#WrestleBucharest

Sadulaev Slides into Monday Night's Semifinals

Monday, April 8, 2019 - 13:01 By Eric Olanowski

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BUCHAREST, Romania (April 8) - The Russian Federation, led by three-time world and Olympic champion Abdulrashid SADULAEV compiled an 8-2 record in the opening round and inserted three of five wrestlers into Monday night’s semifinals.  

Sadualev, the top-ranked wrestler in the world at 97kg, easily picked up wins against his first two opponents, outscoring them, 15-2. “The Russian Tank” shutout Azerbaijan’s returning European bronze medalist Nurmagomed GADZHIYEV (AZE) in the opening round, then drilled Germany’s 2017 U23 European bronze medalist Gennadij CUDINOVIC (GER), 12-3, to reach the semifinals. 

In the semifinals, the three-time European champion will wrestle Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD). 

In the second 97kg semifinals match, Kaspiisk silver medalist Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR) will lace up against Georgia’s 2018 world bronze medalist Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO). 

In addition to Abdularashid Sadualev, Russia’s Muslim SADULAEV and Akhmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV also made the semifinals at 57kg and 79kg respectively. 

The reigning Ivan Yariguin champion, Muslim Sadulaev, scored a pair of close victories en route to his 57kg semifinals run. 

First, Sadulaev scored a 5-2 win over Vladimir EGOROV (MKD), then followed that up with a 4-2 victory over Spain’s Levan METREVELI VARTANOV. He’ll wrestle Romania’s Andrei DUKOV (ROU), who snuck past Italy’s Givi DAVIDOVI, 4-2, for a spot in Monday night’s semifinals.  

The second 57kg semifinal will feature the tournament favorite, reigning world bronze medalist Suleyman ATLI (TUR), and Georgi VANGELOV (BUL). 

At 79kg, Akhmed Gadzhimagomedov, the 2018 Budapest world bronze medalist, blew past Turkey’s Muhammet Nuri KOTANOGLU in his quarterfinals match and will square off against Ukraine’s Oleksii DOMANYTSKYI. 

The two weight classes that won’t feature a Russian semifinalist are 65kg and 70kg.

At 65kg, three-time world champion Haji ALIYEV (AZE) reached the semifinal after scoring the 5-3 come-from-behind win against Nachyn KUULAR (RUS), who knocked off Olympic champion Vladimer KHINCHEGASHVILI (GEO) the round prior. Aliyev will take on Maxim SACULTAN (MDA) for a spot in Tuesday night’s finals. 

The other 65kg semifinal is between Vasyl SHUPTAR (UKR) and Selahattin KILICSALLAYAN (TUR).

At 70kg, there were two world champions who were upset in the opening round. 

Azerbaijan’s Aghahuseyn MUSTAFAYEV (AZE) defeated defending world champion Magomedrasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV (RUS), 4-3, in the quarterfinals, then reached the semifinals with a 12-2 win over Devid SAFARYAN (ARM). He’ll take on Great Britain's Nicolae COJOCARU in tonight’s semifinals. 

Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL) was the second wrestler to knock off a world champion in the opening round at 70kg. Gadzhiev, in a rematch of the 2017 world finals, avenged his loss and got the best of Georgia’s Zurabi IAKOBIASHVILI, 7-0. 

He’ll wrestle Mustafa KAYA (TUR) tonight's semifinals which begin at 18:00 (local time). 

RESULTS
57kg
SEMIFINAL - Georgi Valentinov VANGELOV (BUL) vs. Suleyman ATLI (TUR) 
SEMIFINAL - Muslim SADULAEV (RUS) vs. Andrei DUKOV (ROU)

65kg
SEMIFINAL - Maxim SACULTAN (MDA) vs. Haji ALIYEV (AZE) 
SEMIFINAL - Vasyl SHUPTAR (UKR) vs. Selahattin KILICSALLAYAN (TUR)

70kg
SEMIFINAL - Mustafa KAYA (TUR) vs. Magomedmurad GADZHIEV (POL) 
SEMIFINAL - Nicolae COJOCARU (GBR) vs. Aghahuseyn MUSTAFAYEV (AZE)  

79kg
SEMIFINAL - Andrei KARPACH (BLR) vs. Jabrayil HASANOV (AZE) SEMIFINAL - Akhmed GADZHIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) vs. Oleksii DOMANYTSKYI (UKR)

97kg
SEMIFINAL - Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR) vs. Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO) 
SEMIFINAL - Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) vs. Magomedgadji NUROV (MKD)

Saravi, Hedayati win gold to cap Iran's dominance at ISG 2025

Wednesday, November 19, 2025 - 17:36 By Vinay Siwach

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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (November 19) -- If there was battle for the most dominant wrestler among the Iranian wrestlers, it would be a close one. Saeid ESMAEILI (IRI) won Asian and World Championships and a Ranking Series gold before winning the gold medal at the Islamic Solidarity Games 2025 on Tuesday.

Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) won gold at Zagreb Ranking Series, gold at senior and U23 World Championships and like Esmaeili, gold at ISG 2025.

On Wednesday, Olympic and world champion Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) also joined that list as he won gold medal at 97kg at ISG in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.

Saravi has been unstoppable this year, just like Esmaeili and Farokhi, winning Ranking Series gold, and gold medals at the Asian and World Championships. In Riyadh, he showed why he has been so good this year.

Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI)Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) turns Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE) from par terre in the 97kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

In one of the marquee matches of the night, Saravi held his own to beat world bronze medalist Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE) in the 97kg final.Saravi and Ahmadiyev were clearly a notch up the field in Riyadh in their weight class and reached the final with ease. But when the two clashed, Saravi clearly had a gameplan to not get caught in any upset.

Ahmadiyev had pinned Artur ALEKSANYAN (ARM) at the World Championships after a block when the Armenian was trying a gut wrench. So when Saravi got the chance in par terre in the final, he only tried a gut wrench once and then let the referee call neutral.

Saravi went into the break leading 3-0. He was called passive in the second period and put in par terre but he defend the position and gave only one point. As Ahmadiyev struggled with his conditioning, Saravi managed to score two stepouts and win the gold medal with a 5-1 score.

The Iranian has now not lost since the 2023 World Championships in Belgrade, extending his winning run to over two years.

Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI)Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) prepares to throw Mohamed ABDELLATIF (EGY) during the 130kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

At 130kg, rising star Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) too has a great winning run. Since his U20 World Championships final loss in 2022, Hedayati has not lost an international bout and capped his 2025 season with gold medal at the Islamic Solidarity Games 2025.

Placed in Group A of the Nelson bracket, Hedayati topped his group before winning the semifinal with ease. In the final, he faced Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY), who the Iranian defeated in the first group bout 3-0.

If that was a warm-up win, Hedayati showed what he is capable of, winning the final in just 35 second via fall against Abdellatif. He began with a four-point throw which was challenged by Egypt only to lose the challenge.

Leading 5-0, Hedayati hit an arm-throw for two points before dragging Abdellatif for another takedown with his back on the mat. Hedayati held the Egyptian in that position and secured the fall to end the match and capture the gold medal.

Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB)Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) celebrates after winning the 50kg final. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Three women's wrestling weight classes were also in action on Wednesday in Riyadh and three different countries won gold medals.

At 50kg, Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) needed a hip-toss in the last 30 seconds to score four points against Miesinnei GENEISI (NGR) and take a 5-1 lead. The Uzbekistan wrestler led 1-0 at the break after Geneisi's passivity. But the Nigerian took an 1-1 criteria lead in the last minute when Keunimjaeva was called passive.

Desperate to find an opening, Keunimjaeva locked both of Geneisis' arms and tossed her for four points, taking a 5-1 lead and defending it to win the gold medal.

Christianah OGUNSANYA (NGR)Christianah OGUNSANYA (NGR) won the gold medal at 53kg. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

The winning country was reversed in the 53kg final as Christianah OGUNSANYA (NGR) defeated Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB), 11-1, to win the gold medal.

Akhmedova failed to match the power of Ogunsanya who kept scoring with counter takedowns. She scored a takedown and a turn using lace to win the bout 11-1.

The final gold medal of the night went to former U23 world champion Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) who defeated European silver medalist Elvira SULEYMAN (TUR) in the 57kg final.

Aliyeva, who had defeated Suleyman in Round 1 bout as well, faced the Turkish wrestler again and kept it simple. She scored three takedown before giving up one in the final few seconds. She managed to hold on to her 6-2 lead for the win.

Photo

RESULTS

Greco-Roman

97kg
GOLD: Mohammadhadi SARAVI (IRI) df. Murad AHMADIYEV (AZE), 5-1

BRONZE: Beytullah KAYISDAG (TUR) df. Mohamed GABR (EGY), 3-1
BRONZE: Rouabah FADI (ALG) df. Ibrahim FALLATAH (KSA), 8-0

130kg
GOLD: Fardin HEDAYATI (IRI) df. Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY), via fall (9-0)

BRONZE: Fatih BOZKURT (TUR) df. Roman KIM (KGZ), 11-2

Women's Wrestling

50kg
GOLD: Aktenge KEUNIMJAEVA (UZB) df. Miesinnei GENEISI (NGR), 5-1

BRONZE: Elnura MAMMADOVA (AZE) df. Chebila CHEIMA (ALG), 7-0

53kg
GOLD: Christianah OGUNSANYA (NGR) df. Shokhida AKHMEDOVA (UZB), 11-1

BRONZE: Aruuke KADYRBEK KYZY (KGZ) df. Yusma DESWITA (INA), via fall (3-0
BRONZE: Zeinep BAYANOVA (KAZ) df. Vatansulton SHAKARSHOEVA (TJK), 14-3

57kg
GOLD: Zhala ALIYEVA (AZE) df. Elvira SULEYMAN (TUR), 6-2

BRONZE: Tekouk ACHOUAK DJAMILA (ALG) df. Sezim ZHUMANAZAROVA (KGZ), via fall (14-3)