) df. Nursultan MAKHMUDOV (KGZ), 5-4

77kg
GOLD - Mohammad NAGHOUSI (IRI) df. Akylbek TALANTBEKOV (KGZ), 6-3
BRONZE - Nao KUSAKA (JPN) df. Zhalgasov DAULET (KAZ), 8-0
BRONZE - Dilshod OMONGELDIYEV (UZB) df. Bahetijiang KELAN (CHN), 7-0

87kg
GOLD - Hasan FOROUZANDEH GHOJEHBEIGLOU (IRI) df. Meirbek KORDABAY (KAZ), 5-1
BRONZE - Ryohta NASUKAWA (JPN) df. Han LEI (CHN), FALL 
BRONZE - Kumar SUNIL (IND) df. Azat SALIDINOV (KGZ), 10-7

130kg
GOLD - Aliakbar Hossein YOUSOFIAHMADCHALI (IRI) df. Aawesh AAWESH (IND), FALL 
BRONZE - Alibek SARSENGALIYEV (KAZ) df. Ilyosbek GULOMJONOV (UZB), 8-0
 

#WrestleTirana

Kayaalp Nears Record-Breaking 13th European Gold

Tuesday, April 21, 2026 - 06:12 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (April 20) -- Riza KAYAALP (TUR) is now one win away from becoming the most successful Greco-Roman wrestler in Europe.

At the European Championships in Tirana, Kayaalp reached the 130kg final on Monday to take a step closer to breaking Aleksandr KARELIN's long-time record of 12 European gold medals.

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Kayaalp was returning to the European Championships after two years and showed now signs of as he began with a fall over Albert VARDANYAN (ARM) using an arm throw before winning a 1-1 battle against Marat KAMPAROV (UWW).

In a dramatic semifinal which resulted in the disqualification of Pavel HLINCHUK (UWW), Kayaalp kept his composure despite the aggression of Hlinchuk, a former U23 world champion.

Kayaalp got the par terre advantage in the first period but Hlinchuk escaped. However, he tried to throw Kayaalp who blocked the throw and landed on top for two points, making his lead 3-0. Hlinchuk challenged the decision but lost it and Kayaalp led 4-0.

Riza KAYAALP (TUR)Riza KAYAALP (TUR) wrestles Marat KAMPAROV (UWW) in the quarterfinal of 130kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Perhaps it was coming as the referee had warned the two wrestlers time and again to wrestle without aggression. But 30 seconds before the end of the first period, Kayaalp used a strong hand on Hlinchuk's neck. Hlinchuk first responded with shoulder to Kayaalp and then proceed to slap the Turkish wrestler who fell on the mat.

The judges decided to disqualify Hlinchuk from the competition for his act and Kayaalp, supported by a very vocal Turkish team, entered his 15th European Championships final.

He will now face Darius VITEK (HUN) who held on to his 1-1 criteria win over Beka KANDELAKI (AZE) and who now stands between Kayaalp and history.

Semen NOVIKOV (BUL)Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) tries to throw Islam ABBASOV (AZE) during the 87kg semifinals. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Novikov faces Bisultanov

After a season off, Olympic champion and returning silver medalist Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) will be in the 87kg final to change the color of his medal when he takes on Olympic bronze medalist Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN).

Bisultanov and Novikov faced each other in Paris and the Bulgarian defeated Bisultanov 5-1 in the opening round.

But Bisultanov looked in control in Tirana as he pinned Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR) in the semifinals while Novikov managed to beat returning bronze medalist Islam ABBASOV (AZE), 4-0.

Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM)Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) defeated Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) in the 77kg semifinals. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Four-time and defending champion Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) returned to the final with an easy 3-1 victory in the semifinal over Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) to set up a rematch of 2025 European final against Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO).

The Georgian will be keen on avenging that loss against Amoyan after he reach the final, beating Robert FRITSCH (HUN), 8-0, using two big throws for four points each.

In a shock at 63kg, U23 world champion Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) stunned defending champion Kerem KAMAL (TUR), 6-5, in the semifinals.

Kamal was leading 5-0 but Eriomenco managed to score from par terre. His two-point takedown was challenged by Turkiye but he lost the challenge, giving Eriomenco the clear lead.

For the gold medal, Eriomenco will face veteran and former world champion Sergey EMELIN (UWW) who scored an easy 9-0 technical superiority win over Mairbek SALIMOV (POL).

At 55kg, world champion and returning bronze medalist Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO) moved into his first European final after beating Manvel KHACHATRYAN (ARM), 3-1.

He will face defending champion Emin SEFERSHAEV (UWW) who defeated Omer RECEP (TUR), 11-0.

Photo

RESULTS

55kg
SF 1: Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO) df. Manvel KHACHATRYAN (ARM), 3-1
SF 2: Emin SEFERSHAEV (UWW) df. Omer RECEP (TUR), 11-0

63kg
SF 1: Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) df. Kerem KAMAL (TUR), 6-5
SF 2: Sergey EMELIN (UWW) df. Mairbek SALIMOV (POL), 9-0

77kg
SF 1: Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO) df. Robert FRITSCH (HUN), 8-0
SF 2: Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) df. Alexandrin GUTU (MDA), 3-1

87kg
SF 1: Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) df. Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR), via fall
SF 2: Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) df. Islam ABBASOV (AZE), 4-0

130kg
SF 1: Darius VITEK (HUN) df. Beka KANDELAKI (AZE), 1-1
SF 2: Riza KAYAALP (TUR) df. Pavel HLINCHUK (UWW), via disqualification (4-0)