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Russia Puts Four into Saturday Night's Finals

Friday, August 16, 2019 - 17:16 By Eric Olanowski

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TALLINN, Estonia (August 16) --- The Russian Federation won all four of their Greco-Roman semifinals matches on Friday night and inserted a quartet of wrestlers into the Day 6 finals. 

Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (RUS) was the first Russian wrestler who locked up his spot in Saturday night's finals. Allakhiarov was down 7-1 to returning cadet world finalist Tigran MINASYAN (ARM) but scored seven unanswered points to make the finals, where he’ll wrestle cadet world finalist Zaur ALIYEV (AZE). The Azeri shutout Ken MATSUI (JPN), who had hopes of wrestling in his first world title bout since winning gold at the 2017 Cadet World Championships in Athens, Greece.

Abu AMAEV (RUS) scored three takedowns and two opening period stepouts against Alston NUTTER (USA) to become Russia’s second Day 6 finalist. Amaev will square off with Georgia’s Leri ABULADZE in the finals at 63kg. The Georgian, who axed Shahin Eidi BADAGHI MOFRAD (IRI) in his semifinal’s bout, will be looking to win his second world title and first since claiming cadet gold in 2016. 

Damir RAKHIMOV (RUS) outscored Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) 4-0 in the second period and moved into the 77kg finals with a 4-3 victory. (Photo: Kadir Caliskan)

Damir RAKHIMOV (RUS) halted Exauce MUKUBU’S quest of becoming Norway’s first junior world finalist since Morten HAGEBOE'S 1980 junior world finals appearance in Colorado Springs, United States. Rakhimov trailed 3-0 with 90 seconds left in the match when he collected an inactivity point and two exposure points from a gut wrench. After the gut wrench, the Norwegian wrestler escaped the grasp of the Russian wrestler and pleaded to his corner to throw the challenge cube. His corner obliged and threw the brick -- asking for grasping the singlet point. The call was reviewed and upheld. Rakhimov was awarded a failed challenge point, and ultimately won the match, 4-3.

Now, he'll wrestle Mohammad Aziz NAGHOUSI (IRI) in the 77kg finals. In his semifinals bout, the Iranian scored a stepout and tacked on a failed challenge point with five seconds left to sneak past Abdurrahman KALKAN (TUR), 4-2. 

The final Russian wrestler that’ll go for gold on Saturday night is Ilia ERMOLENKO (RUS). He manhandled Bedirhan TAN (TUR), 9-0 in the first period and will wrestle Giorgi KATSANASHVILI (GEO) in tomorrow’s 87kg finals. The Georgian wrestler also picked up a shutout win in the semifinals, but his was a 7-0 win against Ihar YARASHEVICH (BLR). 

The lone weight not featuring a Russian wrestler is 130kg, where Cohlton SCHULTZ (USA) will go toe-to-toe with Aliakbar YOUSOFIAHMADCHALI (IRI). Schultz, the 130kg cadet world champion from two years ago, made it to the finals with a fall over China’s ZHANG Lu (CHN), while Youtsofiahmadchali pummeled reigning cadet world champion Muhammet BAKIR (TUR), 6-1 to reach the finals. 

The Saturday night finals begin at 18:00 (local time) and can be followed live on www.unitedworldwrestling.org.

RESULTS 
55kg
GOLD -  Zaur ALIYEV (AZE) vs. Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (RUS)
SEMIFINAL - Zaur ALIYEV (AZE) df. Ken MATSUI (JPN), 4 - 0
SEMIFINAL - Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (RUS) df. Tigran MINASYAN (ARM), 8-7 

63kg
GOLD - Abu AMAEV (RUS) vs. Leri ABULADZE (GEO)
SEMIFINAL - Abu AMAEV (RUS) df. Alston Jon NUTTER (USA), 9-0
SEMIFINAL - Leri ABULADZE (GEO) df. Shahin BADAGHI MOFRAD (IRI), 6-3 

77kg
GOLD - Damir RAKHIMOV (RUS) vs. Mohammad Aziz NAGHOUSI (IRI)
SEMIFINAL - Damir RAKHIMOV (RUS) df. Exauce MUKUBU (NOR), 4-3 
SEMIFINAL - Mohammad Aziz NAGHOUSI (IRI) df. Abdurrahman KALKAN (TUR),6-3 

87kg
GOLD - Giorgi KATSANASHVILI (GEO) vs. Ilia ERMOLENKO (RUS)
SEMIFINAL - Giorgi KATSANASHVILI (GEO) df. Ihar YARASHEVICH (BLR), 7-0 
SEMIFINAL - Ilia ERMOLENKO (RUS) df. Bedirhan TAN (TUR), 9-0

130kg
GOLD - Cohlton Michael SCHULTZ (USA) vs. Aliakbar YOUSOFIAHMADCHALI (IRI)
SEMIFINAL - Cohlton Michael SCHULTZ (USA) df. Lu ZHANG (CHN), via fall
SEMIFINAL - Aliakbar YOUSOFIAHMADCHALI (IRI) df. Muhammet BAKIR (TUR), 6-1 

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Interview: Iran Greco-Roman coach Hassan Rangraz

Sunday, February 16, 2025 - 10:38 By Vinay Siwach

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ZAGREB, Croatia (February 14) -- Iran won its first Olympic gold medal in Greco-Roman at the 2012 London Games. Rio 2016 was a blank but Mohammadreza GERAEI (IRI) won at the Tokyo Olympics. Soon, Iran changed the coaching staff and brought in Hassan RANGRAZ to lead the Iran team.

Rangraz enjoyed success at various levels but the 2024 Paris Olympics was one of the best that Iran had. Two gold medals, one silver and one bronze made it the most successful Olympics for Iran.

The 44-year-old soft-spoken former world champ has a different personality while coaching. He rarely takes the role of first coach during the bouts. But he is always animated in the corner, shouting instructions to his wrestlers and sometimes reacting to the referee's decisions.

As the new Olympic cycle for the 2028 Los Angeles Games begins, United World Wrestling caught up with Rangraz at the season opening Zagreb Open Ranking Series. Rangraz explained the success of Iran's Greco-Roman team, training in Tehran, defended the selection process and the fans who have a say on everything in Iran wrestling.

Hassan RANGRAZ (IRI)Iran's national Greco-Roman coach Hassan RANGRAZ during the 2024 Paris Olympics. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Excerpts:

- How do you see the success of Iran Greco-Roman team at the Paris Olympics?

Rangraz: In my opinion, the result of the Paris Olympics, with four medals, two of them gold, was a remarkable achievement in the history of Greco-Roman wrestling for Iran. This success was primarily due to the six years of planning by the federation, the efforts of former head coaches and previous coaches. I played a very small part in this journey.

- What is it like in the national camp for Iran?

Rangraz: Right after the Olympics, with a very short break, we began our planning. From the Olympics to the 2025 World Championships, we will have 22 training camps, totaling 220 days. We will also be competing for nearly 80 days. Out of the 365 days in a year, our wrestlers will be under direct supervision of the coaching staff for about 300 days. They will follow intense training programs and preparation matches. Even during the remaining 60 days, they will still be monitored indirectly through technical and strength training programs provided by the coaching staff.

- Iran's selection process often comes under scrutiny. Despite that, it keeps producing results. What are you thoughts on the current selection process in Iran?

Rangraz: We have a process and young wrestlers can enter this cycle to compete and prove their worth. The prime examples of this process are Esmaeili and Mohammadi. They shone in domestic and international tournaments, competed with top wrestlers in their weight classes. They performed and won Olympic medals. We are committed to implementing the national team’s selection process and giving talented young wrestlers the opportunity to prove themselves. This way, we can execute the talent identification process in the best possible way.

- What are the responsibilities and challenges as the national coach?

Rangraz: Wrestling is the number one sport in Iran and our national, patriotic, and traditional sport. Wrestling is part of Iran’s culture. Therefore, taking on the technical responsibility as the head coach primarily brings stress, anxiety, and immense pressure. On top of that, you have to be accountable for the results and take responsibility for the team’s performance. In terms of difficulty, I can confidently say that considering the intense scrutiny, being the head coach of the national team is so challenging it’s like working in a mine.

- The fans of Iranian wrestling are always involved. How do you see this and does it affect you in any way?

Rangraz: As I mentioned earlier, 80 million Iranians have a deep love for wrestling. Perhaps that’s why a tournament that may not hold much significance for people from other countries is so important to our people. They follow it closely, they care about it, they rejoice in victories and worry about defeats. This immense passion and support from fans is the greatest strength and asset for wrestling in our country.

- What is the roadmap for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics?

Rangraz: We believe that the Olympic Games are just around the corner. Four years go by very quickly. To succeed in the Olympics, you need to work hard, but also work smart. You can’t afford to miss a single training session or day. With this mindset and determination and knowing how high and legitimate the expectations are, we continue on our path with great strength, despite all the pressures we feel in every competition.

I believe the future of Iranian wrestling is very bright. Iran is passionate about wrestling. One of my dreams is that, just like in 1998 and 2002, we can once again host the World Wrestling Championships in Iran. The main reason for this is that nowhere else in the world will you find such passionate and numerous fans. These fans are the greatest asset of world wrestling, not just Iranian wrestling, and their expectation is to host a World Championship event.