#Trnava2018

Iran Wins Greco-Roman Team Title, Komarov Wins Fourth World Gold

By Eric Olanowski

TRNAVA, Slovakia (September 19) – Iran, with four gold medalists and 136 points wrapped up the Greco-Roman team title at the 2018 Trnava Junior World Championships, four points ahead of second-place Russia. 

Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI), with his left shoulder heavily taped, claimed back-to-back junior titles, making it his third overall age-level world championship. 

In the 72kg championship bout, Kaviyaninejad scored an early takedown and transitioned into a gut wrench to command the 4-0 lead over Georgia’s Nikoloz TCHIKAIDZE. The Iranian wrestler slipped and surrendered his first takedown of the tournament, cutting his lead to 4-2. 

The three-time age-level world champion dominated the remainder of the bout, scoring two four-point throws, ending the match with a high dive to a body lock to pick up the fall. 

Kaviyaninejad joined fellow countryman Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) (130kg), Pouya NASERPOUR (IRI) (55kg), and Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) (87kg) as Trnava junior world champions. 

Meanwhile, Russia, led by Aleksandr KOMAROV (RUS) who earned his fourth age-level world title finished in second place with 131 points. 

Komarov (RUS) shutout out Andrew BERREYESA (USA) 10-0 in the 77kg finals to reach the top of the junior world podium for the second straight year. 

“These World Championships were the toughest yet. But it a great learning experience, and it feels good to win again,” said Komarov. “Now, my attention turns toward the senior-level and the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.” 

Kerem KAMAL (TUR) was the third reigning champion to successfully defended his Tampere world title on Wednesday night. 

Last year’s 55kg gold medalist stopped India from winning their first junior world gold medal since 1992, defeating Vijay VIJAY (IND), 10-0 in the 60kg gold-medal bout. 

Kamal, who was wrestling in his fourth age-level world final backflipped his way to a gold medal with a pair of explosive four-point throws and a takedown. 

After the match, Turkey’s two-time champion navigated his way to the mat-side camera and blew kisses to his fans that were not in attendance to enjoy the show he put on at the City Sports Hall here in Trnava, Slovakia. 

Armenia’s Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) and Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) won the remaining pair of Greco-Roman gold medals. 

Amoyan finished the 67kg gold-medal bout with a 10-0 technical superiority win over Uzbekistan’s Makhmud BAKHSHILLOEV, while Arvi Savolainen shutout Markus RAGGINGER (AUT), 5-0 for the 97kg gold medal.

RESULTS 

Team Scores
GOLD - Iran - (136 points)
SILVER- Russia (131 points)
BRONZE - Armenia (83 points)​​​​​​​
Fourth - Turkey (79 points) 
Fifth - India  (73 points)

60kg
GOLD - Kerem KAMAL (TUR) df. Vijay VIJAY (IND), 10-0 

BRONZE - Kazuki YABE (JPN) df. Razvan ARNAUT (ROU), 2-1 
BRONZE - Ali Reza Ayat Ollah NEJATI (IRI) df. Ihor KUROCHKIN (UKR), 9-0 

67kg
GOLD - Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) df. Makhmud BAKHSHILLOEV (UZB), 10-0 

BRONZE - Yousef HOSSEINVAND FATHI (IRI) df. Mohamed Ibrahi ELSAYED (EGY), 11-5 
BRONZE - Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) df. Ismail GUN (TUR), 3-3 

72kg
GOLD – Amin KAVIYANINEJAD (IRI) df. Nikoloz TCHIKAIDZE (GEO), via fall 

BRONZE - Erkan ERGEN (TUR) df. Minto MAEDA (JPN), 6-3 
BRONZE - Magomed YARBILOV (RUS) df. Alijon KHUSEYNOV (UZB), 5-0  

82kg
GOLD -  Aleksandr KOMAROV (RUS) df. Andrew BERREYESA (USA), 10-0 

BRONZE - Istvan TAKACS (HUN) df. Aivengo RIKADZE (GEO), 6-5 
BRONZE -  Muhutdin SARICICEK (TUR) df. Simone FIDELBO (ITA), 11-2 

97kg
GOLD - Arvi Martin SAVOLAINEN (FIN) df. Markus RAGGINGER (AUT), 5-0 

BRONZE - Artur SARGSIAN (RUS) df. Illia LAURYNOVICH (BLR)
BRONZE - Balint VATZI (HUN) df. Islam UMAYEV (KAZ), 4-0 

#WrestleSamokov

U20 World Championships 2025 Day 7 Highlights

By Vinay Siwach

SAMOKOV, Bulgaria (August 23) -- With four Greco-Roman weight classes, the U20 World Championships come towards the end. 63kg, 77kg, 87kg and 130kg wrestlers will be in action in Samokov, Bulgaria.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 6 RESULTS

13:55: In the final match of the morning session, former world U17 champion Yusuf BAKIR (TUR) needed a stepout with 40 seconds remaining to beat Mazaim MARDANOV (AZE), 4-3 at 130kg. Bakir with a 3-0 lead after he scored a turn from par terre, Mardanov takes criteria lead with a exposure from par terre and he tries to defend his criteria lead. However, Bakir manages a pushout to win 4-3.

13:45: Abolfazl FATHITAZANGI (IRI), the returning silver medalist, is not troubled by a Hungarian wrestler as he beats Koppany LASZLO (HUN) in the 130kg semifinal. Fathitazangi scored three stepouts while Laszlo had two as the Iranian wins 4-2.

13:25: Elias LYYSKI (FIN) stops world U17 champion Amirsam MOHAMMADI (IRI) in the 87kg quarterfinal with a 6-4 win. After he led 6-0 in the first period, Lyyski holds on to it and only gives four points in the second period.

13:15: Senior Asian champion Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB) lets out a huge scream as he down European U20 champion Igor PUNCHENKO (UWW) in the 63kg quarterfinal. Khalmakhanov got his defense in the second period and defended his lead to win 6-4.  

13:05: Damir IBRASHOV (KAZ) needed a challenge to beat Tural AHMADOV (AZE), 1-1, at 63kg. Ibrashov had the criteria from first par terre but was cautioned for fleeing but Kazakhstan challenged the call and won it to win 1-1.

12:50: Returning world champion from 72kg Zaur BESLEKOEV (UWW), who is now at 77kg, has no trouble in seeing off Petro SHAFRANSKYI (UKR), 8-0. Beslekoev is looking to win his second straight title.

12:40: Abdurakhman ABDULKADYROV (UWW), the European silver medalist at U20s, pins Orkhan HAJIYEV (AZE) and advance at 87kg.

12:32: Anri PUTKARADZE (GEO), European U20 champion and former world U17 champion, enters the 77kg quarterfinals with a 5-3 win over Asian U23 champion Akzhan YKYLASSOV (KAZ)

12:30: Martin LJOSAAK (NOR) will be ruing the chances he missed as he drops his 87kg bout 11-9 against world U17 champion Amirsam MOHAMMADI (IRI). was down 10-7 but Mohammadi was cautioned for blocking but Ljosaak can't finish the match

12:20: Ilias LAAOUINA (NED) is on a hot run here in Samokov. He now beats European U20 bronze medalist Bende OLASZ (HUN) at 63kg and into the quarterfinals.

12:17: Igor PUNCHENKO (UWW) with a technical superiority 9-0 victory over Al Bara CHOPALAEV (EST) and reach the 63kg quarterfinals. Punchenko looking to complete the world and continental double.

12:15: Tural AHMADOV (AZE) with a first par terre advantage and he keeps it until the end of the bout to win 1-1 against GAURAV (IND) at 63kg and advance to the quarterfinals.

12:10: Senior Asian champion AYTJAN KHALMAKHANOV (UZB) with a first-period fall over Manato NAKAMURA (JPN) at 63kg and wins his opening bout. Khalmakhanov is a 2022 world U17 champion

11:45: No problems for returning silver medalist at 130kg Abolfazl FATHITAZANGI (IRI) as he pins Saba PURTSELADZE (GEO), a former world U17 champion.

11:35: Big match between European U20 silver medalist Davud MAMMADOV (AZE) and bronze medalist Samvel TERTERYAN (ARM) at 77kg. Both wrestlers can't turn from par terre but Terteryan got the first point and he holds on to his criteria lead to win win 1-1.

11:20: Luka KOCHALIDZE (GEO), European U20 champion at 87kg, with a close 2-1 victory over Branko DUKIC (SRB).

11:12: Amirsam MOHAMMADI (IRI), who was recently crowned world U17 champion in Greece, is tested by Antonio LUKAC (CRO) in his first 87kg bout but Mohammadi wins 3-1. Perhaps he is feeling the difference in strength in the upper age-group.

10:55: Returning world U20 bronze medalist at 87kg Temirlan TURDAKYN (KAZ) looked a little rusty but manages to see off Wojciech IWANOWSKI (POL), 3-2.

10:40: Ilias LAAOUINA (NED) with an upset win over Asian U20 champion Emirlan DUISHENALIEV (KGZ). He manages to score 8 points from par terre and win 9-0 at 63kg.

10:30: European U20 champion Igor PUNCHENKO (UWW) faces William EKEROT (SWE), a European U20 bronze medalist. After a slow start Punchenko finishes the match in the second period with a fall and advance at 63kg.