#WrestleParis

Paris 2024 Wrestling: Dake dominates, Zare vs Akgul in semis

Friday, August 9, 2024 - 08:43 By Ken Marantz & Vinay Siwach

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PARIS (August 9) -- The Paris Olympics is closing towards its end but wrestling is still in full swing here at Champs de Mars Arena. Freestyle action in 74kg and 125kg and Women's Wrestling 62kg. In the evening session, Olympic champions will be crowned in Freestyle 57kg and 86kg and Women's Wrestling 57kg.

LIVE MATCH ORDER | PARIS 2024 DAY 4

13:23: In the final freestyle 74kg quarterfinal, Razambek JAMALOV (UZB) prevails in a thriller 6-5 when Chermen VALIEV (ALB) is assessed two penalty points for fleeing in the final seconds, the second one coming on an Uzbekistan challenge after time expired. Jamalov leads 3-2 in the second period when Valiev gets a stepout and takedown for a 5-3 lead. Jamalov gets a stepout with 1:05 left, then goes on the offensive, resulting in the first fleeing penalty. That still leaves him behind on big-point criteria, and his late aggressiveness pays off when the challenge gives him the winning point.

13:14: Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) had her hands full with Ana GODINEZ (CAN) in their women's 62kg quarterfinal, but once she got the lace lock in the second period, it was all over for the Canadian. Limited to an activity point and running out of time on a late takedown attempt in the first period, Motoki finally struck with a single-leg takedown. She then wrapped up the ankles and reeled off four rolls for an 11-0 win.

13:09: Viktor RASSADIN (TJK) earns his place in the freestyle 74kg semifinals, jumping out to a 5-0 lead and holding on for a 7-4 victory over Feng LU (CHN).

13:05: Grace BULLEN (NOR) will not be denied. She starts with a 4-p0int takedown, applies the lace lock and three rolls later, she eliminates Luisa NIEMESCH (GER) with a 10-0 victory in 1:15 to advance to the women's 62kg semifinals.

13:01: Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) gets a shot to avenge a loss to Tynybekova in the women's 62kg semifinals in Tokyo when she gets a 4-point takedown in the first period en route to a 7-3 victory over Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL).

12:58: Daichi TAKATANI (JPN) glides into the freestyle 74kg semifinals in spectacular fashion, lifting Hetik CABOLOV (SRB) onto his shoulders and executing a balletic 4-point throw to cap a 10-0 victory with :19 left in the first period. Takatani had already scored two takedowns, adding an exposure after the second and nearly ending it with a fall.

12:53: After his high Mason PARRIS (USA), Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) cannot hold the fort against Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) and drops 12-2. He will face Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) in the 125kg semifinals.

12:52: Kyle DAKE (USA) looks on a mission as he manhandles Yones EMAMI (IRI), buildling up a 9-1 lead before using a counter lift to put Iranian on his back and securing a fall to advance to the freestyle 74kg semifinals. Dake scored three takedowns with a single leg in which he lits the leg high into the air and trips Emami to the mat.

12:52: Are we seeing another 'miracle' in women's wrestling? Kayla MIRACLE (USA) gets an activity point, then picks up a takedown for a 3-0 lead against 62kg favorite Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ). But adversity brings out the best in Tynybekova, and she cuts the lead with a stepout early in the second period, then gets behind and swings Miracle to the mat for a 4-point takedown. An unsuccessful challenge gives Tynybekova a 6-3 lead, but it's still not over. Miracle gets a stepout, then hits a roll through for an exposure in the final seconds. But the 4-point move holds sway for a 6-6 win on criteria that puts Tynybekova into the semifinals.

12:46: Taha AKGUL (TUR) takes his own time to beat Daniel LIGETI (HUN) and he books a semifinal spot against Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI). Both have a 1-1 head-to-head.

12:41: Chermen VALIEV (ALB) gets a stepout with four seconds left, and it's upheld on a challenge to give him a dramatic 4-3 victory over European bronze medalist Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) for the final spot in the freestyle 74kg quarterfinals.

12:40: Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) uses four minutes and 16 seconds to beat Amarveer DHESI (CAN) 10-0 and move into the semifinals. He awaits the winner of Taha AKGUL (TUR) and Daniel LIGETI (HUN).

12:39: World silver medalist Sakura MOTOKI (JPN), whose father was an Olympian at Sydney 2000 but did not medal, got her campaign for a place on the women's 62kg podium off to a successful start with a quick fall over Kriszta INCZE (ROU). A takedown and an arm bar and Incze was on her back, with the match ending in 37 seconds.  
      
12:35: Ana GODINEZ (CAN) defies the home crowd when she holds on for a 5-2 win over Ameline DOUARRE (FRA) at women's 62kg. Godinez gets an activity point and two takedowns in the first period. Douarre energizes the crowd with a second-period takedown, but that will be the end of the scoring.

12:35: Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO), the returning silver medalist, opens his day with an 11-0 dominance of Oleksandr KHOTSIANIVSKYI (UKR).

12:29: Razembek JAMALOV (UZB) charges to a 6-0 lead, then holds off four-time reigning European champion Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) for an 11-3 victory in a testy match at freestyle 74kg. It was only 6-3 when Jamalov added a bunch of points in the final seconds.  

12:25: Giorgi MESHVILDISHVILI (AZE) gets going with a 4-0 win over Diaaeldin ABDELMOTTALEB (EGY) and he books his spot in the quarterfinals. In the next match, Robert BARAN (POL) holds off Yusup BATIRMURZAEV (KAZ) 4-1.

12:25: European silver medalist Luisa NIEMESCH (GER) grinds out a 3-0 victory at women's 62kg over Hanbit LEE (KOR), a last-minute reallocation entry into the field. Niemesch scores a takedown while on the activity clock, then adds an activity point in the second. 

12:15: European champion Grace BULLEN (NOR) gets her Olympic debut off to a good start, capping a 12-2 win over Siwar BOUSETA (TUN) with a 4-point takedown at women's 62kg.  

12:15: Feng LU (CHN) allows Amr HUSSEN (EGY) to tie their freestyle 74kg match at 4-all in the first period, but breaks it open in the second with a 10-point surge for a 14-4 victory.

12:08: Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL), back in Paris where she won world gold in 2017, won't be leaving with the women's 62kg gold this time. Tokyo bronze medalist Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) rallies from a 4-0 deficit in the second period, scoring a takedown and two exposures, then adding another takedown to go ahead 8-4. But it is not over. Purevdorj gets a stepout, then a counter lift with :20 left to cut the gap to one, but Koliadenko holds out for an 8-7 win.

12:04: Former world silver medalist Lkhagvagerel MUNKHTUR (MGL) brings out a huge second period to score a four-pointer and then break Mason PARRIS (USA) in the 125kg 1/8 finals. He beats Parris, who won bronze at the World Championships in 2023, 10-5 and moved into the quarterfinals.

12:03: Russian-born Asian silver medalist Viktor RASSADIN (TJK), looking to give Tajikistan just its second-ever Olympic medal, scores four takedowns in an 8-2 win over Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) at freestyle 74kg.

11:56: Bilyana DUDOVA (BUL), the 2021 world champion at 59kg, is nursing a tentative 3-2 lead in the second period against Johanna LINDBORG (SWE) at women's 62kg. Lindborg shoots for the winning takedown, but Dudova hits a 4-point counter. Lindborg forces her out for one, then loses a challenge over the exchange and Dudova walks off an 8-3 winner.

11:53: Yones EMAMI (IRI) needs to expend little energy following his tough preliminary round match at freestyle 74kg with Frank CHAMIZO (ITA), getting the takedown against Bacar NDUM (GBS) and executing four back-and-forth rolls for a 10-0 win in 1:34.

11:50: Rio Olympic champion Taha AKGUL (TUR) begins his quest for his third Olympic medal with an 11-0 win over Jonovan SMITH (PUR). Akgul will take on Ligeti in the quarterfinals of 125kg

11:44: World bronze medalist Daichi TAKATANI (JPN) scores a takedown right to a roll to finish up a 10-0 victory over Geandry GARZON (CUB) at freestyle 74kg. Takatani is trying to get the medal that eluded older brother Sohsuke in three trips to the Olympics.

11:44: Two-time world silver medalist Kayla MIRACLE (USA) gives up an early takedown to world U23 champion Nesrin BAS (TUR) at women's 62kg, but comes back with four takedowns of her own, capping the final one with a 2-point exposure for a 10-2 lead. She then adds a creative 2-point roll while under Bas on a takedown attempt. Next up for the American is Tynybekova.

11:42: Daniel LIGETI (HUN) makes it to the quarterfinal at 125kg with a top 10-0 technical superiority win over Ashton MUTUWA (NGR).

11:40: World bronze medalist Hetik CABOLOV (SRB) finishes off a 10-0 victory at freestyle 74kg with his second takedown-gut wrench combo, knocking out Refugee Team member Iman MAHDAVI (EOR) in 2:49.

11:33: Tokyo bronze medalist Kyle DAKE (USA) makes short work of Anthony MONTERO (VEN) in his bid for an elusive gold at freestyle 74kg, combining takedowns with gut wrenches for a 10-0 win in 2:20.

11:33: Top seed and reigning world champion Aisuluu TYNYBEKOVA (KGZ) gets her campaign started at women's 62kg Tokyo Olympic silver medalist has her hands full with Esther KOLAWOLE (NGR), but comes away with a 5-3 victory. Tynybekova falls behind 1-1 on criteria early in the second period when she gives up a stepout. She comes back with a stepout of her own, then uses a cradle to secure a takedown. Kolawole scores a takedown in the last seconds, then loses a dubious challenge to give Tynybekova her final point.

11:36: Amarveer DHESI (CAN) manages to get two technical points over Zhiwei DENG (CHN) and win his 125kg bout 2-1 and book a place in the quarterfinals against Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI).

11:28: World champion and returning bronze medalist Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) begins his day with a 5-0 win over Aiaal LAZAREV (KGZ). Not much troubled Zare in that bout.

11:27: Razambek  JAMALOV (UZB) breaks open a close match at freestyle 74kg to knock off Tokyo silver medalist Mahamedkhabib KADZIMAHAMEDAU (AIN) 8-0. With a 2-0 lead heading into the second period, Jamalov gets in deep on a double, lifts up and back to put Kadzimahamedau onto his back for 2. He then adds a takedown and gut wrench for good measure.  

11:21: In the two repechage bouts on Mat C, Javrail SHAPIEV (UZB) takes out Alexander MOORE (CAN) 6-1 and Dauren KURUGLIEV (GRE) wins 10-0 against Jayden LAWRENCE (AUS). Both Shapiev and Kurugliev book spots in the bronze medal bouts.

11:20: Giullia PENALBER (BRA) fills the final place in the women's 57kg bronze-medal matches with a 7-0 victory over Sandra PARUSZEWSKI (GER). Penalber gets a 4-point takedown and a regular takedown in the second period. She will face Kexin HONG (CHN) for the bronze.

11:18: Fans get an early treat with a clash between veteran and two-time former world champion Frank CHAMIZO (ITA) and two-time world medalist Yones EMAMI (IRI) in a preliminary round match at freestyle 74kg, which has 18 entries. Chamizo, a bronze medalist at Rio 2016, takes a 4-3 lead in the first period with a pair of scores of some wild scrambles. But Emami charges back, getting a 4-point takedown off a single-leg and adds another takedown for a 9-4 win.

11:10: In the opener on Mat B, Hannah TAYLOR (CAN) is in control all the way in rolling to a 13-0 victory over Luisa VALVERDE (ECU) in a women's 57kg repechage, clinching it with a 4-point takedown.  She will try to win her first Olympic medal by keeping Helen MAROULIS (USA) from winning her third in the bronze-medal match.  

11:06: The action on Mat A opens with the lone repechage match at freestyle 57kg. Bekzat ALMAZ UULU (KGZ) spots Wanhao ZOU (CHN) a four-point lead, but catches him with a pancake to get the fall with :24 left in the first period. He will face Golomjon ABDULLAEV (UZB) for the bronze later tonight.

10:55: Welcome to day five of wrestling at the Paris Olympics. We advise you to click on the match order of the day and have your minds blown!

#WrestleZagreb

Komarov upends Mohamadi to make history, spoil Iran celebrations

Sunday, September 21, 2025 - 20:47 By Ken Marantz

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Note: An earlier version of this article mentioned Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) as the first male wrestler to have won the "Grand Slam". Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) was the first. The error is regretted.

ZAGREB, Croatia (September 21) -- Olympic silver medalist Alireza MOHAMADI (IRI) was set to put the cherry on top of Iran's dominant performance in Zagreb, but Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) had a recipe for disaster.

Komarov pulled off a stunning 4-3 victory in the 87kg final that left Mohamadi inconsolable, while earning himself a unique place in wrestling history as the curtain came down on the World Championships on Sunday with the last three Greco titles decided.

"I’m very happy," Komarov said. "The final was really tough, and I believed I could succeed. In the end I managed it, and I’m very glad about that."

In other finals, teenager Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB) gave Uzbekistan just its second world Greco title -- more than two decades after the first -- with a victory at 63kg, while Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) triumphed at 67kg to become the Iran's second Olympic champion in two nights to add the senior world gold.

Iran easily won the team title with 180 points, nearly twice as much as the runner-up, to complete the freestyle-Greco double for the first time. The Asian powerhouse finished with four golds and eight medals overall in Greco. Azerbaijan placed second with 89 points, followed by Uzbekistan with 72. Both nations had one champion.

With his triumph in Zagreb, the Russian-born Komarov became the second male wrestler to complete the "Grand Slam" of world titles -- winning all three age-group titles as well as the senior gold.

Komarov, who began competing for Serbia in 2024, previously won the first of two cadet (U17) titles in 2015, the world junior (U20) in 2017 and 2018, then added the world U23 in 2021.

He joins Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) as the lone men to achieve the Grand Slam. Mirzazadeh, who won a second career Greco 130kg title two days earlier in Zagreb, become the first when he won his first senior gold in 2023, adding to world titles at U17 in 2015, U20 in 2018 and U23 in 2021.

A handful of women, including Yui SUSAKI (JPN) and Amit ELOR (USA), have achieved the slam. Three other male greats came close, but fell just short by taking silvers on either the U17 or U20 levels -- Geno PETRIASHVILI (GEO) and Amir Hossein ZARE (IRI) in freestyle and Leri ABULADZE (GEO) in Greco.

"I’ve collected the whole set of medals," said Komarov, who has also completed the Grand Slam on a European level. "My coach, my journey -- everything I did was right. I have success, so I’m very happy. My goal and my dream are the Olympic Games. I think about it. It’s too early to talk about that now, but I hope everything works out."

Even with his past glory, not everything had worked out for Komarov in his run-up to Zagreb. In fact, it was less than spectacular.

Eighth at the Paris Olympics, this year the 26-year-old relinquished the European title he had won in 2024, having to settle for a bronze, and placed fifth at all three Ranking Series events he entered, in Zagreb, Tirana and Budapest.

In fact, it was in Tirana that he clashed with Mohamadi, who handed him a 5-1 defeat in the semifinals en route to the gold.

"It was a very hard road to get here -- it’s been a very difficult year and I lost all the ranking series. I lost at the Europeans," Komarov said. "Of course I had doubts in myself, but I believed I could do it and I succeeded. I’m always mentally ready -- I didn’t change anything, just worked a lot and tried to wrestle without mistakes and give my best."

But Komarov made all the right moves in Zagreb to beat Mohamadi, who reluctantly settled for his second world silver, adding to one at 82kg in 2023.

The difference came down to what each wrestler did from par terre. Mohamadi, who won the Tirana Ranking Series title, could only manage a stepout on a throw
attempt. Komarov, on the other hand, got the traditional roll, which put him up 3-2 in the second period.

The key moment of the match came in the final minute, when Mohamadi pressed forward in a tackle position and had Komarov backpedaling out of the ring.

But the stepout -- nor a potential fleeing point -- was not awarded when it was determined on a lost Iranian challenge that Mohamadi's hands had dropped below Komarov's waist, which made it 4-2.

Mohamadi needed a takedown to win, but could only manage a late stepout. At the final whistle, he dropped to the mat in total despair, and had be propped up as he
walked dejectedly from the main floor.

Meanwhile, Komarov's celebrations took a odd twist when it was discovered there was no Serbian flag for him to hoist for his victory lap. Instead, he circled the mat on the shoulders of his coaches.

"Nobody believed I would win," Komarov said with a smile. "Many Serbians came to support me, but nobody brought a flag."

While Komarov chose to relocate his life to Serbia and has a Serbian wife, his family remains in Russia. His younger brother, Ilya KOMAROV (UWW), won a bronze medal at the U20 World Championships in August.

At 63kg, Khalmakhanov's victory on the senior stage came just over a month after winning the gold at the World U20 Championships in Samokov, Bulgaria.

Khalmakhanov, who also won the senior Asian title in March, looked like a seasoned veteran in the final against Hanjae CHUNG (KOR), dominating in a 6-0
victory.

Khalmakhanov wasn't able to turn in par terre in the first period, but added a stepout to take a 2-0 lead at the break. In the second, he shrugged Chung down for a takedown, then added another stepout while attempting a throw.

The Korean side challenged the original takedown, but it was denied, giving Khalmakanov a 6-0 lead that he defended to the end. 

Perhaps the only person more ecstatic over Khalmakanov's victory was his coach, the indefatigable Rustam ASSAKALOV (UZB), who finally retired at age 40 after the Paris Olympics, having won two world medals but no golds.

Uzbekistan's only previous gold in Greco came in 2001, when Dilshod ARIPOV (UZB) won the 58kg title in Petras, Greece.

Chung was denied in his bid to give Korea its first world Greco gold since his senior teammate and longtime training partner at Kyungsung University, the now-retired Hansu RYU (KOR), won the second of his two world golds in Paris in 2017.

At 67kg, Esmaeili got a stepout to start the match, and that proved the difference in a 2-1 victory over reigning European champion and Paris Olympic bronze medalist Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE).

"With a smart plan, I beat him 2–1 and became the champion of this weight class," said Esmaeili, who won the gold in his senior world debut.

Each wrestler had a chance in par terre, but neither could turn the other, giving Esmaeili his closest victory of the tournament. He had cruised into the final with four consecutive wins by technical superiority.

"Anyone who makes it to the final is obviously a good wrestler, but I didn’t want to take unnecessary risks in the final," Esmaeili said. "We had a clear plan to win, and thank God it worked out -- we came out on top."

Esmaeili has been on quite a run in recent years. He has suffered just one loss since 2021, a 9-7 defeat at the hands of Luis ORTA (CUB) in the semifinals of the Budapest Ranking Series event in June 2024.

His accolades, in addition to the Paris gold, include back-to-back Asian titles in 2024 and 2025. Having already won golds at the world U17 and U20, he needs just the world U23 to complete a "Golden Grand Slam," which includes the Olympics.

His victory came a day after fellow Paris champion Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) won the title at 97kg.

"This was my first time competing in the [senior] world championships," Esmaeili said. "Before this, I had competed in the Olympics, where thankfully I won gold, and here I was able to repeat that Olympic gold to prove myself once again."

Keshtkar tops Emelin for 63kg bronze

In the bronze-medal matches, Asian silver medalist Mohammad KESHTKAR (IRI) stormed out a big lead, then fought fatigue to hold off a late surge from former world champion Sergey EMELIN (UWW) to take his first world medal with a 6-4 victory at 63kg.

Keshtkar used an arm spin for an opening takedown, then added a stepout off a whizzer. Another stepout, combined with an unsuccessful challenge, put him up 5-0 at the break.

After Keshtkar padded his lead with another stepout, Emelin went on the offensive as the Iranian began to run out of gas. A stepout, takedown and fleeing penalty point cut the gap to two points, but the Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist couldn't apply the coup de grace and fell short of a third world medal.

European bronze medalist Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA), last year's world U23 champion, was able to complete his comeback to defeat Oleksandr HRUSHYN (UKR) 6-5 for the other 63kg bronze.

Hrushyn, a two-time European medalist, had two stepouts and led 3-0 in the second period when Eriomenco gained a stepout, then was put in par terre. He took full advantage, executing a trap arm roll, then going back the other way to go ahead 6-3.

Hruyshyn scored a takedown with :37 left to pull within one, but Eriomenco conceded nothing the rest of the way to secure the medal.

At 67kg, lanky Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM) fell into a five-point hole early against Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ), but used his elongated limbs to maximum advantage in ground wrestling to rally to a big lead before securing a late fall.

Two-time Asian silver medalist Beishekeev uncorked a 4-point throw from par terre in the first period to lead 5-0, with Galstyan picking up a stepout before the break.

Galstyan started his comeback by shrugging Beishekeev to the mat for a takedown, then getting behind again to tie the score at 5-5, although he still trailed on criteria. But he wrapped his long arms around Beishekeev and scored two exposures to go ahead 9-5.

An arm spin gave him another takedown, then he stopped an attack for another 2. That would have ended the match, but Galstyan put an exhausted Beishekeev on his back for a fall with :18 left.

At 87kg, Asian U23 champion Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) defeated David LOSONCZI (HUN) 4-2 to deny the former world champion a third career world medal.

Zhanyshov stopped a lateral drop attempt in the first period for a 2-point score, then added a passivity point to lead 3-0 at the break.

Losonczi, who took silver medals at three ranking series events this year, had a chance at par terre, but could not turn Zhanyshov. He did manage a stepout to cut the gap, but Zhanyshov shut him down the rest of the way, while a late caution point added to his tally.

Milad ALIRZAEV (UWW) stepped over on a gut wrench attempt by Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ) and secured a fall to take home the other 87kg bronze.

Alirzaev took a 3-0 lead with an exposure from par terre in the first period. In the second, he was on the bottom when he deftly stuck Yevloyev for the fall in 4:08.

Day 8 Results

Greco-Roman

63kg (26 entries)
GOLD: Aytjan KHALMAKHANOV (UZB) df. Hanjae CHUNG (KOR), 6-0

BRONZE: Mohammad KESHTKAR (IRI) df. Sergey EMELIN (UWW), 6-4
BRONZE: Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) df. Oleksandr HRUSHYN (UKR), 6-5

67kg (34 entries)
GOLD: Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) df. Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE), 2-1

BRONZE: Daniial AGAEV (UWW) df. Sebastian NAD (SRB), 7-1
BRONZE: Slavik GALSTYAN (ARM) df. Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) by Fall, 5:42 (15-5)

87kg (30 entries)
GOLD: Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) df. Alireza MOHAMADI (IRI), 4-3

BRONZE: Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) df. David LOSONCZI (HUN), 4-2
BRONZE: Milad ALIRZAEV (UWW) df. Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ) by Fall, 4:08 (5-1)