#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

Muhamet Malo 2025 Ranking Series Day 5 Recap

Sunday, March 2, 2025 - 09:59 By Vinay Siwach

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TIRANA, Albania (March 2) -- The final day of Muhamet Malo 2025 Ranking Series will see Greco-Roman action in six weight classes. 55kg, 60kg, 72kg, 82kg, 97kg and 130kg wrestlers will be on the mat.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 4 RESULTS

16:15: Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) and Hamza BAKIR (TUR) enter the final at 130kg. Mirzazadeh scores a gut wrench from par terre against Wenhao JIANG (CHN) to lead 3-0 at the break. Jiang gets the forced par terre advantage in the second period but no points from the position for him. Mirzazadeh wins 3-1.

Bakir had Tokyo silver medalist Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO) in the semifinal. Kajaia gets the par terre in first period but doesn't turn Bakir, who got the par terre position in the second period but can't turn. Bakir holds the 1-1 criteria lead for the win.

16:00: Kiril MILOV (BUL) with a front headlock exposure for two and he led Alex SZOKE (HUN) 3-1. Szoke got the third passivity and as he tried to gut wrench Milov, he got stuck on the mat and Milov pinned him to enter the 97kg final.

He will take on Giorgi MELIA (GEO) in final after the Georgian defeated Markus RAGGINGER (AUT) 5-2. Melia blocked a turn from Ragginger and got two points. Ragginger got both the passivity calls and led 2-0 before the defended throw from Melia. Ragginger challenged for a defensive foul but lost it as Melia got another point and lead 3-2 with 1:30 remaining on the clock. Ragginger needs two points for a win. Melia with a stepout with 54 seconds remaining to lead 5-2. Ragginger fails to breakthrough and drops the semifinal.

15:50: Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) defends from par terre when Ramon BETSCHART (SUI) got the third passivity and keep his 2-1 lead to enter the 82kg final. He will face Burhan AKBUDAK (TUR) in the final after he got a gift from Svetoslav NIKOLOV (BUL) who committed two offensive leg fouls and was cautioned out of the semifinal.

15:35: Mehmet SAHIN (TUR) enters the 72kg final with a 9-0 technical superiority win over Yryskeldi KHAMZAEV (KGZ). He will face Iuri LOMADZE (GEO) who beat Otar ABULADZE (GEO) 6-3 which may give him a look in the Georgian team for the European Championships.

15:20: Quick finishes to the 60kg semifinals! Amiran SHAVADZE (GEO) with two headpinch front throws to beat Haodong TAN (CHN) 8-0 and enter the final.

Yu SHIOTANI (JPN) brings out two reverse suplexes from par terre to beat Akyl SULAIMANOV (KGZ) 9-0. Lost challenge from Kyrgyzstan makes it 10-0

15:10: Emre MUTLU (TUR) with a huge four-point throw and then a turn from par terre as he leads Yerassyl MAMYRBEKOV (KAZ) 7-0 at the break in the 55kg semifinals. But Mamyrbekov storms back with two suplexes for two points each to make it 7-5. A challenge from Kazakhstan asking for a foul from Mutlu but there isn't any. A lost challenge makes it 8-5 for Mutlu with a minute remaining. Mutlu defends his lead and wins 8-5.

In the other semifinal, Vakhtang LOLUA (GEO) was attacking from the start and earned two turns from par terre to lead 6-0 at the break Yersin ABYIR (TUR). Lolua also pulls out a good defense to keep it 6-1 when he was put on par terre in the second period. Abyir scores three points but a 6-4 win for Lolua.

The semifinals begin at 15:00 hours local time

14:40: Two turns from par terre for Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) to lead 5-1 and he may have thought that it was enough for a win. However, Shahin BADAGHI (QAT), of Iranian origin, scores a takedown to make it 5-4. Bolkvadze scores a stepout however Badaghi challenges and wins as Bolkvadze pulled his singlet. Badaghi down 5-4 with 1:21 left in the 82kg quarterfinal. Badaghi challenges for a headbutt but this time loses the challenge which makes Bolkvadze's score 6-4 whihc is also the winning score.

14:30: Yu SHIOTANI (JPN) with a five-pointer as he moves into the semifinals at 60kg! Shiotani blanks Ziyue XI (CHN) 11-0. 

14:20: Iuri LOMADZE (GEO) with a grand-amplitude over Kristupas SLEIVA (LTU) for five points. Sleiva blocked with his hands which gives to more to Lomadze who leads 7-0 at the break. Sleiva can manage only two points in the second period as Lomadze wins 7-2

14:10: Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) pulls out his best defense from par terre and stops Mantas KNYSTAUTAS (LTU) from turning him in the second period. A turn would have surely given Knystautas a 3-3 criteria lead. But Mirzazadeh wins 3-1

14:00: China has brought some hammers here! Haodong TAN (CHN) pins Paris Olympian Enes BASAR (TUR) at 60kg. Tan got the third passivity [no points are awarded for third passivity in Greco] and got a defensive foul from Basar. He then turned him and held Basar on the mat for a fall.

13:45: Ziyue XI (CHN) takes out Victor CIOBANU (MDA) at 60kg! What a performance from Xi. He defended his par terre position before scoring a correct throw from par terre in the second period to lead 3-1. Ciobanu gave up a stepout with 40 seconds remaining to fall behind 4-1. Ciobanu challenged so a foul but there was none. Xi gets a 5-1 lead. Ciobanu could not find a way to break Xi who wins 5-1 at 60kg.

13:35: Hamza BAKIR (TUR) scores an 8-0 win over Yuta NARA (JPN) at 130kg. Bakir has been impressive so far as he prepares himself for the big challenge at the European Championships. 

13:25: Tokyo Olympic silver medalist at Greco-Roman 130kg Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO) turns Elias KUOSMANEN (FIN) from par terre to lead 3-0 at the break before defending his position from forced par terre in the second and win 3-1 at 130kg.

13:10: The world is missing out on Yu SHIOTANI (JPN). A series of reverse lifts from par terre and Shiotani has Ergi UKU (ALB) in all sorts of trouble. An 11-0 win for Shiotani.

13:07: Kristupas SLEIVA (LTU) brings out a reverse lift slam on Ji LENG (CHN) to score four points and snatch the win 4-2 against Leng who is a little dumbfounded with that move. Top move from Sleiva

13:05: Ali ARSALAN (SRB) can't find a way to break Iuri LOMADZE's (GEO) defense and drops his 72kg bout 5-1. Lomadze with a defensive block when Arsalan was trying to score on him.

12:50: Kyrgyzstan wrestlers are out here demoralising big star. Yryskeldi KHAMZAEV (KGZ) takes out Selcuk CAN (TUR) at 72kg. After leading 5-0, Khamzaev defended well from par terre and gave up only two points. Can made it 5-5 with a push out but Khamzaev keeps the criteria win.

12:40: Former European champion Kiril MILOV (BUL), who wrestled at Paris Olympics at 130kg, drops down to his natural 97kg, and he dominates Tyrone STERKENBURG (NED) 6-1. He scored two turns from par terre in the first period while Sterkenburg failed to do so in the second.

12:05: Hamza BAKIR (TUR) gets two par terre positions in the match and he scored three turns to beat 8-0 Laga BAYI (CHN) at 130kg. He expected to be the heir apparent to Riza KAYAALP (TUR) for Turkiye

11:50: Olympic bronze medalist Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) using his aggressive style against Heiki NABI (EST) for a 4-0 win at 130kg. While he did the par terre in the first period, he asked for standing in the second.

11:45: Yu SHIOTANI (JPN) gives a reality check to U20 world champion Ali AHMADI VAFA (IRI) of the senior level. Shiotani was in forced par terre in the first period but he didn't let Ahmadi Vafa score. The referees were about to give Ahmadi Vafa the second par terre which may have made Ahmadi Vafa relax as he gave up a takedown. A reversal in the same sequence was scored one point for Ahmadi Vafa. But Shiotani with a big lift and throw for two points. Shiotani challenges and gets two more points for a foul from Ahmadi Vafa to lead 6-2. From par terre, Shiotani would score three more points and lead 9-4 with 35 seconds on the clock.

Ahmadi Vafa threatened to cause an upset as he scored a takedown and a turn to make it 9-6 before Shiotani blocked the next turn for two points. He then score another exposure and held Ahmadi Vafa on the mat for a fall.

11:35: Ali ARSALAN (SRB), world bronze medalist at 72kg, impresses with a 4-4 win over Levente LEVAI (HUN). Levai led 3-0 at the break but Arsalan with a headpinch for four. Levai blocked his second attempt. A stepout in the end gave Levai another point but Arsalan won 4-4 on criteria.

11:31: Selcuk CAN (TUR), wrestling at 72kg, with an impressive 7-3 win against Mikko PELTOKANGAS (FIN). Can with a top defense from par terre to keep Peltokangas at bay

11:25: Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) needed two successful challenges to remaining in the opening match at 97kg against Alex SZOKE (HUN) who committed two offensive leg fouls. Szoke still had a 7-1 lead at the break. Savolainen managed two points in the second period but failed get a move on. Szoke with a 7-3 win.

11:00: Greco-Roman all day as the final day of the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series is here. Long day ahead but some classic match ups in various weight class. By the way, rain is back in Tirana.