Asian Schoolboy

Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan Shine at First Asian Schoolboys C'ships

By Ali Feizasa

KARAJ, Iran (Aug. 4) -- Iran, Japan and Kazakhstan shined at the first Asian Schoolboys Championships, which took place in Karaj, Iran.

Talented Asian wrestlers -- ages 13-15 -- had the chance to compete in a continental event. It was the first international experience for most of the wrestlers.

The competitions were full of emotion and technique … and also laughs and tears.

United World Wrestling President Nenad LALOVIC sent a message to the Asian schoolboy wrestlers who competed in Iran.

"Each wrestler has earned the opportunity and you see their talent and determination on the mats. These schoolboy wrestlers are the future stars of our sport and we are extremely proud of them and their spotlight will shine all the way through until they are wrestling at the very highest level." Lalovic said.

In freestyle, the host country Iran and Japan boys won nine of the 10 gold medals.

Ebrahim KHARI (38kg), Mohammadreza SHAKERI (41kg), Seyed Amirmehdi HOSSEINI (68kg), Seyed Reza HASHEMI JOUYBARI (75kg) and Mohammad Mobin AZIMI (85kg) were five gold medalists for Iran. 

Nishiuchi YUTO (44kg), Onishi TAIGA (48kg), Takahashi KOTA (57kg) and Ogino KAIJI (62kg) captured gold medals for Japan. AMAN from India grabbed 52kg gold medal.

"I had tough rival from Iran and I beat him in the first round," said Kota. "The competition was high level and we had a good team in this event. I have aimed to train hard and get prepared for bigger competitions. My goal is to win an Olympic gold medal." 

In Greco-Roman, gold medals were shared between Iran and Kazakhstan.

Milad VALIZADEH (38kg), Mohammad HAJIVAND FATHI (41kg) Ali HAJIVAND (44kg), Saeed ESMAEILI (52kg), Hojjat REZAYI (62kg), Ahmad SOLHDUST (75kg) and Abolfazl PAYDAR (85kg) were seven Iranian champions. 

Alikhan DALABAY (48kg), Aziz GASSYMOV (57kg) and Malik ZHALELOV (68kg) were three Kazakh wrestlers who captured gold medals.

"For developing wrestling in Asia and finding talented wrestlers, Iran federation proposed to host the first Asian Schoolboys Championships and by cooperation of UWW, we hosted boys competitions," said Iran wrestling president Rasoul KHADEM. "The girls event will be in Japan.

"Ten countries participated in the first edition of the Asian Schoolboys Championships and we saw fantastic competitions. Iran federation with the collaboration of United World Wrestling has aimed to provide the opportunity of getting experienced for talented wrestlers and we hope to see today's boys at the next Olympic Games." 

During the event, Iranian women have the chance to enter wrestling hall, watching and cheering for their children. Meanwhile, for the first time some Iranian women referees judged an international wrestling event inside Iran.

2018 Asian Schoolboys Championships results

Freestyle 

Team standings

1. Iran 205 
2. Japan 180 
3. India 169 
4. Kazakhstan 151 
5. Kyrgyzstan 100 
6. Iraq 86 
7. Turkmenistan 28 
8. Bangladesh 25 
9. Pakistan 18 
10. Singapore 6 

38kg
GOLD: Ebrahim KHARI (IRI) df. Daryn ASKERBEK (KAZ), 6-2
BRONZE: Anil YASHWANT (IND) df. Erbol MURTALIEV (KGZ) bt TF, 14-4

41kg
GOLD: Mohammadreza SHAKERI (IRI) df. Kosei TAKANO (JPN), 6-0
BRONZE: Yelaman AMANGELDY (KAZ) df. Bharti SAAR (IND), 3-3

44kg
GOLD: Nishiuchi YUTO (JPN) df. Erfan ANSARI (IRI), 4-1
BRONZE: CHIRA (IND) df. Amerkhan YANDIYEV (KAZ), 4-0

48kg
GOLD: Onishi TAIGA (JPN) df. Abdinur NURLANBEK (KAZ), 6-0
BRONZE: Amirhesam MOHEBBI (IRI) df. BHUVANESH (IND), 6-4

52kg
GOLD: AMAN (IND) df. Emil AMIRKHANOV (KAZ) by TF, 11-0
BRONZE: Ali KABUDTABAR (IRI) df. Emon MIAH (BAN) by TF 10-0
BRONZE: Ruslan UULU ALISHER (KGZ) df. Seifaldin FARES SALMAN (IRQ), 2-0

57kg
GOLD: Takahashi KOTA (JPN) df. Mahesh KUMAR (IND) by TF, 10-0
BRONZE: Ali SALIMI (IRI) df. Plzhas CHAKEYEV (KAZ), 12-7
BRONZE: MAHABUB ALAM (BAN) df. Inam KHALID (PAK), 5-3

62kg
GOLD: Ogino KAIJI (JPN) df. PARVINDER (IND), 3-1 
BRONZE: Shayan MIRBEYK (IRI) df. Muhommetmayrat ORAZOV (TKM), 15-7
BRONZE: Iliyas YERBOLATOV df. Bakytbek UULU MALIK (KGZ) by TF, 10-0

68kg
GOLD: Seyed Amirmehdi HOSSEINI (IRI) df. KARAN (IND) 8-2
BRONZE: Adil ZHAKSYBAYEV (KAZ) df. Hayashi KENSHIN (JPN), 10-4

75kg
GOLD: Seyed Reza HASHEMI JOUYBARI (IRI) df. Igarashi FUMIYA (JPN), 6-2
BRONZE: Vetal AUDUMBAR SHELKE (IND) df. Omar MEDOV (KAZ), 6-2

85kg
GOLD: Mohammad Mobin AZIMI (IRI) df. Kyo KITAWAKI (JPN), 3-0
BRONZE: Vikas KUMAR (IND) df. Nurdaulet BEKENOV (KAZ), 2-2

Greco-Roman

Team Standings

1. Iran 220 
2. Kazakhstan 194 
3. India 154 
4. Kyrgyzstan 130 
5. Iraq 111 
6. Turkmenistan 28 

38kg
GOLD: Milad VALIZADEH (IRI)
SILVER: Khamid NABIYEV (KAZ)
BRONZE: Malik YESHVEER (IND)

41kg
GOLD: Mohammad HAJIVAND FATHI (IRI)
SILCER: Kurmanbek ZHAPAROV (KGZ)
BRONZE: Bagdat SABAZ (KAZ)

44kg
GOLD: Ali HAJIVAND (IRI) df. Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ by TF, 9-0
BRONZE: Mehdi KALAF EISA (IRQ) df. Vikash VISHNOI (IND) by TF, 17-5

48kg
GOLD: Alikhan DALABAY (KAZ)
SILVER: RUPIN (IND)    
BRONZE: Mehrdad MAZHARI (IRI)

52kg
GOLD: Saeed ESMAEILI (IRI)
SILVER: Merey MAULITKANOV (KAZ)
BRONZE: Loyangamba SINGH KHUNDONGBAM (IND)

57kg
GOLD: Aziz GASSYMOV (KAZ)
SILVER: Omkar Eknath PATEL (IND)
BRONZE: Danial SOHRABI (IRI)

62kg
GOLD: Hojjat REZAYI (IRI)
SILVER: Madi DANELOV (KAZ)
BRONZE: RAVI (IND)

68kg
GOLD: Malik ZHALELOV (KAZ)
SILVER: Omurzak SADYKOV (KGZ)
BRONZE: Alireza ZAHIR SHAHABADI (IRI)

75kg
GOLD: Ahmad SOLHDUST (IRI) df. Akhmed OMAROV (KGZ) 11-6
BRONZE: Deepak CHAHAL (IND) df. Ali Heitham ABDULSAHEB (IRQ), 9-2

85kg
GOLD: Abolfazl PAYDAR (IRI) df. Arshdeep SINGH (IND) by TF, 9-0
BRONZE: Abay SERIKKAZYULY (KAZ) df. Dastan IMANBERDIEV (KGZ), 8-2

#Grappling

Russia Sweeps U17 European Grappling Despite Armenia Challenge

By United World Wrestling Press

YEREVAN, Armenia (May 20) -- Armenia’s emerging grapplers showcased remarkable depth while Russia dominated the heavier divisions at the U17 Men’s European Grappling Championships here on Monday, with the three traditional regional powers — Armenia, Russia and Ukraine — sweeping podium places across the men’s categories.

Armenia’s strength was most visible in the lighter weights. In the 39-42kg category, Yura MELKONYAN led an Armenian one-two finish ahead of Emanuel GHULYAN, winning the bout 2-1. The trend continued at 50kg where Aram HOVSEPYAN (ARM) clinched gold while compatriot Arshak GALSTYAN (ARM) secured bronze. In the 63kg division, Avet BARSEGHYAN (ARM) added a bronze to the home country’s tally.

The hosts consistently placed multiple wrestlers on the podium, underlining the depth of their youth programme. Armenia added further medals through Marat KARAPETYAN and Hovhannes MRKTCHYAN at 46kg, Gor KHACHATRYAN at 54kg, Garush VARDANYAN at 76kg and Martin DAVTYAN at 85kg.

Russia, meanwhile, stamped its authority in the middle and upper weights. Albert PAREMUZIAN won (RUS) the 46kg title before Azizdzhon SOTVOLDIEV (RUS) took gold at 58kg, beating Davyd KHOMANETS (UKR) 5-0 in the final.

The Russians continued their dominance in the 63 and 69kg categories, recording a gold-silver finish in both. In 63kg, Kurbanali MAKHMUDOV (RUS) defeated Boris BAIRAMUKOV (RUS) to win the gold medal, whereas Ramil ZHIROV (RUS) claimed the 69kg title, beating Iaroslav BALAKIREV (RUS) 7-2 in the final.

The Russians were especially dominant at 76kg where Gusein KHASAEV defeated compatriot Muslim MAMMAEV 2-1 in an all-Russian final.

Ibragim KUMYSHEV (RUS) added another gold at 85kg while Russia also collected silver and bronze in the heavyweight 110kg division through Dzhamal ALKHASOV and Ramazan ESEDOV, respectively.

Ukraine produced fewer overall medallists but impressed with quality performances. Roman SHOSTAK led a Ukrainian one-two finish at 54kg ahead of Illia ZHOLOBOV, while Yaroslav FEDYNA emerged heavyweight champion at 110kg. Ukraine also secured double podium finishes at 58kg through Khomanets and Artem ZAIETS.

Poland’s Marcel Jan BIALEK was the only medallist outside the dominant trio, taking silver at 85kg.

While Russia won the team title with a total of 190 points, hosts Armenia were second with 164, and Ukraine finished third, amassing 85 points.

Russia Dominates in Women`s

Russia reinforced its status as the tournament’s powerhouse by capturing the women’s team title as well, after a commanding series of performances across all categories. Echoing the dominance of the men, Russian grapplers reached the podium in all five weight categories and ultimately finished ahead of Ukraine in the overall standings, with 105 points.

Olesia YATSKO (UKR) beat Ailina GALIEVA (RUS) 7-4 to reign supreme in the 46kg category. It was a Russian 1-2 in the 49kg division, with Vasilisa SHUTOVA (RUS) defeating compatriot Elena KHISMATULLINA (RUS) to take the gold, while Karolina HYRIA (UKR) won the bronze medal.

The strongest statement came in the 56kg category, where Russia completed a remarkable clean sweep of the podium. Sofia ZASLAVSKAIA secured the gold medal after an outstanding performance, while Veronika ZIIAEVA added silver and Eva Sergeevna USHAKOVA claimed bronze, underlining the nation’s depth and control in the weight class.

Russia continued to collect crucial team points in the 60kg division, where Viktoria MOKSUNOVA earned silver. Nadia Bozena PLEWINSKA (POL) took the gold medal with an impressive display while Yana PAVLIUK (UKR) finished third to keep Ukraine firmly in contention for second place in the team rankings.

In the 65kg division, Ukraine celebrated gold through Sofia GOLOVACH, who delivered one of the country’s standout performances of the tournament. Matylda ULEWICZ (POL) earned silver, while Angelina IARKINA (RUS) added another bronze medal to the Russian tally.

Despite strong competition from both Ukraine and Poland, Russia’s consistency across all categories proved decisive, with the multiple podium finishes allowing them to comfortably secure the overall women’s title.