#Belgrade2020

Jafarov, 19, Stamps Authority with Second Age-Group World Title

Wednesday, November 3, 2021 - 20:24 By Vinay Siwach

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BELGRADE, Serbia (November 3) – As a kid, Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) imagined becoming a world champion for Azerbaijan like many greats from the country. But growing up in a small district of Goranboy, Azerbaijan, it was difficult to find heroes to look up to. But he still followed his elder brother to the wrestling gym and slowly fell in love with the sport.

A decade after he first stepped into a wrestling gym, Jafarov has not only fulfilled the dream of winning a world title, he has won two in three months.

The 19-year-old stunned the field at 67kg weight class at the U23 World Championships, adding to his junior world title which he won in August in Ufa, Russia.

The Azerbaijan wrestler continues to improve at a rapid pace. That was visible in Belgrade, Serbia, where he defeated Asian champion Sultan ASSETULY (KAZ), U23 European silver Kadir KAMAL (TUR) and junior Asian champion Mohammad REZAEI (IRI) en route the gold.

"I am glad that I became a world champion for the second time," Jafarov said. "I'll train even better to achieve good results in the senior age group."

Russia won the Greco-Roman team title, thanks to the two gold medals on Wednesday, which propelled them to 190 points. Iran finished second with 155 points, while Georgia ended up on the podium in third place with 105 points.

Jafarov, who turned 19-years-old on October 5, outscored Rezaei by scoring the match deciding two-point correct throw in the second period and holding onto the one-point win.

But even with his loss in the 67kg, Rezaei's 20-point second-place finish helped Iran (135 points) regain the five-point lead over Russia (130 points) after the night's first two weight classes.

Despite his win, the Azerbaijan youngster, who hails from a small village of Goranboy district, realized that moving forward, his opponents will study him more and find new ways to stop him from winning.

"Each medal brings more responsibility," he said. "My opponents know my par terre techniques, my standing position wrestling style. I will try to improve in the future so that it's not that tough for me to win."

AllakhiarovAnvar ALLAKHIAROV (RUS) dominated to win the 60kg gold medal in Belgrade. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

In other action, Iran narrowly led Russia by five points coming into the 60kg final, but Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (RUS) knotted up the team score at 115 points after he used a seven-point second period to ease his way past Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI).

Allakhiarov fell behind 1-0 after the opening four minutes but never showed signs of panic. Instead, he remained poised in the second period and capitalized on his opportunity to put points on the board.

The Russian wrestler came out front with a back-breaking four-point lift after his Iranian opponent was hit for inactivity and gained the 5-1 advantage. He kept the action flowing and picked up two more points with an overhook throw that resulted in an exposure.

Allakhiarov ultimately held on to win 7-1 and handed Russia their third Greco-Roman gold medal of the '21 U23 World Championships.

Artur SargsianArtur SARGSIAN (RUS) won his second age-group world title. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

A fourth was added by the calm and composed Artur SARGSIAN (RUS) at 97kg. He closed out the Greco-Roman side of the competition with an overpowering 9-0 win over Pavel HLINCHUK (BLR). After earning the first-period inactivity point, the Russian turned the Belarusian twice and scored a four-point lift to win the match, 9-0.

"It was my sixth World Championships," Sargsian said. "The first gold medal was in 2015, and in my fifth try, I could win it again. I was ready to do everything to win the gold medal."

Sargsian is quickly becoming one of the most dynamic Greco-Roman wrestlers around the world, and Wednesday was further proof of it when easily lifted Hlinchuk for the throw. He was in danger after landing on his back for a split second but quickly redeemed himself to clinch the win.

"I can hide my emotions inside but we all worry a lot," he said. "I came here only for the gold and nothing else. I came to show my wrestling."

As he continues to grow as a wrestler and try to find his place on the senior Russian team, he will have to go through Tokyo Olympic champion Musa EVLOEV (RUS).

"He [Evloev] has a little injury, but soon he will be back on the mat," he said. "We will have the Russian Nationals soon, and we will wrestle and see."

The 23-year-old Oslo bronze medalist was also thankful to two-time Olympic champion Roman VLASOV (RUS) to be in the arena to support the Russian team.

"After my final match, I talked to the captain of our team Vlasov, he congratulated me," he said. "It's nice to have such attention. This support is really important."

Idris IBAEVIdris IBAEV (GER) became the 72kg world champion. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Russia was gunning for another gold as Sergei KUTUZOV (RUS) was in the 72kg final but Idris IBAEV (GER) spoiled that party when he stopped the Russian from improving his ’21 senior world silver after picking up a one-point win in the final.

"In Belgrade, I could concentrate well and show better wrestling," Ibaev said. "I prepared tactically and we worked a lot on my technique with the coach."

Ibaev, who wanted to be a boxer growing up in Goity village in Russia, found his calling for wrestling when he began training with Miakhdi IAKHIAEV (RUS), who won a bronze medal in Belgrade.

He struck first with a sneaky left-sided arm drag and grabbed the 2-0 lead. His Russian opponent stopped a gut-wrench attempt and scored a point for the reversal, cutting Ibaev’s lead to 2-1. Prior to the period’s closing whistle, Ibaev picked up the third point in the first period (inactivity) and carried the 3-1 lead into the closing period.

After stopping Kutuzov’s par terre offense, Ibaev picked up a gold medal for Germany with a 3-2 win.

Despite falling in the finals, Kutuzov still scored 20 points for Russia, which pushed them five-point ahead of Iran heading into the final pair of gold-medal matches.

RikadzeAivengo RIKADZE (GEO) won Georgia's second gold medal at the tournament. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Georgia landed its second gold medal of the tournament when Aivengo RIKADZE (GEO) used a blistering five-point first period to stop Switzerland's Ramon BETSCHART (SUI) from becoming his country's first-ever Greco-Roman world champion at any level. It was the second time Betschart had been stopped in the world finals. He also dropped the '18 junior world finals in Trnava, Slovakia.

Rikadze never looked in trouble during the bout and his gold medal helped Georgia outplace Turkey for the third position in the title race.

U23 World ChampionshipsThe four medalist at the 97kg Greco-Roman weight class in Belgrade. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

RESULTS

60kg
GOLD: Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (RUS) df Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI), 7-1

BRONZE: Kerem KAMAL (TUR) df Ihor KUROCHKIN (UKR), 6-5
BRONZE: Pridon ABULADZE (GEO) df Mukhammadkodir YUSUPOV (UZB), 3-3

67kg
GOLD: Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) df Mohammad REZAEI (IRI), 3-2

BRONZE: Kadir KAMAL (TUR) df Sultan ASSETULY (KAZ), 5-1
BRONZE: Miakhdi IAKHIAEV (RUS) df Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO), 5-1

72kg
GOLD: Idris IBAEV (GER) df Sergei KUTUZOV (RUS), 7-2

BRONZE: Shant KHACHATRYAN (ARM) df Erik PERSSON (SWE), via fall
BRONZE: Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) df. Amir ABDI (IRI), 12-7

82kg
GOLD: Aivengo RIKADZE (GEO) df Ramon BETSCHART (SUI), 5-1

BRONZE: Branko KOVACEVIC (SRB) df Moric KISMONI (HUN), 9-1
BRONZE: Shamil OZHAEV (RUS) df Mohammad NAGHOUSI (IRI), 8-0

97kg
GOLD: Artur SARGSIAN (RUS) df Pavel HLINCHUK (BLR), 9-0

BRONZE: Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) df Robert ERSEK (HUN), 5-1
BRONZE: Markus RAGGINGER (AUT) df Ondrej DADAK (CZE), 5-0

#WrestleTirana

Muhamet Malo 2025 Ranking Series Freestyle Finals

Wednesday, February 26, 2025 - 09:26 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (February 26) -- The second Ranking Series of 2025, Muhamet Malo, is underway in Tirana, Albania. Kicking off with Freestyle, six weight class will be held on day one -- 57kg, 61kg, 65kg, 70kg, 74kg and 86kg

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER

15:30: Chandler MARSTELLER (USA) and Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ) enter the 86kg final after contrasting wins. Marsteller controlled his way to a 4-0 win over Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL) while Sakayev hangs on for a 4-4 criteria win over Tariel GAPHRINDASHVILI (GEO).

15:20: Chermen VALIEV (ALB) finds a way to beat Yones EMAMI (IRI) 8-3 in the 74kg semifinal. A big armthrow for two points for Valiev which he challenged to ask for four points. Emami with a takedown to lead 3-2 at break. But Valiev switches levels in the second period with six points including a takedown and gut wrench to win 803. He will face Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) in the final. Salkazanov will be aiming for his second straight Ranking Series gold medal after he defeated Magoma DIBIRGADZHIEV (UWW) 5-0 in the other semifinal. Two takedowns in his win.

15:15: Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) blanks Akaki KEMERTELIDZE (GEO) 6-0 to enter the 70kg final. He will take on Asian silver medalist Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) who hangs on for a 2-1 win over James GREEN (USA) despite Green's multiple efforts to score. Aoyagi with some sneaky defense.

15:05: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) is into another Ranking Series final but not without a fight. Real WOODS (USA) had him in trouble in the first period with a takedown but Amouzad kept the pace of the bout and score seven stepouts, two takedowns and a point for Woods fleeing to win 13-2

Amouzad will face Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) in the final after the Kyrgyz beat Kaisei TANABE (JPN) 14-3 in the other semifinal. Zhumashbek led 1-1 on criteria but was put on activity clock again but he scored two points via attempted suplex. Tanabe blocked his second throw attempt and scored two. Tanabe challenged but there was no change in scoring and it gave Zhumashbek Uulu another point. A takedown later, Zhumashbek led 8-3 before he finished the bout with another throw for four and turn for two.

14:50: Takara SUDA (JPN), making his international debut at senior level, blanks Artem GOBAEV (UWW) 9-0 in the 61kg semifinals. After leading 3-0, Suda with a huge suplex for four and two stepouts to win 9-2. He will take on Nachyn MONGUSH (UWW) in the final who beat Stilyan ILIEV (BUL) 7-1 in the other semifinal.  

14:40: Ali Hossein MOMENI (IRI) takes out Almaz SMANBEKOV (KGZ) 6-2 in the first semifinal of 57kg. Huge win for Momeni who will now take on Aiaal BELOLYUBSKII (TJK) who just became the first Tajik wrestler to reach a Ranking Series final after beating Sultan KURMANALIYEV (KAZ) 10-4.

14:10: Cherman VALIEV (ALB) sets up a 74kg semifinal against Yones EMAMI (IRI) after a 5-1 win over Orozobek TOKTOMAMBETOV (KGZ). Valiev was down 1-1 on criteria but he gets on Toktomambetov's leg and blocks a chest wrap for two points. A gut wrench gives him two more as he settles for a 5-1 win.

14:00: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) continues to be solid his underhook game and U23 world silver medalist Kaiji OGINO (JPN) found no way to break that grip. Amouzad posts a 4-0 win and marches into the semifinals at 65kg.

13:53: Taiyrbek ZHUMASHBEK UULU (KGZ) with a front headlock exposure over Bilol SHARIP UULU (KGZ) with two seconds remaining in the 65kg quarterfinal to win 3-2. Sharip Uulu challenges but the move was in time. One more point for Zhumashbek Uulu to make it 4-2 

13:45: Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) will be upset with himself for not attacking from the word go but he manages to survive a huge upset against Vasile DAICON (MDA). Daicon was leading 2-0 when Tevanyan made desperate attempts to score. He gets a stepout and Daicon a fleeing caution to give Tevanyan a 2-2 criteria lead. Daicon challenges the call but the original fleeing decision is confirmed. A lost challenge added to Tevanyan's score who wins 3-2

13:40: Yoshinosuke AOYAGI (JPN) blanks William LEWAN (USA) 11-0 at 70kg. The Asian silver medalist is likely to go all the way and has looked in stunning form this tournament. James GREEN (USA) waits next in the semifinals.

13:25: Nachyn MONGUSH (UWW) looks very good at 61kg. He rolls to an 11-0 win over Daviti ABDALADZE (GEO). Arten GOBAEV (UWW) wins his bout as well and a Mongush vs Gobaev final looks inevitable at 61kg.

13:05: Chermen VALIEV (ALB) was with unreal speed in his attacks as Narek HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) fails to stop him and Valiev wins 9-0 in his first bout at 74kg. Valiev retuning to the mat since his bronze medal in Paris.

12:50: Big upset on Mat A as Bilol SHARIP UULU (KGZ) beats U23 world champion Ibragim IBRAGIMOV (UWW) 14-4 at 65kg. Ibragimov was leading 4-2 but Sharip Uulu with a traparm gut-wrench and 12 straight points to claim victory.

12:40: Islam DUDAEV (ALB) faces a tough one in Kaisei TANABE (JPN). Dudaev with a cut-back using his hands but it is scored two points each with Dudaev leading on criteria. Tanabe with a takedown and gut wrench to make it 8-2. Dudaev scores to cut the lead to 8-4 at the break. Dudaev continues his comeback with another takedown and is now down 8-6 with 45 seconds remaining. Tanabe throws himself on the mat once Dudaev gets to his leg and Dudaev scores a takedown to lead 8-8 on criteria. Dudaev on the legs, Tanabe sitting in the final few seconds and Tanabe scores exposure to win 10-8 just within time.

12:30: Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) with a underhook masterclass in his bout against Goderdzi DZEBISASHVILI (GEO). He scores two stepouts and then gets an activity point. A stunning takedown to lead 5-0 at the break. He adds two more takedowns in the second period, and a throw for four to win 13-0 with around two minutes remaining.

12:20: Nachyn KUULAR (KAZ), a former U23 world champion, is turning up for Kazakhstan at 70kg. This is his first UWW event in six years. He takes on Vasile DAICON (MDA) in the 1/8 final. Kuular put on activity clock and Daicon leads 1-0 at the break. Daicon with a single leg attack and converts it into a takedown for a 3-0 lead. He adds another takedown with a minute remaining to lead 5-0. Leg lace on Kuular and Daicon wins 11-0. Kuular's comeback ends in unfortunate way.

12:00: Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) got two activity points and a takedown as he beats Mihail GEORGIEV (BUL) 4-0 at 70kg. He is wrestling a weight class up than his preferred 65kg.

 

11:45: Artem GOBAEV (UWW) has no trouble seeing off Meirambek KARTBAY (KAZ) at 61kg. In the next UWW vs KAZ bout at 61kg, Nachyn MONGUSH (UWW) with two takedowns in his 4-0 win over Mukhamed BALGABAY (KAZ).

11:25: Ali Hossein MOMENI (IRI) and Hadi REZAEI (IRI) were clubbed together in the opening round of 57kg and Momeni comes out unscathed 6-1. Rezaei with a desperate headlock throw in the final seconds but is awarded only two. He challenges for a four but loses the challenge. Momeni's win revised to 7-3

11:20: Asian champion Kento YUMIYA (JPN) was stuck in a leg lace and fell behind 14-6 against Manvel KHNDZRTSYAN (ARM) at 57kg. But he unleashes a leg lace on Khndzrtsyan and cuts to score to 14-10. A stepout to make it 14-11. Underhook dense till the end of the time by Khndzrtsyan and he wins 14-11.

11:10: At 74kg, Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) with a 2-1 win over Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN). All three points scored were activity points!

11:00: Paris Olympic bronze medalist Islam DUDAEV (ALB) up against Klevisi PRECI (ALB) and he impresses with a 12-0 blanking of his compatriot. Dudaev looked on the mat with

10:40: A little warm up for Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) but he manages to post a controlled 7-0 win over Nursultan SDYK (KAZ) at 65kg. Soon after, Adlan ASKAROV (KAZ) with a thrilling 8-7 win over Agustin DESTRIBATS (ARG).

10:30: Welcome to Tirana for the second Ranking Series of the year. Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI), the Olympic silver medalist from Paris, is up on the mat straightaway.