Three Gold, Three Finalists as Russia Close-in on Greco-Roman title

Saturday, May 22, 2021 - 20:18 By Vinay Siwach

Russia took a step closer to winning the Greco-Roman team title after entering three more wrestlers in the finals apart from winning three gold and two bronze medals on the penultimate day of the U23 European Championships.

The three gold medals are already a better record than the last U23 Euros in which Russia claimed only two gold of 10.

They have a chance to double that on Sunday as Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (RUS), Shamil OZHAEV (RUS) and Artur SARGSIAN (RUS) entered the final at 60kg, 82kg and 97kg.

Ukraine and Hungary also managed to advance two wrestlers each to the finals while Turkey, Armenia and Georgia got one each at the Jane Sansadski Arena in Skopje, North Macedonia.

Led by the senior Russian Championships silver medalist Allakhiarov, Russia had four wrestlers in the semifinal with Sergei KUTUZOV (RUS) falling short.

Allakhiarov wrestled junior World Championships silver medalist Tigran MINASYAN (ARM) in the semifinal at 60kg and made it look easy with his control of the center. Minasyan was the first to attack but Allakhiarov countered with a body lock throw for four points. A stepout made it 5-0.

The Russian performed a takedown in the second period to lead 7-0 and almost had the fall but Minasyan rolled out. A successful challenge from Armernia only delayed the eventual result as Allakhiarov won 7-0.

He will take on Ihor KUROCHKIN (UKR) who defeated Krisztian KECSKEMETI (HUN) 5-2 in the other semifinal, which saw all the points scored in the first period.

Kecskemeti scored with a stepout before he was awarded a point for Kurochkin's passivity. But during the following par terre position, he lost control and the Ukrainian reversed it and also slammed him for four points lead 5-2, a margin which remained till the end of the bout.

His teammate Andrii KULIK (UKR) also made it to the final on Saturday. In the 72kg semifinal against Martun BADALIAN (BLR), Kulik scored two stepouts before been awarded the passivity point. Leading 3-0, he got a gut and then held the position to win via fall in just 2:19.

From the other semifinal, Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) wrestled accoring to his reputation and reached the semifinal after defeating Kutuzov. The Individual World Cup and European silver medalist opened the scoring with a stepout before the referee called Kutuzov for inactivity.

Amoyan completed a throw from par terre position to lead 4-0. Kutuzov did score a stepout but that was all, Amoyan winning the bout 4-1.

At 82kg, returning bronze medalist Tamas LEVAI (HUN) improved on his performance and made it to the final with a close 2-1 win over senior European bronze medalist Aivengo RIKADZE (GEO).

Levai was the first to be given passive but Rikadze was warned in the seccond period, giving Levai the criteria at 1-1. He scored a stepout with an arm lock in the final few seconds of the bout. The Georgian corner wanted to challenge the call Rikadze refused.

Levai will now take on Ozhaev who took no time to beat Arminas LYGNUGARIS (LTU) 8-0 in the other semifinal. After scoring a stepout, he was awarded a point for Lygnugaris' passivity. From the par terre position, Ozhaev slammed a throw for four points. A takedown later, he pocketed the bout in 2:14.

Another Russian to successfully reach the final was Sargsian as he also won 8-0 against Michail IOSIFIDIS (GRE) at 97kg. He was even quicker than Ozhaev, finishing the bout in just 1:37. He scored via three takedowns and a throw for two to finish the bout with technical superiority.

The other semifinal at this weight was much more closer as Giorgi KATSANASHVILI (GEO) etched out a 4-3 win over Ondrej DADAK (CZE). At the end of the bout, both wrestler took a few seconds to catch there breath.

They were awarded points for passivity but it was Katsanashvili who managed an exposure from the par terre position to lead 3-3. Dadak scored a reversal at this point to reduce the lead to 3-2. He later scored a stepout but Katsanashvili held the criteria 3-3.

With both wrestlers struggling to match the intensity of the bout, it was the Georgian who kept his cool and scored a stepout to lead 4-3 while Dadak, despite his tries, failed to score.

Turkey also had a finalist as Kadir KAMAL (TUR) ended the hopes of Oleksii MASYK (UKR) with a 6-2 win in the 67kg semifinal. Kamal led 1-0 as Masyk was warned for inactivity but he quickly gave it up with a lost challenge as he claimed a gut wrench from par terre position. The judges did not think the same.

But like any smart wrestler, he made sure he has the clear lead. He went big with a shoulder throw and got two points. A stepout gave another point. Just before the break, he scored a takedown by snapping Masyk down to lead 6-1.

Masyk managed only a stepout in the second period but could avoid the defeat.

From the other side of the bracket, Krisztian VANCZA (HUN) entered the final after a agonisingly close 4-3 win against Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE).

In a bout that saw a number of interruptions, mainly for medical attention to Vancza's bleeding, Jafarov had almost pulled of the win but a Hungary challenge denied him.

Vancza led 1-0 after Jafarov was passive but was awarded two more points as the referee thought the Azerbaijan wrestler was using his head to hit Vancza. A successful challenge from Azerbaijan reversed the decision.

But soon after, the referee did awarded the Hungarian the two points in the second period. Jafarov again challenged the call. He lost, making the score 4-0. He roared back with a takedown and another one soon to make it 4-4. A step out in the same action made it 5-4.

Hungary challenged the latest takedown saying Jafarov used his legs in the action. The video replays confirmed that and the score was reversed to 4-2 for the Hungarian. A late stepout was not enough for Jafarov in the 4-3 defeat.

Komarov leads Russia to three gold

Aleksandr KOMAROV (RUS) has medals from cadet, junior and senior level continental championships. On Saturday, he completed his medal cabinet with a gold medal at the U23 level as well.

Making his debut at this age-group, the Russian defeated Temuri TCHKUASELIDZE (GEO) 6-1 in the 87kg final to win the gold medal.

Tchkuaselidze was the aggressive wrestler of the two as he pressured Komarov in the first minute. During one such attack, he had the Russian on the edge but Komarov used the Georgian's momentum to reverse the attack and score a takedown.

Another takedown gave him a 4-0 lead before Tchkuaselidze answered with a stepout. Komarov in his composed and laid back wrestling scored another takedown to lead 6-1 at the break. The scorers were not troubled till the six minutes expired.

This was the second of Russia's three golds on Saturday. Junior world champion Sergei STEPANOV (RUS) also claimed his first U23 Euro gold after beating Per OLOFSSON (SWE) 5-2 at 77kg.

A big four point throw and the passivity point were enough for Stepanov to counter Olofsson's opening takedown in the final.

The gold medal at 130kg also went to Russia as Mikhail LAPTEV (RUS) beat David OVASAPYAN (ARM) 5-1 in the final.

Laptev got going after sneaking out of a dangerous position to duck under and put Ovasapyan on his back for two points. A passivity warning against Ovasapyan made it 3-0 for the Russian.

But later, Laptev was warned for passivity to see his lead being reduced to two points. As Ovasapyan was looking for a turn from par terre position, Laptev reversed it to lead 4-1. Armenia challenged the call but lost.

But his teammate Hrachya POGHOSYAN (ARM) had a different ending to his tournament. In the 63kg final, he defeated Niklas OEHLEN (SWE) 4-1 to win the gold medal.

Zaur ALIYEV U23 European Championships

At 55kg, a thrilling final saw junior World Championships silver medalist Zaur ALIYEV (TUR) win the gold medal over Adem UZUN (TUR), thanks to a successful challenge at the beginning of the bout.

Aliyev tried and shoulder throw but failed. Uzun got the takedown and a gut wrench to lead 4-0. Azerbaijan challenged the call and won, reversing the score to 0-0.

The deadlock was broken when Uzun was called passive and Aliyev led 1-0. Later, it was the turn of Aliyev to be in par terre and Uzun managed an exposure to lead 3-1.

With just over a minute left, Aliyev got Uzun in front head lock and looked at his corner, with his coach instructing him for a roll. He did exactly that and rolled Uzun for two points to lead 3-3.

He maintained the criteria, despite desperate attempts from Uzun, for the win.

The final medal bouts of the remaining Greco-Roman weight classes will be held on Sunday, the final day of the U23 event, the first after 592 days of absence.

Results: GR Semifinals

60kg
GOLD: Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (RUS) vs Ihor KUROCHKIN (UKR)

SF 1: Anvar ALLAKHIAROV (RUS) df Tigran MINASYAN (ARM), 7-0
SF 2: Ihor KUROCHKIN (UKR) df Krisztian KECSKEMETI (HUN), 5-2

67kg
GOLD: Krisztian VANCZA (HUN) vs Kadir KAMAL (TUR)

SF 1: Krisztian VANCZA (HUN) df Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE), 4-3
SF 2: Kadir KAMAL (TUR) df Oleksii MASYK (UKR), 6-2

72kg
GOLD: Andrii KULIK (UKR) vs Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM)

SF 1: Andrii KULIK (UKR) df Martun BADALIAN (BLR), via fall (5-0)
SF 2: Malkhas AMOYAN (ARM) df Sergei KUTUZOV (RUS), 4-1

82kg
GOLD: Tamas LEVAI (HUN) vs Shamil OZHAEV (RUS)

SF 1: Tamas LEVAI (HUN) df Aivengo RIKADZE (GEO), 2-1
SF 2: Shamil OZHAEV (RUS) df Arminas LYGNUGARIS (LTU), 8-0

97kg
GOLD: Artur SARGSIAN (RUS) vs Giorgi KATSANASHVILI (GEO)

SF 1: Artur SARGSIAN (RUS) df Michail IOSIFIDIS (GRE), 8-0
SF 2: Giorgi KATSANASHVILI (GEO) df Ondrej DADAK (CZE), 4-3

GR Medal Results

55kg
GOLD: Zaur ALIYEV (AZE) df Adem UZUN (TUR), 3-3

BRONZE: Bajram SINA (ALB) df Denis DEMIROV (BUL), 12-9
BRONZE: Mavlud RIZMANOV (RUS) df Denis MIHAI (ROU), 16-5

63kg
GOLD: Hrachya POGHOSYAN (ARM) df Niklas Jan Olov Pontus OEHLEN (SWE), 4-1

BRONZE: Aliaksandr PECHURENKA (BLR) df Abdulkadir SAYDAM (TUR), 8-2
BRONZE: Rakhman TAVMURZAEV (RUS) df Leri ABULADZE (GEO), 4-2

77kg
GOLD: Sergei STEPANOV (RUS) df Per OLOFSSON (SWE), 5-2

BRONZE: Erkan ERGEN (TUR) df Mikita KAZAKOU (BLR), 7-2
BRONZE: Samvel GRIGORYAN (ARM) df Nikoloz TCHIKAIDZE (GEO), 11-2

87kg
GOLD: Aleksandr KOMAROV (RUS) df Temuri TCHKUASELIDZE (GEO), 6-1

BRONZE: Istvan TAKACS (HUN) df Muhutdin SARICICEK (TUR), 1-1
BRONZE: Svetoslav NIKOLOV (BUL) df Gevorg TADEVOSYAN (ARM), 4-1

130kg
GOLD: Mikhail LAPTEV (RUS) df David OVASAPYAN (ARM), 5-1

BRONZE: Fatih BOZKURT (TUR) df Delian ALISHAHI (SUI), 9-0
BRONZE: Dariusz VITEK (HUN) df Franz RICHTER (GER), 5-4

#wrestlebishkek

Asian Championships: Iran Puts Four into Greco-Roman Finals

Monday, April 6, 2026 - 16:52 By Ken Marantz

Erfan JARKANI (IRI) celebrates after reaching the 63kg final at the Asian Championships in Bishkek. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (April 6) – On an opening day bereft of big surprises, the Iranians were their usual dominant selves, while local hero Azkhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) sent the partisan crowd into a frenzy by doing what he does best.

Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) and fellow reigning world champion Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) were among four Iranians who qualified for the finals in the five Greco-Roman weight classes in action on the first day of the Asian Championships on Monday in Bishkek.

For the first time, the two-day format for all weight classes is being used at the Asian Championships, so that the five divisions on the first day were competed only through the semifinals.

Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) turns Minseok KIM (KOR) during the 130kg semifinal at the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

Mirzazadeh’s march toward a fourth Asian gold at 130kg over a seven-year span could not be regarded as unscathed – he was on the receiving end of a painful head butt in his 8-0 semifinal victory over Minseok KIM (KOR).

Other than that, it was smooth sailing as the Paris Olympic bronze medalist and two-time world champion advanced with a pair of wins by technical superiority.

Mirzazadeh and Farokhi were joined in the finals by Erfan JARKANI (IRI) and Ali OSKOU (IRI) as Iran looks on track to surpass its 2025 gold medal tally of five in Amman, Jordan.

“We were expecting Farokhi and Mirzazadeh to reach the final, but over the last two years, both Jarkani and Oksou have improved a lot and good results were expected from them and they showed that,” Iran head coach Hassan RANGRAZ said. “Hopefully, tomorrow also our wrestlers will achieve good results.”

Against Kim, Mirzazadeh jumped out to a 5-0 lead with a pair of gut wrenches in par terre. In the second period, Kim rose his head as Mirzazadeh approached, causing a collision that left both rubbing their wounds.

Kim was assessed a 2-point penalty, and when a Korean challenge of the call was denied, that gave the Iranian his eighth and decisive point.

In the final, Mirzazadeh will face a newcomer to the Asian scene, former Russian national champion Rafael TSITSUASHVILI (UZB), who advanced with a 7-2 victory over two-time bronze medalist Yuta NARA (JPN).

Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI), the world champion at 82kg, defeated Sunil KUMAR (IND) in 87kg semifinals at the Asian Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

In one of those blink-and-you-missed-it dominant victories, Farokhi swiftly powered to an 8-0 victory over three-time Asian medalist Sunil KUMAR (IND) to advance to the 87kg final.

Farokhi, last year’s world champion at 82kg who has not lost an international match since 2022, shrugged Kumar by to get behind, then used an arm lock for four quicksilver back-and-forth exposures to end the match in 37 seconds.

In the final, Farokhi will take on world bronze medalist Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ), who put together a slightly less dominant 8-0 victory over Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ) to become one of three wrestlers from the host country to make the finals.

Zhanyshov, a two-time Asian U23 champion, finished up the win with a go-behind takedown to top Tursynov, who has three Asian medals over a 10-year span – from a gold in 2014 to silvers in 2015 and 2023.

Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) launches Doniyorkhon NAKIBOV (UZB) for four points during the 77kg semifinals in Bishkek. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

The biggest cheers of the night at the new Zhastyk Arena came in response to the exploits at 77kg of Makhmudov, who first stole the spotlight when he won the first of his three Asian golds in 2018 across the street at the Soviet-era Kojomkul Sports Palace.

Facing 2024 Asian bronze medalist Doniyorkhon NAKIBOV (UZB), Makhmudov got the first shot at par terre and took full advantage, thrilling the crowd with not one but two powerful reverse body lifts in which he flipped his opponent over like a pancake on the griddle.

Makhmudov, a two-time world champion and two-time Olympic medalist, began the year on a sluggish note, falling in the 82kg quarterfinals of the Tirana Ranking Series tournament in February to Tunjay VAZIRZADE (AZE).

But back at his usual weight, Makhmudov is looking more like his old self – and he’ll need to be in that form in a challenging final against Iran’s Oskou, this year’s Zagreb Ranking Series champion and a 2024 world U23 bronze medalist.

Oskou had a pair of four-point throws and, while having to fight off his back when one roll attempt was stopped, still managed to forge a solid 13-3 victory over AMAN (IND) in the other semifinal.

Erfan JARKANI (IRI) battles it out with Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) in the 63kg semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 63kg, Zagreb Open champion and 2024 world U23 and U20 bronze medalist Jarkani held off former Asian champion Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB) in a 5-3 win to advance to the final in his senior Asian debut.

Jarkani opened with a takedown, then quickly went up 5-0 when he received single points for passivity, fleeing and an unsuccessful challenge.

In the second period, Bakhramov showed the fight that led him to the 60kg gold in 2019, but could only manage a single gut wrench from par terre to fall short of victory.

Bakhramov, a world bronze medalist in 2023, still has a chance for his fourth career Asian medal and third bronze.

Jarkani will battle for the gold against Aftandil TAALAIBEK UULU (KGZ), who become the first wrestler from the home team to make the finals when he bulldozed his way to a 10-0 victory over Azatjan ACHILOV (TKM) in the other semifinal.

Taalaibek Uulu started the rout with a four-point arm throw onto which a challenge point was added. A passivity call put Taalaibek Uulu on top in par terre, and he hit his second four-pointer of the match to end it at 2:05.

Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB) raises the hand of Ulan MURATBEK UULU (KGZ) after beating the home wrestler in the 55kg semifinal. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kostadin Andonov)

At 55kg, two-time bronze medalist Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB) shrugged off the vocal partisan crowd and a potentially costly penalty against 2024 bronze medalist Ulan MURATBEK UULU (KGZ), riding a five-point first period to a 5-3 victory and a place in tomorrow’s final.

Botirov, the silver medalist in Zagreb, reeled off a pair of gut wrenches from par terre for a 5-0 lead. In the second period, Muratbek Uulu was put on top and before the action even started, Botirov was assessed a two-point penalty for moving too soon.

Despite the crowd’s efforts to spur their wrestler on, Botirov withstood Muratbek Uulu’s late attacks and assured he will improve on the bronze medals he won last year and in 2023 by making the final, where he will face LALIT (IND).

Botirov earlier defeated the only Iranian to not make the final on the day, Hajiali HOSSEINVAND (IRI), in the quarterfinals.

“Hosseinvand, too, should have been in the final given his recent performances, but it was unfortunate that he lost 8-0 [officially 10-0] against the Uzbekistan wrestler,” Rangraz added. “He beat him in February and he deserved to reach the final.”

LALIT (IND) reached the 55kg final after beating Houying SHI (CHN), 11-3. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Amirreza Aliasgari)

Lalit put himself in position to become just the fourth Asian champion from India in Greco and first since 2020 when he battled back after losing the lead to defeat world bronze medalist Huoying SHI (CHN) 11-3.

Lalit, who likes to use a standing roll through from par terre, hit the move to take a 3-1 lead in the second period, but got stuck when he tried it again and Shi got around front, clamped on a front headlock and bulled Lalit over to go ahead 3-3 on criteria.

But Lalit struck back right away with a slick duck under for a takedown, then went to the roll through for two more, with an unsuccessful challenge point tacked on. A stepout and a defensive takedown gave Lalit the win by technical superiority as time ran out.

RESULTS

55kg
GOLD: LALIT (IND) vs. Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB)

SF 1: Ikhtiyor BOTIROV (UZB) df. Ulan MURATBEK UULU (KGZ), 5-3
SF 2: LALIT (IND) df. Huoying SHI (CHN), 11-3

63kg
GOLD: Aftandil TAALAIBEK UULU (KGZ) vs. Erfan Behnam JARKANI (IRI)

SF 1: Erfan JARKANI (IRI) df. Islomjon BAKHRAMOV (UZB), 5-3
SF 2: Aftandil TAALAIBEK UULU (KGZ) df. Azatjan ACHILOV (TKM), 10-0

77kg
GOLD: Ali OSKOU (IRI) vs. Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ)

SF 1: Akzhol MAKHMUDOV (KGZ) df. Doniyorkhon NAKIBOV (UZB), 9-0
SF 2: Ali OSKOU (IRI) df. AMAN (IND), 13-3

87kg
GOLD: Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) vs. Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI)

SF 1: Gholamreza FAROKHI (IRI) df. Suni KUMAR (IND), 8-0
SF 2: Asan ZHANYSHOV (KGZ) df. Nursultan TURSYNOV (KAZ), 8-0

130kg
GOLD: Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) vs. Rafael TSITSUASHVILI (UZB)

SF 1: Rafael TSITSUASHVILI (UZB) df. Yuta NARA (JPN), 7-2
SF 2: Amin MIRZAZADEH (IRI) df. Minseok KIM (KOR), 8-0

Three Gold, Three Finalists as Russia Close-in on Greco-Roman title

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Asian Championships: Iran Puts Four into Greco-Roman Finals