#Zagreb2018

Iran Bookends 2018 Cadet World C’Ships with Freestyle and Greco Team Titles

By Taylor Miller

ZAGREB, Croatia – The 2018 Cadet World Championships wrapped up on Sunday night in Zagreb, Croatia, with five wrestlers crowned Greco World champions and Iran awarded the top team prize in the Greco-Roman discipline.

Iran won the team race, putting up 130 points with four finalists and two Greco World champions. Russia took second with 108 points, and rounding out the top five was Turkey in third with 91 points, Georgia in fourth with 89 points and Uzbekistan in fifth with 83 points.

Iran also won the freestyle team title earlier this week.

It was an action-packed title bout at 45 kg as two-time World finalist Hennadii ZAVERTAILO (UKR) took on Cadet European bronze medalist Ilias IANDAROV (RUS).

Iandarov held a 2-0 lead at the break, but the two went back and forth, trading leads in the second period. Eventually Iandarov took down the 2017 Cadet World silver medalist and rattled off three gut wrenches for a technical fall win, 17-7. 

At 51 kg, this year’s two Asian bronze medalists went head-to-head for World gold.

Lazizkhon UZBEKOV (UZB) struck first against Laishram MEITEI (IND) and held onto the lead throughout the bout. The Uzbek used two sets of exposure to win the World title at 51 kg, 6-2.

In the final at 60 kg, points were only scored on passivities, cautions and failed challenges as Serhat KIRIK (TUR), who finished fifth at the European Championships, knocked off Asian silver medalist Shahin BADAGHI MOFRAD (IRI), 4-1.

At 71 kg, Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) became only the second Cadet Greco-Roman World champion for Moldova on Sunday night when he defeated Asian champion Shu YAMADA (JPN) with a dominant 12-2 technical fall.

Gutu, who won silver at 2018 Euros, drew first blood with a duck under for a takedown, followed by a correct throw. Gutu took his momentum and a 6-2 lead into the second period. There, he extended his lead with a throw by and finished off the bout with a big lift for four points to end the match in a tech fall.

The winner at 92 kg was determined in the final 20 seconds of the match.

Aleksei MILESHIN (RUS) held a 3-0 advantage at the break over Asian champion Mohammad NOSRATI (IRI), thanks to a correct throw he executed after Nosrati was put down in par terre.

In the second period, Nosrati got a chance on top after a Mileshin passivity call. With only 20 seconds left, the Iranian scored on a gut wrench and held the Russian off for a 3-3 win on criteria and the gold medal.

That bout concluded the 2018 Cadet World Championships.

Team standings
1. Iran - 130
2. Russia - 108
3. Turkey - 91
4. Georgia - 89
5. Uzbekistan - 83
6. Azerbaijan - 79
7. Kazakhstan - 62
8. India - 57
9. Armenia - 55
10. Ukraine - 48

Finals results
45 kg
GOLD - Ilias IANDAROV (RUS)
SILVER - Hennadii ZAVERTAILO (UKR)
BRONZE - Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL)
BRONZE – Gurban GURBANOV (AZE)

1st - Ilias Iandarov (Russia) TF Hennadii Zavertailo (Ukraine), 17-7
3rd - Edmond Nazaryan (Bulgaria) dec. Amirreza Dehbozorgi (Iran), 2-0
3rd - Gurban Gurbanov (Azerbaijan) dec. Mizuki Araki (Japan), 2-0

51 kg
GOLD - Lazizkhon UZBEKOV (UZB)
SILVER - Laishram MEITEI (IND)
BRONZE - Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE)
BRONZE – Merey MAULITKANOV (KAZ)

1st - Lazizkhon Uzbekov (Uzbekistan) dec. Laishram Sayon Meitei (India), 6-2
3rd - Hasrat Jafarov (Azerbaijan) dec. Robert Karapetyan (Armenia), 4-2
3rd - Merey Maulitkanov (Kazakhstan) dec. Baktiiar Akberdiev (Kyrgyzstan), 2-1

60 kg
GOLD - Serhat KIRIK (TUR)
SILVER - Shahin BADAGHI MOFRAD (IRI)
BRONZE - Adam HAJIZADA (AZE)
BRONZE – Gagik SNJOYAN (FRA)

1st - Serhat Kirik (Turkey) dec. Shahin Badaghi Mofrad (Iran), 4-1
3rd - Adam Hajizada (Azerbaijan) dec. Pravesh Pravesh (India), 6-3
s3rd - Gagik Snjoyan (France) dec. Vladyslav Yevtushenko (Ukraine), 6-4

71 kg
GOLD - Alexandrin GUTU (MDA)
SILVER - Shu YAMADA (JPN)
BRONZE - Veisal EYUBOV (KAZ)
BRONZE – Giorgi SHPETISHVILI (GEO)

1st - Alexandrin Gutu (Moldova) TF Shu Yamada (Japan), 12-2
3rd - Veisal Eyubov (Kazakhstan) dec. Petar Gornyashki (Bulgaria), 5-0
3rd - Giorgi Shpetishvili (Georgia) TF Abdullah Ates (Turkey), 13-2

92 kg
GOLD - Mohammad NOSRATI (IRI)
SILVER - Aleksei MILESHIN (RUS)
BRONZE – Jacob KAMINSKI (USA)
BRONZE – Osman AYAYDIN (TUR)

1st - Mohammad Nosrati (Iran) dec. Aleksei Mileshin (Russia), 3-3
3rd - Jacob Kaminski (United States) TF Richard Karelson (Estonia), 9-1
3rd - Osman Ayaydin (Turkey) TF Lasha Tvildiani (Georgia), 9-0

#development

Women's coaches and referees course held in Colombia

By United World Wrestling Press

RIONEGRO, Colombia (April 23) -- An unprecedented international course, exclusively for Spanish-speaking female coaches and referees, was held in Rionegro, Colombia from April 16 to 18.

Organized by United World Wrestling (UWW) with support from Olympic Solidarity, the event took place at the Recinto Quirama, gathering 33 participants from 15 Latin American countries.

The course was inaugurated by UWW Development Director Deqa NIAMKEY, UWW Sport and Development Officer Yuri Maier and member of the UWW Americas Executive Committee Fanny ECHEVERRY.

The educational sessions were led by Rafael GALVA LEBRON, an Olympic referee and member of the UWW Referee Commission, known for his passionate and dynamic teaching style and Raul TRUJILLO DIAZ, one of the most respected Greco-Roman wrestling coaches globally, recognized for guiding the legendary Olympic champion Mijain LOPEZ (CUB).

Throughout three days filled with camaraderie, learning, and solidarity, the participants engaged in integrated theoretical and practical sessions conducted in a shared venue.

This approach facilitated dynamic exchanges, ongoing dialogue between coaches and referees, and created a supportive and collaborative learning environment. The course activities included live simulations, technical analyses, motivational talks, and workshops on leadership and personal development.

Notably, the event featured motivational speeches by Jackeline RENTERIA, Colombia's two-time Olympic medalist and a leading figure in Women's Wrestling on the continent, and Jessica ECHEVERRY, President of the Risaraldense Wrestling League.

Both speakers emphasized shared experiences and the importance of women supporting each other beyond individual differences.

COLParticipants listen to United World Wrestling's Development Department's opening remarks. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

"This course was a significant opportunity to continue learning and to give back to the sport that has given me so much," Nes RODRIGUEZ (PUR) said. "Now, as a sports director, my goal is to inspire children and youth by showing them that sports can provide a life full of opportunities beyond any hardships."

Other expressed how motivated they were after attending the courses.

"It reminded me of the importance of never giving up, not only as a coach but also as a woman," Keliyojana VAZQUEZ (MEX) said. "I'm returning home with new tools to improve my work and appreciate myself more in every aspect."

"I leave with the commitment to build networks of support and communication among us," Paula GRAJALES (COL) said. "We are friends and colleagues who must unite to grow together and continue transforming our communities and the sport."

The pioneering course, aligned with the Gender Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (GEDI) agenda of the International Olympic Committee, represented a historic milestone for women's wrestling in Latin America

The notable personal growth experienced by the participants confirmed that when women come together and put aside competition, they significantly amplify their transformative power, strengthening the future of women's sports in the region.