World Club Cup

Titan Mercury, Kashan into Semis

By Ali Feizasa

The 2017 World Clubs Cup semifinalists were determined in Tehran, Iran, as two-time champion, Bimeh Razi (IRI) was eliminated.

13 teams from four pools competed in the fourth edition of World Clubs Cup with the best teams of each group advancing to the semifinals.

In the first semifinal, Titan Mercury (USA) matches up with Khimori (MGL). Two Iranian sides in Setaregan Sari and Easy Pipe Kashan will meet in the second semifinal.

Pool A: Titan Mercury advance to the semifinals with three consecutive wins

Defending champions, Titan Mercury (USA) advanced to the semifinals with three straight victories. Four Olympic and world medalists picked up wins for TMWC including Kyle SNYDER (USA), Thomas GILMAN (USA), Franklin GOMEZ (PUR), and Nick GWIAZDOWSKI (USA).

The Iranian fans treated Snyder like a true hero, even taking a few selfies with him. “Iranian fans take wrestling seriously, so it’s one of the best places to wrestle”, Snyder said. “I would have really liked to wrestle Reza YAZDANI (IRI) and Abdurashid SADULAEV (RUS) this weekend. They are among the best wrestlers in the world and it would be a challenge to wrestle them, but it didn’t happen here” he added. 

 

 

Kyle SNYDER (USA) is close to picking up a fall at 97kg of the World Clubs Cup. 

Pool B: Mongolian team edged Hungary and Tajikistan clubs

In pool B, Khimori (MGL) downed Budapest SC (HUN) and Tajikistan to advance to semifinals to take on Titan Mercury (USA).

Pool C: Elimination of Bimeh Razi (IRI) in battle of Russian wrestlers

Everyone expected to see two-time World Clubs Champion Bimeh Razi (IRI) in the semifinals, but Setaregan Sari (IRI) defeated Bimeh Razi (IRI) in an early battle.

Five Russian wrestlers competed for Bimeh Razi, including Olympic champion Abdurashid Sadulaev, Olympic silver medalist Aniuar GEDUEV (RUS), and 2014 world champion Khetik TSABOLOV (RUS). Tsabolov and Geduev both found themselves in trouble as they lost their bouts.  Tsabolov (Bimeh Razi) was defeated by 2015 world champion, Magomed Rasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV (AZE), 8-4. Geduev suffered a 10-7 loss to Omid HASSANTABAR (Setaregan Sari).

Abdurashid Sadulaev kept Bimeh Razi’s hopes alive as he beat Abazar ESLAMI (11-0), but Esmaeil NEJATIAN sealed the match with a narrow 4-3 victory over recent U-23 World Champion, Mojtaba GOLEIJ.

Two other important results from the match were Asian champion Meysam NASIRI (Bimeh Razi) defeating three-time world champion Haji ALIEV (AZE) at 65kg, and Magomed KURBANALIEV (Setaregan) pinning Hamed RASHIDI.

 

 

 

 

Abdualrashid SADULAEV (RUS) looks to pick up a takedown at the 2017 World Clubs Cup.

Pool D: Iranian Easy Pipe Kashan goes to semifinal

Another tournament favorite, Easy Pipe Kashan (IRI) came in strong as they beat Kirgizstan (10-0) and Georgia (7-3). Easy Pipe didn’t have as difficult of a time on their way to the semifinals as they enjoyed success from Georgian stars Geno PETRIASHVILI and Vladimir KHINCHEGASHVILI. They also received success from 2015 world bronze medal winner Alireza KARIMI and Russian Vladislav BAITSAEV (RUS).  

The semifinals of the World Clubs Cup start Friday morning 10 a.m. local time and the third place and final matches starts at 4 p.m. in Azadi Sport Complex of Tehran.

RESULTS

Titan Mercury (USA) df. Montreal (CAN), 9-1
57kg- Thomas GILMAN (Titan) df. Steven TAKAHASHI (Montreal), 13-6
61kg- Ghara MANIVA (Montreal) df. Alan WATERS (Titan), 7-6
65kg- B.J. FUTRELL (Titan) df. Hashem MOKHTARI (Montreal), 7-2
70kg- Franklin GOMEZ (Titan) – No wrestler (Montreal)
74kg- Nazariy KULCHYTSKYY (Titan) TF. Guseyn RUSLANZADA (Montreal), 10-0
79kg- Kyle DAKE (Titan) TF. Ahmed SHAMIYA (Montreal), 11-0
86kg- David TAYLOR (Titan) TF. Alexander MOORE (Montreal), 14-4
92kg- Nickolas HEFLIN (Titan) TF. Jordan STEEN (Montreal), 10-0
97kg- Kyler SNYDER (Titan) df. Masoud KHAJE SALEHANI (Montreal), 9-2
125kg- Nick GWIAZDOWSKI (Titan) TF. Korey JARIVS (Montreal), 10-0

Titan Mercury (USA) df. India Club (IND), 8-2
57kg- Thomas GILMAN (Titan) df. Amit KUMAR (IND), 6-3
61kg- Ravinder (IND) TF. Alan WATERS (Titan),12-2
65kg- B.J. FUTRELL (Titan) df. Sonu (IND), 9-8
70kg- Vinod KUMAR (IND) df. Franklin GOMEZ (Titan), 6-5
74kg- Nazariy KULCHYTSKYY TF. (Titan) Ver Dev GULIA (IND), 10-0
79kg- Kyle DAKE (Titan) TF. Jitender (IND), 10-0
86kg- David TAYLOR (Titan) TF. Pawan Kumar (IND), 10-0
92kg- Nickolas HEFLIN (Titan) Pinned Viky (IND)
97kg- Kyler SNYDER (Titan) TF. Somveer (IND), 10-0
125kg- Nick GWIAZDOWSKI (Titan) TF. Pushpender Singh (IND), 10-0

Other results of Pool A:
Titan Mercury (USA) df. NSA Academy (Bulgaria),10-0
India Club df. Montreal (CAN), 6-4
Montreal (CAN) df. NSA Academy (BUL), 7-3
India Club df. NSA Academy (BUL), 9-1

Setaregan Sari (IRI) df. Bimeh Razi (IRI), 6-4
57kg- Nader HAJAGHANIA (Setaregan) pinned Younes SARMASTI (Bimeh Razi)
61kg- Iman SADEGHI (Bimeh Razi) df. Mohammad RAMEZANPOUR (Setaregan), 7-4
65kg- Meysam NASIRI (Bimeh Razi) df. Haji ALIEV (Setaregan), 8-4
70kg- Magomed KURBANALIEV (Setaregan)pinned Hamed RASHIDI (Bimeh Razi)
74kg- Magomed Rasul GAZIMAGOMEDOV (Setaregan) df. Khetik TSABOLOV (Bimeh Razi), 8-4
79kg- Omid HASSANTABAR (Setaregan) df. Aniuar GEDUEV(Bimeh Razi), 10-7
86kg- Mohammad Javad EBRANHIMI (Bimeh Razi) df. Esmaeil MAHMOUDI (Setaregan), 5-0
92kg- Abdulrashid SADULAEV (Bimeh Razi) TF. Abazar ESLAMI (Setaregan), 11-0
97kg- Esmaeil NEJATIAN (Setaregan) df. Mojtaba GOLEIJ (Bimeh Razi), 4-3
125kg- Jaber SADEGHZADEH (Setaregan) df. Komeil GHASEMI (Bimeh Razi)by forfeit

Other matches of Pool C:
Setaregan Sari (IRI) df. BS Brothers (KAZ), 9-1
Bimeh Razi (IRI) df. BS Brothers (KAZ), 10-0

Easy Pipe Kashan (IRI) df. Raindi (GEO), 7-3
57kg- Reza ATARI (Easy Pipe) df.  Roberti DINGASHVILI (Raindi), 8-0
61kg- Vladimir KHINCHEGASHVILI (Easy Pipe) TF. Teimuraz VANISHVILI (Raindi), 10-0
65kg- Farzad Amouzad KHALILI (Easy Pipe) df. Edemi BOLKVADZE (Raindi), 6-0
70kg-Levan KELEKHSASHVILI (Raindi) df. Hamidreza ZARRINPEYKAR (Easy Pipe), 6-0
74kg- Hossein ELYASI (Easy Pipe) df. Giorgi LOBJANIDZE (Raindi), 10-2
79kg- Tariel GAPHRINDASHVILI (Raindi) df. Reza AFZALI (Easy Pipe), 6-4
86kg- Alireza KARIMI (Easy Pipe) TF. Zaur BERADZE (Raindi), 11-0
92kg- Hossein SHAHBAZI (Easy Pipe)  TF. Saba CHIKLADZE (Raindi), 12-2
97kg- Vladislav BAITSAEV (Easy Pipe) TF. Zurabi AKHOBDZE (Raindi), 19-6
125kg- Levani GOGRICHIANI (Raindi) df. Geno PETRIASHVILI (Easy Pipe) by forfeit

 

 

 

 

 

 

#WrestleBudapest

Bisultanov preps for Zagreb Worlds with Budapest gold

By Vinay Siwach

BUDAPEST, Hungary (July 19) -- After winning the Zagreb Open gold medal in February, Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) had said that his main goal for the year to become a world champion. For that, he skipped European Championships as he had previously won gold there.

He focused on his shortcoming and weight management as he prepared for the World Championships, to be held in September in Zagreb.

With two months to go for that, Bisultanov entered the Budapest Ranking Series to test his preparations, and came out with flying colors. He won the Greco-Roman 87kg gold medal with a scintillating performance in Budapest.

Bisultanov did not break a sweat to reach the final against David LOSONCZI (HUN), who struggled throughout the day, and later pulled out of the final injured.

This was Bisultanov's second Ranking Series gold of the year and is expected to jump to number three in the rankings for 87kg. If all the top five ranked wrestlers are entered for the World Championships, Bisultanov will likely have Olympic champion Semen NOVIKOV (BUL) on side of the bracket.

But a performance like Saturday could potentially see Bisultanov get he better of Novikov, who lost the European Championships final to Losonczi this year.

Bisultanov, who won Thor Masters in June, warmed up with a 4-1 victory over Bachir SID AZARA (ALG) before he blanked Alan OSTAEV (UWW), 8-0, in the quarterfinal.

He faced local wrestlers Tamas LEVAI (HUN) in the semifinal and after a 7-0 lead, he decided it safe and defended from par terre. He gave a late stepout but managed to win 7-2 easily.

A Bisultanov-Losonczi final was what the fans wanted but Losonczi had struggled with his health all day long and decided to not risk it in the final.

He opened his day with tough bout against former European champion Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB), winning 3-1. His second match was also against a Serbian wrestler, Andrija MIHAJLOVIC (SRB), and he won 6-1.

It was the quarterfinal in which Losonczi was troubled by world U20 champion Islam YEVLOYEV (KAZ) who launched him for a suplex to lead 5-0. But Losonczi roared in the second period, scoring from par terre and getting points for Yevloyev's defensive fouls to win 9-5.

He then managed to keep Islam ABBASOV (AZE) quiet to win 4-0 in the semifinal and entertained the local fans with a back-flip. He would later not wrestle the final and win the silver.

In other two Greco-Roman weight classes of the day, Iuri LOMADZE (GEO) defeated Abdullo ALIEV (UZB), 8-2, in the 72kg final took a big step towards being on the Georgian team of the World Championships.

At 130kg, Marat KAMPAROV (UWW) got the better of Darius VITEK (HUN) in the final to win the gold medal.

RESULTS

72kg
GOLD: Iuri LOMADZE (GEO) df. Abdullo ALIEV (UZB), 8-2

BRONZE: Otar ABULADZE (GEO) df. Hasrat JAFAROV (AZE), via inj. def.
BRONZE: Ruslan NURULLAYEV (AZE) df. Giorgi CHKHIKVADZE (GEO), 9-0

87kg
GOLD: Turpal BISULTANOV (DEN) df. David LOSONCZI (HUN), via inj. def.

BRONZE: Islam ABBASOV (AZE) df. Aleksandr KOMAROV (SRB), 5-2
BRONZE: Tamas LEVAI (HUN) df. Alan OSTAEV (UWW), 5-2

130kg
GOLD: Marat KAMPAROV (UWW) df. Darius Attila VITEK (HUN), 3-1

BRONZE: Alimkhan SYZDYKOV (KAZ) df. Elias KUOSMANEN (FIN), 5-3
BRONZE: Koppany LASZLO (HUN) df. Sarkhan MAMMADOV (AZE), 2-1