#WrestleKonya

Iran dominates Islamic Solidarity Games with 3 golds

Thursday, August 11, 2022 - 20:42 By Ali Feizasa

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KONYA, Turkey (August 11) -- Iran finished the freestyle competition of the 5th Islamic Solidarity Games with three gold medals on the second day in Konya, Turkey. Overall, the nation ended with five gold medals while Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan achieved two gold medals each.

Opening the medal session was 2021 Asian champion Jahongirmirza TUROBOV (UZB) who claimed the gold after a dramatic win over Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE) in the final.

Jahongirmirza TUROBOV (UZB)Jahongirmirza TUROBOV (UZB) came from behind to win the 61kg gold. (Photo: Turkish Wrestling Federation)

Bazarganov led the 61kg final bout 5-0 but in the last minute, Turobov came from behind to lead 6-5. Bazarganov did score another point in the final 10 seconds but Turobov won 6-6 on criteria as his technical moves were superior to Bazarganov.

At 70kg, 2021 world silver medalist and U23 world champion Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) took the only gold medal for Kyrgyzstan in freestyle competition by edging Hossein ABOUZARI (IRI), 6-0, in the 70kg final.

Ahmad BAZRI (IRI)Ahmad BAZRI (IRI) won the 92kg gold medal in Konya. (Photo: Turkish Wrestling Federation)

But three Iran wrestlers held the country finish on a high.

In the 79kg final, Asian champion Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI) downed the host country's star Muhammet AKDENIZ (TUR). At the start of the match, Savadkouhi was surprised by a four-pointer from Akdeniz but soon controlled the bout with a takedown and two gut wrenches. The Iranian then continued to earn a 12-6 victory.

Ahmad BAZRI (IRI), the 2022 Yasar Dogu champion, collected the gold medal at 92kg with an easy win over Erhan YAYLACI (TUR). The Iran wrestler won the gold with a 7-1 win.

The third Iran-Turkey final was at the super heavyweight with Seyed Mehdi HASHEMI (IRI) wrestling Salim ERCAN (TUR). Hashemi helped Iran end with five gold medals as he defeated Ercan 8-0 and become the best team in the Games.

Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ)Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) became the 62kg champion. (Photo: Turkish Wrestling Federation)

Three women's wrestling weight classes were also contested on Thursday.

Two-time world champion and Olympic silver medalist Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) warmed-up to defend her world title with a gold medal at 62kg. She defeated Yarie CAMARA (GUI) 11-0 in the final.

Turkey and Azerbaijan won a gold medal each with Leyla GURBANOVA (AZE) winning the 53kg gold and Bose TOSUN (TUR) winning the 72kg title.

Gurbanov defended her gold medal from 2017 and won her bouts with ease. In the final, she wrestled two-time Asian Championships bronze medalist Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) and won the bout 6-1.

Bose TOSUN (TUR)Bose TOSUN (TUR) won the home country's first gold medal. (Photo: Turkish Wrestling Federation)

World medalist Tosun ended the gold drought for Turkey by winning the 72kg title. After going through the bracket, she pinned Gozal ZUTOVA (AZE) in the final to claim the top place on the medal. She needed only 50 seconds to pin Zutova, using a double leg takedown and delighted the home fans.

Wrestling at the 5th Islamic Solidarity Games continues with Greco-roman and women’s weights on Friday.

Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ)Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) defeated Hossein ABOUZARI (IRI), 6-0 in the 70kg final. (Photo: Turkish Wrestling Federation)

Day 2 Results

Freestyle

61kg
GOLD: Jahongirmirza TUROBOV (UZB) df. Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE), 6-6

BRONZE: Recep TOPAL (TUR) df. Ali ABURUMAILA (PLE), 11-3
BRONZE: Majid DASTAN (IRI) df. Muhammad BILAL (PAK), 6-3

70kg
GOLD: Ernazar AKMATALIEV (KGZ) df. Hossein ABOUZARI (IRI), 6-0

BRONZE: Asgar MAMMADALIYEV (AZE) df. Dzhamshed SHARIFOV (TJK), 3-0
BRONZE: Bacar DUM (GBS) df. Zafarbek OTAKHONOV (UZB), 7-7

79kg
GOLD: Ali SAVADKOUHI (IRI) df. Muhammet AKDENIZ (TUR), 12-6

BRONZE: Bekzod ABDURAKHMONOV (UZB) df. Fetai EDDINE (ALG), 10-0
BRONZE: Gadzhimurad OMAROV (AZE) df. Meiir KOSHKINBAYEV (KAZ), 10-4

92kg
GOLD: Ahmad BAZRI (IRI) df. Erhan YAYLACI (TUR), 7-1

BRONZE: Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) df. Abdimanap BAIGENZHEYEV (KAZ), 10-0
BRONZE: Bobur ISLOMOV (UZB) df. Mirlan CHYNYBEKOV (KGZ), 5-4

125kg
GOLD: Seyed Mehdi HASHEMI (IRI) df. Salim ERCAN (TUR), 8-0

BRONZE: Khasanboy RAKHIMOV (UZB) df. Zyyamuhammet SAPAROV (TKM), 10-0

Women’s Wrestling

53kg
GOLD: Leyla GURBANOVA (AZE) df. Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB), 6-1

BRONZE: Ellada MAKHYADDINOVA (KAZ) df. Vatansulton SHAKARSHOEVA (TJK), 7-2
BRONZE: Rahime ARI (TUR) df. Candra MARIMAR (INA), via fall

62kg
GOLD: Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) df. Yarie CAMARA (GUI), 11-0

BRONZE: Tetiana OMELCHENKO (AZE) df. Tantri HERLINA (INA), 11-0
BRONZE: Irina KUZNETSOVA (KAZ) df. Goudiaby SAFIETOU (SEN), via fall

72kg
GOLD: Buse TOSUN (TUR) df. Gozal ZUTOVA (AZE), via fall

BRONZE: Nour JELJELI (TUN) df. Ngiri NYEH (CMR), 11-4
BRONZE: Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) df. Sambou ANTA (SEN), 10-0

#WrestleSamokov

Greco trained Sokolovska wins women's 76kg gold

Friday, August 22, 2025 - 09:07 By Vinay Siwach

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SAMOKOV, Bulgaria (August 21) -- "Have you ever seen her shoot for the legs? You haven’t!"

Vladimir SOKOLOVSKI has long been Greco-Roman coach in Ukraine. So when he put his daughters in wrestling, he trained them in Greco-Roman. Both Krystyna SOKOLOVSKA (UKR) and Nadiia SOKOLOVSKA (UKR) would perform upper body moves in competition and tried to complete the matches with fall.

In 2019, Krystyna won a bronze medal at the World U17 Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria. Out of her four wins, two were via fall and one via technical superiority.

Six year's later and back in Bulgaria for the World U20 Championships, Sokolovski's younger daughter Nadiia went a step further and won the gold medal at 76kg in Samokov on Thursday.

Just like her father had taught her Sokolovska performed those arm-drags to perfection. She scored takedowns, big throws and falls. Out of her four wins to gold, three victories were via fall, including one in the final. It was only her quarterfinal against Elmira YASIN (TUR) that the Ukraine wrestler won 5-2.

"I won three out of four bouts by fall," Sokolovska said after the final. "I’m the kind of person who doesn’t like to mess around with opponents for too long. I like to finish earlier, I always do things the way it’s comfortable for me. If I need to work on endurance, then I work on it. But if I get a chance, why not finish earlier?"

The final was no different story as Sokolovska finished the match in just 48 seconds, pinning former world U20 champion PRIYA (IND). The Ukraine wrestler first scored a takedown using arm-drag for two points. When Priya attacked after restart, Sokolovska did not let the Indian stand up and locked up a cradle as Priya sat in a squat position.

Sokolovska turned Priya on her back and then secured a fall to be crowned world champion.

"I still haven’t fully realized that I won," she said. "I had only competed once at the World U17 Championships and I placed fifth. This is my second World Championship and I really wanted to wrestle against the Asians and the Americans.

"I didn’t get the chance to wrestle an American, but I did get to wrestle an Asian -- just what I wanted."

Sokolovska is now a European and World U20 champion, with an unbeaten run in nine matches. Even at the European U20 Championships, she won five matches and three of them were via fall.

"I work only with the upper body in standing position. I have a strong upper body," she said.

But Sokolovska said that she will not rush herself to the senior level and plan her debut. Her father, who is also her coach, will devise a program that fits her training.

"I understood that it’s not always necessary to focus only on wrestling," she said. "You need to take psychological breaks. Play rugby or go swimming, take a mental break from the mat."

Momoko KITADE (JPN)Momoko KITADE (JPN) won the 65kg final against Margarita SALNAZARIAN (UWW). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

In other weight classes, the United States, China and Japan won gold medals on day five of the tournament. Japan now has a firm grip on the Women's Wrestling team title.

After two golds medals on Thursday, Japan earned third one as Momoko KITADE (JPN) won the 65kg final. She held off Margarita SALNAZARIAN's (UWW) onslaught in the second period, winning the 65kg final, 9-5, to secure the gold medal.

The first period belonged to Kitade as her speed and strength were no match for Salnazarian who was down 6-0 at the break. But Kitade's conditioning gave way for Salnazarian's comeback. She scored two takedowns to cut the lead to 7-4. However, Kitade still held her positions and scored two stepouts and made the score 7-5.

Salnazarian pressured Kitade towards the zone but she was never able to score as Kitade turned her and scored two stepouts. She got 9-5 lead and defended it for the final 40 seconds.

Everest LEYDECKER (USA)Everest LEYDECKER (USA) celebrates after winning the 55kg gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

The U.S. won its first gold medal in Women's Wrestling at this World U20 Championships through Everest LEYDECKER (USA) who had a dominant run to gold. After winning her three bouts via technical superiority on Wednesday, Leydecker seemed in no trouble in the final.

She raced to an 8-0 lead against REENA (IND) in the final after scoring a takedown using a leg attack. She then cross ankled Reena and turned her three times for the lead. There was little action after that in the match as Leydecker kept her strong defense despite being called passive and cautioned for points as well. But Leydecker had enough lead to not be trouble by those warning.

At 62kg, YANGZHEN (CHN) made a dream international debut by winning the 62kg gold medal in a thrilling final against former world U17 champion Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE). Down 6-0, Yangzhen managed to score six points in the second period and win the final, 6-6, on criteria.

Mammadova, who won World U17 gold in 2022, raced to a 6-0 lead with three counter exposure points and almost pinned Yangzhen. But in the second period, Yangzhen mounted the comeback, scoring a takedown from single leg and then got a turn using a strong gut-wrench.

With the clock ticking, Yangzhen needed one takedown for the win and she scored exactly that to lead 6-6 on criteria. Mammadova had one minute to reclaim the lead but Yangzhen managed to play the clock and win on criteria.

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: Everest LEYDECKER (USA) df. REENA (IND), 10-2

BRONZE: So TSUTSUI (JPN) df. Tuba DEMIR (TUR), 5-3
BRONZE: Gerda TEREK (HUN) df. Alexandra VOICULESCU (ROU), 6-2

62kg
GOLD: YANGZHEN (CHN) df. Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE), 6-6

BRONZE: Shirin TAKEMOTO (JPN) df. Neevis RODRIGUEZ (MEX), 9-7
BRONZE: Nigina SABIROVA (UZB) df. Busra EFE (TUR), 8-0

65kg
GOLD: Momoko KITADE (JPN) df. Margarita SALNAZARIAN (UWW), 9-5

BRONZE: Iryna BORYSIUK (UKR) df. Mouda HAMDOUN (EGY), 12-2
BRONZE: Beyza AKKUS (TUR) df. Daniella NUGENT (USA), 10-0

76kg
GOLD: Nadiia SOKOLOVSKA (UKR) df. PRIYA (IND), via fall

BRONZE: Diana TITOVA (UWW) df. Evelin UJHELJI (SRB), via inj. def.
BRONZE: Cancan LIU (CHN) df. Tuvshinjargal TARAV (MGL), 6-0