#WrestleBelgrade

Russia Claims 4 More Gold Medals to Cap Dominant GR Performance

Monday, December 14, 2020 - 21:00 By Andrew Hipps

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Day 3 Photos
Day 3 Final Highlights
Interview with Kristian FRIS (SRB)

BELGRADE, Serbia (December 14) -- Russia capped off a dominant Greco-Roman performance at the Individual World Cup Monday night in Belgrade, Serbia, by claiming four more gold medals to finish with seven of the 10 Greco-Roman gold medals.

Zhambolat LOKYAEV (63kg), Milad ALIRZAEV (82kg), Musa EVLOEV (97kg) and Sergey SEMENOV (130kg) won gold medals for Russia on Day 3 of the event. 

Zhambolat LOKYAEV (RUS) won gold at 63kg (Photo: Gabor MARTIN, UWW)

Lokyaev earned the gold medal at 63kg with a 4-1 victory over world No.5 Erik TORBA (HUN). Torba, a 2020 European bronze medalist, scored first off a step out before Lokyaev scored a point off passivity to take the criteria lead. Lokyaev added another point in the second period off passivity to go up 2-1 before scoring a takedown late in the match off a desperation attempt from Torba.

Alirzaev, a 2019 U23 world champion, was dominant in the 82kg final, winning by technical superiority over Salih AYDIN (TUR). The young Russian star scored first off a passivity and then used two turns to go up 5-0 at the break. Alirzaev extended his lead to 7-0 after Aydin was hit with a caution. Needing just one point to end the match, Alirzaev ended the match in style by executing a four-point throw to win 11-0.

Musa EVLOEV shut out Alex SZOKE (HUN) to win gold at 97kg (Photo: Gabor MARTIN, UWW)

The two-time world champion Evloev blanked Alex SZOKE (HUN) 3-0 in the 97kg final. He scored his first point off a passivity and added a takedown in the final period.

Sergey SEMENOV (RUS) scored with a big throw on his way to a victory at 130kg (Photo: Gabor MARTIN, UWW)

Semenov, a 2018 world champion and 2016 Olympic bronze medalist, topped Osman YILDIRIM (TUR) 7-1 to win the gold at 130kg. The Russian heavyweight used a big throw in the first period to build a 5-0 lead before adding an additional two points late in the match off a caution. 

World silver medalist Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) prevented Russia from sweeping the gold medals on Monday night by coming from behind late to defeat 2018 world champion Stepan MARYANYAN (RUS) in the 60kg final. 

Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) celebrates after winning gold at 60kg (Photo: Kadir CALISKAN, UWW)

Maryanyan looked strong early, going up 4-0 at the break. But Sharshenbekov battled back in the second period, scoring first with a step out and then getting a passivity point to make the score 4-2. But it was in the par terre position where Sharshenbekov won the match. After getting the passivity point, Sharshenbekov was able to lock up a gut wrench and turn Maryanyan with a minute and 20 seconds left to take the criteria lead and eventually hold on for the victory.

Host nation Serbia added another bronze medal when Kristian FRIS (SRB) shut out Krisztian KECSKEMETI (HUN) 2-0 at 60kg. 

Three Belarusians earned bronze medals on Tuesday: Maksim KAZHARSKI (60kg), Soslan DAUROV (63kg) and Radzik KULIYEU (82kg).

Kaly SULAIMANOV (KGZ) edged Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE) 7-6 to pick up a bronze at 63kg. 

Roland SCHWARZ (GER) was impressive in his bronze-medal match at 82kg, earning a 9-1 technical superiority over Oldrich VARGA (CZE).

Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) and Artur OMAROV (CZE) won the bronze medals at 97kg.

Mykola KUCHMII (UKR) scored a takedown in the closing moments to edge David OVASAPYAN (ARM) 4-2 to earn a bronze medal at 130kg. The other bronze medal at 130kg went to Beka KANDELAKI (AZE), who won by technical superiority over Rafal Andrzej KRAJEWSKI (POL).

Greco-Roman Medal Match Results

60kg
GOLD: Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) df. Stepan MARYANYAN (RUS) by VPO1, 4-4
BRONZE: Kristian FRIS (SRB) df. Krisztian KECSKEMETI (HUN) by VPO, 2-0
BRONZE: Maksim KAZHARSKI (BLR) df. Ahmet UYAR (TUR) by VPO1, 3-3

63kg
GOLD: Zhambolat LOKYAEV (RUS) df. Erik TORBA (HUN) by VPO1, 4-1
BRONZE: Kaly SULAIMANOV (KGZ) df. Taleh MAMMADOV (AZE) by VPO1, 7-6
BRONZE: Soslan DAUROV (BLR) df. Abdeldjebar DJEBBARI (ALG) by VPO1, 5-1

82kg
GOLD: Milad ALIRZAEV (RUS) df. Salih AYDIN (TUR) by VSU, 11-0
BRONZE: Roland SCHWARZ (GER) df. Oldrich VARGA (CZE) by VSU1, 9-1
BRONZE: Radzik KULIYEU (BLR) df. Mihail BRADU (MDA) by VPO1, 5-1

97kg
GOLD: Musa EVLOEV (RUS) df. Alex Gergo SZOKE (HUN) by VPO, 3-0
BRONZE: Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) df. Kiril MILOV (BUL) by VPO, 3-0
BRONZE: Artur OMAROV (CZE) df. Uzur DZHUZUPBEKOV (KGZ) by VPO1, 4-1

130kg
GOLD: Sergey SEMENOV (RUS) df. Osman YILDIRIM (TUR) by VPO1, 7-1
BRONZE: Beka KANDELAKI (AZE) df. Rafal Andrzej KRAJEWSKI (POL) by VSU, 9-0
BRONZE: Mykola KUCHMII (UKR) df. David OVASAPYAN (ARM) by VPO1, 4-2

#WrestleAthens

Iran survives Uzbekistan scare to win Greco title at U17 Worlds

Wednesday, July 30, 2025 - 16:59 By Vinay Siwach

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ATHENS, Greece (July 30) -- Four gold medals were not enough for Uzbekistan as they fell short in what could have been a generational team title in Greco-Roman at the World U17 Championships.

Iran, which won one gold medal out of 10, was crowned team champions as it performed well in placing their wrestlers in the weight classes. It finished with 125 points while Uzbekistan finished seven short at 118 points. Kazakhstan finished third with 113 points.

Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan were not far behind and finished fourth and fifth respectively, tied on 100 points. Both countries had one gold medal each but Kyrgyzstan had two silver medals to Azerbaijan's one to finish ahead of them.

Read More: Uzbekistan closer to Women's Wrestling history in Athens

Iran had eight wrestlers in the medal-bouts and six of them returned with one. Iran finished with one gold, one silver and four bronze medals. Uzbekistan, on the other side, had only those four golds to show. Four of its wrestlers did not contribute points to the team race.

In one head-to-head bout on Wednesday, Abolfazl ZARE (IRI) secured a 7-5 win over Humoyun ERKINOV (UZB) in 60kg bronze-medal bout which proved crucial. A win for Erkinov would have seen Uzbekistan win the title.

Then it was the gold medal of Amirsam MOHAMMADI (IRI) at 92kg which helped Iran jump from fourth place to first. He wrestled Kanstantsin KASYAN (UWW) for the gold medal and began with three stepouts. Kasyan was called passive and put in par terre. Mohammadi turned him twice and won the final 8-0 in 1 minute and 12 seconds.

Uzbekistan's two gold medals came at 51kg and 71kg.

Otabek TURSUNOV (UZB)Otabek TURSUNOV (UZB) won the gold medal at 51kg in Athens. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Asian U17 bronze medalist Otabek TURSUNOV (UZB) added a third Greco gold of the World U17 Championships for Uzbekistan after he defeated Hikmat HAGVERDIYEV (AZE), 4-1, in the 51kg.

Hagverdiyev was about to be called passive and put in par terre but he scored a stepout to avoid that call and lead 1-0. Tursunov answered with a stepout of his own and made 1-1. However, the criteria remained with Hagverdiyev as United World Wrestling is testing a new rule, where in Greco-Roman, if the score is 1-1, the criteria will be with the wrestler who got the first point.

Tursunov, however, got the par terre position in the second period and a 2-1 lead over Hagverdiyev. He defended his lead for the final minute and as the Azerbaijan wrestler tried a throw, he blocked him and landed on top, earning two more points.

Behruzbek VALIEV (UZB)Behruzbek VALIEV (UZB) upgraded his bronze from 2024 to gold in 2025. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

At 71kg, Asian U17 champion Behruzbek VALIEV (UZB) denied the hosts a gold after he defeated Dimitrios SOULIS (GRE), 3-1, in the final.

Valiev seemed to have taken the burnt from a few tough bouts from Tuesday as he struggled with his attacks against Soulis, who was egged on by vocal home fans.

However, he found enough inside him to turn from par terre and defend from that position in the second period to win the fourth gold medal of the tournament for Uzbekistan.

Ali NAZAROV (AZE)Ali NAZAROV (AZE) scored a 6-1 victory over Amangeldi YSAKBAEV (KGZ) in the 60kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Ali NAZAROV (AZE) showed why gut-wrench is still one of the best techniques to score points in wrestling as he rolled Amangeldi YSAKBAEV (KGZ) two times from par terre using gut wrench and win the world title at 60kg.

He later defended his par terre position, winning the final 6-1 and handing Azerbaijan the first gold medal for the World U17 Championships in Athens.

An action-packed match kicked off the medal bouts with Kuanyshbek ZHANGAZHOL (KAZ) and Nurkerim KUMARBEKOV (KGZ) did not hold back their attacks as soon as the final began.

Zhangazhol did not waste much time to get going in the final against Kumarbekov as he used an arm throw to score the first four points but it was removed after he was warned for using his leg.

But he scored a takedown for a 2-0 and then hit a front headlock throw to make it 6-0. Kumarbekov answered with a four-pointer as well and both wrestlers used arm-rolls in the same sequence to score points. When they broke off at the break, Zhangazhol led 8-6.

After the blazing first half, both wrestlers had a subdued second and no more points were scored despite desperate attempts from Kumarbekov. Zhangazhol celebrated his win a split-second early but there was no harm done.

Kyrgyzstan challenged for fleeing in the final five seconds and on review, Zhangazhol was it with a caution for defensive foul, it only got Kumarbekov a point, making Zhangazhol's winning score 8-7.

RESULTS

45kg
GOLD: Kuanyshbek ZHANGAZHOL (KAZ) df. Nurkerim KUMARBEKOV (KGZ), 9-6

BRONZE: Abdurrahman HUSEYNLI (AZE) df. Tymur MAHARRAMOV (UKR), 9-0
BRONZE: Vadim TARELUNGA (MDA) vs. Benyamin KHEZLI (IRI), 8-3

51kg
GOLD: Otabek TURSUNOV (UZB) df. Hikmat HAGVERDIYEV (AZE), 4-1

BRONZE: Marat ATSHEMYAN (ARM) df. Polat KARADENIZ (TUR), 11-0
BRONZE: Abu Bakar SAGA (NOR) df. Islam KURBANOV (KGZ), 5-3

60kg
GOLD: Ali NAZAROV (AZE) df. Amangeldi YSAKBAEV (KGZ), 6-1

BRONZE: Abolfazl ZARE (IRI) df. Humoyun ERKINOV (UZB), 7-5
BRONZE: Zaven MEZHLUMYAN (ARM) df. Denys SEREDIN (UKR), 5-2

71kg
GOLD: Behruzbek VALIEV (UZB) df. Dimitrios SOULIS (GRE), 3-1

BRONZE: Hossein KAZEMI (IRI) df. Yusif AHMADLI (AZE), 4-3
BRONZE: Marlen MEIRBEKULY (KAZ) df. Imre KOLOMPAR (HUN), 7-1

92kg
GOLD: Amirsam MOHAMMADI (IRI) df. Kanstantsin KASYAN (UWW), 8-0

BRONZE: Ahmet UZUN (TUR) df. Said PASHAYEV (AZE), 5-0
BRONZE: David CALKINS (USA) df. Ionut PATRU (ROU), 4-0