#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 

#WrestleBratislava

Valiev tops Sidakov; Uguev, Ramazanov win European golds

Wednesday, April 9, 2025 - 23:16 By Vinay Siwach

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BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (April 9) -- It took Chermen VALIEV (ALB) five bouts, a tense European Championships final, a challenge decision in his favor and a some incredible skill but he finally managed to beat world champion Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW).

Valiev and Sidakov clashed in the final of the European Championships in Bratislava on Wednesday, and the Albanian came out as a 4-2 winner, winning for the first time against Sidakov in five bouts and becoming a European champion at 74kg.

"I've faced Zaurbek before," Valiev said. "Until now, he always came out as the winner. Today, I managed to win, and I'm really happy about that. Zaurbek and I have been good friends since childhood, I have a lot of respect for him. But today, I guess luck was more on my side."

Chermen VALIEV (ALB)The final sequence between Chermen VALIEV (ALB) and Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW) which resulted in a Valiev win. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

The two last clashed in the Russian National Championships which Sidakov won 3-2. But Valiev has since moved to Albania, won a bronze medal at 74kg at the Paris Olympics and emerged as one of the biggest names at 74kg.

Sidakov, world champion in 2023 at the weight class, had wrestled at the European Championships once before -- in 2016 at 70kg but did not win a medal.

In the final, Sidakov held the criteria lead 1-1 when Valiev was put on the activity clock again but he managed to drive Sidakov out of bounds during the 30-second period and get a point for a 2-1 lead.

With 50 seconds left on the clock, Sidakov went for a deep ankle pick, but got countered by Valiev for two-point exposure. Both continued the scramble and Sidakov managed to get a reversal for one point. However, it was initially scored two points for Sidakov which made it 3-2 for Sidakov before the referees awarded two for Valiev and a reversal point for Sidakov. That made the score 4-4 with Sidakov leading on criteria with six seconds remaining.

However, Albania challenged the call and on review, the 44-second scramble was awarded as two points for Valiev and a reversal point for Sidakov which gave Valiev a 4-2 lead to defend which he did. Sidakov limped off the mat which was later confirmed as a knee injury.

"The final was really tough for me, very intense match right up until the last second," he said. "Even at the end, it wasn’t clear who would get the score. But the score was given in my favor. I prepared hard and gave it 100 percent, put everything into my training. And today, God rewarded me with a gold medal."

Valiev, a former world U23 champion, is now focused on winning the senior world title and said that the gold medal in Bratislava will be a motivation to win in the Zagreb event in September.

"I’ll start preparing for the next competition," he said. "The main goal this year is the World Championships, and I hope to get there healthy and ready. I’ll keep that gold medal in my mind and keep pushing forward."

With that loss Sidakov, Tokyo Olympic champion at 74kg, suffered his first since 2018 when he lost Hetik CABALOV (SRB) in the Ivan Yaryguin Ranking Series.

While Sidakov suffered a loss, fellow Tokyo Olympic champion Zavur UGUEV (UWW) pulled off another last-second thrilling win over Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM) to win his first-ever European gold medal.

Uguev, who was struggling with form in recent past and finished without a medal at the World Championships last year, rebounded with a 7-5 victory in the 61kg final to win gold.

"I’m truly happy," Uguev said. "I had even forgotten what it feels like to be called up to the top of the podium."

The final got off to a mesmerizing start with Uguev suplexing Harutyunyan during the Armenian's activity period. He was awarded two points for the move but he challenged for four points but lost, making the score 3-1.

In the second period, Uguev tried to pass behind for a takedown but Harutyunyan got hold of his leg and tripped him for four points to claim a 5-3 lead. Uguev was not giving up though. As Harutyunyan tried pushing him out, Uguev hit a underhook throw for two points to make the score 5-5 but Harutyunyan led on criteria for his bigger technique.

This was settled in the final minute when Uguev got on a single leg attack, elevated and finished with a takedown with 25 seconds left. He defended his 7-5 lead to win the gold medal.

"I had said it was going to be an interesting match and it really was," he said. "I got thrown unexpectedly early on and had to catch up. I was working, pushing forward, but I wasn’t worried — I believed I could close the gap, even though I couldn’t at first."

Uguev had three European medals, a bronze and silver, in the past having lost to Giorgi EDISHERASHVILI (AZE) in 2017 and 2018. But he came a two-time world and Olympic champion. 

"I was lying down and a thought came to me," he said. "I looked back and realized -- I didn’t actually have a European medal yet. And I thought, “Now it’s time. I have to win one.”

Since winning the gold at 57kg at the Tokyo Games, Uguev has two fifth-place finishes at the World Championships internationally. But with the win on Wednesday, Uguev put his hat in the ring for the world title later this year.

Denis TSARGUSH, who was in the corners of both Sidakov and Uguev, said that Sidakov's loss a bit difficult to digest.

"We performed well overall. It’s just that the final match with Zarubek left a bit of a bitter aftertaste," he said. "He could have won but Chermen also wrestled really well."

Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL), Paris 2024 Olympic champion was also in action on Wednesday and he scored a thrilling 9-5 win against Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW) in the 86kg final.

Kadzimahamedau was leading in 5-1 after he had scored two takedowns and Ramazanov got going only in the final minute. He scored a takedown with a leg-hold before turning Kadzimahamedau four times to make it 9-5. Ramazanov got Kadzimahamedau.

"All my thoughts were about winning — I really didn’t want to lose," Ramazanov said. "If the match had ended like that, without me giving it my all, it would’ve been incredibly disappointing. That’s why I switched into full gear — I wasn’t thinking about tactics anymore, I was just pushing forward. I would rate my performance around 6 out of 10. There were a lot of strong athletes."

Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL)Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) gut wrenches Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW) for the win in the 86kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

With the win, Ramazanov won his second European title and he also avenged his 2019 79kg final loss at the European Championships.

"I wanted to avenge for past losses, but it wasn’t about proving anything," he said. "I just always try to choose the toughest opponents — especially the ones I’ve lost to before."

Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE)Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) won his fourth European Championships gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 92kg, three-time European champion Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) added a fourth after he sneaked through the final against Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE), 6-5.

Kurugliev, who also has a European Games gold medal, opened the final with an ankle pick for a takedown in the first thirty second of the bout and maintained till the break. There was no points scored in the bout until the last 25 seconds.

Nurmagomedov asked for a takedown but he lost the challenge which gave Kurugliev another point. He soon scored a stepout to cut the lead to 3-1 and as he tried to score another, Kurugliev circled and scored a go-behind as Nurmagomedov thought he completed the stepout.

A challenge would have helped Nurmagomedov at this point but he had already used it and Kurugliev's lead swelled to 5-1.

Nurmagomedov got a takedown with a ankle pick for two point and he got another point for Kurugliev's fleeing, making the score 5-4. The bout resumed in par terre with four seconds on the clock but Nurmagomedov failed to score a turn and lost the final.

 Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE)Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) scores the winning throw against Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO) during the 125kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

The European Championships had a different winner at 125kg in 13 years as Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) needed a buzzer-beating front body throw for four to defeat Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO), 7-7, in the final.

Meshvildishvili thus became the first wrestler not named Taha AKGUL (TUR) or Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) to win the 125kg gold medal since 2012.

Manashvili was  leading 7-3 with seven seconds remaining when Meshvildishvili scored a reverse exposure throw for four, awarded only after the Azerbaijan side challenged.

Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE)Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) with Taha AKGUL (TUR) during the European Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

The win also captured the Freestyle team title for Azerbaijan over Georgia. The two countries were tied at 94 points and the winner of 125kg would take his country to the top of the podium.

Meshvildishvili's win gave Azerbaijan 119 points for the top spot while Georgia was second with 114 points. Turkiye finished third with 73 points.

 

Photo

RESULTS

61kg
GOLD: Zavur UGUEV (UWW) df. Arsen HARUTYUNYAN (ARM), 7-5

BRONZE: Andrii DZHELEP (UKR) df. Dzmitry SHAMELA (UWW), 3-1
BRONZE: Zelimkhan ABAKAROV (ALB) df. Leomid COLESNIC (MDA), 11-0

74kg
GOLD: Chermen VALIEV (ALB) df. Zaurbek SIDAKOV (UWW), 4-2

BRONZE: Aghanazar NOVRUZOV (AZE) df. Ramazan RAMAZANOV (BUL), 6-4
BRONZE: Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) df. Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN), 3-0

86kg
GOLD: Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) df. Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (UWW), 9-5

BRONZE: Osman GOCEN (TUR) df. Sebastian JEZIERZANSKI (POL), 4-2
BRONZE: Artur NAIFONOV (UWW) df. Eugeniu MIHALCEAN (MDA), 10-0

92kg
GOLD: Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) df. Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE), 6-5

BRONZE: Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) df. Yaraslau IADKOUSKI (UWW), 5-0 
BRONZE: Feyzullah AKTURK (TUR) df. Ahmed BATAEV (BUL), 8-6

125kg
GOLD: Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) df. Solomon MANASHVILI (GEO), 7-7

BRONZE: Dzianis KHRAMIANKOU (UWW) df. Vlagyiszlav BAJCAJEV (HUN), 5-2
BRONZE: Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL) df. Azamat KHOSONOV (GRE), 8-0