#wrestlenursultan

Japan’s Ota Dethrones Maryanyan for 1st World Title; Georgians Grab 2 Golds

Sunday, September 15, 2019 - 18:04 By Ken Marantz

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NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan (Sept. 15)---As consolation prizes go, Shinobu OTA (JPN) could do worse than a first world gold medal, even in a non-Olympic weight class. That doesn’t mean he’s given up on his ultimate dream of a gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Ota, a Rio 2016 Olympic silver medalist, swept aside defending champion Stepan MARYANYAN (RUS) 10-4 in the final of Greco-Roman 63kg as the first gold medals of the World Championships were awarded Sunday in four non-Olympic weight classes.

The excitement that started when UWW President Nenad LALOVIC officially opened the tournament in a gala ceremony earlier in the night continued as Georgia had two world champions crowned and Russia won the other gold at stake.

Ota’s victory not only avenged a loss to Maryanyan in the final at the Dan Kolov-Nikola Petrov tournament in February, it justified his decision to compete in the non-Olympic weight after failing to make Japan’s team at 60kg. 

Shinobu OTA (JPN) celebrates winning his first world gold. (Photo: Tony Rotundo) 

“It was something that I was aiming for, so I feel honored,” Ota said of winning a gold in his senior world debut. “But from the standpoint of my dream of a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, it doesn’t mean anything.”

Ota’s fate in making it to Tokyo 2020 at 60kg is dependent on how Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) fares in Nur-Sultan. If Fumita, the 2017 world champion, wins a medal, he will lock up the 60kg spot at Tokyo 2020. If he doesn’t, the door reopens for Ota. Another option for Ota would be to move up to 67kg and try to qualify Japan in that division.

“Today, we didn’t get a berth at 67kg, and we don’t yet know what’s going to happen at 60kg,” the 25-year-old Ota said. “When that’s decided, I’ll start thinking about what I’ll do.”  

In Nur-Sultan, Ota focused on the task at hand and it paid off in gold. 

“I trained with the goal of becoming world champion, and I think this was the result of that training,” he said. “I was prepared. Compared to the harsh training, the match might have been a bit easier.”

Shinobu OTA (JPN) turns Stepan MARYANYAN (RUS) with his trademark front headlock roll. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

In the final, Ota gained the first point when Maryanyan was called for passivity. But the Russian deftly avoided Ota’s trademark front headlock, and the first period ended with Ota ahead 1-0. 

In the second period, Ota went in for a duck under, but the Russian locked onto his arm and twisted, whipping him to his back for 4 points. But Ota kept his poise and, when the opening came, latched onto a front headlock with 1:30 left.

He used that to twist down Maryanyan, then levered him over two more times. Originally, Ota was given 4 points for the initial move, but that was downgraded by challenge to 2. During the review, it was seen that Maryanyan grabbed Ota’s singlet, so a 2-point penalty was assessed, making the score 10-4, which is how it ended.

“I gave up 4 points, but that was from a counter to my attack,” Ota said. “I didn’t give up any points from his moves, so that was a good point. From here, I’ll work on minimizing my risks.”

Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) celebrates after winning the 55kg world gold. The Georgian defeated Khorlan ZHAKANSHA (KAZ), 9-0 in the gold-medal bout. (Photo: Tony Rotundo) 

Meanwhile, Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO), a bronze medalist a year ago in Budapest, moved up to the top of podium for the first time when he overwhelmed Khorlan ZHAKANSHA (KAZ) in the 55kg final, silencing the Barys Arena crowd with a 9-0 tcchnical fall that took just under a minute. 

“After getting a bronze medal in Budapest, I was working, working, working,” Tsurtsumia said. “I’m happy today with my concentration and becoming world champion. This will be motivation for children. Next, maybe Olympic champion.”

Tsurtsumia said that training with top wrestlers from other countries allowed him to expand his range of techniques, which he used in the final.

 “I was sparring with Iran, Azerbaijan, and I came up with a new attack. I went to right and left sides. Before the competition, I only went to left side. My concentration was good.”

Georgia picked up a second gold with a victory in the final match of the night, as 2015 world bronze medalist Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) scored a 4-point throw in the first period and held on for a 5-3 win in the 82kg final over Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE).

A victorious Abulazid MANTSIGOV (RUS) stands over a dejected Aram VARDANYAN (UZB). (Photo: Tony Rotundo)

Russia, which captured six of the 10 Greco golds in Budapest, picked up its first in the Kazakh capital when European champion Abulazid MANTSIGOV (RUS) crushed Aram VARDANYAN (UZB) in the 72kg final by 9-0 technical fall in 54 seconds. 

“Usually, the first match and the final match are the hardest ones, but the final match you can see was very easy for me,” Mantsigov said. 

“I was ready 100 percent. In the last world championships in Budapest, I lost and took fifth place and it was very big motivation for me. So I was ready for today.”

The bronze medals were well spread out, with wrestlers from eight different countries taking home the hardware.

Budapest world champion Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) salvaged his tournament with an 8-0 technical fall over Max NOWRY (USA) in the 55kg bronze-medal bout. (Photo: Tony Rotundo)

At 55kg, world champion Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) needed just 39 seconds to score an 8-0 technical fall over Max NOWRY (USA), while Shota OGAWA (JPN) whipped fellow Asian CAO Liguo (CHN) by 11-2 technical fall in 2:34.

Almat KEBISPAYEV (KAZ) gave the host country a second medal with a 9-0 technical fall of Tynar SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) at 63kg. The other bronze went to Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM), a 7-5 winner over Meysam DALKHANI (IRI).

At 72kg, Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) won his second straight world bronze by scoring late to edge Michael WIDMAYER (GER), 3-3, while 2018 silver medalist Balint KORPASI (HUN) rolled to a 9-0 technical fall of LEE Jiyeon (KOR).

Both bronzes at 82kg went to Asians, as QIAN Haitao (CHN) stunned Nurbek KHASHIMBEKOV (UZB) with a headlock throw to secure a fall in 51 seconds, and Saied ABDVALI (IRI) added to his Rio 2016 Olympic and 2017 world bronzes by defeating Iurii SCKRUIBA (UKR), 7-0. 

Another win for Ismael BORREO (CUB). (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Borrero-Surkov final on tap at 67kg; Evloev gets shot a 2nd straight gold
In the semifinals in three Greco weight classes held earlier in the night session, Olympic champion Ismael BORREO (CUB) won his showdown with Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY), 6-2, to advance to the 67kg final. 

In Monday night’s final, Borrero, aiming to win his first world gold since 2015, will face defending champion Artem SURKOV (RUS), who easily put away Fredrik BJERREHUUS (DEN) by fall in 2:24

Another defending champion, Musa EVLOEV (RUS), advanced to the 97kg final with a 9-0 technical fall over Mihail KAJAIA (SRB), which he capped with a 4-point throw. 

The final hurdle on Evloev’s path to consecutive golds will be former Olympic and three-time world champion Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM), who scored all of his points in the second period of a 3-1 victory over Giorgi MELIA (GEO).   

The 87kg semifinals, held concurrently on adjacent mats, were virtual mirror images of inactivity, with all four wrestlers each gaining a passivity point, and only one technical point scored over the combined 12 minutes. 

 In the end, the final will be a match-up of silver medalists from 2018 between Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) and Viktor LORINCZ (HUN). The two previously met in the third round of the 2015 World Championships in Las Vegas, with Beleniuk winning en route to the gold. 

Beleniuk, the European champion and Rio 2016 Olympic silver medalist, managed to score a step-out point from the par terre position to edge Denis KUDLA (GER), 2-1. Lorincz, the runner-up at 77kg in Budapest, got a 1-1 victory on criteria over Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) when his opponent was the latter of the two flagged for passivity.

Day 2 Results

Greco-Roman

55kg (20 entries)
Gold – Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) df. Khorlan ZHAKANSHA (KAZ) by TF, 9-0, :58 
Bronze – Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) df. Max NOWRY (USA) by TF, 8-0, :38
Bronze – Shota OGAWA (JPN) df. CAO Liguo (CHN) by TF, 11-2, 2:34 

63kg (18 entries)
Gold – Shinobu OTA (JPN) df. Stepan MARYANYAN (RUS), 10-4
Bronze – Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM) df. Meysam DALKHANI (IRI), 7-5
Bronze – Almat KEBISPAYEV (KAZ) df. Tynar SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) by TF, 9-0, 2;32 

67kg (41 entries)
Semifinal – Artem SURKOV (RUS) df. Fredrik BJERREHUUS (DEN) by Fall, 2:24 (5-0)
Semifinal – Ismael BORREO (CUB) df. Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY), 6-2 

72kg (25 entries)
Gold – Abulazid MANTSIGOV (RUS) df. Aram VARDANYAN (UZB) by TF, 9-0, :54
Bronze – Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL) df. Michael WIDMAYER (GER), 3-3
Bronze – Balint KORPASI (HUN) df. LEE Jiyeon (KOR) by TF, 9-0, 4:43

82kg (23 entries)
Gold – Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) df. Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE), 5-3
Bronze – QIAN Haitao (CHN) df. Nurbek KHASHIMBEKOV (UZB) by Fall, :51 (4-4)
Bronze – Saied ABDVALI (IRI) df. Iurii SCKRUIBA (UKR), 7-0 

87kg (39 entries)
Semifinal – Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) df. Denis KUDLA (GER), 2-1
Semifinal – Viktor LORINCZ (HUN) df. Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB), 1-1

97kg (37 entries)
Semifinal – Musa EVLOEV (RUS) df. Mihail KAJAIA (SRB) by TF, 9-0, 2:26
Semifinal – Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) df. Giorgi MELIA (GEO), 3-1 

#WrestleBudapest

World C'ships hopefuls battle it out in Budapest Ranking Series

Monday, July 14, 2025 - 14:51 By Vinay Siwach

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 13) -- The Budapest Ranking Series, held at this time of year, serves as the primary team selection event for most countries heading into the World Championships. Rather than conducting domestic trials, nations use this international competition to identify their top wrestlers for each weight class.

Georgia, Hungary, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan will be among the top countries looking to finalize their Greco-Roman teams during the July 17-20 tournament in Hungary capital.

Azerbaijan, one of the strongest Greco-Roman nations, is bringing all three of its 2024 world champions. Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE), the 55kg world champion, and Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE), the 63kg world champion, are both entered at 60kg. Ulvu GANIZADE (AZE), the 72kg world champion, will compete at 77kg alongside Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE).

Mammadli is on a hot streak, having claimed European and world titles in 2024 before adding the 2025 European gold at 60kg. Meanwhile, Azizli, a European silver medalist at 55kg, enters the 60kg bracket for two key reasons: to challenge Mammadli and avoid a significant weight cut.

Ganizade and Suleymanov did not win medals at the European Championships but will battle it out at 77kg in Budapest to make the team.

Paris Olympic bronze medalist and European champion Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) is at 72kg, up from his preferred 67kg as he prepares for the World Championships without forcing himself to reduce weight.

Similarly, hosts Hungary will have tough battles among local wrestlers. European 72kg champion Levente LEVAI (HUN) is moving up to 77kg and his brother Zoltan, a regular at 77kg, is now at 82kg. But so is world silver medalist Erik SZILVASSY (HUN) and it will be toss-up between the two to make the World Championships team.

The 87kg continues to be a heavily contested weight class as Tamas LEVAI (HUN), Istvan TAKACS (HUN) and European champion David LOSONCZI (HUN) are entered and the winner is likely to take the spot for the Zagreb Worlds.

At 130kg, Darius VITEK (HUN) and Koppany LASZLO (HUN) will fight it out for the spot.

The competition, however, won't be limited to these team selection battles. Many other top wrestlers are also entered, aiming for final preparations before the World Championships in Zagreb from September 13-21.

Here's the breakdown of each weight class:

55kg: European champion Emin SEFERSHAEV (UWW) will be the favorite in the bracket which also has 2024 European champ Artiom DELEANU (MDA), United States phenom Jayden RANEY (USA), Mongolia Ranking Series winner Anil MOR (IND) and world bronze medalist Jasurbek ORTIKBOEV (UZB).

The Budapest tournament will be a big test for teenagers Mor and Raney as they compete at the senior level.

60kg: Apart from Azizli and Mammadli, Pridon ABULADZE (GEO), world U20 medalist SUMIT (IND), Aidos SULTANGALI (KAZ), former world champion Victor CIOBANU (MDA), European silver medalist Georgij TIBILOV (SRB), Sadyk LALAEV (UWW), Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (UWW) and world U23 champion Alisher GANIEV (UZB) rack up a stacked bracket.

Mammadli will still be the favorite, coming in as the European champion. He will also be keen on avenging his Zagreb Open loss to Mehroj BAKHRAMOV (UZB). Azizli, who has tried to make 60kg before in his career, will have a big task as he has struggled to match up against bigger-sized wrestlers at this weight class.

Tibilov made the finals in Bratislava but lost to Mammadli. He will be keen on getting a rematch in Budapest. Lalaev, who lost to Tibilov, has a chance to avenge that loss to the Serbian. He also has to battle it out with Allakhiarov as both are fighting for a spot at the World Championships as UWW wrestlers in Zagreb.

Ganiev, who has impressed with world U23 gold and Asian Championships silver, can be a problem for others in the bracket.

63kg: Red-hot Kerem KAMAL (TUR) will try to maintain his winning streak of 2025 as he enters the fourth tournament of the year. He won gold in Tirana, Bratislava and Ulaanbaatar in dominant fashion. He will be in Budapest at 63kg as the favorite.

European silver medalist Karen ASLANYAN (ARM) has a chance to avenge his loss in the final to Kamal but a strong bracket means he has bigger hurdles as well.

World U23 champion Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA), Aref MOHAMMADI (QAT), Dinislam BAMMATOV (UWW) and Sergey EMELIN (UWW) are entered to gain ranking points in Budapest.

67kg: With Jafarov moving up to 72kg for this tournament, former world champions Leri ABULADZE (GEO) and Sebastian NAD (SRB) along with a few others can win the gold.

Abuladze needs to win gold to make the World Championships over European bronze medalist Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) who will also look to beat his compatriot and earn his ticket to Zagreb.

Kazakhstan's world U23 champion Sultan ASSETULY (KAZ) has not shown the same form since winning the world gold in 2023. He has a chance to be in Zagreb with good performance in Budapest. He also has Din  KOSHKAR (KAZ) fighting for the same spot.

Add Ruslan BICHURIN (UWW) to the bracket as he can easily take the gold medal to surprise the field at 67kg.

Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO)Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) is a world U23 champion at 72kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

72kg: Three Georgians are entered at 72kg -- Iuri LOMADZE (GEO), Otar ABULADZE (GEO), Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO). The winner will get the spot on the Georgian team for the World Championships but the challenge is to win the tournament.

Lomadze failed to win a medal at the European Championships which created an opportunity for world bronze medalist Abuladze and world U23 champion Chkhikvadze to enter the race for a spot on the team.

Former world champion Ali ARSALAN (SRB), who missed out on a medal at the Europeans, would be keen on getting back to winning ways before the World Championships where he won bronze last year.

Jafarov won't be too worried about his result here as he neither gains ranking points nor is his Azerbaijan team spot in danger.

77kg: Both Ganizade and Suleymanov have a chance to make the world team for Azerbaijan. Even if Ganizade misses the podium, he will most likely be back to 72kg. Still, it spices up the 77kg in Budapest.

Levai, who won 72kg European gold, will be challenging the 77kg field in Budapest as he prepares for the World Championships. His win in Bratislava has forced his brother Zoltan to move to 82kg. Levai has rock-solid defense and can score points from different positions.

But big-throwing wrestlers like Alexandrin GUTU (MDA), Sergei STEPANOV (UWW) and Sergei KUTUZOV (UWW) are entered in the competition.

Gutu missed the European Championships and his place was taken by Alexandru SOLOVEI (MDA). Now, both are fighting for the 77kg spot for Moldova. Asian champion Aram VARDANYAN (UZB) will be hoping to build on his gold, his first-ever in any championships. 

Other significant names include Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO), Ahmet YILMAZ (TUR), Yunus BASAR (TUR) and Kamal BEY (USA).

82kg: European champion Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) will be challenged more than the Euros in Budapest. While he has mastered the European field, the Asian wrestlers can pose some unique challenges.

Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) and Samandar BOBONAZAROV (UZB) are the big names entered from Asia. Also add the two Kazakhstan wrestlers, Dias KALEN (KAZ) and Shamil OZHAEV (KAZ). World U23 silver medalist Beka MELELASHVILI (USA) will also be a tough competitor from the U.S.

Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO), Zoltan LEVAI (HUN), Erik SZILVASSY (HUN) and Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) are some of the European stars.

87kg: Always regarded as the toughest weight class in Greco-Roman, the 87kg doesn't have a clear favorite. Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) will only be at his third competition this year after he won the Zagreb Open early in the year and then the invitational Thor Masters last month. It remains to be seen how rusty he looks coming back from the break.

Hungarian trio -- Levai, Takacs and Losonczi -- are fighting it out for the spot on the team and Losonczi will be the favorite to win, like last year.

The biggest challenge will come from Milad ALIRZAEV (UWW), Alan OSTAEV (UWW) and Aues GONIBOV (UWW). Only one of the three can be at the World Championships and that will add motivation for them to win the tournament.

Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) and Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) are also entered as they look to earn some ranking points for World Championships.

Islam ABBASOV (AZE), Ivan HUKLEK (CRO), Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ), Shamil OZHAEV (KAZ) and Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) are also in the bracket, making it even more unpredictable.

97kg: A mini-battle for Azerbaijan will be between Arif NIFTULLAYEV (AZE) and Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE), while Artur SARGSIAN (UWW) and Magomed MURTAZALIEV (UWW) will vie for UWW spots. Sargasian suffered a surprising loss at the European Championships but will hope to make the world team.

Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) and Alex SZOKE (HUN) are other big names in the competition.

130kg: European silver medalist Hamza BAKIR (TUR) will be the favorite to win the gold medal at 130kg despite the presence of Beka KANDELAKI (AZE),  Heiki NABI (EST), Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ) among others.

Hungary has Darius VITEK (HUN) and Koppany LASZLO (HUN) competing for the 130kg spot for Hungary. 

Mihail KAJAIA (SRB) is a surprise entry at 130kg from Serbia as he seems to struggle to make the 97kg weight class

The United States has three entries -- Cohlton SCHULTZ (USA), Aden ATTAO (USA) and Courtney FREEMAN (USA).