#WrestleTallinn

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 

#WrestleAthens

Uzbekistan closer to Women's Wrestling history at U17 Worlds

Wednesday, July 30, 2025 - 14:55 By Vinay Siwach

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ATHENS, Greece (July 30) --  Mukhayyo RAKHIMJONOVA (UZB) is on the verge of creating history for Uzbekistan in Athens.

Wrestling at the World U17 Championships on Wednesday, Rakhimjonova became the first wrestler from Uzbekistan to reach the final of U17 Worlds.

 On Thursday, she will try to become the first wrestler to win a gold medal at any World Championships for Uzbekistan in Women's Wrestling.

She reached the 65kg final after beating European silver medalist Feenja HERMANN (GER), 6-1. In her earlier bouts, she had defeated Zuzanna HORBIK (POL), 6-4, and Alexandra MOISEI (MDA), 12-1.

Standing between her and the historic gold medal is Asian U17 champion Ashvini VISHNOI (IND), who was one of India's four finalists on Wednesday.

Vishnoi, who outscored her opponents 41-0 in four bouts, defeated European U17 champion Lilia ERMOKHINA (UWW), 7-0, in the semifinal. After a slow start, Vishnoi got two takedowns in the second period, adding to her two stepouts and one passivity point in the match.

Former world U17 champion KAJAL (IND) will get a chance to avenge her loss from Asian Championships after she reached the final against Asian champion Wenjin QIU (CHN) at 73kg.

Qiu had humbled Kajal 10-0 in the final of the Asian U17 Championships a month ago in Vietnam. But if Kajal is in the form she showed on Wednesday, her chances to avenge that loss are high.

She defeated Pan-Am champion Ella Jo POALILLO (USA), 11-0, giving no chance to Poalillo. Kajal hit a couple of double-leg as counters to take down Poalillo.

Qiu pinned Deborah GARCIA (MEX) in the other semifinal when the Mexican tried to outside trip her. Qiu stood her ground and slammed Garcia before securing the fall.

Another Asian U17 Championships final will be replayed on Thursday, at 57kg, as champion MONI (IND) and silver medalist Madkhiya USMANOVA (KAZ) won their respective semifinals and book their spots in the gold-medal bout.

Usmanov used a four-pointer against Sayuki TANADA (JPN) and secured the fall in two minutes and 36 seconds. With the loss of Tanada, Japan was left with only one finalist on Wednesday when five weight classes were in action.

Moni, like she had done all day, kept her defense and scored takedown whenever she could find an opening. After a passivity point, Moni scored three takedown to beat Alina BAROEVA (UWW), 7-0, in the semifinal.

At 43kg, RACHNA (IND) and Xin HUANG (CHN) made it to the final after contrasting wins. Rachna defended her 1-1 criteria lead over Madison HEALEY (USA) to win and make the final, Huang put on a takedown masterclass to beat European champion Raniia RAKHMANOVA (UWW) 8-0.

Turner closer to second world title

She is already a world U17 champion but there has been no lack of motivation for Morgan TURNER (USA) as she chases another at U17 level.

Morgan spent only two minutes and 24 seconds on the mat to win her three bouts on Wednesday and reach the final at 49kg in Athens.

A gold medalist from 2023 and bronze medalist from 2024, Morgan will face Yu KATAOKA (JPN) for the gold on Thursday. Like in typical Japanese style, Kataoka used five different takedowns to win 10-0 in her semifinal against Polina BOCHKAREVA (UWW).

Morgan used a cradle to secure a fall over Polina BOCHKAREVA (UWW), a returning bronze medalist and European champion.

RESULTS

43kg
GOLD: RACHANA (IND) vs. Xin HUANG (CHN)

SF 1: RACHANA (IND) df. Madison HEALEY (USA), 1-1
SF 2: Xin HUANG (CHN) df. Raniia RAKHMANOV (UWW), 8-0

49kg
GOLD: Morgan TURNER (USA) vs. Yu KATAOKA (JPN)

SF 1: Morgan TURNER (USA) df. Anhelina BURKINA (UWW), via fall (8-0)
SF 2: Yu KATAOKA (JPN) df. Polina BOCHKAREVA (UWW), 10-0

57kg
GOLD: Madkhiya USMANOVA (KAZ) vs. MONI (IND)

SF 1: Madkhiya USMANOVA (KAZ) df. Sayuki TANADA (JPN), via fall (5-0)
SF 2: MONI (IND) df. Alina BAROEVA (UWW), 7-0

65kg
GOLD: Mukhayyo RAKHIMJONOVA (UZB) vs. Ashvini VISHNOI (IND)

SF 1: Mukhayyo RAKHIMJONOVA (UZB) df. Feenja HERMANN (GER), 6-1 
SF 2: Ashvini VISHNOI (IND) df. Lilia ERMOKHINA (UWW), 7-0

73kg
GOLD: KAJAL (IND) vs. Wenjin QIU (CHN)

SF 1: KAJAL (IND) df. Ella Jo POALILLO (USA), 11-0 
SF 2: Wenjin QIU (CHN) df. Deborah GARCIA (MEX), via fall