#WrestleBelgrade

Live Blog: World Championships, Day 2

Sunday, September 11, 2022 - 07:52 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

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BELGRADE, Serbia (September 11) -- After the finals of the four Greco-Roman weight classes were set on Saturday, the World Championships enter day two in Belgrade with four more Greco weights.

WATCH LIVE | MATCH ORDER | DAY 1 WRAP

Here are the semifinals for the evening session

63kg
Sebastian NAD (SRB) vs. Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE)
Leri ABULADZE (GEO) vs. Ali Reza Ayat Ollah NEJATI (IRI) 

67kg
Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) vs. Mate NEMES (SRB) 
Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) vs. Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) 

82kg
Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZB) vs. Tamas LEVAI (HUN)
|Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR) vs. Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) 

97kg
Kiril MILOV (BUL) vs. Arif NIFTULLAYEV (AZE)
Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) vs. Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) 

15:15: Pejman POSHTAM (IRI) will not advance to the semifinal as Yaroslav FILCHAKOV (UKR) wins 5-3 and another huge hit to Iran's team title hopes here.

15:11: Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) was knocked off the 82kg throne in dramatic fashion. 2019 world bronze medalist Jalgasbay BERDIMURATOV (UZ) drops the Olympic bronze medalist with a bear hug for 4, with another 2 tacked on as Huseynov is penalized for fleeing. Brought back to the mat in par terre, Berdimuratov gets a 4-point throw for an 11-0 win.

15:10: Tamas LEVAI (HUN) is close to joining his brother as a finalist. He beats Roland SCHWARZ (GER) via fall at 82kg.

15:05: Kiril MILOV (BUL) got the rare two par terre positions in his quarterfinal against (ITA). Though he failed to get any rolls, he wins 2-0 to move into the semifinals at 97kg.

15:03: Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) proves too much for aging Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB), advancing to the 97kg semifinals with a one-sided 7-0 win.

14:56: Arif NIFTULLAYEV (AZE) needs just 1:12 to roll to a 10-2 technical fall over Alex SZOKE (HUN) and into the 97kg semifinals.

14:58: Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) is moving into the semifinals for the first time in his career as he beats HUSIYUETU (CHN) 7-0. 

14:51: Olympic champion Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) slams former world champion Hansu RYU (KOR) down onto his neck during their 67kg quarterfinal. The move is judged as 'brutality' and the points taken away. But Ryu is unable to continue due to the impact on his ribs, and Geraei advances with a 5-1 win by injury default.

14:49: On Mat C, Olympic silver medalist Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) has no answers to Joni KHETSURIANI (GEO) and falls in the quarterfinals 7-0.

14:47: Mate NEMES (SR) scores a gut wrench from par terre and books a place in the 67kg semifinals with a 2-1 win over Mateusz BERNATEK (POL), much to the delight of the partisan crowd.

14:36: Olympic champion Luis ORTA SANCHEZ (CUB) won't be taking home a world gold after losing a razor-close 2-1 decision to Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE) at 63kg. Mammadov gets a late stepout to go ahead 2-1, and in the final seconds, manages to keep from touching down as the Cuban scrambles to get behind for a takedown.

14:31: Leri ABULADZE (GEO) takes a 5-2 lead off an early scramble, then holds on for a 7-2 victory over Tynar SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) in their 63kg quarterfinal.

14:20: Ali Reza NEJATI (IRI) takes out world champion Victor CIOBANU (MDA). Both wrestlers got a chance in par terre but it was Nejati who got two rolls to win 5-3 in the quarterfinal.

14:15: Serbia has another semifinalist at the World Championships. Sebastian NAD (SRB) gave no openings to Hrachya POGHOSYAN (ARM) and scored a 4-0 win

14:09: After a long wait, defending 82kg champion Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) finally takes the mat. The Olympic bronze medalist scores a cross-body roll from par terre against Yuya OKAJIMA (JPN) and easily advances to the quarterfinals with a 7-1 win.

14:00: European champion Kiril MILOV (BUL), a world silver medalist in 2018, rips off four gut wrenches from par terre to put away Deepanshu AHLAWAT (IND) 9-1 and gain a spot in the 97kg quarterfinals.

13:37: Defending 97kg champion and Olympic bronze medalist Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) gets a pair of gut wrenches from par terre against Felix BALDAUF (NOR). A takedown and a stepout in the second period to finish the 8-0 technical fall. 

13:30: Mihai MIHUT (ROU) has pulled off an upset. He led 1-1 on criteria and defended the par terre position against Hansu RYU (KOR) when the Korean got the second passivity. Mihut was warned for fleeing and with 4 seconds remaining, he is penalized with two points. Challenge from Mihut but the negative wrestling is confirmed. Ryu wins 4-1.

13:19: Reigning Olympic and world champion Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) gets a 4-point lift from par terre, then finishes off a 9-0 technical fall over Amantur ISMAILOV (KGZ) with a takedown just before the end of the first period to advance to the 67kg quarterfinals. 

13:19: In a classic battle between former world champions, Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM)--looking for his sixth world medal---scores a 3-1 victory at 97kg over Metehan BASAR (TUR).

13:13: Sebastian NAD (SRB) continues to feed off the energy from the home crowd, scoring a pair of gut wrenches from par terre and advancing to the 63kg quarterfinals with a 5-1 win over Razvan ARNAUT (ROU). 

13:06: Asian champion Tynar SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) with a winning start. He beats  Nikolay VICHEV (BUL) 6-1 at 63kg.

13:03: 2021 world silver medalist Leri ABULADZE (GEO) gets a pair of stepouts in the final 30 seconds to secure a 4-1 win over 2019 Asian champion Erbatu TUO (CHN) and gain a place in the 63kg quarterfinals. 

12:41: The refugee wrestler, Aker AL OBAIDI (UWW), looked fearless in facing 2021 world champion Victor CIOBANU (MDA). But put on the bottom of par terre, courage can only get you so far, as Ciobanu lifts and rolls his way to a 9-0 technical fall to advance to the 63kg quarterfinals. 

12:39: Olympic champion Luis ORTA (CUB) up against Neeraj CHHIKARA (IND) at 63kg. He gets the par terre and out comes the chest wrap. Strong grip from Orta and he wins 9-0 with four exposures

12:31: Roland SCHWARZ (GER), a 2021 world bronze medalist at 77kg, has moved up to 82kg. He got a takedown and roll combination just before the end of the first period and rode that to a 5-1 victory over David ZHYTOMYRSKY (ISR).

12:20: Ali Reza NEJATI (IRI) is up against Abdolmohammad PAPI (GER) at 63kg. He was included in the team after world champion Meysam DALKHANI (IRI) failed to recover from an injury. He opens the account with an exposure for two. 

12:02: At 38, two-time world medalist Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB) is showing more grey in his facial hair, but he still knows how to win. A headlock for 4, and a later takedown-gut wrench combination gives him an 8-0 technical fall at 97kg over Islam UMAYEV (KAZ). 

11:56: More success for the home team, as two-time world bronze medalist Mihail KAJAIA (SRB) foils a bear-hug attempt by Mathias BAK (DEN) late in the match, stepping over for 2 to finish off a 5-1 victory at 97kg. 

11:52: The indomitable Hansu RYU (KOR), still going strong at 34, advanced at 67kg when his opponent Nestor ALMANZA (CHI) defaulted due to injury in the second period. Ryu, the world champion in 2013 and 2017, had just taken a 7-1 lead.

11:45: U20 world bronze medalist Braxton AMOS (USA) with two big arm throws in his 12-6 win over Vladen KOZLIUK (UKR) at 97kg. 

11:22: In a barn-burner on Mat B at 67kg, Parviz NASIBOV (UKR), the Tokyo Olympic silver medalist at 63kg, took a 5-point lead, only to fall behind to Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM). But he got the points he needed to pull out a 7-7 victory. Galstyan was a 2019 world bronze medalist at 63kg.

11:20: A bout that should be a thriller. Olympic bronze Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY) is taking on upcoming star Abror ATABAEV (UZB). Elsayed with a stepout and a caution for fleeing to lead 2-0. Atabaev has slowly crawled back into this bout with two stepouts. But El Sayed still has 2-2 criteria lead due to the caution for fleeing. El Sayed is warned for fleeing the hold. With 8 seconds remaining, El Sayed is penalized for second fleeing. Atabaev gets the 3-2 lead. A lost challenge from El Sayed as Atabaev wins 4-2.  

11:10: 2021 European champion Mate NEMES (SRB), whose twin brother Viktor will wrestle for a bronze medal at 77kg tonight, made it to the next round at 67kg with a 9-0 technical fall over ASHU (IND).

11:08: 60kg Victor CIOBANU (MDA) is competing at 63kg this year and has begun well as he got two rolls from par terre against one from Jinseub SONG (KOR) to win 5-3

11:05: Luis ORTA SANCHEZ (CUB), the Tokyo Olympic champion at 60kg, made a successful start in moving up to 63kg, powering to a 10-0 technical fall over European bronze medalist Oleksandr HRUSHYN (UKR). 

10:56: Sebastian NAD (SRB) gets the home crowd fired up, scoring all his points in the first period and cruising to a 7-1 victory at 63kg over Abdeldjebar DJEBBARI (ALG).

10:51: Representing the UWW team, refugee wrestler Aker AL OBAIDI (UWW) begins his campaign at 63kg with an 8-0 win over Emerson FELIPE (GUA).

10:45: After Iran failed to get into any of the four finals yesterday, Ali Reza NEJATI (IRI), a 2019 world bronze medalist, gets his campaign at Greco 63kg started with a solid 5-0 win over European bronze medalist Ahmet Uyar (TUR). 

10:27: Hello again from Belgrade! If Day 2 is anything like yesterday's opening day, we're in for plenty of fast-paced action and high-level drama. Today's morning session will see wrestlers at Greco 63kg, 67kg, 82kg and 97kg try to battle their way into the semifinals. Buckle up!

#BeachWrestling

Beach Wrestling: Iran's return to top; Puerto Rico, Azerbaijan win first golds

Sunday, September 28, 2025 - 13:44 By United World Wrestling Press

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KATERINI-PIERIA, Greece (September 27) -- Iran’s return to Beach Wrestling after an eight-year absence could have been cautious. Instead, it was commanding.

Iran won four medals, including two golds, to claim the men’s team title at the U17 World Beach Wrestling Championships after a close race with Georgia, which finished second with 75 points to Iran’s 80. Azerbaijan was third with 62 points.

In the women's category, hosts Greece managed to go past France to finish first with 50 points while France ended up second with 42. The United States was third with 32 points.

The U17 World Championships is a significant stop in Beach Wrestling as it will be taken into consideration for while awarding the quotas for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games.

IranIran's two gold medalists in Greece, Mahdi FOTOUHI (IRI), left, at 90kg and Youssof HOSSEIN (IRI), right, at 70kg.

Gold medalists for Iran, Youssof HOSSEIN (IRI) at 70kg and Mahdi FOTOUHI (IRI) at 90kg, were competing in Beach Wrestling for the first time but never let their inexperience affect their performances.

Hossein, who defeated Stefan MUNTEAN (MDA) in the knockout match, was placed in Group D with Yuki UEDA (JPN), Nikolaos PAPADOPOULOS (GRE) and Ilie TURCAN (MDA). He defeated Papadopoulos 3-1 in the group bout before blanking Turcan 3-0 in just 40 seconds. He was quicker against Ueda, winning in 34 seconds.

Facing Luka MAKHARADZE (GEO) in the quarterfinals, Hossein scored a 3-1 victory and took only 40 seconds to beat Rashad ALIYEV (AZE) in the semifinals.

In an all-Iran final, Hossein fell behind 1-0 against Ilyar VEGHARI (IRI) but stormed back with two straight points with a knee and head touch from Veghari. He used a lateral drop as his final move to win 5-1. Veghari's lost challenge added to Hossein's score and made it 6-1.

Fotouhi was even more dominant at 90kg, winning all three of his group bouts via fall. Charilaos CHAITIDIS (GRE) survived getting pinned in the quarterfinals but Fotouhi was strong enough to win 3-0 and advance to the semifinals.

After winning the semifinal 2-1 against Elgun KARIMLI (AZE), Fotouhi was back to his dominant self and slammed Joni SHAORSHADZE (GEO) to pick his fourth fall in six bouts and the gold medal for Iran.

Fotouhi began with a step out to earn his first point of the final. Both wrestlers arm-locked each other and tried to throw at the edge but it was Shaorshadze who touched outside first which gave Fotouhi his second point.

In one of those moments when his Freestyle instincts took over, Fotouhi went for duckunder and touched his knee on the sand which gave Shaorshadze a point to make the score 2-1. The Georgian tried a fireman carry in the final 10 seconds but Fotouhi pancaked him for a fall.

At 60kg, Mykyta KUZMENKO (UKR) defeated Rati BERIDZE (GEO) twice, first in the group stages and then in final, to claim the gold medal.

Kuzmenko blanked all his opponents barring Beridze who managed to score one point when the two met in the Group B bout. However, the Ukrainian improved and gave no chance to Beridze in the final, winning 3-0.

The Ukrainian was quick to score two step-outs and lead 2-0 and when Beridze tried to score a point, Kuzmenko snapped him down and scored his third and winning point.

Georgia had another silver medalist, Nuradin MUSTAFAEV (GEO), who suffered a one-sided loss in the 80kg final to Nihad SULEYMANLI (AZE), who had represented Azerbaijan at the U17 World Championships in Athens in August.

Suleymanli did not give up a single point in the tournament and won the final against Mustafaev 3-0. He scored a step-out to open the scoring in the final before Mustafaev fell on the ground to give a second point. The Georgian wrestler tried tripping Suleymanli but instead gave a takedown for one point to drop the final.

AzerbaijanAzerbaijan's first-ever gold medalist Ulviyya MUSAYEVA (AZE) with other team members.

Historic golds for Puerto Rico, Azerbaijan

In the women's category, Puerto Rico and Azerbaijan earned historic golds as four different countries crowned champions.

Heklanys RIVERA (PUR), the first woman to compete in Beach Wrestling for her country, made a stunning run to the gold medal at 45kg. She did not give up a single point in six bouts including the final.

Taking on Kaltouma SALISSOU (FRA) in the final, Rivera was put on the 30-second activity clock. With eight seconds remaining, Rivera used an underhook to get the first takedown for a point.

The second point was awarded to Rivera when Salissou committed a foul by grabbing Rivera's shorts. The winning takedown was similar to the first one as Rivera moved from underhook to tripping Salissou.

For Azerbaijan, 15-year-old Ulviyya MUSAYEVA (AZE) needed only 16 seconds to create history. She defeated last year's champion Reisa KOJIMA (JPN) via fall in the 55kg final. Kojima tried hitting a lateral drop in the final but fell on her back, which gave Musayeva three points for the win.

Earlier, Musayeva had lost one of the group bouts against Mia KOVAC (CRO) via fall but rebounded to win all remaining bouts to make the final and then capture the gold medal.

Hosts Greece, which won the team title, earned the gold medal at 75kg through Elena ZAIMIDOU (GRE) who scored a 32-second victory via fall over Madeline HAYDEN (USA) in the final.

Zaimidou, who has competed and won gold in Grappling at the European level, secured three victories via fall, and a victory via superiority over Merily VAESTER (EST) in the semifinals.

In the gold medal bout, Hayden stunned the local fans when she hit a beautiful over-the-head suplex on Zaimidou. Hayden went for a second suplex, but Zaimidou blocked her, using a headlock, and Hayden fell on her back which gave Zaimidou three points and the victory.

Hayden challenged the scoring but the points were confirmed on review and Zaimidou was awarded a point for lost challenge, which made her score 4-1.

European bronze medalist in Women's Wrestling, Alexandra MOISEI (MDA) earned the gold medal at 65kg after some nervous wins. She defeated Thea ROUSSEL (FRA), 3-0, in the final in 49 seconds using three easy snapdowns.