#BuchaWrestU23

Russia and USA Put Multiple Wrestlers in #BuchaWrestU23 Finals

By Taylor Miller

Photo of Artur NAIFONOV (RUS) by Martin Gabor. 

BUCHAREST, Romania – In the final full day of the U23 World Championships in Bucharest, Romania, four Russians advanced to Sunday’s finals and the USA sent two to the finals.

Finalists for Russia include Magomedrasul IDRISOV (RUS), Artur NAIFONOV (RUS), Aslanbek SOTIEV (RUS) and Said GAMIDOV (RUS). USA’s finalists are Sean FAUSZ (USA) and Youssif HEMIDA (USA).

Both nations will go head-to-head in two finals.

At 61 kg, 2018 U23 European champion Idirisov will face Fausz, who took ninth at the 2013 Cadet World Championships.

Idrisov produced an 11-0 technical superiority over Nikolai OKHLOPKOV (ROU) to advance to the finals, and Fausz defeated two-time Junior World champion Iman SADEGHIKOUKANDEH (IRI) with a tight 2-0 win.

The other Russia-USA head-to-head features 2015 Junior World champion Gamidov and international newcomer Hemida.

Both wrestlers tallied 4-2 decisions in the semifinals. Gamidov defeated 2014 Junior World bronze winner Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL), while Hemida took out 2011 World bronze medalist Rolandi ANDRIADZE (GEO).

Also heading to the finals from Russia is 2017 Junior World champion Naifonov who put up 14 points in a semifinals win over 2018 U23 European bronze medalist Murad SULEYMANOV (AZE).

Waiting for Naifonov on the other side is of the bracket is 2013 Cadet World bronze medalist Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI).

At 92 kg, Aslanbek SOTIEV (RUS) knocked off 2016 Junior World champion and 2012 Cadet World bronze medalist Hossein SHAHBAZIGAZVAR (IRI) with a 10-10 victory.

For gold, Sotiev will face 2018 U23 European champion Shamil ZUBAIROV (AZE), who edged out 2016 University World and 2012 Cadet World bronze medalist Bohdan HRYTSAY (UKR), 4-3.

On the top side of the 74 kg bracket, host country Romania sent an athlete to the finals as Maxim VASILIOGLO (ROU) defeated Andranik GABRIELYAN (ARM) by an 11-0 victory.

Vasilioglo is set to battle 2018 Senior World silver medalist and 2017 U23 World bronze medalist Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO).

To get to the finals, Kentchadze outlasted 2013 Cadet World bronze medalist Timur BIZHOEV (RUS), 4-2.

The finals are set for Sunday at 6 p.m. local time (11 a.m. ET) live on unitedworldwrestling.org.

Finals pairings
61 kg: Magomedrasul IDRISOV (RUS) vs. Sean Christian FAUSZ (USA)
74 kg:
Maxim VASILIOGLO (ROU) vs. Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO)
86 kg: Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) vs. Artur NAIFONOV (RUS)
92 kg: Aslanbek SOTIEV (RUS) vs. Shamil ZUBAIROV (AZE)
125 kg: Said GAMIDOV (RUS) vs. Youssif HEMIDA (USA)

Semifinals results

61 kg
Magomedrasul IDRISOV (RUS) df. Nikolai OKHLOPKOV (ROU), 11-0
Sean Christian FAUSZ (USA) df. Iman SADEGHIKOUKANDEH (IRI), 2-0 

74 kg
Maxim VASILIOGLO (ROU) df. Andranik GABRIELYAN (ARM), 11-1
Avtandil KENTCHADZE (GEO) df. Timur BIZHOEV (RUS), 4-2

86 kg
Kamran GHASEMPOUR (IRI) df. Gankhuyag GANBAATAR (MGL), 4-0
Artur NAIFONOV (RUS) df. Murad SULEYMANOV (AZE), 14-4

92 kg
Aslanbek SOTIEV (RUS) df. Hossein Lotfali SHAHBAZIGAZVAR (IRI), 10-10
Shamil ZUBAIROV (AZE) df. Bohdan HRYTSAY (UKR), 4-3

125 kg
Said GAMIDOV (RUS) df. Kamil KOSCIOLEK (POL), 4-2
Youssif HEMIDA (USA) df. Rolandi ANDRIADZE (GEO), 4-2

#UnitedWorldWrestling

UWW partners with Spring Media for worldwide distribution

By United World Wrestling Press

CORSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland (September 12) — United World Wrestling has appointed Spring Media as the global media rights partner for all its events across the 2025-2032 cycle, excluding the United States and other specific territories. This includes international wrestling competitions for Greco-Roman, Freestyle, and Women’s Wrestling, with its flagship Senior World Championships, the Ranking Series, and the Senior Asian and European Championships.

“We are pleased to announce a partnership with Spring Media that holds immense potential to expand our broadcast reach across new countries and elevate wrestling’s global profile. This collaboration not only strengthens our commitment to bring world-class wrestling to a broader audience but also positions us to grow the sport internationally, engaging fans like never before,” said Gordon Templeman, UWW Commercial & Communications Director. “Together, we are ready to take wrestling to the next level and inspire a passion for wrestling in every corner of the globe."

Spring Media facilitates a range of distribution in selected territories for Olympic federations like Karate, Judo, Taekwondo and Gymnastics, and holds a world-leading position as a distributor of fight sports through its sub-brand, Fight Globe.

“We are thrilled to be part of shaping the continued growth of these thrilling events through our global distribution arm,” said Sabine Kesseler, Commercial Director, Spring Media. “We see great potential in wrestling and applaud the new concepts that the UWW is introducing in the next cycle, making it even more eye-catching to its millions of fans - existing and new alike.”

About Spring Media group
Spring Media is an international full-service sports agency that serves some of the biggest leagues, federations, teams and broadcasters in the world. Its business is built around four core areas including Rights Management, Production Services, Streaming Solutions and Growth Marketing. Spring Media group has more than a hundred employees and global reach with offices throughout the Nordics, Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and Asia. The group distributes, sells and produces more than 100 000 hours of live sports annually and works with over 500 broadcast partners. More info at: https://www.spring.media/
 

About UWW
UWW is the international governing body recognized by the International Olympic Committee (“IOC”) for the sport of wrestling. The organization oversees approx. 7000 matches per year in different wrestling styles. With its vision “to be globally recognized as an inspiring, innovative and leading Olympic Federation”, its mission is to lead the growth of Wrestling, competitive and recreational, around the world. More info at https://uww.org/about-uww/