Snyder, Sadulaev Move Closer to Rematch; Mukaida, Kawai Advance

Monday, October 22, 2018 - 13:01 By Andrew Hipps

BUDAPEST, Hungary (October 22) -- Olympic champions Kyle SNYDER (USA) and Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) moved a step closer to a potential finals rematch with victories in the 97kg quarterfinals of the World Championships on Monday in Budapest, Hungary.

Snyder, the reigning world and Olympic champion, was pushed early in his first match against Batzul ULZIISAIKHAN (MGL). He was trailing 3-1 at one point, but turned up his offense in the second period and pulled away for a five-point victory. Snyder then dominated his next two opponents, winning by technical fall over both Nathaniel TUAMOHELOA (ASA) and Abraham de Jesus CONYEDO RUANO (ITA) to reach tonight's semifinals. He will face two-time world bronze medalist Pavlo OLIINYK (HUN) tonight.

Sadulaev, an Olympic champion and two-time world champion, was untested in the opening session, picking up three technical falls and outscoring his opposition 35-3. He defeated 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Magomed IBRAGIMOV (UZB) 10-0 in the quarterfinals. He now faces Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO), who edged multiple-time world bronze medalist Aslanbek ALBOROV (AZE) 4-3 in the quarterfinals.

At 70kg, returning world champion Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO) came from behind late in his last two matches to reach the semifinals. He had a close second-round match as he edged Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) 2-1. Salkaznov led most of the match until Iakobishvili took the lead with just over a minute remaining and held on for the win. In the quarterfinals, he came from behind late to defeat Ikhtiyor NAVRUZOV (UZB) 5-1. In the semifinals, Iakobishvili will face 2015 world champion Muhtarovitch GAZIMAGOMEDOV (RUS).

Veteran Adam BATIROV (BRN) reached the 70kg semifinals with a dominant 10-0 technical fall victory over Devid SAFARYAN (ARM). He will meet two-time Olympian Andriy KVYATKOVSKYY (UKR) in the semifinals.

It was a tough session for Iran as their two age group world medalists lost opening round matches and did not get pulled back into repechage. U-23 world bronze medalist Yones EMAMICHOGHAEI (IRI) was defeated by Taimuraz SALKAZANOV (SVK) on criteria at 70kg, while U-23 world champion Mojtaba GOLEIJ (IRI) lost by technical fall to Aslanbek ALBOROV (AZE).

In women's wrestling, Japan's world champions Mayu MUKAIDA and Risako KAWAI advanced to the semifinals at 55kg and 59kg respectively.

Mukaida defeated Sofia MATTSSON (SWE) 6-4 in the quarterfinals at 55kg. It was a battle of past world champion as Mukaida won gold in 2016, while Mattsson was a world champion in 2009. Mukaida jumped out to a 6-0 lead, but Mattsson battled back before eventually falling short. She now faces junior world silver medalist Qi ZHANG (CHN).

Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) earned a spot in the 55kg semifinals with a 4-2 victory over multiple-time world medalist Tetyana KIT (UKR). Winchester led 4-0 at the break. Kit used an arm throw in the second period to the cut deficit to two points but was unable to score again. Winchester will meet Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR) in the semifinals.

Kawai, the reigning world and Olympic champion, was unscored upon in two matches at 59kg. After a 6-0 victory in her first match over 2016 world champion Xingru PEI (CHN), she rolled to a 10-0 technical fall over Katsiaryna HANCHAR YANUSHKEVICH (BLR) in the quarterfinals. Her opponent in the semifinals will be Svetlana LIPATOVA (RUS).

The bottom side of the bracket at 59kg will pit Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL) against Elif Jale YESILIRMAK (TUR).

The semifinals are scheduled to begin at 4:45 p.m. local time.

Freestyle

70kg
Andriy KVYATKOVSKYY (UKR) vs. Adam BATIROV (BRN)
Muhtarovitch GAZIMAGOMEDOV (RUS) vs. Zurabi IAKOBISHVILI (GEO)

97kg
Pavlo OLIINYK (HUN) vs. Kyle SNYDER (USA)
Elizbar ODIKADZE (GEO) vs. Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS)

Women's wrestling

55kg
Jacarra WINCHESTER (USA) vs. Zalina SIDAKOVA (BLR)
Mayu MUKAIDA (JPN) vs. Qi ZHANG (CHN)

59kg
Svetlana LIPATOVA (RUS) vs. Risako KAWAI (JPN)
Shoovdor BAATARJAV (MGL) vs. Elif Jale YESILIRMAK (TUR)

#WrestleTirana

Three nations aim to get first Greco U23 world champs

Monday, October 21, 2024 - 22:48 By Vinay Siwach

TIRANA, Albania (October 21) -- Kyrgyzstan, the United States and Uzbekistan will stand a chance to crown their first-ever U23 world champion in Greco-Roman.

It was after the countries had one finalist each on day one of the U23 World Championships that kicked off in Tirana, Albania on Monday.

The United States and Uzbekistan have already had a historical day, confirming their first-ever U23 World Championships medals in Greco-Roman. Beka MELELASHVILI (USA) reached the 82kg final while Alisher GANIEV (UZB) made it to the 55kg final. Both countries had fifth as their best finishes before Monday in the history of the U23 Worlds, which came into existence only in 2017.

Kyrgyzstan will be banking on Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) to win the first Greco-Roman gold medal at U23 Worlds after he reached the 67kg final. Zholoman SHARSHENBEKOV (KGZ) is the only other Greco wrestler to reach the final in 2019 but lost.

Georgia and Armenia were the only countries with two finalists on day one of the tournament. Surprisingly, Iran managed only one finalists out of the five weight classes that were in action.

Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) tries to complete at throw. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) and Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) were the two finalists for Georgia at 67kg and 72kg respectively. Both had finished with silver medals at the U20 World Championships in 2021 but will look to win the gold together on Tuesday.

Chkhikvadze defeated Daniial AGAEV (AIN), 4-4, in the semifinal with a correct throw in the last minute to take two points and a criteria lead. He will now take on Beishekeev who defeated Arslanbek SALIMOV (POL) 10-0 to win the other semifinal.

Giorgi was in much more control of his 7-0 win over Adilkhan NURLANBEKOV (KGZ) in the semifinal and will now take on Shant KHACHATRYAN (ARM). The two had met in the semifinals of the U20 World Championships in 2021 and Giorgi won that meeting.

Khachatryan took no time to see off Georgios BARBANOS (SWE) 9-0 in the semifinal, his fourth technical superiority in the tournament, including a fall over Danial SOHRABI (IRI).

The second Armenian to reach the final was Hayk KHLOYAN (ARM) at 97kg after he held off senior European silver medalist Magomed MURTAZALIEV (AIN) 3-3 in the semifinal. Both exchanged par terre and one turn in gut-wrench but Khloyan performed it in the second period, keeping the criteria to him.

He will face Paris Olympian Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN) in the final. Khaslakhanau won his semifinal Richard KARELSON (EST), 2-1.

Beka MELELASHVILI (USA) confirmed the U.S. first ever Greco medal at U23 World Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

The U.S. has already achieved its best result ever in U23 Worlds in Greco but Melelashvili would look to make it golden on Tuesday. He will face Mohammad NAGHOUSI (IRI) in the final.

Melelashvili wrestled Elmin ALIYEV (AZE) in the semifinal and fell behind 3-0 at the break. But he returned the favor to Aliyev in the second period. Initially not scored, Melelashvili got the two points for a gut wrench after a challenge. Naghousi defeated former U20 world champion Deni NIKAEV (GER), 6-1, in the semifinal.

Ganiev has already won Uzbekistan's first-ever U23 World Championships medal but will look to win one more bout and get his name in history books in golden. He humbled Nihad GULUZADE (AZE) 9-0 in the semifinals and will now face Dinislam BAMMAPTOV (AIN).

RESULTS

60kg
GOLD: Alisher GANIEV (UZB) vs. Dinislam BAMMATOV (AIN)

SF 1: Alisher GANIEV (UZB) df. Nihad GULUZADE (AZE), 9-0
SF 2: Dinislam BAMMATOV (AIN) df. Pridon ABULADZE (GEO), 4-1

67kg
GOLD: Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) vs. Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO)

SF 1: Razzak BEISHEKEEV (KGZ) df. Arslanbek SALIMOV (POL), 10-0
SF 2: Diego CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) df. Daniial AGAEV (AIN), 4-4

72kg
GOLD: Shant KHACHATRYAN (ARM) vs. Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO)

SF 1: Shant KHACHATRYAN (ARM) df. Georgios BARBANOS (SWE), 9-0
SF 2: Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO) df. Adilkhan NURLANBEKOV (KGZ), 7-0

82kg
GOLD: Mohammad NAGHOUSI (IRI) vs. Beka MELELASHVILI (USA)

SF 1: Mohammad NAGHOUSI (IRI) df. Deni NAKAEV (GER), 6-1
SF 2: Beka MELELASHVILI (USA) df. Elmin ALIYEV (AZE), 3-3

97kg
GOLD: Hayk KHLOYAN (ARM) vs. Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN)

SF 1: Hayk KHLOYAN (ARM) df. Magomed MURTAZALIEV (AIN), 3-3
SF 2: Abubakar KHASLAKHANAU (AIN) df. Richard KARELSON (EST), 2-1

Snyder, Sadulaev Move Closer to Rematch; Mukaida, Kawai Advance

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Three nations aim to get first Greco U23 world champs