#WrestleXian

Karimimachiani Leads Quartet of Iranians into Finals on Day 2 in Xi’an

Wednesday, April 24, 2019 - 11:43 By Ken Marantz

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XI’AN, China (April 24)— Alireza KARIMIMACHIANI (IRI) won his clash of world bronze medalists, then became part of an Iranian quartet that advanced to the finals in five freestyle weight classes on the second day of the Asian Championships in Xi’an.

Iran, which won three golds and two bronzes on the Daniyar KAISANOV (KAZ) v Amit DHANKHAR (IND) opening day, has a chance to secure medals in all 10 weight classes, as the West Asian power will also contest a bronze-medal match in the evening session.

Host China will have two chances to give the home crowd a gold medal at the expense of Iran, as world U23 bronze medalist LIU Minghu will face Behnam EHSANPOUR in the 61kg final, and world silver medalist DENG Zhiwei (CHN) will clash with Yadollah MOHEBI (IRI) for the 125kg crown.

India also has two finalists, while Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have one each.


Alireza KARIMIMACHIANI (IRI), the reigning Asian Games champion, will wrestle India's Viky VIKY in the 92kg gold-medal bout. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

Karimimachiani, the Asian Games champion last summer in Jakarta, advanced to the 92kg final against Viky VIKY (IND) by chalking up three consecutive 10-0 technical fall victories.

His second match, in the quarterfinals, pitted him against Atsushi MATSUMOTO (JPN), a fellow bronze medalist at the Budapest 2018 world championships. 

But Karimimachiani made short work of the Japanese, scoring with a 4-point move that he followed up with three straight rolls to end the match in 59 seconds.

“Before I could break the hold, I was being rolled,” said Matsumoto, who made it through the repechage and will compete for a bronze medal.


Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) was one of four Iranian wrestlers who made the Day 2 freestyle finals. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

World U23 champion Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) is the other Iranian who gave himself a shot at gold, which he will hope to secure at the expense of Aligarizhi GAMIDGADZHIEV (KGZ) in the 86kg final.   

“We are very happy to have four in the finals,” Iran head coach Gholamreza MOHAMMADI said. “That was our target, to get five medals.”

Mohammadi said the team was dedicating its victories to their compatriots who perished in or are suffering from devastating floods that hit Iran a month ago.


Daniyar KAISANOV (KAZ) is set to face Amit DHANKHAR (IND) for the 74kg title. (Photo: Sachiko Hotaka)

In the other final on tap, Daniyar KAISANOV (KAZ), a bronze medalist in 2018 and the Asian Games silver medalist, will face Amit DHANKHAR (IND) for the 74kg title.

The 74kg class lost two of its favorites to injury. Kaisanov advanced to the final when world silver medalist Adam BATIROV (BRN) defaulted their semifinal match due to an unspecified injury.

Earlier, Yuhi FUJINAMI, the 2017 world bronze medalist at 70kg, reinjured his right knee while holding on to defeat LUO Yin (CHN), 11-7, in their first-round match. 

Fujinami, upon the doctor’s advice and taking into consideration a vital upcoming national tournament, decided to default his quarterfinal match to Dhankhar. 

“I was looking at this tournament as one I could win,” said Fujinami, who originally injured his knee in February. “But after talking to the doctor and thinking ahead, it was best to stop.”

Dhankhar handed Iran its only loss of the qualifying session when he edged Mohammad NOKHODILARIMI, 2-1, in the first round.

Other than that match, no bout involving an Iranian went the distance, as all were won by either fall or technical fall.

Day 2 results

Freestyle

61kg (14 entries)
Gold – LIU Minghu (CHN) v Behnam EHSANPOOR (IRI)
Bronze – Dzhamshed SHARIFOV (TJK) v Yudai FUJITA (JPN)
Bronze – Rahul AWARE (IND) v KIM Jincheol (KOR)

Semifinals
LIU Minghu (CHN) df. Yudai FUJITA (JPN), 9-2
Behnam EHSANPOOR (IRI) df. KIM Jingcheol (KOR) by TF, 12-1, 4:46

74kg (13 entries)
Gold – Daniyar KAISANOV (KAZ) v Amit DHANKHAR (IND)
Bronze – Mohammad NOKHODILARIMI (IRI) v Ilgiz DZHAKYUPBEKOV (KGZ)
Bronze – Olgenbayar BATSUURI (MGL) v Adam BATIROV (BRN)

Semifinals
Daniyar KAISANOV (KAZ) df. Adam BATISOV (BRN) by Default
Amit DHANKHAR (IND) df. Ilgiz DZHAKYUPBEKOV (KGZ), 5-0

86kg (15 entries)
Gold – Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) v Aligarizhi GAMIDGADZHIEV (KGZ)
Bronze – Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL) v Abdurasul VAKHOBOV (UZB)
Bronze – Bakhodur KODIROV (TJK) v Deepak PUNIA (IND)

Semifinals
Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) df. Deepak PUNIA (IND) by TF, 10-0, :40
Aligarizhi GAMIDGADZHIEV (KGZ) df. Abdurasul VAKHOBOV (UZB), 10-7

92kg (11 entries)
Gold – Viky VIKY (IND) v Alireza KARIMIMACHIANI (IRI)
Bronze – Atsushi MATSUMOTO (JPN) v Azizbek SOLIEV (UZB)
Bronze – Muhammad INAM (PAK) v SUN Xiao (CHN)

Semifinals
Viky VIKY (IND) df. SUN Xiao (CHN), 3-2
Alireza KARIMIMACHIANI (IRI) df. Azizbek SOLIEV (UZB) by TF, 10-0, 2:46

125kg (11 entries)
Gold – DENG Zhiwei (CHN) v Yadollah MOHEBI (IRI)
Bronze – KIM Donghwan (KOR) v Khasanboy RAKHIMOV (UZB) 
Bronze – Sumit SUMIT (IND) v Farkhod ANAKULOV (TJK)

Semifinals
DENG Zhiwei (CHN) df. Farkhod ANAKULOV (TJK) by TF, 10-0, :42
Yadollah MOHEBI (IRI) df. Khasanboy RAKHIMOV (UZB) by TF, 11-0, 2:50 

#WrestleBudapest

Ranking Series: Maroulis, Blades lead strong U.S. team to Budapest

Saturday, July 12, 2025 - 09:46 By Vinay Siwach

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 11) -- Although it will a Ranking Series by name, Polyák Imre & Varga János Memorial tournament starting on Thursday in Budapest will serve more than just that for many wrestlers.

For some it will be about the ranking points, for other it is a preparatory tour for the World Championships. The United States is bringing its world team, almost while some others will test this event to select their representatives for the World Championships, to be held in September in Zagreb.

Helen MAROULIS (USA), who has not wrestled since winning the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics in August 2024, will be leading the team which also has Paris Olympics silver medalist Kennedy BLADES (USA), who continues to shine at 68kg, a weight class she moved from 76kg at the start of the season.

Turkiye, Canada, India, Kazakhstan and a few United World Wrestling wrestlers will light up Budapest from July 17 to 20. Women's Wrestling will be held on 18 and 19. 

A few other individual stars will be making an appearance, namely, Irina RINGACI (MDA), Grace BULLEN (NOR), Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL) and Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ).

Here's a breakdown of all 10 weight classes for Women' Wrestling in Budapest:

For Maroulis, who booked her World Championships spot on the U.S. team in June, the Budapest Ranking Series will pose a challenge as she returns to the mat. Having dominated the 'Final X' competition in the U.S., Maroulis will now look to show her dominance at the international stage. The U.S. has also entered Amanda MARTINEZ (USA) to the competition at 57kg.

Tokyo silver medalist and former European champion Iryna KURACHKINA (UWW) and 2025 European champion Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (UWW) look to be the toughest challenge for Maroulis in the bracket. 

India's world U17 champion and world U20 medalist NEHA (IND) has made a few headlines by winning the Mongolian Open Ranking Series and followed that up with a gold medal at Yasar Dogu. Budapest will be a stern test for the youngster.

European silver medalist Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR) is also in the mix to get Ranking points and get a seed for the World Championships.

Blades should run through the 68kg bracket in Budapest. She has the likes of world champion Buse TOSUN (TUR) and European champion Alina SHEVCHENKO (UWW) in the draw but Blades is a level above the field entered for the competition.

Blades won the Zagreb Open Ranking Series in February and also her first Pan-Am title in May. She is currently 12th in the rankings but has a chance to jump as high as sixth with a gold medal.

Tosun won a bronze medal at the European Championships in her first competition since the Paris Games and looked in good form, something she would love to carry to Budapest as well. An appearance in the final and she can well become the top ranked wrestler at 68kg.

Shevchenko made a great impression by winning the European gold in a tough bracket and has a consolidate on that win with a good show in Budapest.

Other names include Kendra DACHER (FRA), Irina KAZYULINA (KAZ) and Brooklyn HAYS (USA).

Dymond GUILFORD (USA)Both Dymond GUILFORD (USA) and Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ) are entered at 76kg which could give us a rematch of Tirana final from February. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 76kg, a rematch of the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series final is on the cards as both Medet Kyzy and Dymond GUILFORD (USA) are entered. Guilford managed to beat Medet Kyzy in the final in Tirana but Medet Kyzy has since won the Asian Championships and Yasar Dogu golds.

Two young stars in the bracket include PRIYA (IND) and Elmira YASIN (TUR), both have multiple age-group continental and world medals. Former Asian champion Elmira SYZDYKOVA (KAZ) is also entered.

The 62kg and 65kg weight classes can throw some interesting match-ups, especially with Bullen and Rigaci continuing their season at 65kg. Bullen is a regular 62kg while Ringaci was at 68kg at Olympics and World Championships.

Ringaci and Bullen met in the 65kg final of the European Championships this year and the latter managed to beat Ringaci to capture the gold medal. Both can meet again in Budapest.

World bronze medalist Macey KILTY (USA), who will be in Zagreb for the U.S., will look to win gold and throw her hat in the ring as a contender for world title in Zagreb.

Dudova, Ana GODINEZ (CAN), MANISHA (IND), Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR), Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA), Alina KASABIEVA (UWW) and Amina TANDELOVA (UWW) are some of the names that highlight 62kg.

Dudova won bronze at the European Championships while Godinez won the Pan-Am gold in May. Manisha was the Asian champion in April but lost at the Mongolian Open in June and will be keen on returning to winning ways.

Kolawale is the African champion while Nwachukwu won the 'Final X' and will be in Zagreb for the World Championships. Kasabieva has blown hot and cold so far, but had good wins at the Mongolian Open to build some momentum in the season.

Tandelova, the youngster with medals at Zagreb Open and European U23s, finished fifth at the senior Europeans but has the potential to be on the podium in Budapest.

At 53kg, world and Asian bronze medalist ANTIM (IND) will start as the favorite in the bracket, especially after her domination at the Mongolian Open. She won gold in Mongolia without giving up a point in four bouts.

European medalist Zeynep YETGIL (TUR), Felicity TAYLOR (USA) and Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW) will look to finish on the podium as well.

In what will be one of the biggest brackets in Budapest, the 50kg will see European silver medalist Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR), Mongolia Open winner Natalia PUDOVA (UWW), European bronze medalist Nadezhda SOKOLOVA (UWW), multiple world age-group medalist Audrey JIMENEZ (USA), Madison PARKS (CAN), Emma LUTTENAUER (FRA) among others.

Pudova and Demirhan put on a stunning 50kg final in Ulaanbaatar which the former managed to win 7-6 despite comebacks from Demirhan. A medal in Budapest will put Pudova as one of the contenders for a podium-finish in Zagreb.

Pan-Am champion Karla GODINEZ (CAN), European champion Ekaterina VERBINA (UWW) and the U.S. rep for Zagreb Worlds Cristelle RODRIGUEZ (USA) and Turkiye's young sensation Tuba DEMIR (TUR) will be the key names at 55kg.

At 59kg, world bronze medalist Othelie HOEIE (NOR) will look to win her first Ranking Series medal but has a tough road to medal bouts. She will have Elena BRUGGER (GER), Erika BOGNAR (HUN), Bediha GUN (TUR), Abigail NETTE (USA) and Anastasiia SIDELNIKOVA (UWW) in the same bracket.

Gun suffered a heartbreaking loss in the European finals but won Yasar Dogu tournament and will likely finish on podium in Budapest. Nette and Sidelnikova are strong contenders for a place in the final.

Three-time world silver medalist Zhamila BAKBERGENOVA (KAZ) should have an easy path to 72kg gold unless Alexandria GLAUDE (USA) or HARSHITA (IND) spring a surprise to deny her.