#Trnava2018

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

Wednesday, September 19, 2018 - 20:48 By Eric Olanowski

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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 

#GrecoRoman

'Thank you, wrestling': Tokyo Olympic medalist Elsayed, 27, retires

Monday, July 14, 2025 - 10:34 By Vinay Siwach

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EGYPT (July 14) -- Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY) has announced his retirement from wrestling, concluding a distinguished career that included two Olympic appearances and two world U23 gold medals.

Elsayed posted on Instagram about his struggles with injuries and shared that the decision to retire was the "most difficult" for the 27-year-old wrestler.

"After many years of hard work, challenges, and victories [and] after I honored my country and raised its flag in internationally, and was able to achieve my dream and win an Olympic medal in Greco-Roman wrestling, I have reached the most difficult decision in my sports career.  I have decided to officially announce my retirement," Elsayed wrote in an emotional post.

Having won five gold medals at the African Championships, Elsayed was a trailblazer in Greco-Roman and was Egypt's new-found hope for the Olympics. He did not disappoint in Tokyo, where he had a surprising run to the semifinal, which he lost to Parviz NASIBOV (UKR), 7-6.

He bounced back in the bronze-medal bout and defeated Artem SURKOV (ROC), 1-1 to capture bronze, Egypt's first medal since 2012 London Olympics and only the third since 1960.

"Wrestling has always been more than just a sport to me," he wrote. "It was my life, my passion, and my support in the most difficult times. I thank God for every moment I lived on the mat and every moment of pride, and every encouragement I heard from my family, fans, and country."

One of the biggest achievements of Elsayed, apart from the Olympic medal, was winning successive world U23 gold medals in 2018 and 2019 at 67kg.

Elsayed expressed gratitude to various individuals who supported him throughout the journey including coaches and trainers. He also thanked wrestling.

"I thank every coach who helped me, every colleague who stood by me, and everyone who supported me with a kind word or a prayer from the heart. Thank you to everyone who was part of the journey.

"Thank you to wrestling, which taught me to be a man before being a champion."