Junior Asian Championships

Iran Collects 3 Freestyle Golds on Saturday at Junior Asian C'ships

By United World Wrestling Press

CHON BURI, Thailand (July 13) - Iran started the freestyle competition at the Junior Asian Championships with a bang, collecting three of the five gold medals on Saturday. 

Earlier in the week, Iran ran away with the team title in Greco-Roman on the strength of seven champions. Now the Iranians are in prime position to win the freestyle title heading into the final day.

Iran's freestyle gold medalists on Saturday were Mohmmadsadegh FIROUZPOURBANDPEI (70kg), Abdollah SHEIKHAZAMI (79kg) and Alireza REKABI (97kg).

Mohmmadsadegh FIROUZPOURBANDPEI (IRI) registered a 10-1 win in the finals. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Firouzpourbandpei earned his gold medal with a 10-1 victory in the 70kg finals over Sangho HAN (KOR). 

Sheikhazami rolled to a 10-0 technical superiority in the finals at 79kg over Tanggesi TANGGESI (CHN).

Alireza REKABI (IRI) won by 10-0 technical superiority in the finals at 97kg. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Iran's third gold medalist on Saturday, Rekabi, dominated in the finals at 97kg, winning 10-0 over Zyyamuhammet SAPAROV (TKM).

Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ) improved on his silver-medal performance from a year ago. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ), a returning junior world bronze medalist, earned gold at 65kg after finishing with a silver in last year's Junior Asian Championships. 

Yuto TAKESHITA (JPN) finished on top at 57kg. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Japan crowned a champion at 57kg as Yuto TAKESHITA topped Vijay Bajirao PATIL 7-4 in the gold-medal match. 

The Junior Asian Championships wrap up on Sunday with the final five freestyle weight categories: 61kg, 74kg, 86kg, 92kg and 125kg. Action is set to begin at 10 a.m. local time.

RESULTS

Freestyle

57kg    
GOLD - Yuto TAKESHITA (JPN) df. Vijay Bajirao PATIL (IND), 7-4
BRONZE - Hyeonsu CHO (KOR) df. Narankhuu NARMANDAKH (MGL), 14-4
BRONZE - Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) df. Abzal OKENOV (KAZ), 6 - 2

65kg
GOLD - Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ) df. Alireza ASHKIVAR (IRI), 4-4
BRONZE - Bobur ISLOMOV (UZB) df. Sunny SUNNY (IND), 5-4
BRONZE - Taiki TSUTSUMI (JPN) df. Injong HWANG (KOR), 8-1

70kg
GOLD - Mohmmadsadegh FIROUZPOURBANDPEI (IRI) df. Sangho HAN (KOR), 10-1
BRONZE - Ayumu SUZUKI (JPN) df. Vishal KALIRAMANA (IND), 6-3
BRONZE - Mirkamol BESHIMOV (UZB) df. Parinya CHAMNANJAN (THA), FALL

79kg
GOLD - Abdollah SHEIKHAZAMI (IRI) df. Tanggesi TANGGESI (CHN), 10-0
BRONZE - Sandeep Singh MANN (IND) df. Tilek KABYKENOV (KAZ), 13-8
BRONZE - Shoto KANEKO (JPN) df. Daehyun NAM (KOR), INJURY

97kg
GOLD - Alireza REKABI (IRI) df. Zyyamuhammet SAPAROV (TKM), 10-0
BRONZE - Akash ANTIL (IND) df. Reheman RUSIDANMU (CHN), 12-2
BRONZE - Arslanbek TURDUBEKOV (KGZ) df. Haroon ABID (PAK), 12-1
 

#WrestleZagreb

Zagreb Open 2025 Day 2: Iran continues domination

By United World Wrestling Press

ZAGREB, Croatia (February 6) -- Zagreb Open day two with four Freestyle weight classes and Women's Wrestling in two weight classes. Day one saw six Freestyle classes with the United States and Iran winning two gold medals each. Azerbaijan and Slovakia won the remaining two.

LIVE MATCH ORDER | WATCH LIVE | 2025 SEASON PREVIEW

13:25: In the women's wrestling semifinal at 55kg, veteran Sam STEWART (CAN) leg laces Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE) and wins 12-1. She will face world bronze medalist Tatiana DEBIEN (FRA) who got the better of Ekaterina VERVINA (AIN) 5-4.

13:15: Mason PARRIS (USA) holds off Hayden ZILLMER (USA) 4-2 in the 125kg semifinal. But his big test will come in the final against Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) who beats Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL) 8-0.

13:05: Kyle SNYDER (USA) back in the Zagreb Open final at 97kg. He blanks Batyrbek TSAKULOV (SVK) 10-0 and he like take on Abolfazl BABALOO (IRI) who just about managed to beat Jonathan AIELLO (USA) 6-5 in the other semifinal. Aiello was down 6-3 but added two stepouts and almost got the third but the time ran out.

12:55: Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) may have confirmed his European Championships spot at 92kg as he beats Abubakar ABAKAROV (AZE) in the semifinal. Abakarov built a 3-2 but struggled with his shoulder which needed constantly medical attention. He changed the score to 5-4 with a minute remaining but Nurmagomedov scored a takedown to lead 6-5. Abakarov got hold off Nurmagomedov's leg for a good 10 seconds but failed to get a takedown. Nurmagomedov will wrestle Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) in the final

12:40: Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI) breaks Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) with his pace and wins the 79kg semifinal 4-1. Gamkrelidze got a point for Yousefi's passivity in the first period but the Iranian up the pace in the second period, scoring two stepouts and a takedown on the edge to win 4-1. He will face Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) who defeated Rocco WELSH (USA) 4-2

12:30: Semifinals on day two! Paris Olympian at 86kg Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) is up against U20 world champion Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI) at 79kg and Zelimkhan KHADJIEV (FRA) has Rocco WELSH (USA).

11:45: Match of the tournament so far! Abubakar ABAKAROV (AZE) has to come back multiple times as Iuza TSERTSVADZE (GEO) threatened to upset him. Tsertsvadze scored a takedown and two turns using a gut wrench to lead 6-0 before Abakarov began the second period with a stepout. He close the differnce to 6-5. Tsertsvadze was on the verge of extending his lead but Abakarov scored a four-pointer using a cut back to make it 9-7. A takedown and turn later, Tsertsvadze led 11-9 but Abakarov hit a single leg attack with 10 seconds left and score the two points needed to win. He is into the 92kg semifinals.

11:41: Amirreza MASOUMI (IRI) wrestle with so much authority on the mat. No missed shots or efforts which can get countered. Just controls his way, like he did in a 5-0 win against Murazi MCHEDLIDZE (UKR) and enter the semifinal at 125kg.

11:35: Amirhossein FIROUZPOUR (IRI) with another controlled win. He gets the better of Michael MACCHIAVELLO (USA) 5-0. He will wrestle in the semifinals

11:25: Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE), coached by his uncle and Olympic champion Sharif SHARIPOV (AZE), puts on a great show of defense and counters to beat Uri KALASHNIKOV (ISR) 5-0 at 92kg.

11:22: Paris Olympian Mason PARRIS (USA) faced compatriot Trent HILLGER (USA) in the opening round at 125kg and after a few stutters, he comes out as a 12-3

11:20: Kyle SNYDER (USA) who won a silver medal here in Zagreb last year begins with a 11-0 win over Richard VEGH (HUN) and moves into the semifinal at 97kg.

11:15: World bronze medalist Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK) looked rusty to begin with and he got U20 world champion Mahdi YOUSEFI (IRI) in the first bout. Yousefi pounced on him and won 10-0 inside four minutes at 79kg.

10:55: Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE) holds off former U20 world champion Mohammadmobin AZIMI (IRI). Abakarov led 6-1 before giving up a takedown and turn for four points. He still wins 6-5

10:40: Asian champion Amirhossein FIROZPOUR (IRI) kicks off proceedings in dominant fashion. He scores a 11-0 technical superiority win over Zaur BERADZE (GEO) inside the first period.

10:30: Welcome to day two of the Zagreb Open and we have the remaining four Freestyle weight classes in action along with two in Women's Wrestling.