#Belgrade2020

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

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

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.

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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."

Anvar 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 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 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.

Rikadze Aivengo 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 Championships The 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

#WrestleUlaanbaatar

Olympic Champ Ramazanov Shows No Signs of Rust on Return

Saturday, June 6, 2026 - 17:48 By Vinay Siwach

ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (June 6) -- Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) had been sidelined from wrestling action for more than a year. He did not wrestle after winning the European Championships in April 2025.

The absence, however, was forced as Ramazanov was nursing an injury and also got operated. He missed the World Championships last year and the European Championships this year.

On Saturday, the Paris Olympic champion marked his return to action at the Ulaanbaatar Open at 86kg and won a silver medal. Not that he lost the final, but Ramazanov injury defaulted the final against Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI).

Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) tries to bodylock Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ) in the opening round bout at 86kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

The 86kg weight class has seen quite a few changes since Paris 2024 but with the return of Ramazanov, without any signs of rust, it will be a tough-to-predict weight come the World Championships in October.

Before he forfeited his final, Ramazanov controlled all his bouts. He began with an 8-2 win over Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ) which included a four-point throw. He then won 5-0 against Abdulmuslim ABULMUSLIMOV (RUS) in the quarterfinals, displaying his well-known upper body offence. The semifinal was a much easier affair as he blanked Batbilguun NAADAMBAT (MGL), 10-0.

Ramazanov's offence worked smoothly including his duckunders which he used multiple times on Saturday. He even kept his opponents quiet when he wanted to defend the lead.

A final against Nokhodi would have presented more insights into his form but Ramazanov, perhaps satisfied with his run, decided to skip the final.

Nokhodi is the latest entrant in the growing list of new stars at 86kg. He made a late move from 79kg to 86kg at Ulaanbaatar Open but had no trouble reaching the final. He began with two wins via technical superiority and one 10-5 win over Malik SHAVAEV (KGZ) in the semifinals.

Sagar JAGLAN (IND) won gold medal at 74kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

In other Freestyle action, Sagar JAGLAN (IND), a former U17 world champion and U20 world silver medalist, also found home in a weight class.

Jaglan moved around weight classes in 2025, competing at 79kg and 86kg. In 2023, he won multiple medals at 79kg before a shoulder injury ruled him out for more than a year. In the only tournament he competed internationally in 2025, Jaglan finished fifth at the U23 Asian Championships at 86kg.

In his first tournament in over a year, Jaglan began returned to 74kg and excelled at the Ulaanbaatar Open, winning gold. While JAIDEEP (IND) has been at 74kg for India for sometime, Jaglan knocked him off in the quarterfinals and later won semifinals via technical superiority.

Up against Tamir ESHINIMAEV (RUS) in the gold-medal bout, Jaglan was called passive in the first period as Eshinimaev went up 1-0. Jaglan took the lead when he pushed the Russian out of bounds for two points. Russia challenge the decision but lost it to add one more point to Jaglan's score.

Eshinimaev did well to get to Jaglan's legs late in the final and he elevated the Indian's one leg. A two-point takedown would have given Eshinimaev the criteria lead but Jaglan hopped around defending any attempts of takedown. Eshinimaev managed to score a stepout with only seven seconds left on the clock.

Jaglan defended his 3-2 lead with ease to win his first-ever Ranking Series gold medal.

Askhab SAADULAEV (RUS) defeated Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ), 6-3, in the 92kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 92kg, defending champion Askhab SAADULAEV (RUS) managed to defend his gold medal against Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ), thanks to the clock which saved him from being pinned.

Saadulaev had a comfortable 5-1 lead with 20 seconds left when Dauletbekov managed a cradle for two points and then held Saadulaev on the mat. The referees called the fall but it was only after the clock had expired. Kazakhstan challenged asking for two more points but Saadulaev was exposed only once and did not come in neutral before Dauletbekov went for the fall.

The lost challenge of Kazakhstan added one more point to Saadulaev's score as he won 6-3.

Hyo Gyong CHOE (PRK) celebrates after pinning Natsumi MASUDA (JPN) in the 55kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

DPR Korea Wins 3 Golds

The first of the three gold medals was won by Hyo Gyong CHOE (PRK) who pinned Natsumi MASUDA (JPN) in the 55kg final. Choe, a Paris 2024 bronze medalist, began with a sweep single for two points and then turned Masuda for two more and lead 4-0. Choe scored another takedown for two more points and then pancaked Masuda for a fall.

World silver medalist Ok Ju KIM (PRK) then dominated Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL), 10-0, to capture the gold medal at 62kg. Kim used her strong slideby to score the takedown and after some effort, she managed to turn Dudova for a 4-0 lead. Before the break, Kim also managed to score a step while defending anything that Dudova threw at her.

Dudova pressured Kim in the second period and she pushed her to the zone. But Kim flung Dudova for a four-pointer to extend her lead to 9-0. Bulgaria challenged the call but on review, it was clear that Dudova did not score any points. The lost challenge gave the winning point to Kim.

Hyon Gyong Mun (PRK) scores the final two points on Shuai ZHANG (CHN). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

A hat-trick of gold was completed by Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK) who claimed the 65kg title with a 14-2 technical superiority win over Shuai ZHANG (CHN).

Mun began with a four-pointer using an over-under grip but Zhang caught Mun's arm and scored two points as well. However, Mun reversed the position but she got the point only after a challenge to lead 5-2. A stepout further extended her lead to 6-2 with a stepout before the break.

Mun's strength was little too much for Zhang as she opened the second period also with a takedown and then a huge throw for four points. Zhang tried to roll out of the grip but ended up giving two more points as Mun confirmed her win.

Host Mongolia claimed a gold medal through former world silver medalist Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) who won the 68kg final 8-2 against Elizaveta PETLIAKOVA (RUS). After the first takedown, Enkhsaikhan hit a double-leg blast for four points to lead 6-0 but gave up two points when setting up the next takedown.

The second period went scoreless for 2:50 but Enkhsaikhan hit another double-leg for two points to confirm her win in the final.

KAJAL (IND) added another gold for India, which won two golds on Friday, by claiming the 76kg gold over Damola OJO (NGR). Kajal opened the final with a takedown to lead 2-0 and then a stepout to make it 3-0. Ojo was called passive in the second period which gave one more point to Kajal who scored two different takedowns to win 8-0.

RESULTS

Women's Wrestling

55kg
GOLD: Hyogyong CHOE (PRK) df. Natsumi MASUDA (JPN), via fall (6-0)

BRONZE: Hansika LAMBA (IND) df. Ariunzaya ODONCHIMEG (MGL), 11-0
BRONZE: Tuba DEMIR (TUR) df. Laura ALMAGANBETOVA (KAZ), 8-4

62kg
GOLD: Ok Ju KIM (PRK) df. Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL), 10-0

BRONZE: Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR) df. Huan YANG (CHN), 10-0
BRONZE: MANSI (IND) df. NITIKA (IND), 10-0

65kg
GOLD: Hyon Gyong MUN (PRK) df. Shuai ZHANG (CHN), 14-2

BRONZE: Enkhjin TUVSHINJARGAL (MGL) df. PULKIT (IND), 6-3

68kg
GOLD: Delgermaa ENKHSAIKHAN (MGL) df. Elizaveta PETLIAKOVA (RUS), 6-2

BRONZE: Nesrin BAS (TUR) df. Gantsetseg BATSUKH (MGL), via fall (4-4)
BRONZE: Kateryna ZELENYKH (ROU) df. Sol Gum PAK (PRK), via fall (6-0)

76kg
GOLD: KAJAL (IND) df. Damola OJO (NGR), 8-0

BRONZE: PRIYA (IND) df. Tuvshinjargal TARAV (MGL), 8-0
BRONZE: Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) df. Gulmaral YERKEBAYEVA (KAZ), 7-3

Freestyle

74kg
GOLD: Sagar JAGLAN (IND) df. Tamir ESHINIMAEV (RUS), 3-2

BRONZE: JAIDEEP (IND) df. Tolui MUNKHBAT (MGL), 15-4
BRONZE: Tumen BODIEV (RUS) df. Sangho HAN (KOR), 3-1

86kg
GOLD: Mohammad NOKHODI (IRI) df. Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL), via inj. def.

BRONZE: Bolat SAKAYEV (KAZ) df. Batbilguun NAADAMBAT (MGL), 10-0
BRONZE: Byambadorj BAT ERDENE (MGL) vs. Malik SHAVAEV (KGZ)

92kg
GOLD: Askhab SAADULAEV (RUS) df. Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ), 6-3

BRONZE: Bat Erdene BYAMBASUREN (MGL) df. Ganbat TSERENPUNTSAG (MGL), 4-1
BRONZE: Abolfazl RAHMANI (IRI) df. Punit KUMAR (IND), via fall (4-0)

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

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Olympic Champ Ramazanov Shows No Signs of Rust on Return