ZAGREB, Croatia (January 10) -- Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) has had a busy week. After winning the Bulgarian Championships on Friday, he traveled to Germany for the Bundesliga and won. On Wednesday, he made his way through a tough 86kg bracket to win the Zagreb Open.
"I’ve already wrestled 11 bouts this week and I still have one more left this Saturday," Ramazanov said. "I was out for two years so it’s not a problem for me to wrestle even daily, because I am really hungry and want to participate in more tournaments."
Making his international debut for Bulgaria, Russian transfer Ramazanov won five bouts in Zagreb to clinch the gold medal and put his name in the hat at 86kg seven months before the Paris Olympics.
Ramazanov's run in Zagreb began with a win over Ethan RAMOS (PUR), followed by victories over Maxwell DEAN (USA), Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE) and Chandler MARSTELLER (USA).
From the other side, two-time world bronze medalist Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ) was dominating proceedings, having opened the day with a 6-2 win over Deepak PUNIA (UWW). He reached the final with three technical superiority wins over Valentyn BABII (UKR), Evsem SHVELIDZE (GEO) and Matthew FINESILVER (ISR).
Dauletbekov looked set to beat Ramazanov as he led 5-0 at the break but the second period saw a different Ramazanov as he scored single-leg takedowns to lead 6-5 with 45 seconds remaining in the final.
This shocked Dauletbekov who was struggling with his conditioning. Once Ramazanov felt that he had broken Dauletbekov, he piled up his attacks, winning 8-5.
"The final match was a little difficult, my opponent was experienced," he said. "That’s why I had to prepare seriously for that match. In the first period, I was behind but in the second period I went all in and turned the tide of the match."
Ramazamov would like to carry this form into his Saturday's Bundesliga bout and the European Championships which begins a month later in Bucharest, Romania.
Jason NOLF (USA) pins Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) in the 74kg semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)
Jason NOLF (USA) defended his 74kg gold medal with an impressive show throughout the day. Hossein ABOUZARIPASHKOLAEI (IRI) was the second Iranian wrestler who tried to stop Nolf from winning the gold medal. Yones EMAMI (IRI) was in the final last year but Abouzaripashkolaei defeated him 4-4 in the quarterfinals to advance.
Celebrating his 28th birthday on Wednesday, Nolf was slow to start in the final and allowed Abouzaripashkolaei to get the first activity point at the break. But the second period saw Nolf's ascend as he scored takedowns with ease. A 10-1 scoreline in his favor meant that he added a second Zagreb Open gold.
In the semifinals, Nolf pinned European champion Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) in just 35 seconds.
"I am satisfied with my performance," Nolf said. "Whenever I can give 100 percent on the mat, I feel happy."
Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) scores on Joseph MCKENNA (USA) in the 65kg quarterfinals. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)
At 65kg, Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) won the gold medal after Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI) pulled out injured. Tevanyan had earlier avenged his World Championships semifinal loss to Sebastian RIVERA (PUR) and was looking to challenge Amouzad.
Amouzad secured his spot on the Iran Olympic team as he defeated Abbas EBRAHIMZADEH (IRI) 12-4 in the semifinals to settle the debate.
Tevenyan defeated Joseph MC KENNA (USA) 5-2 in the quarterfinals before humbling Riveria 9-1 which included a remarkable four-point throw.
AMAN (UWW) improved on his bronze-medal finish from last year and won gold at 57kg. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)
Improving on his bronze-medal finish from last year, AMAN (UWW) won the gold at 57kg after four technical superiority wins in as many bouts. In the final, the Asian champion took on Wanhao ZOU (CHN) and never gave the slightest of chances to the Chinese wrestler. Winning 10-0, Aman improved on the previous win over Zou which was 7-4 in the Asian Championships semifinals.
His other wins included 15-4 over Muhammet KARAVUS (TUR), 11-0 over Zane RICHARDS (USA) and 11-0 over Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO) in the semifinal.
Bekhbayar ERDENEBAT (MGL) defeated Andrii DZHELEP (UKR) in the 61kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kostadin Andonov)
At 61kg, Bekhbayar ERDENEBAT (MGL) returned to competition after more than two years and surprised everyone by winning the gold medal over Andrii DZHELEP (UKR), 9-2.
Erdenbat had traveled to Zagreb to help his ward Zane RICHARDS (USA) at 57kg. While he won the gold medal, Richards lost to Aman and failed to win the bronze medal as well.
In an all-Georgia final at 70kg, Akaki KEMERTELIDZE (GEO) managed to hand Giorgi ELBAKIDZE (GEO) a 7-4 defeat.
RESULTS
57kg
GOLD: AMAN (UWW) df. Wanhao ZOU (CHN), 10-0
BRONZE: Muhammet KARAVUS (TUR) df. Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO), via fall (14-5)
BRONZE: Georgi VANGELOV (BUL) df. Horst LEHR (GER), 3-1.
by VPO1, 3 - 1
61kg
GOLD: Bekhbayar ERDENEBAT (MGL) df. Andrii DZHELEP (UKR), 9-2
BRONZE: Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE) df. Joseph SILVA (PUR), 4-2
BRONZE: Nuraddin NOVRUZOV (AZE) df. Daniel POPOV (ISR), 7-3
65kg
GOLD: Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) df. Rahman AMOUZAD (IRI), via inj. def.
BRONZE: Joseph MC KENNA (USA) df. Sebastian C RIVERA (PUR), 10-0
BRONZE: Abbas EBRAHIMZADEH (IRI) df. Abdullah TOPRAK (TUR), 10-0
70kg
GOLD: Akaki KEMERTELIDZE (GEO) df. Giorgi ELBAKIDZE (GEO), 7-4
BRONZE: Douglas ZAPF (USA) df. Marc DIETSCHE (SUI), 13-2
74kg
GOLD: Jason NOLF (USA) df. Hossein ABOUZARIPASHKOLAEI (IRI), 10-1
BRONZE: Murad KURAMAGOMEDOV (HUN) df. Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE), 4-1
BRONZE: Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE) df. Tobias PORTMANN (SUI), 5-3
86kg
GOLD: Magomed RAMAZANOV (BUL) df. Azamat DAULETBEKOV (KAZ), 8-5
BRONZE: Chandler MARSTELLER (USA) df. Arsenii DZHIOEV (AZE), 5-0
BRONZE: Evsem SHVELIDZE (GEO) df. Matthew FINESILVER (ISR), 7-3
Nenad LALOVIC, right, with IOC President Thomas BACH in Sofia.
Nenad LALOVIC was presented the Commemorative medal of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee.
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