SARAJEVO (August 26) – Kerem KAMAL (TUR) won the return match with world champion Atmir KOTCEV (RUS) but Russia advanced three into Wednesday evening’s gold medal finals at the Cadet Wrestling World Championships.

Kamal, who fell to Kotchev in last year’s final in Snina (SVK) at 42kg, edged the defending champ, 3-2, in the 46kg quarterfinals at Sports Hall Amel Beckovic.

Kamal squares off with Asian bronze medalist Turabek TIRKASHEV (UZB) during the evening session for the title at 46kg, while Kotchev battled back after his loss for a chance at a bronze medal against Sergey SIMONYAN (ARM).

Despite Kotcev’s loss, European champion Aleksander KOMAROV led Russia’s charge in the finals qualifying at 69kg, while relative newcomers Abu-Muslim AMAEV (42kg) and Artur SARGSIAN (85kg) look to strike gold in their first international age-group tourney. 

To get to the finals, Komarov defeated European silver medalist Kerim YILMAZ (TUR), 5-1 in the semifinals. Komarov squares off in the final with Norbert DASZKIEWICZ (POL), who bumped off Asia champion Abubakr ALIMOV (USB), 5-4, in the semifinals.

Amaev fashioned four technical falls to reach the 42kg finals and will face Asian silver medalist Marz POYA DAD (IRI). Sargsian defeated European champion Gerard KURNICZAK (POL) on an injury default in the first round and cruised into the 85kg finals with one-sided wins.

Sargisian takes on European bronze medalist Markus RAGGINGER (AUT) who became Austria’s third overall medalist in the cadet world championships.

He could also become Austria’s first gold medalist since 1982, when Georg MARCHL won the Greco-Roman gold at 81kg, with a win over Sargisian.

At 76kg, European silver medalist Dmitri KIASHOK (UKR) opened with a technical fall over bronze medal winner Temur TCHKUASELIDZE (GEO) and held on for a 4-4 criteria win over Artur BARAGUNOV (RUS) in the semifinals.

In the gold medal round, Kiashok meets Vadim HRACHUKHIN (BLR) who finished seventh at the European cadet meet in Subotica (SRB) at the beginning of the month.

Greco-Roman

42kg (20 entries)
Gold – Marz POYA DAD (IRI) v Abu-Muslim AMAEV (RUS)
Bronze – Fail ISGANDOROV (AZE) v Nestor DELGADO RAMIREZ (MEX)
Bronze – Kensuke SHIMIZU (JPN) v Alpamys DASTANBEK (KAZ)
 
Semifinals – Marz POYA DAD (IRI) df. Nestor DELGADO RAMIREZ (MEX), 3-1
Semifinals – Abu-Muslim AMAEV (RUS) df. Alpamys DASTANBEK (KAZ) by TF, 8-0, 0:56

46kg (19 entries)
Gold – Kerem KAMAL (TUR) v Turabek TIRKASHEV (UZB)
Bronze – Atmir KOTCEV (RUS) v Sergey SIMONYAN (ARM)
Bronze – Sultan OLZHAS (KAZ) v Kaito INABA (JPN)
 
Semifinals – Kerem KAMAL (TUR) df. Sergey SIMONYAN (ARM) by TF, 10-2, 2:26
Semifinals – Turabek TIRKASHEV (UZB) df. Kaito INABA (JPN) by Fall, 2:34 

69kg (27 entries)
Gold – Aleksandr KOMAROV (RUS) v Norbert DASZKIEWICZ (POL)
Bronze – Ulvi GANIZADA (AZE) v Kerim YILMAZ (TUR)
Bronze – Nikoloz TCHIKAIDZE (GEO) v Abubakr ALIMOV (UZB)
 
Semifinals – Aleksandr KOMAROV (RUS) df. Kerim YILMAZ (TUR), 5-1
Semifinals – Norbert DASZKIEWICZ (POL) df. Abubakr ALIMOV (UZB), 5-4

76kg (25 entries)
Gold – Dmitri KIASHOK (UKR) v Vadim HRACHUKHIN (BLR)
Bronze – Temur TCHKUASELIDZE (GEO) v Astema BARAGUNOV (RUS)
Bronze – Samuel OJG NICU (ROU) v Samat SALPIEV (KGZ)
​
Semifinals – Dmitri KIASHOK (UKR) df. Astema BARAGUNOV (RUS), 4-4
Semifinals – Vadzim HRACHUKHIN (BLR) df. Samat SALPIEV (KGZ) by Fall, 0:22

85kg (24 entries)
Gold – Markus RAGGINGER (AUT) v Artur SARGSIAN (RUS)
Bronze – Roman CHALUPA (CZE) v Botond KISMONI (HUN)
Bronze – Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) v Igor YARASHEVICH (BLR)
 
Semifinals – Markus RAGGINGER (AUT) df. Botond KISMONI (HUN), 2-2
Semifinals – Artur SARGSIAN (RUS) df. Igor YARASHEVICH (BLR) by TF, 9-0, 2:25