#WrestleBaku, #WrestleParis

Nine nations, 2 AINs win Paris 2024 quotas at European qualifiers

Friday, April 5, 2024 - 22:13 By Vinay Siwach

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BAKU, Azerbaijan (April 5) -- Two months ago, Sergei SEMENOV (AIN) had pulled off one of the greatest wins in European history when he pinned Riza KAYAALP (TUR) in the 130kg final.

On Friday, Semenov continued his excellent form and qualified for the Paris Olympics 2024 from the European OG Qualifier in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Semenov was one of the two Individual Neutral Athletes who qualified for the Paris Games. Nine other countries shared the remaining 10 Greco-Roman spots on day one of the tournament.

Semenov, a two-time Olympic bronze medalist, controlled all three of his matches to win the spot. He blanked Dzmitry ZARUBSKI (AIN) 4-0 before holding off former world champion and London Olympics silver medalist Heiki NABI (FIN) 1-1.

In the Paris 2024 qualification bout, Semenov held off local favorite Beka KANDELAKI (AZE), 4-2, and silenced a loud Azerbaijani crowd at the National Gymnastics Center.

The second Paris 2024 quota at 130kg went to Jello KRAHMER (GER) who defeated three-time Olympian Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU), 6-1, in the semifinal.

Once he got the advantage in the first period, Krahmer asked to continue in standing instead of the usual par terre. Alexuc took the lead in the second period after Krahmer was called passive. But Alexuc failed to score any points.

As time was ticking, Krahmer managed to lock Alexuc's arm and threw him for a four-pointer which Romania challenged but lost, giving Krahmer a 6-1 win and a Paris 2024 quota.

Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) also continued his good form from Romania as the European champion made it look easy at 87kg and earned a Paris 2024 quota for Serbia. Up against former European champion Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN), who was coming back from a shoulder surgery, Komarov finished his bout against Bisultanov in just one minute and 23 seconds.

However, it wasn't a great start to the day as Komarov had to dig deep to win his opening bout against Ivan HUKLEK (CRO). Komarov fell behind 5-0 in the opening bout before using his strong gut-wrench to make a comeback and win 7-5.

Milad ALIRZAEV (AIN) got the second quota at 87kg after he defeated Kiryl MASKEVICH (AIN) 2-1 in a very close semifinal. Alirzaev earlier beat Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) 10-2 in a tense bout.

Tokyo Olympian Victor CIOBANU (MDA) qualified Moldova at 60kg after he defeated Hleb MAKARANKA (AIN), 9-1, in the semifinals. After giving up passivity in the second period, Ciobanu got the par terre advantage in the second and out came the reverse lift for four and flip for two more points to lead 7-1.

If Moldova allows Ciobanu to represent it in Paris, it will be the first time that a Moldovan Greco-Roman wrestler will be a two-time Olympian.

The other quota was secured by Enes BASAR (TUR), who had a field in Baku. He earned Turkiye the Paris spot at 60kg after beating Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (AIN) in the second semifinal at 60kg. After beating European champion and local favorite Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) in the quarterfinal, Basar stunned Allakhiarov 3-2 in the semifinal. Allakhiarov had beaten Basar 10-9 in the 63kg quarterfinals at the European Championships in February.

At 67kg, Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) scored a late stepout to beat Krisztian VANCZA (HUN), 5-4, in the semifinal to earn a quota for Ukraine. Vancza had taken 4-4 lead before Nasibov found a way to score via stepout.

France will have their own as Mamadassa SYLLA (FRA) defeated Gevorg SAHAKYAN (POL), 3-3, in a closely fought battle. Sylla scored his points in the second period which helped him secure the victory. This is the first time since the 2012 London Olympics that France has qualified in Greco-Roman.

Former world champion Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) turned up at 77kg and went home with the Paris 2024 quota for Turkiye. Up against the dangerous Alexandru GUTU (MDA) in the semifinal, Akbudak sneaked out a 10-8 win.

Akbudak scored three turns in par terre to lead 7-0 but Gutu blocked him in the last roll and then scored two more points. Akbudak led 8-5 at the break but Gutu scored three pushouts to tie it 8-8, However, Akbudak led on criteria, ultimately claiming the win.

Jonni SARKKINEN (FIN) got two four-pointers as he stunned Zoltan LEVAI (HUN), 9-0, to earn the other quota at 77kg.

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RESULTS

60kg Paris 2024 Qualification Bouts
SF 1: Enes BASAR (TUR) df. Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (AIN), 5-2
SF 2: Victor CIOBANU (MDA) df. Hleb MAKARANKA (AIN), 7-1

67kg Paris 2024 Qualification Bouts
SF 1: Mamadassa SYLLA (FRA) df. Gevorg SAHAKYAN (POL), 3-3
SF 2: Parviz NASIBOV (UKR) df. Krisztian VANCZA (HUN), 5-4

77kg Paris 2024 Qualification Bouts
SF 1: Jonni SARKKINEN (FIN) df. Zoltan LEVAI (HUN), 9-0
SF 2: Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) df. Alexandrin GUTU (MDA), 10-8

87kg Paris 2024 Qualification Bouts
SF 1: Milad ALIRZAEV (AIN) df. Kiryl MASKEVICH (AIN), 2-1
SF 2: Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) df. Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN), 8-0

97kg Paris 2024 Qualification Bouts
SF 1: Mindaugas VENCKAITIS (LTU) df. Mihail KAJAIA (SRB), 5-2
SF 2: Roberti KOBLIASHVILI (GEO) df. Lucas LAZOGIANIS (GER), 2-1

130kg Paris 2024 Qualification Bouts
SF 1: Sergei SEMENOV (AIN) df. Beka KANDELAKI (AZE), 4-2
SF 2: Jello KRAHMER (GER) df. Alin ALEXUC CIURARIU (ROU), 6-1

#WrestleTirana

WATCH: Shiotani's signature move - Reverse Lift or Tawaragaeshi

Monday, March 3, 2025 - 10:38 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (March 3) -- Yu SHIOTANI (JPN) has done it many times domestically in Japan. On Sunday, he showed it to international fans.

As soon as he get the par terre position, instead for the typical gut-wrench, Shiotani goes for the reverse lift.

The reverse lift, known as Tawaragaeshi in Japanese, majorly seen in Greco-Roman wrestling when the wrestler on top in par terre jumps to face the grounded wrestler and the locks his hands around the opponents waist to throw him over his own head, or sometimes sideways.

That Aleksandr KARELIN photo in which he is clenching his teeth as he lifts his opponent like a sack. Exactly, a reverse lift.

Shiotani, former Asian champion, has mastered that move. And a reverse lift masterclass was on display on the final day of the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series 2025 in Tirana.

Out of the 53 points he scored on Sunday, Shiotani got 33 points from his signature reverse lift. Match after match, he would try the move and succeed as if the opponents did not how to defend it.

"There's not much to think about during a game like this. I do the Tawaragaeshi as if my body were moving on its own," Shiotani said.

Yu SHIOTANI (JPN)Yu SHIOTANI (JPN) performs a reverse lift during the 60kg semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostandin Andonov)

The Japanese federation Instagram page is full of Shiotani's reverse lift videos. Despite his go-to move, Shiotani is shy to explain his obsession with the move which he performs even when he is in a position to pin or roll his opponent.

"I'm trying to switch things up and try to lift the wrestlers rather than trying to hold him down," Shiotani said. "I'm always practicing so I am able to do it in any situation."

Shiotani doesn't hide it that he is going for the reverse lift. He ideally starts from a chest wrap and quickly moves his grip to waist. If the opponent tries to raise his head to defend, Shiotani scores an exposure, opening more scoring options.

This was the first time Shiotani was wrestling at 60kg in a UWW event, up from 55kg but he said that he always remained in shape for wrestling.

"I always keep in shape," he said. "Ever since moved up the weight class, I've always believed that I could win by building my body, so I'm glad I was able to do that."