#Trnava2018

Russia Wins Fifth Gold Medal, Junior World Team Title

By Eric Olanowski

TRNAVA, Slovakia (September 23) – Russia closed out the 2018 Junior World Championships winning the freestyle team title on the backs of five individual gold medals. Heading into the final day of wrestling, the Russian Federation led the second-place United States by 31 points and finished 67 points ahead of the returning champions. 

Russia grabbed a trio of gold medals on the sixth day of competition and seized championships from Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RUS) and Soslan KHINCHAGOV (RUS) on the seventh day of wrestling at Trnava’s City Sports Hall. 

Abasgadzhi Magomedov improved his 2015 cadet runner-up finish, ending the 61kg finals bout early, grabbing the 10-0 technical superiority victory over Georgia’s Ramaz TURMANIDZE. 

The 2016 junior European champion technically and tactfully scored three takedowns via short drags, and two gut-wrenches, ending the gold-medal bout in 2:50. 

Soslan KHINCHAGOV (RUS), who was competing in his first age-level world championship since claiming the silver medal at the 2015 Cadet World Championships, shutout Aly BARGHOUT (CAN), 7-0 in the 125kg finals, giving Russia their fifth and final gold medal of the tournament. 

Overall, Russia capped off the 2018 Junior World Championships with seven medalists. In addition to their five gold medals, they also won a silver and bronze medal. Though they had seven medalists a year ago, there five gold medals are an improvement from last year’s four gold medals. 

Meanwhile, in his third career freestyle tournament, Mekhi LEWIS (USA) sealed the team silver medal for the United States with a 5-1 win over Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE) in the 74kg finals.

Lewis trailed 1-0 in the opening period, surrendering a passivity point before scoring a takedown and stepout, controlling a 3-1 lead into the final period. In the second period, Lewis scored a brutality point and a second stepout to give America their first champion across any division of the 2018 Junior World Championships. 

In the 86kg gold-medal bout, Arif OZEN (TUR) stopped Deepak PUNIA (IND) from winning India’s first freestyle junior world gold medal since 2001. 

The Turkish wrestler struck first, scoring an early takedown, which ended up being the match-deciding takedown. Ozen gave up a stepout as time expired, but won the match, 2-1, giving Turkey their first freestyle gold medal of these championships.

Abbas Ali FOROUTANRAMI (IRI) put on a takedown clinic in the 92kg championships bout, blanking Alisher YERGALI (KAZ), 11-0.

After three-minutes, Foroutanrami commanded the 3-0 lead before firing off four takedowns in the second period to end the match with the technical superiority victory.   

RESULTS 

Team Scores 
GOLD – Russia (182 points)
SILVER – United States (115 points)
BRONZE –  Iran (98 points)
Fourth – Azerbaijan (91 points)
Fifth – India (84 points)

61kg
GOLD – Abasgadzhi MAGOMEDOV (RUS) df. Ramaz TURMANIDZE (GEO), 10-0 

BRONZE - Vazgen TEVANYAN (ARM) df. Abbos RAKHMONOV (UZB), 9 - 3
BRONZE - Syrbaz TALGAT (KAZ) df. Minsu CHO (KOR), 10-4 

74kg
GOLD - Mekhi Kevin LEWIS (USA) df. Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE), 5-1 

BRONZE - Devid BETANOV (RUS) df. Sachin RATHI (IND), 11 - 1
BRONZE - Bat-Erdene BYAMBASUREN (MGL) df. Erik REINBOK (EST)

86kg
GOLD - Arif OZEN (TUR) df. Deepak PUNIA (IND), 2-1 

BRONZE - Seyedabolfazl HASHEMIJOUYBARI (IRI) df. Demur MEGENEISHVILI (GEO), 6 - 5
BRONZE - Patrik SZUROVSZKI (HUN) df. Ivan NEDEALCO (MDA)  

92kg 
GOLD - Abbas Ali FOROUTANRAMI (IRI) df. Alisher YERGALI (KAZ), 11-0 

BRONZE - Askhab HAMZATOV (AZE) df. Makhsud VEYSALOV (UZB), 9 - 3
BRONZE - Erhan YAYLACI (TUR) df. Khokh KHUGAEV (RUS), 7-3

125kg 
GOLD - Soslan KHINCHAGOV (RUS) df. Aly Medhat Abde BARGHOUT (CAN), 7-0 

BRONZE - Khasanboy RAKHIMOV (UZB) df. Amir Nader YARI (IRI), 6 - 4
BRONZE - Samhan JABRAILOV (MDA) df. Rahid HAMIDLI (AZE), 3-1

#WrestleBucharest

European Championships GR 55kg, 63kg, 77kg, 87kg, 130kg semis set

By United World Wrestling Press

BUCHAREST, Romania (February 12) -- The European Championships begins in Bucharest, Romania with five Greco-Roman weight classes. Monday's action will see wrestlers from 55kg, 63kg, 77kg, 87kg and 130kg in action. Riza KAYAALP (TUR), a 12-time European champion, will be looking to win the 13th gold medal which will put him ahead of the legendary Aleksandar KARELIN as the most successful wrestler in European history. All five weight classes have the 2023 champions returning to defend their gold medals.

LIVE MATCH ORDER | WATCH LIVE

14:15: Here are the semifinals for the evening session.

55kg
SF 1: 
Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) vs. Rashad MAMMADOV (AZE)
SF 2: Manvel KHACHATRYAN (ARM) vs. Artium DELEANU (MDA)

63kg
SF 1: 
Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL) vs. Oleksandr HRUSHYN (UKR)
SF 2: Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (AIN) vs. Murad MAMMADOV (AZE)

77kg
SF 1: 
Antonio KAMENJASEVIC (CRO) vs. Yunus BASAR (TUR)
SF 2: Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) vs. Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM)

87kg
SF 1: 
Ali CENGIZ (TUR) vs. Kiryl MASKEVICH (AIN)
SF 2: Islam ABBASOV (AZE) vs. Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB)

130kg
SF 1: 
Riza KAYAALP (TUR) vs. Beka KANDELAKI (AZE)
SF 2: Iakobi KAJAIA (GEO) vs. Sergei SEMENOV (AIN)

14:05: Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL) is up against world champion Leri ABULADZE (GEO) in the 63kg quarterfinals. Nazaryan with an arm spin but it's scored two points for Abuladze as he stopped Nazaryan. Bulgaria challenged the call and it's scored two points for Nazaryan. He adds an activity point to lead 3-0 at the break. No passivity calls in the second period as Nazaryan took out the defending champion Abuladze 3-0.

13:55: Aleksandar KOMAROV (SRB) with a turn from par terre and then stops Zhan BELENIUK (UKR) from scoring any points. Komarov wins 3-1 and will advance to the 87kg semifinals.

13:45: World champion Ali CENGIZ (TUR) wins via disqualification over Alex KESSIDIS (SWE). Kessidis was cautioned twice when Cengiz was attempting a turn from par terre. A second caution in attacks earns the attacking wrestler the win.

13:30: Antonio KAMENJASEVIC (CRO) could not have picked a better bout to win. He beats world silver medalist Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) 3-1 after getting a turn from par terre. He moves into the 77kg semifinals.

13:20: The 55kg weight class is the first to get its quarterfinals done. Defending champion Adem UZUN (TUR) falls 13-5 to Manvel KHACHATRYAN (ARM) and Nugzari TSURTSUMIA (GEO) wins 4-2 against Amaiak OSIPOV (AIN)

12:50: Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL) uses a front headlock to get a 9-1 win over Yaraslau KARDASH (AIN) at 63kg. Kardash challenged but no change in the result. In all likelihood, he will face defending and world champion Leri ABULADZE (GEO) next

12:40: Riza KAYAALP (TUR) with four rolls from par terre to start his campaign at 130kg with a 9-0 win over Oskar MARVIK (NOR).

12:30: Defending champion at 87kg, Istvan TAKACS (HUN) falls to Aleksandar KOMAROV (SRB) 1-1 at 87kg. Komarov got the second par terre advantage and the criteria lead.

12:20: At 87kg, Achiko BOLKVADZE (GEO) holds off Alan OSTAEV (AIN) 8-3. Well well-planned win for Bolkvadze as he built a 5-2 lead at the break. Ostaev got the par terre advantage but failed to score any points.

12:00: Defending champion at 77kg Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) with a fall over Riccardo ABBRESCIA (ITA). He will face Adlet TIULIUBAEV (AIN) in the quarterfinals. 

11:40: World silver medalist Sanan SULEYMANOV (AZE) with a strong 10-0 win over Idris IBAEV (GER). In the same weight class, Alexandrin GUTU (MDA) also has a big win over Juan AAK (NOR). He moves into the quarterfinals with a 9-1 win

11:20: Edmond NAZARYAN (BUL), wrestling at 63kg, gets going with a big 9-0 win over Ivan LIZATOVIC (CRO). Two big throws from Nazaryan to finish the bout. At 87kg, Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB) wins his opening bout against Martynas NEMSEVICIUS (LTU).

11:15: A no-show from Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) gives Gevorg TADEVOSYAN (ARM) a walkover win in the 87kg bout. Mukubu has pulled out injured.

10:55: Yunus BASAR (TUR) and world champion at 72kg Ibrahim GHANEM (FRA) face off in the qualification round in 77kg. Ghanem gets the first passivity advantage but fails to turn Basar for any points. Ghanem is put in par terre in the second and Basar gets a correct throw for two points. He holds the lead and wins 3-1

10:35: There could not have been a more stunning start to this championships. Juan AAK (NOR) with two arm throws to finish the opening bout at 77kg 8-0 and beat Ali ARSALAN (SRB). Huge upset!

10:00: Welcome to the first day of the European Championships from Bucharest. We begin in 30 minutes with five Greco-Roman weight classes.