#WrestleBelgrade

Russia Goes 5-for-5 in Sunday's GR Semifinals

Sunday, December 13, 2020 - 19:41 By Andrew Hipps

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BELGRADE, Serbia (December 13) -- Russia continued its dominance in Greco-Roman at the Individual World Cup, going 5-for-5 in Sunday's semifinals, a day after advancing four to the finals.

Russia's five semifinal winners Sunday were Stepan MARYANYAN (60kg), Zhambolat LOKYAEV (63kg), Milad ALIRZAEV (82kg), Musa EVLOEV (97kg) and Sergey SEMENOV (130kg).

Maryanyan, a two-time world champion at 63kg, has looked strong in his move down to the Olympic weight category of 60kg. He claimed an 8-3 victory in the semifinals over 2017 European champion Kristian FRIS (SRB). He used a step out and passivity to go up 2-0 before scoring with two gut wrenches to extend his lead to 6-0 at the break. He would add a takedown in the second period.

He will meet 2018 world silver medalist Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) in the 60kg finals. Sharshenbekov overcame a slow start to earn a 5-1 victory over Ahmet UYAR (TUR).

Zhambolat LOKYAEV (RUS) advanced to the finals at 63kg (Photo/Gabor MARTIN, UWW)

Lokyaev used a big first period to help him earn a 6-0 shutout over 2016 junior world champion Kaly SULAIMANOV (KGZ) in the 63kg semifinals. The Russian scored a takedown to go up 2-0 before scoring with a four-point throw. Neither wrestler scored in the final period and Lokyaev moved into the 63kg finals.

World No.5 Erik TORBA (HUN), a 2020 European bronze medalist, trailed 1-0 at the break in his 63kg semifinal match against Abdeldjebar DJEBBARI (ALG), but battled back in the second period, scoring a takedown and gut wrench to earn a 4-1 victory.

Alirzaev, a 2019 U23 world champion, claimed a 7-4 semifinal victory over Mihail BRADU (MDA) at 82kg. He led 5-0 at the break and added a takedown in the final period.

In the other 82kg semifinal, 23-year-old Salih AYDIN (TUR), a 2017 junior world bronze medalist, advanced to the finals with a 4-1 victory over Roland SCHWARZ (GER). 

At 97kg, the two-time world champion Evloev hung on to defeat world No. 4 Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) 5-3 in the semifinals. The first period belonged to Evloev as he raced out to a 5-0 lead. Saravi battled back in the second period, getting on the scoreboard with a caution before locking up a gut wrench and turning Evloev to cut the deficit to 5-3.  The Russian star would hang on to win by two. 

Alex SZOKE (HUN) was one of two Hungarian wrestlers to earn victories in the semifinals (Photo/Gabor MARTIN, UWW)

Alex SZOKE (HUN) gave Hungary another finalist in Greco-Roman when he shut out Artur OMAROV (CZE) in the other semifinal match at 97kg. Szoke built a 2-0 lead after scoring twice of passivity. He added a late two off a caution to win by four. 

Semenov, a 2018 world champion and 2016 Olympic bronze medalist, was dominant in his semifinal match at 130kg, earning a first-period 8-0 technical superiority over David OVASAPYAN (ARM). After Semenov scored with a step out and passivity, he showcased his strong par terre game, scoring with a gut wrench, which he followed up with a two-point throw and another gut wrench to end the match early.

The other semifinal winner at 130kg was Osman YILDIRIM (TUR), who rolled to a 9-1 technical superiority over Beka KANDELAKI (AZE). Kandelaki scored the first point of the match off passivity to take an early 1-0 lead. But the Turkish heavyweight came back with a takedown and three gut wrenches to go up 8-1. He then finished the match with a step out.

Greco-Roman Semifinal Results

60kg
Zholaman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) df. Ahmet UYAR (TUR) by VPO1, 5-1
Stepan MARYANYAN (RUS) df. Kristian FRIS (SRB) by VPO1, 8-3

63kg
Erik TORBA (HUN) df. Abdeldjebar DJEBBARI (ALG) by VPO1, 4-1
Zhambolat LOKYAEV (RUS) df. Kaly SULAIMANOV (KGZ) by VPO, 6-0

82kg
Milad ALIRZAEV (RUS) df. Mihail BRADU (MDA) by VPO1, 7-4
Salih AYDIN (TUR) df. Roland SCHWARZ (GER) by VPO1, 4-1

97kg
Alex SZOKE (HUN) df. Artur OMAROV (CZE) by VPO, 4-0
Musa EVLOEV (RUS) df. Mohammadhadi Abdollah SARAVI (IRI) by VPO1, 5-3

130kg
Osman YILDIRIM (TUR) df. Beka KANDELAKI (AZE) by VSU1, 9-1
Sergey SEMENOV (RUS) df. David OVASAPYAN (ARM) by VSU, 8-0
 

#WrestleNoviSad

U23 World Championships 2025 Day 7 Highlights

Sunday, October 26, 2025 - 09:54 By Vinay Siwach

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NOVI SAD, Serbia (October 26) -- The U23 World Championships will see only Freestyle action on day seven. Four weight classes till semifinals are -- 61kg, 65kg, 86kg and 97kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 6 RESULTS

14:40: A clash between Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) and Abolfazl BABALOO (IRI) at 97kg. Babaloo began well but Yoshida with his high-paced wrestling has Babaloo in all sorts of trouble. Yoshida was trying to pin Babaloo but referees called a foul. Iran challenged for a singlet foul but there was none. Yoshida led 5-2 after that review. He then scored two stepouts and three takedowns to win 13-2

14:30: SUJEET (IND) takes out Bashir MAGOMEDOV (UWW) at 65kg. He was put on the clock twice and was down 2-0. But he finally got a point when Magomedov was put on the clock. Sujeet hit a low single to make it 3-2 before he scored a stepout to seal a spot in the semifinal with a 4-2 win.

14:15: Technical superiority 12-0 win for Yuto NISHIUCHI (JPN) over Andranik AVETISYAN (ARM) as he moves into the 65kg semifinals. Nishiuchi does seem to struggle a little bit with his conditioning. Will be a factor in the semifinals? 

14:05: Arsen BALAIAN (UWW) gets the best of Ali TCOKAEV (AZE) in a heated 86kg bout. Balaian scored a takedown and point for activity in the second period to lead 3-1. He then forced Tcokaev a stepout before countering Tcokaev's desperate attack to score two points and win 6-1

13:55: Umidjon JALALOV (UZB), world bronze medalist in Zagreb, crafts three takedowns in his 6-1 victory over Aykhan ABDULLAZADA (AZE) and advance to the semifinals at 65.

13:50: Jaxen FORREST (USA) opens his 61kg campaign with a 13-0 masterful victory over Vasile MARCU (MDA). High-schooler Forrest missed out on a medal in Zagreb, losing a thriller in his bronze-medal bout

13:40: Abolfazl RAHMANI (IRI) downs Rocco WELSH (USA) 7-4 at 86kg. Welsh hit a big four pointer to lead 6-4 but Iran challenged the call. On review, the four points were awarded to Rahmani as he hit countered the double-leg attack. Both exchange stepout but Rahmani wins the bout.

13:05: Bashir MAGOMEDOV (UWW) with some crafty wrestling to sail through Yasin REZAEI (IRI) at 65kg. He also got a four-pointer in that 11-0 win. Magomedov is two-time U23 world champion at 61kg.

13:00: A point for activity point and a takedown for Umidjon JALOLOV (UZB) for a 3-0 but Mykyta HONCHAROV (UKR) hits a takedown with 26 seconds left to make it 3-2. Jalalov defends that lead to win at 65kg.

12:40: Abolfazl RAHMANI (IRI) needed two dramatic attacks in the final 25 seconds to win against Ahmet YAGAN (TUR) at 86kg. Down 3-1, Rahmani hit a takedown on the edge which was awarded one point for stepout after challenge, but he got an attack with 10 seconds left which was exposure two points and he won 4-3. Turkiye challenged the call but this time lost the challenge.

12:30: SUJEET (IND) with his second technical superiority win at 65kg. He scores five takedowns and one stepout to beat Dominik JAGUSZ (POL), 11-0.

12:25: Rakhim MAGAMADOV (FRA) falls to Eugeniu MIHALCEAN (MDA). Magamodov looked completely off color in his 7-4 loss at 86kg.

12:15: Arsen BALAIAN (UWW) and Gabriele NICCOLINI (ITA) had a little heated moment in their 86kg bout. Balaian was clearly the superior wrestler as he wins 10-0 and advance at 86kg. Balaian helps Niccolini off the mat and it's all good

11:45: Defending 97kg champion Rizabek AITMUKHAN (KAZ) takes his own time but starts off with an 11-1 victory over Ibrahim BENEKLI (TUR) at 97kg. The match is followed by world bronze medalist Arash YOSHIDA (JPN) finishing with a 10-0 victory over Musza ARSUNKAEV (HUN).

11:25: Bilol SHARIP UULU (KGZ) takes out U20 world champion at 61kg Marcus BLAZE (USA) at 65kg. Sharip Uulu scored a takedown to lead 3-1 and Blaze had to score a takedown to win. He managed to only score a stepout. He also challenged for a singlet pull but it was ruled that Sharip Uulu got his fingers stuck in stimulation and did not stop any attack. The lost challenge made it 4-2, the winning score of Sharip Uulu

11:05: SUJEET (IND) gives up the first takedown but then launches a spree of attacks to finish the bout 12-2 against Fiodor CEAVDARI (MDA) and advance at 65kg.

10:50: Two-time U20 world champion Yuto NISHIUCHI (JPN) begins his U23 career with a 10-0 win over Ryan DAHCHA (CAN) at 65kg. Nishiuchi is the favorite to win the gold medal here

10:40: World U23 champion Abolfazl RAHMANI (IRI) was challenged by ASHISH (IND) in his first bout at 86kg but he scores two exposures for four points which gives him 6-4 lead which he defends in the second period and win.

10:25: After the early repechage rounds, the qualifications of the four Freestyle weights are underway here. If you are wondering why there is a time change for the start of the competition, the daylight saving have commenced in Europe.