Rzazade leads Azerbaijan's dominant performance

Saturday, June 25, 2022 - 19:28 By Vinay Siwach

ROME, Italy (June 25) -- Among all the stars that Azerbaijan brought to Rome, Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE) was one of the least experienced wrestlers. Before wrestling at this year's European Championships in March, he had only two other championships in a span of five years.

But by the end of the Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series event on Saturday, Rzazade might be the one of the three wrestlers that have confirmed their spot on the Azerbaijan national team for the World Championships. He did so by winning the 57kg gold medal in Rome.

Overall, Azerbaijan won four gold medals out of the eight contested on Saturday. Turkey, Puerto Rico, Slovakia and Ukraine had one champion each on the final day of the tournament.

Rzazade, one of the most attacking wrestlers on the circuit, switched to solid defense in the final against world bronze medalist Horst LEHR (GER) to claim a 5-3 win.

He opened the scoring with a stepout before Lehr was warned for fleeing during the second stepout which gave Rzazade a 3-0 lead. Lehr put that behind and scored a takedown just before the break to reduce the lead to 3-2.

Lehr, who won the U23 European Championships in March, tried the duck-under quite a few times but Rzazade was solid with his underhook to keep him away. In desperation, Lehr attempted a big double-leg attack but Rzazade threw him off for another takedown. A late stepout did not matter much as the U23 world champion won 5-3.

During the day, he had a wild 17-8 quarterfinal win over Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO). 21 points were scored in the first period of the bout as both kept going at each other. Rzazade, however, had a four which made the difference. In the second period, he scored an exposure and takedown to win 17-8.

In the semifinal, Kamil KERYMOV (UKR) tried to stop him but his challenge was thwarted by Rzazade who finished the bout 10-0.

While he won the gold, Rzazade's tendency to give up points will be a point of worry for the Azerbaijan coaching staff.

Rzazade won the U23 world title and silver at the senior European Championships in a span of four months. But over the three tournaments (including the Matteo Pellicone), Rzazade gave up 48 points while scoring 105. While he won the title in Belgrade by a point, he lost the European final by the same margin.

The final against Lehr, however, had him sitting tight in defense, a change from his earlier finals.

The three other gold medalists for Azerbaijan were Joshgun AZIMOV (AZE) at 70kg, Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE) at 86kg and Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) at 92kg.

In an all-Azerbaijan final at 70kg, Azimov wrestled youngster Murad EVLOEV (AZE) and came home with the gold with a 6-1 win. While Evloev did try to get on a scoring opportunity, Azimov used his experience and strength to outscore his opponent.

Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Haji ALIYEV (AZE) was also wrestling at 70kg but gave a walkover to Azimov in the semifinals. But that walkover was well-deserved as Azimov had defeated European champion Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) in the quarterfinals.

Azimov scored two takedowns before giving up a point for passivity and a late takedown. But with only 15 seconds left in the bout, Azimov was happy to defend the lead.

Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE) clinched the 86kg gold medal with ease in Rome. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

At 86kg, world bronze medalist Abakarov made another big statement by winning the gold. Up against Tarzan MAISURADZE (GEO) in the final, Abakarov scraped through for a 3-2 win.

After getting a point for Maisuradze's passivity, he scored a takedown to lead 3-2 at the break. In the second period, Abakarov was warned for passivity and a late stepout but Maisuradze could not score a takedown.

In his semifinal, Abakarov faced former world silver medalist and his close friend Boris MAKOEV (SVK). The Slovakian had Abakarov on the ropes initially, leading the bout 3-3. But Abakarov made the score 5-3 at the break before moving into a defensive mode in the second period.

Another world bronze medalist, Nurmagomedov won the 92kg gold after Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO) injury defaulted in the final.

Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) defeated Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) in the 74kg final. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Azerbaijan could have won a fifth gold had Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE) defeated Tajmuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK). But he failed to break the defense of the European champion in the 74kg final.

Salkazanov won his second straight Ranking Series gold medal as he defeated Bayramov 4-0 in the final in Rome. A takedown, a point for Bayramov's passivity and stepout were the point-scoring actions in the bout.

Bayramov may have lost the gold but he managed to beat Dzabhail GADZHIEV (AZE) in the semifinal, 5-3, which may have sealed his spot for the World Championships.

Sebastian RIVERA (PUR) won his nation's first-ever Ranking Series gold in Rome. (Photo: UWW / Martin Gabor)

Puerto Rico's first gold

In a historic moment, Sebastian RIVERA (PUR) won his country's first-ever Ranking Series gold medal in an epic 65kg final.

Rivera, who won a silver at the Pan-American Championships in May, produced a stellar performance throughout the day which included wins over former U17 world champion Hamza ALACA (TUR) and Shamil OMAROV (ITA) in the quarterfinal and semifinal, respectively.

Up against former U23 European champion Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR) in the final, Rivera was on the backfoot after being thrown for four. Arushanian then scored a takedown to make it 6-0. But the bout turned on its head when Rivera managed to put eight points on the board, gut-wrenching his opponent.

With the lead secured, Rivera did slow down a little but never missed an opportunity to score. He managed to confirm another takedown and gut to lead 12-7. In the end, he secured the gold with a score of 14-7.

He had staged a similar comeback against Omarov in the semifinal. Trailing 4-0, he scored two takedowns in the second period to lead 4-4 on criteria. The wrestlers were brought to the center with only five seconds left. While Rivera did give up a takedown, the time had expired, a confirmation only after Rivera challenged the referee's call.

At 61kg, Recep TOPAL (TUR) had to resort to a body lock lift for four to win 6-4 against Andrii DZHELEP (UKR) in the final in which he trailed 4-2 for a significant time.

While Arushanian and Dzhelep failed to win the gold, Ukraine did have a champion in Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR) who defeated Iakub SHIKHDZHAMALOV (ROU) 7-2 in the 79kg with much ease to win the gold medal. He also stunned European champion Georgios KOUGIOUMTSIDIS (GRE) 10-0 in the quarterfinal at 79kg.

Results

57kg
GOLD: Aliabbas RZAZADE (AZE) df. Horst LEHR (GER), 5-3

BRONZE: Kamil KERYMOV (UKR) df. Roberti DINGASHVILI (GEO), 11-1
BRONZE: Saban KIZILTAS (TUR) df Beka BUJIASHVILI (GEO), via injury default

61kg
GOLD: Recep TOPAL (TUR) df. Andrii DZHELEP (UKR), 6-4

BRONZE: Teimuraz VANISHVILI (GEO) df. Islam BAZARGANOV (AZE), 7-3
BRONZE: Ahmet TAS (TUR) df. Adam BIBOULATOV (FRA), 9-3

65kg
GOLD: Sebastian RIVERA (PUR) df. Erik ARUSHANIAN (UKR), 14-9

BRONZE: Shamil OMAROV (ITA) df. Hamza ALACA (TUR), via injury (4-0)
BRONZE: Ali RAHIMZADA (AZE) df. Nikolai OKHLOPKOV (ROU), 4-1

70kg
GOLD: Joshgun AZIMOV (AZE) df. Murad EVLOEV (AZE), 6-1

BRONZE: Haji ALIYEV (AZE) df. Servet COSKUN (TUR), 4-3
BRONZE: Cuneyt BUDAK (TUR) df. Pavel GRAUR (MDA), 4-0

74kg
GOLD: Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) df. Turan BAYRAMOV (AZE), 4-0

BRONZE: Khadzhimurad GADZHIYEV (AZE) df. Fazli ERYILMAZ (TUR), via injury default
BRONZE: Mitchell FINESILVER (ISR) df. Dzhabrail GADZHIEV (AZE), 6-4

79kg
GOLD: Vasyl MYKHAILOV (UKR) df. Iakub SHIKHDZHAMALOV (ROU), 7-2

BRONZE: Vladimeri GAMKRELIDZE (GEO) df. Evsem SHVELIDZE (GEO), 4-1
BRONZE: Akhsarbek GULAEV (SVK) df. Muhammed AKDENİZ (TUR), 11-0

86kg
GOLD: Abubakr ABAKAROV (AZE) df. Tarzan MAISURADZE (GEO), 3-2

BRONZE: Zaur BERADZE (GEO) df. Mukhammed ALIIEV (UKR), via injury default
BRONZE: Boris MAKOEV (SVK) df. Ivars SAMUSONOKS (LAT), via injury default

92kg
GOLD: Osman NURMAGOMEDOV (AZE) df. Miriani MAISURADZE (GEO), via injury default

BRONZE: Erhan YAYLACI (TUR) df. Saba CHIKHRADZE (GEO), 8-4

#KyrgyzWrestling

Makhmudov, coach put on clinics in rural Japan

Monday, December 4, 2023 - 18:12 By Ken Marantz

TOKYO, Japan (December 4) --- After adding a second straight world title this year to his Olympic silver medal, Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) would surely be recognized on any street in Bishkek. Last month, he won over a new group fans in a rural prefecture of Japan, and may have even helped one to someday challenge him.

Makhmudov spent three days last month in Japan putting on wrestling clinics at the invitation of the Ehime Prefecture Wrestling Association along with his personal coach Meirambek AKHMETOV (KGZ), according to a story recently posted on the Japan Wrestling Federation website submitted by Masashi OCHI, secretary general of the association.

Makhmudov, who became Kyrgyzstan's first-ever male world champion when he won his first gold medal at Greco 77kg in 2022, also met with the Ehime Prefecture governor, did a little sightseeing, and got in some workouts as he prepares to start training in earnest for the Paris Olympics.

KGZ Akzhol MAKHMUDOV, holding his world championship belt, and coach Meirambek AKHMETOV, 2n from left, meet with Ehime Prefecture Gov. Tokihiro NAKAMURA, 2n from right, and other officials. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation)

Makhudov impressed everyone involved with his sincerity, dedication and professionalism, Ochi wrote, and was just the type of role model the association wanted to present. Asked about the secret of his success in a question-and-answer session by a young wrestler, Makhmudov gave a heartfelt answer that shows he has never been one to cut corners.

"You know yourself what will be difficult for you, but if you keep at it and don't give up, you will definitely succeed," Makhmudov. "Please don't select the easy road. Your hard work will definitely pay off, so keep going. Anything you do -- wrestling, work, study -- do because you love, cherish your family, and listen to your coach. If you do these, everything will go well."

Ehime Prefecture, with a population of 1.3 million, is spread over 5,600 square kilometers on the northwestern coast of the southern island of Shikoku, across the Seto Inland Sea from Hiroshima. It is famous for its Japanese tangerines, known as "mikan," and its picturesque mountains and coastline. It has also produced some notable wrestlers of late.

The prefecture has established a program to promote youth sports, and the wrestling federation had the idea to invite a top foreign wrestler as a guest instructor. They consulted UWW-licensed referee Kuninori KOIKE, who contacted his acquaintance Akhmetov, who himself is now an international referee who officiated at the Tokyo Games two years ago.

That set the wheels in motion, and Makhmudov and Akhmetov left Bishkek on Nov. 8 for the long journey to Japan via Almaty and Busan. They landed at Kansai International Airport in Osaka and spent the night in Tenri, Nara Prefecture, before taking a flight the next day from Osaka's Itami Airport to Matsuyama. about 270 kilometers to the west.

On the morning of Nov. 10, Makhmudov and Akhmetov paid a courtesy call on Gov. Tokihiro NAKAMURA in the prefectural capital of Matsuyama. That afternoon, the first clinic was held in the neighboring city of Imabari at Imabari Technical High School, with about 40 junior high and high schoolers from throughout Ehime Prefecture in attendance.

KGZ2 Makhmudov and Japan's Greco 67kg champion Kyotaro SOGABE hit it off during the clinics and used the opportunity to spend some time practicing together. (Japan Wrestling Federation)

Helping out as special instructors were several distinguished alumni of Imabari high schools, including Kyotaro SOGABE, a 2022 world U23 bronze medalist at Greco 67kg, and Rin MIYAJI, the 2021 world silver medalist at women's 68kg. There was time set aside for instruction, drills and open sparring, with Koike serving as an interpreter.

On Saturday Nov. 11, Sogabe's coach at powerhouse Nippon Sports Science University, Shingo MATSUMOTO, joined the clinic. Matsumoto, the head coach of all three styles at the university, won nine straight national titles from 1999 to 2007 and appeared in two Olympics at Greco 84kg, finishing seventh at the 2004 Athens Games.

In the morning, Akhmetov taught techniques from the standing position in Greco. His experience working with Kyrgyzstan's youth team came through, Ochi noted, as he explained everything calmly and in great detail. Akhmetov said that Greco techniques need to be learned from a young age, and expressed surprise that most Japanese wrestlers do not become fully committed to Greco until they are in college. "Japanese wrestlers are physically fit, but lack technique," Akhmetov commented.

That afternoon, they became ambassadors of sorts for the sport at an event aimed at giving youngsters who had had little or no exposure to wrestling a chance to experience it. Held at the Ehime Prefectural Budokan in Matsuyama, Makhmudov led the prospective athletes in warm-ups, mat games and mini-matches. "Your stances when you tie up and your understanding the rules are fantastic," Makhudov commented.

KGZ1 Participants in a clinic gather for a group photo with Makhmudov and Akhmetov. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation)

At the end, the children were allowed to ask Makhmudov some questions. Asked what he pays most attention to in regard to being a professional athlete, he replied, "I only eat things that are good for my body."

The third and final "Makhmudov Camp" on Nov. 12 was held at Hojo High School in Matsuyama, where Akhmetov focused on throws from standing and both offense and defense in par terre. He could be heard yelling out "Combination!" a number of times. The clinic was not limited to Greco, and the few girls in the group fervently went through the drills.

Meanwhile, Makhmudov and Sogabe had really hit things off with each other, and worked together on techniques and did some sparring. The 45-year-old Matsumoto even got in on the act and went toe-to-toe with Makhmudov, drawing the eyes of everyone in the room. Ten years before Makhmudov won his first of his three Asian titles at the age of 18 before a delirious crowd in Bishkek in 2018, Matsumoto added a gold at the Asian Championships to his two silver medals in one of his final competitions.

During the three days, Makmudov impressed his hosts with a regimen of exercise, proper nutrition and sufficient rest. He said he has promised to refrain from drinking until after the Olympics. "He is the consummate pro," said one official.

KGZ Makhmudov strikes a warrior pose in a samurai helmet and armor at Matsuyama Castle. (Photo: Japan Wrestling Federation)

Makhmudov also found time to visit one of Ehime's main tourist attractions, Matsuyama Castle, which was built in 1603 and has been designated a National Historic Site. There he donned a samurai helmet and armor for a commemorative photo while "assuming a warrior pose," as Ochi describes it. At a souvenir shop nearby, he was treated to Ehime mikan juice which comes directly out of a faucet.

On the last day of the clinics, Makhmudov bid farewell to the participants by saying, "Let's meet again at the Asian Championships or Olympics. Thank you." Even with Japan's Nao KUSAKA also having qualified at Greco 77kg, Makhmudov will certainly have some supporters in a small pocket of southern Japan.

Rzazade leads Azerbaijan's dominant performance

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Makhmudov, coach put on clinics in rural Japan