World Championships

Japan, U.S. Derail Russian Rout in Cadet World Championships Freestyle

Sunday, August 30, 2015 - 21:49 By William May

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SARAJEVO (August 30) – Japan and the United States came up with three stunning wins to derail Russia’s plans for a rout on the final day freestyle events at the Cadet Wrestling World Championships.

Gable STEVESON (USA), Jarod VERKLEREEN (USA) and Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) scored the only wins against Russian opponents at Sports Hall Amel Beckovic on Sunday, and all three led to gold medals for the victors.

The U.S., meanwhile, rallied Sunday with titles from Steveson (100kg) and Verklereen (63kg) and a bronze medal from Daton FIX (54kg) for 55 points and third place.

 

The U.S., meanwhile, rallied Sunday with titles from Steveson (100kg) and Verklereen (63kg) and a bronze medal from Daton FIX (54kg) for 55 points and third place.

With the Russian juggernaut rampaging through the morning session, Steveson ambushed them with a 10-5 win over Soslan KHINCHAGOV (RUS) in the semifinals at 100kg to cap the morning session.

Steveson went on to forge a 9-0 victory over Khasanboy RAKHIMOV (UZB) in the championship finale, assigning his opponent to a silver medal along with twin brother, Khusanboy RAKHIMOV (UZB). Khusanboy won the silver medal at 85kg on Saturday night.

Sunday evening’s medal matches began with Aleksey KOPYLOV (RUS) rolling up a gold medal with three gut wrenches for a 10-0 technical fall over European bronze medal winner Georgios PILIDIS (GRE) in the 46kg final.

Former world bronze medalist Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) created some drama in the 54kg final when he raced out to an apparent, 13-2, technical fall win over Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RUS). A challenge from the Russian corner, however, adjusted the score to 9-2 as the wrestlers headed into the second period.

“My coaches told me not to worry about it and keep scoring points when I had the chance,” Otoguro said after cobbling together a 13-6 win over an increasingly agitated opponent. “The cheering of my teammates and the people in the arena really raised my spirits.”

Otoguro explained that “A year ago, I tried to protect a lead by being defensive.  So this year I knew I needed to continue scoring points.”

Verklereen followed suit in the 63kg final, securing a cross-ankle lock and converting it to an 11-0 win at 2:51 over Khayrullah NURADINOV (RUS).

Aslanbek GVARAMIA (RUS) secured a second win for Russia, wrapping up his victory over European bronze medalist Ivan STEFANOV (BUL) at 76kg with a takedown to gut wrench for a 10-0 technical fall.

Freestyle

46kg (26 entries)
Gold – Aleksei KOPYLOV (RUS) df. Georgios PILIDIS (GRE) by TF, 10-0, 1:21 
Bronze – Monu MONU (IND) df. Dzmitry YARMOLCHYK (BLR) by TF, 11-0, 3:02 
Bronze – Amir PARASTEH (IRI) df. Dylan DEMILIO (USA) by TF, 15-4, 2:54

54kg (25 entries)
Gold – Takuto OTOGURO (JPN) df. Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RUS), 13-6
Bronze – Gevorg ABRAMIAN (UKR) by Hamed SIAYHDOOLAN (IRI) by Fall, 2:38
Bronze – Daton FIX (USA) df. Abbas RAKHMONOV (UZB) by TF, 17-2, 3:34

63kg (24 entries)
Gold – Jarod VERKLEREEN (USA) df. Khayrulla NURADINOV (RUS) by TF, 11-0, 2:51 
Bronze – Ahmed MEDHIZADEHMARZAN (IRI) df. Vasili DIACONU (MDA), 11-6 
Bronze – Orkhan ABBASOV (AZE) df. Rui SAKASAI (JPN), 6-2

76kg (26 entries)
Gold – Aslanbek GVARAMIA (RUS) df. Ivan STEFANOV (BUL) by TF, 10-0, 2:25 
Bronze – Arkadzi PAHASIAN (BLR) df. Gabriele DORO (ITA) by TF, 10-0, 1:44
Bronze – Ahliman GULIYEV (AZE) df. Hamed MANAFIAN (IRI) by TF, 10-0, 2:20

100kg (21 entries)
Gold – Gable STEVESON (USA) df. Khasanboy RAKHIMOV (UZB), 9-0
Bronze – Yakup YERLIKAYA (TUR) df. Hussain NASIR (IND) by TF, 12-2, 3:07
Bronze – Soslan KHINCHAGOV (RUS) df. Zuriko URTASHVILI (GEO), 10-2

#WrestleTirana

Kamal soars high with Tirana Ranking Series gold

Sunday, March 2, 2025 - 00:02 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (March 1) -- The last time Kerem KAMAL (TUR) was in action internationally, he did not have a favorable outcome. A bloody battle with Georgij TIBILOV (SRB) ended in a loss at the European Championships.

But Kamal, who impressed all with his performance at all the age-group World Championships and continentals, started the 2025 season with a scintillating victory at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series, capturing the 63kg gold medal.

The 2022 U23 world champion was in his elements as he defeated Doolotbek CHOIBEKOV (KGZ), 10-0, in the final with two big throws for four points each. His first shoulder throw gave him a 4-0 lead, then he got the par terre position from which he performed a suplex for four points to win in just over a minute. Choibekov challenged for a leg-foul but Kamal's movements were clean.

In his earlier bouts, he defeated Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) 5-1 in the quarterfinals with some incredible defense from par terre in the first period. When Mohsen Nejad tried to turn Kamal, the Turkish wrestler moved forward on the mat to break Mohsen Nejad's grip.

Mohsen Nejad needed to score to break Kamal's 1-1 criteria lead and tried a big throw which Kamal blocked and pinned Mohsen Nejad on the mat for four points.

"At the Turkish Championships six weeks ago, I moved up to the new weight class of 63kg," Kamal said. "This time I competed against very strong opponents like Mohsen Nejad from Iran and [Razvan] Arnaut from Romania. I’m happy that I was able to win all my matches. It was a good start to the new year.

Kamal will now be busy for the preparation of European Championships to be held in second week of April in Bratislava, Slovakia.

"I’m not yet 100 percent fit," he said. "I focused a lot on endurance training during the training camp, and my preparations are fully aligned with the European Championships. I wanted to test my ground defense -- I did a good job [in Tirana] but I will work even harder to make sure I can reach my full potential at the European Championships."

Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ)Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) throws Valentin PETIC (MDA) for four points during the 67kg final in Tirana. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Kyrgyzstan did win a gold medal as U23 world champion Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) brought out his best in the final against Valentin PETIC (MDA), beating the Moldovan 11-0 to capture the 67kg gold medal.

This was the second gold medal for Kyrgyzstan in Tirana after Yryskeldi MAKSATBEK UULU (KGZ) won the 77kg gold medal on Friday.

Beishekeev, the U23 world champion last year in Tirana, needed only the first par terre position to complete the technical superiority win over Petic. He went for the reverse left and scored four points and as Petic landed on his back, Beishekeev went for the fall. However, Petic blocked Beishekeev with his hands on legs was docked two caution points.

With a 7-0 lead and restart in par terre, Beishkeev once again went for the reverse lift and scored a four-pointer to complete the 11-0 win.

RESULTS

63kg
GOLD: Kerem KAMAL (TUR) df. Doolotbek CHOIBEKOV (KGZ), 10-0

BRONZE: Baiaman APILOV (KGZ) df. Aleksandrs JURKJANS (LAT), via inj. def.
BRONZE: Mehdi MOHSEN NEJAD (IRI) df. Razvan ARNAUT (ROU), 3-1

67kg
GOLD: Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) df. Valentin PETIC (MDA), 11-0

BRONZE: Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) df. Madiyar MAULITKANOV (KAZ), 7-2
BRONZE: Bagdat SABAZ (KAZ) df. Lei LI (CHN), 9-1