Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Belarus, World Cup, Los Angeles

Iran Looks to Upend Talented Azerbaijani Squad at Freestyle World Cup

Thursday, April 9, 2015 - 22:18 By Tim Foley

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Men’s Freestyle World Cup: Group B Preview

LOS ANGELES (April 9) –Defending champion Iran will be the heavy favorite in Group B when the 2015 United World Wrestling freestyle World Cup kicks off Saturday afternoon at the Forum in Los Angeles, California.

Iran defeated Russia 6-2 in last year’s gold-medal match and this year the Iranians will face Group B competition that includes World power Azerbaijan and the always-formidable nation of Belarus.

While Los Angeles remains thousands of miles from Tehran, the Iranians might feel at home as the American city is home to one of the largest Persian communities in North America. Iranian fans from across Southern California have already bought tickets in expectation of their team’s inclusion in the gold medal match on Sunday.

On the mat, the Iranian squad has a foursome of talented World and Olympic medalists leading their championships charge. Though missing a few key names, the Iranians will bring World No.2 2012 Olympic bronze medalist and 2014 World silver medalist Komeil GHASEMI (125kg) along with two-time World champion Reza YAZDANI (97kg), who ranks fourth in the world.

World No.8 Hassan RAHIMI (57kg) brings another title to the favored Iranian side, having won a 2013 World gold. World No.2 and 2014 world silver medalist Sayed Ahmad MOHAMMADI (65kg) rounds out the Iranian squad’s sterling lineup.

The Azerbaijan side will be led by 2012 Olympic gold medalist Togrul ASGAROV (70kg) and last year’s 61kg world champion Haji ALIEV, who ranks No.12 at 65kg. Two-time World bronze medalist and ninth-ranked Yabrail HASANOV (74kg) rounds out an formidable Azerbaijani lineup, one they hope can carry them past their Iranian rival.

Though not originally favored in the group, the team from Belarus brings a surprising and competitive lineup to Los Angeles. The team will be led by World No.7 and 2011 world champion Alexei SHEMAROV (125kg), 2013 and 2014 World bronze medalist Ali SHABANOV (74kg), who comes in ranked No.4, and 2014 World bronze medalist Vladislav ANDREEV (57kg), who currently sits at No.7.

World No.12 Ibragim SAIDOV (97kg), who won the respected Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix in 2015, is also expected to bring a significant contribution to Belarus’ title hunt.

Turkey brings a limited side with only ten wrestlers on the roster and will without world No.1 and defending Taha AKGUL (125kg). The Turks will be led by two-time World medalist Sezer AKGUEL (57kg), who was a 2009 World silver medalist and a 2013 World bronze medalist. Joining Akguel will be 2012 World University champion Mustafa KAYA (70kg). Kaya was fifth in the 2014 World Championship, and was a silver medalist at the 2010 Junior European Championships and is currently ranked 13th in the world.

The Turkish side is rounded out by 2014 European bronze medalist Soener DEMIRTAS at 74kg.

Competition Schedule (All Times are PDT; GMT -7)
Saturday, April 11 
Session I
3:00 p.m. – Mat A: USA vs. Cuba; Mat B: Iran vs. Belarus
4:30 p.m. – Mat A: Russia vs. Mongolia; Mat B: Azerbaijan vs. Turkey
 
Session II
6:15 p.m. – Opening Ceremonies
6:30 p.m. – Mat A: USA vs. Russia; Mat B: Iran vs. Turkey
8:00 p.m. – Mat A: Mongolia vs. Cuba; Mat B: Belarus vs. Azerbaijan
 
Sunday, April 12
Session III
11:00 a.m. – Mat A: USA vs. Mongolia; Mat B: Turkey vs. Belarus
12:30 p.m. – Mat A: Azerbaijan vs. Iran; Mat B: Cuba vs. Russia
2:00 p.m. – Mat A: Fifth Place Dual; Mat B: Seventh Place Dual
 
Session IV
4:15 p.m. – Mat A: Third Place Dual
5:45 p.m. – Mat A: Championship Dual

#WrestleZagreb

Zagreb Open 2025 Day 1 Semifinals Set

Wednesday, February 5, 2025 - 09:31 By Vinay Siwach

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ZAGREB, Croatia (February 5) -- The first Ranking Series of 2025 is here. The Zagreb Open will see wrestling over four days with Freestyle starting things in 57kg, 61kg, 65kg, 70kg, 74kg and 86kg weight classes.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | 2025 SEASON PREVIEW

13:35: The final semifinals of the session at 86kg. Zahid VALENCIA (USA) gets the better of Nathan JACKSON (USA) 12-2 and advance to the final. He will face Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) who blanked Trent HIDLAY (USA) 5-0.

13:25: David CARR (USA) rolls to a 12-2 win over Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN) 12-2 and will face Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) who got the better of Giorgi ELBAKIDZE (GEO).

13:15: Sina KHALILI (IRI) into the Zagreb Open final at 70kg as James GREEN (USA) pulls out of the semifinals citing an injury. He will face Kanan HEYBATOV (AZE) who defeated Ebrahim ELAHI (IRI) 10-5.

13:05: Abbas EBRAHIM (IRI) gets his gut wrench going against Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR) to win 14-4 at 65kg. He will face Joseph MC KENNA (USA) who defeated Goga OTINASHVILI (GEO)

13:00: We just published a tribute to Mariya STADNIK (AZE) who retired on Monday after 22 years! Legend. Read it here.

12:50: The 61kg final is set and it's all-Iranian. Ahmad JAVAN (IRI) and Ibrahim KHARI (IRI) won their respective semifinals to advance. The third Iranian in the weight class, Reza MOMENI (IRI) also has a chance to win a bronze medal as he lost the semifinals to Khari.

12:40: Spencer LEE (USA) with a 6-4 win over Roman BRAVO YOUNG (MEX). He led 6-0 before allowing Young to score a stepout and a takedown but that was all. He will wrestle Bazarganov in the 57kg final.

12:35: Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE) gives a reality check of senior level wrestling to Ahora KHATERI (IRI). The Azerbaijan wrestlers rolls to a 10-0 technical superiority win over the Iranian to move to the 57kg final. 

12:30: Semifinals of the day begin now. We have 57kg wrestlers coming on the mat now.

12:22: European champion and world medalist Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) hangs on a for a 5-0 win over Aghanazar NOVRUZOV (AZE). He will wrestle in the semifinals at 74kg. 

12:12: Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN), who recently defeated Paris medalist Chermen VALIEV (ALB) in the Bundesliga, beats U20 world champion Ali REZAEI (IRI) 6-1 at 74kg. Kuramagomedov was on point in that bout.

12:00: Zahid VALENCIA (USA) gave up a couple of step outs against Abolfazl RAHMANI (IRI) but got the job done with a 5-2 win at 86kg to move into the semifinals.

11:45: Two solid bouts on Mat C. Joseph MC KENNA (USA) used a good four-pointer throw and completed a 7-4 win over Ali RAHIMZADA (AZE). In the next bout, Ali KHORRAMDEL (IRI) was leading Goga OTINASHVILI (GEO) 7-0 in the first period but struggled with the pace in the second as Otinashvili came back and made the score 13-9. As Khorramdel tried a desperate four-pointer, Otinashvili pinned him

11:35: James GREEN (USA), who is back after a year and a half of retirement, wins a close one over compatriot Alec PANTELO (USA) 4-3 at 70kg. He marked his international return at the 2024 World Championships at 70kg and finished 11th.

11:25: Paris silver medalist Spencer LEE (USA) comes out and gets a 10-0 win over Luka GVINJILIA (GEO) in two minutes. He moves into the semifinals at 

11:10: Former U17 world champion and Iran's big bet at 57kg Ahora KHATERI (IRI) comes out off a hole! He was trailing 7-2 against Brandon COURTNEY (USA) with less than 30 seconds remaining but mounts a comeback and wins 7-7

11:05: Two-time Olympian and world champion Iszmail MUSZUKAJEV (HUN) with a little awkward start to the season. Up against Jarrett JACQUES (USA) in the opening round at 70kg, Muszukajev drops the bout 3-2. He lacked his speed and the conditioning is missing as well. Great win for Jacques.

10:55: Kamil KERYMOV (UKR) gave a tough fight to Paris Olympian Roman BRAVO YOUNG (MEX) at 57kg but RBY, popularly known as in the USA circuit, wins 9-6. He is on a potential clash with Spencer LEE (USA) in the semifinals

10:45: Azamat TUSKAEV (SRB) gets his typical defensive style out and hangs on for a controlled 4-0 win over Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO) at 57kg.

10:30: Welcome to day one of the Zagreb Open! This is the first of the four Ranking Series events which will award points to the wrestlers and help in the seeding for the World Championships in September which incidentally will be held in the same Arena Zagreb.