#WrestleUfa

Russia Delights Ufa with 3 GR Gold Medals

Saturday, August 21, 2021 - 16:49 By

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UFA, Russia (August 21) -- Russia did not win the team titles in freestyle and women's wrestling but they virtually confirmed the Greco-Roman title at the Junior World Championships after winning three gold medals Saturday.

In a dominating performance at the Ufa Arena, Russia won the titles at 63kg, 77kg and 87kg while Iran captured the gold at 55kg while Turkey won the 130kg gold medal.

But it was special for Said BAKAEV (RUS) who won the top medal in front of his home crowd in Ufa. In an emotional final, Bakaev defeated two-time junior Euro champion Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) 9-0 in the first period.

Bakaev went for a throw from the standing position to get two points but Russia challenged the call and asked for four points. The jury reviewed the call and Russia won the challenge. Bakaev then scored a stepout. A final takedown gave Bakaev two more points and won 8-0. Georgia lost the challenge, giving one more point and Bakaev won 9-0 in the first period.

"I can’t explain what I feel," Bakaev said. "The Georgian wrestler is a tough opponent but maybe I was better prepared mentally this time.

"I realize that I became the best in the world. As soon as I go down from the podium, I am a just an athlete and I have to start training all over again. It’s just a junior Worlds, I have to aim for the senior Worlds."

Bakaev explained that he prepared well for the tournament, both on the mat and mentally.

"The coaches told me to go on the mat and get the gold medal," he said. "They told me it was my place and that I deserved it. Mental preparation is really I important for such big tournaments."

Russia's success at the tournament was one thing that Bakaev was excited about and said that the team was better than anyone else.

"In Russia we train really hard," he said. "We are almost never at home. We stay home for a week and then back to the training camp. I am sure we are better than the others. There is no need to be afraid. The others should be afraid of us."

Islam Aliev

More metal was collected by Russia as Islam ALIEV (RUS) won the gold medal at the 77kg. He was wrestling Exauce MUKUBU (NOR), who had finished fifth at the last junior Worlds. Aliev never let Mukubu take control of the bout.

As Mukubu began pressuring Aliev early in the match, the Russian positioned himself in a better way and used underhooks and momentum to score points. Aliev scored the first takedown on the edge to lead 2-0 and then another two when Mukubu tried throwing but failed to expose. In all of one minute, Aliev captured the gold with a arm-bundle to arm spin throw for four points.

The quick finish was something he had on his mind before even stepping on the mat and the crowd made it special.

"I was going to the mat to finish the match ahead of time," Aliev said. "The World Championships was great for me. I loved the fans and the atmosphere."

Amriev

The third gold for Russia was won by Adlan AMRIEV (RUS) as he defeated Tyrone STERKENBURG (NED) 5-1 in the 87kg final. Netherlands were hoping for their first Greco-Roman world champ in 43 years but Amriev had other plans.

He began with a stepout and then got another point for Sterkenburg's passivity. He managed to get a throw from par terre. Sterkenburg scored a point for reversal but another stepout for Amriev extended his lead to 5-1 which was also the final score of the bout.

Wrestling in front of his home fans made Amriev feel the pressure but winning in front of home crowd was big motivation for him. 

"On the one hand, I felt the support, but on the other, I could feel the pressure as well," he said. "When I wrestle, I never tell anybody about it. This time all my family, friends knew that. 

"Some of them are watching the matches at home on TV, a lot of them are here watching at the venue. I am from Ufa, so many people came here today. Thanks a lot to all of them."

Back in 2019, Russia won four gold, two silver and one bronze medal but Amriev believes this year that record will be shattered and three more Russian wrestlers are going for gold Sunday.

"I think our generation will set a new record. We already have 3 gold medals and one bronze there are 3 more wrestlers in the final," he said.

DEHBOZORGI

Iran made sure they get a Greco-Roman world champion as Amirreza DEHBOZORGI (IRI) defeated Alimardon ABDULLAEV (UZB) 3-1 in a slow-paced 55kg final. But Dehbozorgi was tactically better than his Uzbek opponent.

Abdullaev got the 1-0 lead in the first period after Dehbozorgi was called passive but he managed to defend his par terre position. But when he got the advantage for Abdullaev's passivity, he then scored a takedown and led 3-1. He defended his lead till the clock expired.

Junior European champion Muhammet BAKIR (TUR) added a junior world title to his collection after he defeated Sarkhan MAMMADOV (AZE) 3-1 at 130kg. Bakir's win makes him a prospect to take over at the heavyweight weight class after three-time world champion Riza KAYAALP (TUR) retires.

The four points in the final came via passivity and stepouts but it was Bakir who scored three and Mammadov scored only one which gave Bakir the title.

3 More Russia Wrestlers in Finals

Russia is on a roll at the home Junior World Championships as three more wrestlers entered the Greco-Roman finals on the penultimate day of the competition.

Dinislam BAMMATOV (RUS), Evgeni BAIDUSOV (RUS) and Aleksei MILESHIN (RUS) all made it to the finals, increasing the number of Russian finalists to six and moving closer to the Greco-Roman team title.

Armenia managed to get two wrestlers in the finals as well while Iran, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Netherlands and Belarus also got one each in the final.

Bammatov, a silver medalist from junior Euros, defeated former cadet world champion Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) 9-0 in the 60kg semifinals. It was a quick one as Mammadali was called passive and Bammatov went for two big four points from par terre to win the bout.

He will face another cadet world champion in Saeid ESMAEILI LEIVESI (IRI). He went past Arslanbek SALIMOV (POL) with an easy 8-0 win. The bout finished in the first period as Esmaeili Leivesi used a stepout and then finished the bout with three guts as Salimov was called passive.

At 72kg, Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) will face Baidusov as he defeated Shant KHACHATRYAN (ARM) 8-1 in the semifinal. The junior Euro champ defended from par terre against the returning silver medalist and then scored eight points to win.

Baidusov's semifinal had 4:47 seconds left when he defeated junior Euro silver medalist Attila TOESMAGI (HUN) 8-0. He began with a takedown and come back with a big four using body lock. In the same move, he used a arm-trap to get the roll and the win.

Braxton AMOS (USA) was trying to become a double world champion after winning the freestyle title at 97kg but he hit the wall in the semifinals as Mileshin handed him a 9-0 defeat. Mileshin won the junior Euros this year and will look to win his first world title after finishing second at the cadet level.

It took him two minutes and 50 seconds to get a takedown, two guts and another takedown over Amos to win amid the cheers of the local crowd.

Pavel HLINCHUK (BLR) will challenge him in the final after he made it to the final two defeating Morteza ALGHOSI (IRI) 10-1. It was another powerful show from Hlinchuk as he used three guts and a takedown to finish the match.

A day after his twin brother made it to the final, Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) also made it to the final at 82kg and will wrestle Karen KHACHATRYAN (ARM).

Sterkenburg was wrestling Mykyta ALIEKSIEIEV (UKR) in the semifinal and attacked from the first go. When he got the par terre advantage, he managed to get the gut wrench to lead 3-0. He went for a big body lock and throw in the semifinal before a stepout finished the bout 8-0 with 2:28 seconds remaining.

Khachatryan had a similar bout as well and defeated Ravi MALIK (IND) 9-0 to book his spot in the final. Once Malik was called passive, the Armenian used three gut wrenches to lead 7-0 and a stepout. India challenged the final call but lost.

Another Armenian in the final was Sahak HOVHANNISYAN (ARM) who defeated Marian HOLUBOVSKYI (UKR) 3-0. The returning silver medalist from 60kg kept it simple against the Ukrainian as he got a point for passivity and his gut wrench made it 3-0. No points were scored in the second period.

He will face junior Euro champ Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE). In the semifinal, Jafarov was dominant against Gagik SNJOYAN (FRA) and won 10-0. Snjoyan was passive in the first period and gave up a gut wrench to trail 0-3.

A takedown and two rolls made it 9-0 for Jafarov and an out of bounds was called when the action finished, making the score 10-0 with 2:13 remaining.

GR Medal Bouts Results

55kg
GOLD: Amirreza DEHBOZORGI (IRI) df Alimardon ABDULLAEV (UZB), 3-1

BRONZE: Akyikat KULZHIGIT UULU (KGZ) df Aslamdzhon AZIZOV (TJK), 9-0
BRONZE: Elmir ALIYEV (AZE) df Iskhar KURBAYEV (KAZ), 3-1

63kg
GOLD: Said BAKAEV (RUS) df Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO), 10-0

BRONZE: Iman MOHAMMADI (IRI) df Manuel STOICA (ROU), 9-0
BRONZE: Niklas OEHLEN (SWE) df Ismail ORUCOGLU (TUR), 3-1

77kg
GOLD: Islam ALIEV (RUS) df Exauce MUKUBU (NOR), 8-0

BRONZE: Mohammadhossein AZARMDOKHT (IRI) df Emad ABOUELATTA (EGY), 8-4
BRONZE: Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) df Giorgi SHPETISHVILI (GEO), 8-0

87kg
GOLD: Adlan AMRIEV (RUS) df Tyrone STERKENBURG (NED), 5-1

BRONZE: Tansel ORTUCU (TUR) df Shakhriyor JURABOEV (UZB), 5-3
BRONZE: Oleksandr PRYMACHENKO (UKR) df Lachin VALIYEV (AZE), 3-1

130kg
GOLD: Muhammet BAKIR (TUR) df Sarkhan MAMMADOV (AZE), 3-1

BRONZE: Armen CHOLOKIAN (RUS) df Razmik KURDYAN (ARM), 3-1
BRONZE: Amirmohammad BAYAT (IRI) df Nikolaos NTOUNIAS (GRE), 6-3

GR Semifinal Results

60kg
GOLD: Dinislam BAMMATOV (RUS) vs Saeid ESMAEILI LEIVESI (IRI)

SF 1: Dinislam BAMMATOV (RUS) df Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE), 9-0
SF 2: Saeid ESMAEILI LEIVESI (IRI) df Arslanbek SALIMOV (POL), 8-0

67kg
GOLD: Sahak HOVHANNISYAN (ARM) vs Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE)

SF 1: Sahak HOVHANNISYAN (ARM) df Marian HOLUBOVSKYI (UKR), 3-0
SF 2: Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE) df Gagik Mishai SNJOYAN (FRA), 10-0

72kg
GOLD: Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) vs Evgenii BAIDUSOV (RUS)

SF 1: Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) df Shant KHACHATRYAN (ARM), 8-1
SF 2: Evgenii BAIDUSOV (RUS) df Attila TOESMAGI (HUN), 8-0

82kg
GOLD: Karen KHACHATRYAN (ARM) vs Marcel STERKENBURG (NED)

SF 1: Karen KHACHATRYAN (ARM) df Ravi MALIK (IND), 9-0
SF 2: Marcel STERKENBURG (NED) df Mykyta ALIEKSIEIEV (UKR), 8-0

97kg
GOLD: Aleksei MILESHIN (RUS) vs Pavel HLINCHUK (BLR)

SF 1: Aleksei MILESHIN (RUS) df Braxton AMOS (USA), 9-0
SF 2: Pavel HLINCHUK (BLR) df Morteza ALGHOSI (IRI), 10-1

#WrestleTirana

World Championships: Azizli wins record fourth title, leads Azerbaijan's golden run

Tuesday, October 29, 2024 - 22:17 By Ken Marantz

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TIRANA, Albania (October 29) -- In leading a golden night for Azerbaijan, Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) became the country's most successful wrestler on the world stage.

Azizli won his fourth consecutive world title at Greco 55kg, one of three golds won by Azerbaijan on the first night of finals at the Non-Olympic Weight Categories World Championships on Tuesday in Tirana.

Azerbaijan also got golds from Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) at 63kg and Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) at 72kg, while Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI) took the other Greco title at stake at 82kg to claim an elusive world gold after having previously settled for three bronzes.

In the 55kg final, Azizli defeated 2023 bronze medalist Poya DAD MARZ (IRI) for the fourth time in four career meetings, but this one was the closest as he won 1-1 on last-point criteria after each received a passivity point.

"I have met the Iran wrestler before and we know each other well," Azizli said. "That is why it was close. I have beaten him four times and but this time it was closer."

It was an ironic defeat for Dad Marz, who had been on the winning end of the same scoreline in his two previous matches. In their most recent encounter at the Budapest Ranking Series in June, Azizli had bested the Iranian 6-1.

By winning his fourth world title, the 32-year-old Azizli eclipsed the national record of three held by freestyle great Haji ALIYEV (AZE), who won golds in 2014, 2015 and 2017. Aliyev also has two Olympic medals, a prize that Azizli is unable to attain on the current Olympic program.

Looking ahead, Azizli said he would like to win his fifth world Greco gold, a milestone reached by 16 wrestlers, topped by the 12 of Russian legend Aleksandr KARELIN (RUS).

"I don't know what the future holds, but I would like to win five world gold medals," he said. "I will not be at the Europeans [next year], but I will try to win a fifth world title and finish my career."

In a battle of reigning continental champions, Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) took advantage of some impatience on the part of Yerzhet ZHARLYKASSYN (KAZ), scoring twice by stopping throw attempts for a 6-1 victory in the 63kg final.

After keeping Asian champion Zharlykassyn from scoring from par terre in the first period, Mammadli, the European 60kg champion, went ahead by stuffing a back suplex attempt, adding a roll to go ahead 4-1.

When Zharlykassyn tried a front headlock throw at the edge, Mammadli pressed forward and sent him tumbling back for another 2 to put the match out of reach.

At 72kg, Ganizade kept the Azeri juggernaut going and improved on his silver medal from 2022 by dethroning defending champion Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) 3-2.

Ganizade had won a 7-7 nail-biter over Ghanem in the final at the 2023 European Championships, and Tuesday's clash was just as tense. Ganizade was put on the bottom of par terre in the first period, but grabbed Ghanem's head and stopped a roll attempt for a 2-point exposure.

Ghanem received a second passivity point in the second period to make it 2-2, but remained behind on criteria. Perhaps learning a lesson from the first period, he chose to remain standing instead of taking another shot at par terre.

In the end, he could not break down the defenses of Ganizade, who gained a third point when Ghanem unsuccessfully challenged for what he claimed was a grabbed singlet.

In the 82kg final, Geraei was not to be denied in his first chance at world gold, as he stormed to a 9-0 victory over a shell-shocked Erik SZILVASSY (HUN).

"After eight years, I finally got to experience the world finals," Geraei said. "I’m truly happy from the bottom of my heart because I could make my fans and family happy, especially my dear wife 
who stood by me in tough times and understood me, as well as my parents and all my fans.

"I'm grateful to them; they have always been there for me and supported me, and I dedicate this medal to them."

Geraei, normally a 77kg wrestler who was competing at the heaviest weight of his career, encountered no problems handling the extra bulk against Szilvassy, a winner of international tournaments this year in Zagreb and Budapest.

After a quick stepout, Geraei stopped an attempted throw by Szilvassy for a takedown, then transitioned immediately to a gut wrench. An unsuccessful challenge by the Hungary side padded Geraei's lead to 6-0 just a minute into the match.

Geraei, who finished fifth at the Tokyo Olympics but missed the Paris Games due to a suspension, then completed a snap-down, go-behind takedown to finish the match in 1:35 and add the world gold to the bronzes he won at 71kg in 2017 and at 77kg in 2019 and 2021.

"I thought this competition would be really tough, but thank God it ended up being easy," Geraei said. "These past two or three years have been difficult for me, and due to certain circumstances, I couldn't participate in the Olympics and missed out on it. But I hope with this medal I won, I can pave my way to the [next] Olympics and achieve the best medal and my dream."

Serbia's Arsalan takes bronze in 30-point thriller

In the bronze-medal matches, Iranian-born Ali ARSALAN (SRB) picked up his third straight world medal, and he certainly earned it when he rallied to a wild 16-14 win over Hayk MELIKYAN (ARM) at 72kg.

In a thriller filled with big throws and slick counters, Arsalan fell behind 10-5 in the first period. But the 2021 world champion came back in the second with a pair of 4-pointers, the second with 12 seconds to go that was enough for the victory even after Melikyan reversed him for 2.

The other 72kg match was not as high-scoring but was just as entertaining, as Otar ABULADZE (GEO) connected on a pair of 4-point headlock hip throws to defeat Asian bronze medalist Ji LENG (CHN) 9-5 for his first major medal since winning a world cadet bronze in 2017.

Two-time European bronze medalist Denis MIHAI (ROU) added a world bronze by holding on to defeat Haifeng ZHANG (CHN) 8-5 at 55kg. Mihai scored two stepouts and two rolls from par terre for a 7-0 lead, then survived a second-period surge from the Chinese.

Emin SEFERSHAEV (AIN), a silver medalist in 2021, picked up the other 55kg bronze after scoring six points in the first period and holding on for a 7-5 victory over European bronze medalist Manvel KHACHATRYAN (ARM).

At 63kg, Karen ASLANYAN (ARM) sent Abu AMAEV (BUL) flying all over the mat before he knew what hit him, throwing him four times with a front headlock for an 8-0 victory in 30 seconds. A challenge negated one throw but revised two others to 4-pointers to produce the same result.

Aslanyan, who defeated reigning champion Leri ABULADZE (GEO) and newly crowned world U23 champion Vitalie ERIOMENCO (MDA) before losing to Mammadli in the semifinals, had seen little international action since placing ninth at 67kg at the Tokyo Olympics. But now he has a world bronze to go with three European ones he won from 2018 to 2020.

Sadyk LALAEV (AIN), a European bronze medalist at 60kg, took home the other 63kg bronze without a fight as Stefan CLEMENT (FRA) was forced to default due to injury.

At 82kg, Ahmet YILMAZ (TUR) prevented Azerbaijan from medaling in every weight class, denying two-time European U23 champion Gurban GURBANOV (AZE) a senior world bronze with a solid 8-1 victory.

Yilmaz, who normally competes at 77kg, started off with three stepouts before clinching the deal with a classic 4-point throw from par terre for his first major medal on any level.

European bronze medalist Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) gave Japanese teenager and senior Asian champion Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN) a lesson on the big stage, rolling to a 10-2 victory for the other 82kg bronze.

Yoshida, the 2023 world U17 champion, got an opening takedown, but could offer little resistance when Bolkvadze got behind for a takedown and added a gut wrench. The Georgian then used an arm drag for another takedown, and two gut wrenches ended the match at 2:40.

Greco-Roman Results

55kg (16 entries)
GOLD: Eldaniz AZIZLI (AZE) df. Poya DAD MARZ (IRI), 1-1

BRONZE: Denis MIHAI (ROU) df. Haifeng ZHANG (CHN), 8-5
BRONZE: Emin SEFERSHAEV (AIN) df. Manvel KHACHATRYAN (ARM), 7-5

63kg (21 entries)
GOLD: Nihat MAMMADLI (AZE) df. Yerzhet ZHARLYKASSYN (KAZ), 6-1

BRONZE: Karen ASLANYAN (ARM) df. Abu AMAEV (BUL) by TF, 8-0, :30
BRONZE: Sadyk LALAEV (AIN) df. Stefan CLEMENT (FRA) by Inj. Def.

72kg (28 entries)
GOLD: Ulvi GANIZADE (AZE) df. Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA), 3-2

BRONZE: Ali ARSALAN (SRB) df. Hayk MELIKYAN (ARM), 16-14
BRONZE: Otar ABULADZE (GEO) df. Ji LENG (CHN), 9-5

82kg (28 entries)
GOLD: Mohammadali GERAEI (IRI) df. Erik SZILVASSY (HUN) by TF, 8-0, 1:35

BRONZE: Ahmet YILMAZ (TUR) df. Gurban GURBANOV (AZE), 8-1
BRONZE: Gela BOLKVADZE (GEO) df. Taizo YOSHIDA (JPN) by TF, 10-2, 2:40