Nur-Sultan Mats Ready for Action as Worlds Kick Off with Greco Competition

Friday, September 13, 2019 - 13:30 By Ken Marantz

NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan (September 13) --- The road to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics makes its first stop in Nur-Sultan over the next nine days, where the first Olympic berths will be allotted in the Kazakh capital to the nations of the top six finishers in each weight class.

The first whistle will be blown Saturday at the gleaming Barys Arena, when the tournament starts with competition in Greco-Roman. Russia will look to exceed its showing from a year ago in Budapest, when it took home six of the 10 golds.

From there, Greco-Roman keeps the stage through Tuesday (Sept. 17), when it will share it with the women, who get started with qualification rounds in four weight classes. How many of the powerful Japanese women can clinch berths for the Olympics in their home country will be the main focus of interest.

The women will continue through the seventh day, Friday (Sept. 20), when the freestylers take to the mat in two weight classes, then close the tournament with four each over the final two days. The final day on Sunday could see the highly anticipated clash at 97kg between titans Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) and Kyle Snyder (USA).

The opening day Saturday will see action in the four non-Olympic weight classes (55kg, 63kg, 72kg, and 82kg) in Greco-Roman. While Olympic berths will not be stake and the weight classes lost some top wrestlers who moved to Olympic divisions, that doesn’t mean they will be any less competitive.

Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) is one of two returning world champions who kick off their day on Saturday morning. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) and Stepan MARYANYAN (RUS) return to defend their world titles at 55kg and 63kg, respectively, while Maryanyan will be one of four European champions in action along with Vitali KABALOEV (RUS) at 55kg, Abuyazid MANTSIGOV (RUS) at 72kg and Rajbek BISULTANOV (DEN) at 82kg.

Bilsutanov will have to contend with Budapest 2018 silver medalist Emrah KUS (TUR) and bronze medalists Viktor SASUNOVSKI (BLR) and Maksim MANUKYUAN (ARM). And that’s not to discount Asian champion Saeid ABDVALI (IRI).

Advali is one of four Asian gold medalists in action Saturday. The brother combination of Ilkhom and Islomjon BAKHROMOV (UZB) took the 55kg and 60kg, respectively, at Xi’an 2019, but Islomjon has moved up to 63kg, so the two will be competing on the same day this time.

Stepan MARYANYAN (RUS) has remained unbeaten during his 2019 campaign after claiming world gold in a season ago. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

The 63kg field, led by Maryanyan, includes Asian champion Erbatu TUO (CHN) and bronze medalist JUNG Jinwoong (KOR). Also entered is Rio 2016 Olympic silver medalist Shinobu OTA (JPN), who moved up to 63kg when he failed to beat 2017 world champion Kenichiro FUMITA (JPN) for the place on Japan’s team at 60kg.

At 72kg, Budapest champion Frank STABLER (GER) has moved down to 67kg, but runner-up Balint KORPASI (HUN) and bronze medalist Aik MNATSAKANIAN (HUN) look to be the top contenders along with Mantsigov and Asian silver medalist ZHANG Hujun (CHN).

Tournament Schedule
Saturday, September 14
11:00-16:00 Qualification Rounds GR 55-63-72-82kg
18:00-19:30 Semifinals GR 55-63-72-82kg

Sunday, September 15
11:00-16:00 Qualification Rounds GR 67-87-97kg
11:00-16:00 Repechage GR 55-63-72-82kg
16:45-17:30 Opening Ceremony
18:00-18:45 Semifinals GR 67-87-97kg
19:00-22:00 Finals GR 55-63-72-82kg

Monday, September 16
11:00-16:00 Qualification Rounds GR 60-77-130kg
11:00-16:00 Repechage GR 67-87-97kg
17:00-17:45 Semifinals GR 60-77-130kg
18:00-20:30 Finals GR 67-87-97kg

Tuesday, September 17
11:00-15:00 Qualification Rounds WW 50-53-55-72kg
11:00-15:00 Repechage GR 60-77-130kg
16:45-17:45 Semifinals WW 50-53-55-72kg
18:00-20:30 Finals GR 60-77-130kg

Wednesday, September 18
11:00-15:00 Qualification Rounds WW 57-59-65-76kg
11:00-15:00 Repechage WW 50-53-55-72kg
16:45-17:45 Semifinals WW 57-59-65-76kg
18:00-21:00 Finals WW 50-53-55-72kg

Thursday, September 19
11:00-16:00 Qualification Rounds WW 62-68; FS 57-65
11:00-16:00 Repechage WW 57-59-65-76kg
16:45-17:45 Semifinals WW 62-68; FS 57-65
18:00-21:00 Finals WW 57-59-65-76kg

Friday, September 20
11:00-16:00 Qualification Rounds FS 70-74-92-125kg
11:00-16:00 Repechage WW 62-68; FS 57-65
16:45-17:45 Semifinals FS 70-74-92-125kg
18:00-21:00 Finals WW 62-68; FS 57-65

Saturday, September 21
11:00-16:00 Qualification Rounds FS 61-79-86-97kg
11:00-16:00 Repechage FS 70-74-92-125kg
16:45-17:45 Semifinals FS 61-79-86-97kg
18:00-21:00 Finals FS 70-74-92-125kg

Sunday, September 22
15:30-17:30 Repechage FS 61-79-86-97kg
18:00-21:00 Finals FS 61-79-86-97kg

#WrestleTirana

Three nations aim to get first Greco U23 world champs

Monday, October 21, 2024 - 22:48 By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (October 21) -- Kyrgyzstan, the United States and Uzbekistan will stand a chance to crown their first-ever U23 world champion in Greco-Roman.

It was after the countries had one finalist each on day one of the U23 World Championships that kicked off in Tirana, Albania on Monday.

The United States and Uzbekistan have already had a historical day, confirming their first-ever U23 World Championships medals in Greco-Roman. Beka MELELASHVILI (USA) reached the 82kg final while Alisher GANIEV (UZB) made it to the 55kg final. Both countries had fifth as their best finishes before Monday in the history of the U23 Worlds, which came into existence only in 2017.

Kyrgyzstan will be banking on Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) to win the first Greco-Roman gold medal at U23 Worlds after he reached the 67kg final. Zholoman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) is the only other Greco wrestler to reach the final in 2019 but lost.

Georgia and Armenia were the only countries with two finalists on day one of the tournament. Surprisingly, Iran managed only one finalists out of the five weight classes that were in action.

Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) tries to complete at throw. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) and Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) were the two finalists for Georgia at 67kg and 72kg respectively. Both had finished with silver medals at the U20 World Championships in 2021 but will look to win the gold together on Tuesday.

Chkhikvadze defeated Daniial AGAEV (AIN), 4-4, in the semifinal with a correct throw in the last minute to take two points and a criteria lead. He will now take on Beishekeev who defeated Arslanbek SALIMOV (POL) 10-0 to win the other semifinal.

Giorgi was in much more control of his 7-0 win over Adilkhan NURLANBEKOV (KGZ) in the semifinal and will now take on Shant KHACHATRYAN (ARM). The two had met in the semifinals of the U20 World Championships in 2021 and Giorgi won that meeting.

Khachatryan took no time to see off Georgios BARBANOS (SWE) 9-0 in the semifinal, his fourth technical superiority in the tournament, including a fall over Danial SOHRABI (IRI).

The second Armenian to reach the final was Hayk KHLOYAN (ARM) at 97kg after he held off senior European silver medalist Magomed MURTAZALIEV (AIN) 3-3 in the semifinal. Both exchanged par terre and one turn in gut-wrench but Khloyan performed it in the second period, keeping the criteria to him.

He will face Paris Olympian Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN) in the final. Khaslakhanau won his semifinal Richard KARELSON (EST), 2-1.

Beka MELELASHVILI (USA) confirmed the U.S. first ever Greco medal at U23 World Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

The U.S. has already achieved its best result ever in U23 Worlds in Greco but Melelashvili would look to make it golden on Tuesday. He will face Mohammad NAGHOUSI (IRI) in the final.

Melelashvili wrestled Elmin ALIYEV (AZE) in the semifinal and fell behind 3-0 at the break. But he returned the favor to Aliyev in the second period. Initially not scored, Melelashvili got the two points for a gut wrench after a challenge. Naghousi defeated former U20 world champion Deni NIKAEV (GER), 6-1, in the semifinal.

Ganiev has already won Uzbekistan's first-ever U23 World Championships medal but will look to win one more bout and get his name in history books in golden. He humbled Nihad GULUZADE (AZE) 9-0 in the semifinals and will now face Dinislam BAMMAPTOV (AIN).

RESULTS

60kg
GOLD: Alisher GANIEV (UZB) vs. Dinislam BAMMATOV (AIN)

SF 1: Alisher GANIEV (UZB) df. Nihad GULUZADE (AZE), 9-0
SF 2: Dinislam BAMMATOV (AIN) df. Pridon ABULADZE (GEO), 4-1

67kg
GOLD: Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) vs. Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO)

SF 1: Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) df. Arslanbek SALIMOV (POL), 10-0
SF 2: Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) df. Daniial AGAEV (AIN), 4-4

72kg
GOLD: Shant KHACHATRYAN (ARM) vs. Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO)

SF 1: Shant KHACHATRYAN (ARM) df. Georgios BARBANOS (SWE), 9-0
SF 2: Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) df. Adilkhan NURLANBEKOV (KGZ), 7-0

82kg
GOLD: Mohammad NAGHOUSI (IRI) vs. Beka MELELASHVILI (USA)

SF 1: Mohammad NAGHOUSI (IRI) df. Deni NAKAEV (GER), 6-1
SF 2: Beka MELELASHVILI (USA) df. Elmin ALIYEV (AZE), 3-3

97kg
GOLD: Hayk KHLOYAN (ARM) vs. Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN)

SF 1: Hayk KHLOYAN (ARM) df. Magomed MURTAZALIEV (AIN), 3-3
SF 2: Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN) df. Richard KARELSON (EST), 2-1

Nur-Sultan Mats Ready for Action as Worlds Kick Off with Greco Competition

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Three nations aim to get first Greco U23 world champs