Iran, Georgia, Azerbaijan send talented stars for U20 Worlds

Friday, August 12, 2022 - 10:26 By Vinay Siwach

SOFIA, Bulgaria (August 11) -- Before they take over the senior level in the coming years, a host of young Greco-Roman stars will land in Sofia to announce themselves at the U20 World Championships. The classic style will be in action in the Bulgarian capital from August 19, after the freestyle and women's wrestling.

While some of them have already participated in senior competitions, a few have burst into the scene by winning the continental tiles this year. And some others will resume their growing rivalries.

Emre MUTLU (TUR) is a U23 European champion. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)

The 55kg is a prime example of the quality of the wrestlers that are entered for the tournament. U23 European champion and bronze medalist at the senior level Emre MUTLU (TUR) is eyeing a world title after impressive runs at continentals.

But he is not the favorite. After winning the U23 Euros in February, he suffered a 3-1 loss against Denis MIHAI (ROU) at the U20 Euros.

Mihai reached the final but could not move past Nihad GULUZADE (AZE), a U23 world bronze medalist, who will now hope to get the U20 world title in Sofia.

But U20 Asian champion Seyedarash NEGAHDARI (IRI) looked in solid form in Bahrain and will be a threat at 55kg along with '21 U17 world champion Luka JAVAKHADZE (GEO).

Suren AGHAJANYAN (ARM), red, won the U20 European title by beating Dimitri KHACHIDZE (GEO) in the final. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Azerbaijan has a returning bronze medalist at 60kg in Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) who also won the same medal at the U20 European Championships which was won by Suren AGHAJANYAN (ARM).

The Armenian finished 15th at last year's U20 Worlds but has since improved and won the continental title over Mammadali and Dimitri KHACHIDZE (GEO).

But Saeid Morad ESMAEILI (IRI) will be the favorite to win the gold as he looks to make amends from last year. While he was not on the Iran team for U20 Asians, Esmaeili is a silver medalist from Ufa.

He is joined by Mert ILBARS (TUR) who was a bronze medalist and a former U17 world silver medalist. Ilbars suffered a shock 4-2 loss to Olivier SKRZYPCZAK (POL) at the U20 Europeans.

Pan-Am champion Ronaldo RAMIREZ (COL) will be making the long trip to Sofia as well. He won the gold medal over Jeremy PERALTA (ECU) after a wild 14-10 final. Peralta's semifinal against Edwin MIRANDA (PER) ended with a 21-19 scoreline.

Iman Khoon MOHAMMADI (IRI) will be hoping to add a world title to his continental one. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

At 63kg, former U17 world bronze Arman VARDANYAN (ARM) and U23 European silver Ziya BABASHOV (AZE) will look to make the run to the final. The two have the experience to outclass their opponents.

Another wrestler who has impressed in the past year is U20 Asian champion Iman Khoon MOHAMMADI (IRI) who also won the bronze medal at the senior Asians in May.

Pan-Am champion Haiden DRURY (USA) was dominant in Mexico and will be the USA's medal hope.

Bulgaria would have liked U20 European champion Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL) to enter the home tournament but the senior European silver medalist has decided to sit out.

Two continental champions are likely to clash at 67kg as U20 European champ Nika BROLADZE (GEO) and Asian champ Seyed SOHRABI (IRI) are entered. Broladze won the gold in Rome to add to his U17 world bronze medal from 2019 while Sohrabi is yet to win a world medal. He suffered a first-round loss in Ufa.

Trying to stop them are Kanan ABDULLAZADE (AZE) who won a bronze medal at U20 Euros, Ufa ninth-placer Din KOSHKAR (KAZ), Erlan MARS UULU (KGZ) who won silver at U20 Asians at 72kg and Asia and U17 world bronze medalist Ankit GULIA (IND).

Attila TOESMAGI (HUN) is the favorite to win the 72kg weight class in Sofia. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Hungary can hope to crown a world champion as U20 European gold medalist Attila TOESMAGI (HUN) is registered at 72kg. He won the title by beating Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) 2-1 in a close final. Gurbanov will look to avenge that loss and add to his two previous world medals, both at the U17 level.

U20 Asian champion Amir ABDI (IRI) would be itching to win a World Championships medal after finishing fifth in Ufa and later at the U23 Worlds in Belgrade. He won the Asian title without conceding a single point and will hope to continue the same form in Sofia.

The field also has '21 U17 world champion Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA), European bronze medalists Omer DOGAN (TUR) and Temuri ORJONIKIDZE (GEO), and Pan-Am champion Richard FEDALEN (USA).

Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) is returning bronze medalist at 77kg. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

U23 European champion Khasay HASANLI (AZE) had a disappointing U20 tournament as he lost 3-1 to Yuksel SARICICEK (TUR) and will be hoping to bounce back for the U20 Worlds at 77kg.

Returning bronze medalist Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) defended his U20 European title and will now hope to add a world title to his U17 one which he won in 2018. Overall, Gutu has had a mixed career since 2018, failing to enter the finals of four World Championships since then.

In Sofia, he may have to go past familiar opponents in Tornike MIKELADZE (GEO) and European bronze medalists Deni NAKAEV (GER) and Yuksel SARICICEK (TUR).

U20 Asian champion Samandar BOBONAZAROV (UZB) and silver to him Masoud KAVOUSI GHAFI (IRI) are also entered along with Pan-Am champion Guilherme DE ARRUDA (BRA) who outscored his opponents 50-1 in the five bouts in Mexico.

Alperen BERBER (TUR) was crowned the U17 world champion in July. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Former U17 world champ and U20 European champion Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) will start as the favorite to win the gold at 82kg. He defeated Rauf ALIYEV (AZE), Ruslan ABDIIEV (UKR), Hamza SERTCANLI (SWE) and Jonni SARKKINEN (FIN) to win the gold in Rome. All but Sertcanli are entered for the Sofia Worlds.

Sarkkinen will be hoping for a rematch so he can avenge his 9-4 loss in the final. If he manages to win the title in Sofia, Sarkkinen will be Finland's fifth U20 world champion and first since 2018.

But recently crowned U17 world champion Alperen BERBER (TUR) can prove to be the dark horse of the weight class as he tries to win a second world title in three weeks.

European bronze medalists Abdiiev and Ilia CERNOVOL (MDA) along with U20 Asian champion Alireza MOHMADIPIANI (IRI) will be the other names to follow.

U20 European champion Lachin VALIYEV (AZE) finished fifth in Ufa. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Wrestling at his final U20 World Championships, Lachin VALIYEV (AZE) will like to sign off on a winning note in the 87kg weight class. He won the U20 European title last month and has a U17 world title from 2019 but since failed to medal at the two U20 Worlds, finishing fifth in Ufa.

Another wrestler who won the continental title and is returning from Ufa is Maksat SAILAU (KAZ), who finished eighth last year.

Both European bronze medalists Nikolaos IOSIFIDIS (GRE) and Vigen NAZARYAN (ARM) are entered along with Asian silver Azamatjon ABDUBANNOBOV (UZB).

Gabriel LUPASCO (MDA) and U20 European silver Patrik GORDAN (ROU) can upset any wrestler in the field and will be big threats to win a medal.

Richard KARELSON (EST) can become Estonia's first-ever medalist at U20 Worlds. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Estonia has never won a medal at the U20 Worlds but Richard KARELSON (EST) may change that as the U20 European champion enters the competition carrying the responsibility of ending the drought. In Rome, he became the first Estonia wrestler to win the continental title at the U20 level and the second to enter the final.

Incidentally, the first ever Estonian to reach the U20 European final was also named Richard KARELSON (EST), who achieved the feat in 1981.

But to create history, Karelson will have a strong field of European and Asian wrestlers. U20 Asian Championships finalists Iussuf MATSIYEV (KAZ) and Nurmanbet RAIMALY UULU (KGZ) are hoping to win a title as well.

Add U20 European silver Connor SAMMET (GER) who is hoping to avenge his final's loss to Karelson and both bronze medalists Maans KLOSTERMANN (SWE) and Oktay DEMIR (TUR).

Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) is the U20 Asian champion. (Photo: UWW / Bayrem Ben Mrad)

The 130kg weight class has more than one contender eyeing world glory. U20 European champion Mykhailo VYSHNYVETSKYI (UKR) and silver medalist Adolf BAZSO (HUN) may have a rematch in Sofia with Bazso hoping to reverse the result from the continentals.

Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) won the Asian title over Temurbek NASIMOV (UZB) and both are entered. Nasimov has the experience of wrestling at last year's Worlds.

European bronze medalists Albert VARDANYAN (ARM) and Dominik KRAWCZYK (POL) would like to upset the two European finalists after missing out on in Rome.

#WrestleBaku

Golden hattrick for Kougiomtsidis, historic gold for Lefter at U23 Euros

Saturday, May 25, 2024 - 16:08 By United World Wrestling Press

BAKU, Azerbaijan (May 25) -- Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) seems to enjoy competing against Azerbaijani wrestlers.

In September last year at the World Championships, the former European champion got the better of Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) in the fifth-place bout to book his Paris Olympics quota. On Saturday, he underlined his preparedness for this summer’s Games by defeating another Azerbaijan wrestler, Ali TCOKAEV (AZE).

And in doing so, he completed a rare golden hat-trick. A U23 European champion in 2022 and 2023, Kougioumtsidis completed the ‘three-peat’ in style. The 22-year-old needed barely five minutes to reach the semifinals, where he had to dig into his experience to overcome rookie wrestler Arsen BALAIAN (AIN).

Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) won his third successive U23 European Championships gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

In the final, Kougioumtsidis was up against the local hero Tcokaev. Only 21, the Azerbaijan wrestler was looking for his first-ever gold medal in this competition. Like his opponent, Tcokaev looked sharp coming into the final and he was the one making all the early moves. But in a blink of an eye, the wrestler from Greece turned the 79kg final on its head.

Kougioumtsidis was placed on the passivity clock just over a minute into the bout. That call seemed to have woken him up from his slumber. As the clock ticked down, Kougioumtsidis first went for Tcokaev’s left leg but the Azerbaijani was quick to defend. He then went for the right. This time, not only did he successfully execute the single-leg attack, but Kougioumtsidis also tripped him for a four-pointer.

Tcokaev tried making a comeback but Kougioumtsidis used his long limbs to keep his opponent at bay and closed out the match 4-1, not scoring any more points.

It was a statement win. But it also broke the hearts of the home fans who were expecting to see their wrestlers turn on the style on the penultimate day of the championships. Instead, they had to witness two Azerbaijani defeats in the finals.

Inalbek SHERIEV (AIN) won the 70kg gold medal after beating Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE) in the final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Moments before Tcokaev lost to Kougioumtsidis, Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE) was defeated 6-2 by Inalbek SHERIEV (AIN) in the 70kg final.

Sheriev’s was one of the three Individual Neutral Athletes who won gold medals on Saturday. The finals session on the second last day of championships began with Artem GOBAEV (AIN) beating Muhammet KARAVUS (TUR) 8-3 for the 57kg gold medal.

Gobaev was dominant throughout the final, deftly evading Karavus’s moves and launching vicious counterattacks to give his Turkish rival no chance of winning and being crowned as the U23 continental champion for the first time.

Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (AIN) captured the 65kg title after beating defending champion Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

If Gobaev was patient enough to capitalize on his opponent’s mistakes, Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (AIN) was like a flashy sports car that takes less than 10 seconds to go full throttle.

Since winning the U23 World Championship title last year, Ibragimov hasn’t had a lot to show from his fledgling wrestling career. Big wins and titles have both been missing. That drought ended in Baku.

Ibragimov had spent less than 10 minutes on the mat on Friday to reach the final, scoring 21 points and allowing just one. But in Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA), he was up against the defending U23 European Championship gold medallist in the 65kg final.

He might not have won anything eye-popping of late, but Ibragimov didn’t look too overwhelmed by the quality of his opponent. The Frenchman was still to settle into the final when Ibragimov bent forward and got a grip of his leg for a swift two-point takedown.

The bout was only eight seconds old, but from that moment on, the writing was on the wall. Ibragimov kept chipping away constantly at his opponent to keep the scorecard ticking in his favor through a series of push-outs and passivity points Arsamerzouev conceded.

Eventually, in the battle between the U23 world champion, Ibragimov, and the U23 European champion, it was the former who prevailed 6-2.

Radu LEFTER (MDA) celebrates after winning the 97kg gold medal, a first for Moldova at the U23 European Championships in Freestyle. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Lefter wins historic gold

Radu LEFTER (MDA) will remember this day for a long time. Not only did he win his first gold medal at a championship, Lefter became the first wrestler from Moldova to win a Freestyle gold medal at the U23 European Championships after he defeated Soslan DZHAGAEV (AIN) in the final.

A two-time U23 World Championships silver medalist, Lefter got a huge baggage off his back after winning the gold in Baku. This was Lefter's fourth U23 European Championships where he has previously won a silver and two bronze medals. He also has a silver at the U20 and a bronze at the U17 European Championships.

In Baku, Lefter reached the final after two technical superiority wins but was challenged by Dzhagaev. He was put on the activity clock in the first period and trailed 1-0 at the break. But the second period was a completely different story.

Dzhagaev was put on the activity clock during which he hit a single-leg attack but Lefter countered it with exposure to get two points in addition to one after the activity clock expired to lead 3-1. With the clock ticking, Dzhagaev felt the pressure and made half-attacks, including an inside trip in the final 10 seconds which Lefter countered for a takedown and secure the historic win.

2022 U23 European champion Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) will look to win his second title on Sunday. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Gadzhiev, Magamadov eye titles

On the final day of the competition, former U23 European champion Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) will face Kamil ABDULVAGABOV (AIN) for the bragging rights in the 74kg.

Abdulvagabov had to overcome a tough opening round where he was stretched all the way by Irahim YAPRAK (TUR) before winning 5-4. After that initial hiccup, Abdulvagabov had little trouble beating other opponents, winning the quarterfinal by technical superiority and scoring a 7-3 win over Krisztian BIRO (ROU).

Gadzhiev’s route was a lot more straightforward wherein he didn’t have to survive any scares, scoring 28 points so far and conceding only 6.

The battle in the 86kg weight class, too, promises to be a mouthwatering as defending champion Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) will face Arslan BAGAEV (AIN). Only 20, Magamadov has a slew of titles to his name and will hope to add another U23 European title to his already impressive trophy cabinet.

In the 125kg class, Alen KHUBULOV (BUL) gave himself a fighting chance to win his first-ever gold medal at an international level after he reached the final, where he will face SOLOMON MANASHVILI (GEO).

Both wrestlers have had more or less an identical path to the final, with Khubulov playing an extra bout as he had to first compete in the qualifying round, which he convincingly won.

RESULTS

57kg
GOLD: Artem GOBAEV (AIN) df. Muhammet KARAVUS (TUR), 8-3

BRONZE: Luka GVINJILIA (GEO) df. Thomas EPP (SUI), 4-1
BRONZE: Vladyslav ABRAMOV (UKR) df. Herbert AKAPIAN (AIN), 8-3

65kg
GOLD: Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (AIN) df. Khamzat ARSAMERZOUEV (FRA), 6-2

BRONZE: Serghei CILCIC (MDA) df. Daniel KULCZYNSKI (POL), 4-0
BRONZE: Abdullah TOPRAK (TUR) df. Ayub MUSAEV (BEL), 3-2

70kg
GOLD: Inalbek SHERIEV (AIN) df. Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE), 6-2

BRONZE: Constantin CHIRILOV (MDA) df. Bohdan OLIINYK (UKR), 3-1
BRONZE: Davit PATSINASHVILI (GEO) df. Mikita DZEMCHANKA (AIN), 5-0

79kg
GOLD: Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) df. Ali TCOKAEV (AZE), 4-1

BRONZE: Radomir STOYANOV (BUL) df. Marius RETCO (MDA), 6-4
BRONZE: Arsen BALAIAN (AIN) df. RAFFAELE MATRULLO (ITA), via fall (2-0)

97kg
GOLD: Radu LEFTER (MDA) df. Soslan DZHAGAEV (AIN), 6-1

BRONZE: Rifat GIDAK (TUR) df. Ravan MUSAYEV (AZE), 2-2
BRONZE: Merab SULEIMANISHVILI (GEO) df. Angelos KOUKLARIS (GRE), 10-8

Freestyle Semifinals

61kg
GOLD: Bashir MAGOMEDOV (AIN) vs. Mykyta ABRAMOV (UKR)

SF 1: Mykyta ABRAMOV (UKR) df. Nuraddin NOVRUZOV (AZE), 15-12
SF 2: Bashir MAGOMEDOV (AIN) df. Simone PIRODDU (ITA), 10-0

74kg
GOLD: Kamil ABDULVAGABOV (AIN) vs. Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE)

SF 1: Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) df. Luka CHKHITUNIDZE (GEO), 7-4
SF 2: Kamil ABDULVAGABOV (AIN) df. Krisztian BIRO (ROU), 7-3

86kg
GOLD: Arslan BAGAEV (AIN) vs. Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA)

SF 1: Arslan BAGAEV (AIN) df. Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE), 5-1
SF 2: Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) df. Emre CIFTCI (TUR), 11-0

92kg
GOLD: Gkivi BLIATZE (GRE) vs. Adlan VISKHANOV (FRA)

SF 1: Adlan VISKHANOV (FRA) df. Mustafagadzhi MALACHDIBIROV (AIN), 10-4
SF 2: Gkivi BLIATZE (GRE) df. Ion DEMIAN (MDA), 4-2

125kg
GOLD: Alen KHUBULOV (BUL) vs. Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO)

SF 1: Alen KHUBULOV (BUL) df. Abdulla KURBANOV (AIN), 3-2
SF 2: Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO) df. Milan KORCSOG (HUN), 4-1

Iran, Georgia, Azerbaijan send talented stars for U20 Worlds

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Golden hattrick for Kougiomtsidis, historic gold for Lefter at U23 Euros