Obituary

Magomed Aliomarov, Leader in Development of Women's Wrestling, Dies at 67

By United World Wrestling Press

MAKHACHKALA, Russia (May 13) -- Magomed ALIOMAROV, head coach of Russia's resurgent women's wrestling program, died Wednesday after a brief battle with COVID-19. He was 67.

Born in the small village of Tlyarosh, Dagestan, Aliomarov began wrestling as a child. After his competitive years, Aliomarov worked as a club coach in Dagestan from 1978-1992 before taking an administrative role as vice-president of the Azerbaijan Wrestling federation from 2008 to 2017. That nation saw great success during Aliomarov's tenure including a 2009 World Championship team title in women's wrestling. In 2011 Aliomarov became the head coach of Azerbaijan Women's Wrestling team, where he remained until 2015.

The Russian Federation hired Aliomarov back in February 2019 to lead its women's program. The move created instant results with Russia earning the team title at the 2020 European Championships in Rome and runner-up honors at the 2019 World Championships in Nur-Sultan. The successes made Aliomarov and the Russian Wrestling Federation hopeful for the future of the women's program.
 
"I have no words. He was such an energetic person who had so many plans. Our women's team followed him, and that lead to very good results," said Mikhail Mamiashvili, President of Russian Wrestling Federation. "Our deepest condolences to the relatives and friends of Magomed Aliomarovich and the entire wrestling community."

Known to be a fierce advocate for his athletes, Aliomarov was widely respected by opposing coaches, while also enjoying the admiration of his athletes.

"It's difficult to believe," said Inna Trazhukova, who won a world championship in Nur-Sultan. "His death is a great loss for our team. He believed in me before the 2019 World Championships and I got the best result in my whole sports career."

"We had the great plans for Olympic Games and I'm very sad that they wouldn't come true."

United World Wrestling president Nenad LALOVIC also sent his condolences to the Russian Wrestling Federation and the families and friends of Aliomarov.

"We are very saddened by the news. The death of Aliomarov is a big loss for the sport and our community."

#WrestleTirana

Assetuly wins Kazakhstan's first U23 world title

By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (October 28) -- This year keeps getting better for Kazakhstan wrestling. A month after the country got its first Freestyle senior world champion in Belgrade, Sultan ASSETULY (KAZ) on Saturday became the first wrestler from his country to win the U23 World Championships.

The former Asian champion won the gold medal at 63kg by beating Mustafa YILDIRIM (TUR) 2-1 in the 67kg gold medal bout in Tirana, Albania. 

Yildirim got the first par terre advantage which Assetuly managed to defend well. When Assetuly got the activity point in the second period, he lifted Yildirim and tried a throw. Though he did not get a correct throw, Assetuly got Yildirim to stepout of the zone and get one point.

Assetuly's 2-1 lead after that exchange remained the final score of the bout as he clinched the historic title.

"I am very happy to be the first champion from Kazakhstan," Assetuly said. "I am not going to stop here, I will work hard and win the senior world title. I got this medal in a very tough way."

Sultan ASSETULY (KAZ)Sultan ASSETULY (KAZ) celebrates after winning the 67kg gold medal. (Photo: UWW / Ulug Bugra Han Degirmenci)

Out of his five wins for the gold medal, Assetuly's two wins were 1-1. His opening bout against Oleg KHALILOV (UKR) almost ended his run as he survived a close stepout but the match took a toll on him.

"Every single match, every single minute and second were really tough," he said. "The first match was the hardest. I won 1-1, but at the end of the match, I almost stepped out. After that match, I couldn't even walk for 30 minutes."

That win was followed by a 9-0 thrashing of Steve MOMILIA (ITA) to set up a quarterfinal against former U17 world champion Muslim IMADAEV (AIN). Assetuly once again struggled but managed to beat Imadaev 1-1. He humbled Hasan MAMMADLI (AZE) 11-0 in the semifinal.

Despite his golden run, Assetuly did rue the fact that a champion belt is not awarded at the U23 level.

"I want the champion belt, they don't give us belts here though."

Assetuly, a Taraz native, has idolized 1980 Olympic champion Zhaksylyk USHKEMPIROV. He will now look to make it to the Olympics himself as one of the contenders for the 67kg spot on the Kazakhstan team along with Meirzhan SHERMAKHANBET (KAZ) who recently won the 67kg silver at the Asian Games.

"I still have a chance to qualify for the Olympics," he said. "I will compete at national championships. If I win there, I will get the chance to go to the qualifying event [in Bishkek next April]. If I get the Olympic spot there, I can go. Although, even if I get the Olympic quota, I will have to keep working hard, because the coaches still have the right to change the athlete."

Aues GONIBOV (AIN)Aues GONIBOV (AIN) defeated Alperen BERBER (TUR) 4-0. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

There was more frustration in store for Turkiye as U20 world champion Alperen BERBER (TUR) fell to senior world bronze medalist Aues GONIBOV (AIN) in the 82kg final.

The strength difference between the two wrestlers was visible as Berber could never actually cement himself against Gonibov who got two passivity points and a takedown to score a 4-0 win.

Berber, just 18 years of age, already has U17 and U20 world titles to his name to go along the multiple European medals.

Pavel HLINCHUK (AIN)Pavel HLINCHUK (AIN) defends from par terre against Mustafa OLGUN (TUR). (Photo: UWW / Ulug Bugra Han Degirmenci)

If that was not enough, Pavel HLINCHUK (AIN) denied Mustafa OLGUN (TUR) the gold medal at 97kg in a thrilling final. Hlinkchuk won the gold-medal bout 4-3.

The 2021 U20 world champion was making a return to international competition after two years and showed no signs of rust, dominating his opponents till the final.

After getting the par terre point, Olgun scored a stepout to lead 2-0 but Hlinchuk scored a turn from par terre to claim a 3-2 lead. The Turkish wrestler scored a stepout with eight seconds left but that only made it a 3-3 criteria lead for Hlinchuk. Turkiye challenged, asking for a takedown but was only given a stepout on review. The lost challenge added another point to Hlinchuk's score.

Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (AIN)Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (AIN) scores a four-pointer against Romeo BERIDZE (GEO) in the 60kg final. (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

Another U20 world champion from 2021 made it to the top of the podium as Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (AIN) put behind the disappointment of the senior World Championships to beat Romeo BERIDZE (GEO), 10-0, and win the 60kg gold medal in Tirana.

The 2021 U230 world champion got the par terre advantage and as he was lifting Beridze, he dropped the Georgian on his back with control to score four points. Georgia challenged the call but saw the original ruling stand. One point was added to Allakhiarov's score for the lost challenge before he finished the bout in two minutes and 37 seconds with a powerful duck-under for another four points.

Dmitrii ADAMOV (AIN)Dmitrii ADAMOV (AIN) won the 72kg final over Irfan MIRZOIEV (UKR). (Photo: UWW / Kadir Caliskan)

At 72kg, Dmitrii ADAMOV (AIN) won the gold medal as he defeated Irfan MIRZOIEV (UKR), 9-3, in the final. Mirzoiev was in exceptional form on Friday but could not repeat it against Adamov in the final.

Mirzoiev did start off on a strong note, scoring a counter stepout with caution against Adamov for fleeing. Down 2-0, Adamov was going to get a passivity call but he scored a takedown as the referee signaled for passivity.

That completely changed the final as Adamov got three turns from that takedown to lead 8-2. He scored a stepout in the second period to make it 9-2 and despite a late stepout from Mirzoiev in the final seconds, Adamov won the gold comfortably.

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RESULTS

60kg
GOLD: Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (AIN) df. Romeo BERIDZE (GEO), 10-0

BRONZE: SUMIT (UWW) df. Yonaiker MARTINEZ (VEN), 4-3
BRONZE: Mert ILBARS (TUR) df. Aibek SABYRBEKOV (KAZ), 9-1

67kg
GOLD: Sultan ASSETULY (KAZ) df. Mustafa YILDIRIM (TUR), 2-1

BRONZE: Muslim IMADAEV (AIN) df. Hasan MAMMADLI (AZE), 12-10
BRONZE: HARUTO YABE (JPN) df. Artur JEREMEJEV (EST), 8-0

72kg
GOLD: Dmitrii ADAMOV (AIN) df. Irfan MIRZOIEV (UKR), 9-3

BRONZE: Ruslan NURULLAYEV (AZE) df. Michael PORTMANN (SUI), 3-1
BRONZE: Shant KHACHATRYAN (ARM) df. Adilkhan NURLANBEKOV (KGZ), via fall (9-0)

82kg
GOLD: Aues GONIBOV (AIN) df. Alperen BERBER (TUR), 4-0 

BRONZE: Karlo KODRIC (CRO) df. Ruslan ABDIIEV (UKR), 3-0
BRONZE: Emad ABOUELATTA (EGY) df. Karen KHACHATRYAN (ARM), 3-2

97kg
GOLD: Pavel HLINCHUK (AIN) df. Mustafa OLGUN (TUR), 4-3

BRONZE: Lucas LAZOGIANIS (GER) df. Hayk KHLOYAN (ARM), 5-3
BRONZE: Yuri NAKAZATO (JPN) df. Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE), 3-1

Semifinals

55kg
GOLD: Iskhar KURBAYEV (KAZ) vs. Giorgi TOKHADZE (GEO)

SF 1: Giorgi TOKHADZE (GEO) df. Farid SADIKHLI (AZE), 10-0
SF 2: Iskhar KURBAYEV (KAZ) df. Adem UZUN (TUR), 9-1

63kg
GOLD: Rakhman TAVMURZAEV (AIN) vs. Hleb MAKARANKA (AIN)

SF 1: Hleb MAKARANKA (AIN) df. Chiezo MARUYAMA (JPN), 3-3
SF 2:Rakhman TAVMURZAEV (AIN) df. Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA), 7-5

77kg
GOLD: Khasay HASANLI (AZE) vs. Alexandrin GUTU (MDA)

SF 1: Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) df. Yryskeldi MAKSATBEK UULU (KGZ), 12-2
SF 2: Khasay HASANLI (AZE) df. Khvicha ANANIDZE (GEO), 9-0

87kg
GOLD: Matej MANDIC (CRO) vs. Magomed MURTAZALIEV (AIN)

SF 1: Magomed MURTAZALIEV (AIN) df. Exauce MUKUBU (NOR), 7-2
SF 2: Matej MANDIC (CRO) df. Waltteri LATVALA (FIN), 11-0

130kg
GOLD: Muhammet BAKIR (TUR) vs. Mykhailo VYSHNYVETSKYI (UKR)

SF 1: Mykhailo VYSHNYVETSKYI (UKR) df. Sarkhan MAMMADOV (AZE), 1-1
SF 2: Muhammet BAKIR (TUR) df. Razmik KURDYAN (ARM), 4-2