#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

#WrestleZagreb

Reasco becomes Ecuador's first world champ as Maroulis adds to gold tally

Wednesday, September 17, 2025 - 22:22 By Ken Marantz

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ZAGREB, Croatia (September 16) -- While Helen MAROULIS (USA) was adding to her mountainous pile of world medals with a fourth career gold, Genesis REASCO (ECU) made history by becoming Ecuador's first-ever world champion.

Reasco reached the pinnacle of the sport with a 4-2 victory in the 76kg final over Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ), denying the two-time world medalist her first gold in the last of four women's finals on Wednesday at the World Championships in Zagreb.

"I went in, gave my all, and it worked," Reasco said. "That’s how the gold medal was achieved, because honestly, I have a lot of respect for all my opponents. They gave everything out there on the mat, and they were really good matches -- both yesterday’s and today’s. Everything was very tough, very close."

Maroulis, who will turn 34 on Friday, showed why she has accumulated eight medals overall in 12 trips to the World Championships when she scored a dramatic takedown with :05 left to edge Il Sim SON (PRK) 3-2 in the 57kg final.

In other finals, Myonggyong WON (PRK) gave the DPR Korea its second women's title in two nights -- and just the third in its history -- with an emotional victory at 50kg , while Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) earned her second world gold and fifth medal overall with a dominant run to the 65kg title.

Reasco's historic victory came two years after Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) became the South American country's first-ever world medalist, and a day before Yepez gets a chance to join her as a gold medalist after making the 53kg final earlier in the day.

Reasco had long been seen as having the potential for a breakthrough, but never seemed to be able to make that final step up to the big time. She finished fifth at the 2022 World Championships and 2024 Paris Olympics, and was third at this year's Pan American Championships.

But after knocking off Paris bronze medalist Milaimy MARIN (CUB) in Tuesday's semifinals, the impossible suddenly became possible.

"At the Olympics, I was close to winning bronze, but it didn’t happen," she said. "But now the world medal came, and I’m very happy after all the sacrifices."

In the final, Reasco scored with a double-leg takedown in the first period, then scored another at the edge in the second. Medet Kyzy, a three-time Asian champion, tried desperately to launch a comeback, but she had to settle for 2 with a late throw attempt and came up short.

The 27-year-old Reasco got a relatively late start to the sport, saying she was not even aware of wrestling's existence until she was introduced to it at age 15.

"At that time, I practically didn’t know what wrestling was," she said. "I was going for another sport, but the coach of that sport took me to wrestling -- it was thanks to his influence. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have even known what wrestling was.

"The first day I saw it, I was shocked. Since I was little, I always liked sports -- I liked basketball, football. So I always had that love for sports. Any sport, any other sport, I liked."

But her dedication to training eventually led to the greatest of achievements, which she surmises will be widely celebrated back in her hometown of Esmeraldas and the province of Manabi where she trains.

"When I focus on competition, I even put my phone aside," she said.

In the 57kg final, Maroulis had her work cut out for her with the quick and powerful Son, this year's Asian silver medalist.

"She's an amazing opponent," Maroulis said. "I knew she was going to be tough. I watched all of her film. I'm like, my gosh, she's so good."

Maroulis had to fight out of a double-leg attempt in the first period, in which she received an activity point for the only score. In the second, Son received an activity point, then went ahead 2-1 by scoring a stepout at 1:32.

It looked like it might end that way until Maroulis, using a trip to great effect as she had done all tournament, sent Son reeling backward, then spun behind as Son tried to whip her over with :05 on the clock.

"I had to really, really dig deep for that and, I don't know, before the last exchange started, I just had to dig deep and find it," Maroulis said. "It was just some scramble flurry and just that it came out my way. I'm grateful."

The U.S. wrestler added the title to the ones she won in 2015, 2017 and 2021. She also has an Olympic gold from 2016, when she dealt the legendary Saori YOSHIDA (JPN) her lone international loss, and three Olympic medals overall.

Maroulis said that she had to deal with a blood vessel problem that curtailed her training starting in the spring, and did not return to full-fledged practice until about two weeks ago.

With her conditioning limited, she said she aimed to end her matches early, which resulted in her ending all three of her matches leading up to the final by fall.

"I was like, I'm just going to start working on training because I'm not conditioned enough to go six minutes," Maroulis said. "I'm literally not conditioned enough. But if I pin, no one has to know that."

Maroulis said she is currently undecided about continuing her career. But should she go on, it could put her on a collision course with one of the sport's rising stars, Akari FUJINAMI (JPN), the Paris Olympic champion at 53kg who announced that she was moving up to 57kg in the runup to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

"I would love to wrestle her," she said. "I've been wrestling for so many years, I want to wrestle the best of the best, and she's phenomenal. I've heard and seen great things about her.

Maroulis said the two have never had a chance to work out together. "We message back and forth, actually we were trying to go to a camp together, it just didn't work out in time for the Olympics. I found she was going to 57[kg], I said, 'Oh my gosh.' It's a great opportunity for both of us."

At 50kg, Won dominated her gold-medal showdown with Asian silver medalist Yu ZHANG (CHN) from the start, storming to an eight-point lead in the first period and holding on for an 8-2 victory.

"This medal and the championship belt I’ve won are just the first step in repaying my parents for all their sacrifices," Won said. "From now on, I’ll work even harder to become an Olympic champion."

Her victory came a day after Kyong Ryong OH (PRK) won the 55kg gold to become the second women's world champion in their country's history. They joined Yong-Mi PAK (PRK), who won the 53kg gold in Nur-Sultan in 2019.

Won became so overcome with emotion, she tearfully hugged the referee after the match, then went over and did the same with the side judges. Then she hugged her coaches, and during the medal ceremony, shed tears as the national anthem was played.

"The moment I took first place, all the tough days of training flashed before my eyes and I couldn’t hold back my tears," she said. "And when I thought about sharing the news with my mom and dad, the tears came again."

Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN)Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) celebrates after winning the 65kg final at the World Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At 65kg, Morikawa cruised to an 8-0 victory over Alina KASABIEVA (UWW) to regain the title she won in 2022, capping a year in which she also won the Ranking Series Tirana event and a second career gold at the Asian Championships.

Morikawa scored all of her points by shooting for a single, then fighting off a whizzer by Kasabieva to gain control for a pair of takedowns in each period.

"It's my first time to face her, but comparatively she was easier to wrestle than my semifinal opponent," Morikawa said, referring to her semifinal victory over former world champion Irina RINGACI (MDA), albeit a 10-0 decision.

"I couldn't get in on my tackles, and that part is something that I have to change. I'll be going to a heavier weight class and I want to be able to knock off the top wrestlers."

For Morikawa, competing at 65kg now is part of a process aimed at being competitive in the race to make the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, almost surely at 68kg, after missing out on Paris.

"It was great that I won the championship, but the next step will be starting soon. I can be happy today, but from tomorrow I'll have to start working hard in practice."

In between her two world titles, Morikawa took a world bronze at 72kg in 2023, then returned to 65kg in 2024, only to have to settle for a bronze again.

"It was a long time [between titles], and there was the time that I missed out on the Olympics, but I will use this victory as inspiration for what is coming next. It will be the start of a much more difficult fight than up to now, so I have to renew my determination."

While two world golds is no small accomplishment, Morikawa joked that it still leaves her well behind her coach, who was in her corner on Wednesday and accompanied her on the victory lap on the mat.

"I still only have two titles, so I'm about 10 behind the coach who was in my corner," Morikawa said of Kaori ICHO (JPN), the four-time Olympic and 10-time world champion.

Smirnova stuns Yoshimoto for 50kg bronze

Elizaveta SMIRNOVA (UWW) pulled off the surprise of the bronze-medal matches, stunning former world champion Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN) at 50kg with a stepout in the final seconds for a 3-3 win on criteria.

Yoshimoto, a two-time Asian champion, received an activity point, then gave up a takedown when Smirnova countered and got behind to a 2-1 lead. In the second period, Yoshimoto finally got through, scoring a takedown with :54 left. But she failed to hold off Smirnova's final push, leaving her devastated and in tears.

Prior to coming to Zagreb, Yoshimoto's only losses in any competition since 2019 were to compatriot and Tokyo Olympic champion Yui SUSAKI (JPN), whom she lost to four times. That limited her to a single previous appearance at the World Championships in 2021, when she won the gold.

The other 50kg bronze went to Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR), who also needed a late score in posting a 3-2 victory over Munkhnar BYAMBASUREN (MGL) and adding to the world bronze she won back in 2017.

Byambasuren scored a takedown while on the activity clock to take a 2-0 lead into the second period, and it looked like that might hold up when Demirhan gained a 2-point exposure off an inner thigh block with :15 left. Byambasuren came close to getting behind in the final seconds, but fell short and an unsuccessful challenge handed Demirhan her final point.

The victory took some of the sting out a serious knee injury that Demirhan suffered in the final exchange. She limped off the mat and was taken from the main floor in a wheelchair, then was carried by two fellow medalists to the podium during the medal ceremony wearing a walking cast.

Japan was dealt another set back a short time later in the 57kg bronze-medal bouts, when three-time European champion Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (UWW) scored a takedown and exposure in the second period to upend Himeka TOKUHARA (JPN) 4-1.

As with Demirhan, Khoroshavtseva's victory ended a long medal drought -- her previous bronze had come in 2019.

Paris Olympic bronze medalist Kexin HONG (CHN) picked up her first world medal, surging to a 10-0 victory over Iryna KURACHKINA (UWW) in the other 57kg match.

Moldova's national hero Ringaci earned a fourth career world medal by beating Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR) 6-3 for a 65kg bronze, scoring a takedown in the first period and two in the second.

Two-time Asian silver medalist Enkhjin TUVSHINJARGAL (MGL) had the lead on criteria when she scored an exposure at the edge while holding off an attack by Macey KILTY (USA) to clinch a 4-2 win for the other 65kg bronze.

At 76kg, another Olympic bronze medalist added a world bronze when Marin stormed to a 10-0 victory over PRIYA (IND), setting the mood when she scored the first of her five takedowns by lifting the Indian in the air and dumping her to the mat.

Kylie WELKER (USA) added to the bronze she won last year at 72kg by holding on for a 6-2 victory over Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR) for the other 76kg bronze. Welker scored a takedown and gut wrench in the first period, then after Alpyeyeva came back with two stepouts,

clinched the win with a takedown with :14 left. 

Day 5 Results

Women's Wrestling

50kg (21 entries)
GOLD: Myonggyong WON (PRK) df. Yu ZHANG (CHN), 8-2

BRONZE: Elizaveta SMIRNOVA (UWW) df. Remina YOSHIMOTO (JPN), 3-3
BRONZE: Evin DEMIRHAN (TUR) df. Munkhnar BYAMBASUREN (MGL), 3-2

53kg (23 entries)
SEMIFINAL: Lucia YEPEZ (ECU) df. ANTIM (IND), 5-3
SEMIFINAL: Haruna MURAYAMA (JPN) df. Hyongyong CHOE (PRK), 2-1

57kg (22 entries)
GOLD: Helen MAROULIS (USA) df. Il Sim SON (PRK), 3-2

BRONZE: Olga KHOROSHAVTSEVA (UWW) df. Himeka TOKUHARA (JPN), 4-1
BRONZE: Kexin HONG (CHN) df. Iryna KURACHKINA (UWW) by TF, 10-0, 2:22

62kg (22 entries)
SEMIFINAL: Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) df. Orkhon PUREVDORJ (MGL) by TF, 14-1, 4:15
SEMIFINAL: Ok Ju KIM (PRK) df. Amina TANDELOVA (UWW) by TF, 14-3, 6:00

65kg (17 entries)
GOLD: Miwa MORIKAWA (JPN) df. Alina KASABIEVA (UWW), 8-0

BRONZE: Irina RINGACI (MDA) df. Iryna KOLIADENKO (UKR), 6-3
BRONZE: Enkhjin TUVSHINJARGAL (MGL) df. Macey KILTY (USA), 4-2

68kg (24 entries)
SEMIFINAL: Ami ISHII (JPN) df. Buse TOSUN (TUR) by TF, 11-0, 2:34
SEMIFINAL: Yuliana YANEVA (BUL) df. Jia LONG (CHN), 6-1

72kg (17 entries)
SEMIFINAL: Alla BELINSKA (UKR) df. Nurzat NURTAEVA (KGZ) by Fall, 5:00 (11-6)
SEMIFINAL: Nesrin BAS (TUR) df. Zelu LI (CHN), 9-6

76kg (19 entries)
GOLD: Genesis REASCO (ECU) df. Aiperi MEDET KYZY (KGZ), 4-2

BRONZE: Kylie WELKER (USA) df. Anastasiya ALPYEYEVA (UKR), 6-2
BRONZE: Milaimy MARIN (CUB) df. PRIYA (IND) by TF, 10-0, 4:07