#WrestleTallinn

Russia Wins Three Golds on Saturday Night, Leads Iran By Seven Points

Saturday, August 17, 2019 - 19:22 By Eric Olanowski

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TALLINN, Estonia (August 17) – The Russian Federation (97 points) won a trio of Day 6 junior world titles and have a seven-point lead over second-place Iran (90 points), who had two wrestlers reach the top of the podium on Saturday. 

Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (RUS) ascended to the top of the podium with a fall over Zaur ALIYEV (AZE) after erasing a 4-0 deficit in the 55kg finals. “I feel very good. Everything came out perfect and that’s what I wanted to do,” said Allakhiarov after winning his first world title. 

In the opening period, Allakhiarov gave up a four-point throw, but scored a reversal -- cutting the Azeri’s lead to three points with a quick reversal. A pair of back-to-back gut wrenches flipped the match in favor of Allakhiarov, as he took the 5-4 lead into the break. 

In the second period, the Russian back-peddled as the Aliyev heavily pressed the pace. While toeing the out of bounds line, Allakhiarov circled to his left and tried to get back to the center of the mat to avoid giving up the step-out point. His Azeri opponent also started to circle back towards the center of the mat, but while doing so, relaxed for one second. Allakhairov capitalized on that one-second opening and threw a massive headlock and planted Aliyev flat on his back for the fall to claim his first world title. 

“I feel very happy to be the first Russian in Greco-Roman to win the world title” Allakhairov said. He added, “We put a lot of work into the preparation process so we’re very happy with everyone in the finals.”

Abu AMAEV (RUS) defeated Leri ABULADZE (GEO), 5-3 in the 63kg finals -- handing Russia their second gold medal of the night. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

Russia’s second champion came at 63kg where Abu AMAEV (RUS) scored the tactical 5-3 win over Leri ABULADZE (GEO) in the gold-medal match. “The hardest part of the competition was the finals. The opponent I wrestled in the finals was second in Europe, so I’m very happy to be the world champion.” 

After the match, Amaev took a deep breath and let out a noticeable psy of relief. When asked why he let out such a deep breath, Amaev said, “I felt the happiest when my hand was raised, and I knew I was world champion.” 

The newly minted world champion, who said he has hopes of making an Olympic team one day, will head back to Chechnya, Russia, and take a week off before getting back to training. “I don’t know what’s next. I think I will take a week off…I’m going to train and see what the future brings.” 

Ilia ERMOLENKO (RUS) was the third Russian to win a gold medal on Day 6. He snuck past Giorgi KATSANASHVILI (GEO), 2-0 in the 87kg finals (Photo: Gabor Martin)

A bloody and battered Ilia ERMOLENKO (RUS) scored a point in each period against Giorgi KATSANASHVILI (GEO) in the 87kg finals and became the third Russian wrestler to circle the mat with his nation’s flag over his head. “All of my matches were very hard, but the hardest one was definitely the finals,” said Ermolenko after winning his gold medal. He continued, saying, “I’m very happy to be a world champion. I’ve worked very hard to get to this point and I would like to thank everyone who has supported me.” 

Aliakbar YOUSOFIAHMADCHALI took down 2018 cadet world champion Cohlton Michael SCHULTZ (USA), 2-1 in the 130kg finals. (Photo: Gabor Martin)

Meanwhile, Iran’s Mohammad NAGHOUSI and Aliakbar YOUSOFIAHMADCHALI snuck past their gold-medal final opponents, 2-1, and helped their country head into the final day of wrestling at the 2019 Junior World Championships only trailing Russia by seven points. 

In the 77kg finals, Mohammad Naghousi nabbed the one-point win over Damir RAKHIMOV (RUS), while Aliakbar Yousofiahmadchali stole the 130kg gold medal from 2017 cadet world champion Cohlton Michael SCHULTZ (USA). 

The final day of wrestling begins tomorrow at 16:00 (local time) and can be followed live on www.unitedworldwrestling.org.

RESULTS 

Team Scores (After Day 6) 
GOLD - Russia (97 points)
SILVER - Iran (90 points)
BRONZE - Georgia (56 points)
Fourth - Turkey (42 points)
Fifth - United States (41 points)

55kg
GOLD - Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (RUS) df.  Zaur ALIYEV (AZE), 9-4
BRONZE - Ken MATSUI (JPN) df. Nurmukhammet ABDULLAEV (KGZ), 13-12 
BRONZE - Poya Soulat DAD MARZ (IRI) df. Tigran MINASYAN (ARM), 2-0 

63kg
GOLD - Abu AMAEV (RUS) df. Leri ABULADZE (GEO), 5-3 
BRONZE - Shahin Eidi BADAGHI MOFRAD (IRI) df. Nikalas Petrov SULEV (BUL), 3-2 
BRONZE - Alston Jon NUTTER (USA) df. Kamil CZARNECKI (POL), via fall 

77kg
GOLD - Mohammad NAGHOUSI (IRI) df. Damir RAKHIMOV (RUS), 2-1
BRONZE - Dmytro VASETSKYI (UKR) df. Exauce MUKUBU (NOR) , 3-2 
BRONZE - Sajan SAJAN (IND) df. Abdurrahman KALKAN (TUR), 11-1 

87kg
GOLD - Ilia ERMOLENKO (RUS) df. Giorgi KATSANASHVILI (GEO), 2-0 
BRONZE - Bedirhan TAN (TUR) df. Jacob Edward LOGAARD (SWE), 3-0
BRONZE - Ihar YARASHEVICH (BLR) df. Hasan FOROUZANDEH GHOJEHBEIGLOU (IRI), 4-4 

130kg
GOLD - Aliakbar YOUSOFIAHMADCHALI (IRI) df. Cohlton Michael SCHULTZ (USA), 2-1 
BRONZE - Dariusz VITEK (HUN) df. Lu ZHANG (CHN), 3-2 
BRONZE - Muhammet Hamza BAKIR (TUR) df. Robinzon ESADZE (GEO), 5-1 

#WrestleAthens

U17 Worlds: Kostiuk ends Ukraine's wait for gold; Okonogi, Ismayilov upgrade

Saturday, August 2, 2025 - 18:21 By Vinay Siwach

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ATHENS, Greece (August 2) -- Artur KOSTIUK (UKR) ended a nine-year wait for a gold medal at World U17 Championships for Ukraine as he won the 80kg title in Athens, Greece on Saturday.

Ukraine has not had a world U17 champion since 2016 and a world champion in Freestyle since 2021. Kostiuk's gold was a double delight as he had won gold at European U17 Championships in June as well.

In the final facing Mohammadparsa KARAMI (IRI), Kostiuk was called passive and put on activity clock. He did not score in those 30 seconds but managed to get a takedown just before the break and led 2-1.

Karami was put on the activity clock in the second period and as he failed to score, Kostiuk's lead swelled to 3-1. Karami had 25 seconds to score two points but Kpstiuk kept his defense and captured the gold with a 3-1 score.

Ariah MILLS (USA)Ariah MILLS (USA) won the 48kg gold medal for the United States. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

That was the second loss in the final for Iran as it had suffered a loss at the 48kg weight class. That was the first final of the night on Saturday and Ariah MILLS (USA) gave no chance to Sina BOUSTANI (IRI) in the gold-medal bout.

While he was the one put on activity clock in the first period, Mills wasn't the one to defend. He had some fast re-attacks to stun Boustani. Mills gave up that activity clock point and as Boustani was setting up leg attack, Mills hit a counter and scored the takedown to lead 2-1 at the break.

Boustani had his chance to score reclaim the lead but Mills, who kept his distance, perhaps to have space to counter, got another takedown after a scramble. The U.S. wrestler managed to score a go-behind and two turns to win 12-1 and get the first gold medal in Freestyle for the U.S. 

Jinnosuke OKONOGI (JPN), a returning bronze medalist, upgraded his medal to gold and in style. Down 4-0 against Abdumalik JALOLDINOV (UZB) in the final, he scored one of the perfect five-pointers using the headpinch and over the head throw to lead 5-4 in the final minute.

This was not the only time Okonogi had to make a big comeback in Athens. In his quarterfinals, he defeated Zhakshylyk BOROBAEV (KGZ), 9-8, after scoring a takedown and turn in last 10 seconds.

Okonogi had a 4-1 win over Mohammadreza BARARI (IRI) in his opening match and an 8-2 domination of Greyton BURNETT (USA) in the semifinals.

Huseyn ISMAYILOV (AZE)Huseyn ISMAYILOV (AZE) celebrates after winning the 65kg gold medal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Silver medalist from 2024 Huseyn ISMAYILOV (AZE) got a anti-climatic 1-1 victory over Arseni KIKINIOU (USA) in the 65kg final and won his first gold medal after finishing with three silvers in three different championships.

Kikiniou was the first to get a point on board as Ismayilov was called passive. He failed to score in the 30 seconds and the U.S. wrestler got a point.

In the second period, Kikiniou was called passive and Ismayilov got a point and the 1-1 criteria lead. He had a minute left in the bout to defend his lead and Kikiniou threw every thing at him. However, Ismayilov defended with determination and won the gold medal.

Magomedrasul OMAROV (UWW)Magomedrasul OMAROV (UWW) held on to his 6-4 lead to win the 110kg final against LACKY (IND). (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

The 110kg gold medal went to Magomedrasul OMAROV (UWW) who defeated LACKY (IND), 6-4, in the final. Omarov was down 2-2 on criteria at the break but he hit a stepout and Lacky was cautioned for fleeing, giving one more point to Omarov who now led 4-2.

Lacky tried to finish his leg-attacks but Omarov was quick to either defend or escape. During one of those attacks, Omarov managed to score a go-behind and got two points which made his lead 6-2. Lacky, with 17 seconds left in the bout, went for one final attack and scored a takedown. However, he was not able to turn Omarov which could have given him the criteria win.

Omarov defended the gut-wrench attempt and despite being in the air, did not turn more than 90 degrees. The win made Omarov an European and world champion in the same year.

RESULTS

48kg
GOLD: Ariah MILLS (USA) df. Sina BOUSTANI (IRI), 12-1

BRONZE: Islam RABADANOV (UWW) df. Ravan HASANZADE (AZE), 11-9
BRONZE: Dovudbek BAKHADIROV (KGZ) df. Masamune USHIMADO (JPN), 12-0

55kg
GOLD: Jinnosuke OKONOGI (JPN) df. Abdumalik JALOLDINOV (UZB), 5-4

BRONZE: Greyton BURNETT (USA) df. Mohammadreza BARARI (IRI), 4-0
BRONZE: Chingis SARYGLAR (UWW) df. Jovanni TOVAR (COL), 8-2

65kg
GOLD: Huseyn ISMAYILOV (AZE) df. Arseni KIKINIOU (USA), 1-1

BRONZE: Morteza HAJ (IRI) df. Gourav PUNIA (IND), 8-8
BRONZE: Adisbek ALTYNBEKOV (KGZ) df. Yeraly ASKERBEK (KAZ), 7-1

80kg
GOLD: Artur KOSTIUK (UKR) df. Mohammadparsa KARAMI (IRI), 3-1

BRONZE: Dinmukhammed KASSYMBEK (KAZ) df. Ivan PASLARI (MDA), 5-4
BRONZE: Issa ZANGIEV (UWW) df. Berat ERTURK (TUR), 5-2

110kg
GOLD: Magomedrasul OMAROV (UWW) df. LACKY (IND), 6-4

BRONZE: Hakim TAGHIYEV (AZE) df. Stefan STEFANOV (BUL), 1-1
BRONZE: Amirhossein NAGHDALIPOUR (IRI) df. Murtaz BAGDAVADZE (GEO), 11-0