#WrestleNoviSad

Trio of Russians Make Day Three Finals

By Eric Olanowski

NOVI SAD, Serbia (March 5) – Russia, who trails Georgia by 38 points heading into the third day of wrestling, won all three of their semifinal matches on Tuesday night and inserted their fourth Greco-Roman wrestler into the U23 European finals. 

Alen MIRZOIAN (RUS), Magomed YARBILOV (RUS), and Vaag MARGARIAN (RUS) are the trio of Russians who locked up their spot in the Day 3 finals. The trio will have an opportunity on Wednesday night to match their teammate Islam OPIEV's Day 2 gold-medal performance.

Defending U23 European champion Alen Mirzoian defeated 2017 U23 European bronze medalist Artur POLITAIEV (UKR), 9-4, in the semifinals and will meet Serbia’s Sebastian NAD for the 67kg title. 

At 72kg, Magomed Yarbilov became Russia’s second Day 3 finalist after he won the battle between past junior world bronze medalists and beat Islambek DADOV (AZE), 3-0, in the semifinals.

Yarbilov will wrestle Georgia’s returning U23 European champion Ramaz ZOIDZE in the 72kg gold-medal bout. 

In his opening round matchup, Zoidze exacted revenge on Cengiz ARSLAN (TUR), the man who stole the U23 world title from him a season ago. Zoidze also defeated Hrant KALACHYAN (ARM) and Norway’s Juan AAK on his way to a second consecutive U23 European final.

Russia's third Day 3 finalist is defending U23 European champion Vaag Margarian. Margarian defeated Turkey’s Hasan YILDIRIM (TUR) in the 82kg semifinals and set up a finals date with Hungary’s Zotlan LEVAI. 

Returning champion Kerem KAMAL (TUR) will wrestle for his second consecutive U23 European title (Photo: Gabor Martin)

The pair of Day 3 gold-medal matches that won’t feature a Russian wrestler will take place at 60kg and 97kg. 

At 60kg, Turkey’s defending U23 European champion Kerem KAMAL (TUR) scored the impressive 9-0 win over Georgia’s Irakli DZIMISTARISHVILI. Kamal will meet Romania’s Razvan ARNAUT (ROU) in the 60kg gold-medal match. 

At 97kg, Finland’s 2018 junior world champion and U23 European bronze medalist Arvi SAVOLAINEN scord the 4-0 shutout win over Turkey’s Ibrahim TIGCI in the semifinals and will take on Giorgi MELIA (GEO) in tomorrow’s gold-medal bout. 

The Day 3 finals begin on Wednesday at 18:00 (local time).

Results  
60kg
GOLD - Razvan ARNAUT (ROU) vs. Kerem KAMAL (TUR)
SEMIFINAL - Razvan ARNAUT (ROU) df. Zhora ABOVIAN (UKR), 2-0
SEMIFINAL - Kerem KAMAL (TUR) df. Irakli DZIMISTARISHVILI (GEO), 9-0

67kg
GOLD - Sebastian NAD (SRB) vs. Alen MIRZOIAN (RUS)
SEMIFINAL - Sebastian NAD (SRB) df. Alexandru SOLOMON (ROU),6-1
SEMIFINAL - Alen MIRZOIAN (RUS) df. Artur POLITAIEV (UKR), 9-4 

72kg
GOLD - Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO) vs. Magomed YARBILOV (RUS)
SEMIFINAL - Ramaz ZOIDZE (GEO) df. Juan AAK (NOR), 12-4 
SEMIFINAL - Magomed YARBILOV (RUS) df. Islambek DADOV (AZE), 3-0 

82kg 
GOLD - Zotlan LEVAI (HUN) vs. Vaag MARGARIAN (RUS)

SEMIFINAL - Vaag MARGARIAN (RUS) df. Hasan YILDIRIM (TUR), 3-1
SEMIFINAL - Zotlan LEVAI (HUN) df. Stanislau SHAFARENKA (BLR), 8-0 

97kg 
GOLD - Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) vs. Giorgi MELIA (GEO)
SEMIFINAL - Arvi SAVOLAINEN (FIN) df. Ibrahim TIGCI (TUR), 4-0|
SEMIFINAL - Giorgi MELIA (GEO) df. Arif NIFTULLAYEV (AZE), 7-4

#WrestleAthens

Wrestling U17 World Championships: Day 6 Freestyle Live

By Vinay Siwach

ATHENS, Greece (August 2) -- The final full day of the U17 World Championships will see the final five weight classes in Freestyle. Wrestling will continue in 45kg, 51kg, 60kg, 71kg and 92kg.

WATCH LIVE | LIVE MATCH ORDER | DAY 5 RESULTS

The semifinals of these weight classes will begin at 17:00 hours local time and medal bouts in 48kg, 55kg, 65kg, 80kg and 110kg will begin at 18:00 hours local time.

14:45: Samuel SANCHEZ (USA) is back in the semifinals, at 51kg, after taking out Temuri TUTARASHVILI (GEO) 12-1. Sanchez is chasing his second straight world title.

14:40: Mirjalol MUKAMMILOV (UZB), down 1-1 on criteria, spins behind and gets Riku FURUSAWA (JPN) down for a two-point takedown and a 3-1 win at 45kg. He will wrestle in the semifinals.

14:35: Keegan BASSETT (USA) breaks Bakdaulet AGABEK (KAZ) and gut wrenches Agabek for 15-4. He celebrates like he is breaking a stick with his knee

14:25: Yeghishe MOSESYAN (ARM) hits a front headlock in the final second to beat Omer GUL (TUR) 9-8 and enter the 71kg semifinals. Mosesyan never gave up attacking and got his win.

14:10: SITENDER (IND) with a counter attack for four and sends Arian MEHRALIZADEH (IRI) flying for four points and wins his 60kg bout 5-5. Mehralizadeh is devasted and runs off the mat.

13:30: Ulugbek RASHIDOV (UZB) is into the quarterfinals at 51kg! He blanks Ramal MIRHUSEYNOV (AZE) 11-0 using a lace. Comfortable win for the world champion!

13:20: Samuel SANCHEZ (USA) is looking extremely good at 51kg. The world 45kg champion gets past Bugra KAVAK (TUR) 9-3 and is now into the quarterfinals.

13:00: Yeghishe MOSESYAN (ARM) stuns Zubair BAGILOV (UWW) at 71kg, 8-3! Bagilov could never finish his shots and Mossyan had a huge four-pointer in the second period which changed the momentum of the match. 

12:45: In a battle of European silver medalist and bronze medalist, Omer GUL (TUR) takes out silver medalist Ihor OLIINYK (UKR) at 71kg. Gul was trailing 4-0 but front headlock for four and later another headpinch for four to win 9-4. 

12:40: Not to be for European silver medalist Hasan HASANOV (AZE) at 60kg. Rihito HIURA (JPN) blanks him 7-0 to advance to the quarterfinals. Hiura looks the one to beat at this weight class.

12:25: Nathan NASH (CAN) is absolutely ecstatic after getting a fall over Hamlet ANTONYAN (ARM) at 60kg! Nash is a Pan-Am bronze medalist this year.

11:45: European U17 champion Said PASHAYEV (AZE) must have been struggling off the mat otherwise there is no reason to explain his 5-4 win against Abderrahmane MEZITI (ALG) at 92kg. He was down 4-3 with five seconds remaining but manages to get a takedown on the edge to win 5-4.

11:30: Two world champions and two dominating wins! World 45kg champion Samuel SANCHEZ (USA) smashes Georgi SPASOV (BUL), 10-0 and then Ulugbek RASHIDOV (UZB) gut-wrenches Dhanraj JAMNIK (IND), 10-0, as well. Both Sanchez and Rashidov are at 51kg.

11:15: Hasan HASANOV (AZE), European silver medalist, keeps Fakhriddin NASRIDDINOV (UZB) at bay and wins his 51kg bout 6-2. Nasriddinov made several attempts to score points but Hasanov was solid in defense.

11:00: Arian MEHRALIZADEH (IRI) takes out returning silver medalist Frederick BACHMANN (PUR) at 51kg, 8-4. Bachmann got two takedowns in the match but Mehralizadeh was never looked in trouble.

10:50: Bekassyl ASSAMBEK (KAZ), Asian U17 champion, uses the gut-wrench and wins his 60kg bout Ashton BESMER (USA)

10:30: Welcome to another day of U17 World Championships in Athens, Greece. The five Freestyle weight class in action are 45kg, 51kg, 60kg, 71kg and 92kg.