#wrestlenursultan

Local Hero Zhakansha Uses New Addition to Arsenal to Top Defending Champion, Make Greco 55kg Final

Saturday, September 14, 2019 - 17:53 By Ken Marantz

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NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan (Sept. 14) --- Khorlan ZHAKANSHA (KAZ) figured he needed to add something new to his arsenal. What he came up with worked not only once, but twice against the defending champion, propelling him into the final of the World Championships in his home country.

Zhakansha nailed Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) with a pair of 4-point headlock throws to end his reign as the Greco-Roman 55kg champion by scoring an 11-5 victory in the semifinals before a roaring Barys Arena crowd.

“I can’t explain this feeling because I’ve been working so hard for a long time, for many years,” said Zhakansha, a two-time bronze medalist at the Asian Championships.

The medal matches in the four Greco-Roman weight classes that opened the tournament on Saturday will be held Sunday night. 

In the final, Zhakansha will face world U23 champion Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO), who overwhelmed Shota OGAWA (JPN) by 8-0 technical fall in 2:57.

Against Azizli, Zhakansha went ahead 3-0 with a gut wrench off the par terre position, but the Turk scored a takedown to make it 3-2 going into the second period.

Zhakansha then stuck Azizli with his first headlock throw for 4 points. Azizli managed to gain a reversal and a roll to cut the lead to 7-5, but then Zhakansha repeated his awesome throw to clinch the victory.

“I didn’t prepare this, I didn’t think I would do this,” he said of the effective throw. “Before, I would use a back drop, but all of my opponents know that I will do it. So I tried something new.”

Zhakansha credited the partisan crowd for propelling him into the final.

“You can see that so many fans come to support us. It was almost impossible to lose. I felt like I had to win.”

Stepan MARYANYAN (RUS) will look to win back-to-back world title when he takes on Rio Olympic silver medalist Shinobu OTA (JPN)   in the 63kg finals on Sunday night. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Russia, which captured six Greco golds at last year’s World Championships in Budapest, earned a shot at two right off the bat when defending champion Stepan MARYANYAN (RUS) made the final at 63kg and Abulazid MANTSIGOV (RUS) followed suit at 72kg.

Georgia is the only other country with two finalists, with Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) at 82kg joining Tsurtsumia. Kazakhstan, Japan, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan have one finalist each.

Maryanyan survived a tough test in assuring himself of at least a silver medal, scoring all of his points in the second period to slip past Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM), 4-2.

The lanky Galstyan scored a takedown in the first period. But Maryanyan took advantage of the par terre position to go ahead 3-2 in the second period. 

The remainder of the bout consisted mainly of locking arms, which frustrated Galstyan so much he made a challenge after time ran out, looking for a passivity penalty against Maryanyan. The challenge was denied, giving the Russian his final point.

In the gold-medal match, Maryanyan will face Rio 2016 Olympic silver medalist Shinobu OTA (JPN) in a rematch of the final at the Dan Kolov-Nikola Petrov tournament in February. In that match, Ota took a 3-0 lead in the par terre position, only to see Maryanyan score a reversal, then rip off five straight gut wrenches for a 12-3 technical fall.

Ota said he will be better prepared after denying Almat KEBISPAYEV (KAZ) a place in the final with his third technical fall of the day. 

“If I can defend from the ground position like I did in the semifinal today, I don’t think it will be problem,” Ota said. “I want to go into the final tomorrow with the same feeling that led me to win all of my matches by technical fall.”

In the semifinal, Ota was put in the par terre position in the first period, but fought off Kebispayev’s attempts to turn him, leaving the score 1-0 going into the second period. Ota scored an early takedown, then used a duck under to a bear hug for 4 points. He finished off the match with a similar 4-point move for a 10-1 technical fall in 5:06. 

Abulazid MANTSIGOV (RUS) manhandled returning world runner-up Balint KORPASI (HUN) , 8-0 and moved into the 72kg finals.(Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

At 72kg, Mantsigov was similarly dominant in denying veteran Balint KORPASI (HUN) a second straight trip to the final, posting an 8-0 technical fall at 3:32. The big move was a 4-point counter of a back drop late in the first period.

Korpasi, the 2016 world champion and runner-up last year, had beaten Mantsigov in the only previous meeting between the two, in the semifinals at the 2017 European Championships.

Next up for Mantsigov---the only top seed among the four weight classes to make the final---will be Aram VARDANYAN (UZB), who scored a solid 4-1 win over 2019 world bronze medalist Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL). 

Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) defeated Nurbek KHASHIMBEKOV (UZB), 3-1 in the semifinals and will meet Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) in the 82kg gold-medal bout. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

The 82kg final will be a showdown between European silver medalist Gobadze and 31-year-old Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE), who assured himself of a first-ever medal in his eighth trip to the World Championships.

Gobadze scored a roll from the par terre position, then held on when he was put on the bottom to chalk up a 3-1 win over Nurbek KHASHIMBEKOV (UZB). 

Huseynov came out on top of a very physical struggle with Rio 2016 bronze medalist and 2019 Asian champion Saied ABDVALI (IRI), driving his opponent backward for a 4-point move with :28 left to clinch a 8-5 victory. 

The day session on Sunday will see the qualification rounds in the Greco-Roman weight classes of 67kg, 87kg and 97kg. 

Day 1 Results

Greco-Roman - Semifinals

55kg (20 entries)
Khorlan ZHAKANSHA (KAZ) df. Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE), 11-5 
Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) df. Shota OGAWA (JPN) by TF, 8-0, 2:57

63kg (18 entries)
Stepan MARYANYAN (RUS) df. Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM), 4-2
Shinobu OTA (JPN) df. Almat KEBISPAYEV (KAZ) by TF, 10-1, 5:06

72kg (25 entries)
Aram VARDANYAN (UZB) df. Aik MNATSAKANIAN (BUL), 4-1
Abulazid MANTSIGOV (RUS) df. Balint KORPASI (HUN) by TF, 8-0, 3:32

82kg (23 entries)
Lasha GOBADZE (GEO) df. Nurbek KHASHIMBEKOV (UZB), 3-1
Rafig HUSEYNOV (AZE) df. Saied ABDVALI (IRI), 8-5

#WrestleUlaanbaatar

Ulaanbaatar Open 2025 Live Blog: Day 2

Friday, May 30, 2025 - 02:48 By Vinay Siwach

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ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (May 30) -- The action after Ulaanbaatar Open 2025 continues with three Greco-Roman weight classes and five Women's Wrestling weight classes in the Mongolian capital. European champion Kerem KAMAL (TUR) is at 63kg while a strong women's field will also be on the mat.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 1 RESULTS

14:55: NEHA (IND) ends the 57kg semifinal with a double-leg attack for four points and beats Ana PEREIRA (BRA) 11-0 to enter the final at 57kg against Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL).

14:50: Mongolia has a finalist! Bolortuya KHURELKHUU (MGL) manages to beat European silver medalist Elvira SULEYMAN KAMALOGLU (TUR) 4-0 in the 57kg semifinal.

14:40: Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW) enters the final at 53kg after an 11-4 win over Otgontuya CHINBOLD (MGL). Apart from the four-point throw from Chinbold, Malysheva never looked in trouble in the semifinal. She will face Antim in the final, who won their round-robin match.

14:27: ANTIM (IND) puts on a takedown masterclass in the 53kg semifinal and beats Ariunzaya ODONCHIMEG (MGL) 10-0 to enter the final.

14:24: Another pin in semifinals! Natalia PUDOVA (UWW) survives a pin attempt from Munkhnar BYAMBASUREN (MGL) and then flips the script with a over-under throw and secures the fall. She will wrestle Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) for the gold medal.

14:20: Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) and NEELAM (IND) put on a show in the 50kg semifinal. Neelam tried to trip Demirhan who counter trips for four points. India challenge but is lost. Neelam goes behind in the next action and throw Demirhan for four points. But Demirhan keeps Neelam in a headlock and secures the pin.

14:10: Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) books a rematch with Kerem KAMAL (TUR) in the 63kg final after a hard-fought victory over Mohammad KESHTKAR (IRI). Keshtkar was cautioned early and Chung led 1-0. He got the par terre to be 2-0 up but failed to score. Keshtkar got on board with the par terre point in the second period but did not score any points. He threw everything he had at Chung who defended all attacks for a 2-1 win.

14:00: In the first semifinal at 63kg, Kerem KAMAL (TUR) manages to hold off an attacking Aref MOHAMMADI (QAT) for a 6-3 win. Mohammadi scored a takedown early to lead 2-0 but Kamal got a reverse left for two points from par terre and then a takedown to lead 6-2. A stepout late made it 6-3 but that was all as Kamal enters the final.

13:40: In the final match of the session, Enes BASAR (TUR) bounces back after being 2-0 down with a series of gut wrenches and wins 10-2 at 60kg. The semifinals for a few weight classes will begin now. 

13:10: ANTIM (IND) was kept quiet for the first two minutes of the bout but Natalia MALYSHEVA (UWW) gives up a takedown and Antim goes for the leg lace for a turn. Malysheva defends but Antim then goes the other way for lace and gets the 11-0 win at 53kg.

13:00: Asian medalist and former world U17 champion HARSHITA (IND) with her second win at 72kg. She beats Kristina BRATCHIKOVA (UWW) 11-0 in Round 3

12:55: Bediha GUN (TUR) would be upset with herself as he lets go off an advantageous situation and leads 6-6 on criteria to Anudari BATKHUYAG (MGL) at 59kg.

12:45: Kerem KAMAL (TUR) continues to power his way at 63kg as he downs Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) majorly with his defense. Chung got the par terre advantage but Kamal managed to sneak out of a bodylock. He failed to score from par terre as well but scored a takedown later to make it 3-1. Lost challenge from Korea gave him another point.  

12:35: NEHA (IND) seems unfazed in her first senior international tournament. She pins Munkhchimeg URJIN (MGL) in her second bout of the day.

12:30: Enes BASAR (TUR) needs only one minute and 18 seconds to beat SURAJ (IND) 8-0 at 60kg and take a big step towards the gold medal.

12:15: Hamza BAKIR (TUR) keeps his winning run at 130kg. He beats PREM (IND) via technical superiority and is now the favorite to win the gold medal.

11:55: Big win for world U20 bronze medalist NEHA (IND) over European silver medalist Elvira KAMALOGLU (TUR) at 57kg. The 18-year-old physical overpowered Kamaloglu and scored takedown. Kamaloglu scored a four-pointer but still went down 7-4 in a Round 2.

11:45: Natalia PUDOVA (UWW) with a big comeback win over NEELAM (IND). Pudova claims a 6-5 win at 50kg. The two wrestlers may wrestle again in the final if they can win all their remaining matches.

11:35: Akyl SULAIMANOV (KGZ) gave a scare to Enes BASAR (TUR) when he made it 5-5 with two minutes to go but Basar never got deterred with the score. He remains calm and wins 15-5.

11:26: European champion Kerem KAMAL (TUR) with a 4-1 win over Doolotbek CHOIBEKOV (KGZ). Kamal scored a turn from par terre and also had a point for lost challenge and then defended from par terre to win 4-1 at 63kg.

11:15: The only Brazil wrestler to have made the long trip to Ulaanbaatar Open makes it worth it as Ana PEREIRA (BRA) begins with a 2-1 win over Enkhtuvshin BALJINNYAM (MGL) at 57kg.

11:00: A little heated bout on Mat C between Mohammad KESHTKAR (IRI) and Aref MOHAMMADI (QAT) at 63kg, which ends in a thrilling fashion. Mohammadi was given both passivity advantages and he led 2-0 till the final 10 seconds. However, Keshtkar tried desperate headlock which Mohammadi seemed to have blocked. As Mohammadi scored the takedown, Keshtkar countered with a continuous roll and got two points. It was scored two points for Mohammadi and two points for Keshtkar. However, Iran challenged the call and on review, it was scored only two points for Keshtkar, as his attempted headpinch was called a slip throw. Keshtkar wins 2-2 on criteria.

10:55: Hanjae CHUNG (KOR) with two massive throws to stun Doolotbek CHOIBEKOV (KGZ) in the Round 1 bout of 63kg. Chung has been a former Asian Championships medalist and always a threat for medal.

10:50: Former world U17 champion SURAJ (IND) got throw for a four-pointer from Ganbayar NAMSRAI (MGL) but that was his only loss in concentration as he wins 8-5 against Namsrai at 60kg.

10:45: Paris Olympian Enes BASAR (TUR) defended well from par terre and beats Kurmanbek ZHAPAROV (KGZ) 8-3 to start his 63kg campaign.

10:30: Mongolia had some wrestle-offs to decide its competitors for the main draw as it had 5 wrestlers entered in a few categories. But we are all set for the Greco-Roman and Women's Wrestling now.